2009 Sean Kelly Tour !

8 07 2009

Recently the 2009 edition of the Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford was officially launched . This years event is part of the very successful An Post Cycle Series of 5 leisure tours throughout the country .

img049 (2)

Sunday August 30th will see thousands of cyclists gather in Dungarvan for the event , which this year will be in aid of The Irish Cancer Society . Last year over €31,500 was raised for the National Council for the Blind and it is hoped to do even better this year .

There are of course 3 routes which cater for all levels of cyclists ;

The 50k Kelly Cruise should suit most family cyclists or first timers .

The 100k Kelly Legacy is still a regular favourite with Sean himself who can be found on this route many times throughout the year .

The 160k Kelly Comeragh Challenge is a true challenge , but still very achievable .Some spectacular scenery in The Nire Valley and Mahon Falls make it well worth the effort .

The entry fee of  €10 ( under 16 ) and €20 (over 16) for the 50k event and €40 for the longer routes is very good value considering the addition this year of a high quality souvenir jersey along with plenty of food and refreshments along the way .

Online entry is now open at www.theseankellytour.com or by calling Event HQ @ 058 21104 .

We also have entry forms in the shop .

Early entry is advisable as there will be a late entry fee of an additional €10 per person for those who enter on the day .

img025 (3)

Just think , this year as you watch Lance at the Tour surrounded by bodyguards how easy it is for us here in Ireland to get to ride with the fourth greatest cyclist of all time .

Barry

www.worldwidecycles.com


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags:
Categories : theseankellytour

My friend told me !

1 07 2009

It is always a little intimidating , walking into a shop with a rough idea of what you want to purchase , but not actually knowing what  exactly it is that you require . Some people will just walk in anyway and ask for a little advice . Others will pretendthat they know what they want and take a chance , whilst many others will ask a friend who they believe may have some expertise in the field . This final option happens a lot in bike shops with varying results .

Most people know someone who they believe is ‘ big into the cycling’ . These friends can vary from former professionals , through amateur racers to a guy who cycled to work twice and collects reflectors . They all exist , as do many others in between , and we’ve either met or heard the advice given by them all .

Often the advice given by the friend can be helpful and customers can have a good idea of what they are looking for before coming into the shop . However , there are also those friends who are self proclaimed experts , but who would not know a dura ace cassette from a Kenny Rodgers CD.

Recently a guy came in looking for a 32 inch Hot cross bike !! My first thought was that we only have a small 14” portable tv to show cycling dvd’s and that O’Gormans bakery would probably have a few hot cross buns . I kept this to myself , and instead tried to decipher what exactly it was that he required without belittling the friends advice . This one was actually pretty straight forward . The guy was about 5′9” so the friend probably told him that he needed a 23” frame . It would be too big , a 19” would be better and he didn’t look like a cyclo cross rider so it was more than likely that a Hybrid style bike was the intention behind the advice given . This turned out to be the case and he actually bought a nice 19” hybrid with a front suspension .

Occasionally , the friend will accompany the customer into the shop and this can proove quite interesting also . A few weeks back ‘the friend’ even tried to handle all of the negotiation . His opening salvo began with ;

‘Come on an’ we do a tangle ‘

Once more my imagination went into overdrive and I had a picture of the two of us taking long sideways strides up along the shop floor , facing each other with long stemmed roses in our mouths , but I kept that to myself and just replied that ;

‘We do have all of our bikes very well priced as we try to keep prices and margins as tight as possible at all times ‘

His reply was to offer 150 euro for a 400 euro bike . Now he was just annoying me . I was trying to engage with the actual purchaser himself , but ‘ the tangler ‘ was brought along for the negotiation and he was determined to do a tangle . I felt as if I was tangled up in a thorny bush but managed to extract myself by handing over a few catalogues and inviting them both to study them and for the actual customer to come back another day when he made his choice . The customer came back a few days later on his own and bought a nice bike which suited both his needs and his budget .

Then there was the guy who walked in with a 20 year old Raleigh Winner which he informed us was ridden to victory in the FBD RAS , or so his friend told him . Now , Ray has ridden the Ras for 13 out of the past 16 years , so if someone had in fact taken part in the race , let alone won it on a Raleigh Winner , he would know . Even in it’s day 20 years ago that would have been like a Fiesta in a Formula 1 race . Our customer was borrowing it for a triathlon so we gave it a service and I added it to my list of 4 previous Ras winners bikes that I have worked on .

Overall it is a great idea to ask a friend who really knows what they are talking about for advice . Just be careful what friend you choose . Also remember that good advice is an integral part of the service that any decent bike shop has to offer so don’t be afraid to ask . No matter what question you may have , they will have heard it before and will be happy to help .

Barry

www.worldwidecycles.com


Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags:
Categories : worldwidecycles

Bikes on a plane , or a boat !

22 06 2009

Now that Summer has arrived and many cyclists are planning on bringing their bikes with them to either The Etape , The Marmotte or even just on their family summer holiday the question arises as to what is the best method of travelling with your bike .

The professionals nowadays rarely have to travel with their bikes . Most now have a training bike for home and their race bikes stay with the team . This way they are transported to most races on either the roof of the team car or inside a team truck . If they do have to travel overseas most will use a bike case / box .

However , the normal cyclist will rarely have the luxury of having a bike waiting for them as they step off the plane , so what are the options ?

1 – Bike Case / Box

This is the most secure way to protect your bike when travelling . The bike is fully enclosed in a hard plastic case which will resist most forms of baggage handler abuse . There are 2 disadvantages to this option . It is expensive , most quality bike cases will cost between €400 to €900 . Also you will need either a big estate car or a van to get to and from the airport . They will not fit into most regular saloon cars . It is possible to rent them for about €80 per week so that cuts down on the cost , but you will still need a way to transport them . I will be using one of these myself this year on our trip to the Etape but will be arriving at the airport in Shannon in a worldwidecycles van .

Option 2 – Bike Box (cardboard)

This is a much cheaper alternative . Any bike shop will happily give you a cardboard bike box for free , although some airlines will charge you up to €70 to buy one . As long as the bike is packed securely and well padded they usually work out OK . This type of box , whilst not as large as the hard cases is still bulky and will not fit into all cars .

Option 3 – The Bike Bag

This is the most popular option for most people . The bike is enclosed in a robust Nylon bag . Usually there is a separate compartment for wheels and again if the bike is well packed it should withstand most forms of abuse . The good ones range in price from €100 up to €200 . They will fit into most cars as they are more flexible .

Option 4 – The roll of Insulating tape .

The cheapest and most versatile option . Although by far the most unreliable . This option involves removing the wheels and pedals and taping them on tightly to the rest of the bike . David McCann flew all the way to China with his bike packed this way and it worked out fine , although the paintwork did suffer a little .

Option 5 – The sheet of Plastic

Some airlines will allow you to cover the bike in a sheet of plastic . All that has to be done is to remove the pedals and turn the handlebars . There are two schools of thought on this option . Some say that this is a much more awkward way for the baggage handlers to throw the bike around , so they have to be more careful . Others say that the chances of damage to the bike are too high to risk it . I would be in the second camp myself .

Airlines usually charge extra to carry the bike . The exceptions being if the check in guy is a cyclist and ‘forgets’ to charge , or if you are a tall blonde in a small dress . Most others will have to pay between €20 and €100 each way , so factor that in when booking your flight .

Airlines can be un-reliable as a group from Carrick found out a few years ago when travelling to The Tour of Flanders Randonnee . All had checked in their bikes and were told to place them in the outsize luggage area , which they did . However as the plane took off from Shannon headed for Brussels , the bikes were left behind and when the group got back 4 days later , the bikes were still in the very same spot . Luckily , for the group Sean Kelly got on the phone and Kurt Bogaerds set to work building up spare team bikes for the group and all were able to take part in the event the following day .

Another Tralee rider was also very unfortunate a number of years ago when his bike was left behind as he headed out to ride the Etape . The bike arrived 3 days after he flew out , during the afternoon of the event itself , so he missed out on taking part and also opened the bike bag to discover that his bike had been damaged in transit .

If you are travelling to your Holiday destination by car there are also a few things to bear in mind .

When using a rear mounted bike rack , be sure to have either a spare number plate or a high mounted rack with the number plate visible . In France you will be fined on the spot if your number plate cannot be seen . The high mounted racks are also better if you have reversing sensors , as they won’t interfere with their operation .

Lock your bike to the rack , and your rack to the car if it is easily removable. That 30 min break at the motorway rest stop could be expensive if you leave your bikes unlocked on the car .

Bikes on the roof are great , as long as you remember that they are there . Leaving the car park of the West County hotel in Dublin before the 2005 Ras one team manager forgot about the bike on the roof as he went under the security bars and 250 people turned to see what had caused the loud screeching sound only to see a bike impaled on the security barrier along with a roof rack and a chunk of the roof itself . A Trek Madone had the same fate on the Toll road to Cork a while back when a local race organiser forgot it was there .

On the whole , it is great to have your bike with you and to cycle in a different country or area . The best way to pack the bike , whatever option you go for is to remove the pedals and wheels , cover the frame in as much pipe lagging or bubble wrap as possible . Use plastic wedges or old hubs in the fork and rear stay . Have everything packed tightly and securely and cross your fingers that it will be there when you arrive .

Happy Traveling ,

Barry


Comments : 1 Comment »

Categories : worldwidecycles

10 Things every cyclist should know !

15 06 2009

Like many aspects of life in general there are nuances of riding a bike that are passed down by word of mouth or that some times will be demonstrated . Many are simple things , but if you are never informed , how will you ever know ? Here are my top 10 ;

10 : The rear end ;

Riding the Wicklow 200 last weekend I noticed a number of cyclists wearing white shorts with a VJL ( visablejocks line ) underneath . All cycling shorts are designed with a padded chamois to be worn next to the skin . You may feel naked the first time that you do this but you will get used to it very quickly . The seam of any underwear will cut into you and is a surefire way to get a saddle sore or to end up walking like John Wayne after a spin . Chamois cream is a great way to cut down on the natural friction that occurs when pedaling at 90 rpm for a couple of hours . This can be applied to either the chamois itself or directly onto the skin where the point of contact is . Whilst everyone has a personal choice in saddle styles , in general they should be narrow for road bike use , as you will be sitting more forward and a wide saddle may cause chaffing between the legs . All saddles should be level , not pointing up or down . If you feel that you need your saddle pointing down towards the front hub , chances are that it is too high in the first place and vice verse . It does take time to get your rear end used to sitting on a saddle for hours on end , but this too is all part of the training .

9 : What to do if you get a puncture ;

There are racing cyclists who drop their bike into a shop to have a new tube fitted after getting a puncture whilst out training . I blame mobile phones for this . If you had no way of communicating with someone who may come to pick you up there would be a much greater incentive to learn what to do yourself . And it really is pretty simple . Forget about patches , that puts people off straight away . On every training spin bring a pump , tyre levers and 2 spare tubes . If you get a puncture , take off the wheel ( if it’s a rear drop it down into the outside sprocket first as this will help you know where to hang the chain when putting the wheel back on ) . Use your tyre levers to remove one side of the tyre and then pull out the tube . Pump the tube to see if you can find where the air is coming out . This will give you a good idea of where to check the tyre for the item which caused the puncture in the first place . Locate the thorn , piece of glass , thumb tack , or whatever and remove . Then check the rest of the tyre . If you cannot find anything whatsoever in the tyre and the tube has two holes very close together , this may be a pinch flat . These are caused by riding an under inflated tyre over a pothole or stone . Next slightly inflate your new tube and fit into the tyre . re-seat the outer bead of the tyre and finish near the valve . The reason for this is so that if a part of the tube remains under the tyre bead by pushing the valve back up into the tyre you can re seat this properly . Now pump the tyre as hard as possible using your hand pump and refit the wheel . The picture below shows Sean Kelly fitting a new tube during the Wicklow 200 .

066

8 : How to ride in the wind ;

The wind can be a cyclists’greatest enemy . But with a little practice you can make life much easier for yourself when the trees start to sway . If you are riding in a group stay close to the rider in front . If the wind is coming from the left place your front wheel slightly to his right and vise verse . When riding on your own be conscious of any protection or shelter that a ditch or wall can offer . Use your gears and try to keep a good pace going . Riding against a strong headwind is very similar to climbing , that’s why so many Dutch riders have excelled in the mountains of the Tour de France . Always try to begin your training spins with a headwind so that you can enjoy the tailwind on the way back .

7 : Food and drink .

For spins under 2 hours you do not need to eat anything . Bring a gel in case you are having a bad day . For longer spins bring an an energy bar , ride shots , fruit or whatever you like to eat and nibble away from the 1.5 hour point onwards . Drinking depends on the weather , but is a good idea to begin sipping within the first 5 mins. as this will set the tone for the rest of the spin . I usually use 1 x 500 ml bottle of powerbar carbo/isotonic mix every 2 hours whilst training .

6 : Using your gears ;

It is always easy to spot an inexperienced cyclist . They are trying to churn a huge gear with their shoulders . Take a look next time you see one and you will see their shoulders move at least 12 – 18 inches with each pedal stroke . Bikes nowadays can have anything up to 33 gears . Even if you only have 10 , use them to keep a nice steady economical cadence . The average should be about 90 rpm on the flat and 70 rpm whilst climbing .

5 : Clean your bike ;

20 – 30 mins once per week will keep your machine running much better . Brakes , gears , handling will all run a lot smoother when a bike is well taken care of . Chains and cassettes will not wear out as quickly and you will spot problems such as glass or thorns in tyres before they become an issue . You will also feel better as a nice clean machine whirring along underneath you will always lift your spirits . Try it and see . This is how I clean my bike ;

http://worldwidecyclesblog.com/2007/06/11/tip-of-the-week-bike-washing/

4 : Time ;

Cycling takes time . It takes time to go for a spin and it takes time to improve . Then the better you get the further you can go and it takes even more time again . With family , work and social commitments there will always be something else to do , you just have to find a way around them . The biggest obstacle many people find when trying to do ‘The Wicklow’ , ‘The ring of Kerry’ or ‘The Sean Kelly’ is getting the time to train for these events . Well here are a few ways around that problem . If you know the names of three or more characters on Fair city , Coronation Street , Eastenders , Big Brother or whatever TV show is on , you have the time to train . If you spend your lunchtime sitting in a cosy cafe , you have time to train . If you sit in traffic for 1 or more hours per day , you have time to train . All you need do is to become a little more disciplined with your time and you will find the time to train . Your wife will be happy with the new trimmer you , the boss will be happy with your increased productivity and alertness and the kids will enjoy the extra energy that you will have to play with them .

3 : Bend your elbows ;

When we first started out cycling with the Carrick group Tony Ryan would come up along the line and give you a Karate chop on the elbow if it was locked rigid . He was a great advocate of ‘bending the elbows ‘ . It makes sense really . If your arms are locked all the vibration from the bars travels up along to your neck and shoulders which causes neck and shoulder pain . You are also less flexible if someone bumps off of you in a group . It does take a bit of practice but will be well worth the effort .

2 : How to climb ;

Many people have a mental block about climbing . The main thing to know is that climbing does involve a certain amount of pain for everyone . Robert Millar said that ‘ the best climbers are not the ones who can climb the best , but the ones who can suffer the most ‘ . So be prepared for some pain , but also be conscious that everyone else is suffering too . This makes it a lot more tolerable . On short , sharp climbs , try to power over them but for longer climbs it is important to pace yourself a little . Find a gear that you are comfortable(ish) in and get into a rhythm . When rising out of the saddle change up a gear to maintain your speed and change back down when you sit down again . The only way to improve your climbing is to climb , so don’t be avoiding any hills when out training .

1 :  Look up ;

If you have ever been sea sick or car sick , you will have been told to look up at the horizon to make your body feel still . This is because 20% of your balance is related to your optic nerves . This is important on the bike too . When descending you are much more stable when you look on up ahead than 5 feet in front of  you . The speed of the road passing by can actually make you feel dizzy . You need to look where you want to go , not where you don’t . In a bunch too , it is important to look up . Your peripheral vision will take care of whats around you and by looking up ahead you can look out for any parked cars , etc. and also be more stable on the bike itself .

A few other simple things are to always wear your helmet 1” above your eyebrows , not on the back of your head , call the potholes and obstacles when riding in a group and don’t be afraid to ask other cyclists if your not sure about something . It makes them feel important and you get the answer you are looking for . Well, most of the time anyway .

Barry

www.worldwidecycles.com


Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: ,
Categories : cycling tips, wicklow200

Updates

15 06 2009

I’ve had a few people asking about what happened after a few different posts so here are a few updates ;

We sell ‘head’stones.com http://worldwidecyclesblog.com/?s=wesellheadstones

Cormac from www.igopeople.com picked up on the story and got in touch with the company involved . One of the owners came on board and was very proactive in improving the safety of their trucks on the roads and also increasing awareness for the cyclists . I think that it was a great way for everyone to have their say in a non confrontational manner and the full conversation over and back can be seen here : http://bit.ly/KvPaN

There were many different opinions about how best to deal with road incidents , but I think that this was a good result allround .

Getting things sorted : http://worldwidecyclesblog.com/?s=getting+things+sorted

Here , I was trying to sort out any physical ailments in plenty of time for the Etape . As regards my back , I found that the method used by the chiropractor that I went to only succeeded in diminishing my wallet by €120 per week for a total of 3 visits per week which averaged 9 mins per visit . This lasted for a month , as I did want to give it  a chance , but when I was told that I would need another month of 3 visits per week before the number of visits could be cut back I headed for the door . A customer in the shop mentioned pilates and I started doing a set of core exercises at home myself which did improve my back considerably . The comfort of my new bike has also made quite a difference and now I am pretty much pain free .

I also went along and had a set of custom orthotics made costing €300 . Computer scans were taken and foot moulds were cast . However when I collected the orthotics it turned out that they were both size 46 , even though my feet are 44 and 46 . It took 2 more pairs and about 5 months and a question as to whether had I arrived in with 2 size 44 would I be given 2 size 46 orthotics to get a size 44 and 46 pair of ‘custom orthotics ‘ made . I’ve tried to get used to them for 2 months now and have recently given up and gone for the much cheaper option of specialized green footbeds which have turned out to be a better fit and a lot more comfortable .

The overall lesson here is that cycling specific items by recognised cycling companies is the way to go , and a fool and his money are easily parted .

Barry

www.worldwidecycles.com


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , ,
Categories : worldwidecycles

The Wicklow 200

8 06 2009

049

I’ve just had to search through some cycling gear to find a green jersey with ‘Wicklow 200′ plastered all over it to check when I last rode the event . Mine says 2003 , so it has been 6 years since I last took part in one of the toughest one day challenges in Irish cycling . This year I decided to give it another go . The weather had been so good for the past fortnight that surely a nice spin around the Wicklow hills couldn’t be that hard , or so I thought .

On Saturday afternoon I met up with John , J.P and Vinne as we made our way in a one car , one van convoy to Dublin . The odd shower we experienced leaving home had turned into a full blown torrential downpour as we headed in the Naas road . There was no let up as we drove on towards Bewleys hotel on Leopardstown where we met ‘Dob’ from Waterford and all checked in for the evening .

By 7 pm we were ensconced in the hotel bar and begining our carbo loading regime .  Two pints of Arthurs finest were soon followed by a visit to the resturaunt to sample their culinary fare . As we finished the meal and headed back to  the bar I glanced at my watch . It was now 10.30 pm . The next time I checked it was 12.30 am and we were nearing the end of our fifth round . At least we would have no trouble geting to sleep .

6.30 am Sunday morning the alarm goes off and after a plastic bowel of porridge oats and boiling water which tasted as bad as it sounds we were on the road towards UCD by 7.15

We checked in and then had to wait a short while for the rest of our crew to arrive . By 8.15 we were rolling out at a nice leisurely pace in a group of 15 or so . However within a few miles we were absorbing some of the riders ahead and had been caught by a fast paced group from Mayo who had cycled down the previous day in training for a record attempt on the Malin to Mizen . 

 021

By the time we reched Enniskerry it was like the charge of the light bridgade .There were now over 100 cyclists passing other smaller groups of cyclists and each short climb was accompanied by the clitter clatter of crunching gears . It was not until the run into the Sally Gap that it all settled down and we enjoyed the nice tailwind which gently pushed us along .

060

Over the top Paul Butler gave an injection of pace with Kelly on his wheel and kept it going down the descent which turned out speeds in excess of 70 kph .

066

Shortly afterwards Kelly punctured and luckily a nice lady with a track pump just happened to be driving behind and stopped to help out . We regrouped and all rode along the very scenic shore line of Blessington lake . The food stop at Donard seemed as if it was never going to appear . I had 2 x 500ml bottles on board which were empty by the 85 k mark as I was conciously getting plenty of fluids in . By 90k I was begining to wonder if we had passed the 1st food stop of the day . Finally we did reach Donard and joined the throngs to que up for some very welcome tea and sandwiches . It was quite a que and at one stage I wondered if a few of those signs in Disneyland which tell you how long to go , ie; 20 mins , 10 mins , 5 mins etc might have appeased some of the rumbling tummies and achy legs which accompanied most occupants of the que .

074

It also looked as if Dora the Explorer had been there before us as many riders presented there W200 swipe cards to be told no swiping was required .

All spirits were now lifted again after the refreshment and a nice brisk pace was set as we approached the next big climb of the day up Slieve Mann . The strong headwind really added to the difficulty of the climb itself , but everyone made it over nicely . A very quick descent and we were immediatly on to the climb up to the Shay Elliot memorial . Whilst this climb was more sheltered and the wind did not affect us too much , it’s close proximity to the climb before ensured that most legs had not yet recovered . The Powerbar drink station at the top was a very welcome sight and was much appreciated by all riders .

106

One rider who flew up this climb was Richie Keedy riding in the colours of Winning Solutions . Richie was mechanic for the winning solutions team in the recent Fbd Ras and is one of the top team mechanics in the country .  Richie has also lost over 42kg in the past 18 months and it showed as he blasted up each climb during the day .

079

The next rest stop in Rathdrum came quickly and was another welcome break . There was very little queing here and after the nicest cup of tea ever tasted we were back on the road and headed for home . There still remained over 40 k to cover most of which would be into the wind . It also seemed as if most of it were uphill as weary legs began to feel the gradient . As Butler remarked , it was now like a War of ‘Nutrition ‘ . It took about 10 k to get going again but then it was easier and the last section of the event passed steadily .

There was a nice crowd at the finish to create a great atmosphere and all riders were delighted to collect their medals , certificates and blue wristbands which all can wear with pride . The final meal of Burger chips and a coke was also a welcome addition as were the excellent warm shower facilities .

This year I have been using a compact chainset with a 50/34 chainrings and an 11/25 rear cassette . I used every gear during the event and was able to go just as quick as any rider in our group using a standard 53/39 , both up and down hill . I am firmly convinced that unless you are racing at either first or second catagory level the compact set up is more suitable for 99.9 % of cyclists .

This is what my Garmin 705 informs me about the day : http://connect.garmin.com/activity/6652073

Some good pictures of the event are available here : http://www.theimagefile.ie/?skin=32820&Action=_VC&id=4347810&setpwd=wicklow%20200 

and here : http://www.flickr.com/photos/64631229@N00/sets/72157619440971574/

and of course here : http://www.wicklow200.ie/

Thank you to the organisers who once again ran a fantastic event and thanks to everyone who reads this blog and said hello on the day . It was nice to meet everyone and I look forward to seeing you all on the roads again sometime .

Barry

www.worldwidecycles.com


Comments : 6 Comments »
Tags:
Categories : wicklow 200

Apres Ras

2 06 2009

Most people think that the FBD Insurance Ras is only an 8 day stage race . They are mistaken . The ‘on the bike ‘ section of The Ras takes 8 days , but the analysis afterwards takes at least another 7 to 14 days . This years edition was no exception .

The Ras finished in Skerries on Sunday . By 10 am on Monday morning the analysis had begun . Every rider and every spectator had a most times slightly and occasionally very different opinion . It was the toughest Ras in years , it was very controlled , it was blown apart , it all stayed together ,  The best rider won , them Rapha b******s messed up the race . Everyone has their very own slant on the race . It is a huge part of Irish cycling folklore and every racing cyclist wants to be a ‘Man of the Ras ‘

In the shop we are a local epicentre for Ras tales . Ray took a recovery day on the Monday after the race and didn’t venture near the shop but by 3 pm I was informed by someone who had seen him that ‘ I seen Ray earlier on , an’ he lookin’ like a lad back from Mogadishu ‘ . Now , what exactly a lad back from Mogadishu looks like I was not sure , and am still not sure exactly how my informant knows , but when Ray walked in on tuesday morning I got the idea . He picked up a stomach bug on the Saturday and had the sunken cheeked weather beaten look of a member of the French foreign legion .  

Jan Kirsipuu made a big impression on the race . Not only did he win two stages and get placed on a few more but he also managed to come to prominence during the ‘night stages ‘ . The 4 time Tour de France stage winner and wearer of the Tdf Yellow jersey was spotted on the dance-floors of a few Irish nightclubs as he displayed how it’s done in Estonia . Whilst others were consuming copius amounts of 80/20 Protein /Carbo recovery drinks and going to bed by ten pm , he was demonstrating the benefits of Red  Bull and Vodka at 3 am . Different strokes for different folks I guess . He also demonstrated an inhuman amount of bike control one day in the bunch when he was seen to lean back and adjust the barrel on the rear derailleur whilst riding along .

A very important part of long distance bike racing is the consumption of liquid to keep the riders hydrated . This , however means that very often a certain amount of excess liquid will have to be expelled during the stage . One option is to stop at some gate into a deserted field and relieve yourself in relative privacy .This will be followed , however , by a frantic chase back to the bunch .  Another option is to go on the move which many Pro riders and a few County riders are able to do . This contortionist move does come with its perils . A certain Kerry rider began his procedure on a quiet stretch of road . It took a little longer than usual to relax himself into beginning to let it all flow and when he did get things moving he had to keep them moving , even when passing right by a family standing out at their front gate to watch an international cycle race go by . The family got to see more than they bargained for and the rider got a fine from the commissaries .

One Ras will give you the entitlement to be called a ‘Man of the Ras ‘ , but there are those who have ridden many more then one Ras . Ray has now done 13 but this is a good bit behind David Peelo (23) and Colm Bracken (22) . Ray was speaking to David during the race and asked if this was the last one . The reply came that it depended on his brother in law Colm . If he keeps going so will David . The record holder wants to keep his top spot .

Another real man of the ras is Colin Robinson . The Meath man set down the gauntlet for all county riders on the first day by winning the first and only Koh of the day . This ensured a visit to the podium at the stage end and the entitlement to wear the pink KOH leaders jersey for stage 2 . The manner in which he achieved this also earned him a few fans . He attacked with local rider John Dempsey approaching the KOH prime . The bunch behind were watching proceedings and could see Robinson leading out the sprint for the prime . As the actual line was around a corner many assumed that the former professional Dempsey had taken the points . However as the two were recaptured the delighted Robinson was seen to punch the air in delight and wear his satisfaction on his sleeve . Two days later he was behind Mick Lawless’s broom wagon and whilst being congratulated on his day 1 performance , he mentioned that it was a mixed blessing . He had not actually informed his employer that he was taking time off to ride The Ras and being highlighted on the six and nine pm evening news bulletins was not the ideal way to remain incognito .

Whilst there are many stories surrounding this years edition of  The Ras one rider put every other including the overall winner into the background . When 18 year old Sam Bennett took the penultimate stage victory , in the process beating former world champions , former Tour de France stage winners and former Olympic medalists the huge talent that has been evident for a number of years now , was confirmed . He was consistent all week and finished just seconds behind overall county winner Brian Kenneally to place second in that competition . He was top ten on 4 other stages and showed maturity on the bike well beyond his years . The stage that Sam won saw the final 5 km covered at speeds averaging almost 60 kph . To hold position and not allow himself to be pushed around as happens in all bunch sprints was just as impressive as the huge surge of power that he displayed in the sprint itself .

But , the story does not end there . Late last year Sam’s mother Helen was diagnosed with cancer . Whilst she bravely endured very strong bouts of Chemo , Sam , his dad Michael and brother Scott were always there supporting her in her battle . Thankfully , Helen is now on the mend and what better way could Sam have helped boost her spirits than by pulling off such a huge win . The pictures of Sam and Helen and Michael embracing after the finish were truly moving . Sam dedicated the win to his mother and the unassuming Carrick teenager was universally acknowledged as a hugely popular winner .  

This years race was very well covered online . Shane Stokes did a fantastic job as usual with the Live updates on www.irishcycling.com , and also on twitter , www.twitter.com/fbdras for the first time . Another first timer who really surpassed all expectations was David Quigley of comeragh cc . His live updates were hugely entertaining and gave a great feeling of life in the Ras cavalcade . He also posted daily video journals which really added to the sense of being there on the race itself . These can all be found on www.comeraghcc.com. RTE also made a 25 min programme about the race which will be available until june 15th here : http://www.rte.ie/player/#v=1048680

Dermot Dignam has been the race organiser for many years now and this is supposed to have been his last . He has been a huge contributor to cycling in Ireland and if it really is his last Ras all we can do is wish him well and to thank him and his family for all that they have done to enable so many of us mere mortals to become ‘ MEN OF THE RAS ‘ .

Barry

www.worldwidecycles.com


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , ,
Categories : fbd insurance ras, worldwidecycles

Irish Hospice fundraising cycle

2 06 2009

Alan Kennedy is now preparing for an epic journey from Dublin to Paris in aid of the Irish Hospice foundation but he needs your help – please read Alan’s message below:

I’ve decided to undertake a cycle challenge from the 19th to the 24th of  July 2009 to raise funds for the Irish hospice foundation, the challenge involves 500km of cycling from Dublin to Paris.

I have already held two fundraising events which were very successful and have helped get me to 75% of my target and I am very grateful for all the support i’ve received so far, but now i just need that little bit of extra help from anyone who can sponsor me a few euro that haven’t had the chance yet.

I would love if you could support my efforts in some way, any donation no matter how much will be greatly appreciated. If also you could send this onto some of your other friends who you think might help me out with some sponsorship i would be more than grateful. My target is 3000 Euro and all of this goes to the Irish hospice foundation while I cover the cost of my own expenses such as ferry, accommodation and flight home from my own pocket.

Here is the link needed to sponsor me:

www.mycharity.ie/event/alan-kennedy-event/ 

I have also put up two links on my page for everyone to keep an eye on my training and this will allow you to even see the routes and even my heart rate so you can all see how fit or unfit I am!!

Thanks,

Alan Kennedy


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags:
Categories : worldwidecycles

Heard a good one today

20 05 2009

Day in day out you meet all sorts of people with all kinds of different stories . Many are interesting to the people themselves but may not have mass appeal . Today however , I heard a good one .

Recently a husband and wife were celebrating the wife’s birthday in a Dublin restaurant . As they completed their appetisers they noticed that a rather well known Irish celebrity was sat near them . Bono from U2 was enjoying a meal with a friend .
The wife being a huge U2 fan was in awe of her hero but was reluctant to bother him as he tried to have a meal in peace .
However , when Bono got up to answer the call of nature , the husband went over to his friend to ask if it might be possible for Bono to sing Happy Birthday to his wife . The friend said that he would ask Bono when he returned .
When the U2 frontman made his reappearance he could be seen looking over at the couple as his friend told him of the request .
Promptly Bono stood up , walked over to the couples table and gave an impromptu rendition of ‘Happy Birthday to you ‘
The wife was absolutly thrilled and it made her year .
But the story did not end there .
As the couple asked for the bill they were told that it was already taken care of . They asked if Bono had paid for their meal .
The response came as a surprise . It was not Bono who paid for the meal but his friend , they were informed , a certain Mr. Bob Dillon .
It seemed like another case of U.S. shock and awe in operation .

Barry

www.worldwidecycles.com


Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: ,
Categories : u2, worldwidecycles

The Carrot

11 05 2009

Each bank holiday weekend in Ireland AA road-watch inform motorists to be careful on the roads due to the increase in the volume of traffic . Usually there will also be a traffic warning about a cycle race taking place and motorists will be advised to drive with caution around that particular area .

The 3-day has now become a major focus for all Irish racing cyclists . At Easter there is the ‘Gorey’ and Ras Mumhan in Kilorglan and the Tour of the North . The May bank holiday sees The Tour of Ulster and The Corkman in Kanturk . The June bank holiday has the Ras Dun na Gall in Donegal and the August Bank Holiday has The Suir Valley in Clonmel .

The cyclists themselves enjoy the racing and the buzz of riding a stage race . For many the Ras is a step too far but all of these ‘mini ras’s ‘ afford the average cyclist the opportunity to experience the thrill of riding for a place on the GC ( General Classification ) .

There are always a number of Jerseys to contend for along with the elusive Yellow that everyone sees on the Tour de France . Very often there will be a separate jersey for the leading second or third category rider . Then there’s also the mountains and the points to contend for , along with the stage winners jersey . Not all races have all of these jerseys , but there are always a number of competitions going on within the race .

Some race organisers go all out to create a very professional race with rolling closed roads , photo finish equipment and podium girls . Others tend to have a more relaxed attitude and trust that everything will fall into place on the day .

Both types of race organisation have their place as the more professional set up will prepare riders for The Ras and the more relaxed version will be less intimidating for C’s who are riding their first stage race .

A recent example of the more relaxed version produced some fine examples of what might be termed ‘the Bloopers’ of Irish cycling .

At sign on , one rider asked for a race manual to be told that ‘ we’re not into that sort of thing at all ‘ .

The 3 1/2 mile time trial turned out to be 5 1/2 miles with at least one rider managing 8 miles . How ? you may ask was this possible . Well , this is what transpired ;

The race organisers picked a point on the road to finish the TT , but found themselves without any finish line . They had neither emulsion or gloss white paint . They had no tape in the car so an alternative had to be found . A quick search of the area and the car returned only one possible option . A carrot was produced and a plan was put into action . By dragging the carrot across the road a faint orange line was produced and the remainder of the carrot was laid out pointing at the ‘finish line ‘ .

It was agreed that maybe not all of the riders would spot the line so a chequered finish flag was suggested . However there were not many chequered flags in the area so an alternative had to be found . It was decided that one of the officials would remove his jacket and wave it up and down as the riders approached the finish line .

This , too , worked up to a point although at least one rider who looked up as he approached what he did not realise was the finish line , to see a guy waving a piece of his attire thought that the spectator had been watching too much Eurosport and kept on going . It was only when his bike computer read 8 miles that he decided that he must surely have passed the finish of the 3 1/2 mile tt and he sat up , turned around on the road and headed back to where he had come from .

Irish cycling depends on volunteers . People who are willing to leave their families on bank holiday and normal weekends to help run a bike race . Without them there would be no racing . Whilst most riders would like things to be as professional as possible , professionals get paid , volunteers do not . Very often the races that you will remember are the ones that are slightly quirky . Sometimes it’s best to just enjoy each race for whatever it turns out to be .

Barry

www.worldwidecycles.com


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags:
Categories : irish cycle racing, irish cycling

« Previous Entries