Apres Ras 2012 – Don’t change a thing !
The An Post Ras is over for another year and the withdrawal symptoms have set in. In years gone by it was only the hourly Roy Willoughby radio report and the 30 second clip on the RTE evening news that had us all enthralled. However, nowadays we have Shane Stokes’ live updates on Irishcycling.com, Sticky Bottle live updates on Facebook and Fiona Cooke on twitter as @anpostras to keep up with the action as it happens. Then in the evening before any tv station gets a chance to screen its clip the TV3 4 minute clip is up on youtube and sticky bottle. Shane Stokes then gives great synopsis of what, when and how it all happened up front whilst Richard Hooten, Paddy Clarke and the KING of all Cycling reality writers Myles McCorry gave a fantastic insight into what was really going on within the bunch for all the Men of the Ras.
For the past few editions there has been a lot of talk about the Ras nowadays being too hard for amateurs and county riders who have day jobs and families to fit their training around. Suggestions include having a separate Ras for amateurs and to leave the current Ras to the professionals who are in search of UCI points.
I disagree with this notion. The old Ras still had riders who would go on to be top professionals. Think of the likes of Giuseppe Guarini, Patrick Jonker and Tony Martin. Go back further and think of the Russians who were as strong as any of top professionals of that time. The British always sent their Olympic hopefuls and it was always the toughest race of the year .
People say that county riders can no longer be competitive but the ‘county rider’ has changed. In years gone by Ireland’s top amateurs spent much of the season riding International races abroad and came home to ride on county teams for the Ras. Sunday races had a regular field of international level riders too. Out on the bike yesterday I asked Fitzy ,who has won 5 stages of the Ras how many times he has worn the green Irish jersey. The answer was 132 times. Any current rider at that level would be riding for An Post where they are now given the opportunity to develop their full potential. The Worlds and possibly the Tour of Britain seem to be the only time the Irish jersey is seen abroad now.
Sam Bennett is a huge talent and is the youngest ever Ras stage winner. He finished second and third on the last two stages and was unlucky not to get a win but he was still probably the fastest sprinter in the race. 15 years ago he would have been on the Tipperary county team. As a county rider he would still be way above the level of the majority of the bunch.
Ronan McLoughlin did a fantastic ride to almost win a stage getting caught within sight of the line. He gave it everything and more to try to win the stage. A ride similar to the best of an old style county rider effort. Ray has finished second on five different stages and has been in a similar situation to Ronan on a number of occasions.
Dave McCann was on the podium in 1996 and won in 2004. With a bit of luck and less negative racing on the part of some of the foreign teams he could well have made the podium again this year. For a forty year old Irish rider who is just recovering from a horrific thumb injury to be that close dispels the notion that the Ras is now too hard for an Irish rider to get a result in.
Adam Armstrong was best county rider and managed a third place stage finish whilst working in Tesco. Eugene Moriarty who has seen plenty of the old and new Ras was seventh in yesterdays final stage whilst holding down a full time job abroad. Robin Kelly from Waterford riding for Carlow seemed to be a permanent fixture off the front of the bunch almost every day.
Gediminas Bagdonas is similar to the Russian riders of old. A man who could eat thunder and crap lightening, he would go through a wall for a win. He rides like as if his life depends on winning every race he starts. County riders get to learn a lot riding alongside a man like this.
The legendary tales of the fight that county riders put up to get around the race have not changed, just look at Donal Harrington this year. A former 17 stone truck driver who crashed on the first stage and needed 10 stitches over his eye. The doctor said he would have pulled him out of the race had he seen him during the stage but quitting was not an option for this man of the ras.
The Ras itself has evolved and kept up with the times. It is still a unique race on the International calendar. It still challenges the best riders in the country and further afield whilst giving the ‘ordinary’ Irish cyclist the chance to do something extraordinary. A separate, easier Ras will not produce a true ‘Man of the Ras’.
The main thing that has really changed is that Irish cycling has gotten softer. The Tommy Sheehan is lucky to get thirty riders to sign on as there are a few hills in it and the Ras is deemed to be too hard. Hard races produce hard riders. If we want to see more Irish World beaters in the future making things easy is not the way to go. Each and every rider who crossed the finish line in Skerries yesterday is all the better for it. Dermot Dignam and his crew are doing a fantastic job. There is and hopefully always will be only one Ras !
Barry
www.worldwidecycles.com
The Lynx effect !
Early last week a customer was in and spoke excitedly about ‘lynx’ in the Kilsheelan wood . At first I was visualising a pallet of Lynx deodorant sprawled about the wood . The smell of lynx is normally inhaled in either teenage discos or in the car park after a bike race .
The first location is a testament to the power of advertising , with teenage boys convinced that girls will be throwing themselves at their feet ala lynx effect .
4 Front wheels and The Bally Film Festival
Last night my friend Mickey rang. He lives in a place that locals call ‘Bally’ whilst non-locals add a ‘poreen’ to the end of it. Former US President Ronald Regan once visited and the locals still manage to get the odd free pint out of the visiting tourists in return for a tale about the day ‘the Pres’ called by, although Henry Healy in Moneygall has taken over much of that business now. Gillian Quinn was there for the Celebrity Bainisteoir competition and managed to draw the largest gathering of male Bally supporters the club had ever seen. Singer Gemma Hayes is from there and inspired The Counting Crows to refer to her as the Songbird of Ballyporeen in their song ‘Washington Square’.
Mickey was telling me about the new night cycling scene in Bally where a few of the lads meet up at ‘Fridgys’ house at the weekend for a few bottles and all cycle home between 2 and 4 am. He says we’re all soft going out cycling in daylight .
Whilst we were chatting Mickey said ‘Cameer an I tell ya’ a phrase that usually leads on to a request. His Brother Eamon was once driving from Bally into the neighbouring village of Clogheen when another local with a beard flagged him down. The bearded one is a great supporter of local jobs, especially those in the Bulmers factory on that particular day. As he was uninvitedly sitting into the passenger seat he uttered the immortal phrase ‘Cameer an I tell ya’ to which was added ‘Seeing as you’re going my way I’ll take a lift in as far as Bally with ya ‘. Eamon had no choice other than to turn the car around and drive back as far as Bally.
But, getting back to Mickey. The request was for four front bicycle wheels and an aero helmet for the Bally film festival incorporating the Bally go-cart race. The four roads leading from the crossroads in Bally each enter a team in the festival. The main event is the film festival which has been timed for the June Bank holiday weekend so as not to coincide with Cannes. Mickeys’ road, which sits between the Bally Hi pub and the Bally fry chipper, has been given the task of performing a play based upon ‘The Hangover part 2′. Rehearsals are coming along nicely with a 20 stone farmer volunteering to play the part of the hooker and a tiger suit being found so that the ‘Tiger’ can sit at the bar for a few pints when not needed up on stage.
Rumor has it that one of the teams has been working on an aeronautical theme for their go-cart but Mickey and his cohorts have come up with a design based upon a Garda car. I dont think either Aer lingus or Dublin Castle need be too concerned about them being an exact replica but they will all be ready to fly down the main street in Bally next Saturday evening.
Barry
www.worldwidecycles.com
Me bike is clickin !
The four worst words to be heard in a bikeshop are me-bike-is-clickin or any variation there of. It may also be described as ‘me bike is screeechin’ or my particular favourite ’tis like they do be a bird in the back wheel’. The reason why bike shops dread to see a bike coming in clicking is because it can be literally just about any part of the bike that is causing the noise. However there is light at the end of the tunnel . Below is a list of the most common wide and varied causes that can cause a bike to ‘click’ ‘knock’ bang’ ‘screech’ or ‘tweet’ ;
Simple ones first :
1 – Front derailleur cable too long or bent outwards towards crank. This can cause the crank to come into contact with the cable on each revolution causing a ‘click’ each time, usually when in the big ring. On the other side, when in the small ring it may come into contact with the rear tyre causing a ‘screech’
2- Left hand crank loose. This will cause a click with every revolution , especially when out of the saddle.
3 – A buckled wheel where the rim is joined and then rubs of the brake blocks causing a click each time.
And now for a few more difficult ones but very common all the same ;
4 – Dirt in the seat tube. Over time with a constant spray of grime which works its way into the frame via the split under the seat collar a clicking sound will be heard. It is easily diagnosed by taking note if the noise stops when out of the saddle. As long as the seat clamp under the saddle is tight then it is usually dirt in the frame causing the noise. Just remove the seatpost and clean, then clean the inside of the frame and smear anti-seize paste for aluminium seatposts in alu or steel frames or ‘fibre grip’ compound if it is a carbon seatpost or frame or both.
5 – Check the threads on the pedals. We use Shimano anti seize paste on all pedal threads when building a bike which is long lasting but ordinary grease can sometimes dry out if enough has not been applied. Remove the pedals, clean the threads and apply a good dolop of anti seize to the threads before re-fitting.
6- Check that the bottom bracket is not worn by checking for play at the cranks. If both sides have any play then it is probable that the bottom bracket is worn and as most nowadays are sealed units will need to be replaced. If there is no play and the crank bolts were tight but the noise seems to be coming from that area remove the cranks and check that the bottom bracket itself is tight. How tight should it be ? As the now BCF and former Irish National Mechanic the famous John Keegan once said ‘Tighten the f**k out of it’ Also check the chainring bolts are tight .
7 – Bars and stem – Check that all bolts are torqued correctly, 5nm is usually plenty.
8 – Check that the headset bearings are in good shape and that there is no play in the the headset. Many factory assembled bikes have that bare minimum of grease applied which can dry out and cause a click. Liberally apply plenty of grease to these bearings as any excess will always be pushed out anyway which can just be wiped off afterwards.
9 – Aluminium front dropouts can sometimes cause a creaking sound. Apply a thin coat of grease or anti-seize to each side and this problem is solved.
10 – Loose spokes are another common cause of a clicking sound so check that all are tensioned correctly. Loose retaining nuts on presta tube valves can also cause a rattling sound as can loose bottle cage bolts.
11 – Rubber seals on some wheels have a tendency to also dry out over time but a bit of grease sorts this out easily.
12 – Wheel and freehub bearings when worn will also make themselves heard. Check each wheel and the rear cassette body for play and replace if necessary. Oh yeah, that reminds me, freewheels often make noise when freewheeling or pedaling backwards, this is normal and different brands do have different sounds so don’t worry about that one.
There are a few more causes out there but these are the top 12 that we find most often.
What will often also happen is that the bike will be creaking and clicking out on the road but as soon as it touches the shop floor it stops and the mechanics test ride will find no noise whatsoever. You will take the bike home and for 10k it will run like a dream until the noise returns louder than ever. That is just the bike expressing its personality and having a little fun with you. Don’t worry about it as you’re not alone !
Barry
www.worldwidecycles.com
Hero
Late September 1985. The Master (school principal) stands in front of a room full of fourth, fifth and sixth class pupils and informs them that a big cycle race is passing nearby and that if they were interested they could all walk down to Keatings cross to watch it pass. A chorus of yesses went up and the decision was unanimous, although it probably had more to do with getting out of the classroom than any huge desire to watch a cycle race go by.
The sun was shining for the mile long walk and shortly after the group of 10,11 and 12 year olds arrive down to the crossroads which is on the main Clonmel to Ardfinnan road a Garda motorbike passes by at speed which was spectacular in its own right to the group of young school kids. Next over the brow of the hill comes a big flashy white hatchback Nissan Bluebird with lights and speakers on its roof. The car slows when it sees the gathering and stops to inform them via the speakers that the Nissan International Classic had just left the town of Clonmel on its way to Cork city via the Vee and that a local man had won that mornings time trial from Carrick to Clonmel in a record time and was now wearing a yellow jersey.
The name Sean Kelly was known to all in a rural school where sport was of huge importance but the understanding was just that he was a good cyclist who won a lot of races over in France. That was all well and good but he never played in an All Ireland for Tipp, so his status was as of yet unconfirmed. On the walk to watch the race we passed the homestead of the famous Babs Keating, a man who had a heap of All Irelands and who was in the running for managing the Tipp hurlers. That was what you’d call a famous sportsman at that crossroads an hour before the race would pass by.
The steady stream of colourful cars, one of which had three blond girls in it, and the funny sounding horns as they sped by gave rise to an atmosphere of anticipation. Then came the thump thump of a Helicopter and we were all waving mad up at the unusual sight in the rural sky. Then came more Garda motorbikes and a clutch of different coloured saloon and hatchback Bluebirds when suddenly appeared a dazzling barrage of colour. Jerseys in all the colours of the rainbow were occupied by lean hungry looking men who were aboard the shiniest looking pieces of metal which had spokes reflecting sunlight with a brightness that would rival any Hella spotlamp drilled onto the front bumper of the flashiest Ford Capri.
Then the cry went up. Someone had spotted him. ‘There’s Kelly in the yellow’. We all strained to catch a glimpse of the local lad who seemed to be the centre of all this activity. A split second glimpse was all it took for a life to change. The man in yellow really stood out from the pack. He resembled a King surrounded by his servants. In seconds they were gone and I felt a hunger in the pit of my stomach for more of this intense atmosphere that had the hairs on the back of my neck standing tall and cutting through my shirt.
Within minutes of their arrival we were all on the way back to Grange school once more. The talk was all about the cycle race and all about Kelly. Everyone was convinced that they saw him, even the student who was counting the number of cows in the field across the road at the time. Those who did actually see him all had a faraway look in their eyes. A small group of hurlers and footballers now wanted to get out on their bikes as soon as possible after school and see what it would be like to dream that they were Sean Kelly.
Four years later along that same stretch of road with one full underage racing season behind me I was out for the first time with the Carrick group. They were headed for the Vee and having joined in just outside Clonmel I was hoping to last as far as Ardfinnan. Going up Knocklofty hill and along the line I saw Kelly, in the flesh, just up ahead. His calves were like two pieces of granite shaped like rugby balls and he exuded power on the bike. The riders ahead went through and less than a mile from where I had first seen him, and heading in the same direction I was now cycling alongside Sean Kelly.
I did not know what to expect. I was starstruck and did not know what to say. A timid ‘howaya’ made its way through my mouth and he turned and looked me up and down in a glancing motion that took less than half a second. I didn’t know what was going to happen. In an instant I pictured being told to get lost, or to be asked to go to Belgium to become a pro. Neither happened. Instead he just asked ‘ Are you doing a bit of racing’, I said I was and he spent the next few minutes asking me how I was getting on and how I was enjoying it. There was no supernatural insight or no golden nugget of wisdom. Neither was there any condescending smile or smart remark. All there was, was the greatest cyclist of his generation out on his bike acting like an ordinary bloke. Except he wasn’t acting. Then and now Kelly does not see himself as above anyone else. He is a great example of someone who sees themselves as ‘just as good as everyone, but no better than anyone’.
Two weeks ago the buzzer went in the shop. I walked out of the workshop to find Sean strolling in. He stayed for a while and we had a chat leaning against the counter. That evening I sat beside him at a meeting about this years Sean Kelly Tour.
The following evening I was out in the shed on the turbo trainer watching a DVD. It’s title was The Sean Kelly story. It is as if there are two Sean Kellys. The one who is in the top five of the Greatest cyclists of all time and the local man from Carrick who is out with the group every weekend when he is home and is just one of the lads.
They say that you should never meet your hero as it usually ends in disappointment. I disagree. I’ve met mine and my life has been all the better for it. In a hundred years time ebooks will look back and tell a tale of people in Ireland and throughout the World who were greedy and power hungry. People who had no respect for themselves or anyone else. But there will also be examples of people who inspired generations. People who treated others with respect and civility. People who gave hope and who made ordinary people want to be the best that they could become. Sean Kelly will have a whole chapter in the second half of one of those books!
Barry
www.worldwidecycles.com
A touch of class
My friend Anthony is a pretty good bike rider. He has won many races including the National Road race, 25 and 50 mile TT championships all in one year. He has represented Ireland at many International races and is a double Ras stage winner. This alone would be enough to be called a classy bike rider but there is more.
This year I have been a little under the weather. I picked up a lung infection over the winter that would not move which also affected the way I was breathing. Antibiotics were having no effect so it took a day in hospital to get sorted. That was 6 weeks ago. Then 3 weeks ago an altercation with a car on a roundabout whilst cycling home for lunch gave me a present of one cracked and one broken rib.
Training wise the past six weeks have been a write off but last week I started back slowly and headed out with Anthony on Saturday for 2 hours. Without saying anything he was easing up slightly on any hills we came to and took it very handy on me.
Yesterday I headed back out with the group. I met Anthony at the usual time and we headed off down towards Carrick to meet the rest of the lads. Anthony is the second most successful rider in our training group. The most successful rider was in Belgium commentating on a bike race for Eurosport.
With a strong westerly wind the group headed on out towards Clogheen which would entail an assault on Knocklofty hill, which I was not looking forward to.
Approaching the hill which is about 600m long with an average gradient of 8% I was already under pressure as the speed was quiet high. Swinging around the left hander at the bottom with the whole hill rearing up in front I immediatley felt myself sliding backwards in the group. The rear door was open and calling me out when I looked up to see Anthony drifting back towards me. He was riding steady and just took one glance around . He drifted a little more and next thing there he was in front of me, blocking the headwind and setting a really steady pace , sitting in the saddle rolling a nice gear. Just one more glance back and he kept that same pace all the way to the top of the hill. Within a few hundred meters Anthony and Vinnie had me back up with the group and on we went.
When you are getting it hard, you don’t really want anyone making a big deal, turning around in a group asking if you are OK drawing everyone’s attention to how bad you are going. Some riders will actually ride harder if they know you are on an off day to get a scalp. It seems to be in the DNA of many a cyclist.
However, the really good bike riders, the classy ones, will look out for others who are under pressure and in a very subtle, non dramatic and quiet way help them along.
I could have had a lonely ride home on my own yesterday but a touch of class from a great bike rider meant that I could do the whole spin and be stronger for next week.
Barry
www.worldwidecycles.com
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Coming of age !
Most kids learn to pedal around the age of 2 and many are off stabilizers by the age of 4 or 5. From then on most people throughout the world are able to cycle a bike. Kids love to cycle and the freedom and independence that it offers them. They always seem to be smiling when riding their bikes.
As teenagers people either really take to the bike and get involved in BMX, Mountain biking or road riding or the bike is cast aside. At this age the world is your oyster and everyone with a mountain bike is going to be a World Champion whilst all road racers will be winning Tour de France stages within 5 to 6 years.
As the early and mid twenties approach cycling careers are either flourishing or beer, women and engines have taken over. But the bike is always there in the shed , just in case.
The thirties arrive and life settles down. Jobs, mortgages and babies have taken over. The dream of winning a stage in the Tour is now looked on as just that, a dream, although there still remains the hope of a miracle comeback which is filed in the same department as the lotto win.
The forties see a raising of the forehead and a widening of the midsection. A small event like being reminded that Mary from ‘Anything goes’ is now almost a pensioner or a visit to a doctor leads to a realisation that you are no longer 18 and capable of doing just about anything , which causes a revolt of wanting to prove to yourself that you can indeed do what you used to be able to do. The bike is taken out of the shed, dusted down and promptly returned to the shed whilst a new machine is purchased on the Bike to Work scheme (or Back to work scheme as many insist on calling it). You head back out with a group and now feel like a teenager all over again.
The fifties, sixties and seventies all mesh together. Whilst you are still aging off the bike you seem to stay the same on it. Overnight expeditions with the lads to Sportif leisure cycles all over the country make you feel like a teenager and a few races thrown in between seem to reignite that Tour stage win dream all over again. You might even buy a lotto ticket on the way home so that you could buy that Pinarello Dogma if you won.
The eighties come along and you are still on the bike. Slower now but still going out regularly. Aches and pains are now a constant companion but the bike is a source of relief .
The nineties. This is where it gets interesting. Pretty much every day as I look out the workshop window I see a cyclist on a silver Giant Expression ride past spinning a nice low gear at about 90 rpm. The Brancale helmet which was popular when Kelly was with PDM on his head along with the Sean Kelly Tour green bag on his back would catch the eye of many a cyclist but the fact that he is now 96 years old is even more attention grabbing. John once told me that he has rheumatoid arthritis and if he was not on the bike he would be in a wheelchair.
Recently this 100 year old set a new hour record ;
In Carlow town, just like many other towns throughout Ireland there is a group of cyclists that meet and train each day. The ages of the core group in Carlow are 39, 59, 69 and 79 . Most days they do a 60k spin with and average speed of 26 kph and a coffee stop in Borris at the half way point of the spin. They are so consistent that locals say that they could set their watches by the arrival of the colourful cyclists who arrive for coffee at the same time each day.
The steady consistent miles are great for staying fit but they have also made a difference when it comes to racing. The youngest of the group, Ken who just became a Vet this year has noticed a marked improvement in his performance since he began going out with the group. The consistency of the steady spin each day paid dividends recently when he finished second in a bunch sprint, a result he would never have expected before.
Not alone has his cycling benefited but as a recent member of the fatherhood club he has been amazed by the amount of helpful tips the life experience of his older training colleagues has had to offer. It is always amazing the variety of subject matter that will be covered when a group of cyclists get together out on the road and this had been an added bonus to top off the fitness benefits of this group spin.
Cycling is one of the few sports that 3 generations of a family can participate in together, and remember – No one ever grows old on a bike !
Barry
www.worldwidecycles.com
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Inspiration
Sometimes we all need a little inspiration !
Barry
www.worldwidecycles.com
Sean Kelly interview on Dutch TV
Well worth checking out this link to a behind the scenes interview with Kelly about this years Paris – Nice.
Thanks to Rene van Dam of Visit Nenagh cycling team for recommending it.
http://s.nos.nl/swf/embed/nos_video_embed.swf?tcmid=tcm-5-1215399
Barry
www.worldwidecycles.com
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Bike v Car – The road rules of survival !
Rule 1 : The rule of weight .
The average family car weighs over 1200kg. The average bike weighs 8kg .
Head to head the bike will be squashed like a fly under a doc martin boot when it comes in direct contact with a car. Even if you are totally in the right and the car is totally in the wrong forget it, you will never win in a head to head confrontation.
Rule 2 : The rule of stupidity.
As a cyclist whenever you approach a roundabout or a junction or anywhere a driver can perform any kind of stupid manoeuvre in a car, van or truck assume that they will. Always try to make eye contact with the driver. If you don’t, you can assume they don’t see you and be prepared to take evasive action .
The same applies to fellow cyclists. Presume they are all colour blind at traffic lights and deaf, also called suffering ipoditis, when passing them from behind.
Rule 3 : The rule of noise.
Your voice is your horn and should only have one tone. It should sound like an inoffensive word like ‘hey’ or ‘whoa’. This will attract the attention of a driver who does not see you but rarely antagonise them if used in moderation.
If a driver blows their horn at you assume they are being nice , either saying hello or letting you know they are coming past for your safety. There may also be the possibility that you did something stupid so take that on the chin too.
Rule 4 : The rule of responsibility.
You are responsible for your own safety on the road.
When in a group whenever you are at the front you are responsible for the safety of all those behind. Approaching roundabouts or traffic lights always drop the pace to a level where the whole group can stop if necessary. Whilst the first 4 or 6 riders may get through safely, if there are thirty riders behind you always err on the side of caution .
Rule 5 : The rule of the jersey.
There are so many custom clothing manufacturers nowadays that all clubs have full sets of winter and summer gear. Many companies and businesses also have custom clothing. When wearing club clothing you are representing all members of the club as well as all sponsors who have contributed to the club coffers and whose names are in full view on your jersey. All types of confrontations with other road users should be avoided. Treat everyone the same way you would if you were walking around your place of work in your civvies. Lycra clothing is not a license to be aggressive with other road users.
Rule 6 : The rule of keeping calm.
A guy who suffered from bouts of road rage once told me how he got passed an affliction that once landed him in court. A friend of his who is so laid back he is almost horizontal told him one simple rule. ‘If you have a choice to be right or to be kind always be kind’. So what if someone cuts you up or pulls out in front of you. Let them off and be happy knowing that you did something nice 
Rule 7 : The rule of enjoyment.
Cycling is an extremely healthy way to travel. Out there on the open road with the wind at your back and the sun shining down on you whilst moving at the perfect speed to take in the view of your surroundings. What could be better ? Enjoy it and be happy and don’t let any other road user or yourself affect your enjoyment !
Barry
www.worldwidecycles.com
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