thebike.ie

Well folks it’s that time of year for the Vuelta again and this year I’ve entered the LA GAZZETTA DELLA BICI’S VUELTA LEAGUE using the Road CC website. It looks like it will be a good competition and I’ve got a good team entered the League code is 16358. Here is my team which will obviously be challenging for the top spot ! Enter Today Folks !

Well done Dan ! Thats a high quality field he came out of there, and it took a lot of guts to attack from the front to secure the victory !

Chapeau !

Last night’s spin via google maps..

View Kilmacthomas – Portlaw – Scrouty – Mahonbridge in a larger map

I’m just working on a few more things for this to get it rocking ..

SWCC, in conjuction with Waterford branch of Down Syndrome Ireland and the Tour De Munster, will hold a charity cycle on Saturday 14th August. There will be a choice of 3 route to choose from

1. A family cycle from John Roberts Square out to Tramore and back to the RSC where refreshments will be available (cost of €20 per family of 4)

2. A 50km cycle along the coast road as far as Bonmahon and back to the RSC via the main N25 (cost €20per person)

3. A 100km cycle out as far as tramore and on to dungarvan via coast road and returning to the RSC via the n25 (€20 per person)

All routes will depart from John Roberts Square at 11am, we would appeal to all club members that are available on to day to support this event. If you don’t intent on cycling on the day and would like to offer some help with marshalling, please get on touch with either Paul Mooney or Tom O Brien, or you can leave a comment below.

Refreshments and shower facilities will be available in the RSC at the end of each route.

Sign-ons will be taken from 9.30am in John Roberts square.

We hope to see as many as possible turn up to support this very worthy case.

Leonard.

With great regret I have to announce that we will be cancelling the National Cyclocross Championships this coming weekend. A provisional date has been set as the 31st of January in the same location, however this is provisional to the park letting us use their facilities again. A second date of the 7th of February is also being looked at as a fall back.

As we all know weather conditions have deteriorated and it has made it near impossible for public and private transport for many of us throughout the country and the county. Many riders have been in personal contact letting me know that they would not be able to travel to the race due to the weather.

A decision made between the organisation committee, Off Road Commission, and College of Commissars to postpone the event today in light of conditions and a similar decision in the UK, and as we want to promote this race to all CI riders we needed to make this decision.

However the clouds do have a silver lining. If anyone is interested in riding the course in what can only be described as pristine cyclocross conditions, I would invite you to join me at the sign on area at 11am on Sunday morning. Plan is to do a few laps, then retire for coffee and cake. No licence required. I’ll be wearing DCU kit and looking eager.

Yours in sport,

Greg May, Dublin City University Cycling Club

We’ll take a look back over the year for Irish Cycling, it seems as if it hit heights never seen before on the international and national stage, and also followed up with some lows with the loss of Paul Healion. As the New Year turns we should all take a moment to remember those who are no longer with us.

Professionals

Our three European pros had one of the best seasons in a long time, Philip Deignan taking a stage win in the Vuelta, Nicholas Roche placing well with a number of top ten places in stages in The Tour De France, Dan Martin roasted Alejandro Valverde in the Volta a Catalunya and managed a 2nd overall. So lets look at the school card for each rider. (more…)

2008 FBD Insurance Rás winner Stephen Gallagher and his wife Judith are in mourning following the sad loss of their son Cody. The baby was born with a heart complaint and despite doctors’ best efforts over quite some time, he died on Thursday morning.

Gallagher had been racing with the An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly team for several seasons but spent most of this year in Ireland, caring for Cody. The team recently announced that he had decided not to resume racing with it next season due to that situation.

Cody’s funeral will be held on Monday, with the service taking place in the Armagh First Presbyterian Church at 2pm. His burial will be in the Orchard Cemetery in Richhill after the service. There will be refreshments served in the adjoining hall after the burial.

A Book of Condolences has been opened on the Juiced Orchard Website and people are invited to post a message of sympathy on this.

The link to the Book is

Cody Gallagher, Book of Condolences

Keith Gallagher has also stated that the planned ‘Cody’s Challenge’ fundraising event on the 9th January in aid of Heart Beat will still go ahead. Further details of this will be posted later.

Our thoughts are with all the Gallagher Family.

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis

Break the Cycle is an Irish DVD on the Downhill scene and lifestyle in Ireland. The trailer seems to borrow heavily from the surf video style that you see so often (check out powers of three). However it’s a tight production that should really be pushed by the likes of Board Failte and Cycling Ireland to attract people to this wonderful country that is Ireland.

More Info here

I’ve been doing a lot of reading of differing books recently, going back over some older stuff and some stuff that was published earlier this year. Some books are worth the hardship of getting thru it just to find out more about the author or the subject material.

Mark Cavendish – Boyracer

Cav has always struck me as a bell end, and a gigantic bell end at that. However, after reading this book I’m convinced he’s part depressive, part joker, and part fat boy.

The book doesn’t portray him in the best light with his eating habits and his self belief can come across as been a cock head. However he does everything with a sense of humour which belies his talents.

The only thing which has struck me since the book has come out is how much of it was dedicated to his better half, Melissa, whom he’s since dumped.

The book brings you some sharp focused opinions on his rivals, his team mates, coaches, and technology. Sharp, well more like blunt, he doesn’t hold back on Bradley Wiggins or some of the UK Coaching setup. Well worth the read.

(more…)

The Cycling World Championships is one of the most special one-day races in the cycling calendar. It is a race that throws up surprises year after year. Our own great Sean Kelly missed out on a win despite medalling twice but it is clear that as well as having good legs and stamina to burn, luck is a vital component in this extremely tough race over 260 kilometres.

(more…)

Chris Boardman’s 25-mile competition record has been broken. And it’s not the man most people suspected it would be, Michael Hutchinson, but infact our very own David McCann. Last month Hutchinson got within four seconds of Boardman’s 16 year-old record, 45-57, when he won the Hirwaun Wheelers event on the R25/3L course at Glynneath.

This time out, on Sunday, in the Port Talbot Wheelers event on the same course Hutchinson had to settle for a rare second place, with 46-07.

David McCann, 36, who has a prolific professional career behind him.Riding for the Phoenix CC, Ireland, McCann improved Boardman’s record by three seconds bringing it down to 45-54. McCann has spent most of his professional years racing in Asia where his wins include the Tour of Korea and the Tour of Indonesia. He has also won the Irish road race and time trial championships several times and in 2002 won the Manx International road race.

Looks like McCann is putting in some serious performances coming towards the World Championships

Chapeau David !

The Tour of Ireland, which starts at the Ritz-Carlton, Powerscourt on Friday, 21st August when 112 riders head out on a route across 12 counties in the three days. The 576km race has been awarded a 2.1 ranking on the UCI (the world governing body for cycling) calendar and has attracted some of the best professional teams from Europe,  USA, Australia and South Africa. The route embraces key towns and cities as well as iconic mountain passes and splendid Irish scenery.

With seven times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong bringing his Astana team to Ireland for the first time along with  Six times Tour de France stage winner Mark Cavendish (Columbia – HTC) the competition is set to be fierce.

(more…)