Introducing Thomas - Read his 4 day cycling adventure!

Thomas joins the OT team!

Hi all! I will start by describing my bicycle history from the last few years. So where do I start, I have had a mountain bike (belonging to my son) in my shed for the last 10 years and in April 2015 I decided it was time to dump or use the bike.
I brought the same bike to "Garden shed " bicycle shop situated off Barrack Street in Cork for an assessment and I was informed that an expenditure of 80/100 euro would get me back on the road,new tyres/brakes/service etc On collection of my bike I was also shown how to use the gears etc this was June 2015 and I cycled home to Ballintemple. I went for 1 small cycle ( 1 hour) in July 2015 and nothing since until last Saturday 11th June 2016 as part of Operation Transportation!

Thomas writes:

My diary is as follows:

Sat June 11

Thomas and Dale

Took my bike out of the garage and saw that the tyres needed some air so I went to my bag of cycling goodies(anytime Lidl or Aldi had bicycle stuff the following were purchased, pumps of different styles/repair kit/saddle cover/lights/gloves/tops etc) It was about 4 pm when i pumped up the tyres.

Note: ALDI often have bicycle gear on special offer and most of the time is equipment is just as good as big name brands!! Keep an eye using these links: ALDI & LIDL

At around 6 pm I went for a ride and did about 10 minutes, I was very wobbly at start but got there. Confidence grew as time went on!

Thomas on South Mall

Sunday 12th June
Today I cycled bike to and from church, it was a round trip of about 12 mins, nothing major to report

Monday 13th
After the Ireland vs Sweden match I cycled to my friends house, it was about a 15 minute ride, it was very windy so found journey difficult enough. I took a different route home and avoided the hills!
I am getting used to the cars and the road surface which is bad in places! 

Pumping the tyres on 11th June for the week of cycling

Tuesday 14th
Left home at 7pm and returned home just after 7.55pm. I went into city centre, cycled in Blackrock road/Oliver plunkett street/south mall/ southern road/Douglas road etc
I am getting more used to using the bike and my "bum" is getting used to saddle! I also cycled up all the hills I came across this evening (yesterday I walked up one hill but this evening I cycled up this hill)

Read this great article to avoid getting a sore bum: SADDLE SORE?

I was stopped behind 2 cars at traffic lights on south mall and took a selfie, after the lights went green and we all moved off the car in front of me stopped and driver got out and asked me " did I do something wrong??" he noticed me taking the selfie and thought I was taking a photo of his car,I explained I took a selfie and we all went on our merry way!

Thomas finishes by saying: "Cycle paths in the city centre are a little confusing, they are there one minute and then gone the other, a little Good/ bad/ugly!!!!"

Overall I am delighted with my progress, from being very wobbly/sore on Saturday to enjoying the ride today!

14th June - Busy is the new happy!

Shaunas Operation Transportation Day 4

Shauna writes:

Today was quite a busy day for me so I knew I wasn't going to get out on the bike for too long. But luckily cycling is a great way to squeeze some physical activity into your day. 

Why bike??

I set off just after work, like the previous night I started off by cycling down by The Marina, from here I continued along into Blackrock. 

Now at this point I had been planning on taking the same route back but I suddenly got brave and decided to return via the Blackrock road.

It was only 5.30pm so the road was still quite busy and it was a little scary at times with cars passing by me and the road being so narrow. 

However, I managed to get home in one piece and thanks to my spontaneous decision to return that way I feel as if I'm becoming slightly more confident cycling on the road!

Shaunas route

Check out these top tips on how to cycle safe when on roads:
Click here

12th June 2016 - Country road cycling in Limerick

Sunday cycle to Newcastle West

Shauna writes:

Luckily for me the weather was much better today which allowed me to go out for longer on my bike. I was meeting friends for lunch today a so I decided I would cycle from my home house in County Limerick to the nearest small town (Newcastle West) where I was having lunch. This is roughly about 9 km, it is mostly downhill. So I set off about 40 mins before i was due to meet my friends.

I wanted to allow myself enough time as this is not a regular thing for me and was unsure of how long it would take. Again cycling in the countryside is very easy because there is little to no traffic on the roads. As I got closer to Newcastle West there were a few more cars on the road. However as it was Sunday it was quieter than usual so I wasn't too concerned about  cycling on the road.

Interested in cycling a quiet road nearby you, cycle Ireland have a route finder just for you! Click here to see more

When I eventually got to town, I noticed how little places there are to secure a bike. This is something I wouldn't have noticed before as I would normally drive or get a lift to town. It is a real inconvenience for anyone that would cycle regularly into town. In the end I had to lock it to a lamp post in the main town square because there were very little options for locking it.

Some foolproof advice on locking your bike and other tips on preventing your bike from getting stolen: see here

The journey home was a little harder as it was uphill. I wouldn't be used to cycling regularly so this was a bit of a battle for me. I took a break at the top for a few minutes to take a drink.

Later that evening I had to call to a neighbours house, normally this would be a journey I would do by car or on foot. I decided to take the bike,  my younger brother and our dogs decided to come along for the trip. 

Taking the bike was much faster and more convenient for a small trip like this. My younger brother would cycle a lot so he was thrilled that I was going out on the bike with him.

Overall today was very enjoyable and I'm getting more user to being back on the bike!

12th June 2016 - Uphill climbs and Pothole Dives all in the name of that calorie burn!

 

DONNACHA VENTURES OUT ON DAY 1:

 

 

Donnacha writes:

 

I was away for the weekend with family so didnt get to start until I got home this evening. There is a nice and challenging loop right outside my door so I set off towards Bandon. Storm Desmond and Storm Frank has left many a legacy on that stretch so it is not a road to lose concentration on! Fortunately Sunday evening meant it was quiet.

 

One consequence of these resiliant storms was every cyclists nightmare - POTHOLES!

Learn how you can deal with them here: Cyclists Guide to Dealing with Potholes



 

I  turned off before I came in towards the mart and came back towards Kilmacsimon where I popped down to see if there was any boats on the water.

 

The calm water at Kilmacsimon

 

 

The break at the watersedge was a welcome few minutes rest before the 1 mile steep climb home - not one for the faint hearted! I got to the top surprisingly easy although I am sure I could pay for that in the morning! Got home just in time for tea - feeling good!

 

 





An impressive distance travelled and amount of calories burned by Donnacha after his first trip!



 

**FUN FACT**:
With the 605 calories Donnacha burned could eat; 3 49g Snicker Bars OR 1 cup of cornflakes with half a cup of milk, an apple, 3 grilled chicken breasts, a baked potato and a cup of steamed broccoli!!
 

 

 

 Continue to follow Donnacha's journey back on two wheels here and on:

Facebook



 

 

  

12th June 2016 - Sight seeing in Scotland

Michael tours Edinburgh

Michael writes:

I went cycling around seeing all the lovely sights of Edinburgh today. The city is reminding me of how much I enjoy cycling. The weather was cloudy and rainy but the sights really made up for the bad weather. 

For all the info on cycling and walking in Edinburgh check this LINK

My favourite site in Edinburgh is the castle. I couldn't get my bike up the hill with all the tourists so I walked up with it and saw it as a good opportunity to get a photo with my bike and the castle in the background.

For all those historians out there follow HERE to discover all things interesting on Edinburgh castle!

Michael in front of Edinburgh Castle

There is a great buzz around the city with the Fringe festival coming up later in the summer. It really adds to the enjoyment of cycling in the city. I return to Ireland tomorrow to continue my cycling adventure. 

Planning a trip to Scotland? The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is an event not to be missed! For more info:Click here

Fringe Festival

11th June 2016 - Michael's trip to Edinburgh

Hills, hills, hills!

Michael writes:

I am currently in Edinburgh. Unfortunately there is limited opportunity for cycling today.

I got out for a cycle for about 15 minutes in and around the city. 

VERY HILLY!!! 

Its fun going down the hills on my bike but not fun trying to go up them.

Check out these tips on how to approach and tackle those nasty uphill cycles: Click Here

 I'm here until Monday and hope to take in more of the sights on my bike. Hopefully I'll get a picture by Edinburgh Castle tomorrow with my bike. 

Edinburgh

11th June 2016 - Shauna takes to the country roads

Shauna re-sparks her love of cycling!

Shauna writes:

Today marked the start of National Bike Week, when I was younger I would have cycled quite bit and really enjoyed it. But as I got older I found myself rarely taking the time to go out for a cycle so when I got the opportunity to take part in Operation Transportation 2016 I was excited as it would give me the opportunity to get back on the saddle. 

I have only ever cycled in the countryside or in a small town so I am not comfortable or confident about cycling with large volumes of traffic.

So I decided to ease myself back into it so I went for a short cycle on a fairly quite country road where I knew there wouldn't be too many cars. 

It was great to get out on a bike again, however, the weather wasn't in my favour and it rained quite heavy for most of my cycle.

During the cycle I didn't encounter too much traffic, but as it was quite a narrow road I often had to stop and step in off the road to let cars pass. This was annoying because with the rain the ground was wet and mucky. 

Despite the weather I enjoyed getting out and about again. I'm looking forward to the rest of the week, I'm hoping that as the week goes on I will get more confidence cycling in areas where there is more traffic. 

Have a look at this link for some great tips on how to cycle safely in traffic and busy roads
CLICK HERE

See how Shauna deals with the change of scenery and the hectic streets of busy city life!

12th June 2016 - Biking in Ballincollig, Aine's day out

Aine gets back on her bike

Aine writes:

"Went on my first cycle in a few years today! I was a little nervous picking up my bike,what would happen if I couldn't remember how to cycle? The rest of the week would be a disaster!" 

"Thankfully, I had no problem at all. We went to Ballincollig Regional Park so I had plenty of room to test the bike and get comfortable with it. We stayed on the main paths for the first while, but I quickly got a little more adventurous and we tried some of the more off-road trails." 

"The short cycle that we had planned turned into 2 hours. The park is a great place to go for a cycle, we never realised that the ruins of the gunpowder mill are in the middle of the park." 

"The bike was great for the main path, and really light. The off-route trails were a little harder, I might stay away from that in future - nearly had an accident!"

"The only negative from today - I need to get a bell for my bike and some waterproof gear. Definitely should invest in a bike rack, there was a bit of a struggle with two bikes." 

Why not check out this website for info and useful tips on what type of bicycle should you buy, different bikes and various terrains: Click HERE 

     

Aine finishes up by saying "Looking forward to getting out again tomorrow, I'm more confident now so might try something a little more difficult!"

             

Follow Aine's daily adventures here all week! Has she got the cycling bug?

Introducing Michael

Drum roll please....

Introducing our first Operation Transportation blogger of 2016.......Michael! 

Michael has decided to sign up to Operation Transportation as it was an opportunity for him to get back into the routine of cycling once again, especially while the weather is nice and to attend events around the city during Cork Bike Week 2016.

Michael used to cycle on a regular basis growing up as he lived in the countryside. He really enjoyed it as he used to cycle to meet up with friends and to get to any match that he may have had. It also gave him a sense of independence as he did not have to depend on his parents taking him places.

            

 Michael now owns a car which makes it more convenient for him to get places but unfortunately with the weather we have sometimes in Ireland it does not encourage him to get out & hop on a bike.

             

 Michael would like to cycle more as it is a great way of getting fit while also being able to see some great scenery on some of the routes he could cycle.

Fingers crossed Michael gets the weather as he shares his stories and cycle adventures with us 

Follow Michaels journey throughout Bike Week here and on: 

facebook and twitter

Why not check out Cork Bike Week events 11th -19th June

Click: www.corkbikeweek.com

Operation Transportation is back!

It is that time of year again, the countdown is on! The recruitment of 6 new Operation Transportation bloggers is well and truly under way, watch this space!

Follow our facebook and twitter pages for more updates

Why not check out what events are nearby you for Cork Bike Week 16 

Click here! 

17th June Dan Boyle takes a cycle down the Marina!

A Bike "walk" down the Marina

According to Dan Boyle:

No formal Bike Week event today so I've taken the bike for its usual 'walk' along the Marina stopping in Blackrock for a coffee.
It's been raining incessantly for 24 hours so there are plenty of puddles -some pond like!



The marina under sunshine. Photo by Adrian on www.inyourfootstops.com



14th June; Here comes Martha!

Martha goes from E-Cars to E-bikes
(and other more Low-Tech options...)

Martha was one of the Esb electric car ambassadors earlier this year.

See her photo below from when she met with the Lord mayor:

 Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr John Buttimer with Cork’s ESB ecar
Ambassadors, Martha Doyle and Eoghan O’Donoghue with their electric cars outside City Hall.
From: http://www.esbecarsblog.ie/meeting-the-lord-mayor-of-cork/

As one of the three people chosen for a year long amassadorship, Martha is well used to blogging. Here is how the ESB described her:

Martha Doyle is a primary school teacher, living in east Cork with her husband and two sons. She is a keen environmentalist and has maximised the energy efficiency of their home in a number of innovative ways, for example collecting rain water which she uses to water her vegetables.

She has also facilitated six global action plan courses to raise awareness about environmental matters. Her hobbies include growing fruit and vegetables, music, reading, and writing. 

Martha describes herself as "a keen bike user, but because of my children I haven't cycled regularly in some time."

She has a folding bicycle and an electric bicycle and of course an ordinary bicycle!
Before Operation Transportation she said:
"I currently walk my children to school everyday, but I might bring them in the bicycle trailer for the trial as my youngest is now big enough."

We are not sure yet what sort of trailer she'll be using, but we reckon that Martha would like the Eco- attributes of this one, which seems to be made from recycled polystyrene??

From: http://www.paulstoys.blogspot.ie/index.html#297853643222161709 where you can see a video about how the trailer was made.