13th June 2016 - Bike buddies!

The dynamic duo Aine and Shauna

Shauna writes:

Shauna and Aine

Day three of bike week marked my first day cycling in Cork City, I still haven't worked up the courage to cycle to work in rush hour traffic. Instead Aine (one of my fellow bloggers) and I took our bikes out together. 

We met up on Monaghan road and took our bikes down by The Marina. This is a nice quiet road in the evenings so it was perfect area for me to ease into cycling in the city.

From there we took out bikes to along the old Blackrock Railway. We continued along there until we reached Mahon Point Shopping Centre. We travelled back along the same route.

Personally, todays cycle was my favourite so far, not only was it a great way to spend an evening with a friend but also I've only recently moved to Cork so this was a perfect opportunity for me too see some of the sights and popular areas around Cork. 

Keep updated with Shaunas adventures all week by following our Operation Transportation facebook and twitter pages. All Cork Bike Week events are available on the Cork bike Week Facebook Page.

Not living in Cork? There are events all over the country just check out www.bikeweek.ie for all national listings

Check out www.corkbikeweek.ie for similar events such as: Cork City to Cobh cycle, the womens cycling event in Carrigaline and the family fun Passage west to blackrock cycle all as part of Cork Bike Week 2016

Marquee

Aine writes:

I was more courageous today - attempted my first junction! Granted it was during the match and the roads were basically empty, but it was the perfect time to get over my fear.

I cycled down Monaghan Road and met up with Shauna. I like to have a bike buddy, I needed the motivation to go out in the rain today.

Check out the cycle hubs interesting article on the benefits of cycle with friends: Click here

Shauna

The roads today were a little tricky at times, there's work going on down at the marina so they're not in the best shape! As Shauna described we took the old railway line path just past the Atlantic Pond and cycled to Mahon Point. 

I never knew that the path existed, it was kind of by luck that we stumbled onto it. It's a great cycle, but I wouldn't venture onto it alone. It was a great second day.

If you have have a friend not so keen on cycling or just needs a push to get out and exercise have a look at these handy tips on 'How to convince your friends to cycle' website

             

JUNE 12th 2015: Meet Aisling!

The Feeling of Freedom:

AISLING WRITES: 

I’ve only gotten into cycling in the last three years.

I cycle to work most days and enjoy going for long cycles at the weekend with friends. There’s nothing like the feeling of freedom when you’re whizzing along on your bike J

Looking Beautiful in Black and Red: Aisling astride her ebony bike.

Editorial Footnote: 

When did you last feel truly free in your heart and spirit? Can you think of  a specific time in your life when this sense of freedom pulsed strongly within?

I suspect that most people will recall a time when they were probably either travelling, outdoors, with friends or engaged in some sort of vigorous physical activity. Aisling has found a way to combine all four with her cycling trips!

From: http://www.buzzfeed.com/yorkshirefestivalofcycling/42-quotes-cyclists-will-love-rk6q

But don't just take our word for it! Check out the third way to Feel Free on: http://www.wikihow.com/Feel-Free or this study of activities like hiking and biking in a focus group of older citizens:

 https://cdr.lib.unc.edu/indexablecontent/uuid:171000e6-4e75-48bb-9e60-b9c6dcdcaea7

From: http://avibrantlife.com/services/

For a more philosophical discussion on The Freedom of the Hills and the nature of Freedom this is a lovely read: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/education/downloads/2004_conference_straker.pdf

PLEASE SHARE HOW YOU "FEEL FREE" in the comments section below!

15th June Martha sets off for her first operation transportation cycle!

Martha's enjoys:

Cycling, tootling, talking,

Cycling, tootling,chatting

And a more peaceful neighbourhood

- apart from all the cycling tootling and talking....

According to Martha:

This evening after a rather hectic day, I tootled off to my local shop to put some kind of food into the house! The ten minute cycle elongated of course, with chatting! That's the great thing about the bike; meet a friend or neighbour and just tootle over at your own
ease.

Okay this isn't Martha or  Ireland for that matter. But no matter where you are on a bike, it is very easy to pull over and chat, as Martha has been finding out. Image is from www.trendy-travel.eu

While I was talking, my bike was borrowed and taken for a spin around the estate by my friends husband. When retrieved, I still had not been to the shop. So more tootling and talking along the way.

I also noticed the difference the bicyle makes to the atmosphere of a place. When a car comes, all the children run to the foot path, disrupting their games and mothers start screeching after young children not to run in front of the car. When you are on the bike, everyone smiles and salutes you and you win brownie points by efficiently retrieving roving footballs. I think I'm going to really enjoy operation transportation.



Bikes don't  splash people or disrupt play the way cars do,
although admittedly the boys in this photo may have wanted to be splashed, see: http://metro.co.uk/2008/07/07/car-puddle-soakings-new-youth-craze-252530/ for the source.