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!

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



16th June The rain didn't stop Martha from getting on the bike

Cycle in the rain!!

According to Martha:

Just back from my cycle and it was great. No such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes. The peaked cap and water proof gloves are a must. The real unpleasantness on a rainy day is getting it in your eyes, and a cap solves all that.

This is why Martha embraces cycling through the puddles!

30 seconds to get out of raingear and into my slippers. My chin got wet, which is way less than when I run out of the car in the rain. A fearless attitude and good gear and when you are in the rain it is never as bad as it sounds or looks from inside. It was great fun cycling through puddles and not fearing car splashes. Ireland, I embrace you, in all you crazy weather moods!

15th June, Shane Posts about Moll's Gap

Shane waxes Lyrical on the Beauty of Moll's Gap

According to Shane:
Extract from: http://mccarthyshane.com/operation-transportation-cork-bike-week/

I now find myself back in Killarney. I don’t think there could be anywhere more beautiful for cycling.

Three years ago I bought myself a racer and this morning I went for a spin with a friend of mine. An 82km spin at that. We travelled from Killarney to Kenmare, through the mountains, and back down through Moll’s Gap.

Sights to be seen when cycling through the majestic Moll's Gap mountainscape.

Unfortunately today was not one Kerry’s finest and most of the world-renowned scenery found itself hidden behind heavy mist and sheets of relentless rain.

After a while you forget about the rain, but what did strike me harder than any climatic elements was the amount of tourists we met cycling against us, back up through the hills and mountains.

We were kitted out in our lyrca on our light carbon bikes, whereas they wore jeans and pushed much heavier bicycles. They seemed to enjoy being out in the fresh air though, with each group we passed giving us a big wave or a thumbs up. The weather certainly did not wet their spirits, something which gave us a boost when we had 30km to go.



Even in the rain, Moll's Gap has a moody charm. Image from: http://climbingirelandsmountains.blogspot.ie/

This man below looks like the type Shane described:

From: http://ireland.guide4world.com/munster/kerry/dunloe.html