18th June 2015, Allison shows us how to integrate cycling with car-travel, work, meeting friends and being pregnant!

The Little Things of Joy

Allison Writes:

Today I had to meet my husband in town where he was borrowing a car for us to drive out to Macroom for a prenatal check up (8 weeks to go!).  

Little things of joy are on the cards for Allison
 in 8 weeks time, but, until then,
she is still badgering about on her bike...

The Bromptons served us both well, as we ran about town getting a few things done here and there, over to the bank, meet-up, then with no fuss: fold-up and load-up the bikes into the boot of the car and drive cross-country.  

Brompton bikes are the ultimate in functionality.  

One of our favorite cycles is out to dinner at Monk's Lane in Courtmacsherry, great dinner and great bike parking in the courtyard!

Get more advice here: 

Meeting Cycling Friends in Monk's Lane, Clonakilty

Editor's Footnote- on Pregnancy, Cycling & CHOCOLATE:

Firstly, I was surprised (and rather delighted) to realise that Allison is able to cycle in her third trimester. As an avid cyclist I had often wondered what I would do in the same situation. So of course, I wanted to find out more. 

From: http://totalwomenscycling.com/lifestyle/mums-corner/cycling-while-pregnant

This site: http://totalwomenscycling.com/lifestyle/mums-corner/cycling-while-pregnant has some excellent tips on cycling while pregnant- like raising the handlebars to accommodate the bump and putting padding between you and the saddle. I particularly like the line about not soldiering on: "just because your friend cycled herself to hospital to give birth"!

From:
https://simplybike.wordpress.com/

You can pick up more prenatal pregnancy tips here:
 http://www.bikeradar.com/beginners/gear
/article/cycling-while-pregnant-tips-and-advice-39306/

and from this lovely personal blog here: 

https://simplybike.wordpress.com/2011/05/24/

cycling-while-pregnant-the-third-trimester-and-dealing-with-sua/

***************************************

Secondly, regarding the CHOCOLATE: An intriguing article about the possible pre-natal benefits of chocolate was discovered on one of Allison's own online sites: http://www.sunwarrior.com/news/eat-chocolate-pregnant/ 

Dark Chocolate: Preventative medicine for Pregnant mums?
 Prescription Take > 5 times per week!
 http://www.sunwarrior.com/news/eat-chocolate-pregnant/

According to this article, chocolate is rich in nutrients linked with a reduced risk of pre-eclampsia- namely magnesium and theobromine..It mentions a study in Yale University which showed that those who consumed five or more servings a day had the most marked advantage: http://news.yale.edu/2008/04/30/chocolate-may-be-boon-pregnant-women-yale-study-shows

Unusually you can actually read most of the detail here: 
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/
articles/PMC2782959/ 
I could see no references to who funded the study, but no disclaimers either...
So if pregnant- eat chocolate- the darker the better- maybe even Allison's Chocolates:
http://clonakiltychocolate.comJust keep it to around an ounce of pure cacao/6 cups of hot chocolate for caffeine concern reasons... http://www.livestrong.com/article/535912-is-cocoa-bad-for-pregnant-women/

18th June 2015 - Navigating the Northside - Martin's cycle

OH WHAT A SIGHT....

Martin writes:

Today I varied up my route.... 

I started off on Tadgh Barry Rd, its amazing to see the amount of ground that Apple Computers covers. 

Farranree Church

I then headed down Kilmore Rd to Churchfield, turned left passed Telecom Eireann exchange to Farranree and across Churchfield. 

Shandon Church

Stopped outside LeisureWorld and took in the view of some of the buildings in the city, North Cathedral, Shandon Tower and the Elysian tower, before heading home via Harbour View Road.  

18th June 2015 - Marcia picks up the pace on a sun drenched evening!

Sun, sights and scenery

Marcia writes:

Chris and I headed out together this evening for our Operation Transportation cycle, but he turned right at the end of the estate and I turned left. I've no idea where he went; my cycle turned into a bit of an adventure.

I had left the dog at home this evening, deciding to go it alone. I missed her company but it was great to be able to pick up the pace a bit. 

Another beautiful evening, the setting sun turning all it touched into gold. I hadn't expected to get as far as Blackrock Castle but when I did, spotting St. Luke's brought back all sorts of poignant memories of my Dad and I turned left along Castle Road.

Dropping the pace, dawdling, thinking and looking around. It's fantastic how much one can spot from a bike. Pushing up Skehard Road, I was delighted to come along a cycle path and enjoyed using it all the way to Mahon Point.         

                              

Could do with a bit of resurfacing, though! Cut across at Mahon Point back to the by now deserted line and pelted it back to Passage West to beat the dark

Check out Marcia's route and some general info + downloadable map click here: 

Passage West - Blackrock route

Marcia finishes by saying: "Three cheers for these fantastic cycle routes" 

17th June Allisons refills Clonakilty Shops with Freshly-Cycled Chococlate

Making Cake while the Sun Shines

Wednesday 17th -Allison Writes:

Today I fell in love with my Brompton all over again.  

I use my little fold-up for chocolate delivery rounds of the town and it has this amazing clip on front carrier, that makes this a piece of cake.  

How to unfold a Curled up Brompton from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folding_bicycle 

So today's cycle was purely functional, I spent about an hour cycling to and fro, parking up, dropping off stock and running errands.  It was a stunning day in Clonakilty and it is meant to stay this way all week - yip!

Clonakilty viewed from the bike of a Chocolatier

Editor's Footnote:

When I first read Allison's text i thought she had a carrier on her bike that actually made a piece of cake! (Well she is an enterpreneurial chocolatier!) 

I had all sorts of Chitty-Chitty Bang Bang style inventions sprouting in my imagination...- like the sorts of contraptions depicted by Heath Robinson and his american counterpart: Rube Goldberg..
And then I inserted a strategic comma...

Afternoon tea and cake Heath Robinson style from:
http://www.chrisbeetles.com/publications/william-heath-robinson-1872-1944-2011.html

A Bicycle machine and other "inventions" from the notebooks of Rube Goldberg

17th June 2015 - Aisling's Lunchtime Cycle in Fitzgerald's Park

Lunchtime fun in the sun...

^{Aisling writes:}

Today I took part in the lunchtime cycle to Fitzgerald’s Park as part of Cork Bike Week.

The sun was shining as we left Cork City Hall.

Fitzgerald's Park

We cycled along  Anglesea Street, turned right onto Copley street, onto Georges quay, over the bridge, onto South Mall and Grand Parade and then left onto Washington street and straight to Fitzgerald’s Park. 

The park was alive with sounds of the live music and there was a sea of bikes as we entered the park. I grabbed my sandwich and joined my friends on the grass and soaked in the atmosphere.

www.disboards.com

I have to congratulate the organisers of this brilliant event. My one regret was that I didn’t take a half day from work so I could have stayed longer in the park.

    Check out some of Cork Bike Weeks

    other events this week - Click here

Some of Cork Bike Weeks Events to watch out for!

• UCC to CIT’s Secret Cycle Routes
• Cycle Art Exhibition
• Cycling Singles and Mingles   

15th, 17th June 2015 - Ballincollig and beyond, Eithne's cycle with a friend

Its more fun with a bike chum!

Eithne writes:

Inniscarra

Apologies for my absence of blogging over the last few days, been a busy Mom with a few sick boys. 

No cycling for me on Monday after a busy weekend and so Tuesday evening I went for a short cycle with a friend of mine who has not been on a bicycle in a few years.

We met in our estate in Ballincollig and I suggested a 15km route that I do quite regularly. We headed towards the Poulavolane roundabout in Ballincollig and turned left out towards the Anglers Rest, past Muskerry Golf Club and then left towards the R618 (Inniscarra Rd) This was a lovely spin then downhill towards the Regional Park, we stopped off for a coffee and a chat.

My friend was delighted with her conquest and I think she will be joining me for the rest of the summer.

On Wednesday then, I managed to get on my bike at 4.30pm, I cycled some of the same route but headed towards Dripsey.

I was under time constraint as per usual so didn't quiet make it to the village, nevertheless I managed to cover 30km so was happy with the workout. 

Passing Granny Griffins I was very tempted to stop for one of their delicious scones, I pedaled on! :-) 

Griffins Garden Centre, Drispey

Check out this great list of restaurants to grab lunch when you are out on your cycle in and around Cork:

CLICK HERE

             

17th June 2015 - Why We Love An Evening Cycle (And You Should, Too!)

As dusk was falling.......

Marcia writes:

I enjoyed a grand easy-paced evening cycle as my Operation Transportation commitment tonight. 

I took only the bigger dog this time - the little one makes me torturously slow. By the time I was done in the shop and chatting outside, dusk was falling.....

Glorious time for cycling!

 The perfume of honeysuckle wafting on a gentle warm breeze ... herons squalking while flying home to roost ... dense black clouds of homing rooks overhead. Best progress of all: I MADE IT UP THE HILL!!!

As dusk falls

Why not check out some of these cycle routes in Cork and enjoy a nice evening cycle like Marcia! Click here: www.mapmyride.ie