Just to let people going to the Ras na nOg race in Meath this year (2011) that there are rooms available at Newgrange Lodge in Co. Meath. The rooms are being snapped up fast so make sure to book your room on time, secure facilities available for bicycles Contact 041-9882478 for bookings our website is www.newgrangelodge.com

Great to see a new show being advertised on RTE that will show the trails for hill walking and mountain biking in Ireland. The Show is being aired on RTE 1 on Friday the 16th of June, 2010 at 19:30

The show will show Irish celebraties dicovering the wonders of the Irish countryside and I’m guess that they will travel to Limerick to visit the Coillte mountain bike trails in Ballyhoura.

More information is available on the RTE website here.

This weekend we found ourselves back in the ballyhouras which was just as well given the scale of the flooding in the rest of the country over the last few weeks. As we made our way down it rained non stop from Wexford to Ballyhoura country. The rivers along the way were swollen beyond their banks and every low lying field had become a lake, we weren’t even in the worst of it.

While the media argued the toss last week about whether this was a 1 in 800 year event or whether it was likely to occur every 10 years from now on, those in the low lying areas had the worst of all nightmares visited upon them, loosing everything, their property their businesses and all they had worked for over years. Sandbags were poor defense against the volume of water which pooled over thousands of acres of farmland and villages. Neighbour helped neighbour through day and night  to salvage whatever could be saved from the relentless attack of water. Water everywhere and not a drop to drink, as clean water supplies became contaminated with waste material. In the end little could be done except to head for higher ground.

Great to see the Ballyhoura mountain biking trails in Limerick on the TV tonight on RTE’s Nationwide Program. They got straight to the point and went to Ballyhoura and interviewed a number of people who says its is one of the best places in Ireland to go and it’s true. We’ve done it many times and even going this weekend.

Ballyhoura Trails on RTE.

On MountainBiking.ie we were one of the first websites in the country go specifically head to this Mecca of Biking to document the trails a number of years ago. We found a well structured trail and fantastic facilities.

It’s like driving into the car park of the local golf club, full car park and club house etc. They interviewed Mary O’Brien who is the recreation officer with Coillte who explained about their annual season pass costing 30 euro.

The show went on to talk about the Events and Races that are run there and they also talked to Chris from XTC mountain Bike hire who has a place there to rent bikes all year round.

Meave Baxter downhill European champion was also interviewed and told us its the best in Europe!

Well done to Nationwide for bring our sport to the masses. If you missed the show check it out on the RTE player website

We were delighted to be asked along recently to a “Mountain Bike training day” currently being run by Niall Davis and Tarja Owens of AllMountainExperience.com

We started out in a car park in South County Dublin. We can’t give the exact location as it is on Coillte land and is an “unsanctioned” location for mountain biking. See mountainbiking.ie for the official trails mountain biking is allowed on in Ireland.

Balance.

Once we have signed our medical documents, got our name tags, checked our bikes, the group was ready to descend on the mountain. But no, Niall wanted to see what sort of bunch of guys he had, so he laid down some small obstacles about 4 foot apart and we had to cycle around them. God this looks easy I thought and looking around I could see that others thought similar.

But then as the bikers start to wind their way around I could see Niall was looking for “balance” and speed. We all went into the turns fast and then faulted and had to put a foot down. He asked us to slow down and try it again. We did and we all got through.

Then he moved the markers closer to each other and we started again. Now nearly coming to a stand still I could see what he was at. Clever boy I thought!

After about 20 minutes we were ready for the hills so the 8 of us headed upward. We cycles for about 10 minutes along a forest fire road with Niall reminding us to always keep our pedals level when gliding along ready to make a maneuver or to simply keep them away from hitting anything. He then chooses a small downhill section (dog-leg shaped, as we say in golf!) through some tree with extruding wet roots and rocks.

One by one we came down the 10 meter track as Niall looked on watching as each person took it differently, some fast, some slow, some just about managing to stay on. It wasn’t steep but it demonstrated to us how we had to choose our “path” and we all did basically the same thing. We flew down and braked at the last moment and then were braking as we cornered. Niall then asked us to watch and he came down the same piece. He came down steady but swift and he didn’t take the same path we did but instead went wide and then came back into the corner and a much better angle. Obvious really but it worked. We practiced this and then moved on.

Kerb Jump.

We then cycled down to a fire road and Niall asked to demonstrate how to lift the front wheel and then lift the back wheel. We all did this till he was happy he then produced a small ramp from the undergrowth. We then lined up and Daragh from MountainBiking.ie came down the small hill and jumped the ramp. Landing both wheels on the ground with a slight uplift as he came off it was a perfect jump. We then all jumped the ramp and it was interesting to see something like a “kerb Jump” when we were kids wasn’t that easy. Each person did it differently but after we slowed down and focused on the jump and not our egos on how far we jumped, we all noticed that skill and technique was creeping it was into our day.

Bunny Hop

After that he then moved the ramp into the main fireroad and we all thought great now we can get some height and distance! Daragh was looking worried and thinking will his dodgy elbow be able to the jump in the place he broke it only a year ago.

But then Niall went up the ramp from the hard side and bunny hoped the back wheel up the ramp and continued as in the picture with one of us in red beside this. We all did this and some even did it really slowly but it was very defined and clear in its execution. We all discussed that we all biked most weekend and yet we never really trained at mountain biking, instead we all had “lucky Landings” and managed to get through things. Today was about Traing and breaking down each skill into its basic structure and wiht time and practice the speed would come.

Track Stand

We were all happy wtih our progress and we moved onto to the next stage. Cycling for a few minutes we stopped in a slightly uphill clearing. Niall  them demonstrated a basic track stand. This is where you balance on the bike, not touching the brakes or the ground. Niall demonstrated this skill and explained its importance. We all practiced this and I was waiting to see Daragh as this is one of his specialities as he used to be on the track “fixer” when we were in school and he was also a bike courier in Dublin. So he did it and it was easy, Niall then made a small cirle with some markers and we all moved around the circle like musical chairs and who ever put their foot down was knocked out. So of course Daragh and Niall were the last in the circle! It ended a draw.

Switch-Backs

We then did a small twisting wet downhill section and worked our way to the last section of the training session. Niall brought us to a single-track trail with loads of switchbacks. Niall made me go in front of him for a small section of this was he wanted to see how I was progressing. He then made us all go through the uphill and the winding single-track trail observing how we worked it. It wasn’t a case of power but a case of using all our skills we had learned through out the day. We all stumbled through it Niall glided uphill easily… grrrrrr!!!!!

Once we got to the top we turned and came downhill choosing the correct path and speed he had advised us on. We all came down and we were delighted with our day.

To Summarize

You are never to old to learn and after going through this Training sessin with Niall we all understood ourselves and our sport better. Niall is an excellent tutor and is very clear and precise in his methods of teaching. He pays attention to all his students and you get great personal instruction.

I would highly recommend this training course. Niall can customise courses for beginners to advanced. contact Niall on www.allMountainExperience.com for details.

The lack of trails on the east coast is beginning to take its toll on Ballinastoe. The trail here is becoming more and more ragged as the summer season gets into full swing. The level of traffic up in Ballinastoe at the weekends is very high. The bikers arrive at 7:30 am and are on the trail by 8:00. A steady stream continues throughout the day. Certain spots along the trail are very ragged and in need of drainage improvements. There is not enough parking spaces and no other facilities available. But hey we can live with all that because we’re hardy bikers and we are used to having no facilities. However what caught our attention this weekend was that the trail on the outward loop near the summit, where recent felling had been carried out, was now completely obscured by fallen trees. Perhaps someone should write a report on this?

Had my first spin up Mount Leinster yesterday, great venue, just wondering if there is anyone out there with info on the tracks as “yes” i did get lost! Sat Nav got me back to the car park but if I could get an idea from someone of the places to go up there it would be great.

An interview carried out by mountainbiking.ie and one Shimano user.

When did you first try Shimano?

I have been a user now for about twenty three years. I was introduced to shimano by friend when I was about thirteen. At that age I didn’t know any better. I hadn’t a chance. Back in the 80′s it was new to the Irish market and people didn’t know much about it. Most of it came from the UK but it originated in Japan. The Japanese market was flooded with it. Europe at the time was more used to a less harmful groupset from Italy. Campagnolo had been around for a long time and was actually considered safe to use. I remember my dad even talking about it quite openly. Little did I know I was later to have a brush with campagnolo too.

What got you started on Shimano?

At first it wasn’t so serious. I needed a back deraileur and I had enough money at the time to buy something other than a huret sachs. My friend advised me that I should try the Shimano. He didn’t realise what he was doing. He had been a campagnolo user for years and had no real problem but he had heard that Shimano was just as good and was a little cheaper. So upon his advice I bought a Shimano-600ex. It was so light – I didn’t think such a light thing could do any harm. The polished aluminium was seamless. I could fit it in the front pocket of my Levi’s without any disomfort. I went home and fitted it. As soon as it was on the bike I couldn’t take my eyes off it. The rest of the bike looked old and worn. People noticed it too. New deraileur Dunner?, they would say. But I was already needing more. 

When did it become a problem for you?

The next time I would try it was when I needed a new block. Blocks are a thing of the past now as cassettes dominate the market. I went again for Shimano-600. Then the front deraileur, then the chainset, then the brakes, the gear leavers then the hubs. Bit by bit it took more of a hold. I was an addict at the age of thirteen. 

Then something happened. A car crash. The bike was destroyed and would have to be replaced. I spent a month in hospital and was given morphine for the pain. It was no use though I needed Shimano. This time it had to be Dura-Ace. I was an addict. When I recovered I started working as a bicycle courier during the summer. It payed fairly well and gradually I built up an entire groupset of Shimano Dura-Ace. There was one other Dura-Ace user in my school he is still heavily using Shimano.

How did you stop using Shimano?

I eventually weaned myself off the Shimano. Somewhere deep within, I had the strength. What helped me was a switch from road biking into mountain biking. Mountain biking was less pureist. Groupsets were mixed. The components were less refined they were bulkier and slightly less appealing. Of course there would be Shimano mixed in but nothing like pure Dura-Ace. My self esteem improved and I met my wife. We now have two fantastic children.

What do you think of Shimano replacements?

The millennium  brought in a new wave of components. The United States and Europe were becoming concerned at the level of Shimano addiction. Shimano Replacement Addictive Methodone or SRAM originated from the huret sachs camp and is being introduced as a substitute to the stronger Shimano. The experts felt that if they weaned people off the Shimano using SRAM, they could control the addiction, but it too appears to be taking hold in the entire peleton. The winner of this years Giro was a self confessed SRAM user. It’s becoming socially acceptable now to use SRAM and for some it’s the component of choice. At least with Shimano you could rely upon it – it was clean. With SRAM, who knows what you are actually going to get?

What would you say to someone who is thinking of trying Shimano?

My advice for anyone out there is to stay away. These components are incredibly addictive especially to teenagers. It was once though that a Campagnolo component was ok here or there but it acts as a gateway to stronger lighter components such as SRAM and Shimano. I am fairly clean now but I have never fully gotten off the Shimano. It’s something I have to live with. I still use Shimano hubs and pedals on a regular basis. I have tried SRAM but it made me nauseous. Campagnolo is fine, it is obviously good quality and, I have used entire chorus groupset, but it doesn’t give you the same buzz. I don’t think I will ever be totally free of  Shimano – its part of who I am now. All I can do is take one step at a time.

For Shimano Addiction advice please log onto www.mountainbiking.ie

Daragh talks openly about his struggle with his addiction to shimano

I love the weekends. The opportunity to spend that extra hour in bed. The fact that you can take a full hour to eat your breakfast and have two cups of coffee instead of one, sets me up for the day. Then there is the opportunity to get your leg over – The bike I mean. So last weekend was a long one, which made it all the better, except for one problem; whether to put on the SPD’s or leave on the flat pedals.

It’s the age old problem that all mountain bikers face. The tear between the head and the heart. Your head tells you that you can’t afford to fall on that left arm again but the heart tells you that you need that extra control (so you can go for it!). I was getting the bike ready to put into the van and decided to put an extra bottle cage on because the weather was hot last weekend. I gave it a check over and was just about to put the tools away when my eye caught them. Those big black ugly flat pedals, laughing at me. I might as well have had stabilizers on the bike. I was ashamed.

What would the neighbours say? ‘There he goes’, they would think. ‘The big fat wus’. Even the trees would laugh at me I thought, and I had been on the receiving end of them before.

So off I went and dug out the clippies. I swore I wouldn’t use them again, but I just couldn’t help myself. The bike smiled at me, as I wound the tasty shimano’s onto the cranks. The other things were thrown into the toolbox with contempt. A warm feeling came over me. Once again I felt like a man. For this day I would be the Hoff. If only they made leather jackets for mountain bikers, I thought. The hairs on my chest curled as I sat on the saddle. To the mountain…

The bike and I were One that day. The japanese pedals had an air of zen about them. Perhaps they were purified in the shimano factory. Was this enlightenment? Was I buddha? Who was asking that question? Was the question being asked at all? As I wound my way around the trail I encountered many past lives. I could see myself in previous crashes, lying face down in gorse bush, feet still attached to the pedals. Crash after crash came to my all seeing eye feet and pedals welded together in each one. Could shimano be the cause of all suffering and endless rounds of birth and rebirth?

This must be the significance of non attachment, I thought. I was enlightened. This is what the buddha meant. To allow oneself to become attached by pedal or any other means would result in endless rounds of rebirth.

So be warned…

Ballinastoe Car Park

Originally uploaded by mountain_biking

This is the start from the lower car park at Ballinastoe Mountain Biking Trail