tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43951209629707506762024-03-14T09:24:56.624+00:00the muse-etteRandom musings of an Irish cycling obsessive.Foxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03371916895010842207noreply@blogger.comBlogger164125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395120962970750676.post-44365570464544497272015-11-27T15:05:00.001+00:002015-11-28T16:14:11.873+00:001959- My bike-racing year
I recently got an email from a fellow former Eagle CRC member by the name of Rob Norton. He was writing to correct a mistake I made on another post. I had attributed the photos on this post to be from 1958. Rob is certain they're from 1959. And how is he so certain? Well, Rob features in one of the photos, and only raced for one year...1959.
While his racing career may have been shortFoxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03371916895010842207noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395120962970750676.post-68698918332722941102015-07-21T21:35:00.000+01:002015-07-21T21:49:27.558+01:00Alpe d'Huez by Peter Cossins
Over time certain sporting venues become iconic. Sometimes because of the historic events that are held there, sometimes because of legendary performances, sometimes because of their own inate grandeur or beauty. Football has Wembley and the Maracana, tennis has Wimbledon, triathlon has Kona and Formula 1 has Monaco.
Cycling is lucky enough to have several such venues, from the bergs of Foxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03371916895010842207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395120962970750676.post-39355449945332109752014-10-25T18:10:00.001+01:002014-10-25T18:15:43.177+01:001987 FBD Rás Tailteann
Footage showing two stages of the 87 Rás, into Bundoran and Sligo.
Foxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03371916895010842207noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395120962970750676.post-61469981761546079092014-07-15T22:02:00.002+01:002014-07-16T15:09:35.095+01:00The Arenberg Trench
Watching Stage 5 of this years Tour brought me back to when we went over to see the similar stage in 2010. It seems like another age now as we watched pre-admission Lance chasing after the leaders following a puncture, or Sylvain Chavanel on his Yellow and Green bike reflecting his leadership in both coloured jersey classifications, or the champions jersey train of the World Champion, Cadel Foxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03371916895010842207noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395120962970750676.post-16600546305945802542014-04-27T12:00:00.002+01:002014-04-29T12:03:24.630+01:00Guinness was Good for Cycling
Back in the mid-80's one of the biggest backers of cycle sport in Ireland was the country's best known company, Guinness. The hard work of a few smart operators in the Irish cycling scene cultivated contacts in the company, and its advertising agencies, converting their interest in the sport into hard cash to back clubs and races.
Dublin's Emerald CRC, the home of many of the top riders in the Foxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03371916895010842207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395120962970750676.post-29934732880240936912014-03-20T13:23:00.003+00:002014-04-29T12:02:06.821+01:001982 Carlsberg Tour of Ireland
This is a great video of the 1982 Carlsberg Tour of Ireland. It features several sadly missed faces from the Irish cycling scene as well as some of the best riders of the era, including Martin Earley, Alan McCormack, Billy Kerr, Lenny Kirk, Jamie McGahan, Stephen Delaney, Brendan Madden, Mark Bell and the Raleigh Olympic Squad (including Gary Thomson, Davy Gardiner, Paul Kimmage, John McQuaid Foxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03371916895010842207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395120962970750676.post-36159583531460463712014-01-29T18:35:00.001+00:002014-04-29T12:04:33.375+01:00Calor Kosangas Coast to Coast 1983
This is a highlights package of the 1983 Coast to Coast. Stage 1 was from Lucan to Birr, stage 2 from Birr to Galway and stage 3 the marathon ride from Galway back to Dublin. The quality's not great but it features some very well known faces of Irish (and Scottish) cycling of the era.
Foxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03371916895010842207noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395120962970750676.post-64554004299184325492014-01-19T18:10:00.001+00:002014-01-19T18:11:58.950+00:00From the archives:1950's Road Racing in Ireland
Here's another set of pictures from Dad's photo archive.
This is a mixed set showing various aspects of the Irish road racing scene in the 1950's.
As before we've made every effort to put names to faces and places. If you can fill in any blanks and/or spot any mistakes please let us know.
Clicking on a photo will open the set in a gallery.
Dun Laoghaire Grand Prix 1955.
The riders Foxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03371916895010842207noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395120962970750676.post-2188221970633683372014-01-15T10:37:00.003+00:002014-01-15T10:37:12.876+00:00From the archive: Santry Stadium Track Meet, 1958
Here's another set of pictures from Dad's photo archive.
This set were all taken at a track meeting held in the brand new Santry Stadium (now the Morton Stadium), Dublin in 1958.
Although now only used for athletics and soccer, at that time the stadium contained a concrete velodrome encircling the running track. Although it was very long for a cycling track at 515 yards, Santry was host Foxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03371916895010842207noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395120962970750676.post-62925124853390270502014-01-04T14:56:00.003+00:002014-01-04T14:56:45.228+00:001989 National Road Race Championships Video
This broadcast of the 1989 National Road Race Championships, which took place in Roundwood, Co. Wicklow, features some real legends of Irish cycling and an exciting race.
Result:
1st Paul Slane (Newry CC)
2nd Mick Walsh (Fosters, Dublin)
3rd Anthony O'Gorman (Bianconi Wheelers, Clonmel)
Foxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03371916895010842207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395120962970750676.post-33471396567526270202013-12-17T10:08:00.001+00:002015-11-17T21:01:03.467+00:00From the archive: Navan Road Time Trial, 1959
Here's another set of pictures from Dad's photo archive. I wasn't able to caption a lot of these so any help with identification of riders would be great.
The photos here were all taken at a 50 mile TT, held on the Navan Rd course, just outside Dublin, sometime in the summer of 1959. The course started and finished in Ashtown, beside the Phoenix Park Race Course and took riders out to theFoxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03371916895010842207noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395120962970750676.post-43825919340007841032013-11-03T20:52:00.000+00:002013-11-20T00:16:26.960+00:00Updated: From the archive: World Road Race Championships 1959
Here's another set of pictures from Dad's photo archive. This one contains photos taken at the World Championships in 1959.
The races were held that year on the Circuit Park Zandvoort motor racing circuit, located in the dunes of the North Sea coast of Holland. The circuit took in the racing circuit and then went out to do some extra kilometers around the town of Zandvoort itself.
Dad Foxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03371916895010842207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395120962970750676.post-61123609383190548252013-09-27T09:37:00.000+01:002013-11-19T23:52:58.006+00:00From the archive: World Road Race Championships 1958
I've been raiding my Dad's photo archive for previously unpublished shots that really shouldn't be hidden away in an attic. I've selected some that I feel help to preserve the history of the sport, especially in Ireland, but which I also feel the wider cycling world might like to see. Over the next while I'll be posting sets of photos so keep an eye out.
We've tried to correctly identify Foxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03371916895010842207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395120962970750676.post-69235420535365301612013-08-22T11:57:00.000+01:002013-08-22T16:13:49.461+01:00Ireland and La Vuelta
Before the Tour I compiled a list of Ireland's Tour De France achievements. So I suppose it's only fair I do a Vuelta one this week.
Shay Elliott leads La Vuelta, 1962
Sean Kelly on his way to overall victory, 1988
The Vuelta is considered the third most important Grand Tour, after the Tour and Giro, but that doesn't diminish what is a very impressive Irish palmarés in the event.
Foxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03371916895010842207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395120962970750676.post-62685497516627795782013-07-25T01:04:00.000+01:002013-07-25T01:18:19.118+01:00David Walsh is wrong about the Irish fans.
Some of you may have read the allegations by David Walsh in last weeks Sunday Times that Irish fans at Irish Corner 10 were involved in abusing Sky riders and team personnel.
This is completely untrue!
The following is the statement issued by myself and my fellow Irish Corner 10 originator in response to Mr Walsh.
--Begins--
As Irish fans who enjoyed a wonderful day at Irish Corner at Foxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03371916895010842207noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395120962970750676.post-22671819853490067582013-07-03T21:29:00.000+01:002013-07-03T21:29:03.215+01:00Not bad for a small countryI know it's a pretty nerdy thing to do but, while watching yesterdays stage, I thought someone ought to compile a list of Ireland's Tour De France achievements. So I did!
And a pretty impressive list it is too.
10 starters, 9 finishers, 1 Overall win, 3 Yellow jersey wearers, 4 Points wins, 4 Stage winners, 10 stage wins.
The full list is:
YearRiderTeamAchievementsResult
1956Shay ElliottIle Foxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03371916895010842207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395120962970750676.post-12429246942938009502013-07-02T10:19:00.000+01:002013-07-02T10:20:06.046+01:00"It's a big thing" - Shay Elliott takes Yellow 1963
The 25th of June 1963 was a momentous day for Irish cycling. That was the day that an Irish rider first slipped on the coveted Maillot Jaune of the Tour De France becoming, for the four following stages, the most important man in the cycling world
That Irish rider was, of course, the great Shay Elliott.
As it happens, there was an ITN reporter in the velodrome at Roubaix that day, reporting Foxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03371916895010842207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395120962970750676.post-8995798593340922912013-05-26T18:57:00.000+01:002013-05-26T18:57:30.047+01:00An Post Rás 2013, Stage 8 Photos
Photo's from Stage 8 of the An Post Rás 2013 at the Blackhills, Skerries, Co. Dublin
Foxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03371916895010842207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395120962970750676.post-25075684010659745242013-05-26T18:24:00.001+01:002013-05-26T18:24:38.942+01:00An Post Rás 2013, Stage 7 Photos
Some photo's from Stage 7 of the An Post Rás 2013 at the Shay Elliott Memorial, Drumgoff, Co. Wicklow
Foxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03371916895010842207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395120962970750676.post-72804495472479924922013-01-24T09:55:00.000+00:002013-01-24T09:55:48.757+00:00David Walsh Interview on GCNThis interview was recorded before the Oprah interview. I love his comparing Lance with Hollywood bank robbers coming back for "just one more job".
Foxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03371916895010842207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395120962970750676.post-27914086774599620242013-01-08T09:40:00.004+00:002013-01-08T09:40:57.046+00:00Dan starts his acting careerDan Martin starring in a Garmin promo video for their latest cool gadgets (via StickyBottle.com).
Although you'd have to say Vaughters is no Blofeld, with or without the cat!
http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/new-short-and-stylish-garmin-video-featuring-dan-martin-at-home-in-girona/Foxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03371916895010842207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395120962970750676.post-83423031070104795772013-01-01T21:49:00.000+00:002013-01-01T21:51:01.349+00:00Muse-ette Review of the Cycling Year 2012It seems every year I end up apologising for how quiet the muse-ette has been of late but I can't duck the annual, but not at all coveted, Muse-ette Awards.
As far as I'm concerned there're a handful of people who should be the only recipients of any cycling related awards this year. They're the people who have endured vilification, lawsuits, abuse and intimidation but who stuck to the truth andFoxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03371916895010842207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395120962970750676.post-89802075861125808092012-11-15T10:01:00.001+00:002012-11-15T10:01:17.277+00:00Who stole the trees?Apparently thieves have stolen tree trunks from the course of the upcoming cyclo-cross at the Kapermolenpark in Hasselt, Belgium.
I hope they can be replaced before the event on Saturday as they are a vital part of the event, providing drama for spectators from those who make it over and those who don't, and usually influencing the result significantly.
Check out last years event to see just Foxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03371916895010842207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395120962970750676.post-2219789773648101312012-11-13T16:47:00.002+00:002012-11-13T16:47:48.095+00:00Riders eye view of Cyclo CrossThis is great handlebar camera footage of the ‘Fixx Series’ A Race at Punnchestown Racecourse, Co Kildare last weekend.
Pity there're no run ups or planks.
Foxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03371916895010842207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395120962970750676.post-19923174224990802882012-10-25T14:10:00.001+01:002012-10-25T14:10:25.406+01:00Astonishing!Foxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03371916895010842207noreply@blogger.com0