Bike Week has arrived...

Posted on June 17, 2010 @ 9:49 AM in

Already there has been lots of events happening for this years Bike Week which starts on 19^th June…the main aim of Bike Week is ‘to promote cycling and show how cycling can easily be part of everyday life.’

Here are just a few of the events that are happening across Northern Ireland over this years Bike Week…so why not get out and enjoy the sun and take part in one (or more) of them!

• Saturday 19^th June:
  • Family Cycle and Midsummer Fayre – Lisburn
  • Mountain Bike Race – Davagh Forest
  • Lower Bann Cycleway – Ballymoney
  • Fresh Air Miles Sponsored Cycle – Derry

• Monday 21^st June:
  • Florence Court Forest Family Cycle – Fermanagh

• Tuesday 22^nd June:
  • Craigavon Cycle Challenge – Craigavon

• Wednesday 23^rd June:
  • Castle to Castle Family Cycling Evening – Enniskillen
  • Bike Doctor - Derry

• Thursday 24^th June:
  • Bling Your Bike Day – Derry
  • Bike Doctor – Derry

• Friday 25^th June:
  • Maghaberry Bike Night – Maghaberry
  • Critical Mass Belfast City Centre Spin – Belfast

• Saturday 26^th June:
  • Inis Eoghain Cycle - Derry

• Sunday 27^th June:
  • Pedalling Picnic on the North Coast – Coleraine

Check out CycleNI.com for more events over Bike Week and all year round!

Daydreams of a Cyclist...

Posted on April 22, 2010 @ 2:44 PM in

In the spring of my daydreams, I spin along quiet Northern Irish lanes.

The office and the city outside fade away and vivid cycling memories flash past in colours as bright and clear as the view of the Scottish coast from the Torr Head Road in April.

Gorse flowers yellow under a cobalt sky and fills the air with a faint scent of coconut. Then I am speeding downhill surrounded by blackthorn hedges, full of blossom, birdsong and the promise of summer to come. Next on I'm riding around Rathlin Island with my dad or skimming past the lakes and country houses of Fermanagh. Then there are the roads kissing the edge of Stangford Lough, it's drumlin studded waters as blue as the Adriatic in the afternoon sunshine.

If I'm feeling energetic, a climb across the lonely passes of the Sperrins or the Mournes might follow. Otherwise I might be sharing a Sunday afternoon train from back Portstewart with a gaggle of homeward-bound cyclists. We brag of miles ridden and summits conquered while remembering lying in the heather, bike cast aside, searching the cotton wool clouds for the tireless Skylarks.

Come to think of it, why am I dreaming about all this, rather than actually getting on my bike? There are so many choices for great cycling in Northern Ireland - from multi-day epics to gentle afternoon freewheels - and there are some brilliant ideas on this site. Using the Belfast-Londonderry rail line can seriously extend your range by opening up new starting points or offering a pedal-free return route. And if you are not lucky enough to live in Ireland the ferry and air connections are excellent.

This is a fantastic time of year for cycling, so I'll see you out there, making some new memories!!!

Tom Cooper is the author of Cycle Touring in Ireland. To buy the book, priced at £14.95, please click here.

Easter grows closer…

Posted on March 22, 2010 @ 3:09 PM in

A few days off work coupled with some good weather (fingers crossed!) gives us all a chance to get out on our bikes…even if it is just an excuse to get it out of the garage – where my bike has been sitting for quite a while!

Here are a few ideas below to whet your appetite!

The most popular cycle rides on CycleNI.com…

• Lagan and Lough Cycle Way – a 21 mile traffic free cycle route from Lisburn to Belfast and onto Whiteabbey. Cycle it all or try out short sections. A popular stretch is from Lisburn to Lagan Meadows stopping at the Lock Keeper’s Cottage for a cup of tea!

• Comber Greenway – a 7 mile traffic free path from Belfast to Comber. There are plenty of options to take a break in Comber.

• Newry Canal Towpath – a popular cycle route following the River Bann stretching from Portadown to Newry totalling 20 miles in length. If you want to cover the whole route, a good stopping point is the Scarva tea rooms. If you want to cycle shorter sections of the route, facilities exist in all the main towns. 

• Belfast Lough – a 7 mile traffic free cycle route, taking in fantastic views over Belfast Lough, starting at Whiteabbey and finishing in Belfast. Highlighted along the way include Hazelbank Park, Clarendon Dock and Lagan Weir.

• Craigavon Lakes – this 6.5 mile purpose built mountain bike trail creates a challenging and also scenic riding experience. Craigavon Watersports Centre is at the start and end points of the route to stop off and grab something to eat.

Download maps for these routes on CycleNI.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For those looking something a bit longer and tougher why not try some of the following… 

• Ballycastle - Rathlin - Cushendall (35 miles/56 km)
  This section uses part of the 425km route from Larne to Ballyshannon. Catch the boat out to Rathlin Island where an almost traffic free, 12 mile cycle trail takes you from its famous bird sanctuaries over to its seal colonies. Back to the mainland and off toward Torr Head, one of Northern Ireland's most infamous climbs by bike. Coast into Cushendall for a well earned break.

• Cookstown - Omagh (42 miles/68 km)
  Start off in Cookstown on the Belfast to Ballyshannon route which totals 390km. The Sperrin Mountains steal the limelight as you pedal through one of Northern Ireland's great unspoiled wildernesses. From Wellbrook Mill, Beaghmore Stone Circles and down the valley into Gortin, the endless landscapes and rich colours repay all the effort. As always, a warm welcome awaits you in Omagh town.

• Portaferry – Comber (41 miles/66km)
  The Strangford Lough Cycle route follows quiet country lanes and coast roads, making this a great introduction to cycle touring. At Portaferry wheel your bike onto the ferry and cross the surging water to sleepy Strangford village. A short pedal from here takes you to Downpatrick… Saint Patrick's town. The last 10 miles of the trip brings you past Castle Espie, an important wildlife centre where walkways and hides get you right up close to nature. Park up at Comber, grab a cuppa and with your appetite whetted, plan your next cycle trip in Northern Ireland.

• Giants Causeway - Benone (22miles/36km)
  For a stunning cycle ride along the North Coast, follow NCN Route 93 between the Giant’s Causeway in the east and Benone in the west, passing through the resort towns of Portrush, Portstewart and Castlerock. Significant stretches of the route are along traffic-free paths.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Either bring your bike with you or hire a bike when you get here.

Bike Hire is available throughout Northern Ireland, please click here for a list of providers.

For longer or shorter options please visit CycleNI.com.

Tips for Buying a Bike

Posted on February 11, 2010 @ 9:56 AM in

This is my first attempt at writing a blog so I thought I would begin by writing a little this month on some things to think when buying a bicycle.

When buying a bike it is very important that it is the correct size. When buying for children we can be tempted to buy one a little bigger so that the child “can grow into it”. This is something I would probably have been guilty of when my children were small, hoping the bike would last longer but now I realise why we should not do this.

 If we buy a bike which is too big it can be dangerous as:

• The child may not be able to touch the ground when standing over the bar, or sitting on the seat
• The bike may be too heavy for the child
• They must be able to reach all the controls and turn the handlebars
• If a bike is too big the child will not be able to control it

When  you go to buy a bike you will find they are sold in wheel sizes and this in turn is related to the age of the child.

 For example:

• 12”  wheel would be suitable for a child aged between  21/2  and 4
• 14”  wheel would be suitable for a child aged between  2 and 5
• 16”  wheel would be suitable for a child aged between  5and 7
• 20”  wheel would be suitable for a child aged between  7-and 9
• 24”  wheel would be suitable for a child aged between  9-11
• 26”  wheel would be suitable for a child aged between  11 upwards

Bicycles with 26” wheels are classed as adult bikes.

When we buy a bike in adult sizes we must remember that the higher the bike is from the ground, the longer it will be from the saddle to the handlebars. This can be measured in inches or centimetres, so again it important to stand beside the bike, sit on the saddle and see if you can reach the handlebars and controls. The saddle on the bike will be adjustable from approximately  4-10”.

There are no rules to say you must buy a particular bike for a particular age, but if possible bring the child and let them try out the bike in the shop, letting them stand over the bar to see if their feet reach the ground and sit on the saddle to see if their toes touch the ground.

A little news now about what is happening with cycling in schools. Here we have what are called WOW and COW days in our green schools. You may be familiar with these schools as they proudly fly a large green flag outside their school and rightly so as everyone has worked extremely hard to win it.

What is WOW or a COW day? You might ask, well a WOW day is where as many teachers children and parents walk to school on Wednesdays, and yes you have guessed it a COW day is where as many as possibly cycle on Wednesdays. This is a big success and if you were to visit one of these schools on a Wednesday you might think the school was closed there are so few cars about. Raphoe Central School will be celebrating one year of walking and cycling to school on the 23^rd February where everyone will meet in town and walk or cycle to the school. Eamonn Brown road safety officer with Donegal Co.Co. will officially open the new bike shed and local councillors who supported the cycle training will also attend.

Look out for more tips from Mary on cycling safety – in the next blog she will be writing about Helmets.

For more information on Pedal Right and its services please click here.

Top Family Cycle Rides in NI

Posted on January 7, 2010 @ 12:02 PM in

Although every family has different cycling needs, an ideal cycle ride for the family is one where you know the kids are going to be safe (not meeting with lots of cars), enjoy incredible views and be fairly flat.

Here are just a few very popular family friendly cycling routes that are traffic free and have facilities on site or near by such as toilets and somewhere to buy a drink:

Co. Antrim

• The Lagan and Lough Cycle Way on National Cycle Network Route number 93 and 9 is a 21 mile mostly traffic-free cycle and walking route connecting Lisburn, Belfast and Jordanstown.

 Co. Armagh      

• The Craigavon Lakes MTB Trail is a 10km circular route following the natural landscape contours around the lake and through woodland.
• The Newry Canal Towpath is a cycling and walking route from the Bann Bridge in Portadown to the Town Hall in Newry is a 20 mile trip on part of route 9 of the National Cycle Network. The route follows the towpath on the western bank of the Newry Canal.

Belfast

• Belfast Lough Cycle Route is a flat section of National Cycle Network along the shoreline of Belfast Lough taking in views of a truely historic shipyard.

Co. Down

• The Castle Ward Woodland Trail offers you to experience the coastal, historic landscape of Castle Ward through the myriad of off-road woodland trails and tracks.
• The 2.5 mile family cycling trail in Castlewellan Forest Park is a circular route around Castlewellan Lake suitable for cyclists of all ages and abilities.
• The Comber Greenway is a 7 mile traffic free section of the National Cycle Network which follows the old Belfast - Comber Railway line.

Co. Fermanagh

• Crom is one of Ireland's most important Nature Conservation areas, home to many rare species, including the elusive pine marten.

Co. Londonderry

• Ballycarton Wood/Binevenagh trail is a short linear route from Ballycarton Wood, along the forest track through Binevenagh Forest. Undulating track offers great views of the cliffs and glimpses of Lough Foyle, Magilligan and Benone Strand.
• Castlerock to Downhill Forest is a short linear cycle route connecting the village of Castlerock and the forest enjoys stunning coastal scenery and magnificent views towards Donegal.

Co. Tyrone

• This traffic-free route is great for a family ride with young children. Dungannon Park, on the edge of Dungannon, is a beautifully kept area with a trout-fishing lake and lots of activities, and is wonderful for exploring by bike.