It's also the busy time of the year in the membership section of Cycling Ireland, with numbers looking to increase again this year. The days are getting longer, the weather a little better (some days), so here is an update of what's been happening this month!
Great Dublin Bike Ride
It's back!! After the huge success of the Great Dublin Bike Ride last year, the event is back again, with a 60km and 100km route. Put the date of the 11th September in your diary and watch this space.
Ride Leader Award
To compliment the Bike for Life programme Cycling Ireland have developed a new one day Ride Leader course which aims to provide leaders with an introduction to cycle leading and the competencies required to lead and manage groups on a cycle. It provides leaders with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively lead and manage a group of cyclists on the road in club/group rides. This one day course is being rolled out around the country with 13 courses already run since its pilot in October of last year.
Active Belfast Bike for Life
Bike for Life is a beginner's "sofa to saddle" cycling programme that caters for all cyclists, from the person who has just rediscovered their bike, to the more accomplished rider who wants to take on greater challenges. Delivered by qualified coaches, the 8 to 10 week programme brings the cyclist on a journey of learning, where they are educated on the various skills, aspects and components of cycling in a safe, welcoming and social environment. As a result of funding received from Active Belfast, Cycling Ireland have been delivering free Bike for Life leader training in Belfast over the last couple of months. After four leader training sessions held at Mary Peters Track in Belfast, those leaders are now starting to roll out programmes in Belfast and introduce many new people to the world of cycling.
New Commissaires Trained Up
Cycling Ireland College of Commissaires in association with Cycling Munster recently held a basic Road Commissaires Course in Charleville , Co. Cork n the 13th/14th February. The course was conducted by College of Comissaires members Gary McIlroy and John Breen where twelve candidates representing all four provinces were in attendance. Aspects of Cycling Ireland Technical and Administrative Regulations pertaining to road racing were delivered over the two day period which finished with a written exam. All twelve candidates were successful in obtaining greater than the minimum 60% required to pass the exam. These Trainee Commissaires will now officiate in their provinces with qualified commissaires for the 2016 road season where they will be able to put into practice the new skills acquired.
Standing L-R: Gary McIlroy(College of Commissaires), Brian Carolan (Dublin Wheelers), Mary Fitzgerald (Unattached Connacht), Dominic McCann (Apollo CT), John Broderick (Cork County CC), Anthony Keneally(Youghal CC), Paul Davis(Killorglin CC), Loch Miwa(Galway Bay CC), John Breen(College of Commissaires), Thomas Sheehy(Team iBike/Manor West), Brian Jordan(Cycling Munster).
Seated L-R: Tom Gentleman (Team iBike/Manor West), Denis Hayes (Unattached Munster), Melisande Reade(Black Rose Racing), Gary Boyle (Cork County CC)
Cycle Right
Last weekend was a big weekend for Cycle Right, the National Standard for Cycle Training in Ireland, with a group of existing trainers starting assimilation training. Cycle Right is a joint project between Cycling Ireland, Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, and Dublin City Council to develop a National Standard for cycling in Ireland, and to develop a cycle safety training programme. This will have a significant impact on cycling in schools, offering more opportunities for people to become cycle trainers.
READ MORE HERE
Foster the Future
Foster the Future was a joint coaching conference with Triathlon Ireland and Swim Ireland, with a focus on coaching juniors and youths. With over 160 coaches attending the conference, the variety of presentations and knowledge sharing was immense.
Track World Championship Team and Schedule
This week the Irish National Track Team will be in action at the World Championships in London. Eurosport and BBC Red Button will be showing the highlights and some live racing in the evening. Check out the team announcement HERE and find out a bit more about some of the events HERE
High Performance Sub-Committee Announced
In February it was announced that a High Performance Sub-Committee would be established to act in an advisory capacity to the Cycling Ireland High Performance Programme. Read more about the Committee HERE