The title of my site is “the unknown bike rider”, for obvious reasons. The chances of a call up for the Rás, or a shot at the national championships are less than zero. Even a local league race is a little bit beyond my abilities or capacity. However, I train hard, very hard in fact, for the few endurance events that I take part in. There is absolutely no credit, no applause, no recognition or prizes. My achievements will never make the sports section of the paper, Sticky Bottle won’t notice them, my name doesn’t roll off the tongue of the Eurosport commentators either. Hence, I’m the unknown bike rider.
That is however, until I head out onto the road. Now, if recent media hysteria, YouTube videos or social media commentary are to be believed, I’m very well known. I’m a “pain in the arse” on the affore mentioned road, I have no idea of the rules of the road, I pay no taxes, I am arrogant and ignorant. All this from people I’ve never even met. The RHA, the IFA, even the Gardaí, have brought me onto their radar recently.
As a bike rider, I feel a little bit hard done by too. Everybody is out to get me, most of them want to harm me, or cause me serious injury. As an unknown bike rider, I’m quickly becoming less anonymous.
This week, I decided to carry out an experiment. I’ve just enrolled on a training course, that will keep me occupied for the next year, so I had my last week of freedom, before I begin setting the clock again at night. The weather was going to be changeable, ranging from bright sunshine, to hailstones, to wind and of course, rain. In essence, a typical week in Ireland as summer approaches. I was going to ride my bike, over long distances, over hills, valleys, towns, good roads, bad roads and of course, in all weathers. If all the stuff we have been reading about recently was to be believed, I most likely wouldn’t survive. The potential for abuse, harassment, bullying, discrimination, you name it, was huge.
Day 1 (Wednesday 26 April 2017)
So, Wednesday, I headed out on my first trip. The plan was 100km, down through the Nire Valley, returning home through Clonmel, Fethard and Cashel. This would be a tough day, on poor roads, with a few hard climbs thrown in for good measure. Did I mention the wind and hailstones? Anyway, I fitted my lights (they say that bike riders don’t use them), my bright clothes (they say that bike riders don’t wear them), put on my helmet (they say that bike riders don’t wear them either) and headed out. My first few miles were on a busy road between Cahir and Clonmel. Approaching my first major roundabout, there was an articulated truck coming on my left. “This is it” I thought, “truck drivers are maniacs, I’m dead”. This lad hadn’t read the script though, as he stopped to leave me across. Then, as he overtook me, I moved well in, aware that his trailer will cut in slightly. A quick flash of his warning lights, a wave from me and we both went about our business. As I cycled along, I was very aware that there are some very dangerous parts of the road. I took alternative roads instead, which actually tested my legs even more and gave me a good workout. At one stage, I was confronted by a man in a huge bulldozer yoke, as I descended a very steep climb. Instead of driving through me, as the reports suggest, he moved over, to let me past. He obviously hadn’t read the script either. I counted the amount of cars I met on these quiet country roads and the total was 2. Yep, that’s right, 2. No hold ups, no arguments, nothing. I crested the Nire Valley, over Powers The Pot and I was actually more worried about my heart rate, than the few sporadic motorists I encountered. As I descended, my speed crept up towards 70kph. If anything happened here, it would be my fault, not any motorists. I travelled on through Clonmel, towards Fethard. A poor enough road, but there was nothing to worry about. You see, all the cars are passing me on the other side of the road. That’s right, they are over on the other side. I’m actually beginning to wonder will anything happen. Just as I approach Fethard, there is a bit of a close pass, from a lady in a 151 Skoda Octavia. Look, I have to be honest, I need something to complain about, so this is the best I can do. As I head through Fethard a guy in a 07 TN “yoke” blows at me, to get the f*ck out of the way. I call him back (nicely), to discuss the problem, but all I can hear are expletives. I’d say he had anger issues about more than me. The road from Fethard to Cashel is hard and has a few dangerous spots. The traffic is overtaking me on the other side though, so there is nothing to complain about. The rise at Mocklers Hill is about the only problem I faced, as my tired legs started to feel the strain. Through Cashel, a friendly wave from a lady as I stopped at the pedestrian crossing (they say that bike riders don’t observe them either) and on towards Cahir. The hard shoulder is very poor on the road, so I stay out a bit on the actual road. This is guaranteed to attract irritation from motorists, but no, nothing happening, they are all giving me a wide berth. I arrive home, 95km on the legs, close passes (1), angry motorists (1),
Day 2 (Thursday 27 April 2017)
I was in “school” for most of the day, but the teacher said that because we were all so good, we could finish half an hour early. I put on my gear and decided to do a fast hour or so. The Cahir – Ardfinnan road is dangerous at the best of times, even in a car, but for some reason, I’m through it in no time, even picking up a Strava PR in the process. The hill out of Ardfinnan drives up the heart rate again, before I travel through Goatenbridge and up onto The Vee. The “dead man’s road” up to Loughlins Bridge is hard and very narrow. The two cars I meet give me loads of room, so there are no problems. The descent into Clogheen, onto Ballylooby, turn left out to Tincurry and a quick blast in the Cork Road, sees me complete the 42km in an hour and a half. Close Passes (0), Angry motorists (0)
Day 3 (Friday 28 April 2017)
Today was going to be a “recovery” day, just a simple spin out the Cork Road and back. However, as I headed out, I felt strong and ended up getting over 70km on the legs again. I managed Cahir – Mitchelstown and back, over my favourite local route “The Loughloher Loop”. The spin to Mitchelstown and back is safe, due to the big wide road, but traffic is still giving me a very wide berth. If ever there was the potential for an accident, it’s out the Clonmel Rd, where you turn right, to head for Loughloher, on my way home. It’s an accident black spot, very busy on a Friday and today was no exception. Nervously, I moved out, signalling my intentions. There is a line of traffic coming, cars, buses and of course lorries. Traffic is coming from behind me too. For a few moments, I’m sitting in the turn off lane of a very busy road, on a few kilograms of Carbon Fibre as the traffic passes me on both sides. There’s no need to worry, I’m very visible, they all slow down a bit and in no time, I make my turn and again, the hardest part of the day is climbing Loughloher Hill, oh yeah and a little f*cker of a dog who decided to take issue with me. Close Passes (0), Angry Motorists (0)
Day 4 (Saturday 29th April 2017)
One of the good things about this experiment, is that it’s giving me the incentive to go out and train. Today, the weather is miserable. There is a very strong wind blowing in off the Knockmeal Downs and there are really heavy showers of wind and hail. Nothing like cycling in Ireland. My plan today is to stay local, mainly due to the conditions. I have a local loop, it’s 10km in length and it has a bit of everything. My original plan is to complete it 13 times, but I have to abandon after 10 loops, due to the wind. (There’s no point in being too stupid). The loop takes me through Cahir Town 10 times, over the hill in Loughloher 10 times and back in the Clonmel Road 10 times. There is loads of potential for an accident or at least some agro, especially in the worsening weather conditions. The cycle lane on the Clonmel Rd, entering Cahir is lethal, especially in the wet. There are a few manhole covers, children walk on it, there are a few tight turns, it passes directly in front of the Garda Station and then merges directly onto the main road. I actually avoid it, for those reasons, often to the annoyance of motorists. To compensate, I keep my speed up entering town, so I don’t hold anybody up. In total, I manage 101km, all within 10 minutes of home. I’m soaked, frozen solid, but in one piece. Close Passes (0), Angry Motorists (0).
So, 4 days on the bike, 309km distance, 3391m climbed, sunshine, wind, hailstones and rain. Highways, byways, good roads and bad.
Results: Close Passes (1). Angry Motorists (1). Arguments (0). Traffic Holdups (0) Accidents (0). Mechanicals (0).
We live in times of 24hr news coverage, where channels are competing for the same stories. National newspapers actually pay a “journalist” to tell us that it’s going to be cold in the dead of Winter, or that the sun will shine in Summer. Anything can become “sensational”, mainly based on an editor who is more interested in advertising space. People with smartphones will always look for the “big exclusive”.
I said recently, on a radio interview, that a lot of this stuff about cyclists is social media driven and I stand by that. There are people out there that have absolutely no common sense, whether behind the wheel, or sitting on a saddle. Common, basic manners and courtesy has sadly disappeared. One video, one photograph can make you famous.
Over the 4 days of my experiment, I used my lights (even in daylight), I wore bright clothing, I conducted myself, I adhered to the rules of the road and I displayed that one thing, manners. Other road users did the same, with very, very few exceptions. The other evening, I walked to our local shop for milk. On the way home, a guy dressed in black, without any lights whatsoever, cycled up the middle of the road in the darkness. Is he indicative of the cycling community? Absolutely not and it would be nonsense to think he is. The guy that shouted expletives at me in Fethard, is he indicative of all motorists? Of course not, more nonsense.
There have been bikes on the road since well before I started cycling. They will continue well after I have hung up my lycra. Modern cars and lorries are the safest and most economical vehicles ever created. Modern roads are a marvel of engineering, safer than ever.
However, the weakest link, will always be the person in control of the bike or car. We live in a time where anybody can be an expert on law, where everybody has a “right”, where it’s okay to abuse a person online from the safety of a computer keyboard. Maybe, if we all learned a small bit of manners and have a small bit of courtesy, it would be more in our line.
Cycling is the greatest sport I have ever encountered. I love the pain, the misery, the achievement and that sense of freedom on the open road. As I said at the outset, I’ll never win anything. It’s not about winning.
The Unknown Bike Rider 