Vintage Cycle - Laochra na Laoise II - Sunday September 14th

Hi all,

Fate might give us good weather but it's giving me a kickin! Staving off a chest infection - it might slow me down but it won't stop me.

DBC and I were obviously thinking of crushing some grapes and fermenting some cheese (if that's what you do with it!) but a well placed shop at 60kms has stood in the way!

Eamonn, both you and bike welcome and will be joining another 20 or so I guess. The pace will be 18mph I guess, but no doubt you'll put us to shame. The mid-way food hall is easy to find, can be seen from the M7 when you take the exit at Junction 17 heading for Port Laoise and it has plenty of parking.

Some have mooted a vintage parts jumble. Could we try it in a small informal way, perhaps people might suggest what they need?

Deadon, eventually one of the pics of your two rebuilds, with another on the way I think?



Best wishes, Brendan

Hi all,

Great to hear more people are coming, and I've had a few contacts off-line also. There'll be a fantastic collection of bikes and gear and we really seem to be building up interest. Fair play to Yarisbob we're even contributing to the local economy. Yaris do you think you could add DBC's additional details on the back of those maps? If not no worries as I reckon the graveyard will call to all of us!

'Skil', some snaps would be great as a lot of those who can't make it are looking for some.

Good news for me is I've found a 20tooth freewheel, I thought it would be impossible, but there was one in a little box courtesy of the Bike Shed in Cork. It's a Bayliss Wiley - they went out of business in the 60's!

HiHo, never mind the socks, what about the shoes? I'm looking for a pair of old leather shoes, size 9-10, even for a lend for l'Erocia. Any out there? I know some people are bringing gear for sale & swap.

Just to add Dáithí has put most of the work for this spin - thanks a mill DBC.

Not to trump Bjorn but I have a brother in law coming from Uganda! However he's 6'5" so I wonder does anyone have a working 24.5" bike (new or old), or a very long 27mm or 24mm seat-post which I could borrow for the day?

Cheers, Bren

Damn,

Take a look at the 20tooth Bayliss Wiley again and you'll realise that it takes some horse of a chain (even bigger than the usual 1/8). As well as checking the kids bikes in the morning does anyone have a 20tooth freewheel or similar?

Cheers, Bren

Hi all,


Is there anyone coming from South Dublin / Dun Laoghaire who could pick up a part from me from the Bike Rack on Johnstown Rd?


Please PM me,


Brendan

Hi all,

Not long back in Cork and reflecting on another enjoyable vintage spin. 20 of us set out and I'm sure someone will post the pic of the amazing Raleigh Panasonic van that accompanied the Tax Man - a nice touch there, but that's not to forget Kerry Ger's 1979 Ford Transit. As it turned out 1979 turned out to be a vintage year, but more of that later. Riders got togged out, scan for your favourite jersey here, and note the woolly jerseys and even the moth holes!



Dáithí once again came up with a great route, and Conor came up with the excellent OS maps, both testify that Laoise is not flat, certainly not! If anyone is thinking of touring take a look at the route, but not even we managed the Wolf trap, so that animal still prowls. The 2 black dogs that prowl the 'Mur' were out in force, but no bites were taken of dog or man. In fact they could of been happily put to work down the road where 2 black sheep stalled the peleton. A protest by local farmers alá e Tour, hardly? But one man and his Pinarello shot into action and shepherded them to safety.

Our own flock needed a little tending on some testing hills, especially when Barry snapped his chain. Thankfully both man and bike remained intact, Sarge 10 came to the rescue and sacrificed his once pristeen white handlebar tape. Meantime I've heard there's a Colnago for sale in the Deise.

After all our adventures the peleton fractured and eventually regrouped in Abbeyleix. The god of time was pressing for some riders and so a few sadly departed. At which point we copped a lovely restaurant that deserve special mention if I could remember their name: the Gallic I think? Greatly priced food, a lovely welcome, and special dispensation to take our bikes through to the courtyard. Great stories were shared too, Junior tour stage wins remembered and some first veteran revelations. At which point when the chat turned to the Rás, we discovered we had 2 bikes from the 1979 event. A Benotto belonging to Kerry Ger which he rode in the Rás that year, and a TI Raleigh which once belonged to a lad called Roche, showed great promise at the time I believe.



After grub a few more slipped off, and eight of us took a review of the map and DBC's local knowledge came in handy. Eight became four a little later and DBC's orienteering and mountain riding skills again came to the fore. While the wolftrap remains a mysterious unknown, that's not what can be said about 'the cut'. Laoise not only has hill, it has hairpins. Yours truly went off the back in a vein effort to remain true to the goal of riding 48x20 for the day, the other sensible 3 made lightwork of the climb and descent. I was left gasping for a Coke!

Less of the cycling and back to the Bikes: Benotto x 2, Colange x 2, Ti Raleigh x 2, Raleighs Lenton and Roadace, a share of Peugeots, Holdsworth, Sun, Carlton, Harry Hall, Pinarello and Gianna Motta. Others? Photos?

So well done all, sorry to those of you who couldn't make it with the promise of another event in 2015,

Thanks all, Brendan