Nasty Road Rage Incident in Garristown, Nth Dublin.Involving Cyclist's

I came to hear of this second hand from an English Site on Cycling Advocacy Velochicks Site

http//cyclingin4+4country.wordpress.com She got it from http//crapwalthamforest.blogspot.com who is a Cycling Advocat who mainly Dishes the Dirt on Bad Cycling Infrastructure in his Area of london. I am Indebted to him for Highlighting this because I would never know about it.

The Outrage happened on Saturday November 1/11/08 and was reported in Evening Herald on Thursday the 27th of November last.
Dublin Wheelers Cycle Club Training in the Area for 75 Years in Nth Dublin and Meath
A group of 13 Cyclists out Training in Garristown in North County Dublin was Mown down by a Mad Driver who got annoyed that he was Held up by them. The Thirteen Cyclists were sent Flying like Skittles in a Bowelling Ally.One of them Wesley Murphy from Monkstown was seriousley injured thought at first to have Broken his Back was treated in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospitalin Drogheda for a Broken Collar Bone and Broken Ribs, who it will take him at least Six Weeks to Recover and might still not be able to get back on his Bike for some time. Another Cyclist was dragged for some considerable distance by the Vehicle and his Clothes was Ripped to Shreds,they thought he was seriousely Injured but only Superficially so . 15 Witnesses are Helping the Gardai in Duleek Police Station in Nth County Dublin. A lot of stuff happens that is not reported because a News Person was not on Site at the Time. No Person was Killed so it just becomes a Statistic on Government Files to be Locked away from Sight. Just because it was a Bunch of cyclists nobody was interested or cared very much . This Area of North County Dublin is not far from the Town of Swords, it is a very Rural Area still and a lot of Accidents happen Late at Night and Early Morning Particulary at Weekends because of People coming Home from Clubs and Pubs in Swords and the City of Dublin 12-15 Miles away. Because of it's Location an Accident can Happen and nobody turns up on the Road for awhile, the Area is Deserted of People as it is just all Farmland for Miles. It is a Warren of small Country Lanes and Cars and Trucks Fly along the Roads at Breakneck Speeds and no Police to catch them Speeding along. A lot of Motorists think they just own the Roads and just Hate Cyclists, and they will have to Learn to Share the Roads with other Road users . I hope this Person that did this is eventually Caught and given a Stiff Prison Sentence and put off the Road for Life with also a Hefty Fine of a few Hundred Thousand Euro. This is Attempted Murder,a Deliberate Attempt to Kill People make no mistake about it. In a Proper Country this would Merit a Prison Sentence of Thirty Years but with our Micky Mouse System in The Emerald Republic he would be Lucky to get Six Months only.

Nice English Pashly Bike.

These Bikes are Hand Built in Stratford on Avon in Britain . With Sturmy Archer Three or Five Speed Gears with Drum Brakes and Hub Dynamo ,also with full Chain Guard and Skirt Guard to keep off the Mud and Brooks Leather Saddle. Very Slow Bike movement,Style over Speed. I saw one Shop so far selling these Bikes in Dublin(Penny Farthing Bicycles in Camden Street). I saw this Bike Yesterday when getting my New Spec's in GPO Arcade off Prince's Street and Henry Street. At least now I can Read without my Eyeballs being Sore.

Brown Thomas.

High Class Shopping on Grafton St,This is the Place to come to.

This is the Equivalent of Harrods in London ,very Stylish and Chick.

Bewleys Bespoke Coffee Shop

Famous for over a Hundred Years, Founded by the Quaker Family Bewleys it nearly closed down a few Years ago but was saved from Destruction when Bought by Campbels Catering. It still carries on in a Grand Tradition of Providing Excellent Coffee and Food in an Oriental Emporium on Grafton Street. Their other Cafe's were sold unfortunately but this was the most important as it is the Original one that the Bewley Family started first.

Molly Malone.

Or as She is Affectionately known as by Dubliners (The Tart with the Cart)

Christmas is in the Air.

Cigars anyone

The Cigar Shop.

Laura Ashly

Chistmas Lights in Grafton St

Does the Crystal Chandelier Light up the Painting in the Hall.

Boer War Memorial .

Boer War Memorial,St Stephens Green

The Boer War Memorial, The Dead and Injured of The Irish Regiment The Dublin Fusiliers who Fought in the Boer War of 1899-1901.

Boer War Memorial,St Stephens Green

Christmas in Grafton St

Dutch Bike in South King Street

The same Bike with a nice Brooks Saddle although the Name was missing on it.

Dutch Bike in South King Street

I spotted this Nice Bike in South King Street,With Van Der Falk Written on the main Lower Tube Frame, it is the Name of an Old Dutch Detective Series from the 1970-80ties on either BBC or ITV with mostly British Actors set in Amsterdam. On the Seat Tube Lower down was Written Meyer Rahmen and I think Hoogeveen although I could not get close enough to make it out properly as it was in Luminous Green Paint and Blurry to my Eyes anyway.

Electra Bike.Mercer St,

Nice Dutch Style Bike from the USA going by the Label on it.

Electra Bike.

Break for the Border.

Magnificient Bronze Sculpture of an US Indian Warrior by Freric Remington outside the Popular Watering Hole in Dublin Break for the Border in Mercer St, beside South King Street

Lady with the Azor.

I was in Dublin City for to get my Eyes checked,and I saw this Woman with Her lovely Dutch Azor Bike and it looks like one of David Hembrows Baskets she has. These are getting very Popular now by Both the Female and Male of the Species as they are Handy for one's Briefcase, Groceries , Or Doggy. She Told me she has the Bike New since 2001 although it is a bit Battered, it gets plenty of use. These Dutch Bikes are very comfortable ,I know because I have an Azor myself and can testify to that. I have seen this woman before in South King St but did not get the chance to Photograph the Bike.

Lady with Her Azor

Specks for Africa

I was down at Speck Savers in Henry Street Today for my Eye Test and Ordered New Glasses.

I checked out about Recycling my Old Specks as they are all over the House and some are Manky Dirty with Grease and Hairs from Lying around after Collecting the Detritis of Years in Cuboards.

So here is the Collection the Majority are of the Deirdre Barlow Variety with two or three of the more Modern Style.
I asked in the Optician where would they be going to,as I Preferred that they were not making Money out of it on the side but rather they were being sent to Poor People who could not Afford them like in Africa. The Assistant said first they would be sent to UK and be sorted by Prisoners and they do a very Hard Job at checking what Type of Strength is in the Lenses are they any Good can they be Fixed etc. She said they Work long Hours at it. Eventually they will be sent out to needy People in Africa who cannot Afford Specs. So I will be collecting my New Specs, Two Pairs one will have React Lenses that go Dark with the Sun and the other is Clear Glasses the Two Pairs are Varifocal. At least on the 26 of November next Wednesday I will be able to Read in Peace without my Eyes getting Sore ,Bliss.

At Last Appointment for Eye Test

After Replying to Http// www.velochickcyclingin4+4country wordpress .com it has encouraged me to make an Appointment for an Eye Test.

I keep getting reminders from Sweden of all Places,that is where they send out the reminders from. I must be on their Computers at Head Office over there. British Cyclochick mentioned about getting an Eye Test and New Contact Lenses.

I have a Moxey load of Old Specs in Cabinets and Drawers all over the House that I kept for Spares but it is getting out of Hand,I will have to try and Recycle them. The Appointment is for Tomorrow or rather later on in the Morning as it is now 2.15 am and it is at 1.00pm on the 19 of November. My Eyes are beginning to suffer from Eyestrain when Reading,I am constantly bending my Head up and down to try and Focus the Specs on the Page. I am Reading that Book I got at the Weekend Last (The Third Policeman by Flann Obrien) Real Name Brien O' Nolan ,also he used the Name Myles Na Gopaleen( The Little Horse) He could not use his Real Name as he Worked in the Irish civil Service as a Secretary to Government Ministers. A sort of Irish Version of Sir Humphrey from that Series Yes Minister

Old Style Bike, South King Street

I spotted this lovely Old Style Bike in South King Street. From the Writing on the Lamp and Bell it is either Dutch or German.

The Pelican Blood Doner Brooches

These are the Brooches you get from The Blood Doner Board for giving a Pint of Blood in Ireland.

If you give I think it is 15 Pints they give you a Silver Depicted on the Left and A Gold on the Right for 20 Donations and a Special Gold for being Good in giving 50 Donations. So the Blood Donation Service is very Short of Blood and they need it badly at this time of year. So come all you Cyclists and even Motorists and Pedestrians and everybody over the Age of 18 to Draculas Blood Bank and give The Red Stuff.

I said I would Post a Picture of the Badges for A Visitor from the UK on my Site She is http//velochickcyclingin4+4 kent. She has a Load of very Interesting Cycling Blogs and other Blogs .

alcohol Sport and You

This is the little Booklet that I got together with the Outdoor Magazine Freeby when I bought my Bike Jacket. It is very interesting, it is all about the Effects of Alcohol on your Fitness in Sport, stop Drinking at least 24 Hours before sporting Activity,make sure you take plenty of Water, I can Drink more because I am Fitter ,big mistake.

It is by drinkaware.ie or call them on +353 (0)16114811

Freeby from the Hiking Shop

When I got my New Coat they Threw in this outdoor Magazine as well,Nice of them and another little Booklet as well warning of Mixing Alcohol with Sport.Were they trying to tell me something.

New Bike Jacket.

I went into Dublin City to Easons to Buy a Book, The Third Policeman, and then went to the Hiking Shop, The Great Outdoors in Chatam Street to have a look at a Gortex Jacket I was interested in for wearing on the Bike. I wanted something Bright for the Dark Nights as all my Jackets are Dark either Olive Green or Dark Blue. I decided on Red as I do not like Yellow. I tried on several with the Help of two very Friendly Girl Assistants,and eventually picked this one for €280.00 and some stuff for cleaning it Nikwax Tech Wash and they gave me a free Outdoor Magazine as well. They were very Friendly and Helpful and did not Hassel you and let you get on with choosing what you liked but gave good Advice as well. I can never get anything that I like in Bike Shops but end up in Hiking Shops instead .

The Third Policeman by Flann O' Brien

This was mentioned on Copenhagenize.com as a thoroughly good Read. It is about Three Village Policemen that spend their Days on Bicycles in a Quirky Old World Irish Village set in and around 1920. The Burning Topics of the Day Centres around Bicycles, as the Villagers spend their Entire Lives getting around by Bike.

It is the Story of Unrequieted Love of a Man for his Girl a Bicycle of course. It also is about a Murder Mystery. It is very Funny and I cant Wait to Read it. I went into Dublin City to see if I could get it in Easons Book Shop and sure enough they had it for € 10.95 that is I would say in GBP Pounds around£ 7-8 . I have often heard of this Book but did not know what it was about,it took me all these Years to find out.
The Author Died in 1966 and he Wrote a lot of Books.

Charles Byrne,Musik.

Old World Music and Instrument Shop Stephen Street D2 off SouthGreat Georges Street.

Madame Raleigh.

Lovely Old Bike Advertising Shop in Mercer Street Dublin beside South King Street.

Grafton Street

Looking up towards Saint Stephens Green.

Grafton Street.

This is Grafton St,one of the Best Streets for Shopping Early Evening before the Lights come on.

Girl Selling Flowers.

This Girl Sells Her Flowers on the Corner of Grafton ST and Chatam St.

Saint Stephens Green,The New Trams

These are the New Trams in Dublin now for a few Years. There is two Lines at moment.

From St Stephens Green to Sandyford Industrial Estate.

From Connolly Train Station to The Square Tallagh Village. They will extend these hopefully in the near Future.

Stephen Street Dublin , Rickshaw Bike

I spotted this Old Rickshaw Bike outside a Cafe on Stephen Street

Stuff I Bought Today at the Bike Shop

I went to Cycleways Bike Shop in Parnell Street DublinToday to have a look at some Locks and other Stuff that I might be interested in. I discovered they had a Strong Lock for a Motorbike but equally as good for a Bicycle. I said to the Assistant are they Bolt Cutter Proof, he said they are for a Motorbike. I said thats Grand I want it for my City Bike it is just like the ones they have on their Bicycles in Amsterdam. He looked at me as if I had two Heads. I also bought a Pump it is better than the Pump that came with the Bike as it has A Tube three Inches long for sticking in the Valve of the Tyre like the Old style Pumps and not like the Modern Attachment that you just shove the Pump up against the Valve. I bought some Metal Tyre Levers. I have compared the Old Cable Lock against the New Chain Lockwhich is a Trelock and also compared the New Pump against the Old one,far better.

Trip to Circumnavigate The World by Velo by Irish Cyclists.

This is a Picture of the Two Young Intrepid Voyagers Traverse Le Monde Au Le Velo, The Web Site is

http// revolutioncycle.ie

and their E Mail is

http//team@revolution.ie

My Apologies they will be collecting for Aware The Mental Health People and you can Buy the Jerseys on their Site. Their Names are Fearghaill O Nuaillain and Simon Evans. They have been Training already for some time in Egypt and an Sas Assault Course in Wolverhampton. They will be going 33,000 Kilometres around the World and you can send them Messages and Track their Journey on their Site. I wish them the very Best.

Intrepid Trip around the World by Velo.

I forgot to add, The two Chaps from Greystones are starting off on their Ramble around the World Tomorrow Sunday 2/November /2008. Good Luck on your Trip.