Nicky’s pedal power Irish cycle

Nicky’s pedal power Irish cycle

14 August 2013

A DRUMANESS man has successfully cycled the length of Ireland, covering 422 miles in just four days. Nicky Casement (46) only started cycling before his fortieth birthday but now he has completed his biggest ever cycle from Mizen Head, in County Cork, to Malin Head, in County Donegal.

Despite being a member of Drumaness Cycle Club, and taking part in cycles throughout the year, he came up with the idea for this challenge during a family holiday.

After he completed the cycle, on August 4-7, Nicky said: “It was a hard slog, but definitely worth it.

“Last year I was in the car going through Ireland on holiday with my wife, Janet, and I said that I would like to cycle it and she told me to do it.

“Janet organised a lot of the cycle and she was in the support car carrying bike spares with my 13 year-old daughter Nicole.

“Nicole started with me at Mizen Head and did the first mile and then at Malin Head she was waiting for me to do the last mile as well. She usually cycles with me between Dundrum and Newcastle as it’s all hard shoulder and safer for her until she gets used to the road bike.

“I cycled 101 miles on day one and 96 miles on the second day, which was the easy day. Then I cycled 106 miles on the third day and 119 miles on the last day to finish.

“Before I started cycling I used to do weights, but this is a nicer way to keep fit and see the country. Now I have been cycling round Ireland, and I did a 70 mile charity run to Scotland with the Drumaness Cycle Club, the Phantoms.

“The Phantoms do quite a few charity cycles each year, normally in the summer, and we try to attend as many as we can.

“I had done the maracycle, which is from Belfast to Dublin and then back to Belfast in consecutive days and that was about half the distance of my latest cycle. But that was in a larger group of cyclists, which was easier.

“There was one man, Karl Hunter from Killinchy, who did this last year and I talked to him about the route and he was a lot of help giving me advice on the cycle.

“I am hooked on cycling now and my wife can vouch for that, it’s a fantastic sport and a great way to get in shape and see the country.

“I would like to do more big cycles, but it’s getting the time and the money. Maybe one of the famous Tour de France climbs such as Alpe d’Huez or Mont Ventoux,” he said.