There are modern bikes…and then there are vintage steel racers. Cycling has probably never been as popular as it is now in Ireland and many cyclists are discovering or rediscovering the romance of yesteryear through an appreciation of the craftsmanship and beauty of vintage racing bikes.
Nominated for Cycling Ireland’s Best Leisure Ride in 2015, the OldVelos Vintage Classic is taking place again in Killarney on Saturday, September 17, 2016. The event celebrates the days when bicycles were works of art and when thousands turned out to welcome home the likes of Stephen Roche and Sean Kelly, Ireland’s cycling superstars.
Leaving from Randles Bros Nissan Dealership in Killarney at 10am, riders can choose either a 60 or 75 mile loop, spinning through spectacular and challenging countryside including the Black Valley, Bealach Béime, Glencar and Carragh Lake returning to Killarney on the Board of Works road. Both routes are open to riders on vintage racing bikes. Registration €25 on www.oldvelos.com
OldVelos encourage participants and the public to converge the afternoon before – September 16 – to enjoy the OldVelos VeloExpo at Randles Bros in Killarney – admission free – and to see the competition for the iBikes Concours D’Elegance prize for ‘best in show’. The Expo also contains memorabilia such as jerseys, memorabilia and photos and continues all day Saturday.
Many of the bikes on display were used by the top Irish amateur and professional cycling legends of their day. The collection also includes hand-crafted steel bikes from the 1930s through to the 1980s. Some have been restored while others still show the ‘war wounds’ collected on the highways and byways of Ireland.
The OldVelos Vintage Classic is sponsored by local bike retailer iBikes with the support of Flogas and ESI and hosted by Randles Bros Nissan Dealers. See www.oldvelos.com for more.
Contact: Brendan Hennessy Tel: 086-3824607, Alec Darragh Tel: 086-8181800
Thanks to The Bike Comes First – registration closes on September 9th and riders don’t forget to shine your bikes for the iBikes Concours d’Elegance prize!