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| - *a team.... not to be confused with The A-Team |
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Grahame Cleary - Plight of the Curls
a.k.a. Grahame "Nice Guy" Cleary from beautiful Ballyhaunis in Co. Mayo is a French teacher by profession but has been known to dabble in English grinds with the odd foreign girl that has graced our shores.
An animal on the bike, he also likes to extend himself with bouts of running, soccer, swimming and of course kayaking. Indeed what fun's a good kayak unless you nearly drown and get hypothermia; Grahame maintains that falling in was all part of his training schedule as pain tolerance is an important aspect of "The Flight of the Earls Cycle". "Nice Guy" Cleary is currently honing his legendary charms for all the beautiful continental girls….God loves a tryer! |
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Hardy - Blight of the Girls
a.k.a. Damien Hardiman is a Health and Safety Consultant with Hardiman Safety Consultancy. As well as being the C.E.O., M.D. and Secretary of the firm, he is also the chief tea maker and organ grinder. Hardy hails from all over - Athenry, Kilkenny and Spiddal; but mostly from the boot of his small Ford Mondeo.
A keen cyclist, Hardy's happiest dancing on the pedals, pushing a 52x12 up a 11% alpine col. Hardy would've been a pro if he hadn't invested so much time and money in purchasing liquid shares in Diageo. An outdoorsy guy, Hardy recently suffered a horrific knee injury while hill-walking during Christmas in the Maamturks: a falling rock the cause of his misfortune. However, he doesn't think it will cause him any undue pain during the Flight of the Earls.
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Mick Toland - Might of the Hurls
The head coach of the group, Mick lectures in Sports Science in N.W.R.C. in Derry. A P.E. teacher by trade from Clonmany in Donegal, he has been known to take the Pulse of many a young doll in Letterkenny.
Mick's a keen sportsman and having had his lower back replaced by titanium plates a few years back, he recently turned to cycling and surfing for kicks. A fall from his bike last September while surfing outside of Knock resulted in a fractured elbow. This has done nothing however to deter this man's confidence. When he's not training Mick is busy practising his Donegal-Italian. "Ciao bella Dolla!"
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| - **also serve as roadies, cheerleaders and jeerleaders. Not Groupies..... |
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'On yer Bike Mike' Cleary
The Hannibal Smith of our A-Team. A veteran of countless endurance cycles over the last 50 years he should have been locked up years ago. Like Hannibal, he has defied capture ever since taking part in a sub 24hr Mizen to Malin cycle in 1998. On the bike, Mike will be most likely wearing a 6 year old pair of Aldi cycling shorts while quoting Emile Zola! Least likely to be seen smoking a cigar.
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Martin Connery (Seàn's twin)
The 'Miracle Man'. Another lunatic on the bike, the fact that Martin can even cycle, let alone come on the Flight of the Earls, is nothing short of a miracle. A dead-ringer for one of the original earls, Hugh O'Neill, Martin is looking forward to visiting the patisseries in France - all necessary to keep up a daily intake of over 7,500 calories. Last year he carried his 'twins' beyond the ski-lifts on Alpe d'Huez just to be sure, to be sure! Another 24hr. Mizen to Malin veteran.
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'Feel the Burnie' Jennings
The 'Puncture King'. Yet another survivor from the massive Mizen to Malin 24 hr trip in 1998. We're all looking forward to seeing what style of carrier Bernie will be sporting this year, last year's contraption was patented by NASA. Bernie is also a keen advocate of the theory of the 5% push - the theory that the cyclists behind 'pushes' the one in front when slip streaming; even Stephen Hawking has difficulty with that one! Bernie will push the team over the Alps this year. Happiest when he's fixing his punctures. Not that there's any chance of anyone getting any hole on this trip.
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Luigi Kivneen
A life-long cyclist, this Ballindine man believes in style over substance. The classiest looking cyclist on the road, for James image is everything - forget your thirst. This man has been known to carry a travel iron, Italian leather shoes and a box of 20 B&H in his pantiers while not having a banana, a spare lube or even a pump. The only Italian speaker on the trip James, will act as interpreter for the group.
Most likely to say 'Bugger' (Italian for 'Apline'). Least likely to say 'I love this hill'.
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Rachel Clearly the beauty of the bunch
Another Cleary, (the one who got the looks and the brains) Rachel had no choice but to come - it's in her blood. Based in London, Rachel has been training in the Southampton Velodrome, Hampstead Heath and in the Boston in Tufnell Park. Rachel's pantiers will be the biggest on show in Italy in order to accommodate the vast number of chargers she has for her 3 phones, ipod and camera. The babe of the trip in more sense than one, Rach will be responsible for arranging the après-vèlo party in Rome. Romans Beware! Happiest when she's free wheeling downhill. Where would ya be going without a bella on yer/her bike?
Most likely to say 'Are we there yet?' Least likely to say 'Does my bum look big in this?'
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'Deer'muid Cleary - Brave White Hart
If Dad is Hannibal, this son's definitely Fa(r)ce. Another Londoner, Diarmuid represented Mayo in the 1995 Community Games in cycling. A recent trip to Brighton took himself and his cousin Rachel over 9 hours to complete which worked out at an average speed of 11 m.p.h. Diarmuid claims he didn't notice the grannies with baskets on their bikes passing him. He hopes to run the Dublin City Marathon in October - (in under 12 hrs!)
Most likely to say 'Does my bum look big in this?' Least likely to say 'I don't mind not winning, it wasn't a race anyway!'
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John Giltfoil - the other two Hannibals
Arriving in Italy, Gilly will lead the group to Rome, just like Hannibal attacked Rome with his shower of stinkin' Elephants some time ago. Having had a successful football career with Eastern Gaels, Gilly recently returned his football boots to the sports shop in exchange for lycra shorts. As part of his training he been seen pulling round bales (not babes) tied to the back of his bike and even confesses to finding cycling too easy at times - so resorts to braking going down (and sometimes even up) hills. Happiest indulging in a bottle of Chianti (like yet another Hannibal), will be right at home in Italy.
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