In February I found out the Dublin Cycling Campaign were back in to the St. Patrick’s day Parade. Having done it last year, just before the business started, I had no doubt I was going to join this year again.

Last year I cycled a newly bought cargo bike with my two oldest kids, but this year my husband was joining as well and so did my youngest daughter. Frank was going to cycle the cargo bike, and I decided to cycle a bike with Róisín in her Bobike Mini front seat.                                               Liam (our oldest invited) one of his friends from school, who happens to have the cutest twin brothers so they were invited along as well. Liam and his friend cycled on their own bikes and the twins (one is in the same class as my oldest daughter) were coming in the cargo bike.

The team for this year was WHO WHAT WHY/ Scientist/ Victorian, and after trawling the internet I decided to go with a victorian maid outfit which I sew together from an old dress of my daughter and bits I had lying around. The kids I had dressed as scientist and used my old beautician uniform jackets for that purpose, we looked the part.

Other members of the cycling campaign wore various science inspired outfits.

After a bit of a wait trying to keep the kids entertained we started to move, the cycling campaign handed out apples in reference to the gravity theory by Newton (I think)

Roisin was having lots of fun from her comfortable seating position on front of the bike, waving at the crowds she was like a little princess. We got as far as half way down O’Connell street when I noticed her head starting to roll, and her eyes closing. She was doing her usual party trick and fell asleep, I tried to lie her on the handlebar pillow but she ended up lying back, so I just leaned forwards on the handlebars and her head was leaning on my chest.

The whole way the crowd were like a mexican wave going aaaaaaaaaaaaaahw and laughing when they seen her asleep on the bike, there were lots of people and photographers taking pictures and a few film camera’s noticed us at the same time. The big RTE camera was taping us for what must have been minutes on O’Connell bridge and Westmoreland street.

We got to St Patrick’s Cathedral and the parade was over again, and after a quick break our little family made our way back the way we came while the roads were still closed for traffic. When I got to the car I seen a text message saying I was all over the TV.

We got home and watched the parade and sure as it was, near the end there I was with Roisin asleep cycling across the TV screen, it was lovely and my website views were phenomenal because of it.

I am sure next year, if they need cyclist again, we will be there. (see you in 2013?)

 With the price of petrol having crossed the 1.60€ mark in some petrol stations, people are afraid it will soon pas the 2€ mark.

It would only make sense for people to do the smaller trips by bicycle or on foot, I understand if you have a 60 mile commute twice a day, a bike might not be the handiest, but for small trips, like school runs, grocery shopping and the likes there is no need for a car.

By Cycling these small distances you could save yourself a fortune as well as do your bit for the environment

• you save on petrol
• you save on gym fees as you would get your exercise from cycling on a daily basis
• you see more when out cycling instead of being stuck in a car
• you shop local, therefore investing your money locally, maybe even creating jobs locally which might do away with the 60 mile commute for some people.
• Keeping your car of the road a bit more is better for the environment 
• More cyclist on the road contribute to a safer traffic, as more cars drivers become aware of cyclist if it is a regular occurrence on the road.

The list can go on and on, it just makes sense to use a bicycle more often and to leave the car at home

Today was the Day of Dublin’s Skyride and of course we wanted to take part.As it was in town it was going to take some cycling to get there, so even there was a storm blowing, we set of on our cargo bike, direction Dublin town.The wind was in our back for most of it, and it is mostly downhill. The rain was only light and I was sampling one of the Wateroffaducksback rain coats.

 My girls comfy and dry ready to go!

                                                                                            Arriving in town on the quays

                                                                                                                                                          Aviva Stadium

As I was talking to the guys from the Dublin Cycling Campaign about buying a http://www.dublincycling.ie/Tshirts  Tshirt to support the cause, the lord Mayor of Dublin came over to talk to them as well so: perfect picture opportunity.

My keypad on the laptop is acting up tonight so I will have to update this blog post in the next few days

Today was Bike to Work day in Ireland as part of bikeweek 2011, There was a lunchtime leisure cycle organised and I had registered to take part, for the past few days I have been praying the weather would be good, and according to my almighty I phone it was meant to be…. it was not, well not really. When I got up this morning it was grey skies and drizzly, so for that reason I went in to my stock and got myself a set of rain gear.

At around 10.45 I got ready for my 8 mile cycle to town, I decided to bring the baby and here she is ready for a long cycle. We left Lucan and about 10mins down the road  the exitement was too much for her and she conked out for a little nap.

I stopped the bike and made a little bed from blankets I had brought and her Nappy bag so she could have a little snooze, I wouldn’t cycle anywhere fast in the Cargo bike as it is simply is not made for speeding, so she was safe in there.

We arrived in Palmerstown where I collected my older Daughter from the Naoionra (Irish play school) and it started to rain so the baby was rudely awakened by a cold shower.

We got back on the road to continue from Palmerstown to town.

Lots of stares and fingerpointing happened along the way, I even had the pleasure of some old sour prune in a landrover look at me dissaprovingly and shaking her head slightly, proplably had something to do with the fact neither me or any of my kids was wearing any headgear bar our capuchon, but that is for a different blog, The Helmet lovers eh? Let’s say no more.

We arrived in Grand Canal Square where there were quite a few bicycles after turning up, it was great to see such a good turn out even in ‘bad’ weather. Someone said to me today; there is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing! And that makes sense, Luckily I had my Fastrider rain suit.

So after a few minutes getting pictures taken, people coming over and saying what a good idea my bike is, and the press asking for pictures and video (will we be famous?) The bell rang and the cycle started.

Here are a few pics of the cycle itself, at one stage we were cycling on the quays, and the guards had cordoned of the roads to let us all throug, there were however a handfull of cars on our path but the cyclist were in the mayority, and the dreamer in me was thinking, wouldn’t it be nice if it was always like this, were cars are a minority.

One can dream can’t they. The cycle itself lasted for about 30 mins and was only a few km’s long, after which we were back in grand canal square were there were little food stalls and more press and people promoting products, we were asked a few questions by the Irish independent and another few photographers that had taken pictures of me and the girls. Ran in to a few familiar faces from the Dublin Cycling Campaign, and had chats here and there with other cyclist about my bike and my shop.

After a bite to eat I made my way over to Bayside in Sutton were I was meeting my husband, on the way I shot another few pictures with a few Dublin Land Marks and my bike of course.

Samuel Beckett Bridge (made in Holland of course )

And by the Jeanny Johnston

And as you can see the weather had cleared up, typical it happened after the event!

Here is a picture I came across while doing a bit of surfing on the net, and reading some ones blog post. Thought I’d share as I had a good giggle over it myself. Enjoy



25th of May 2011

Found this video on youtube thanks to the Dublin Cycling Campaign.

Fairly basic stuff but too many times the overtaking is not done like explained in the video.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Saturday April 9th 2011

If you were out in Dublin today and you seen two loud and bold kids in a cargo bike,

you more than likely seen me and my husband cycling through town.

He had cycled the cargo bike (bakfiets) from Bayside all the way to Heuston station where he met

me, Yes, I had taken the train down from Adamstown, but the only reason I did that was because

I had 2 of the kids with me and only one child seat on the bike as in the picture below.

Around the neighborhood I might cycle like in the picture but all the way in too town I wouldn’t chance it unless there really is no other way.

When we arrived in to town we decided to go for a bite to eat and headed direction Temple Bar.
On the way Roisin decided to fall asleep so we put her in the bakfiets as it is a bit more comfortable than head rolling around her bobike seat.

Temple Bar was too crowded with tourist and nowhere to sit outside to have some lunch. We continued on towards the grafton street area and  parked our bikes on William street.
We had a bit to eat in Dakota, which by the way was Yummy and very reasonable. Unfortunately the kids decided to run amok so our relaxing lunch was short lived.

We made our way over to Stephens green to let the kids have a play in the playground and run wild while we relaxed on the grass. Plenty of passers by showed an interest in the (for the irish market)  unusual bikes.

It was getting late and we still had a good bit to go and after half an hour we headed towards home.

We took the canal route thinking it would be straight all the way, the cycle track that goes from inchicore brings you up to the newcastle road which is a minute from our estate.

I believe it is a lovely route but when we arrived in Inchicore, about 200 meters on the cycle track we were greeted by this scene

The gate was shut, kissing gates were working, which is fine if you have a normal bicycle, we don’t have a normal bicycle (one of us didn’t anyway) so that was that idea out the window. Back on our merry (but slightly disgusted) way we went and after a bit of a detour ended up safely home.

Tuesday march 29th

I just looked at the date of my first (and up untill now last) blog post and it has been more than 6 months,
I really need to get a move on and start adding more.

Our progress with the dutchbikeshop.ie is going very good, the business plan is finished and send to the bank, we have set up the company and have registered for everything involving tax (thnk VAT/ Paye / Corporation tax etc)

A little over a week ago I cycled our cargobike in the St. Patrick’s day parade, it was a great day and I want to add a few images to show how good the day was

Dublin Bikes

getting ready for the parade

waiting for the parade to start

group photo of all the cyclist that were involved

My Irish princes (half Dutch)

John Power

www.dutchbikeshop.ie!!

after the parade

babboe on the quays of the river Liffey