Tour de Force Launch 2010

The official Launch of the 2010 Tour de Force cycle took place on the 3rd September 201o at Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8.

The launch was attended by the Garda Commissioner, Fachtna Murphy, his Excellency, Ambassador Daniel M. Rooney, the US Ambassador to Ireland and representatives of the three charities benefiting from this years cycle.

The three charities benefiting from the 2010 event are CanTeen (Irish Cancer Society), the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and the Irish Heart Foundation.

Garda Commissioner Murphy and Ambassador Murphy exchanges the respective US & Irish cycling jersey’s that will be worn by the cyclists during this years event.

Garda Cycling Club – Training Day

Garda Cycling Club will host a ‘Cycling Training Day’ on Saturday the 24th July 2010, at Westmanstown Sports Centre, Clonsilla, Dublin 15.

The ‘Training Day’ will be conducted by Aidan Hammond and Michelle Crinion.

Aidan Hammond has been working in the bicycle industry for over 20 years. He is a former racing cyclist and national Time Trial Champion and a fully qualified level 3 Cycling coach and Coach Tutor with Coaching Ireland.

Michelle Crinnion is a former International Cyclist and a fully qualified Neuro Muscular Therapist and a qualified level 2 Cycling Coach and a Coach Tutor with Coaching Ireland.

The ‘Training Day’ will take the following format:

9.30 – 11.30        Bike Based Skills and Training Spin - Riders will be broken into two groups for this session.

Group 1 will cover all aspects of group riding, to include cornering, riding in groups, drinking and eating in a group, bike handling and use of gears.

Group 2 will cover strength endurance techniques, standing and rolling starts, etc.

Groups will alternate after each session.

12.00 – 1.00        Training techniques.

1.00 – 1.30           LUNCH

1.30 – 2.30           Nutrition

2.30 – 3.15           Basic bikefit.

3.15 – 3.30           BREAK

3.30 – 4.00          Use of heart rate monitors.

4.00 – 4.30          Q&A

This is an excellent event, presented by two top class national cycling coaches. Cost of entry to this event is free to all paid up members of the Garda Cycling Club and €20.oo to non members of the Garda Cycling Club.

All persons intending to take part in this event, should email secretary@gardacyclingclub.com. Places are limited, so email me now to book your place.

All participants MUST wear a cycling helmet on the day and be in possession of a racing bicycle, in good working order.

Showering facilities are available at Westmanstown for all course attendees.

Garda Cycling Club Training Sessions

The Garda Cycling Club are currently running organised training spins from Westmanstown Sports Centre, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, every Thursday and Sunday mornings at 9.30am sharp!!!

All Tour de Force cyclists are very welcome. Spins vary from 50km to 80km and are geared for all levels of fitness.

If you wish to join the Garda Cycling Club, please contact secretary@gardacyclingclub.com for further information.

Tour de Force Patron – Ronan Tynan

A special ‘Thank You’ to the Irish Tenor, Ronan Tynan, who has very kindly accepted the invitation of the Tour de Force committee, to act as patron for the 2010 Tour de Force Cycle.

Ronan performed at the funeral of President Ronald Reagan in the summer of 2004, when an international TV audience of more than 35 million heard him sing “Amazing Grace” and Schubert’s “Ave Maria,” . This appearance was at the personal invitation of Nancy Reagan. Ronan is also famous for his performances of “God Bless America” at Yankee Stadium during the seventh-inning stretch.

Ronan’s ability to simultaneously console and inspire is well-documented. In the wake of 9/11, the men and women of the New York Police Department and New York Fire Department and their families have been able to count on Ronan Tynan’s abiding concern and beautiful voice. Ronan has performed at benefits and memorial services for New York’s Finest and Bravest, and his singing softened the sorrow of many in the wake of the tragedy.

Thank You Ronan from all the members of An Garda Siochana and the NYPD taking part in the 2010 Tour de Force 9/11 Memorial Bike Ride.

Event Update

Just a quick note to let you all know how things are going in respect of the 2010 event.

For those of you lucky enough to secure the first 55 places, the Committee has booked all flights and hotel accommodation. Linda will be contacting you all in the very near future in respect of Passports & Medical/Insurance issues and jersey sizes.

A schedule of upcoming ‘Cycle Sportives’ is currently being prepared and will be available on this website in the coming week. It is hoped that we can ride some of these events as a group, in preparation for our main event in September 2010. These will include events such as the  ’Wicklow 100 & 200‘ and the the ‘Ring of Kerry‘, to name but a few.

In advance of riding these events, all Tour de Force participants will be provided with a Cycling Ireland ‘Leisure Cycling Licence’, which allows them avail of certain discounts on event entry as well as limited insurance cover. These licences are being provided via the Garda Cycling Club and Kieran will be forwarding you all the relevant correspondence in the coming week.

Fundraising Events

If any of you are organising fundraising events, please e-mail me at contact2010@tourdeforcecycle.com and I will advertise your event on the website.

Weather Warning!!!!

Unless you’ve been on Mars for the last two weeks, you’re sure to know just how dangerous things are out on the roads!!!!

Under  normal circumstances we should all be out on the road, getting in those vital winter miles. If that’s not the case for you, make sure you get to the gym or pool on a regular basis. If you’re lucky enough to own a ‘turbo trainer’, make sure you dust it off and get riding. I know it’s as boring as hell, but it’ll keep the legs turning and might just help to keep you sane and free from the dreaded  ’cabin fever’.

A large number of January ‘sportives’ have been cancelled due to the adverse weather, but please back soon to check out our listing of ‘sportives’ for late January & February.

Seasons Greetings

A very Merry Christmas to all our cyclists, helpers, sponsors and charities. We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Please check back in the coming days for details of the New Year ‘Reliability Trials’ which will help you all loose those extra pounds (or stones) and kick start your training for the 2010 trip to New York.

Tour de Force 2010 – Registration

Following the advertising of the 2010 Tour de Force Cycle on the Garda Portal, places are filling up quickly. If you are interested in taking part in the 2010 event you should immediately e-mail Linda at linda.farrell@garda.ie to register your interest. On receipt of your e-mail, Linda will make direct contact with you and forward a briefing pack. You will immediately be required to pay a €200.00 non-refundable deposit. Check out our Route 2010 page for further details on the route.

REMEMBER – Only 50 places are available!!!

“IF YOU’RE NOT IN, YOU CAN’T SPIN”

Tour de Force 2010

It’s that time of year again!!! The committee of Tour de Force recently met to decide on the location for the 2010 Tour de Force Cycle.

Following a number of years of ongoing contact with our colleagues in the NYPD, it has been decided that the 2010 Tour de Force cycle will take place in conjunction with the Tour de Force (New York) 9/11 Memorial Bike Ride.

The 2010 event will take place from the 11th September 2010 to the 14th September 2010 and will take the riders from the US Department of Defense HQ at the ‘Pentagon’, Virginia to New York City, where we will finish at ‘Ground Zero’, the site of the site of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre. The 50 Tour de Force (Ireland) riders will join with 150 colleagues from the NYPD, FDNY along with representatives of other US police forces.

All participants in the 2010 event will be required to raise funds which will go directly to the nominated Tour de Force (Ireland) charities. In addition, all participants will be required to pay their full travel and accommodation costs, as well as making a contribution to the Tour de Force (New York) fund.

Registration for the 2010 event will commence shortly and all previous participants will be contacted in writing in the coming days with a full briefing pack. Other persons interested in taking part in the 2010 event should email Linda at linda.farrell@garda.ie, to be added to our mailing list.

Registration for the 2010 event must be made via Tour de Force (Ireland) and not via Tour de Force (New York).

For full details in respect of the Tour de Force (New York) event, please visit their website at www.tourdeforceny.com.

REMEMBER!!!!!! Only 50 places are available for the 2010 event, so get registered immediately and have a deposit ready for the full registration, when open.

Any further queries can be directed to contact2010@tourdeforcecycle.com.