A work with Liam Loughman

Post date: Jul 13, 2020 12:15:4 PM

A word with Liam Loughman.

When did you first get into Cycling?

I bought a bike through the “Bike to Work” scheme about 8 years ago. I was never really up on a bike until then and I decided that having played football all my life, it would be a great way of keeping fit. I remember the very first Sunday morning, cycling into town in my shiny new bike to buy the newspapers. At Nugent’s corner, on the way back out to Gaybrook, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in a large plate glass window and to me it was like a scene from “One flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest”. There was I thinking I’d see a finely-toned muscular athlete but indeed the opposite was the case, “an overweight bull heifer” was all I could think of. It was then I decided to join the Wheelers or as one of my Offaly friends used to say “Da Whalers”.

What is the best thing about being out on your bike?

I love the camaraderie and the craic and the customary pitstop in Moate, Kilbeggan or wherever for, as Kevin Nolan would say “coffee and an oul’ scon”. Cycling in a group on a sunny Saturday morning with fantastic group of people along a quiet country road………….I don’t think you can put a price on it.

What is your training plan like at the moment?

I’m blessed really in that I live near enough to the Royal Canal. I have never been as “bike-fit” presently as I head out on the bike along the canal each morning for approx. 2 hours towards Kinnegad. It’s “Heaven on Earth”, what with the lovely weather we are having and knowing I have all the time in the world. I am also conscious of the 2km. limitation and wouldn’t dare dream to go beyond it and let the side down.

What have been your best and worst moments on the bike?

The “Ring of Kerry” 2019 was my best moment on the bike as we had a fantastic group from the club there and the weather that day was also fantastic. My maiden voyage with the Wheelers was my worst moment, as it was my longest cycle on a bike up until then. As we cycled into Daingean, I got a woeful pain in my ar-e that I had never experienced before or thankfully, since…..I thought I had been shot. I had visions of a helicopter arriving to transport me to Beaumont Hospital to remove the saddle from my posterior, such was the pain. I owe Frank Morgan big time for nursing me back to Mullingar and convincing me to give it another shot.

What is your advice to someone just starting out in cycling?

Join the Wheelers ASAP and cycle with the D group, it will be the best decision you ever made in your life.

What's your favourite food to bring out on the bike?

I don’t really bring food with me, especially after Gerry Wallace horsed a load of energy gels into me on one of the Ring of Kerry SPORTIVE’S a few years ago. Montezuma’s Revenge came into play at around 120 km and how I made it to the finishing line, I’ll never know, but I lived to tell the tale.

When did you know you were a cyclist?

I suppose when you eventually get used to the saddle when you start cycling initially, then you can really consider yourself a cyclist.

What are your top tips for bike maintenance?

Keep the chain oiled and the bike clean and have a spare tube ……….that’s it really. Pump your tyres before every spin.

If you were famous who would you be and why?

That’s a hard one, but I suppose I’d like to be the next President of the United States so that in my maiden speech I’d apologize to the world at large for having inflicted Donald Trump on the world.

Anything else you would like to add!

Not really, just looking forward to getting back to normal Saturday morning spins and seeing everyone and the fun and the social events that are always great craic whenever the D group get together.