One of the more important aspects of owning a bike is looking after it. A little bit of TLC goes a long way to keeping your bike going well and looking good. And it doesn’t take a lot of effort.

Now I’m no bike mechanic, but I do know the basics of how to keep my bike(s) going. Over the years I haven’t spent much on tools, but I have got some specialist tools that from my point of view are invaluable. Spending a few quid on the right tools really makes the job easy!

Firstly, you can’t work on your bike without having a stand. I was lucky to pick up the daddy of bike stands second hand a few years ago – the Park Tools PCS-4. But you don’t need to go to this expense, you can pick one up in Aldi or Lidl for €30 or €40. If you haven’t got one yet, keep an eye out for those ones!

Next up allen keys or hex wrenches, whichever you prefer. Make sure to get the ones with the ‘ball’ ends – this allows them to be used at an angle – invaluable for example when trying to remove bottle cages.

A good cable cutters! I persevered for years with an ordinary cable cutters and many frayed cables later I splashed out my tenner for a proper one! Probably the best tenner I ever spent!

A track pump – that’s the one that you stand on. Again you can get them for cheap from the German discounters – my advice – spend €30 or €40 on a decent one.

And finally, a little more specialised – but a really great tool – a master link pliers. Like the cable cutters – I spent many a year messing around and generally swearing a lot with long nose pliers trying to open those magic chain links. This tool does that job in seconds. And the point is when it can be done simply and easily, then you’re more likely to do it – and if you can remove your chain easily it means you’re more likely to give your drivetrain a good clean.

I could go on, the potential list is endless - cassette removers, crank pullers, bottom bracket removal tools etc..etc.. but in my view, if you have those pieces of equipment above in your shed you’re off to a good start!

Now some people say they like nothing better than sitting down with a good book. For me there’s nothing better than poring over a good map.

Maybe it’s my background as a geologist that gives me such an interest. The world of a geologist is one that’s immersed in maps – basic geology maps, topographic maps, plans, drillhole sections, mine plans….maps, maps and more maps.

Let’s start with the map of the world. A map that we are all familiar with. But did you know that most of the published maps of the world we see are wrong? Wrong in that the size of the countries of the world are usually incorrect relative to each other. Funny enough, it’s usually the good old USA that’s proportionally too big. Fancy that. But of course the problem with producing accurate world maps is a complex one, and the complexity lies in the fact that the world is essentially round, so how do you represent it on a flat 2D map? With difficulty. That’s why most common maps are really just a cartoon. Like this one below. Is North America really bigger than Africa! Don’t be silly.

So along came Dr Arno Peters. A German historian/cartographer, who in 1974 produced an area-correct map of the world. Take a look below – you’ll be amazed how different it looks. I have one on my wall and I often just stand there admiring it. Africa is a mighty big continent! Of course poor old Dr Peters was told he was wrong and caused a storm in the world of cartography; the debate still rages about the accuracy of his map.

But the maps I really like looking at are of my local area. The Ordnance Survey of Ireland have done a great job with their Discovery series, as have East-West Mapping in Clonegal, who produce beautifully detailed maps of the Wicklow Way and South Leinster Way amongst other things. The OSI’s online viewer is a fabulous resource, where you can look at various vintages of maps and aerial photographs, or orthophotos to use the correct term. Locate your local area and flick between the orthophotos from 1995-2000-2005 to visually see the roar of the Celtic Tiger. Then go back in time to the 6” and 25” maps of old. The detail is fabulous. Once you get your eye in spot the townsland boundaries. These maps were produced as a result of a mammoth survey of Ireland between 1825 and 1846, and the detail is phenomenal. Of course many of the features mapped such as field boundaries, are still accurate today. The  layout of my own town, Bunclody (formerly Newtownbarry) hasn't really changed at all since  these maps were produced.

Since I took up cycling in my adult life, which I guess was about 12 years ago now, I’ve owned a few cyclocross bikes. As a matter of fact the first “proper” bike I bought was a ‘Cougar’ steel framed cyclocross bike that I bought on ebay. No idea why.  Lovely black and silver thing that was a size too big for me and weighed half a ton. I do remember though that it was really comfortable to ride.

I bought a ‘proper’ road bike shortly thereafter and forgot about cyclocross for a few years.

So last year I decided to build myself up a new cyclocross bike, this time mostly motivated by a desire to try out some cyclocross racing. So I bought a Graham Weigh frame, stripped the groupset off my TT bike (yes I did have a TT bike) and set to work. 

The bike I ended up with was a joy to ride, apart from one thing – the brakes. If I was a teenager I would say OMG. Shocking things that made stopping quite a chore, especially in the wet. I remember one comical incident at a race on Bray Head, barrelling down hill, unable to stop - straight though the tape...That’s cantilever brakes for you.  Had a great time racing on that bike all the same.

So last summer I decided to sell that bike and buy a new cyclocross bike, this time with disc brakes. Being primarily from a mtb background I am well versed in the quality of disc brakes and their superiority over canti or v brakes. So after some research I went for the Rose Pro DX Cross 2000, made by the eponymous German company. And what a bike it is.

The race season is now over and the bike has served me very well. More about that in a future post.

But cyclocross bikes are not all about racing. Quite the opposite in fact. This is what I want to tell you about.

The modern, disc brake- equipped cyclocross bike is, in my view, the most versatile and enjoyable bike out there. And they are made for Ireland, its roads and its weather. The fatter tyres (usually around 32mm) give unbelievable grip and more importantly comfort. But the brakes are the big plus. Disc brakes work the same wet or dry.  No more cramped hands pulling the bejaysus out of your brakes on a wet, cold winters day.

But most importantly the cyclocross bike allows you to go where your road bike won’t take you. Where I live, like most places in Ireland, we have a complicated network of quiet country roads and lanes, roads to nowhere but for the few who live down them. Rough roads, as ancient as the hedgerows that line them. For me and my cyclocross bike it’s an opportunity to escape the traffic, shelter from the wind. And if you have good companions, cycle side by side and have the chat. All things not possible out on the main road on your regular road bike.

This winter my cyclocross bike has brought me down roads and lanes within 20km of my home that I would never have been on, but for the bike I have christened The Wild Rose. A year of exploration awaits!