Bikedock Belles
Official all-female Bikedock cycling team
About the Belles
Andrea
I've always loved sport, with representative athletics and hockey being the mainstays in my youth. I guess endurance events became a focus in 2002 with the BorderTrek cycle. Then after having my first son mid-2003, and meeting my best friend shortly afterwards, I started running and swimming. According to her, a triathlete and marathon runner, I had the physique?! and mentality?! for triathlon, so trusting her implicitly as always, I entered that world in 2006. True to form I jumped in at the deep end, with my second ever triathlon being the UK Ironman 70.3 (half ironman) in 2006.
I had my second son mid-2007, then in 2008 entered the off-road mucky triathlon world...of adventure racing....but still I completed the full UK Ironman triathlon (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run) in September 2008.
Since then I haven't swum a stroke! and have devoted all my time to Adventure Racing, Mountain Biking, Kayaking, Cycling, Running, Orienteering events (on foot, as well as on bike). My friends have always thought me nuts, but now think I'm a raving lunatic!
The big challenge in 2009 was the Race Around Ireland (RAI) - the toughest endurance bike event in Europe - for which the 4-woman Bikedock Belles team was formed. We completed the cirumference (pretty much) of Ireland by bike in 91 hours 29 mins non-stop in relay formation. To date this is the hardest event I have ever done.....but not for long! There seems to be a harder event every year!
2010 has a biggie in store - a 4-day non-stop Adventure Race at the end of August in the Lake District. Along with 2 male racers, co-Belle Taryn is my team mate for this event, which is billed as an expedition race and is competed for by 4-person mixed teams. Again this will push us physically and mentally to the limits!
2011 may see an even tougher challenge....NB not necessarily longer or more distance than previous events, but tougher in that it could be a sole discipline for more than a 24 hr period at a go.....watch this space!
2012 is already in the calendar. There's only one thing harder than Race Around Ireland (RAI) in the cycling world.......Race Across America (RAAM) as a 4-woman team. But team mates dictate whether an event is make or break......and with the 4 of us, it will never be break!
DING DONG.
Cathy
A friend once said to me ‘Cathy, someday you’ll make someone a lovely case study’….and therein lies the story of my life….why go the direct route and follow the norm when it’s much more interesting finding your own route and maybe getting lost along the way!
Sport has always been an interest, representing Ulster and Ireland in Badminton in my teenage years, and being involved in tennis, hockey, athletics, swimming, skiing and horse riding etc while growing up. My ability very much ‘jack of all trades master of none’.
Getting distracted by boys and alcohol during my twenties my fitness level decreased rapidly for a few years, but was found again in my mid twenties………with ‘my dabbling’ in triathlon starting in 2006.
The intention was to do one sprint distance triathlon and leave it at that. Try something once and move on………this sport is contagious and four years in I moved from Sprint to Olympic to Half Ironman to Full Ironman very quickly!
Then came the ‘what’s next?’ Knowing I was never going to be ‘fast’ I was keen to push myself in others ways through longer endurance events and trying different disciplines, so in the midst of all things Ironman came adventure racing, mountain biking, road racing and anything else that looked interesting.
2009 was my most successful and enjoyable year to date with Ironman UK, Ulster Women’s League Road Racing – placing 2nd (not bad for a triathlon girl!) and the final big event of the year Race Around Ireland…with the birth of the Bikedock Belles who are now not only sporting/training partners but great friends!
So what is 2010 to bring – well not doing things by halves, or in the normal fashion, this year will see the birth of my first child in October. Along the way I will be doing a couple of Olympic distance triathlons, mountain bike trailquest events, road bike tours and the infamous maracycle – on tandems with the Belles. Followed by marriage in April 2011, Alp D’huez Half Ironman in July and whatever else I can fit in that will keep me busy?!?
2012 is in planning stages for Race Across America with the Belles and then I’m sure we will ask the question again…..what’s next??
Why do I love/do it? - cause I can – just like anyone can!
Julie
I've always been involved in sport from a very young age and am very thankful to have a very supportive family who gave up lots of free time to encourage and guide me along the way. My first competitive sport was showjumping from the age of nine that continued right up until 2008 with a gap of about 12 years in the middle, I was hugely involved in the world of athletics during this time and before I knew it I was travelling most weekends and with a heavy training regime this became my primary focus. Representing the Great Britain U20 team was my greatest athletics achievement in 1998. Knee problems put an end to my athletics career so I quickly found myself back in the saddle (not the bike just yet tho) and back on the showjumping circuit with my sister travelling the country.
The bikes kicked off only a few years ago, purely for a bit of fun and fitness, but when I realised that riding the trails was soo much more fun than slogging a mountain bike around the country roads I was hooked. I entered my first MTB race in Bangor in 2008 and found myself back into competing again, however I had promised myself I wouldn't get competitive with the bikes. I have been to some of the most beautiful parts of our country that I would have missed out on perhaps if it wasn't for the sport.
The Race Around Ireland was the only reason for me investing in a road bike, having never ridden one or really ever wanting to I got talked into agreeing to ride as a 4 girl team in September 2009. I have to say I'm really enjoying the road bike and after the Race Around Ireland I actually knew how to ride the thing, having broken my shoulder (glenoid) a short time before the race didn't leave me with a lot of time to get used to this new discipline. One afternoon before the race I rememeber having the conversation with a friend about the possiblility of taping my hand to the handlebar, we decided aginst it!. To date the Race Around Ireland is my greatest cycling achievement. 2012 we have plans for the RAAM... Such a huge undertaking but we are all mentally and physically up for the challenge.
Not only has cycling become such a huge part of my life, in the last few years I have met some amazing, inspiring people who now will be life long friends. I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next... Who knows, but I am open for suggestions and I know three girls who will be right there with me!! Ding Dong x
Taryn
With a background originally in swimming, triathlon was the next step. A few local triathlons and I was hooked. The following year I competed in triathlons all over Ireland including a middle distance triathlon in Groomsport, called Ireman. The organisers of Ireman introduced me to endurance distances and so Ironman UK was my next challenge. The feeling of accomplishing such a goal is incredible. In the lead up to IMUK I met Andrea and we quickly bonded over our excitement and nervousness of the huge challenge that surrounds Ironman.
In Sept ’08, 2 weeks after IMUK, I competed in the elite class in the Mourne Mountain Marathon. I had done the MMM twice before but never elite. I wasn’t recovered and found it extremely hard. The following week I went canyoning in the Pyrenees, immediately after that I did my first Adventure Race. I haven’t stopped. My endurance level has increased. Everything is fun, outdoors and I love it. I left the gym and joined fell running, climbing, orienteering & cycling clubs instead.
2009 Results:
National Adventure Marathon, Adventure Race – 1st mixed team, 2nd overall
Rogaine Ireland, 24hr Orienteering event – 1st mixed pair, 2nd overall
Carlingford Lough Endurance Challenge - 1st female team
Beast of Ballyhoura, 36hr Adventure Race - 1st team
Underround - London marathon challenge including 42 of London’s underground stations – current record holder
A Day in the Lakes, middle distance triathlon (UK) - 4th female
Coast to Coast, 4 day staged Adventure Race (UK) – 4th team
Liffey Descent marathon kayak race
Race Around Ireland – 1350mile cycle race – Bikedock Belles 1st Female team, in 91hrs 29mins
Cooley Raid 24hr Adventure Race – 1st team
CCAR series, Adventure Race - 1st female pair (with Andrea)
Causeway Coast marathon, solo - 1st female
Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge, 6 day staged race including 2 days kayaking, 36hr desert trek, 1 day cycling, orienteering, climbing, running, 4 person mixed team, international field – 20th overall
2010 Results:
Wicklow Way Ultra, 31miles - 2nd female
Connemara Ultra Marathon, 39miles
London Marathon
Annalong Horseshoe Fell Race - 4th female
Mourne Way Marathon - 2nd female
Carlingford Lough Endurance Challenge - 1st female pair
Hill & Dales fell run series. 1st in AG, 7th overall
Coast to Coast (Ireland) 2 day staged race - 2nd pair overall, only female pair.
Top of the Mourne Triathlon, 2nd female
The Beast of Ballyhoura 36hr Adventure Race
The Mournes 7, 7's fell race - 2nd female
Ireman Triathlon (Irish Middle Distance Championships) - 2nd female, 1st in AG
Adidas Terrex, World Series 4 day (non stop) Adventure Race, Lake District
Mourne Mountain Marathon, Elite Class - 1st mixed pair
Causeway Coast Marathon - 1st female
Cooley Raid 36hr Adventure Race - 1st team
Everest Challenge Marathon (30miles) - 3rd female
Himalaya 100 mile Stage Race - 5th female
At the start of 2009 when I received an email about the Race Around Ireland I immediately forwarded it to Andrea. This was perfect, it suited us and besides what a great way to see more of Ireland. We wanted a female team of likeminded fun but strong determined team-mates. The Bikedock Belles formed.
I can’t explain how fantastic it is to have team-mates so similar and encouraging. Not just for cycling & outdoor adventures but general inspiration in life. Lifetime friendships have formed and endless adventures lie ahead. These are friends who enjoy and share the fun times with you, but also support you through the tough bits.