Cycling Ireland

CI is made up of cycling clubs, whose delegates have full voting rights, and whose members can also register individually.

[citation needed] The new body suffered disputes between its central council representatives from Northern Ireland and those from the south.

In 1947 the world governing sport of cycling, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), decreed that the NCA should confine its area of jurisdiction to the 26 counties of what was to shortly become (in April 1949) the Republic of Ireland.

The NCA sent a squad selected from the entire 32 counties who ended up attacking some of the members of the ICF team during the road race.

[1] In 1979 the Irish Cycling Tripartite Committee (ICTC) was set up between the ICF, NCA, and NICF as a forum within which differences between the associations could be worked out and joint racing ventures organised.

This proved too much for the UCI, which resolved at its 2002 congress in Zolder to restrict the actions of the BCF and NICF in Northern Ireland, and to restate that the FIC was the sole body for cycling in the entire island.

In 2006 the NICF held a special general meeting to amalgamate with Cycling Ulster, starting in 2007, and operating as a promotional group.

Cycling Ireland members would still be able to opt for their preferred nationality on the licence, preserving political and cultural identities.

Sprocket Rocket was launched at the end of 2010 with the aim of teaching children better cycling skills, setting them up for a lifetime of enjoyment from their bike.

Sprocket Rocket focuses on the four main skills involved in cycling; balance, braking, cornering and pedalling, and it works through three "progressions."

This means that kids from age 5-11 can improve and progress at their own pace, within a structured programme that is run in an enclosed and safe environment.

This basic skills programme works particularly well in a school and club setting, but also has been delivered to a range of groups from Brownies to summer camps.

This is a beginner's cycling programme that caters for all cyclists, from the person who has just rediscovered their bike, to the more accomplished rider who wants to take on greater challenges.

Delivered by qualified coaches, the 10-week programme brings the cyclist on a journey of learning, where they are educated on the various skills, aspects and components of cycling in a safe, welcoming and social environment.

Bike for Life is sponsored by the HSE, the national health authority, under their Get Ireland Active initiative, as well as receiving funding from Women in Sport.

One of the aims of Bike for Life is to close the gender gap in cycling through the creation of "Meet and Spin" groups of people of similar speeds and ability.

Throughout Gearing Up Off-Road the rider is brought through various steps, learning specific MTB skills from qualified coaches and Trail Cycle Leaders.