Cycling Ireland is in the process of establishing “hub”
premises across the country that could be used to promote cycling, teach
various aspects of the sport and would also be available for clubs to use.
To date the national federation has focused its efforts
on establishing the premises in the North, but hubs are also planned for the
Republic.
It is an interesting development for cycling on the
island as there is little culture of having club houses within Irish cycling.
However, the time looks right to change that considering the growth of indoor,
or virtual, cycling and grants available for local sporting infrastructure.
Antrim and Newtownabbey council has been asked by Cycling Ireland to consider a request for hub in its catchment area.
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This follows the approval already of cycling hub premises by other councils including Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Mid Ulster District, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough and Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.
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The Department for Communities was expected to fund the
installation of the cycling hub premises at a cost of £10,000 each in the North.
Some of the hubs are comprised of two purpose-built shipping containers to
create premises for cycling activities.
The hubs would be used for the delivery of coach education courses, participation programmes, training days and cycle safety initiatives. Local clubs would also have access for hosting participation programmes and activities, though Cycling Ireland has made no comment on the plan to date.
Aside from the physical cycling hub premises, Cycling
Ireland has recently launched its Training Hub, which is free for members.
There were 180 hours of workouts complete within the first 10 days and the project came about from Cycling Ireland’s application for funding under the Sport Ireland Innovation Fund. You can check out the training hub by following this link.
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