Meet the Rider - Bryan Geary

Where do you work? 

I’m with Vistra Assurance Ireland, an accountancy practice within an international corporate services firm and I’m the head of tax there. I’m on the way out though, heading to a practice over in Sandyford so my bike commute will incorporate the slopes over from Rathcoole three times a week. Won’t let work get in the way of my professional cycling contract dreams just yet. 

How/When did you start your adventure with cycling? 

My father raced and was obsessed with the game. I remember him grass track racing in Banteer but when he retired (age 24) he brought us to all the big races like the Harding Grand Prix, the Blarney 3 Day and most importantly, The Christmas Hamper in Carrick an Suir, where I got to meet all my heroes from the professional scene as well as the famous commentators like Jimmy Magee and Phil Ligget in the pub on the Square after Sean Kelly had his routine home town win. I remember selection boxes and Cidona and the race always got large crowds, it was such an exciting time to follow cycling with a superstar we all knew. 

I was hooked fairly early, racing age 8 in an under 12 race on a 21 inch bike, far too big ! He developed a brilliant underage club called Blackwater CC in East Cork/West Waterford and myself and my brothers were racing week in week out with loads of success. Ourselves and Kanturk would have been the best underage clubs at the time.  

When and why did you join ST. Tiernan's? 

I joined St Tiernans around the end of the pandemic when my cousin was expressing an interest in joining a club. I was with Carrick Wheelers out of Carrick an Suir,  Tipperary but wasn’t getting much racing or travel with the kids. I knew the club well, I had known members and growing up, I’d raced with and like former members like Brian Lennon and some other members -  it just seemed a good fit.  

What would you say is the best thing about being in a cycling club? 

I don’t get to benefit from the Saturday/Sunday spins purely because of where I live and I get out very early because of kids activities but group spins and the social aspect are the best thing for me about clubs. There’s also huge knowledge with the club members and thankfully everyone is happy to share where they can. I might ping a question onto a thread about a bike related issue and there will inevitably be a few members only too willing to help. It’s great to have that and much appreciated.  Its also good to have the banter at the club league and there’s some in the club go out of their way for the sport and for the riders, all of which is brilliant in a club.

Is there anything you would like to see more or less of in the club? I

I’d like to be able to give more of myself to the club. Help out on spins, maybe bring youth through or introduce members to racing/training plans. It’s the one thing I suppose I have a fairly good knowledge of so it would be great to give back. I loved the Laragh Classic when I wasn’t in the club, maybe to see that return and to help with that or a similar race in the future?

How often do you cycle? What is your typical weekly mileage? 

With the brilliant summer we had, I was able to up my training hours from 6/7 hours to 12/13, on average 5 spins a week. Every spin has something specific in it and I’ve only this summer been able to commit to spins going longer than 3 hours and I have really felt the benefit in endurance.  In winter I’m usually found on the turbo trainer for 90 minutes at a time maybe 4 times a week and now for prep in CX that’s perfect. I’ve a lot of base endurance done so I can get specific for October and November.  I can’t stand long training in cold, wind and rain and the shed is handy and safe. 

Tell us about your bikes, yes please to pictures. 

I’ve not too picky with bikes, my Orro Venturri is 6 years old now but I upgraded the wheelset to Zipps last year. The cost of bikes is mental, I’m always picking up second hand parts where I can.  

My nicest bike is a CX bike, a Trek Boone last year directly from Sven Nys Trek CX team which is a beauty to ride. It’s so light but ultimately bombproof, I’m using it for the National Hill Climb on tubulars so it’ll be under 7kg I’d say. 

I have a TCX which doubles as a spare CX bike and winter bike. Its fairly bomb proof. I’ve also a 30 year old Trek which was a US postal kitted out machine. Still a beautiful bike to ride but my Dad rides it now, not sure how he can comfortable ride it with the longer top tube geometry. 

Favourite place to cycle: 

I have two places. The North Kerry coast from Ballyheigue, up Kerry Head and back towards Ballyduff, Ballybunion and Ballylongford is a tough route with a bit of everything but the views back over to Banna or to The Maharees is amazing. My wife’s family are from Banna so my summer training is usually 2 weeks on those roads before the kids get up. Up here, I might cycle the back of the lakes at least once a week in the early summer.  It’s just very scenic around there.   Two time winner of the Point to Point when the back of the lakes has featured, horses for courses!
Favourite coffee shop:

I love coffee but I don’t stop on spins so none really. 
Favourite event: 

Again two favourites, I think. Theres a great buzz about the Stephen Rocher GP in Dundrum. I’ve raced it every year since 2015 and have given a decent account of myself. It’s been the scene of some very sore crashes though, all on the same bend, I rolled a tub on the 180 degree bend when in the break near the end one year and last year I broke my wrist on the same bend.  

I would also have to say the National Road Race Championships which is a race I always try and get in shape for. It’s a small bit of a lottery year on year. I’ve been caught near the end when in medal positions a few times but until this year it had remained a race beyond me. This year’s medal was off the back of a great training lead in and I was flying on the day, peaking like never before. Small regret that I didn’t get closer to the win but next year, my final year at M40, is still there and I now have a sort of blueprint to get in form for an August race, Really good riders have won it (Kennedy/McCrystal/Killeen) so maybe that’s why there is such a draw for me.  

Photo by Toby Watson

Favourite bit of kit: (clothes, gadgets, tools etc…) 

To be honest the St Tiernans kit is cool looking and my favourite piece of kit is the purple steerer I put on it after cracking the fork after the Shay Elliot a few years back! Thanks to Johnny Mac, the bike and kit match perfectly 😊 

Do you have any big cycling plans for the year?

I had a great summer and made the most of good form when racing in Newry, Mondello and some of the evening races in Meath. It’s hard to get motivated after the Road Nationals but the aim is to carry the form to the cyclocross season and get better at that.  It’s only my second proper year doing it, so, as work and family can allow, I’ll try and do well in the Leinster League and Champs and see can I keep the form through Christmas to the All Ireland in January.  

What international events have you competed in? 

I haven’t got off the island to compete in any international event but I suppose the internationals have come to us. The Blarney 3 Day and later, Ras Mumhan were always a hard international event even in its early versions. I was fortunate to ride the Junior Tour of Ireland for the national team. I never took the chance to ride the Ras, it was in around exams so I was a diligent student. 

Where’s the most interesting place you have cycled? 

Mount Teide stood out by how savage it is to climb, maybe because of hot I got, how much I was dripping sweat without any relief for two hours going uphill. It was horrendous.  

Where’s the most interesting place you’ve been? (non-cycling) – 

The Vatican in Rome for me. Just loved the history of the place, the art, the architecture.  I got engaged there too. Special place for the family.

What is your biggest cycling achievement? Don't be shy 

I was a handy junior rider with multiple wins. I placed second in the Nationals and got the call up onto the Irish team for the Junior Tour of Ireland so I suppose that was the highlight.  The Junior Tour was an eye opener though, so many better riders than me! 

What is your biggest non-cycling achievement? 

Definitely having kids. It didn’t look like it was happening for a while and then there they were! They keep me on my toes everyday.

What do you like doing when you’re not on the pedals 

I’m fairly boring but I like a cycling or horse racing bet at certain times of the year. In Spring,  Cheltenham, Leopardstown or Punchestown are on so I’ll very likely be drinking Guinness and backing losers! Like I said earlier, my training plan for August involves getting the drinking out of the way until the end of the National Hunt season in April and then I’m sick of it until at least Christmas! 

Who motivates you? Who do you look up to? 

In my non cycling life, I’m motivated by those who have reached the top of their profession with the hope that I can do the same.  In cycling, there’s plenty of talent everywhere to motivate me, in our inter club league especially ! I would have to say I look up to my father, his continued interest in racing. training and his avid Strava following of everyone (!) is brilliant. Very simple man, never really drank, loves bike racing, going on a bike ride despite having overcome significant health issues over the past 20 years. He would be the first one I would have a race run down with.

Do you play any other sports on a regular basis? 

Not anymore, purely dedicated to the bike ! I played football for Dundrum but retired when I got married and haven’t kicked a ball on a pitch since.  I have designs on incorporating golf into my sporting week but I can’t do it all with work and kids so the bike always wins.