Crowds flock to VeloExpo

One of the more successful side events in Killarney for the Ring of Kerry Cycle this year proved to be the VeloExpo as we can see from the featured photo taken the day before the big ride.

What amazed most people was that the guys here at OldVelos are not only skilled at bike restoration but also have a talent for window dressing. It might be their feminine side coming out but it could be as Margret Thatcher once said ‘there is a shopkeeper in everyone’ and the exhibition space beside the tourist office certainly looked like a shop from the outside. Inside nothing was for sale, it was just the interesting array of bikes and memorabilia from the golden days of cycling. Once again we have to thank Kerry’s own Gene Mangan who loaned us some very nostalgic jerseys. Shay O’Hanlon’s Irish ‘Farmers Journal’ leaders jersey certainly was something that lots of people will fondly remember.

The Bob Jackson track bike that was ridden Ian Hallam in the Munich Olympics was also loaned by Gene. Sometime we must ask him how he came by all these bikes!

 One bike that really  stood out at this ‘Expo’ was the recently completed Raleigh Record Ace, the latest addition to the stable of Brendan Hennessy.

What is worth mentioning about this restoration is that the superb paint was done in Co Cork.