Aideen’s Legacy

Earlier this month, Orwell’s committee parted with one of its most active and valued members when Aideen Collard stepped down as women’s rep. The women of the club spontaneously organised a dinner in her honour, and wrote the following tribute which goes some way to show just how much Aideen contributed to the club, and its members…

Earlier this month, Orwell’s committee parted with one of its most active and valuedmembers when Aideen Collard stepped down as women’s rep. The women of the club spontaneously organised a dinner in her honour, and wrote the following tribute which goes some way to show just how much Aideen contributed to the club, and its members…

In 2005, Orwell Wheelers was a man’s world. Women willing to brave the testosterone were welcome. A number of women joined and survived to tell the tale, and are all the stronger for it today. But it is almost certain that many others – perhaps new to cycling and intimidated by the prospect of trying to balance on skinny wheels while surrounded by a heaving horde of men, or thinking they would not be able to keep up – decided instead to take up triathlon.

Into this world stepped (or rolled?) Aideen Collard, in or around spring 2005. The leader of her first spin describes that day:

Myself and Michelle were down to take out the beginners group and just Aideen, a girl called Rose and another lad showed up. Aideen had all the gear and a lovely new Bianchi, whereas the other lad showed up on a bike that I’d say he dragged out of the canal and had a saddle that was bigger than my living room sofa, as well as wearing trousers, shirt and a big pair of brown shoes!

We cycled as far as Kilmacanogue only and had to then bring them back to town as they were struggling big time to say the least! Aideen discovered that she had gears on the bike and that you could actually use them! And was pretty amazed with the discovery! During the spin Aideen told me that she was planning on racing that year, and I have to say I had my doubts that this girl who struggled to get to Kilmacanogue and didn’t know what gears were was actually thinking of racing. I didn’t think we would see her again.

I have to say my complete hats off to Aideen. She is one of the most determined riders (not just women) that I have come across. Not only did she race but went on to win medals in world championships on the track. I wish her all the best with the coming baby and I’m sure she will be back with a bang.

Aideen’s personal accomplishments are well documented, but her legacy is not just her own medals but the successes of many of Orwell’s female cyclists who joined the club, stepped up their training and achieved goals that they might not even have considered otherwise.

In her early days, Aideen participated in a few beginner spins run by the Women’s Commission, and got so much out of them that she decided more women should benefit. In 2007, she began running spins just for women, in addition to the Sunday club spins. One of the earliest participants in the Orwell women’s spins describes her experience:

Before I started to cycle with Orwell ladies’ spins I had cycled with another club on some of their spins, and would often come home feeling demoralized. The big difference and great thing about Aideen’s spins first of all was that they were specifically for women, which wasn’t the case in my previous club. This meant that it was easier for me to meet other cyclists of a similar level of ability as myself and to build up a great group of friends/training partners. Also, Aideen’s Orwell women’s spins were genuinely really friendly and welcoming. When you’re just starting out cycling this makes a huge difference and is a big reason why I’ve kept up cycling to this day.

Aideen has mentored new members from across the spectrum of cycling. She has organized coaching sessions for those looking to improve their racing skills, calling in expert assistance as needed. One of Aideen’s great strengths is her patience with beginners and her belief that everyone has potential. Even as she and the Orwell women became a stronger and more competitive team, she has continued to run beginner spins and skill sessions, attracting dozens of women each year, many traveling from around the city because they’ve heard that Orwell is the best club for women. A club member who has helped out with a number of these sessions over the years says:

The skills sessions were a great idea. I think everyone can learn something from them, whether you race or not. The same with the beginner spins – people can always do more than they think they’re capable of with the right encouragement.

But Aideen’s motives were not entirely altruistic. She wanted women to join Orwell and to learn to cycle well and enjoy it, but she also wanted them to race. Orwell had a strong presence at the Boot Inn league and a few women who raced with the men in the national league races, but Aideen saw the potential for the total domination that we now take for granted. Many an unsuspecting woman joined Orwell to become a better cyclist for fun or fitness, and without quite knowing how it all happened, found herself on the starting line with a number pinned to her jersey.

Sometimes she had a hazy memory of phrases like, “You’re really flying these days,” or “You’ll be swept along,” or “It’s a really flat course; perfect for beginners.” Or she might have come out for the Saturday leisure spin with her new club and found herself cycling up to Johnny Fox’s to practice on the time trial course for the crit league starting the following week and then cycling down past Joe Daly’s to buy a jersey. And with the money invested in the jersey, how could she not give the time trial a go? And from there, it’s a slippery slope to the club league, an open license, and no end in sight, as the following story demonstrates.

Having bought a road bike on a bit of a whim with a vague notion of going on leisurely spins in the countryside, keeping fit, and maybe going on a cycling holiday, I showed up at Joe Daly’s on a Saturday morning for my first ever spin on a road bike. Judging by the website, Orwell seemed to stand out amongst other clubs as one that welcomed newbie women, and so it turned out to be. I spent my first spin repeatedly failing to clip out and falling over, and walking up hills, but despite this, I had a ball. The women on the spin were incredibly patient and friendly, and encouraged me to come back.

On my second spin, a petite, blonde newly-wed enquired if I was “interested in racing”, to which I responded, horrified, absolutely not! Still, the flaxen haired cyclist continued this line of questioning on the next few spins, and a couple of months later I found myself taking part in the beginner’s Crit League. Turns out I love the thrill of racing, and thus began a whirlwind summer of more racing, crashing and training, finally culminating, to my amazement, in taking part in the Rás na mBan on the Joe Daly Cycles team. The support and camaraderie of the club and team-mates made that one of the most incredible things I have ever experienced.

In 2010, it was announced that the Boot Inn league would no longer be held because the road had become too dangerous. Recognizing that a women’s league with handicapped races is the gateway drug for racers, Aideen decided that Orwell should fill the void and launched the Orwell Women’s Crit League. For the past four years, she has planned and run a league that has attracted women from over 20 clubs. Many of Orwell’s women racers cut their teeth at the crit league, which combines intense competition, a friendly atmosphere for beginning and youth racers, and delicious homemade post-race food. Aideen has always emphasized the social side of cycling along with competition—though not everyone has her fitness level on or off the bike. One teammate recalls:

One too many Leffes and Aideen managed to persuade me to go to Coppers. She made it out on the spin the next morning while I made it as far as the bathroom.

Aideen is stepping down from her role as women’s rep to take on new challenges. A coalition of 17 people has been formed to try to fill the vacuum she leaves behind. We hope they’re up to it. And we’re making her run the crit league.

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.