Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

LightNews

Feargal McKay

@cycologies.com

1.8K followers 110 following 3.1K posts

Reviewing cycling books and writing about professional cycling's mythological past and the reality behind the stories told and retold by cycling's duff historians cycologies.com 🇮🇪

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Feargal McKay @cycologies.com · 29d

"To ride a bicycle is one thing. To learn to ride a bicycle is another. Did you ever see a man learning to ride? I saw one, and I laughed so much that I was too weak to eat dinner that evening."

Nellie Bly, the pioneering American journalist, wrote about learning to ride a bicycle in 1889.

Nellie Bly on a Bicycle

An 1889 newspaper article by Nellie Bly

Feargal McKay @cycologies.com · 3h

Sporting Life, 1885: "Bill Goode said that the popular idea of a boxer was a brutal ruffian, but the profession was not incompatible with a man having gentlemanly manners and exhorted them to act so as to correct the popular error."

I love the word ruffian. It goes perfect with with rascal + rogue.

Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 1d

The first British Professional Boxing Association was formed in London in 1885 at the Blue Anchor, Shoreditch. Its founding members numbered around 60. I believe Hezekiah Moscow to be the first Black man to be elected, but the digitised Sporting Life in which they're all named is too faded to read!

Two photos of a nine and a half stone Black or Black mixed heritage Chinese man in his late 20s. On the left he is posing shirtless in white tights, fists raised against a painted backdrop of tropical plants in a studio portrait. On the right in the same studio he is wearing a typical late-Victorian working man's outfit, a dark velvet looking jacket, waistcoat, shirt, trousers.

Reposted by Feargal McKay

Alison @finger-post.blog · 5h

Three days of power? That's nearly as long as a French prime minister.

A screenshot showing a charging battery icon and some text, which reads:

Up to two weeks of battery life
And charging for just 10 minutes gives you three days of power.

Feargal McKay @cycologies.com · 7h

So I've seen it suggested that Jaysis was the original tag, started by a Dubliner. But all reporting has Yates saying Jaysus. And even an inner-city Dub like me knows Jaysus is the right way to spell it.

#StandWithColm

Jaysus Colm Meaney compilation

YouTube video by Wilbury

Feargal McKay @cycologies.com · 7h

Ivan Yates (the former Fine Gael minister and bankrupt bookie) said in his radio show that Heather Humphreys, the Fine Gael candidate, needed to "smear the bejaysus" out of Catherine Connolly (who is ahead in the opinion polls). And now everyone is.

'Smear the bejaysus out of her,' former FG TD Ivan Yates' advice to Catherine Connolly opponents

Ivan Yates has said that Catherine Connolly's opponents in the Irish presidential election should "smear the bejaysus" out of her.

Feargal McKay @cycologies.com · 8h

Splitter

Feargal McKay @cycologies.com · 8h

Fucking splitters. Far as I'm concerned there's only one way to spell it: the correct way.

Feargal McKay @cycologies.com · 8h

If you want something to make you smile this Sunday morning, try this:

#SmearTheBejaysus

Reposted by Feargal McKay

Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 1d

I'm not sure it was clear in this post - Hezekiah (under his ring name of Ching Hook, that surname spelled a variety of ways) was a FOUNDING member, elected at the first meeting to confirm members. Alec might have been. Cool, huh? He'd been boxing in London for four years at that time 🐻🥊

Sarah Elizabeth Cox @oispooky.bsky.social · 1d

The first British Professional Boxing Association was formed in London in 1885 at the Blue Anchor, Shoreditch. Its founding members numbered around 60. I believe Hezekiah Moscow to be the first Black man to be elected, but the digitised Sporting Life in which they're all named is too faded to read!

Two photos of a nine and a half stone Black or Black mixed heritage Chinese man in his late 20s. On the left he is posing shirtless in white tights, fists raised against a painted backdrop of tropical plants in a studio portrait. On the right in the same studio he is wearing a typical late-Victorian working man's outfit, a dark velvet looking jacket, waistcoat, shirt, trousers.

Feargal McKay @cycologies.com · 1d

I do not like that man Quinn Simmons
I do not like him, not even a smidgin

I do not like his stupid mullet
I do not like it, I want to pull it

I do not like when he breaks away
In the pack I wish he'd stay

That man Quinn Simmons I do not like
I wish he'd go and take a hike

#IlLombardia

Feargal McKay @cycologies.com · 1d

So that's what those sausages are for. It's no wonder they taste so awful.

Feargal McKay @cycologies.com · 1d

Sadly, those fun-sucking historians who insist on things like facts ruined that memory for me by pointing out that Emmet was just hanged and had his head lopped off after he was dead. Going down Thomas Street never felt the same after learning that. Bloody historians.

Feargal McKay @cycologies.com · 1d

I'm an inner city ruffian + grew up not far from where Emmet was executed in 1803. Anytime we'd pass the spot the Ma would tell us how Emmet was hanged drawn + quartered, the traditional British punishment for treason. Which, to a kid, sounds fucking brilliant, especially the live disemboweling bit.

Feargal McKay @cycologies.com · 1d

In 1803 Robert Emmet had led a failed rebellion, stating "our object is to establish a free and independent republic in Ireland". That's what Knight's flame-haired Fenian should have been calling for, not a united Ireland.

Feargal McKay @cycologies.com · 1d

A fair point about Steven Knight's #HouseOfGuinness confusing the c18th United Irishmen (united against sectarianism and British rule) and c20th calls for a united Ireland (the end of 1921's partition and the creation of a 32-county Republic).

The depiction of a rioting Dublin mob at Benjamin’s funeral is factually wrong. Rather, contemporary accounts describe a respectful solemn affair. The activities of the Fenians, who play a large part of the narrative, is wildly inaccurate. The Fenians had gone underground in 1867 and were not a visibly active force at that stage.

One Fenian with red curly hair – what else? – says ‘we only want a United Independent Ireland,’ a hilarious blooper that could have been avoided had the script writers possessed more than a nodding acquaintance with Irish history. In 1868, Ireland was a united country – albeit under British rule – the question of ‘unity’ only arose 50 years later, after Irish partition.

Feargal McKay @cycologies.com · 2d

"Buy my book! Please, buy my book! I know I've already published 94 books about my life as a cyclist, but this time, honest, I'm telling the truth! Buy my book!"

Cyclingnews @cyclingnews.com · 2d

Bradley Wiggins says 'Sky chucked me under a bus' over doping accusations

Bradley Wiggins says 'Sky chucked me under a bus' over doping accusations

Ahead of new book release, former racer talks about return to cycling and recovery from cocaine addiction and bankruptcy

www.cyclingnews.com

Feargal McKay @cycologies.com · 3d

"The UCI expresses its surprise ... considering that the decision is issued by a Belgian authority responding to a complaint from a US company against a Swiss sports association regarding a test to be carried out on Chinese territory."

The UCI challenges the decision to prevent the safety test planned for the Tour of Guangxi

Reposted by Feargal McKay

ben finch @benfinch.bsky.social · 3d

let’s go
we can’t
why not?
we’re waiting for godot
let’s go
we can’t
why not?
we’re waiting for godot

a group of men are jumping in the air on a stage in a musical .

Alt: a group of men are jumping in the air on a stage in a musical .

media.tenor.com

Feargal McKay @cycologies.com · 3d

I quite like the idea of Beckett on Broadway in a proper Broadway way, with songs and dancing. They did it with TS Eliot.

Lux "Nightmare" Alptraum @luxalptraum.com · 3d

TFW you paid $1400 to see Beckett’s most famous work without knowing anything about it

One Star Review of Waiting for Godot on Broadway
I recently attended Waiting for Godot on Broadway and spent over $1,400 for two Row C seats (103 and 104). I'm a longtime admirer of Broadway productions and even hold a season pass for Shea's Performing Arts Theatre, so I came in with genuine enthusiasm and high expectations. Unfortunately, this show was unlike anything ! have ever experienced —and not in a good way.
What I encountered was not the artistry, music, or emotional storytelling I usually associate with Broadway, but instead what felt like an endless cycle of nonsensical conversation between characters who seemed trapped in their own madness. I tried-truly tried-to find meaning, symbolism, or even a thread of emotional resonance. I stayed through the first half hoping the second would offer clarity. But by intermission, it was clear: this was a waste of both time and money.
Keanu Reeves is an actor I respect greatly, but I cannot fathom why he would agree to participate in such a disjointed, inaccessible production. His talent was lost in a performance that defied reason rather than provoked insight.
To anyone considering attending: unless you are drawn to highly abstract, nearly incomprehensible theater, I strongly caution you against this show. For the average, educated, thoughtful theatergoer, it is far more frustrating than fulfilling. In my opinion, this was the single most disappointing Broadway experience I've ever had - an unfortunate waste of money and, more importantly, of time.

Feargal McKay @cycologies.com · 3d

Also: that fucking photo. 'Rebirth? Sure, I've a photo for that. A hole in some rocks that looks like a fanny. Will that do?'

Feargal McKay @cycologies.com · 3d

Do you think they might have missed the consequences here, a generation - several generations - who (rightly) won't forgive and who won't forget and who will, eventually, exact their revenge?

How you gonna solve that? Or is peace just a pause?

The Economist @economist.com · 3d

In a region that has known little other than decades of conflict, this is an extraordinary moment: a slender but real chance of a fresh start econ.st/4oddjvz

Feargal McKay @cycologies.com · 4d

The website was hijacked?

Or the owner allowed the domain to lapse and it was subsequently acquired by a pron site?

That is not hijacking.

UK libraries urged to remove children’s books with URL hijacked by porn site

Puffin issues alert to schools and local authorities over books in popular Spy Dog series by Andrew Cope

www.theguardian.com

Feargal McKay @cycologies.com · 4d

There's your Brexit bonus for you right there. You can eat discounted shonky potatoes from who knows where while the poor people of Norn Iron are paying full price for EU-compliant spuds.

Feargal McKay @cycologies.com · 4d

It's a parhelion, aka a sundog (it follows the sun). Sunlight is refracting off ice in the clouds.

Feargal McKay @cycologies.com · 5d

Those were the days, when Adams was just a millionaire philanthropist eager to buy a stake in teams like Quick Step or Ineos, and Chris Froome was going to win the Tour again.

He hadn't even saved stranded Afghans at that stage, steaming into Kabul on his bike and taking them out on his crossbar...

Feargal McKay @cycologies.com · 6d

At this moment, everyone please think of poor Jeremy Whittle, cruelly denied the chance to spend the winter telling us how awful cycling will be in 2026 because of anti-genocide protests. Thoughts and prayers Jeremy. Thoughts and prayers.