Richie Byrne new chairman of the MTB Commission
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At a recent meeting of the Off-road Commission, Richie Byrne of EPIC MTB was appointed as Chairman of the Off-road Commission for the coming year. At 44 Richie is one of the longest active mountain bikers in the country, biking off-road since the late 1980's. ‘I was doing it before I even knew it was a sport’ originally a rock climber Richie used to use his bike as best form of transport from car park to cliff. Seeing the potential he formed the first, albeit unofficial, MTB Club in Ireland, The White Knuckle Club.
As the sport developed Richie went on to join the MountainBiking Association of Dublin (MAD), where he along with Peter Purfield were instrumental in bringing mountain biking to the masses. In the intervening years he has been involved in virtually every mountain bike club to come out of the Dublin / Wicklow area. Along the way he has been heavily involved in the running of countless MTB event, including the first ever National Cross Country Championships in 1992, the first organised Downhill event in the country and ground breaking free ride events. Most recently Richie co-founded EPIC MTB, currently the largest mountain bike club in the country, initially EPIC MTB was created as a recreational club. Running the ‘EPIC Blasts’ during 2005, these all purpose mountain bike events were the first of their kind in the country and proved hugely popular. While recreation is this is still very much the clubs focus Richie has been the driving force in developing very successful Cross Country and Downhill racing sections.
Throughout his time mountain biking Richie has been involved to some extent in the MTB Commission, having held various roles, he is currently Underage and Development Officer. Now taking on the additional role as Chairman he is well aware of the task ahead looks forward to the opportunity of working with ‘great bunch of people’. He is very complementary of the work performed by the outgoing Chairman, and current cross country team manager, Geoff Seymour. Stating that if he could achieve a fraction of what Geoff has achieved as Chairman he would be happy.
He extremely enthusiastic about the year ahead; ‘It’s an exciting time to be a mountain biker. Thing’s are moving forward on the Access Front, we are sitting down with Coillte and other land owners, working with them to develop proper access routes. On the racing scene, cross country is bringing back in a third category, we hope this will lead to more competitive racing and perhaps encourage more riders in from the road. They would do very well, you know, if they can keep upright. On the downhill front it looks like we are set to have the best domestic race season ever, we also have some fantastically talented Junior and underage rider, who I have no doubt will go on to become word beaters. There are challenges ahead however, carding has been cut for the downhillers and cross country has a shortage up and coming riders, but we have a good team on the Commission now who are committed doing what needs to be done’
Richie Byrne with members of his club EPIC MTB in Moneyscalp, Co Down today
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With his infectious enthusiasm and larger than life personality, Richie is one of the most well liked, loudest, and dare I say respected, mountain bikers in the country. His appointment as Chairman will be warmly received among the rank and file off-roader and with the experience he is bringing to the role bows well for the future.