Week Roundup

Finally, something to talk about! I finished my exams on Tuesday after a very long week out at the RDS. I had 6 of them and 5 went really well and had one dodgy one-maths. I hope I passed but I think I might have to repeat in August-bummer. I took the day off on Wednesday as I was still getting over my traumatic evening. A bouncer in CitiBar (a kip of a place on Dame St.) smacked me across the face because he managed to hear my comment on how he shouldn't grab girls by the neck to get them out. Was never going to go back to the place anyway but especially not after this! Boycott CitiBar!!

On Thursday I hit the gym with Gibs after a very long break (almost 3weeks!). Apart from being really tired between sets, we could almost lift the same weight we had been before. Happy days I thought... That evening I was heading out the door to the weekly Epic club race to find out that my brother had my cycling shoes in his van. I grabbed the roadbike in rage and set off into Wicklow. 90Km later and I was in bed. Woke up the next morning aching all over. Not so much from the biking but the gym. My arms and core are torn to bits so I can't really move around. They are still in bits now. Might be another 3 weeks before I can go back!! I took Friday off to spend with my generous girlfriend who bought me a pair of these last week. I am absolutely delighted with them! Got out on the big bike today for some sunny spin fun. Was a brilliant spin around some dusty dry 3rock trails. Everybody was absolutely flying especially the recently reincarnated DjCromie. Tomorrow I'm heading up to round 6 of the XC NPS in Belfast. It is in a small park up there so I'm not expecting much of a course and doubt I'll be going too well with all the time off the bike and the training cram this week but I'm sure the craic will be there as always. What else... I entered the Wicklow 200 yesterday in a moment of madness. Don't know why I did it really- I think it had something to do with not wanting to leave Oisin alone with the roadies though ;-) Will post back with a bit of a review on tomorrows race. Only myself, Fergal and Oisin heading up I think. People are getting soft already and it's only May!

My jump on todays super sunny spin. DjCromie swears he'll do it next time.











The new pimpin' shades


The group from today's spin

DjCromie pinnin' it

MAD XC-TRAVAGANZA

MADMTB are pleased to announce an MTB XC-travaganza on 3 Rock Co. Dublin, 10th May 2009.
This event is being held to part-celebrate the 20th Anniversary of MADMTB: 20 Years Offroad 1989 to 2009.

The event is basically a loop of the best trails on 3Rock and can be ridden anyway you like.
Spot prizes will be awarded on a random basis and there will also be awards for the first finishing teams home - the trick being that you won’t know who is on your team until after you sign on.
Your race plate will include your number and your team number, it will be up to you to hunt-out your teammates and quickly swap power-gels, calibrate heart-rate monitors, drill holes in your saddles and formulate your winning plans…..

This event has been made possible via close co-operation with local landowners and Coillte, and we hope everything goes smoothly in order that we will be able to host further races in the area in future. With this regard, please take all your litter home with you and be respectful of other users of the forest on the day.

The event will be fully marshalled so make sure to cooperate with them as they’ll be doing their best to ensure that you get the best out of your day.

New trails have been specifically constructed by the MADMTB Singletrack Engineering Division for the event which offer a large variety of terrain which has something for everyone from fast sweeping fireroad with great views out over Dublin Bay and to the Sugarloaf, short rocky paths, fast easy singletrack, twisty switchback challenging technical singletrack, bombholes, dips, lips, swoops, whoops and not forgetting and a nice climb or two thrown in for the craic.
Info on distance and approx. time for completion will be added soon.

Schedule:
The course WILL NOT be marked on the Saturday, sign-on will be on Sunday morning from 8:00am to 10:30am.
The event will kick-off at 11am, it will take you approx 15 mins to cycle up the start line from the parking field so ensure to arrive in plenty of time!
Parking will be in a private field on the Glencullen side of 3Rock.
The field is on your right as you drive towards Glencullen from Ballyedmonduff/Stepaside direction.

NPS Round 3

NPS Round 3 Roundup
I met Oisin at 10.00 and headed up in the van to Carlingford under big black clouds threatening another mud fest. It’s a handy journey, straight up the M1 for an hour and a bit and you’re there. We arrived and got signed on and did a practice lap. I recently started using eggbeaters and didn’t like them at all and with my Shimano peddles out of commission, Oisin kindly lent me a spare set he had. I tried everything but I couldn’t clip into the things! Was chatting with some Epic lads who reckoned the cleats were worn and right they were. Marc from Epic kindly gave me a spare set he had. Really saved the race for me!

The track was really cool. It started with a steep tarmac climb into some sliddery singletrack with a river crossing, then back up the tarmac again and onto a big ring fire road sprint, into a load of amazing off camber singletrack before eventually popping out at the end of the fireroad and having to slog it back to the start area. The race started a bit late which suited me as my pedal woes prevented any warm up. I got a place on the front line and tried to maintain a good position. I got into the singletrack towards the back of the field and preformed some dodgy overtaking maneuvers to get into 9th or so. I felt really strong for the first 3 laps and died a bit on the last one. Managed to pick my way up the field to 6th (thought I was 4th so a little disappointed!) I finished 13miuntes down on the leader which is quite a lot. I guess I’ll have to do more fitness work as I was definitely making up time in the tech singletrack. On the upside, the experts field was particularly savage yesterday with the winner beating the winning master’s time by 6minutes- usually the other way around.

Good points: Felt really strong for all but the last lap. Could manage to bate along the fireroad in the big ring for the first three before resorting to spinning on the last one.
It was a long and tough race but I felt fairly OK at the end. Maybe I could have pushed harder?
Really felt good on the singletrack, think I rode it without a dab for most of the laps.
I beat the lads who have beaten me in the last couple of races. The results don’t really reflect it as there was a load of DNF’s.
The bike feels great after it’s service. It’s nice to be able to be fully confident that it will do everything you want it to without any slips or jumps.

Bad points: I’m still a bit off the winner’s pace.
I don’t have the time with exams looming to sort my climbing speed out.
Up til an hour ago, I thought I came fourth!

Really need to put the head down this week study-wise. Have so much to cover and only two weeks to do it! Can’t wait for some worry free summer-time! Huge thanks to Nick Lannooth's brother for doing bottles and DUCC for their support. Photos by Shay Barry.