Long Time, No Post

Well the last time I posted, I was getting ready for NPS2 in Ballinastoe. I’m sure most people who read this know all about it but as a short recap: Complete mudfest with long parts unrideable. Experts given 5 laps to do while masters given 4 and elites 6. Extremely long race which was more or a war of attrition than a race. Almost threw the towel in on the second lap but kept going as I had Ross Mc Clure to chase. On the 4th lap, my chain broke half way round the lap so had to run the rest back to the start . Repaired the chain and rode the last lap to a sprint finish with Dave Atkin of Lucan CC. I was shocked the next day to see myself in 10th place, 20 minutes back on the leader. I was sure I was coming dead last with the leader having been finished hours ahead. There is a good report written by Stu of Team Worc

here

Maybe things could have been different had I not broken a chain and lost the will to ride?


Lesson learnt. Never give up even if the race seems finished from the start.

This week is going to be about high intensity training. I now know I can go the distance after being out in Ballinastoe for 2h20 so with that in mind I’m going to do high intensity hill repeats tonight. A road race on Tuesday and the Epic club race on Thursday. It took me an hour and a half to make it out to Leadmines last week, making me miss the start- so I wont be making that mistake this Thursday. I’m meeting James fromOC Tuning tonight to get the DH and XC race bike serviced. Have had too many races end in mechanical which I’m beginning to think could be down to my dubious mechanical ability. Will be good to get the DH bike tuned for my weight so I can get properly used to it before heading to Whistler!

Summer Update:
Since my last post we have booked the flights for Summer holidays. Four of us are flying to LA to spend about 4 days mixed between Venice Beach and Hollywood. Then we’re going spend about a week heading up to San Francisco (not sure how we’re going to do this- they wont rent cars to under 20 year olds) through the Big Sur and all the cool towns along the way. We’re planning on spending four or five days in San Fran before catching a flight to Vancouver. We’re going to be here for 20 days so I think I’ll spend about 15 days in Whistler where I’ll hook up with Tom.(bike heaven!) Then the four of us are flying over to Chicago for five days before flying home. Going to be an epic and expensive trip but can’t wait!

NPS 3 is this Sunday. It’s on in Lumpers Forest, Carlingford. From what I remember of the course, it is a mixture of technical(has always been wet) singletrack with some steep singletrack kickers in the middle and a long fireroad slog at the end. Hope this race will be a little better than the last two! Will write again after Tuesday- my first road race!