Captain Havoc Goals

Captain Havoc

One multidayer (hopefully we can get the ball rolling properly next month on Dublin to Paris), SK160, Burren 160, TdKK 160 and one event in Switzerland.
From February onwards it's at least 200kms per week, my preperation for these events will be known as "Preperation H".

Captain Havoc

Oh yeah, absolutely 0 cigs in 2010, no more sneakys or boozy fags.

Captain Havoc

Well I finally got up on her, but only for 32 minutes, did a lap of the city (14km), give me time to come up with the excuses why the time was piss poor.

Captain Havoc

Just did an hour on the trainer, it is ghey, an instrument of the devil but a necessary evil.

Captain Havoc

Right, first day out in 2010 and it was the same route as the last day out in 2009. Played a match last night and the legs were telling me to stay in this morning when I woke up at 10.30, I felt totally ****, but I decided to go anyway. Checked Accuweather, due to the change in wind I had to change from New Ross direction to heading to Carrick. I had a bowl of Müesli got the gear ready, procratinated for almost two hours and I was off. I didn't feel to bad but the hills really were killing me. I could feel my right hamstring twinging. I decided to head up Seskin hill, the hamstrings really starting to twing now, I realised I hadn't drank a whole lot so I started to devour the bottle of Lucozade sport which made me feel better. When I got back to Carrick I decided to get a roll and more lucozade sport to refuel. I felt I had good power in the legs but I've lost a lot of stamina. The few turbo sessions I did over December and January have paid off. I did 94km today with a poxy average speed of 21.4kmph, but I think it's more important to have the distance in the legs.

Captain Havoc

Checked weather forecast Monday evening for today, wind from the SE, good weather. I woke up, checked again, wind S-SW so it was Carrick again. I got up at 8.30, had a bowl of Müesli and procrastinated for a while, I eventually roll out about 11.30.
Head down to Carrick. On the way to Carrick, there's this stretch of road I love after the climb from Kilmoganny, there's a stream and lovely hills etc... Later I'm up Seskin, much quicker and stronger than last week, no hamstring niggles. There's something I half thought about the days previous and there I was at the top of Seskin thinking that the day is long and life is short, so I continue on down south and after a while there it is, Mahon Falls. I look at the mountain, the mountain looks at me, no mountain is going to intimedate Captain Havoc, so up I go. The road the way up is OK, especially near the top. When I get to the top, I'm tired and I realise it's 70km home. The descent is possibly the slowest in the history of cycling, I think my blocks need replacing, I tighten the brakes and nothing. I get back to Carrick feeling ****ed, so I down a bag of power shots and buy a bag of jam doughnuts as I'm really low on energy. My main concern at this point is, how the fück am I going to get back to Kilkenny in the light? I have my light with me but it's been acting up recently, I just think if I can get to Kilmoganny in light I'll be happy. The way out of Carrick and on to Kilmoganny I feel like a bag of shít but I get there with light. I pass the turn off for Dunnamagin and I still have a bit of light, the legs have woken up after their slumber and start moving again. I get to Kells and I decide it's time to turn on the light, it's working and I thank heaven for small mercys. The way back in I hit a couple of pot-holes, one is particularly bad but I saw it last milisecond and managed to lift the front wheel on time, thankfully no puncture. Home, shower, milk and soon bed, I hope I'll recover in time for my soccer match tomorrow.
EDIT: 135 odd km covered at a speed that resembled going in reverse.
Captain Slow Havoc

Captain Havoc

Right, so I got an opportunity to head out again yesterday. I've taken note, if I'm going to drink alcohol, it's better to go into work hungover than cycle. The problem I'm facing at the moment is that it's hard to train for two things at the one time but I put in a world class procrastining session. I got up at 8h30 and by the time I got on my bike it was about 15h15. I decided that in such a short period the best way was to go lumpy, wind was coming from the north so that meant one thing, Clara, Kanes Bridge, Castlecomer, Muckalee, Ballyfoyle and in.
I was happy enough with how I felt, especially starting off into a strong wind. I think there may have been a missile attack on the roads around Clarabracken and after I took the corner at Clara castle, there she was, a crater, I was a bit nervous after that but eventually picked up the pace on the decent into Kanes Bridge. I was doing my usual on the way up past the Culm grind stone when 2 big angry dogs came running out of a gateway, speed went from 18kph to 28kph, probably good for training. I won't say I was overly pleased with my climbing skills but by in large to this time twelve months ago, I'm miles kilometers ahead. I was cream crackered when I got home and rewarded myself with a couple pancakes covered in sugar and jam to get the energy back
One thing I really need to improve on is growing a pair of balls, I seem to have lost them somewhere, I'm slowing going down hills.
Stats are 51.79km in 2h24 with an average of 21.5.

Captain Havoc

And incase anyone is wondering, I am playing other sports during the week, I play for a soccer team once a week and I also have a kick about once a week.

Lumen

Captain Havoc wrote: »

And incase anyone is wondering, I am playing other sports during the week, I play for a soccer team once a week and I also have a kick about once a week.

There is no other sport. Everything else is games.

Captain Havoc

Lumen wrote: »

There is no other sport. Everything else is games.

Cross-training Lumen, cross-training.

Captain Havoc

First time out with the club in aix months, due to sales being crap we're starting to rotate our Sundays off between three of us so I should be out every three weeks or so with the club.
To summarise, Captain Havoc was slow and hung on at the back for the last 30km or so. We started as 9 and finished as 5. We went up via Comer into Laois, turned right somewhere, I remember climbing into a place called Arles but I'm sure we weren't in France, then on down to Carlow and back in the main road. I'm pretty sure I did this route last year on me todd but could be wrong. Oh, Laois has better road surfaces than Kilkenny.
The route was up hill to begin with and then when we were going down hill and flat we were against the wind

Stats: 99.05km in 3h22 Ave29.65.

Captain Havoc

Just incase anyone is wondering, I'm playing soccer through this crap. Freezing mornings and evenings have a negative effect on my superpowers but I'll be back on the back as of Friday when the weather is to get warmer.

Captain Havoc

So it's another one of these longer than neccessary entries zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. I go ticked off in work today, some prick in accounts has just cost me €50 which means I might as well not bother me Gary showing up for work anymore so I was a little peeved off, to say the least. Before I left for work this morning I put the battery pack on charge for an evening of cycling. I get home in foul humour, put on my cycling gear, chamois etc... put the light on my bike, press the button and nothing, play around a bit with and still nothing. I thought the cycle was going to calm me down but I've now turned from irrate to murderous. Fume, I go down, start looking at the net and I think what would blorg do? I decide to have a root around my old cycling crap bin full of cycling crap that belongs in a dump but never threw out and hey presto I find one of those flashing front light (light is loose description). The route is simple, go to the Comer roundabout, up the ring road and turn off on each exit one after the other each time going back up the Comer road and starting again, to complete this is 84km unfirtunately I had about one hour. I got as far as the Dublin road doing this giving me 27.89 in 1h06 at an average of 25.1kmph.
Off work tomorrow, so stuff is in wash and will be ready for the morning, please let weather be OK.

sy

Captain Havoc wrote: »

... I go ticked off in work today, some prick in accounts has just cost me €50 which means I might as well not bother me Gary showing up for work anymore

Internetting again!

Captain Havoc

sy wrote: »

Internetting again!

Sorry, I meant pissed off.

Captain Havoc

Meant to put this in the other day and I may put it in now before I use the computer in the morning. Went for the hilly 50 but had to cut it short as my training for the World Procrastinating Championships went on for longer than I thought. So I go out, up to Kanes Bridge via Clara. On the descent into Kanes Bridge, I magically found my balls, I altered slightly the way I grap the hoods and hey presto, my confidence is restored and I'm back decending as I used to with a bit of bite.
I decide as it's getting late to cut it short and I take an early turn off and head to Muckalee without taking Culm and Comer. It's a good thing I did as light is fücked (and now returned to LBS). I go home for a few minutes and after a bit of procrastinating I head out again and do the ring-road and start heading in the roads towards town.
Took a video of the descent into Kilkenny from Ballyfoyle but I'd say it's shíte as it was getting dark and the holder kept getting shoved but I'll do it in the future as I still haven't tired of doing it even after 15 years.
Stats: Distance 68.41, time 2.58 Average 22.9.

Captain Havoc

Went out with the club on Sunday, started feeling crap but then felt strong and was doing a good bit of pulling at the front (for a change). We went through Gowran, Graiguenamangh up Coppenagh, Thomastown, Ballyhale, Knocktopher and home. I should have turned off at Thomastown with the weak riders but didn't, ended up cracking about 20k from home and told the rest of the gang to head on. It's not easy with a group of 6. I forgot my computer so the stats aren't 100% accurate but mapmyride says 78km in 3h15 (ish)

Toblerone1978

Captain Havoc wrote: »

but then felt strong and was doing a good bit of pulling at the front (for a change).

Can we get independent verification of this please.

Captain Havoc

Toblerone1978 wrote: »

Can we get independent verification of this please.

I'm shocked, how could you not believe Captain Honest?

Captain Havoc

Other night, did laps around the town. Will do report later as I just want to put the stats in now before I reset the computer. 38.23 in 1h29 average 25.6kmph.

Beasty

Captain Havoc wrote: »

I'm shocked, how could you not believe Captain Honest?

I believe you Captain - in fact, I reckon you pulled them all the way between 40 and 45km:)

Captain Havoc

Look, I did a good bit pulling in comparison to my usual being carried around the place, it was just unfortunate I was sharing the front with a weakened rider and a newbie. We kind of have an agreement, I get towed around on the weekend and I do the towing with the beginners during the week.

Captain Havoc

I've been getting plenty of cross training, I think I've had to run for the train every morning this week, that hill up to the station isn't easy when you have to sprint it.

Captain Havoc

The day started off smashing, Sunday morning as per usual no control at the train station, thought grand I'll bring the the bike onto the train and that'll be that, until the ticket inspector came, he had me clocked. I played dumb and eventually got away with it but it looks like I've used up the, I didn't know excuse.
Anyway, the plan was to take the backroads back to Kilkenny after work, checked the map before I left, grand. On the road: "cul de sac", not very good. On the way to the cul de sac I had to go over a very gravely road whicih tested my very good bike handling skillz, it didn't do anything for my average speed though. I went up one road and back down, checked my phone GPS which said it wasn't a cul de sac, balls, I wasn't going up a hill to find out it was cul de sac so back over the gravel I go.
The golden rule is: if doubt, head south. I get to a cross-roads and go: eeny, meeny, miney, mo, pick a road and off you go, if it's wrong, smoke a bong, eeny, meeny, miney, mo. The road goes uphill, this is good, there's hills between Carlow and Kilkenny, I eventually give up and head for the main road. I daren't look at my stats, I know they're pathetic. I peg it, with 20km 'til KK, my average is 21.9, pulling into Kilkenny I've brought it up to 23. I stop off in the Centra to buy me ma a box of chocolates and the official scores are: 49.99kms done in 2h12mins, average 22.7 (I don't know how I droped .3km in about 3-4kms). I reckon from the time I was on the main road my average had to be above 25kmph.
Here's the outline of the suspected route I took, pity I didn't turn on the sports-tracker.

Captain Havoc

The last time I went on this route we had an average speed of 21.5kmph or so. Today, I thought I was being powerful, the hill up to Kanes bridge knocks me every time but I managed. With 20kms to go I was cursing I had about 22.3 as an average speed and I was about to go into the wind. We'll just like yesterday, I pulled it out of the bag in the end, 51.69kms done in 2h08 which gives an average of 24.2 almost 3kmph faster

Captain Havoc

Suppose it's about time I put in the Paddies day spin here. Went up to the big smoke for the hurling final and I knew I couldn't miss the opportunity to go on a boards spin.
Met everyone in Dundrum at 8.30 with guidance from Planet X (who kept calling me Captain Birdseye ) and met some old and new faces. There was about 8 of us starting out. Route was up Wicklow, I know we left through Lambs cross, up by Stepaside and this is where it gets hazy for me. Heading down the N11 we were going into a headwind. Slaughter hill seperated the men from the boys, the rest of the gang headed up ahead leaving two of us climbing (can't remember name ), he told me he was from Waterford which made me want to get up faster than him which I did
After another while I ran out of water and was starting to feel weak, I didn't think I'd be feeling weak on a shortish spin so I didn't bring anything with me. The headwind on the N11 and Slaughter Hill just took it out of me. I only had 23s on and I could feel the grip being lost a couple of times so on the final descent I descided to take it handy.
All in all, a really enjoyable spin and I hope to make it up for a couple more before the end of the summer on bank holidays and the like.
Stats are Max 53.6 7:( 76.87km in 3h09 ave 24.3


Forgot to mention about stopping at the shop and lobbing a whole snickers into my mouth.

Captain Havoc

Suppose I better update this, I've just been coming home writting down the scores.
Sunday: club spin 84.77km covered in 3h00, max speed 53.4 average 28.1. I was in good form but faded at the end.
Freshford, Urlingford, Durrow, Ballyragget, Comer, home

Laps around town some evening: 59.41kms covered in 2h14, max speed 48.3, average 26.4. Did 1st 14km in 29mins which makes me very happy, I never thought I was going to get that lap in under 30mins again.

Lumpy, lumpy circuit, 76.17kms covered in 3h33, max speed 55kmph, average 21.4 (yes that's not a typo) Thought (hoping) death was strike me down in the last 10kms.
Kanes bridge, Comer, Ballyraggett, Freshford, Tullaroan, Kilmanagh and home.

No idea but I think it might be the route home from work against a strong, strong (30kmph) wind all the way
46.96kms covered in 1h52 mins (probably includes the way to work also) max 52.6 ave 24.9

Think this is the route home again but only calculated from last set of traffic lights in Carlow: 38.33 in 1h23 max 43.7 ave 27.4.

I know there's one or two spins missing but that'll teach me for not updating this more often.

Yesterdays spin with the club 78.21kms in 2h45, ave 28.3 max 57.9. Route: Callan, Windgap, Kilmoganny, Dunamaggen, Knoctopher, Thomastown, home.

Captain Havoc

With the day off and the weather at 500 million degrees, I decided that there was only one thing to do: go for a stroll on the bike. This wasn't a training spin, more of a take my time and enjoy the day (this gets my excuse for going slow in early on in the story). Wind ENE, when going east, there really is only one way to go: Mt. Leinster.

I started out, headed up to Kane Bridge, onto the ridge then descended into Old Leighlin which was steep, onto Bagenalstown, stopped in Borris for some light refreshments and a refuel. Went up the Nine Stones, it was long, it was windy and it was hard. Took a moment to appreciate the scenery before descending into Bunclody. The descent was fücking horrendous, pot holes which took up the whole road, pot-hole really isn't the correct word, craters is more accurate. This descent required good eyes, breaks and balls at one point I hit a bump and I thought my shoulders were about to pop. Got into Bunclody and took the wrong road, I started heading to Enniscorthy but realised my mistake, went back to Bunclody and then onto Kiltealy. From Kiltealy it was up the gap to Ballymurphy. On the climb, I noticed my wheel was getting flat, carp. I decided to pump up the tyre in hope it was slow and get to a garage. On we go towards Borris and turn off to Graiguenamanagh before Borris. Stop in Graiguenamanagh for one of my favourite treats when out cycling: a jam doughnut. I change the tube in the garage, pump it up using an apadter and the garage pump. It was getting late, I needed to be in Kilkenny for 18h45 for the beginners spin in the club so I had to abandon the last climb up Coppnagh and onto Thomastown and instead head to Goresbridge, Gowran and into Kilkenny. Stats are 148.48kms in 6h38 giving an average of 22.3kmph, max 53.6.

I took off the computer for the beginners spin but I did about 30kms in 1h30ish, from Kilkenny to Freshford and back.

So a total of around 180kms for the day




I really like this following photo:

Beasty

Nice tractor...

... but a little too much flesh:)

Lumen

Gaaaah! My eyes!!!!

ROK ON

Why did you not head up to the mast at the top?

Beasty

Lumen wrote: »

Gaaaah! My eyes!!!!

I wouldn't complain too much Lumen - last time we saw them they were wrapped in cling-film.

He certainly seems well-practiced at taking the camera into the bathroom and photographing his "lower limbs"

Captain Havoc

@ROK ON, should have done, something I still don't like about trespassing despite the fact everyone goes up there.

@Beasty, yeah, I'm well used to it. You can find more photos of my posing in front of the mirror at www.sexynakedsingles.com

@Lumen, oh yeah, says the man who had a skinny and farmer-tanned-to-the-max photo of Michael Rasmussen as his avatar.

ROK ON

Captm there are very few 700m climbs in Ireland. When you said you were going to Mt Leinster I was eagerly awaiting your recounting of an epic battle up the slopes in these pages. Now I feel slightly deflated. Its like chasing a girl, succeeding in getting her to come back to your place, getting her to take her clothes off and then standing back to admire the view.

Captain Havoc

I have taken your comments on board and in future I will endeavor to write better accounts and have accounts better to write about. If I had of gone up, I wouldn't have got the rest of my planned route done, I hope to do it in the near future with a spin directly to Mt. Leinster and back.

ROK ON

Capt. Upon rereading last nights posts I have decided that what was an attempt at humour was actually a little meanspirited. Apologies for that.
The milage you put in your own on that route is impressive enough.

Spent a weekend around Bagnalstowm and Tullow last year and thought it is a spectacular area to live in. And btw when I was there I cycled back to Dublin, but I didn't head up MtLeinster at all. Just went around.

Captain Havoc

ROK ON wrote: »

Capt. Upon rereading last nights posts I have decided that what was an attempt at humour was actually a little meanspirited. Apologies for that.
The milage you put in your own on that route is impressive enough.

Spent a weekend around Bagnalstowm and Tullow last year and thought it is a spectacular area to live in. And btw when I was there I cycled back to Dublin, but I didn't head up MtLeinster at all. Just went around.

I took it at humour, I've been posting round these parts to know you're OK. My response was also meant in humour, I wanted to post the clip from Fawlty Towers of Mrs. Richards with Basil (definately one of the funniest comedy episodes of all time) complaining about her room and looking for a reduction, but I couldn't find it. I do geniunely intend on heading up to the top soon though.

Captain Havoc

Cycled home from work, had 14kmph NE wind behind me was feeling fairly strong but had sore legs from the start. 37.25kms done in 1h12 averaging 30.8kmph max 42.6kmph.

Captain Havoc

I was again feeling very strong, but this time I had fully pumped tyres. Started the clock a bit late but meh. 36.93kms in 1h04 averaging 34.5kmph max 47.3. I may as well hang up the bike because I won't be doing that again.

Captain Havoc

Cycled home again last night, 38.31kms in 1h15m45s ave 30.3 max 45.5. I also managed to reset my odomoter writting this yesterday, need to double check the setting but it seems ok

Captain Havoc

Another cycle home, headwind Someone in the Kilkenny forum was curious how long the ring road was so I cycled that also. In total 50.54km, in 1h49m58 ave 27.6.

Captain Havoc

Be the hokey I'm wrecked. Got the train up to Dublin, met DirkVoodoo and coolbeans and we went up to Wicklow via Vico Road, Killiney, Bray up towards Roundwood turned around Enniskerry and back to Bray 55kmsish. I decided cycle back to Kilkenny via Blessington, Baltinglass, Carlow. I tried to get back to Kilkenny for 19h00 to go out with the beginners group but at that time I was about 15mins away, how terrible :rolleyes: but much to my delight :rolleyes: I saw the group coming towards me so I joined in. Toblerone suggested heading to Gowran with a slow group, it turned out there was 3 of us, the faster group went on to Paulstown. I was approaching Kilkenny with 190kms on the clock, decided balls, I may aswell clock up the full 200kms so I turned around and headed out a bit and turned around again. Scores on the doors: 202.98kms, 8h04m07 A/S 25.1 (it was 25.7 before I met the beginners) max 56.7.

Stopped in Blessington for lunch, Havoc style:


Here's a rather jolie part of the country:



And finally what the route looked like:

DirkVoodoo

Well done, super effort Captain Birdseye!

Captain Havoc

Before I start, I would like to say, please excuse the crap average speed and my lack of cojones. While I was doing this ride, I was thinking about the words I would use here which I have since forgotten.

Easterly wind coming in and the sun shinning, thought I would head to Gorey. The intended journey was Borris, Nine Stones, Carnew, Gorey, Ferns, Kiltealy, Ballymurphy, Thomastown. This route didn't quite work out. I went to Borris, headed on up to the Nine Stones, I'm really happy with how I'm climbing (still cräp compared to everyone else), my new shoes are snug helping me lift the peddles more so than my old shoes. I stop at the Nine Stones to have a drink. There was a fair few cars there, the gates to the mast were open. Everyone just admiring the view then a car drives up and I think in one moment everyone thinks the same: if someone is going to say something, it's going to be to the first car, so a few cars and myself head towards the mast.

As soon as you go through the gates, it starts to get steep. The view is deseptive, from the Nine-Stones you think, meh, it'll take a few minutes but I'd make it until the second you're through the gates, then you know this is going to hurt. I'm thinking this is the steepest thing I'm likely to do for a long time, until: umph, it gets steeper. The road is quite bumpy and a bit of dodging needs to be done which requires effort. I can't fück up, in the time it would take me to clip out I'd be rolling 20kmph backwards, there's no room for error, the legs have to keep turning, no skipping, no stopping. I was going at about 5-6kmph. I get to the top my arms are throbbing, there's a sense of job done until I look down :eek: I'm like a kid who's climbed a tree and then looks down to realise he's 30ft in the air. How in the hell was I going to get down? Due to being a chicken the dodgey road surfaces I decide to go down extra slow, possibly slower than I climbed. When I get back to the Nine Stones, my wrists are böllixed from pulling the brakes. At one point I let go and I hit 20kmph in about a second. When I exit the gates, I think there's something wrong with the bike it's that easy to pedal.

The sun is now hiding as I head towards the Corrabut gap, I'm freezing but my culchie blood has a bit of anti-freeze in it to help me go on. I turn towards the Corrabut Gap but in a moment of stupidity I don't change gear quickly enough and nearly end up on the floor which was narrowly avoided. The road signs have all been rearranged so in my head I was going towards Myshall until I see a sign telling me to go down another road, which I do until I realise I should have followed my head. I pull out the phone, check GPS and decide fück it, I'm underdressed and lost. Head towards Bagenalstown, my average speed is about 17.5kmph I know I need to speed things up but the legs are giving me odd signals. The legs are moving but my body wants to shut down, it was like my legs were fighting my body. Body: "hey lets just collapse in this ditch here, it'll all be over" legs: "are you really that retarded? Lets just get the fück home and quickly"

I stop in Bagenalstown for some food and keep going. I did 94.73kms, 4h37m57s ave 20.4 max 49.2.

I checked www.climbybike.com and it rates this climb as the hardest in Ireland. Mapmyride doesn't have the road to the mast on it so there's no point in throwing that up.

climbybike profile:


Look at my new shoes

Real culchies don't shave their legs

On top of the World the hill.

coolbeans

Jaysus! I said it once and I'll say it again you're a machine in man's clothing. A machine!

Beasty

coolbeans wrote: »

Jaysus! I said it once and I'll say it again you're a machine in man's clothing. A machine!

A hairy-legged machine

coolbeans

Beasty wrote: »

A hairy-legged machine

I know. I hope he was wearing shorts or something when taking those pics. But you know what? I know he wasn't...shudder:o

Captain Havoc

coolbeans wrote: »

Jaysus! I said it once and I'll say it again you're a machine in man's clothing. A machine!

Not quite but here is the man machine:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T65NpyfPkQ

coolbeans

Ah Kraftwerk, suitably Euro:cool:.

Captain Havoc

First time I've recorded from the door of work to the door of the Menchov centre as I usually measure from after the last set of traffic lights in Carlow to either the ring road or first set of lights by the train station in Kilkenny. Dist 41.41, 1h31m49, ave 27, max 45.9.

Captain Havoc

Yesterday cycled back to Kilkenny against a strong wind and joined up with the beginners in the club. Good turn out about 30ish. Unfortunately I put the computer back on the bike when I arrived in Carlow this morning so the time and the average is down a bit. I did post it from my mobile on the train this morning but the signal was carp so it didn't register. It did read around 81kms at an average of 27.2 but now reads 83.97kms, 3h10m58, ave 26.3 and max 48.9.