A2 or bust

CramCycle

In a slightly mocking tone, this is said with the knowledge that this is possibly the last year with family and work I can put in a reasonable effort into racing in any way shape or form. I am not quitting after this year but I definitely won't have the time to take it seriously anymore.
Starting the year at 84kg (putting on a 4kg over Christmas).
The good news is that I know a dream weight of 80kg is achievable as I hit it last year with minimal effects to power. I am starting closer to it this year as well.

Aims for the year:
- Sub 80kg from March 1st and not to go back above it for the rest of the year.
- I also have the potential to win an A4 race, something I didn't really believe last year, if I can stop falling back into old Audax habits and getting lost en route, I think I can definitely get a few points, provided I work on my sprint.
- Starting this year in Semi Limit in the league, so aiming for Semi Scratch by end of season
- get HbA1c down to under 50mmol/L, sitting in the sixties again
- I'll wait for the calendar to come out before picking races
- Aiming for the Dun Laoghaire open swim organised by Half Moon Water Polo club. So I will be taking up swimming again. Haven't done it for years and after a dip in the sea today, I look like a drowning fish, so I want to be competitive for this. It is a 2.2km open race so this will require alot of effort on my part.

How to get there (in broad strokes):
- Finishing off the heavy boozing today. Drinking will be reserved for winning races, births, deaths and marriages. Hopefully this means I will not be having a drop until march at the earliest.
- Diet: back to the diet I took up in August last year, which was fairly simple. Eat healthy, cut down on carbs, replace breakfasts and lunches with shakes. No eating after 9pm
- Training. Back to commuting from the morning, so rain, hail or shine, every day is on the bike going forward. Currently working out longer, hillier routes for the commute. I also have a range of exercises done out for building up other muscle groups to both strengthen weak spots as well as stretch out and train myself to be better. I was contemplating a gym membership but the truth is I won't make it to one.

CramCycle

So first week over and it has already been up and down.

Coming back to work was a bigger shock this year than most even though I popped in over the break and done a load of stuff from home. Overdone it on the first three days and my legs were in bits over the weekend with pains through my knees. Giving up the booze did not go as well as planned for the first week, and its safe to say I probably drank more that week than over Christmas in general.

Positive notes:
- Down over a kilo already so weight is now 83kg
- Diet is not as difficult this time as the last time to stick too
- I can get to 60kmph on a track bike with 46x18 gearing, so less worried about my ability to get good cadence in

Negative notes:
- Giving up the booze was harder than expected, which is a worrying sign considering the number of addicts in the family. Alot like bold food though, if its not in the house, I won't touch it so now that stocks are depleted it should be less of an issue.
- Haven't started the workouts or swimming yet but will start it by weeks end.

Club League is starting 18th April - starting Semi Limit so balls out for the first few weeks to try and get upto Semi Scratch

Track league - should be able to make a few dates this year for a change, so hopefully at least half the races

Calendar is up on the CI website so here are the targeted events, two or there may not be possible due to family stuff or not being upgraded but hopefully I get a good crack at most of them:

2/3 Dublin Wheelers Open Races
10/3 March Newbridge GP
16/3 Lucan GP - Provided it doesn't interfere with family
31/3 Des Hanlon memorial
20/4 Gorey 3 day (provided upgrade achieved) - not sure if I will be allowed, upgrade or not as the dates are not family friendly but I will ask if I manage an upgrade
28/4 Deenside Cup
5/5 Frank O'Rourke Memorial
12/5 Shay Shay Elliot Memorial (provided upgrade achieved)
9/6 Paddy Flanagan Memorial
22/6 Noel and Kieran Hammond Memorials
23/6 Eddie Tobin Memorial Road Race
26/6 Stephen Roche Grand Prix (if upgraded)
13/7 Danny O'Shea Time Trial
21/7 Seamus Kennedy Memorial
27/7 Christy MacManus & Ronnie Coates Memorial
31/8 Laragh Classic (if upgraded) - also if not marshalling
15/9 Cycling Ireland Masters & A3 Road Race Championships
29/9 Cycling Ireland Hill Climb Championships

CramCycle

Done my first FTP test today.

3.41W/kg

https://www.strava.com/activities/2071285217

I want to sleep

dahat

Terrifying experience all round... Did you need a bucket?

wpd

if you havent got one already go and get a coach to do a training/season plan for you
best money you will ever spend

CramCycle

wpd wrote: »

if you havent got one already go and get a coach to do a training/season plan for you
best money you will ever spend

Done one last year but it was wasted on me, I simply don't have time or money to follow a plan so won't be happening this year.

dahat

CramCycle wrote: »

Done my first FTP test today.

3.41W/kg

https://www.strava.com/activities/2071285217

I want to sleep

Did you not do a warm up? I'd normally have 30mins done before the actual 20min effort.

CramCycle

dahat wrote: »

Did you not do a warm up? I'd normally have 30mins done before the actual 20min effort.

That was just the recording from the Wattbike, I did a warm up before although not as long as yours.

Bambaata

Best of luck with the year ahead, sure with all that swimming you might as well through in a weekly run or two and stick in a triathlon ;-)

Ive joined pool again after years away, what amount of time do you intend putting into the pool each week?

CramCycle

Bambaata wrote: »

Best of luck with the year ahead, sure with all that swimming you might as well through in a weekly run or two and stick in a triathlon ;-)

That's not even funny

Ive joined pool again after years away, what amount of time do you intend putting into the pool each week?

About 3 hours a week (1hr*3times) in the pool with an open water swim once a fortnight.

CramCycle

Week 2 down, better than week one.

Possibly over doing it slightly as I feel a bit run down but have had alot on in work and home so maybe just real life. Annoyed to hear the Wexford 2 Day is off, which means the only race I can realistically target as a 2 day is the Gorey 3 day . To be honest, this is a stretch as I would have to enter and get upgraded but I'll go for it anyway. These are the races I have before then, so basically need a minimum 5th place in all of them, DW Open Race, Newbridge GP, Lucan GP, Des Hanlon. The first is probably not realistic as its the first race of the season and likely to be lunacy at only 45km. I like Newbridge, and held onto the breakaway last year for a good bit, lost them bridging the climb after I had led them up Boston Hill , need to get some more hill work in before then. Lucan GP rarely makes for a race that has a get away but it will be a good test to see if I do or do not have a sprint in me as that's the way it always ends. Must remember not to fly off the front before the roundabout like I do every other time on that course. Des Hanlon I don't know well enough. I like it but have never finished anywhere near the front so lets hope for the best.

Positive notes:
- Down another kilo already so just at 82kg
- Staying off the booze this week was very easy, my plan of not having it in the house worked wonders and didn't seem to bother me

Negative notes:
- Feeling run down, so hope its just that time of year as I don't feel I have over done it yet

Taxuser1

how long is your commute and what are you doing on it ? are you doing weekend spins as well? when is/are your rest day(s)?

CramCycle

Taxuser1 wrote: »

how long is your commute and what are you doing on it ? are you doing weekend spins as well? when is/are your rest day(s)?

Commute is 17km e/w, which will get longer as the weather improves and the evenings and mornings brighten up. I don't tend to cycle at the weekends, due to family and getting other stuff done.
Rest days are essentially the weekend. Although occasionally I have to take a vehicle for work which means I only do the commute 4 days a week.

Taxuser1

CramCycle wrote: »

Commute is 17km e/w, which will get longer as the weather improves and the evenings and mornings brighten up. I don't tend to cycle at the weekends, due to family and getting other stuff done.
Rest days are essentially the weekend. Although occasionally I have to take a vehicle for work which means I only do the commute 4 days a week.

sort of the same myself. if its any use to you, keep mixing cadence in and out and never go below mind Z2. five minutes high, five minutes low as traffic lights allow. benefited me no end.

CramCycle

Taxuser1 wrote: »

sort of the same myself. if its any use to you, keep mixing cadence in and out and never go below mind Z2. five minutes high, five minutes low as traffic lights allow. benefited me no end.

Cheers, have been trying that, getting as high a sustainable cadence as possible between lights on the N11. Its a pain in the ass when you get a green though as you get no break

JimmiesRustled

CramCycle wrote: »

Cheers, have been trying that, getting as high a sustainable cadence as possible between lights on the N11. Its a pain in the ass when you get a green though as you get no break

Could always go the back roads. Use the N11 occasionally but depending on where you commute to you might look at going up the back of the silver Tassie and then up to kiltiernan using the ballychorus road and then dropping down through step aside and through sandyfirdm less traffic, less lights, nicer roads. Just a thought.

Macy0161

JimmiesRustled wrote: »

Could always go the back roads. Use the N11 occasionally but depending on where you commute to you might look at going up the back of the silver Tassie and then up to kiltiernan using the ballychorus road and then dropping down through step aside and through sandyfirdm less traffic, less lights, nicer roads. Just a thought.

I've done that a few times in rush hour, and found it to be a ballache from Belarmine tbh. Lambs Cross a pinch point, Dundrum a pinch point, I think Cram is heading to Clonskeagh, so then the Goat is a pinch point (and the estates are rat runs, parked cars and ramps). I did it a few times and switched back to the N11 as it was less stressful/ far less vehicle interactions.

When I want to extend the commute, I actually go back on myself on ferndale, ballyman, enniskerry, and then drop back down Ballycorus to the N11!

CramCycle

JimmiesRustled wrote: »

Could always go the back roads. Use the N11 occasionally but depending on where you commute to you might look at going up the back of the silver Tassie and then up to kiltiernan using the ballychorus road and then dropping down through step aside and through sandyfirdm less traffic, less lights, nicer roads. Just a thought.

Macy0161 wrote: »

I've done that a few times in rush hour, and found it to be a ballache from Belarmine tbh. Lambs Cross a pinch point, Dundrum a pinch point, I think Cram is heading to Clonskeagh, so then the Goat is a pinch point (and the estates are rat runs, parked cars and ramps). I did it a few times and switched back to the N11 as it was less stressful/ far less vehicle interactions.

When I want to extend the commute, I actually go back on myself on ferndale, ballyman, enniskerry, and then drop back down Ballycorus to the N11!

I don't like that descent down the Clonskeagh road so usually go through the industrial estate and through the back roads / estates the rest of the way, far more pleasant than the main road, if a bit more convoluted. You can get some nice repeat 30 second sprints on the hills around Mount Merrion.

Coming from South Bray so will start going along the Enniskerry way in soon enough, rather than through Bray town and the N11, you can hop down to the N11 at several points before stepaside.

Deciding on where best to start my hill repeat training, Killiney hill, the climb out of Enniskerry. Might try the Ballychorus road as a starter as I have not been up that one in years.

CramCycle

Week 4 down

This week was not a good week as my partner was away and I stupidly used that as an excuse to slack off. All it has done is made me feel run down and unwell.

Went for my first weekend spin in 6 months as my partner felt bad I was left home. Tried a bit of climbing, way off the mark in regards my fitness compared to 6 months ago so am going to build in some hill work on any morning I can leave early for work or don't have to get home early.

Positive notes:
- Stuck at 82kg despite no work this week.

Negative notes:
- I have been a lazy f*ckh*le this week

CramCycle

Started my cadence training this week, took a few days to get used to spinning properly again but already noticing the huge difference in my times spinning up around 100 to 110.

Also went to the track for the first time in a long time. Flying 200 off the cuff came in just shy of 15sec, which isn't terrible but I can do 3 seconds better. Gearing was 46 x 18 so I can blame that for now. Funny feeling to fell your legs fill with lactic acid in under 5 seconds

CramCycle

Under 81kg, and 10days left to get under 80kg.
Fell off the wagon in regards healthy eating a few weeks ago but not terribly so, didn't gain any weight but the lose stopped.

dahat

At your watts/kg it's only time before before you get out of A4, hope your season goes well this year.

CramCycle

CramCycle wrote: »

I
- Sub 80kg from March 1st and not to go back above it for the rest of the year.

Goal one on target

CramCycle

So first race over, i sit here with a drink after eating a heap of ****e, hoping that come work tomorrow I will be able to sit down with out pulling a face like someone kicked me square up the hole.
So the race went OK I suppose, a few bike issues over the week were worked out but I awoke oddly calm and without the typical pre race nerves. This I found disconcerting. After numerous attempts to get everything in order, I adjusted the limit screws on my derailleur so I couldn't get to the lowest or highest cog. Overkill but I was tired after a few rough days at work.
The race rolled out to the waiting point at the petrol station, with the typical tapping off brakes by people for some unknown reason. The Comms asked the newbies to hold up their hands. As it would turn out, most of the newbies were quite well behaved.
We rolled out and straight upto the high 40s but unlike previous years there was no mad jump off the front. I started near the back and was cautious of the squeaking discs, so I hung out near the white line. As soon as we got on the first straight and the road was clear I overtook and made my way to the front. Again, unlike other years, there was no mad panic. In fact When coming to the front I ended up breaking away and another rider came with me, we had a few seconds quite quickly. A spectator shouted we had 10 seconds on the bunch. I resisted the temptation to shout back that there was no way for them to know that and only the following crowd could get gap times so early in an amateur race. My new colleague was spurred on by the sound of such a gap accumulating in under a minute that he drove on. I of course looked behind and realised it was about 3 seconds , and we were swallowed up for the first time that day.
It would not be the last. I messed around up the front, remaining in the top 10 for alot of the first lap, coming round the last bend before Doreys forge, I stayed near the front but eventually just ended up in the middle. As suspected, when we got to the short climb the bunch slowed so much, that I ended up coasting from near the back to the top 5 without putting in any effort. A small push and I was on the descent near the front again.
I took a few more digs with a man from Tipp, and another rider who I recognised but for some reason, cannot remember now. I stayed at the front with them for a bit, I did take a dig or two of the front but looking back i was just dragging people along so I slowed up and let myself fall in with the top three. Coming round the third last bend, for some reason, I broke with my plan of staying near the front and drifted back. A club mate was near the front and another just came around me. he was looking good so I tucked in two riders down and started plotting my suicide run after the next turn. The lap before when we took the second last turn there was a head/cross wind which was pushing people right. Everyone was trying to be a pro and get in the right place for protection but we had slowed so much that I had been able to cycle up on the left uninterrupted with little extra effort. The plan had formed, this was where I would make my break, where no one would be stupid enough to do it. Everyone was being conservative and trying to be smart, I would be stupid, drop a few gears, ramp upto 160rpm and go like the clappers for 5 minutes. I could see a few who would try and close me down but they would actually join me. I was in full Walter Mitty mode now, sure I practically had points on the board. Game face on, rest, relax, get the HR down and just go with the crowd till the turn. Ignore any breaks until then. Teammate was riding well, use him as a marker and that was that.
Then it happened, a rider switched out in the middle of the bunch, right in front of my teammate and tapped the brakes. His front wheel went and the bike spun around, a guy to my left then got taken out by his rear wheel and went on top of him as he lay now facing the opposite direction. to which he had been riding. I seen another two then hit the ditch as they got knocked like bowling pins. He had went across the road, it was similar to the last time I seen a crash on this course only I was too close this time and mid bunch rather than away from the crowd. It went slowly but I was about to break my teammates leg as I couldn't figure out how to fall, it was two bikes deep before my reflexes kicked in, there was no bunny hop here that didn't end up with me in a hospital so I just took the hit. Guy behind me, I presume, panicked and swerved left (he was on my right), took out my rear wheel and left me lying down, face a few cm from someones chainring, in hindsight, this was probably great for me. I think three wheels hit my back, I have vague recollection of at least two riders falling/bouncing over me and my teammate but this I am not sure of as I wrapped my neck with my hands and just lay there. A few seconds later, that felt like minutes, I stood up. nothing broke, head was not hit. I turned to the guy beside me who let me know he was alright. I walked around asking had people hit their head, telling them to stay down. Of course being cyclists, almost everyone got up, half the crowd was gone before I even talked to the comm car to see was an ambulance on its way. A few scrapes and battered egos but all seemed, in the immediate aftermath, pretty good. One poor guy lost his CAAD12 to a snapped rear triangle. I believe he is now wondering what bike he can get to replace it without telling his partner who was on the way to collect him before the ambulance got there. I waited for the ambulance to let them know that everyone had decided to f*ck off, and rode back with an Orwellian rider. We came across a teammate of his with a flat, I had nothing to offer and I was out of chivalary so I left him there with his teammate in the decreasing temperature. Rode upto the finish, seen the end of A3 and decided it was time to go home. Thank the adrenaline I got back as by nightfall I had seized up like a rusted nut and bolt.

The only war wound I missed was the punctures on my back, presumably from a chainring as someone went over me, never even noticed until my partner pointed it out this morning

CramCycle

Suffering overtightened hamstrings, and my lower intercostal muscles were in bits yesterday, like I had been through a round with Rocky Balboa and I was walking like John Wayne.
Still sore this morning but I thought I'd be able to give the Lucan GP a crack. Started off OK, windy morning, I kept close to the white line knowing the course had sitting water to the side of the road. After sitting at the back for the first 1/4 lap, I moved close to the front on the next quarter, taking a few random turns on the front, we came round the roundabout and I tore off, followed by a few we had a group of 8 very quickly but unfortunately we couldn't work together and were swallowed up quick enough, even though we definitely had the power to stay away.
The next two laps were easy enough, I moved around the bunch, took a good few turns on the front and a few digs to lift the occasionally dropping speed.
Coming to the last lap it was the first time we turned onto the home straight I wasn't near the front, the group swallowed me but at least 1/3 had been dropped off the back. I spent the next half lap chasing the group, the Comms came round me but I was still only 100m from the back so I dug deep, dropped into the bars and kept trying. I caught the back of the Comms car but didn't want to get in trouble, swung to the right of the car and he had his window down, as soon as we got to a straight with a clear line of sight I let a shout to say I was coming round and got a wave around. I caught the back and sat in until the next turn, everyone slowed and I shot around the outside and went from chasing the bunch to leading it like a fool yet again. Out on the Summer hill road a few people came around me and I worked hard to keep wheels. I was burnt out and I knew it. I certainly wasn't going to do anything so I figure I hang in and get the last of a decent workout. I busted myself to hang on and coming to the roundabout I was on the outside coming round to the front. I said to a clubmate I'd go from the roundabout, half joking. I done it anyway. I went round the corner at 45kmph and ramped upto 65. Held the front until about 100m from the line where the top 6 came around me where I just gave up and rolled over. Crossed the line in 10th maybe Could have had 7th if I hadn't packed it in but after the 6th came round me I forgot about top 8 and just sat up.

A good workout anyway

CramCycle

A bad week in general, partner was away and I got into awfully bad habits of drinking most nights and eating absolute sh1t, months of work undone in a week. By the end of the week I was tired, sluggish, knee pains and my blood sugars are all over the place.
Anyway, night before the Boyne GP, I can't get my blood sugars down at all, over 17mmol/L all night, cannot sleep, can't stay awake, felling generally sh1tty. I was going to not bother but I had offered a lift to a club mate so thought I better. It was weird to be in that mindset of not caring, a very different prep morning ensued where I wandered round the house drinking coffee and wasting away the time. Finally got in the car and went to pick up my teammate but I didn't have that pre race buzz going, which was annoying, as I really need that to keep me on form.
Get out in plenty of time and slowly get ready, at this point, I am just planning on spinning round and pulling out after a lap or two. Anyway, the race kicks off, neutralised ot the second turn but the bunch is slow, so slow I wonder do people realise that the neutralisation has stopped. We come round the next bend and then people start to open up a bit, the speed jumps. Still not in the humour and try to stay in the bunch, but there is alot of that twitchy random breaking going on, eventually I just get fed up with it all and the first proper bump I spin away around the bunch and move to the front. A few lads have made a go of it but I just climb at my own intensity, not giving a sh1t, I was happy to drag people up the hill. Coming round to the Golf club, I go again at my own intensity and with the tail wind, easily crest the hill dragging the bunch with me, who all then swarm me one the descent, there would be no more downhill rests for the rest of the day it would appear with most people putting out more power during the downhill with the tailwind than at any other point in the race. The next few laps would continue in the same fashion. I done a few turns on the front with the head wind but more out of a want to keep moving than some drive to break anyone. The hills were much the same. coming through the bunch with ease and getting overtaken on the downhill. Comin to the last lap though, I decided I might give it a lash early on, so we hit the main descent and I put the hammer down, tagged onto two lads for cover for a minute, came round them and there was myself and a young lad at the front, coming into the corner at about 60km an hour, the marshals had given us loads of space. The bunch had continuously come to a stop after that corner, so i thought just hammer it here, if nothing else, you'll thin out the bunch, alas the young lad in front of me hit his brakes entering the corner and I had to change lines very quickly. i know its A4 but it was pure luck that he didn't take down the entire bunch with that wreckless braking. Anyway, it ruined my stride and that was that. I stayed up near the front but had no intention of sprinting, just waiting for people to come around me but as we got closer to the line, it wasn't happening. I set in my head the furniture shop as the place to go for an early attempt, but about 70m before that, two lads came round me and went for it, I tried to jump onto their wheel but my left quad stopped responding and I ended up pulling to the side and letting everyone one go around me.

I rolled back in, tea or coffee wasn't out yet so I just hit the road. A cracking race which the marshals have to be applauded as being excellent, just annoyed with myself for being in such poor form.

Crocked

Fair play Cram, sounds like you are plenty strong enough to get the upgrade this year.

I went into this race with a similar mindset, pretty much looking for an excuse not to race or pull up early, after a hectic few weeks had me really tired. Unlike you however I was blowing out my arse on the first lap. The second lap was grand but for some reason I just sat up about 10mtrs before the crest of the hill at the carpark on the second pass rather than close the 1 mtr gap to the back of the bunch.

I'll blame it on stupidly sitting too near the back for the first two laps and having to do too much stop/sprint efforts as the bunch randomly came to near stops and not my lack of fitness!! two lessons of the day are I need to start nearer the front and also need to do a warmup.

CramCycle

Crocked wrote: »

I went into this race with a similar mindset, pretty much looking for an excuse not to race or pull up early, after a hectic few weeks had me really tired. Unlike you however I was blowing out my arse on the first lap. The second lap was grand but for some reason I just sat up about 10mtrs before the crest of the hill at the carpark on the second pass rather than close the 1 mtr gap to the back of the bunch.

I was glad to be near the front cresting that hill, alot were expecting people to coast down with the wind and the length but there were a few lads at the front who hammered that descent on each lap. As soon as they were round the next two corners though the anchor dropped back to 25kmph. I found that descent the hardest part to hold onto for.

CramCycle

Des Hanlon yesterday and i am still feeling it today with aches in the shoulders. Set off nicely into a mild headwind but a warning from the comms that if the Ladies race got within sniffing distance, we would be neutralised kept everyone moving. I decided this week that due to pains in the back of my chest over the week, like a chest infection, I would refuse to do anything at the front. This sort of worked.
Race took off and we tipped along nicely, I stayed up near the front but I made a point of being a d1ck and moving in behind people whenever I got near the front, and flat out refused to make any effort at the front. About 18km in though, the pace ramped up for the Preme. It caught me off guard and a few lads put the hammer down, it wasn't a huge acceleration but I badly timed it and ended up going back over half way through the pack. I managed to move right and spin it out but my HR went through the roof closing the gap to them, I had red lined and felt awful. On a positive note, I recovered really quickly but I was cooked alot easier than I had expected, my fears were coming true, despite being able to dance up hills at the end of last year, this year I was way off form in that regard. I sat in with the top lads and was cautious about energy expenditure, my wheels are awesome, and I closed in on most people freewheeling on the slight descents. Coming close to Castlecomer I put the pace up a bit, it is a tight turn and we were mainly together, and got to the front and came into the corner off the front slightly and took it at close to 60km an hour, got round the next bend as well, and then the pain began. 100m up the hill, I though I was holding a nice pace, at the front, not where I wanted to be but made a point of just not blowing up. Well I'll be damned, the more enthusiastic behind me had no interest in this and turned up the pressure. The bunch split very quickly, I tried to tag onto the back of the 20 man group but was just to far back. I looked behind me and it looked like the rest were in pieces, so I had to keep going for any hope of something happening. I dropped gears and started spinning. One of the lead cars pulled in for the split group. I spent the next 20km almost within view of the bunch or at least the comms car, everytime I got closer they would surge and pull away again. I worked with two lads, well, one of two, the younger guy seemed to have no concept of how to work together and I eventually just started ignoring him. I felt cooked and my body kept saying, leave it, your done, roll home. I decided that my body should have no say in the matter, I started getting otu of the saddle, rocking left to right, ignoring the early signs of cramp. Again, the small descents were great for recovery and my HR would plummet in a few seconds while descending. When I was within 300m, a small group of 5 caught me and we worked really well together, I got a minutes rest and then myself, a lad on a Colnaglo, a Red Shirt and a few others started dragging them back. There was a drastic slow down in the bunch as they came across a bunch of dropped A1s and A3s. I put the hammer down and two of us dragged everyone up to within spitting distance. Just as we reached them though the rest of the dropped bunch caught us and we all came together just before the turn for the home straight. What looked like a nice finish with 30 riders fighting, was now alot more. I had overestimated how far from the turn the finish was, we hit the 3km sign where the road starts the gentle descent, we were tipping 50kmph and slowly speeding up, legs had recovered, I worked my way up and tried to go early but every one was speeding up. North of 55kmph and I was being overtaken. I moved over to the white line and tried to stay near the front but the bunch was so fast and so fluid that I was jumping from front to back repeatedly over the last km. I could see the home straight and was in a bad position. The Gardai had closed the road and the bunch was across the road. I mistook the sign on the road as the 100m mark and shot off at the 200m mark rather than the 100m mark. I realised the mistake as I came round the bunch and seen the 100m sign. I was cooked and they were just warming up. I kept right and rolled in out of the way.
A great race and the marshalling was amazing, two teammates in the top 10 so was happy with that, and happy that despite working harder than most on the day, I was still fit enough to contest, if only i could learn to read. One teammate was laughing at my sprinting on the hoods technique, and rightly so, my mad early sprint was not planned and I simply didn't even think enough to drop down, so a lesson learned there.

CramCycle

Well I got one lesson right, even when you losing, act like your winning.

wirelessdude01

CramCycle wrote:

Well I got one lesson right, even when you losing,

Funny, always thought you were Swords for some reason.

CramCycle

So training has went poorly for awhile now, really struggling to do anything bar my commute. I have given some time to practice sprinting as it is clearly my weak point, and I definitely have the legs and strength to put in a decent sprint, just need to hit the ground running form next week.
Club league starts for me next week as well which is always a good way to get back into form really quickly, I had hoped to be getting out to Mondello or the Track League but life is too hectic.
Have signed up for the Frank O'Rourke, I was really strong in this last year except for when I had to pull out as I was about to void my bowels due to mild food poisoning. Also signed up for the Galway Classic, first race outside Leinster in a few years. I spent my youth racing lanes like this against friends and tractors, it really looks like fun and one of the few flat courses that might suit me.
Will do a FTP test next week to see has much changed.

CramCycle

First club league race last Thursday, it ended with me feeling that I never wanted to ride a bike again, so not a great feeling. It was just awful from the first 100m until the last. Legs felt tired and sore after 100m, thought they might waken up but nothing really happened. I was able to dig in if needed but never felt the want too unlike my typical races so far this year. The temperature dropped to 4degrees over the race and I couldn't warm up. Second lap I got dropped slightly off the back. I could have caught them but my mind wasn't in it. I didn't lose too much time and finished off the race but I really just felt no love for the experience.

CramCycle

After three weeks of no training and a stupid amount of boozing, it's time to get back in the saddle. Off the booze until the next race is over. Weight is still holding and not over 80kg but I was down belwo 78kg before the boozing started.

Here are the upcoming events:

Kilmessan GP - family dependent
Paddy Flanagan Memorial - should definitely be there after missing the Newbridge GP this weekend
Eddie Tobin Memorial Road Race - it is in Wexford so should definitely be there
Stephen Roche Grand Prix - unlikely to be upgraded in time
Galway Classic - very excited about this one, it is short for A4 but it is pretty much the style of roads I grew up cycling on, also with the length, goign from the gun is a realistic option.
Christy MacManus & Ronnie Coates Memorial - Hard one to swing as I am technically on holiday but will try and get to it
Laragh Classic (if upgraded) - also if not marshalling
Cycling Ireland Masters & A3 Road Race Championships
Cycling Ireland Hill Climb Championships

dahat

Cycling Ireland Masters & A3 Road Race Championships

Any idea of what hte route is like? I've got M40 on my license so not sure if i'd like to be racing around hills with A1 & A2 lads.

CramCycle

dahat wrote: »

Cycling Ireland Masters & A3 Road Race Championships

Any idea of what hte route is like? I've got M40 on my license so not sure if i'd like to be racing around hills with A1 & A2 lads.

Not a clue, it's been run by Gorey so I presume one of the bumpier Wexford routes, maybe the Wexford County Champ course from 2016 or Barnadown route. Other than that nothing, probably won't be announced for awhile either as its not until mid September. The second day of the Wexford 2 day could also be a great route.

royrogers

dahat wrote: »

Cycling Ireland Masters & A3 Road Race Championships

Any idea of what hte route is like? I've got M40 on my license so not sure if i'd like to be racing around hills with A1 & A2 lads.

Heard its going to be the Sunday afternoon stage of the Gorey 3 day, laps of Craanford :mad:, heard this in Gorey over easter.

dahat

royrogers wrote: »

Heard its going to be the Sunday afternoon stage of the Gorey 3 day, laps of Craanford :mad:, heard this in Gorey over easter.

I'm assuming this isn't good got non climbers?

CramCycle

dahat wrote: »

I'm assuming this isn't good got non climbers?

This is the route here if I have it done right: https://www.strava.com/routes/18945992

dahat

CramCycle wrote: »

This is the route here if I have it done right: https://www.strava.com/routes/18945992

I may stay at home, last dig looks nasy. :eek::eek:

CramCycle

Jaysus, 3 days of not drinking and I came 1st in Semi Limit in the local league Hill Cimb last night. This was partly helped by the feeling that people didn't give 100% whereas I had to lie on the ground and wait 10 minutes for my heart to stop exploding out my ears on every beat. Started poorly, feeling like I was going to red line before we even got near the steep parts. Tried to drop gears to spin it out but nothing was really happening in a positive light. Seen my minute man just before the steep part, a few seconds later I realised he had caught his minute man. I took my two minute man who had set off strong but blew 1/4 of the way in. I then overtook my minute man at the halfway point. We went back and forth with each other for the next km, till I decided to stop paying attention to him, just put the head down and spin. Coming to the last 300m, I can see the line and stupidly for the first time, I look behind me. My vision is blurry but I can see him only 100m shy of me. I push it up a few gears and out of the saddle. I am barely moving but I simply use my weight to force the bike forwards, and start to pull away a bit. Managed to clear the line about with some time to spare on him, only to realise that it was my minute man who was chasing me and I had dropped mine on the climb, he actually rolled in a minute down on me.

1st in Semi Limit, and 10th overall on the night, being beaten only by A1s, A2s and an A3 sandbagger

I got home to pains in my chest, struggling to breathe and weirdly pain behind one of my eyeballs. Today I am just stiff and unable to move rather than in pain.

daragh_

Get yourself to the Curragh on Sunday!

CramCycle

daragh_ wrote: »

Get yourself to the Curragh on Sunday!

I really want too as its one of my favourite courses and I done really well on it last year, and with a bit more tactical nuance I could have done very well. Unfortunately family life calls and there will be no racing this weekend which is annoying, there is a certain joy in making a break just before the climb on that course.

CramCycle

So prepping fo r Kilmessan GP this week having gotten a day pass, it is nice that it is on reasonably early, so if I hammer it round, I can get back for lunchtime, which is always appreciated.

Training wise this week was not as good as last week, partner was away with work so diet slipped a bit out of laziness. Done a bit in the Gym which seems to have left my muscles sore on Wednesday, this pain carried through to last night for our Club League race. I rode out at a solid pace to the start, so ended up even more tired with my legs sore and having to stop for food to stop me bonking on the way there.

Small groups of 15 in each race this week, which is nice as there is no hiding for anyone and you have to work or be really smart. Race took off with another team leading out, but daragh_ didn't take kindly to the lack lustre pace and came round the outside to set what would be the trend for the evening of him TTing off the front and people trying to reel him back in. In the first few km I was sitting in fourth so just before the first roundabout I came out and put the hammer down and went through making a nice break. Unfortunately for me, in what would be a common theme for the evening, I seemed to struggle to hold the power down for anymore than a few minutes. Round the third roundabout and daragh_ came round me and sat in front to give me a bit of shelter. We worked well together for a few km, before being joined by another rider. Unfortunately our pace and strength varied to much to work together and we were reeled back in. daragh_, unhappy with this and wanting to get a good workout, started what would be his unquenchable appetite for pushing hard for the evening, his game face was on and he wasn't taking any of this riding round the course for a sprint finish rubbish that plagues A4. He would sit in 5th place for about a minute, and then TT up over the bunch again and off the front. I think in total he done this a further 10 times over the race and really kept everyone going hard. After a few other less inspiring breaks by others, eventually two other lads went up the road, no more than 150m but they were working well together and their teammates in the bunch were doing a fantastic job of soft peddling when at the front and then just sitting on and dragging the bunch, making it harder to get over. I tried a few times to sprint over with enthusiasm but I kept just making it half way and they always seemed to keep us at bay. Eventually at the start of the final lap, a few really deep digs from a few riders meant we finally joined them but f*ck me did I hate them, my legs were in bits. I was left at the front in the final 3/4 for a good while but I just soft pedalled and made no real effort, focused more on recovery rather than dragging the bunch. For the last 1/2 lap, I decided I was making no more digs and just focused hard on holding the wheel of the man at the front or anyone who went around. He was strong but I managed to match every acceleration before the last turn, and refused to go around and take a turn, everytime someone tried to make me I stuck to their wheel or soft pedalled. Coming round the last roundabout, I tried my best not to storm off before the roundabout like I normally do but I only got 500m passed it before the adrenaline kicked in and I made a jump with about 1km to go. I broke from the group and made a 100m or so and just hammered it but here I made my fatal mistake which I think cost me the win in the end. I looked behind me, repeatedly. I held over 100m until 300m off the finish line but they were closing but everytime I looked behind I slowed a bit. 1 rider took me with 50m left, another 2 with 30m left and 3 more with 10m left, the last one pipping me for 6th place by half a wheel. If I hadn't of looked, I would have had top 3 for certain but c'est la vie.

CramCycle

Well that did not go to plan. I went out Friday night with my partner after last minute tickets to a night out were produced. I thought I had been restrained but felt awful the next day, possibly as much to do with the take away on the way home rather than the booze. Spent most of Saturday drinking water and little else. Saturday night though was met with restless sleep, fevered sweats and unpleasantness in the bathroom department. I thought it was all done, and although my legs were a bit tight, to hell with it and off I sent. Needless to say, not fully done and I spent a good while in the bathroom in Kilmessan. Feeling well enough to ride, I hopped on and rode off but the legs were very tight now, even the sedate first half lap felt like the final few km of a 120km stage. Some small brake tapping in the middle of the bunch on hills (why in ****s name does this keep happening), one at speed, so I actually swerved and skimmed the guy, nearly killing a Rossborough rider who was sneaking up on the left. Needless to say, the next 2 laps were just agony. I made one or two jumps to bridge over to the breakaway but could never quite cover it. The cross wind on the back stretch was crazy and was flinging unprepared riders sideways. I tried here but quickly gave up as I felt I was going backwards. I stuck it out to the end though, despite contemplating pulling out on the second lap. I seen a nice move happening before the last turn, but one rider second guessed himself and actually sat up as we were following through, leading to me slipping back into safety while the rider following him almost went through him. At this point I should have just sat in till near the end, but as always, i just couldn't handle the boredom. I didn't realise there was still a rider up the road, I seen one guy make a bit of a break and right before the final turn, i swung wide and went for him like the clappers, took the turn wide and fast but could barely hold the road, to the point I thought my wheels would go fro under me but they didn't I held the power down for about 30 seconds, one of my teammates had followed me but I blew up. Happily I had pulled himself and 6 others clear so they kept going and all held off too round off the top 8.

All this though and I should have sat in until closer to the end, as coming up the final climb at the back I was still walking up it quicker than anyone in front of me, more fool me.

CramCycle

10M TT tonight, nothing to say other than I was disappointed with myself, poor first half, couldn't get the pacing right, return leg was worse where I was going ok but I foolishly held back and only opened up fully in the last km. I think with a better head on my shoulders, I could have knocked a minute off my time and that annoys me more than anything, the fact that it is my intelligence rather than my fitness holding me back.

CramCycle

Sally Gap race last night, due to weather and cloud it was shortened to 31km rather than the planned 51km, and to be honest, quite happy with that. One of the competing clubs went from the gun, and the legs felt stiff, to the point that within the first 5km, I was tempted to turn off at the turn for the gap and just saunter up but went ahead anyway. Thankfully I did as the tightness in the legs subsided after another 10km. The pace was higher than expected with a few riders on a mission to break the group before we even started climbing, so I kept close to the front. A small sub group made a good job of keeping them selves tucked in and making 3 others do the work but once we turned for the gap, I stopped working near the front and just sat on their wheels, for once I was just going to let them do the work and if they got annoyed so be it. Of course this didn't work and we all seemed to take our fair share on the way up. We got within spitting distance of the group we were chasing about half way up, at which point we became a bit more sedate and relaxed a bit. After 5 minutes of this though, I decided to bridge over and get a proper break. Of course one guy followed me and rode through, so I grabbed his wheel and the two of us stayed at the front of the enlarged group which I could see had lined out behind us.

I made one more break where there is the 8% bump about 5 or 6km from the finish and made a decent gap but promptly blew up. HR didn't go mental, just legs stopped being able to spin once over the bump. The group caught me again after a few 100m and I sat in to recover the legs. At this point, as we came into the open space, the other rider who had led with me started piling on the pressure. I followed him and we worked together at the front. One of my teammates came up and the three of us were at the front when one of the limit riders came round for a final breakaway attempt. I seen him go round but figured he would blow and left him to it as I didn't feel the want to blow up again. Eventually it was him 200m up the road, the other two guys 100m ahead, and me soft pedalling the bunch. None of them were making much ground though so after a few minutes of soft pedalling I bridged over to the two lads again. None of the three of us were dying but the first guy was getting away and was not cracking as expected. I upped the tempo a bit and ended up dropping the two lads. At this point the rider ahead had too much ground made to cover and I hadn't the legs to go after him so I just stuck the head down and kept it steady. The two lads were 50m behind but not giving up, the bunch was obliterated, I just needed to hold in there. About 800m from the line, the pain set in and I felt they were catching me, speed was dropping and legs were tightening. I cranked up the gears, out of the saddle and simply used my weight to move the pedals. I could see a crowd but no flag, where was the f*cking finish line. I could feel them catching me, I only needed not to fall over for about a minute but my mind kept telling me to just get off and leave it, you weren't first, what was the point. I kept pushing though, barely walking pace at this stage, they were getting closer, I roared at the crowd "WHERE IS THE F*CKING FINISH LINE". Another 100m, mother of god, keep pushing, you can die after your over the line. Once I could see it the hormones kicked in, the pain was gone, I rolled over the line, hands off the bars as if I'd just won the Giro.

A great race but still shows my lack of tactics, several points I should have held back and kept the legs fresher.

daragh_

Well done - your form is excellent this year.

I was cooked before we even turned for the Gap.

CramCycle

daragh_ wrote: »

Well done - your form is excellent this year.

I was cooked before we even turned for the Gap.

You and the other lad were on a mission to break everyone before the turn for the Gap, which worked really well as it forced the team tactics of the other lads to fall apart and they had to stay near the front and do work, so a big thanks for that. The rider in Blue though, christ on a bike, he must be a masochist as he just kept flogging himself the whole way round.

CramCycle

Ned Flanagan today. Same as always, felt tight and sore in the first few km but it eased off quicker than usual. I took off near the start and blew up within 1km, and then procedeed to sit on wheels near the front. I took a few turns at the front, usually followed by me following back thorugh the bunch and then working back up. Tipped wheels with an Orwell rider when a rider in front of her swung across her and I nearly took her deralleur off but we all recovered without issue. The race was up and down, a few digs here and there but nothing major. On the final lap, coming up the only real climb, we slowed again. I decided here and then I was going to dance up the front, just to annoy people. A Rossborough rider came up beside me and I was boxed in, maybe it wasn't to be. I waited and waited, dawdling at 25kmph. Finally he went far enough ahead of me I could go round the back of him. I didn't even have to put much effort in, just out of the saddle for a minute or two. I was just trying to break it up a bit, nothing major planned, but I got ot the top and didn't blow up, a few seconds later a Naas rider jumped over to me. A few minutes later the moto comms came up ti us and we had 15 seconds. I glanced behind, no one was there, finally, it was on. I started putting in an effort, caught Naas wheel, took a rest, and repeatedly blew up and told him to go on. I started looking at the km counting down, then realise I don't actually know how far away the line is. i make up a number and go for it. Stupid but it might work. Down to 1900m, 1800m, 1700m. Holy sh1t, if I don't make it the Naas rider will he is dropping me. The bunch catch me, I pull right to let them through but they aren't pushing more than me. I get out of the saddle and stretch the legs, I drift back a bit about half way back i realise as we get close to the line, they are slowing, they have nothing. I go wide right and start powering up. Back in 30th 200m from the line, 15th with about 100m from the line.The group are well spread out and there is room to manoeuvre and I still haven't fully wound up. I come round a teammate and roar at him to push on, the hormones are pumping. I am about to roll trough the bunch and dominate the lot of them (not really but I am in full Walter Mitty mode now). And then it happens, guy in front gets out of the saddle to push it, whatever he does, his bike flies left, takes out another rider like a skittle, my teammate beside me shoulders me out of the way and I roll in on the right. Not a clue where I finished, probably 15th, I stopped pedalling, just looking back to see my teammate in the fetal position on the ground. i leg it back to him to find he is fine, just grazing, no head injury.

CramCycle

So racing a familiar circuit, with one change where they put the finish on a hill rather than the sprint fest flat bit. Finishing on the third time up the hill. Tired on the way out, I think this suited me, legs were not sore and I wasn't expecting anything. Stayed quiet in the bunch for the first few km, moved up the front and the HR jumped and I decided to roll back again, a few digs were had by others but I was already tired so thought to hell with them. And then it happened, that hill from Sunday, the one I made a break on, the one I almost stayed away on. The HR went up and so did my stupidity. I shot off the front but tired really quickly at the top. I figure sit up and let them swallow you but when I looked behind, they were gone. I tucked in and said if nothing else, I'l cross the line at least once at the front. I tucked in and TTd for 8km. The demons banished and I felt good. I wasn't even trying now and still staying away. I stupidly looked behind and seen them a bit behind so thought, why not recover. I drank water, stretched the arms, and well f*ck me if it didn't take them an age to get me. Finally they were on me, but I was now rested, and one or two were not in great shakes in the bunch. I sat in and there it was again, that hill, only this time, the bunch were around me, an IRC rider pinning me in, we are crawling up the hill and my legs want to race. I keep nudging out, tempted to ride through the two riders in front but the gap is just too tight to be comfy. Eventually my nudging pays off and the IRC rider moves over, I squeeze between him and the rider in front and start again. This time I feel worse than before, the break not as good, not as sustained and I feel more tired. All of a sudden we are over the hill and three riders have bridged over to me, and f*ck me if they do not want to have a go off it. I lead on the climbs but the three of them are descenders and flat out TT experts, I am barely holding on, my legs are crying. Years of parenting come into play, I ignore them, probably nothing.

I come alongside them, our system is not working, I issue instructions, we are going to burn out the way we are doing up and overs. Everyone listens and we become more sedate but pretty much as fast. A slight downhill comes and we fall into the fastest man possible trap. We ramp up north of 50 an my legs tire, I start to take more breaks but whenever called upon I go to the front. One rider orders us back into the system and we comply wilfully. We are away, not sure by much but any bunch that could catch us would be decimated. We turn to the final climb, riders eyes turn to the prize but I am done, the last stretch was too much. One rider goes ahead, and the SDCC rider beside me asks what he is at and where he is going? The finish line I say, he looks stunned we are that close. I tell him its less than a km. He makes the chase but I do not follow, I simply cannot. The third man in our group comes up beside me and says it is mine. I apologise and say no, I am cooked. He rides on in search of third but then I get stupid. I figure, make them work. I come around the outside and out of the saddle, I fly past but my HR is back up, I am about to blow but I have made them suffer, with a few 100m to go. And then I look behind, I don't know if they have let me go or not but I am ahead, and despite how I feel, the speedo keeps rising ever so slowly. I come round the last bend, before I come around the corner my arms are in the air, alas no picture captured but I will never forget.
No one can catch me, I am victorious