A2 or bust

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

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 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 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.

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.

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

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

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 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.

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.