4weeks today and il be a day in.

Time is clicking closer for the trip, and the improvements are not as big now, that last 10% i have in me for my peak is taking that bit of work to get im still around 80kg its hard balance to get ride of the extra bit of fat while still keeping myself fed and the muscles from going. Had my biggest climbing week last week as i hit the hills and eased off my flat work.

Last week was 337km  4,451 metres climbing, didnt have the big day in saddle i want so plan do that this week and just ease into the trip the weeks before now. New wheels i brought out at weekend flying delighted with them suit my riding style down to a tee and have helped me improve on the climbs so far.

Another 80km today which is good start week, no issues turning pedals but feel the weekend ride when pushing the limits a bit more. Cracking 95km ride on sunday, high speed of 27km per hour with good chunk of climbing thrown in delighted with how i climbed energy was good, and so the 100km days should be little threat to me in france and hopefully il handle the big days by holding myself back.

The people who have gone out and sponsored me thanks so much http://www.cmrf.org/sponsorshipPage/show/889  855euro at the moment, please if you haven't already please donate just 5euro from everyone who views this blog will see us well past the 1,000euro before i leave.

So with bike ready, the legs getting their, il watch the pros do it for 3weeks before we leave, the nerves are slight but im just amazed by my progress, im climbing alot faster than i thought i could, and have say iv been flattered by the comments on how i look younger than before, cycling might hurt your bum but its not half bad for the rest of me.

Also i broke 40,000 metres of climbing this months has been huge climbing month and im inside the top5 climbers on strava hopefully it will pay off.

View down to those i left behind.

the new wheels on their first trips out.

My usual view from top of my home climb cruagh road.

 The wind was howling up their.

Just 5 weeks now

This time 5 weeks il be resting up just under half way thru the journey thru france. It shall be a challenge for sure. Thanks to those that have sponsored all the info is here : http://www.cmrf.org/sponsorshipPage/show/889

Did end up going out friday but cut short by my first puncture in over 3,000km, Hopefully it wont be another for 3,000km once again. Took saturday off the bike enjoyed the morning rugby, and caught the football in the evening then to bed on time for early spin sunday.

94km on the sunday with nearly 1,500m of climbing, and a decent average speed too not bad for all being on the old bike, the new bike needs tuning and hopefully with the new wheels it will fly and il be quicker. I felt good on 94km dug in on some climbs.

Two rides so far this week mainly climbing now i have my base fitness 92km and 1,350metres of climbing, some newer climbs which hope go back to and push bit more now i know what expect of the road.

Theirs lots of sheep up the hills these days

Theirs not long left now

Well time is closing in i have to say im still slightly worried, my weight is hoovering around 81kg, my bike still hasn't got the wheels and gearing i want for the trip, on plus side theirs over 700euro raised with still a month to go, and im climbing ok slow and steady.


http://www.cmrf.org/sponsorshipPage/show/889
Please sponsor every little counts, thanks for those who have.



Big planned ride with group of us going on trip among others, some of lads planned to do 200km, i opted to try cut short at one stage so i could get home for the football. I departed at 7.30 to meet up with the group who would be leaving at 8am. Enjoyed the riding in group, bit of banter and the company i found the miles flew by a bit easier, climbed ok im better going down than up still thou.

Their was some iffy roads in the first 80kms, and with the wet roads from the night before i didnt like some of the descending and had swerve wide on one bend when blocked by rider in front of me where i had no racing line to keep going. After 80kms i decided enough of wet back roads, and cut to roundwood and then laragh by the main road, alot easier, that left me in laragh by myself, i then headed for the sally gap, the climb from laragh is not steep but it is long and is though on days when wind is against you which it was, i was tired at this stage and could only keep with the fresher group i met on way for half of it, i struggled up the rest, then pedalled on, i then did one more climb of cruagh road just to up my climbing for the day, i was slow and the time i recorded said as much a mixture of tired legs and low energy. 148km ridden on the day with 2,300 metres of climbing my most in a day but i hope to surpass it soon with anotehr big climbing ride.

Sunday i went out to spin the legs and did one full climb and bit of easy hill work, legs felt ok but will need be better for the 5days in france of constant climbing. 42km with 600metres of climbing to round off my week, 228km for the week with 3,541 metres of climbing alot more than i had been doing. only the week i did 390km had more climbing.

This week so far the wet has held me back  iv done 121km so far haven taken time off to recover from the weekends climbing. 1,380 metres o climbing so doing bit in the hills, did a climb from tallaght today id only been down, set fair pace were i knew always had more, murder on the top thou when i got hit with the easterly wind. Fun avoiding the sheep on my way up, and delighted to have got back in just as the rain started.

Unlikely i'll get out tomorrow hope do core work, and stretch lossen up and hopefully get in a big weekend ride and do some good climbing. Plans for another challenging day and week before i leave, france is calling.

A map of the planned route, plenty bumps

 Food and gear for the morning

 Beautiful scenery on way upto sally gap.

its been a while

Well it didnt go as well as it should since the last blog, i got a 60km spin in on Friday last week, then with other things on decided i wouldn't go out Saturday, then woke up on Sunday and managed to pull a neck muscle, that had me off the bike till last Wednesday when i got back out, that was just 40km thou as felt bit stiff still and akward.

Its all set me back a bit i didn't feel as good on Wednesday and now iv had two days off with the awful weather with plans to go out tomorrow and finally get some km's in again. Also enjoyed pleasure of an aggressive courier cursing and cutting me off on a designated bike lane.


Hopefully back with pictures and more joy next time. The evening cycles may suffer with the football, so i will be getting out in the mornings.