Training week 33

274 kms was covered this week. The roads in clare are very tiring, there is a lot of vibebrasion through the bike because of the road surface. The race was hardest over the three major climbs but also there was a head wind from ballyvaghan to Spanish point. Finished 3rd in class and 22nd overall. Not to bad out of 1800 riders. The Sean Kelly Tour is on next Sunday, hopefully I'll have the same form for this event.

Training week 32

163 kms was covered this week. Did the inter club league on Tuesday evening, last race before going on holidays.

Training week 31

247kms was covered this week. I finished with the first group home on the vee challenge. This event was twice over the famous vee climb. Struggling with the climbs because of my weight. Still it was a good day. Off to clare on holidays for two weeks and will hopefully compete in the skyride race. 1800 riders signed up for this event.

Training week 30

277kms was covered this week. Compeleted the tour of Wexford which was good and tough climbing fort mountain before the finish.Also raced the inter club league which was hard but fun.

Training week 29

197 kms was covered this week. I really enjoyed the first inter club league race. The handicaps worked well with nearly 50 riders heading for the finish line with 1 km to go .

Training week 28

234kms was covered this week. The inter club league starts next week, should be able to race four races before heading off on holidays.

Training week 27

184 kms was covered this week. Going to take it easy over the next couple of weeks starting to feel tired.

Training week 26

186kms covered this week. The eye cleared up after five days. Weight starting to creep back up, need to lose 5 kgs before 08/08/2010 for the vee challenge. Weight is harder to control then the miles training. Half way through 2010 and training miles covered so far mounts to 6300 kms.

Training week 25

44kms covered this week. Had to go to the doctor about the eye. Eye infection bad week.

Training week 24

172 kms covered this week. Left eye is sore probably from the flies even with wearing glasses.

Training week 23

272kms was covered this week. Did a 16kms Time Trail on Saturday and was two minute off where I should be. I did the Wicklow 200 on Sunday and was very happy with the day. Had pently in the tank to power home after 160kms. I think the long distance Audaxing is paying off.

Trainig week 22

426 kms was covered this week. I did one recovery ride and headed up to Dundrum on Friday evening to get ready for the Rex 400. I got up to the B&B at 18.30. I carried everything up to the room including the bike, I couldn't sleep. I walked to the starting point so I could find it at 4.00am. I fell asleep at around 23.00 and woke at 02.15am. I headed for the starting line at 03.30am. 21 cyclists started at 04.10 am. Everyone stayed together until the dreaded climb of Glenmalure. The group then spilt to leave about 12 cyclists as we approached Bunclody there was another spilt 9 cyclists wanted a full breakfast while the remaining 3 wanted only a cup of tea and a sandwich. After the sandwich break myself and two other cyclists headed for Carrig via New Ross,Mulinavant. We arrived together in Sean Kelly square at around 12.15pm. We sat down and had lunch. At 13.15 the three muskatears head for Blackwater. On a drag on the Kilkenny road I lost contact with my two fellow cyclists, my legs just wouldn't work. They seem to come back after about 50 km and as I was going through Gregnamanagh here where two cyclists enjoying icecream. I stopped the bike and joined them. We then continued to Blackwater. 18.00pm touch down Blackwater, time for more tea and sandwiches. At 18.30 we headed for Rathdrum via Arklow. Beautiful scenery on the coast road to Arklow. We arrived in Rathdrum at 21.30. Here we put on our lights and light rain gear. There was a good decent into Enniskerries but hard to navagate at speed in the dark even with lights. We arrived in Dundrum at the Sephen Roche monument at 23.45. Enjoyed the Rex 400 even with sore legs. The Wicklow 200 is on next Sunday so hopefully my legs will have recovered for that.

Training week 21

A total of 187kms was covered this week. I did one recovery ride and went to the Carlow 150 km. I enjoyed this spin as I felt that my legs came back on this spin. The Rex 400 km is on next week and I wanted to see how my legs where before the Rex.

Training week 20

87 kms recovery rides . I went out for an hour three times, each time I am keeping my heart rate between 110 bpm and 130 bpm. Years ago we just rode the bike, but I was only sixteen. Legs not as sore but still heavy.

Training week 19

256kms was covered this week. I rode up to the Mount Leinster challenge and back which was 185kms in total. My quads are in pain all the time and I'm not sure that I only had a head cold a few weeks ago. I was doing a bit of research and because of my legs paining me aswell this might be a sign of over training. I will need to put in a recovery week in every four weeks . Also I'm just going to do recovery rides up to the Rex 400, which is the last 400 km in Ireland for the Paris Breast Paris.

Training week 18

287kms was covered this week. On Monay I still didn't feel right after the U.R.I. Thursday I felt that I was coming round. Saturday saw the compeletion of the Stephen Roche tour de cure. This was the best organized sportive so far this year.

Training week 17

Even with taken a break for the week, the head cold turned in a U.R.I. I went on the bike today but I knew I wasn't well straight away. I now have missed the slaibh bloom challenge. Looking at 2009 diary a U.R.I. normal takes about two weeks to run it's course. I still managed to cover 1400 kms for the month of April. The Stephen Roche tour de cure is on the 8/05/2010 so hopefully I'll be o.k. for that.

Training week 16

340kms was covered this week. This included two 125 kms spins over mount leinster through the kilmyshall side up the corabut gap. Had a head cold on Sunday so I think I will take a few days off to let the body recover before the slaibh bloom challenge on Sunday. Hopefully I will be fine for Sunday. Any fast remedies for a head cold.

Training week 15

Total milage for this week is 440 kms. Entered and finished my first audax 300 kms. The wicklow mountains where introduced after 250kms. Very enjoyable spin as long as your fit. I burnt up 6500 cals in the trip, need to focus on my diet to sustain power through out events.

Training week 14

Training went ok this week. I managed to get in 298 kms. I also finished my first audax event. This was the ardattin 200. The event was very well ran and the good weather made the day. All in all a good weeks training

Training week 13

366 kms was covered this week. I have just found out that there is an event in France where cyclist have to cover 1200 kms from Paris to Brest and back. I am thinking strongly of doing this event. It is only held every four years. You have to qualify by doing a 200,300 and 400 this year and then do a 200,300,400 and 600 before the event which is held in August 2011. Around 5000 cyclists enter every 4 years. I think this would be a once in a life time event. I will have to lose 5 kgs this month for the tours. This will then bring my weight down to 65 kgs. There is a 10 mile T.T this Saturday and a audax 200 on Sunday. Hopefully?

Training week 12

Busy week at home this week, no training from Monday to Friday. Saturday was the club five mile time trial. Time improved by 70 seconds on the same course but there was a slight tail wind. I put in 40 km that day. Sunday I managed to cycle 140 kms in around 5 hours. I can keep a steady speed for long a period but not very fast. I will have to introduce some interval training into my routine if I am to improve in the racing.

Touring events 2010

02 May , the Sliabh Bloom Challenge 150 km . 08 May , de tour du Cure 160 km. 15 May , Mount Leinster Challenge 140 km. 22 May , Marble City 200 km. 30 May , Carlow 150 km. 06 June , Blackstairs 150 km. 13 June , Wicklow 200 km. 31 July , Tour de Kilkenny 160 km. 07 August , The V Challenge 160 km. 29 August , Sean Kelly Tour 160 km.

Colnago extreme power

Just got a colnago extreme power for this years season. A beautiful bike. My last bike was a Concorde sl, bought in 1993. The difference between the two is awesome. The weight difference is 23 lbs down to 16.5 lbs. The bike was put together by the bikeshop. The bike should make a big difference in the tours this year.

Training week 11

Total kms for the week was 330kms. Included in this was my first culb race of the year. It was a 8km time trial avg hr 180. Legs still sore after time trial on Saturday.