Slieve Bloom Way

This is another way marked trail I wanted to ride for a while now. This trail is known for the best views in the country. Although not suppose to be very bike friendly, I decided to give it a go  anyway.

Robert was the only person brave enough to try and ride it with me.

We set of almost as planned with only half an hour delay, we where on the bikes leaving the car park at 08:30. All was well, bit overcast and cold but generally good biking weather. I decided to run the bike in 115 mm mode to try how it feels.

There was a bit of a confusion at the start of a trail as to which way should we go, but between the map and Strava we where back on track in no time.



First climb was bit challenging but I couldn't believe how well the bike felt climbing in shorter suspension mode.

(I didn't think that a simple adjustment like that would make the bike feel so different, there was no need to lock the shock at all, and the power transfer from the crank to back wheel was awesome, especially that the back wheel was tracking rough enough trail.)

When we got to the top we got the first glimpse of the views.
Truly amazing. It's one of these views, that no camera can show you what it's really like.

Then it was time to start to Ridge of Capard. That was a bit challenging, with railway sleepers almost all the way to the top, it was a good time to practice manuals and bunny hops. The climb was well worth the effort, the views we where getting from the ridge where second to none.

When we reached the top, we where expecting a great downhill section, but it was a steep grassy descent, trail almost non existing. It got a bit better when we reached the forest. After that more fire road climbs and descents. Before we reached Monicknew, we had to push the bikes up a fairly steep climb.

Then some road climbing and a lovely descent to Kinnity. We stopped for lunch in Kinnity Castle, where lovely lady from the reception, kindly allowed us to bring the bikes all the way into the bar. After food, and much needed pint of black stuff we set off again. Sun was out and we met few people on the trails. Trails after the Kinnity are narrow, steep and very often have a barrier and stairs, so it's not an easy ride, but the manual skills practiced earlier, came fairly handy again. 

Climb from Cadamstown to Magherabane is a killer bureen trail, and is not for the faint hearted. After that my phone died, so no more pictures and Strava. But not much lost there really, after that it was mainly old farmers fields, fire roads, country tarmac roads, and thousand and one gates!  

Last descent and we where back in the car park. 

It was a long trip. Some outstanding views, some trails not suitable for biking but a good day on the bike all the same. Some challenging climbs, tricky descents and a good bit of fire roads. I can't wait until the trails around Kinnity are fully developed, looks like a place with lots of potential.

First time on the podium!

So I finally did it!
I stood on the box!
Great feeling I must admit. It did not come easy, but not as hard as I thought it would be.

I know, for some it is only a baggy shorts race in Galway, but for me it's a big thing. To be on the podium in any kind of a competition for a first time in my age, it means a lot to me. I do train hard, when I can, but for a working father, a training session sometimes is not a top priority, so I take this prize with a great pride.

How I did it? 

It's true that you win races with your mind first and then your body.

We were supposed to travel a day early like last year, but unfortunately it didn't work out. Instead it was just me and my better half up and down in one day. I'd say having my wife there at the finish line, was one of the contributing factors. The weather was not playing ball. It was only three degrees and it didn't stop raining for a moment. I knew that's not necessarily a bad thing for me. Most of the winter training for me was in similar conditions, so I knew how to handle the bike and my body. How to stay warm and not to overheat at the same time. Just before the race started I done a short lap, and I got drenched, but I got a chance to check how wet and slippery the trails were. I adjusted tyre pressure and was ready to go.

At the start line I recognised a rider from last race, a young and fit looking guy with UCD jersey, who I couldn't catch in Ballyhoura, we had a short chat, and it was time to go. As usual I was far from the front, but I knew from last few races, that it does not really matter. Before the end of the first climb I was third. Just keep it going, I thought. After a single track climb my new friend in UCD jersey overtook me again, just like in Ballyhoura. Here we go again, I thought to myself. Then, out of the blue I thought what Maja Wloszczowska recently said: "It ain't over till you cross the finish line, fight till the end, don't look for excuses". I decided to do just that. I kept on the back wheel of my new friend the whole time, and before long the gap between us and the first two guys was quite big, but I also noticed that the guy behind me was getting slower. I decided to stay behind my friend, and keep pushing him, whenever I could. Keep the pressure on, and maybe I'll get to overtake him. That strategy prove to be good, every time we caught up to someone from super pros, he shouted to make way and I followed close behind. It felt good, we were going really fast compared to a few of the lads. When we got to more technical descents I noticed that I had to brake more than I needed to, in order to stay behind my race buddy. I knew that my bike can go a good bit faster than that, but I decided to stay behind, and use this opportunity to catch my breath. It wasn't until the last fire road, when I decided to go in a front, and only because I saw that my opponent is slowing down to get an energy gel or a bar. I seized the moment, locked my suspension and stood on the pedals. In moments like that, I can really feel how much help the oval chain ring is. Few moments later, I was in front. I could see the guy who came first in front, but he was long way away. At this moment I thought it was only about ten minutes left in the race and most of it is downhill and boardwalks. I knew I was tired, but I felt adrenaline pumping, when I unlocked the fork and the shock. I was going down fast, still hard on the pedals, the bike was glued to the trail. Even though it was quite wet, the Spider never lost a traction, I was able to push into the berms as hard as I wanted with no skids. Now, no one in front of me, I could go my own pace. I still had to slow down to overtake couple of super pros, but I knew that my friend is further and further behind. When I reached the last stretch of a fire road, my wife was there, almost in shock, shouted "You're third!". At least I think that's what she said, because I could not understand anything she said. I think my brain was just flushed with adrenaline. 

It was a great idea to give us the trophies straight after the race, because five minutes later, when I got back to my senses, my brain realised what's happening to my body, and it was like a fire alarm in a big building. There was signals of distress coming from every muscle on my body and I started to realize how cold it actually was. I was walking back to the car, and I wasn't able to take a single drink of my coffee, and I must have spilled almost half of it, my hands where shaking so much.

As I said I am delighted that I was able to finally got onto the podium, and I'm especially happy that I was able to do it without any energy gels or other performance enhancers. I race and train only fuelling my body with food and water, sometimes adding lemon juice and salt to keep electrolytes topped up. 

So now, bring on Ticknock, let's see what I can do this time!

Once again, I'd like to thank everybody for a huge support I get from all of you! It really means a lot.

2016 New Bike, New Team....

So here we are, the year of 2016!

 Another year of Mountain Biking ahead of me, and it looks like a fantastic year.
Towards the second half of last year I had to take it easy in racing and Mountain Biking in general.
Like they say: "it has to get worse, before it can get better", and it really did.
Got better that is.

I was offered a great opportunity to become a rider for Mad Elk Cycles, and I'm so happy to have met such a great bunch of people, who I proudly call friends. Their dedication and love of bikes is truly inspirational.

Thanks to them (and my Dad) I was able to purchase my pride and joy, my beloved Spider.
I was on the search for a bike that would suit my riding style, and be versatile enough, to be able to compete in all races I wanted to do. It took us while and then the lads told me about the Spider. I made up my mind within a week. When Michal built it for me in the shop, he sent me some pictures of a finished bike. I couldn't wait to go and collect it. I drove to the shop with my Dad, and when I saw the bike I couldn't believe my eyes. On the pictures the bike looked good, but in real life it looked even better. I had a quick ride on the car park, back to the shop for few initial tweaks to get the forks and shock adjusted to my weight, and then back home. Just as well I asked my dad to come with me. I was so excited, that it was a good job he was driving us back.

.

When I hit the trails, I couldn't get enough of it. It felt like the bike was built especially for me. Everything I tried to do on the trails, I did with such an ease, as if I was riding this bike for years. Few more tweaks, couple of upgrades later, and I can easily say that it is a bike of my dreams.
There is a draw back though, because the bike is so capable, I have to pull myself back at times.
The truth is, Spider can do more that I can, but that gives me great opportunity to learn and explore my sport further, but not too fast...
Not long after I got the bike, I have done Nire Valley Drop , great event, but because pedalling was so much easier compare to the AMS,  I must have thought that I'm invincible, and I don't have to spare myself at all. As a result I pulled my quad muscle, and had a quite painful, last 15 km of the ride. Another time I went on a Enduro training session and enjoying the speed, I pulled a manual and over jumped a small jump that send me flying into the tree, resulting in tearing a ligament in my thumb. After that, I decided to slow down a bit...only a bit :)
So now after two biking blitz races I know, that this is the bike for me.

This is my third time racing this series. Unfortunately two days before the first race in Wicklow, I became ill with flu and I was in two minds whether I will actually race. I decided to go despite better judgement from my better half, advising me against it. It was an utter murder, that's all I can say about it. It was cold and wet. But despite all that I finished on 8th place. I was absolutely delighted with myself, but I had to pay the price. For two weeks after that I was trying to recover from the sickness.

Not all was bad, I got a wonderful email from Tony in Absolute  Black that I have been selected as an Ambassador for their Brand! I was thrilled, as even before that I couldn't stop praising their Oval chain rings, but now I'm going to have even better opportunity to try and use the products.

Two weeks later I raced in Limerick. I did not feel like racing at all. Only just recovered from the sickness and training was minimal, so I was like bleh...
My spirits lifted, when I was able to watch my daughter racing. I think it was a great achievement for her after having such a long break. I'm so proud of her, that after all she's been through, she is able to go and detach herself from it all and go racing, and with a smile on her face too. Maybe that's exactly what she needed to do.

On the start line I didn't even try to go in front, started way back, I thought I'll take it easy. When the siren went, I could almost feel the Spider urging to go forward. I stepped on the pedals and before we reached the first climb I was third! I was in the top three shuffling places with other riders for about half an hour, but after that I had to let off, my body wasn't able to keep the pace of these lads. At the end I finished fifth. I was over the moon, when my kids met me at the finished line, and said "I think you fifth Daddy"! 

That was the first race for a long long time, when I actually felt how it's like to be chased by everyone, instead of chasing the leader. It felt good, so different, such a different perspective. I have to say, it felt good. Maybe fifth is not a great place, but for me it is an indicator, that I might be able to get the podium. Just a bit more training, bit more positive thoughts, and maybe, just maybe...

The Wicklow Way

Was it tough? 
Yes.
Would I do it again?
Yes.

This was my ambition for quite a while now. Ride the Wicklow Way, start to finish. Having a weekend to myself, I decided, now is the time. Originally I planned to start on the Friday, but due to work commitments, I had to postpone it till Saturday. 

So Saturday morning I got a lift up to Marley Park and at 8:15 I was on the bike. After a quick ride around the park, I decided to alter the start of the journey, and I climbed Three Rock instead of Kilmashouge. I joined the Wicklow Way and the end of euro trail climb, from there on, I stuck to the marked route pretty much all the way.

After Ticknock, I knew that my paste was way to fast for a long journey, so was trying to find the speed that would allow me to maintain my average speed of 10km/h. It took a bit of getting used to, but with strava, it was easy to keep an eye on the average. 

After a first few descents, I had to attach my tent to the backpack. 

When I set off, I had it tied to the frame, but during downhills, it was moving too much. Having a full suspension bike and a dropper post, there's not many places you can attach things to the bike, so backpack had to do. 

Even though I took as little as possible with me to carry,  the bag was heavy enough. I'm used to biking with backpack but this was bit different. First of all heavier load on the bike meant, earlier braking and more speed adjustment on the downs. Also had to up the pressure to the fork and a shock to accommodate the extra weight. Another thing that was different from "normal " riding, was the height of the back pack. During the descent,  with a post dropped and hips moved behind the seat, the bag would travel up my back, and hit the back of helmet, causing it to slide right onto my eyes. To conquer that, before every steeper descent,  I had to loosen the shoulder straps to make the bag slide down my back more. After Ticknock and Ballybrack, I had all that under control ( more or less).

Prince William seat was quite mellow and picturesque, I met only few people there, everyone welcoming me on the trails, even some people helped me carry the bike over the gates.

Then there was Maulin and Djouce. It was hard at times, some sections I had to push up hill, but the weather was good, people where encouraging me to go on, and before long I was on top of Djouce (not exactly,  I follow the WW, and didn't climb the peak).

After the board walks I touched on Ballinastoe and down towards Lough Dan. I was feeling a little hungry, and needed a big lunch soon, not just small snacks I took with me. I reckoned from there to Glendalough will not be too long. 

I could not be more wrong! 

That bit could be a spin in itself, but I really enjoyed it. That part of Wicklow Way is often skipped, but it's so worth doing. The climbs are tough but neat and dry, sometimes narrow, but the descents and the views are worth it!

I had my very late lunch in Larragh, and I set off for Mullacor. 

I wasn't expecting that. The climbs out of Glendalough where killing me. The food was only in my stomach, so energy levels where still low. Steps, stones, lots of walkers all of that made it quite hard to climb, and I had to get off the bike quite often. I was on top of Mullacor around four o'clock, I think. Looking at the map, I was almost in Glenmalure, the halfway point. 

I was expecting a nice grassy descent but again, surprise! It was like a staircase made out of slabs and stones. I tried to ride down,  but gave up after twenty or so metres. It would be a great fun on a DH rig!

Then I finally reached Glenmalure, I started a small fire in the existing fire pit, to slow down the midgets, and luckily I had a spray, that kept most (not all) away. I also had a lovely dinner and a pint in the nearby pub. 

The night went guickly and despite the nearby full blown camping/drinking party, I slept like a baby. 

In the morning I had to light the fire again to keep the midgets away while I had a wash and a breakfast. It also gave me bit of a lift, watching the fire grow, it wasn't a warm morning at all and I was tired. I had a plan, to stop at the next shop for a lovely sausage sandwich. Little did I know that there's no shops for quite a while...

Of course as a rule of Wicklow Way, after a valley there's a mountain, and climbing Slieve Maan first thing in the morning was certainly not "easing back into it". It felt good when I eventually reached the top of it. I looked back and I could see the "big" mountains behind me, and the feeling that I was riding up and down most of them only yesterday gave me an extra kick. 

At the top of Carrickashane, I could see Mount Leinster. It was very far, but it made the whole thing look very real. I descended towards Iron Bridge, and got a bit lost, but thanks to the map I was back on track in no time. 

Sheilstown was lovely, steep climb and long fire road descent turning into small country roads. When I reached Moyne,  was expecting a shop. I was hungry and my supplies where running low. I wanted coffee and my sausage sandwich. But no shops in Moyne. I checked with the map, next was Tinahely. I knew I could get something there, but it was 1,5 hours and 250m of ascent away, so I decided I chance nearby Knockananna. All I could get there was some Snickers bars, two black bananas and a bottle of water. It wasn't much but gave me bit of a lift.

Ballycumber Hill was nice, lots of riding on a narrow path, with high ferns on both sides, and a great view of the mountains ahead of me. When I descended into Tinehaly, Michael was on his way back from Ballinastoe, and scared the life out of me beeping the horn at me like a mad man :) After getting my(late again) lunch in there I started towards Muskeagh Hill. At that stage I was feeling tired, and could not wait until food I just ate, kick into play. Along this section of the Wicklow Way there are few lovely Boreens, sometimes quite soft , wet and with lot of loose stones, so I took it slow and easy along them pushing the bike from time to time. The backpack started to feel very heavy at that point.

After Muskeagh Hill, it was mainly small and narrow country roads. Some go up, some down but a pleasant ride with little or no cars. Again, met few people walking the Wicklow Way, some asking where I was going and where from. After Boley, there was a tarmac climb leading towards Stookeen Hill. 

I'd say to lay tarmac on it, they had to pour it down the slope. It was steep. 

That was the only time on the whole way I could have done with granny ring. I had to get off and push the bike half way up. Maybe some day I come back there just to see was it really that bad or was I too tired to ride up to the top. 

After Stookeen there's only Ureland Hill, where someone forgot to put the signs up, and without the map you can be going around the forest in a circle.

And that's it, tarmac down to Clonegal and I was done. Tired, hungry but happy.

P.S.

For anyone looking for more photos, and strava links to this ride you can find it here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.940824402626418.1073741841.100000966010640&type=1&l=b5fcbffa1a

I would like to thank Mad Elk Cycles for a great support with all bike relating gear and set up for this trip. 

Also great thanks to Barry from East West Mapping for a great map / guide.

Most of all I'd like to thank family and friends for all the help and encouragement and continued support.