Training Log Archive: Dooby

Tour de Munster, Stage 4
Kenmare - Cork

After last two mornings, blue skies today, fantastic, barely a cloud in sight. Only a few hours cycling and i'd be home, but had a couple of hills to get up first, and the one I was most looking forward to, Patricks Hill.

Pace was very steady leaving Kenmare, think there may have been a few sore heads and bodies around. A few km from the top of the Caha Pass the pace increased as we started picking off people from the other groups. Got to the top and was feeling good. Waited till near the end to start the descent and it was good fun. Pretty clear roads and a long road downhill to Glengarriff. Came around one sharp corner to find glass in the middle of the road, expected to find a couple of punctures beyond it but think everyone avoided it, some didn't see it. Before Glengarriff I started catching cyclists, but there were 2 cars behind them too, I passed out one of the cars but not the other, no opportunity. My descending has got a bit braver, maybe. Then into Glengarriff for more tea and scones, and to bask in the glorious sunshine. The view from the Caha Pass, both north and south, especially to the south since its Cork was stunning, made the Tour I think.

Group 7 mounted up to leave Glengariff when one of the lads announced that he'd a puncture, so a longer break than planned. Thankfully the pace wasn't pushed to the limit to catch-up, it happened more naturally. Along the bantry road and turned off at Ballylickey. I knew lunch was on the far side of the Pass of Keimenagh but it was a struggle to get up. Legs were starting to hurt. But the descent was fantastic, really good fun, another high point from the Tour. We did pay for this with the kick in the road on the way into Gougane Barra for lunch.

After lunch we set off on the last leg of the journey to Cork. Group 7 merged with 6 and at Toon Bridge there was another puncture! Pace did increase a bit after this but I was getting used to it. Stopped in Lissarda for a break at the garage. Bought myself a 99 and a can of Cidona, lovely, just what was needed. Again Group 7 got caught out, stragglers left behind from other groups had to be waited for! So more time lost. The road from Lissarda to Ballincollig is big and wide, and well suited for high speed group riding. We probably didn't go under 30kph all the way to Ballincollig, which was actually starting to be enjoyable.

In through Ballincollig and onto the straight road. We had passed one group at this stage who punctured and we were catching the next. Everyone then stopped at the Kingsley where there was a garda car along with two garda bikes, our escort through the city. I got rid of any unnecessary weight from my pockets at this stage, the toughie was only minutes away. Class cycling through Cork and up Patricks street with a Garda escort, stopping traffic.

On Patricks bridge we stopped to divide into groups of 10. Safety was a factor here. Waiting on the bridge you could see the hill and the spectators/supporters lined along it, my parents included. Set off with my 10 in group 11, so one of the last groups, Danny was in 10. Dropped down the gears just after Bridge St to lowest one. Then out of the saddle. Started passing people at this stage. Saw my dad to the left but there was someone between us, so I went inside him so my dad could get a picture. After that the real hill started but a few pedal turns later I was at the top. For something that sounded so daunting days ago, it is a very steep hill, it was easy in the end, the Short Mountain from the Castlemaine side is probably harder. My HR maxed at 174 which is nothing really. Other cyclists who were up in the earlier groups had lined both sides at the top supporting everyone else up so it had a mountain stage feel to it. In all honesty I would have liked to done it a second time.

After everyone made the top we set off at a very easy pace towards the finish. When people turned the corner onto the Old Youghal Road some got an awful shock, more climb to be done up past Collins Barracks. Descent down Summerhill North was good too. Then out the low road to the finish at Silversprings.

Tour de Munster, Stage 3
Tralee - Kenmare

Morning started off damp so rain jacket was on. The group was split into two, one group for those who wanted to take it easy up Conor Pass and the other was for the mad ones, the hard core crew. I joined the group taking it easy, sticking to my survival plan.

Some rain on the way out but not too bad. At least the scheduled stop in Stradbally didn't happen, straight out to the Conor Pass and up. We were allowed to go at our own pace up and I kept it around 14/15kph pretty much all the way up. Near the top you could hear clapping long before you could see the people clapping. Once at the top we waited in the mist for the racers. Spent a bit of time waiting which was not good, got cold. And then on the descent to Dingle it started raining, so was shivvering in Dingle. Also got stuck behind a mondeo on the way down who only had 2 of 3 brake lights working and she liked to use them. Could have got down faster if it hadn't been for her. Bikes did go past her but I wasn't taking the chance in the wet. Was really cold at the garage we stopped at in Dingle. The queue for the tea/coffee machine was very long. Had been planning on tea but chose hot chocolate in the end, good decision. Put on my overshoes at this stage too.

Warmed up ok after Dingle, weather had improved and pace was good, Couple of hills too to warm you up. Between Inch and Keel we had a big delay. There was a crash in Group 5 so 6 had stopped and so did we. Directing traffic was our role before the crash with others doing the same on the other side. When we eventually got going again the lad who came off worst had a serious amount of bandages on his face and knee (he did complete the Tour). Got some good speed going along the road to Castlemaine, surface was good too.

Then lunch in Milltown, soup was excellent. Took off my jacket afterwards. Group was late leaving again, stragglers who don't like to be ready in time. Going up the hill from Milltown one of the lads gave a shout that someone had stopped. He went back to look for the lad but no sign. So we started off again. A couple of km later it was realised that someone was missing so we stopped. Group leader cycled back and others tried to ring the missing link. Not that long a stop but still more time lost. Road is quick on the bike towards Killarney.

Next stop was Deenagh Lodge, tea shop run by the DSI. The spread here was very good, brack (always welcome), scones, snack bars and crisps if you wanted them, tayto cheese & onion or salt & vinegar. Despite it being so soon after lunch I still got stuck in!

Short spin out to Torc next for another regoup. This was for another hammer drop, pretty much to Kenmare. I know I had the plan of survival but decided to see how far I could take this one. Set off at the back of the pack doing what felt like incredible speeds past cars that had stopped after being ordered to do so my the Garda escort to the top and our motorbike stewards. Things flew past, much faster than my cycle last Monday. I followed Danny for the first bit, a few riders back. Thought I could do better so I went past to see where Brian was. Came up behind Brian soon enough and he was with a couple of more riders. This is where my competitive gene kicked into overdrive. I knew that if he saw me go by then he'd come after me and push me hard. A lad went outside Brian so I saw my opportunity and went outside this lad. Brian didn't see me go by. After that I stuck with a couple of more lads passing people as we went. Turns out the road to the top isn't too bad, some steeper bits but also flatter bits, along the lake. When I saw the quarry at the top I knew I had Brian. Stopped at the top and had plenty of time to put on my jacket for the descent before Brian arrived.

Maybe it was sneaky, but would do it again, not like I did anything illegal. Legs and body was tired afterwards but only one day to go.

Chatting to the motorbike lads later they said that Sean Kelly was causing a bit of trouble on the descent. Sean was racing the motorbikes down at 50mph.

Tour de Munster, Stage 2
Killaloe - Tralee

Legs didn't feel massively bad this morning but getting on the saddle revealed that I was sore in other areas, no surprise there though. Rain jacket on this morning as weather looked damp on the other side of the river/lake. Set off and the start towards Tuamagraney after Killaloe was a bit up and down. Also rain started falling just after we started, so got wet.

Between Tuamagraney and Ennis my chain came off again so I stopped to fix it. Had it on in seconds and got on the bike to rejoin the group but there was another group of 5 stopped so I stopped to see what the problem was. Turns out there was a buckled wheel. Rang the support van and he came back, and despite all the spare wheels people had packed in the van none fitted. Brian also came back to look for me so there was 5 of us since the lad with the broken bike got into the van. This stop was around 20mins so we'd a good bit of catching to do. Lads set off at a fast pace, I did try to talk them into an easy catch-up! Headwind too towards Ennis so that didn't help, pace was too high at times for me so a notch was called, no shame in that, I had another day to survive. Got into Ennis after getting abuse thrown at us by a stupid woman in a big BMW, road was too small for her, can't obviously drive properly, but then we gave abuse back at her:-)

Got to Ennis and filled up on scones and water for the bottles. After Ennis the pace towards Limerick was good, road surface was of a high quality. Passed two groups who'd punctured so 7 was on the up. Outside Limerick we had to wait for other groups to catch up so another delay. Then into the centre of Limerick for another couple of speeches. Out the road towards Adare and lunch. We were a good bit behind schedule at this stage. Hotel can't have been too happy as they'd a wedding on. The guests were arriving when we were leaving so cyclists were mingling with lads in suits and ladies in fancy dresses and hats! Bride hadn't arrived by the time we left, pity, she could have got a picture with Sean Kelly. When I sat down for lunch the tiredness really kicked in. Slept very badly last night, felt fine during the morning but that had to stop sometime. Did put some lucozade sport in one of my water bottles after lunch, a trick I repeated in the morning for the next 2 days.

Still a long way to go from Adare but road was good. Picked off the towns as we went. On Tralee side of Newcastle West we stopped at a garage. Another break but the grass was comfortable to sit on. Then I took the long way up the hill as I was not going in any hammer drop. Then onto Abbeyfeale and Castleisland. Another hammer drop up to Castleisland.

Stopped again in Castleisland to regroup before the last stretch into Tralee. Group 7 was last to leave and we left a good bit behind Group 6, members disappeared when we wanted to go! So again pace was hectic leaving Castleisland. After a while we caught Group 6 but they were nursing one of their group who was in trouble. Passed them out and then the pace went back up to seriously high levels. Just outside Tralee I was almost dropped but managed to stick in there, was very tired at this stage.

We got to Tralee at around 8, a very long day. Plan was to cycle back to the house but that would have been awkward with my gear, so decided that taxi was a good option instead. The car seat in the taxi felt very comfortable compared to my saddle.

Tempted to tick the "Sick Box" since I reckon I must be sick in the head to do what i'm doing this week, no cycle over 60km this year is not ideal preparation for 170km yesterday and around 190km today!!!

Body is very tired and must drag myself out of bed to do it all again tomorrow but only 150km to do, less than 100 miles, but over 2 big hills.

Been challenged to a race up Conor Pass but Darren would die a very painful death if he did, so sticking to my plan and going easy up the big hillls.

Saving my energy as I really want to get up Patricks Hill on Sunday, going to be tough though.

Event: Tour de Munster
 

Tour de Munster, Stage 1
Cork-Killaloe

Started off easily enough, into Cork City with a Garda escort for the first stop of the day at City Hall. Not sure how long a stop it was. Then off back past Silversprings where we started and up through Glanmire. Stopped again after leaving Glanmire to divide into groups. Ended up in Group 7, the last group, which was not a good thing in hindsight as we did lots of chasing.

Next bit to Conna was fine for a toilet stop. The group nearly decided to head for Midleton, almost cycling past the junction but I called them back, Group 6 did the same trick, but worse. Then a few minutes out from Conna one of the group punctured, hit a big pothole so that had to be fixed. After this it was catch-up time and the pace increased big time. There was a headwind too which made matters a bit harder. After and including the climb out of Tallow speeds were 35kph at times. Thankfully my chain came off a km or too outside Lismore so that was some respite but I felt the early stages of cramp in my legs!!!!

Downed the last of my water and then stopped for a scone and tea in Lismore. Did some stretching too and filled my water bottles. Was very concerned at this stage about finishing the day. After Lismore we went up the Vee. I stuck with Sean Kelly and his group all the way up but metres from the top I felt cramp like feelings in my left quad, at the front. By Clogheen I had my 2 water bottles emptied again, in a distance of 22km. Was not in a good way going into lunch. Ate a good feed and filled water bottles again. What lunch really needed was crisps, would have loved a packet.

After lunch and as far as Tipp town the pace was ok, nothing serious. Headwind still to make life harder but groups were together so pace stayed calm. Stopped at a garage in Tipp, and ended up getting a bit more water. After Limerick Junct the group had another puncture so had to stop again. Once fixed it was catch-up time again towards the afternoon break stop. Again speeds increased and the wind made life harder. At this stage I was feeling better but just wary that cramp might sneak up on me.

After the afternoon scone break it was onto smaller roads towards Birdhill via Newport. Pace was slow and steady as groups were close together. Just before Birdhill the group had its 3rd puncture of the day, group was turning out to be an unlucky one. So last 10km into Killaloe were fast again but hill was with us.

Was very happy to get off the bike and had a real sense of accomplishment. I'd made it 172km in one day, almost 3 times the longest cycle i'd done this year. But how was I going to manage 3 more days...

At dinner there were a couple of speeches from the chairman of the local DSI branch and from Fergus Finlay. After hearing the speeches I kinda realised that there was more to it than just cycling, money was needed.

This time tomorrow I'll be cycling!

Got the route maps and timetable yesterday. Since it is the 10th year of the Tour they have put Patricks Hill in Cork into the route to finish with. It's a well known hill from cycling races such as the Tour of Ireland and the Nissan Classic, gradient is horrific. So i'm looking forward to that after 640 odd km of cycling.

All that's planned for this evening is washing my bike, and getting my gear together before heading back to Cork tomorrow. Will do some stretching though. At least the pain from last Friday's physio session has now gone away. Will also follow long qualification race at WOC from work/home.

Killarney (Cathedral car-park) - Molls Gap Road (as far as tunnel) - Killarney

Got my bike back from the shop after its long overdue service. Cost me €30 and well spent, geards worked normally and I got new brake pads. There was an annoying rattle on the bike though and I stopped twice to find out what it was, think I sussed it second time so will see if it works when I tighten the loose bit tomorrow.

This evening was an easy spin, took my time, bit of a recce for Saturday but it wasn't as hilly as I thought it would be. Nice evening for cycling. It was a bit more up and down than I expected.

Anyways thats my last session before Thursday, better rest and stretch now.