Here we go again, Nilhg's 2013 log

This week:

Distance:118.18 km
Time:5:05:44 h:m:s
Elevation Gain:767 m
Avg Speed:23.2 km/h


I had hoped to make a better start to the year but a dose of the flu that came on me on New Year's Eve scuppered that and I didn't make it out for my first spin of 2013 till yesterday morning, I didn't feel great starting off especially into the breeze but a nice tractor driver paced me across the Commons on the Athy road out of Kildare and I got a nice push home from the wind so in the end it was a decent enough 47km.

I had to do a run down to Abbeyleix this morning and as a consequence missed the Kildare club run, instead I went out with my brothers, progress was leisurely enough, the lads are only starting out again for this year which meant that we arrived back to the only KOM on the spin fresh and with the breeze at my back, seemed like a chance to give it a proper blast, good job I did too because it's probably the only KOM I'll ever get up a reasonable hill. I know it's not a popular segment but it's nice to have one in the bag for a while, it's very handy for some of the local racer types to easily swing by and have a go at so it'll probably not last long but a nice way to start 2013, beats the Flu anyway:D.

http://app.strava.com/activities/36233777

Ryder wrote: »

Mizen to malin had always been an ambition of mine. No longer live in Ireland buy would love to come back and do it......think it could be done over 3 days with a handlebar mounted bag and overnights in b and bs

Good luck with your log

I hope if I was going to attempt it in three days somebody would be carrying the gear in a support car, I'd have mixed feelings about trying to push too hard, be nice to be able to have the route visit some of the places worth seeing rather than trying for the quickest/easiest possible, but anyway that's all academic at the moment.

This week:

Distance:214.67 km
Time:8:20:11 h:m:s
Elevation Gain:1,106 m
Avg Speed:25.8 km/h

30km of the above on the turbo.


Got a nice bit in this week, so happy enough with that.

Braved the rain Wedensday morning for a handy spin, was feeling a bit sorry for myself till I met the funeral of a chap that went to Ag college with me, glad to be able to go for a spin after that.

Turbo for an hour Thursday evening.

Yesterday took my daughter out for an hour as a warm up for her debut in the Naas Duathlon today (she did great), then met my brother and sister in law did another hour with them, a nice handy 60km.

This morning was the club spin out of Kildare, I knew going over Dunmurry on the way in that it was going to be one of those days, (I know that we don't discuss medical stuff here so I'm only mentioning this here so folk who look at my strava will understand), for a long time I've had an intermittent problem with my stomach, comes occasionally but mostly I'd be OK, and when I'd have it other people would hardly ever know. It manifests as an upset feeling and the production of loads of gas, mostly that's not really a problem a discreet blurp and all is well but on the bike it tends to gather then all move in unison usually in response to hitting a bump or rough patch of road (the position and the tighter clothes don't help) then the sport starts, until it comes up my HR goes "funny", until recently I had no way of documenting this but since I got the 500 I get to see it all in real time, which can be interesting. Once the gas is gone all is well. On the bad days though the gas comes and comes which is annoying and uncomfortable. The big problem is that since it's intermittent it's hard to go to the doc when the problem is there an even harder to schedule tests, but we're working on it.

Today was on of the poorer days, we decided to stick to more open roads in case of any snow/ice and did a nice sweep around South Kildare, a couple of the lads took a shorter option so the pace picked up for the second half which wasn't a problem except when I had to hang out the back for a few minutes and get rid of a belly full of gas, just annoying really.
I finished up with 90km on the day which was a nice spin.

http://app.strava.com/activities/38108616

I hope to do something similar again next week weather permitting.

January 2013 stats


Distance:675.00 km
Time:26:28:25 h:m:s
Elevation Gain:3,556 m
Avg Speed:25.5 km/h


Happy enough with that considering I missed a few days at the start of the month with sickness and we had some frosty days as well.

This week,

Distance:132.26 km
Time:4:55:28 h:m:s
Elevation Gain:467 m
Avg Speed:26.9 km/h
22.65km of the aboove on turbo


Unfortunately the chest infection from last week didn't clear by itself so I had to go on a course of antibiotics and take it easy for a few days.

Friday was my first day of the week on the bike, it was a lovely afternoon so I snuck off for a spin, felt well and probably ended up pushing too hard, after I had gone over Dunmurry and the Hill of Allen the rest of the spin was flat and when I noticed after 20km or so that my average speed was good (for me) I fell into the trap of seeing if I could maintain it till home. I did but don't know if it did me any good.

http://app.strava.com/activities/40175691

Yesterday morning I did an easy 58km out around Edenderry, I had hoped to do the Portlaoise Winter Classic today but the forecast and some stuff that came up here at home persuaded me (it wasn't hard to do) to give it a miss so today's workout was a turbo session concentrating on improving my cadence.

Hopefully I'll get a better week in next week, I'd hope to take in the Ned Flanagan leisure event on Sunday and get a few decent spins in as well.

This week:

Distance:104.83 km
Time:3:55:45 h:m:s
Elevation Gain:561 m
Avg Speed:26.7 km/h


With the improvement in the weather and land drying out the short description of my week is: Ploughing 1, Cycling 0.

Got out for a short spin Tuesday morning and went with the club this morning for a chilly 75km, both at a handy enough pace.

Forecast for next week is decent an I've plenty of work piled up so the best I can hope for cycling wise is a turbo session or two and to see how the weekend goes when it comes, I'd like to get to the Slieve Blooms soon if I can.

This week:

Distance:103.55 km
Time:4:24:31 h:m:s
Elevation Gain:1,141 m
Avg Speed:23.5 km/h


Quiet enough this week, got out Wednesday morning for a spin in the rain, took it nice and handy as the roads were slippy enough with muck and oil after the dry spell and today was just a leisurely spin viewing the Newbridge GP and taking some photos.


Yesterday I took myself off to the Slieve Blooms to try and get some (proper) climbing in, I felt I'd been going well enough on the shorter ones around here but you never know till you get on the longer ones. The plan was to park up in Roseanallis and use the spin over to Clonaslee to warm up before heading up the Cut, from there depending how I felt I'd have a few choices. Most of the way up I felt fine, but near the top I started to come under pressure and had to drop a gear, my stomach gives me some jip at times and it seemed to be starting to act up again. Over the top I stopped to take a few photos and all seeme to settle down so I headed on down the other side to the Mountrath road. I had it in my head to take a quick look at the statr of the Wolftrap climb but on the way over there things literally blew up and i had to stop for a little while till tings cleared up. Time wasn't on my side at that stage so I turned and headed back the way I came, I felt good up the southern side of the Cut, though taking it easy and probably had to work harder to get back to the van into the wind on the road back to Roseanallis.

Happy enough with the day, just need to get more time in the hills.

http://app.strava.com/activities/43701562

Next week will be a case of grabbing any chance to get a spin in, weather will decide, if it's fine it'll be all hands to the deck.

Distance:208.15 km
Time:8:07:12 h:m:s
Elevation Gain:1,658 m
Avg Speed:25.6 km/h


An eventful week, starting off Monday afternoon with a nice 60km spin up through Naas, Ballymore and home via Kilcullen done at a nice touring pace, it felt good to be out and I came home with great plans for the rest of the week, hoping to get a few spins in before the Lap of Laois today, Those plans didn't last long, the vomiting bug came calling and by Tuesday morning I was barely able to drag myself out of bed and do the few must do jobs in the yard. Most of the day and Wednesday were spent in bed. Thursday and Friday I felt a little better and by yesterday I decided to go out for a short spin to see if the legs would stand up to Laois today.

Heading out and through the village here I felt as strong as a horse but when I turned into the wind I thought I must have been dragging the horse behind me, but overall felt good enough to give today a go.

Today was one of those days when I never really knew how I was, sometimes I was suffering but ten minutes later seemed to get a new lease of life and things were much easier, most likely an after effect of the bug but also the cold didn't help, I had a mechanical or two (front derailleur troubles, not at all sure what happened cause it was fine at the start) which cause me to lose the group I was with before Stradbally, had them almost caught again on the Vicarstown road till I lost the chain again so was solo for quite a bit of the first half. Picked them up again at the food stop and went with them to the bottom of the Cut, the shout there seemed to be that there would be a reform at the bottom, went over in my own time, felt I paced myself well, the riders who hadn't done it before seemed to suffer towards the top and I picked up a few of them, stopped for a natural break and to sort my gear before the descent and never saw any one but a few souls struggling like myself all the way to the finish, out of Mountrath I could see a group up in front of me but couldn't catch them.

All in all I'm pleased with my spin today, as the day went on I felt stronger, and even with the effort of coming home that open road into the cold wind felt fresh enough finishing, the bits of me that I could feel anyway:eek:

http://app.strava.com/activities/45674173

Next week depends on the weather, hope to get a short recovery spin in tomorrow and a few more during the week if we don't get going sowing.

Distance:172.05 km
Time:6:47:07 h:m:s
Elevation Gain:1,252 m
Avg Speed:25.4 km/h


Finished sowing Spring barley on Thursday afternoon in time to get out for a quick spin to stretch the legs, you get very stiff confined to a tractor for extended periods,was slow enough at the start but freed up after a while, then tried pushing a slightly bigger gear than normal on some of the hills coming home to build strength a little which felt hard but the segment times seemed OK, something to work on I think.

Got finished early enough Friday evening to get a decent spin in, headed south towards Athy, I was flying early on, thought this cycling game was easy but wasn't long figuring out that I'd misjudged the wind direction, had to work hard to get home in daylight but finished up with what is for me a good average speed of 29.2km/hr over 58km

http://app.strava.com/activities/47370353

Had a nice spin locally yesterday morning and today drove from home in Kildare to Connemara then cycled the Connemara Marathon course (plus a little) carrying water and food for my daughter who was running the Marathon, a great day out, weather wasn't bad apart from the wind, it was basically stop start most of the day for me after I caught Emma up but really enjoyable.

Next weekend I hope to do either the DSI cycle from Blessington on the Saturday or the Tour De Foothills on the Sunday, logistics will probably decide which, hopefully having got a few spins in during the week.

This week:

Distance:217.15 km
Time:7:54:04 h:m:s
Elevation Gain:1,582 m
Avg Speed:27.5 km/h

A reasonable enough week but a bit frustrating, I'd hoped to get back into the mountains again this weekend or at least get a decent long spin in but neither worked out.

I did get some nice spins in midweek, Tuesday evenin I got home early enough to get a nice 50km spin in, chased a few PB on Strava and was happy enough with the results.

Thursday morning I was out early on a breezy morning, hard going into the breeze but I managed a few decent segment times again so happy enough with the mornings workout.

All that wind and segment chasing left my legs a little tired so Friday mornings spin was a little easier paced.

I'd hoped to get out for a while yesterday but things didn't work out, today we had a family event in the afternoon so my spin today was shorter thaan I had hoped, still got in 85km, a nice loop down through Stradbally, over the Windy Gap and home via Athy. I didn't think there was much wind out leaving home but found the spin down the old N7 to the Heath hard going but enjoyed the spin home once I had the breeze at my back
85km @ 27.5km/hr

http://app.strava.com/activities/49883330

Next week I'd hope to get similar kms in but hopefully I'll get a chance to get up some decent hills.

Aprils totals:

Distance:1,000.97 km
Time:9:29:10 h:m:s
Elevation Gain:10,141 m
Avg Speed:25.4 km/h

Both the distance and elevation gain are PBs for me for a month so happy enough with that.

Distance:219.03 km
Time:8:20:57 h:m:s
Elevation Gain:1,577 m
Avg Speed:26.2 km/h

Got out 5 times this week but no long spins, there is a dose going through the house, everyone just seems to feel a little off, not sick as such but a bit under the weather so I kept it simple and easy, just keeping the legs spinning over.

Apart from that things seem to be going according to plan, this week saw me break 3000km for the year, my weight is still slowly coming down, I'd probably prefer to lose a few kg more but not enough to stop stuffing my face it seems;).

More of the same for next week, weather and work permitting.

Distance:319.51 km
Time:12:30:03 h:m:s
Elevation Gain:2,362 m
Avg Speed:25.3 km/h


A new weekly distance record for me, got out Monday and Thursday mornings before breakfast for 38km each time and Tuesday evening's spin was suppose to be roughly the same but I got my back roads mixed up so finished up with almost 55km.

Yesterday was the Tour De Connemara, we were staying 15.5km outside Clifden, I decided to spin in and out as well as doing the 140km. As I left the hotel the rain started so I was wet by the time I got to the start and since I was good and early, cold by the time the Tour started. It took me a while to warm up, I had no set pace in my head just sat into groups that seemed to be at the right speed for me and was going OK till I had a problem with my front deraileur just before Roundstone, I did some running repairs and got it reasonably well straightened out but it wasn't entirely reliable for the rest of the day and gave the odd problem changing up to the big ring for the rest of the day.

After the first stop I didn't seem to meet as many groups and rode the majority of the rest of the route solo or chatting to folk I met on the road, doing a conservative pace that I felt I could sustain for as long as I needed. Somewhere down towards Kylemore I started thinking that my longest ever spin was the ROK last year (171.3km), that I was going to be within touching distance of that and maybe I should find a little loop somewhere to make up the distance. If the sun was shining I probably would have done it too but when I got close to the hotel I was fed up of the rain and knowing that the rugby match had just started I headed for the warmth and some dry clothes.
165km @ 24.8km/hr

http://app.strava.com/activities/56191204

This morning before I packed up the bike I manage a 22km recovery spin down to Roundstone and back.

There won't be as many kms next week, but hopefully I'll get some nice morning spins in and maybe a visit to the mountains next weekend.

This week:

Distance:275.36 km
Time:11:48:03 h:m:s
Elevation Gain:3,118 m
Avg Speed:23.3 km/h

Busy week work wise and with the WW200 on today didn't push too hard to get out. Was out Monday and Thursday though, a very handy recovery spin Monday evening an something a little brisker Thursday evening to get the legs opened up a bit for the weekend.

Really enjoyed the WW200 today, wasn't too worried about time or average speed just wanted to get around in relative comfort. Wasn't going great at the start, stomach troubles on the Wicklow Gap meant I had to take a minute but felt better as the day went on and finished feeling like i could stay going a bit longer if needed, though I wouldn't have been going looking for more hills to climb.

http://app.strava.com/activities/59311748#

Found the hills OK today, went up at my own pace and find I can manage to keep a little in reserve for those times you think it's over but it isn't, I'm never going to be a fast hillclimber but I do love heading up the mountains.

Not sure what next week will bring but will probably have an easy week off the bike, let the legs recover.

smacl wrote: »

You sailed passed me no bother, there's hope for you yet!

Think that was I could see the top, just wanted to get off that bloody hill.

I think going over that way the previous weekend paid off last Sunday, both Slieve Maan and Shay Elliot seemed longer than the week before but that was just the extra KMs in the legs before I got there but A: I couldn't say to myself this is too hard, I'll get off and take a rest and B: I was fairly conservative in the pace I set up to them.

This week:

Distance:200.92 km
Time:7:37:00 h:m:s
Elevation Gain:1,659 m
Avg Speed:26.4 km/h


I felt quite tired early this week and decided to take things a bit easy during the week. I had a few jobs needed doing on the bike so got them done, first up was fitting new pedals and setting up the cleat position on my new shoes, I did that Monday with spins that evening and again on Wednesday to get the position right, nothing too strenuous just easy spinning.

My front deraileur had been giving me trouble for quite a while and it finally gave way last weekend so I ordered a new one and fitted it myself before taking the bike out for a spin yesterday morning, nothing too long because I wanted to be back for the Lions match, this one was a little faster than the others but nothing too mad.

I got up this morning at quarter to 7, had a look outside, didn't like what I saw so went back to the bed, the forecast at 8 didn't seem too bad so I got up and had breakfast, it was still misting/drizzling at that stage but the radar looked clear upwind so I geared up and headed on telling myself that if it was too miserable I'd take a shortcut home. Side wind down to the Heath wasn't too bad and it was a great feeling to have it at my back across to Stradbally and up over the Windy (it was today) Gap, I managed to pickup 4 Strava segment PBs between there and where I turned off to head home at Ballickmoyler.

I had to work harder from there to get home but it wasn't too bad apart from some of the more exposed areas, for example when I came over Dunmurry I had to pedal hard to get down the hill. I finished up with 104km @ 26.5km/hr, happy enough with that.

http://app.strava.com/activities/62279341

Still hoping to make the Wicklow Peaks next weekend, not sure how much I'll get done during the week, I have a few events to attend and plenty of pre harvest jobs to get through but might manage to sneak out early a few mornings.

Bit late with this but here goes, last week:

Distance:145.67 km
Time:5:28:59 h:m:s
Elevation Gain:1,066 m
Avg Speed:26.6 km/h

Three spins in total, an easy spin to recover from the Wicklow peaks on Monday evening, the midweek club spin on Wednesday evening and a solo spin on Friday evening, nothing too remarkable about any of them though I did keep the pace up on Friday and bagged a PB without too much wind assistance.

We were away for the weekend and I didn't bring the bike so an easy week really.

I did pass 5000km for the year during the week and this total along with my elevation gain of 41000m is something I'd be quite happy with.

This week is going to be busy work wise but I'd hope to get a few morning/evening spins in and one decent one in at the weekend.

This week:

Distance:261.42 km
Time:9:54:32 h:m:s
Elevation Gain:2,496 m
Avg Speed:26.4 km/h


Went out Monday morning, legs felt good so decided to push on on a 29km loop around home, happy with the average speed of 31.9km/hr which is as good as I've done on any reasonable length spin.

Tuesday morning I was out with Emma at her pace but since it was a nice calm morning decided to chase a Strava PB on the last segment before home, the previous PB was with the aid of a gale force wind at my back so was happy to take a decent slice off of that time.

Thursday evening the local club league race was on over a route passing the house here, I decided to go up to Boston hill to cheer on the folks I know who were racing and while I was waiting did some hill reps, managed to get 540M of gain into 31KM without ever being more than 5KM from home. I took a rest every time the race came through and felt fresh enough finishing, and the times seemed to be fairly consistent.

Yesterday morning I did a flat spin across the bog via Edenderry, the plan was a pace a bit faster than comfortable but not hard enough to hurt the legs, 47KM @30.6km/hr.

Today's club spin had a small enough turnout, 4 of us headed for Wicklow and even at that 2 had to head home after Hollywood so it was just myself and a chap that had never been up Wicklow on his bike before that decide to go for a cuppa in Laragh, he's well able though and we made good progress up the Gap and down the other side. Coming back up the breeze was at our backs and once we had gone over the top we made really good speed home I finished up with 114km, 1436m gain and a speed of 25km/hr, a year ago I'd have been delighted with that speed on a flat spin so some progress has been made.

http://app.strava.com/activities/68696080

I know I got a sackful of PBs today but most of them were fairly low hanging fruit, I always seemed to have some problem or other on the Wicklow Gap but no issues today, the only problem was that since I seem to go better on the climbs on an empty stomach by the time we got to Hollywood I was famished and had to stop at the garage for an emergency Snickers.

Next week will, weather permitting, be very busy for me so there will be much less bike, maybe a few early morning spins.

This week:

Distance:269.40 km
Time:10:14:48 h:m:s
Elevation Gain:2,660 m
Avg Speed:26.3 km/h


After overnight rain on bank holiday morning the weather cleared up nicely so I decided to get that hilly spin I'd been planning in, loaded the bike into the car and headed to the Slieve Blooms. I arked up in Rosanallis and headed for Clonaslee and the Cut, the breeze was strong enough in my face heading over and slightly over my shoulder on the climb itself once I'd got up out of the sheltered lanes at the bottom, my legs felt good and I was comfortable spinning a smaller gear for much longer than I'd have expected to, over the top I dropped down to the start of the Wolftrap and headed up, this is a different type of climb, with steep ramps and flatter sections, harder to get and keep a rhythm especially with the wind in my face but was comfortable enough going up, taking a breather on the easier bits. I took the descent to Cadamstown and headed into Kinnity for a coffee before taking the direct route back up the Wolftrap again, wind mostly behind now it was easier but it's a long climb with the same mix of ramps and easier bits as the other side, I was comfortable enough till the last ramp which tested me. Took it easy on the fast descent back down and headed back over the Cut again, this one is a bit up and down till you pass the bridge, then it's a fairly constant drag to the top, I pushed on a bit here knowing that it was the last climb of the day and was glad to see the top, then took the bumpy descent back to Clonaslee and had the wind behind on the spin back to the car.

Heading home I was happy, I had felt strong enough all day and had a really nice day out as well, loads of nature to be seen around. After uploading to strava I was happy to see I had PBs on all 4 climbs, both the Wolftrap ones were low hanging fruit to be fair but I'd gone up the Cut several times in groups this year so the PB showed decent improvement.

http://www.strava.com/activities/72372687#

Wednesday morning I snuck out early for a easy spin before breakfast and work took over then till the Tour of Kildare today.

I was thinking of just driving over today and giving the TOK itself a good blast but decided instead to try and use the day to get some extra distance in as well as some fast KMs, I was feeling good early on and in a nice group when my stomach problems came back ( I haven't had much trouble like this recentl so this was a disappointment), when this happens all I can do is to ease off until it clears and then spin on. I lost the group I was with but almost immediately another came up from behind and I had a lovely spin to the food stop. Now the problem was whether to eat or not, I couldnt get home on an empty stomach so I chanced a couple of slices of brack and headed on with a nice group, I was comfortable enough with them till again I had to let them go just before the Hill of Allen, from there home I basically rode solo, I passed a few folk on some of the hills and had to let them back by me on the flats afterwards I'm sure they thought I was mad. My legs were good I felt stronh over Boston and Dunmurry before spinning my way up the Wall and making my way back to Naas. After eating the burger sans bun and having a chat with the folks I knew I headed for home, the 22km wasn't anywhere near as easy as coming over, I was into the wind now and it was fresh and there's not much shelter across the bog.
I finished up with 155km on the day @28.6km/hr, very happy with that considering.

http://www.strava.com/activities/73862568#

Next week, weather permitting will be full blast harvesting so not likely to be much time on the bike, even if it rains I don't think I'll make the Leinster Loop, something else has come up.

This week:

Distance:29.08 km
Time:56:06 h:m:s
Elevation Gain:103 m
Avg Speed:31.1 km/h


I spent most of the week either in the cab of the combine or our JCB loader, long days but good progress, the end is in sight:).

With rain yesterday and this morning I might have got out for a longish spin but had a family event I didn't want to miss so went there then watched Nico do the business when I came home, that inspired me to get out and go for a spin, so I did the Clunbulloge, Brackna loop at a decent pace just so I wouldn't have a blank week and to spin the legs a little.

With the summer almost over I suppose it's no harm to reflect on the year so far, I'm just 2km short of 6500km ridden so far, which I'm very happy with especially since I've over 50,000 meters of climbing in that. My performance in the hills has improved most since last year, I'm never going to be fast up steep hills but my fitness and technique has improved enough that I can pace myself and manage anything I've met so far this year without feeling that my heart will explode or the top of my head is about to blow off, the top of the Healy Pass will be another test of that but if I'm on a reasonable day I think I'll be OK. My weight has come down a little more since the start of the year and has been stable enough through most of the summer, I could probably lose few more KGs by being stricter about biscuits and cake but there's a balance to be struck and I'm happy enough with where I am now.

The next couple of weeks will be busy enough but I'd hope to get one decent hilly long spin in before the Rebel Tour, not sure when that will be but I'll be keeping the legs spinning over whenever I get the chance.

I see to have forgotten to post August's figures:


Distance:730.97 km
Time:26:42:10 h:m:s
Elevation Gain:5,921 m
Avg Speed:27.4 km/h


Garmin connect seems to have a problem with uploads at the moment so I can't give this weeks figures in the normal way but the basics are:

248.0km 9hr 32m 2,276m

Got out Tuesday and Wedensday mornings for the usual spins, then Thursday took Emma up to Blessington for her first look at a mountain climb, she's coming to the Rebel with us, to do the 85km and wanted to have some experience of a longish climb and descent before she went. We were short on time so took the road up over Ballysmuttan and on up to the top, then retraced our steps. I stayed with her most of the way, I did stop briefly to try to help a lady with a mechanical near the Liffey bridge so had to chase her to catch her before she got up to the top. It was a lovely day to be up there both of us enjoyed it.

Friday evening I got out for a while and did a few local hills before the heavens opened and I got my first proper drenching in a long time, good job I was near home.

Today the plan was to do a nice longish spin with a few medium hills included, I didn't want to push too hard so hid the page on my garmin with the average speed on it, just rode at a comfortable speed, I headed down to Stradbally and took in a loop over the Windy Gap, Wolfhill, The Swan and Timahoe before heading home through Athy, it's lovely cycling country down there, nice roads , not too much traffic and nothing too steep on the long drags, I felt comfortable until the climb to Wolfhill, the breeze was in my face and I seemed to be suffering more than I should have but I was fine again on the next drag, I think it was just a case of the road looking easier than it was.

I felt fine heading home, legs were a bit tired by the time I got there but I had no shelter from a group all day and only a very short stop at 70km so that's natural enough I think.

117km, 918m @27.1km/hr

Next week will be very quiet, maybe one short spin to keep the legs going before the Rebel on Saturday, I'm looking forward to this one, I think my fitness is better than last year and I'll be able to get round in comfort and maybe a little faster than last year, hopefully the weather will hold up and we'll have a great weekend of cycling down there.

This week

71.3km 493m gained

Busy week with work, so no time for the bike at all during the week, I had hoped to take today off and go up to Wicklow but the weather forecast for the coming week isn't as positive as it was so we went sowing this afternoon, I did manage to get out this morning for a local spin, legs felt crap for the first 15km or so but once I'd warmed up things improved, I didn't hang around but wasn't pushing too hard, just trying to stay close to the top end of my comfort zone, managed a few PBs on Strava without a big tailwind so must have been going OK.

http://www.strava.com/activities/84060317#

Weather dependent this week, but a good week will break the back of our autumn sowing so hope to get some more consistent spins in soon and be able to take in some of the late sportives coming up.

September's stats:

Distance:819.36 km
Time:33:26:57 h:m:s
Elevation Gain:10,208 m
Avg Speed:24.5 km/h

This week:

Distance:150.48 km
Time:5:58:25 h:m:s
Elevation Gain:1,592 m
Avg Speed:25.2 km/h


The week went a***ways on me cycling wise, got out on Tuesday morning in the rain for a handy recovery spin, surprisingly enjoyable in the warm rain.

I had hoped to get a few more morning spins in but things didn't work out and yesterday I missed a nice spin over to the Blooms with the club because I had to go up north with the young lad to a rugby match, not that I'm complaining though, these things have to be done.

This morning I headed for Ballymore, after the guts of 500km in the car yesterday I wasn't sure how the legs would feel but after 25km or so things loosened up a bit and I started to feel OK so headed over to do the Lakes from the Valleymount side, still felt OK when I got round so decided to slip over Ballysmuttan Hill and down to Manor Kilbride, last week I'd got lost trying to get to the Lamb Hill but I couldn't really miss it today from the N81 side, felt OK still so decided to give it a go, it's a tough one alright but I found it OK (the wind probably helped me here), got lost again down the Kilteel side and finished up on the N81 again so spun back into Blessington and home via Twomilehouse.

An enjoyable spin, a real bonus to me to be out still in shorts and a ss jersey.

112km, 1370m 25km/hr

http://www.strava.com/activities/87260216

Next week has less on apart from a rugby match in Galway on Saturday, I'd hope to get some nice morning spins in and am booked to do the Sean Kelly Tour of the Midlands next Sunday, looking forward to that.