From Brendan Kennedy, our member in Ireland.

Slane Grand Prix, 15 June.

Hi all, from the Emerald Isle,

This was the 1st event for all here in Ireland since the end of the FBD Insurance Ras, and with the numbers that turned up for the race everybody was very keen to get back to the serious side of racing after a couple of weeks from competition.

This is a tough event, with lots of hard climbs & very fast descents,(apart from pot holes in the road & heavy gravel on the corners, which in the end was to play a very serious part to the conclusion of the race).

This race was run on a H/Cap basis in the end, I think that the organizers changed the system due to very high numbers turning up today, we had over 150 riders sign on for the start, at least 60 of these were made up from elites & 1st cat riders, 2nd year juniors only, with the rest made up from Vets, (well over 60-70 vets). The reason we had such a massive turn out for this event was down to the fact that this was the only event taking place in Leinster.

The race distance was only a 55 mile event, but with it now been run on a H/Cap system & with riders fresh from the Ras this was not going to be a easy day. The weather was perfect, nice & sunny, with a slight northwesterly breeze.

The 2nd year juniors were off first (about 30 of them), and then we the vets were off next 5mins back, with the elites and 1st cats a further 6 mins behind. We had to cover 3 big laps of around 18.5 miles, going through a couple of little towns, and let me tell you, on a Sunday morning in Ireland you have a lot of church going people & it can get very scary, not to mention dangerous.

Lap 1: Vets set off at a made pace, setting up 2 lines and changing on the outside most riders going threw & doing a turn on the front, which was great because technically with the size of the group you should only be on the front once in every 40 or so riders, (not the case) typically the engine at the front was fairly small, but we seemed to have had a very big train behind. I would have to say out of the 40-60 vets in the group only about 20 or so of us were going up & over regularly, however this was soon to change as we approached the climb for the 1st time, I knew what was going to happen, as those of us working would make a big attack on this climb to get rid of the hangers on.

By the time we had come to the top of the climb we had shed at least 16 riders, leaving the group to about 40-44 riders, and with 2 more accents of the climb I was sure that we would whittle it down further. (You need good climbing legs for this course & I had put some good hill climbing work in over the winter, plus I rode over this course twice in training over the past 2 weeks).

Lap 2: Start of this lap we got a time check on the leading group of juniors (11 of them @ 2min.18secs) our group was still pulling along very well, and we had now got the group down to about 25 riders with most of this group working, a few riders every now & then missed a turn on the front (I must admit myself included) as the pace was electric, the big push was on to catch the juniors up ahead, before the climb. (I was saving myself for the climb to come as I knew there would be another attack on it to lessen the numbers in the group). As sure as we hit the bottom there was a big attack by 10-12 riders, & I got into the move, we shed the reminder up over the climb & by the time we reached the top we had the juniors in sight, still aware that the elites & 1st cats were chasing fast behind.

(my mind starts thinking where are they,cant be far behind, I drop to the rear of our break and ask for a time check from us back to the elites, I am told 1min .46 secs), as I work my way threw the group to do my turn on the front I tell my companions the time gap, but we know with 1 lap to go and the hard climb we will be caught before the finish. Our quarry at the moment is however to get the juniors up the road.(see photo, look at the agony of the faces of some of the riders in the break.

Lap 3: By the start of the final lap we had caught a small leading group of juniors, and a small group of elites & 1st cats (numbering 9 approx) were only back 30 secs approx, our group was around 17 in number including the juniors we had caught, but this would soon be increased by the guys from behind, swelling the leading group to about 24-25, I was not looking forward to the climb for the last time especially now with the top guys with us I knew the fireworks would start once we reached it, (They, elites would what to shed most if not all of us from the group before the finish).

We reached the bottom of the climb and "WHAM,BANG,WALLOP, all hell was let loose, attack,attack,attack, everybody in the group seemed to be having a go, I got myself as far to the front as I could manage,knowing what was going to happen,(I was on a gear of 53x18) and the speed was 22mph & that,s going up hill, not a very nice feeling for a 49 year olds little legs, I felt like my knees were going to snap at their joints,(but I got to thinking hang on,make it over this climb & I am home and dry). I knew that the last 6 mile would be out on the rivet,but I can pedal a big gear, and had no worries in that department. Of course the group was down to about 16 riders now after that savage set of attacks, 5 of them vets Including myself 2 very classy juniors, and the rest elites & a couple of 1st cats.

Last 6 miles, I was riding on the following gears, 53x13,14,15, and the max speed at one time was 37 mph and that after 52 miles of racing and 3 hard accents of a climb. With 2 miles to go there was a few efforts made by the top guys to get away, but I guess like my legs,there legs were dead also, so it was coming down to a 16 or so man bunch sprint, (I knew I would,nt have a rat in hell,s chance here,but would have wait as long as I could or hang on as long as I could and see what happens.

Before we enter the finishing straight we have to negotiate a left hand corner and this corner has lots of deep gravel on it,which narrows your entrance into it some what,I was well aware of it, and knew it was there, so not a big issue for me to worry about. So here goes the last corner only 1km after this to the line, I am sitting back in about 8th place on a good wheel (or so I thought) (Bernie McCormick, brother of Alan McCormick former pro, Mike Penrice will know him), We enter the corner, at speed I must say, a rider in front of Bernie McCormick sees the gravel panic,s & I think S..ts himself for a minute I think, moves his bike slightly to the right and McCormick clatters into him, does a summersaults,and lands face first into the gravel, I have to swing to the right to avoid hitting McCormick, and end up on the far grass bank,(I never came down,) "PHEW" I say to myself I was lucky there.

However I never get to contest the sprint and end up riding to the line on my own and finishing in a hard, and very scary 11th place. "Shaken a little, but not stirred, as Bond would say".(see Photo)

PS. In all my years riding road races this is the worst crash I have seen first hand, Bernie McCormick,s face is in a terrible state, he has split his face from his mouth up to his cheek, a 4-5 inch gaping cut, 4 broken teeth, smashed nose, 4inch gash to his left eye brow, as well as many more cuts etc. We were told since he has to receive emergency surgery. Lets hope recovers well and soon.

Best regards to all

Brendan.

Kentstown, Co.Meath, 25th May.

Hi folks,

I hope all is well with all of you, and your racing results are coming good.

I rode the above race today, in very stormy conditions, 45mph wind blowing,(not great for bike racing), but a least the rain held off.

This race was run over 50 miles of very tough undulating roads, with the road surface in places extremely bad. About 65 riders had signed on for the event, with an early start of 9.15am, (this was due to the fact that the FBD Ras was coming over the same course later in the day).

We had to complete 3 laps of a 16.5 mile circuit, with a head wind blowing right in our face for the first 5 miles out on the main road, before we hung a left and then proceeded for 6 miles of drags, after the drags we take a sharp left hand corner and head up over some more little tough climbs for about 2 miles, before we turn right again to pass the start/finish line.

The first lap was taken at a good pace with a few riders loosing touch as we began to hit the drags for the first time, there was a few attempts from some riders to try and go clear, but with a very strong cross wind & lots of echeloning, there was never going to be any getting away from a good working peloton. I kept myself back in about 10th-14th place along the draggy road so as to watch in case any moves were made, this part of the circuit is very hard, and with the peloton all lined out, with riders trying to get some shelter from the strong cross winds, & the speed high (26mph) nobody was even trying to go off the front, there was however a good few going backwards, & some letting the wheel go in front, you had to jump from wheel to wheel at times.

By the start of lap 2 we were down in numbers quite considerably (maybe 36), there was a few attempts to get away on the main road, but with that strong wind nothing ever became of any of the attacks. With myself only being a little fella, I was tucked right in, still about 10th-14th (I am not loosing my place) sitting right behind a big fella, He was as broad as a Barn door, great shelter. This lap never produced any significant, & so we were back at the start for the final lap, the last 16.5 miles. I am feeling very confident & I have good legs, the group is whittling down a bit more, 26 or so riders left at the head of the race, lots of riders spread out around the circuit, (we even lap some of em???)

Lap 3(final Lap) out onto the main road, into the head wind, and 2 riders go clear, they have about 50 yds on us, I am about 6th from the front and we get it organized to get these 2 riders back, before the turn off the main road, which might have given them a small advantage if they could make it onto the drags, without getting caught, anyway we do catch them as the hilly part of the course starts, I am thinking only 6 miles of these drags, & we will be home and dry, with a fast tail wind for 2-3 miles, at this point there is about 14 of us with a good advantage of the peloton (22 secs or there abouts), the peloton looked like they had given up the chase. I feeling good,riding up the drags on a 53x17, and the group is moving and working well together (I fancy my chances here I start to think), I do my turn on the front and start to drop down the line, I am back in about 9th position when DISASTER STRIKES, the rider on the front moves over too soon and brings down all the riders directly behind him, Yes, you guessed, Myself included, all of a sudden there is 8 riders on the deck, To say that I am P..sed Off, would be putting it very mildly. To think that there is only 4-5 miles to go, and you end up on your arse, because of some clown, not paying attention, is a sickener, but hey that's bike racing. I got a few cuts and grazes to my right calf, ankle, & knee, with some cuts to my fingers on my right hand. However I remount the bike and rode into the finish with 3 other riders that came off.

I am a little sore and feeling a bit stiff at the moment, but I will live to fight another day, Maybe I will have better luck next time.

PS> to think we do this for FUN???


I hope Mike & Barbara are recovering from their injuries, I wish them & all in the club well.

A good ride by all the Barnes Lately, excellent going guys KEEP IT UP. ya still have it Steve, good man.

Regards

Brendan K

Summerhill H/Cap Road Race, 11 May.

Hi everyone,

hoping you are all keeping well, and enjoyed the Selby ride last Sunday, (I hope the weather was as good for you as it was over here).


Summerhill is not to far from where I live (15miles approx), so I did,nt have to travel to far for the start, which was at 9.30am. We were greeted to a fantastic summer morning with early temp of 15:C, but the morning was to get hotter & I do not mean weather wise.

Most of the time I ask myself "why do I enter for these H/Cp road races"? because I know that I am going to chase & ride very hard throughout the whole race, just to get the groups ahead back, sometimes we don't catch em, but today was going to be different.

Riding in the semi-scratch over here can be a difficult task & if your fitness & race preparation is not on top form, within 3-4 miles you are dead and buried. Just to give a small example of the class of riders in semi-scratch:-

John Shortt, Oliver McQuaid,Bernie McCormack, Mick & Colm McNulty, Rapheal Kimmage,Colm & Sean Bracken & a few new vets (just 40 this year) that are still holding 1st cat licenses. Mike Penrice may know some of the names above, all of which in their early days where top of the game in cycle racing here, and even today will give most of our elite & 1st cat riders a tough time in any race. (The scratch group have riders of the likes of Martin O,Loughlan, Power,Delahay,Phil Cassidy,and the likes) So I am really privileged to be riding in the semi-scratch group, with the names above, & to be able to compete with them & give as much as they give I am delighted. That's why I need to get my training just right.

Well lets get to the race: 50 miles (80km) over a hard course, rough roads (which is the norm for here) hilly(reminds me of the Pennypot Lane circuit I used to ride in Yorkshire) Mike must remember that circuit. As usual 3 groups ahead of us on the road, with time gaps of 15min, 10min, & 5min then us and then only 4 mins back from us to the scratch group. In total there was about 110 riders in the whole race, with 30-40 riders in my group (this number would not last long).

The race is run over 4 laps of a 12.5 circuit, and with part of the course having narrow roads you really need to be in at the top 15-20 places. We got organized really quickly and a good few riders were coming through to do a bit on the front, maybe 20-25 or so,with the rest just sitting in. With 6 miles done, we were given a time check of 13 mins to the front group,which was great, I knew that the group in front of us were only at about 2m.30sec -3min & after only a short time, the speed of our group was 32mph & it was constant with good riders working hard. By the start of lap 2 we had already caught the group immediately in front of us, and we had the next group on the road in sight.At 23 miles into the race our time check on the front group was 5.40, & we had caught all but this group ahead, with them only having 5.40 on us & with 27 or so miles remaining I knew we would get em, (we could almost smell em). By this time a hell of allot of riders had been dropped and I think we were down to about 15 at most, (see photo, this is what remains of 70 riders approx). As we were now the leading group, with around a little over 2 laps remaining some of us were very aware of what was behind (the scratch men), so with the speed as it was, some riders were beginning to miss turns on the front, & this might have been the nail in the tyre, for most, but we got a time check of 6mins from us back to the scratch, (they had lost time on us), this really did,nt surprise me at all, I knew we had been riding very very well, this was the boost for the group and with 1 lap to go we upped the pace a little,at one point I noticed that our speed was 37.5mph,& was scary at times, (I was riding a 53 x 12 just to be able to stay on the wheel in front), to say we were motoring, would be a just word. With 2 miles to go for the finish, the jostling started for positions (a slight up hill finish,wide road) very fast, riders swapping positions, looking for & changing gears etc, 500 mtrs to the line I am about 5th-7th in line, 36mph, literally hanging on the wheel in front, 200 mtrs to the line, & I just cannot get anymore out of the legs, a 53x13, I'm riding on,then the big hitters go, & with me & my little legs in the last 200 mtrs or so I lose a few places, ending up in 11th place on the day, but managing to win for the 2nd week 1st in my cat.(The race was won by none other than Oliver McQuaide),I was only about 3-4 bikes lengths behind him
at the finish.

Today was a hard race, because we had to keep riding hard, not to get caught by the top men from behind. At the end we had a time gap over them of 6.20, which is really good.(I think by the start of the last lap they gave up, because they knew it was a no hoper).

We did the 50 mile in 2hrs.02min. (ave speed = 24.5mph) Brrriiillliiiaaaannnnt.

ps. What makes it better, I don't even have to clean my bike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My best wishes to Mike,Barbara, & all you Guys & Girls in the club.(say a hello to Steve Barnes & family)

Cheers

Brendan K

 

4 May , 80km Road Race, Duleek, Co. Louth.

Hi,

Wow, is a very good way to start to summarize this race today. 52 riders signed on for what was going to be a very hard & fast race from the off. This race is run over very bumpy uneven surfaces, with heavy gravel on most of the corners, as well as pot holes etc. Shortly after the start it Pi..ed down, and with the surface been as it is, there was lots & lots of water on the road, as well as horse s..t, thick mud etc, (at the finish I looked liked some of them old photos you would see of the pro,s after riding some of the early season classics in Belgium, really manky dirty) my nice clean bike now looks like one of Steve Barnes after riding cyclo-cross, & my nice bright orange Seacroft wheelers skin suit, had to be steep in water for a few hours to get the grime and dirt out of it, (my wife was not to happy).

It rained throughout the whole event, never easing up, so you can image how wet I was at the finish.

This event was a 80km (50 mile approx), 5 laps of a 10 mile circuit. It was fast right from the off and so you needed to be riding up front to stay out of any trouble, and plus all the water spray that was coming up off the wheels in front.
after only 4 miles into the race, I felt I would have a go,( with the weather being the way it was a lot of riders might be uncomfortable with the conditions), a couple of riders came with me and the 3-4 of us worked very well together, we managed to get a small gap of about 15 secs, but never more than this, eventually the bunch came back up to us & I was expecting someone to launch an attack at this point, but no did. A few riders over the course of laps 1 & 2 tried to get away, but most of the good riders where not letting them slip them.

Lap 3 came and a group of 6 riders attacked and this looked to be the decisive break (riding into a head wind & up some tricky little drags) I hesitated for a moment, & this gave them about a 60 - 70 yard advantage, they seemed to be working well together & I could see that they were all riding up & over, I was about 3rd back in line at the front of the bunch, and tried to get other riders to start working, as they were not really pulling anything out on us. After a couple of miles the escapee,s had gained around 25 secs on us, (we could still see them) & there was only a lap and a half remaining (12-15 miles approx). I was trying very hard on the front (28mph) to drive along a chasing bunch, but only 4-5 riders were willing to come up and go through & work with me,(all the rest hanging on not working). By the start of the last lap we Had caught the escaped riders, I was chuffed,but suffering a little for my efforts,(try to imagine the situation: I have just chased for 4-5 miles,with 3-4 other riders in the lashing rain, windy, mud on the road, slippery surface,& soaking wet, ) 10 miles remain & my legs are screaming at me,I am thinking how in the name of God,can I get rid of the hanger ons, I knew with about 3 mile from the finish there is a short drag, not to hard but you have to work on it, this I thought is where I will try.

When we got to the drag 2 riders took a flier,& I just did not have the legs to make it onto the rear wheel, & I was left in NO MANS LAND as they say. The two riders managed to hang on to the finish, & for all my efforts I was caught with 1 mile to the finish, but "HEY FOLKS" (that,s not the end of my story) this was not going to stop me from having a go in the sprint. I tucked myself back in about 12th or 13th spot, trying to getting some recovery before the sprint started, (its a bit of a hairy finish, because apart from being slightly downhill, you have a series of bends to negotiate, & its wet. Its only 350 mtrs to the line after the final bend). The Sprint starts, (speed at this time is 31 mph), 12-13 riders in front of me,(their bigger than me as well, all sprinters, IM NOT) I am tucked in riding on a (53x15) waiting,waiting & waiting (53x14) speed is now 36mph, I am up 1/2 places to 10th, last bend,speed is now 36mph, out of the bend, I drop to a 53x13, kick,kick,& up to finish in 7th place on the day, and win 1st place in my Cat.

I was thrilled with my effort & performance today, taking into account the conditions,etc. I was beaten by my earlier efforts in the race, and not the conditions. If I had been sitting in more throughout the race I may have been able to stay with the 2 riders that got 1st & 2nd, but that,s not my style, I like to be aggressive, if your aggressive,try & it does not work out, at least you can feel you made a good effort.
(I will post photos of the event when I get them).

I hope you all had a good weekend, and you are all keeping well. My regards to Mike & Barbara, & all members.

Best regards

Brendan
(Ceide Mile Failte)

Rathcoffey, Co.Kildare, 45mile H/Cap RR, 27.4.08

Hi all,

hope you are all well and racing fit, hope mike & Barbara are well on the recovery road.

Rode a very hard H/Cap event yesterday 27.04.08, 45 miles on an undulating circuit, the weather was perfect, a lovely sunny morning, (makes a change from the usual rain & cold).

I was as always in the semi-scratch group, with 3 groups ahead, the limit group given 18 mins over my group, so if you do the maths over a 45 mile distance, Cancelara would,nt even get up. Anyway apart from riding hard for most of the race trying to make up some ground on the front 3 groups, we never got a sniff of the the group in front of us let alone the limit group, (group in front of us were given 8mins), we did however pick up some dropped riders from each of the groups ahead, and with the pace we were moving at they went right out the back. We had started with 40 riders and by the end of the 3rd lap this had been reduced quite considerably, maybe down to 16/17 riders, we did make some in roads to the groups ahead, but by the finish the sprint was fought out by a few limit group riders and the second group on the road. At the finish their time gap over my group was still a 8 min gap, (I think we need to speak to the handicapper, very bad handicapping).

By the time it came to sprint it out for minor places, we had picked up a few more riders from the earlier groups just as we approached the finish line (see photo). It was a good days racing, and my form is coming on very well.I do not have my final placing yet, but as soon as I get it I will let you know*.
Best regards to all, take care. Brendan
* 19th plus Combativity Award!

30 March, 40 mile CP, Clane Co.Kidare.

We were all greeted by some nice sunshine for today's event, though the roads were a little damp and some parts had large pools of water from last nights heavy rain fall.

This event is run over allot of twisting corners, sharp drags & very narrow roads.

The limit group had been given a 14/15 min head start over the semi scratch group (my group) which without any doubt was going to make it a very hard days racing. The circuit is 8 miles around and with 5 laps to be completed over this technical course you needed to have your wits about you & try to keep as near to the front as possible, or you would find yourself in trouble. After the start we took a right hand turn onto the main circuit, and immediately we were greeted with a lovely tail wind, this was the ingredient for major speed (straight down onto a 53 x 14) 35/40 mph, savage is not the word I would use here, (I will not use bad language as some of our younger members could be reading this, but all you that have raced in road races know what I mean). Hitting the sharp corners and bend that are on this course, you needed to up near the front as much as you could manage, & get on a wheel of someone who had good bike handling skills & knew how to take the corners, (reminds me of some of the city centre races in Yorkshire) Steve Barnes & Mike P, will know what I mean, get stuck up the riders A**e in front of you as much as you can & hold the wheel.
It was obviously at this speed that some riders at the back were going to get shelled right away as that was the case. This gave 4 of us a good chance to try and get away, & we managed to open a small gap of only 20 secs (see pic, I was wearing Lampre gear, as it is still too cold to wear my seacroft skin suit) Our lead never lasted long and we were caught after 3 miles. (sorry folks).
Its was doggy at times on the corners as some of these were holding water from the night before, so your line into the corner had to be just right, ( but there's always one gilly, you know em, takes the corner too sharp & yes ends up on the deck). My group were working very hard and by the start of lap 3 had caught the 2 groups who started 5 mins & 7 mins in front of us, this just left a further 2 groups out on the road to be caught (Limit & Ladies combined) we caught the ladies with a lap remaining (by the way they had been given 14/15 mins head start) most of the Ladies had been dropped from the limit group, & with only 8 miles remaining we got a time check of 6 mins to the front group (NO CHANCE). As we went onto the back of the circuit for the last time there was a major move of about 15/20 riders going clear from the main bunch I was in just the right place and managed to get into this move, we managed to open a gap of 45 secs from the bunch by the finish line, we never caught the 6 riders in the Limit group and so in the sprint for the minor places I managed a well deserved 9th place on the day.

A good hard days racing, Enjoyable???????????

regards & best wishes to all in the club

23 March, first road race of the new season.

Hi hope all are well & getting in the miles.

Rode a 45 mile rr today in horrible conditions lashing rain, hailstones, in a very strong northerly wind. About 60 riders signed on for the 1st Vets event of 2008, some looking very trimmed and fit, and a few with good sun tans (you know the type, no matter how cold it is they will wear their shorts to show off the tan). It set off at a nice easy pace, but this was very short lived, after only 3 miles the attacks started, but with the conditions nobody was going anywhere, everybody was looking to shelter from the wind so there was no major moves that got away. I kept myself up in the 1st 10 or so riders just to make sure that nothing went away. The field was cut down quiet considerably by the end of the race with only about 20 riders in any chance of taking the sprint, there was riders all over the place, in 1s & 2s and a few other small groups. However in the end it came down to a mass brunch sprint between the main field of about 20 riders, I think I managed to finish 9th or 10th (not sure) as I didn't hang around to check, I just wanted to get to the car and get changed and go home. (I will confirm the placing later) I was freezing cold and wet, but rode well within myself. Many riders have 5/6 races in their legs & have got good speed, but my full speed is not there as yet, and I will use the racing to improve on this over the coming weeks.

I hope you are all well, and the weather is not putting you all off too much.

Next Race. March 30th. CP H/Cap event 45 mile. Clane Co. Kildare.

Best regards to you all, and safe cycling.

Brendan K

30 January 08 , "rest, rest and more rest".

"Hi all, I hope you are all getting in the training miles, now that we are almost into the start of the racing season. I know that some days have been very wet & very windy, I guess it was the same for all you over there. I am getting in some good training at the moment getting out when it is not raining, and sometimes having to take the plunge and go out in the rain (not a great idea) generally doing around 50-60 mile spins 3 times a week.

I am upping the tempo now & trying to keep a high Ave speed for the distance, still on fairly small gears (usually 39 x 14,15,16) and trying to keep the legs at a high rpm. Maybe in the last 10 miles or so I will put it onto the 53 & use a 16,15 sprocket. I go out with a small group (4-5approx, no more than 5), I find going out with any bigger than this and there is usually a lot of Mickey mousing around, & you loose the Ave speed over the distance of the spin. This is down to the difference in level of fitness of the riders in the group, so keeping the group small will make sure that those 4-5 riders are up on the front every couple of mins or so. This keeps the tempo high, & I find it very good pre season preparation.
(please note though***** you need a good level of fitness/miles in the legs to do the following, I have got 2,500 miles done since October 1st 2007).

Our Ave speed for the 50 miles is usually around 19-20mph normally 150mins, depending on weather etc. but this is what we aim to do it in. Our 60 mile spin is done usually between 180-190mins, so you can see by the figures the Ave speed is much the same over the 2 distances. Very Hard training, But very Good results. Give it a GO!!!!!!!!!!! (O if someone gets dropped,its a matter of see ya next time, no waiting for any of the 4-5 riders). Yes you might ask, I have been shelled out a couple of times, its all a matter of correct rest,rest & more rest. We generally do it in a block of 3 days at a time i.e. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. recovery ride on a Thursday(a light spin) nothing on a Friday, Saturday I do my own thing 40 mile light spin, Sunday at this moment I am doing Nothing.I then repeat the above, as you can see I have 2 complete days off the bike & 2 days with light spin outs on the bike, these Recovery & non cycle days are important due to the intensity of the 3 days.

I hope you all had a wonderful time at the club dinner recently. On a separate note is Peter McGowan still racing? What ever happened to his brother Bernard, he was a very good rider, especially when it came to climbing (he was a little bugger) made my legs hurt many a time. If Bernard is around ask him if he still remember the time we went to Spain with the Viking squad, and he rode away from everybody on the road up to Midjas. Sean Lally never forgets that!! Also does he remember when we used to have our small little chain gang of Himself, Me, Russell Hepton,Gary Thompson sometimes came out with us, and 2 other guys, I think one off em was called Dickinson (not sure) & I cannot remember the name of the other guy. We used to do a few laps around the Industrial estate of Elida Gibbs, just of the ring road.Tell Peter & Bernard I said hello.

I will start my interval training at the end of Feb 08.
Please send my regards to all in the club, I have a NEW E MAIL ADDRESS : pettyofficer29@eircom.net

Wishing you all well & keep safe.

very best regards
Brendan K."

Brendan's Blog 2007 archive