Weight is everything  or so my previous posts would have you belive.

Final weigh-in 83kg. Mission accomplished. Had to go for a ten minute walk at 06:30 but I got there.

Just finished the 50km loop around Kilmeedy. Went hard but it is a short spin. Training finished gotta hope its enough …

Six days and ten hours to go. All that remains now is a few spins to keep everything ticking over and make sure that myself and a bike arrive at the start in working order

This might sound simple but last year I left all my food and water bottles in the car that I had no key for, Four years ago I started the Etape with cranks that were loose and last year I cycled Etape Act I with a pedal that was cracked and Act II dressed in short sleeves through hail storms.

Today I went for a short spin and noticed a new noise that had appeared when in a higher gear. I dismounted to discover that my chain was running outside the rear derailleur. This happened earlier this year and so when I changed the chain and cassette last week I did it in front of Nic to ensure I did it correctly.  So how did it get that way?  I can only assume that the derailleur had come loose. This would explain the noise I had been try to resolve for the past month.

I think it’s okay now but Ger is going to take a look for me tomorrow.

Well just failed to make the top 10 but was sixth of all the MAMILs.

The day went to plan (sort of). Was probably a bit slow up the Conor pass but don’t think I could have pushed any harder and finish as strong as I did. I suffered a lot at the tip of the peninsula. Tried to cling on to the lead group in the hope of opening a gap at those behind.

The plan failed for two reasons:

1) I blew up and struggled until a group came up from behind.

2) We all stopped in Dingle, regrouped and had a neutralised start until out of town. All that effort for nothing 🙂

After Dingle the fun started. Didn’t try to stay with the lead group for long. Eventually a group of around 8 sorted ourselves into a train and powered to the foot of Slibh Mis.

The blue line on the road said 5km to the top;  8 became 4, Blue line said 2km;4 became two. Blue line said 1km; 2 became 3 when we caught the rider in front.  Blue line said 500m; 3 became 2. We crested the Hill and raced down the hill.  Crossed the line at the Wetlands Centre.

It was a terrific 3 days and I feel that I have come on a lot this year. Is it enough?

Relaxing after sign in. I was cheered last night when the times for Stage 1 and places for Stage 2 were posted on the net.

Came 12th (9th in MAMIL category) on day one and my time was very good. I also did not do a badly as I thought on day 2. Will insert exact placing later when I have a chance.  Part of me wishes I had gone harder yesterday but really I know I was not capable.

Will give it all today. Plan is easy, easy until last 20km. I am going to spin up Curraghmore leaving others in my wake 😉

I woke this morning after a sound 8 hours sleep ,suprised by, but suspicious of how well I felt. I mentioned this to one of my fellow cyclist over porridge. He advised me that feeling good was indeed a portent of disaster just as I had feared.  He left me with one piece of advise that I mulled over as I pedalled gently to the start.  ‘Go slow at the start or you’ll die entirely’. Not wishing to die, even partially, I followed his advise. It didn’t work.

I took the Hills steady but suffered all the way including up Curraghmore before descending into Tralee.

Tomorrow I will face Curraghmore once again before arrriving back in Tralee.

Ok I know e everyone is waiting to hear how Stage 2 went but I’m not feeling 100% at the moment so you’ll have to give me a couple of hours.