Cycle
Fall back
Beautiful mild Autumn weather means great cycles on the quiet country roads on North Cork.
The days getting shorter and the mornings darker but still great cycling to be had
Next thing on agenda is the route for the Tour de France and the announcement of L’etape du tour route. Rumours suggest Tourmalet/Hautacam but this would be a repeat of 2008. A start/finish in the same town would probably be too much to ask for again but the atmosphere and Craic in Annecy last year was brilliant
The calm before the storm
Just stopped for lunch on our second to last day. Bad weather is due around now with storm wins and rain. I’ve stepped out to do ‘bloody blog’ (said with a Preston accent). The others are settling inside unaware that the rain we have been rushing to avoid has started.
Conditions today have been dry but the first headwind of the JOGLE are affecting morale as much as speed. Signs up along the road today for the Tour of Britain, that is on it’s way
Push to Okehampton where a Travelodge awaits. Only Lenny Henry would be happy to be at a Travelodge.
A Bridge too far ..
Not today. Today was a beautiful day out of Shropshire, into Wales and across the Severn to Bristol and on to Chedar at the edge of the Gorge.
Not just the easiest day, the only easy day
Wales was the star. The Wye Valley was breathtaking. We arrived at our campsite as the sun was setting and a hot air balloon was coming to land.
Now here comes the wind and rain.
It begins…
We have committed our first criminal act of JOGLE 2013. The photo above is stolen! Apparently the John O’Groats sign is privately owned. You have to pay £10 for a photo!
Eating breakfast and getting ready to head down to the start …
D day minus 2
The team assembled at Terry’s at 9am and loaded up for the Journey north. Bikes and bags loaded on the Caravan we headed up the M6 in comfort. Pulled up at Milton Fonab near Pitlochry. Chilli dinner washed down with 2 pints of beer. Plan is to complete the last 300 km to Join O Groats tomorrow
Tired, me?
Well I won’t have the No. 1 on my bike next year but I did enjoy my day in the Sun. I was telling everyone ‘I was fastest last year’, as they past me on the climbs.
Stayed with the front group until Maam and after a hour in the wilderness myself and two others managed to catch the leaders again as we arrived at the biggest climb of the day. They took it easy and I managed to stay with them over the top and down into Maam. 50 km to go and then Bang!
A race broke out when we arrived at the 3 km timed Mountain goat challange. I eased smoothly out the back as the back of Nigel Forde’s head disappeared up the road ahead of me. I finished the climb well out-sprinting a few guys and made it down to Maam Cross with one other guy. He then dropped me with ease and I found myself cycling back to Galway on my own.
I stopped in Oughtard for a comfort break and two guys past me. It broke my heart but 25km later I caught them. They kindly allowed me to tow them into Galway and past me in the last 50m.
Crossed the line in around 4 hr 25 min. A lovely BBQ waited and thanks to a 7am start I was fed and on the road home by Noon. Sat in front of the telly for Liverpool v United by 12:30
Its good to be King
Okay, okay, I know it won’t last and I know there were loads of people faster but it’s still good to be King for a day and 1/118 is good.
To be honest I don’t think I ever would have expected to be posting times like this.
Felt that I was going Okay until the first climb but found it tough then I was pushed up ‘Powers the Pot’ by Mike and Terry.I wasn’t able to match them on the climb but I clung on and crested The Hill wth them. Quick stop for water and got caught on my own until Mahon Falls. I struggled up it.
It was after Mahon Falls that I came into form. I made good time and no one could stay with me. At the foot of Maam Road I was passed by two Dungarvan CC riders. Tried to stay with them but couldn’t. Made it to the top then soloed the whole way back without seeing another rider until I joined up with finishers on the 100 km route.
Great fun. The Comeragh Challenge is a great spin every year
Note to self
If your going on a cycle with a Giro D’Italia winner don’t wear a Maglia Rosa. You’ll feel like a tool standing next to him!
4 piece spanner set complete
Musette perfection at the Leinster loop
Be honest now, who amongst us hasn’t been on a spin thinking, ‘My ass hurts, my breathe stinks, am I paying too much for my waste collection? and all I need to fix this bike is a 3 piece spanner set. The Leinster loop musette had it all!
Joking aside the welcome here is great and sign on went smoothly with breakfast snacks and great coffee provided. The sky is even clearing. Getting ready to start in the next few minutes.
Confessions of a Velophile 