For the past 8 weeks I have had to sit and wait until my more recent injury healed. In July whilst up on the trails at Ticknock in the Dublin hills, which by the way was sold as something a lot more than the 4k's of single track currently there, so it's a short but enjoyable ride, I managed to loose control and wipe out. Dry, dusty and warm conditions made the track less than favorable for my faster than average riding tempo. A clean break on the back of my left hand, and a cracked Radius from the wrist down the arm put a stop to my biking both to work and on the trails, just when I had been well recovered from last years spill over at Whistler. Damn!! The whole time I was in New Zealand, biking, racing and going mental, I never as much as chipped a bone let a lone break any. Yet, once I left to bike over sea's I manage to have to bad breaks in less than a year.. Going back to NZ I reckon..

With only minimal damage to the bike, a busted shifter and a few scratches, so have ordered some new SRAM XO twist shifters from CRC, sweet as, I hope to back on two wheels now that the cast is finally of today and the three pins that were holding my lower arm together have been removed. I was really enjoying the 32k commute into and out of work each day, despite the abuse I got from drivers, holy crap they don't mind givin you shit! Myself and Esther are gonna check out the new trails that are popping up all over the country. Some shorter trails like that in 'Blessingbourne' in Northern Ireland and also 'Castleward' with 20k's of single track, all purpose built of course. Maybe a bit tame but probably good just to warm up and ease back into the swing of things. Of course there are lots of good trails all over the country, but it will be the overseas trip I'll really be looking forward to.
Trail Badger
Check out this site for biking in Ireland in general, plus all the new stuff that's going on.
Then it will be Wales for more biking, sweet. Again there is awesome trails there, from Northshore style riding to easy going single track to suit all levels of craziness..

We sold the car and bough an Opel Zafira so we can drop the bikes straight in with only the front wheel removed. Bit of a family wagon, but we do have 4 bikes that we treat as family, very precious and worth more than a car for each bike, scary! Here in Ireland it's all about keeping the bikes safe and secure, so better out of sight. Can't trust leaving them for all to see, pity..

Anyway, they had the 'Single Speed World Champs' down in Ballyhoura, An Irish chap took the title, from Biking.ie, Niall Davis. Seen more as a fancy dress event on two wheels, the NZ series last year was a blast. Unlike here, there was a bit of boozing after every lap, go the Kiwi's in making the race even more of an event.. But Ballyhoura is a great place to hold such events, maybe I'll be fit for the September XC Marathon there, better get biking then eh!! We'll definatley give the Caveman a buzz though, it look pretty cool, and as the name suggests, take in some of the cave systems over on the west coast, swwet, get to pop on the Ayup lights once again..

No post would be complete without having a look at the good ole Irish weather. Now keeping in mind that there is no such thing as bad weather and only the wrong clothes, I am a bit disappointed that summer seems to have come and gone with little fuss. Kids are back to school though, so it should get better. The mornings are certainly brisk and to be honest, I do like that. it's coming into my favourite time of the year now, Autumn, so it will be good to get out and zip through some of the more forested trails. I love the colours, the low set sun in the midday sky, and the crunch of crisp brown leaves under the wheels. Gonna be a cracker..