Darn the wheel of the world!  Why must it continually turn over?  Where is the reverse gear?  ~Jack London

It seems so long since last updating my blog, and when I look back, it has been bloody ages! Good intentions turn sour on some occasion, but that's no fault of the mind, I hope.

So much has happened, but why bore the weary reader with the details. In brief, and I guess working back over the past months, my life seems to have fallen into a quiet lull, for the want of a better description. Again, not intentional, but more a fact of how life can and does drift off, leaving us somewhat stranded in the midst our everyday routine.
I did have a break which was more than welcome some months back, but that's for another paragraph.

The Cooley Thriller. The Folks were there at the finish, but you can see how bad it was in places

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Saturday 25th August I took part in the my first MTB race since, well leaving NZ, breaking lots of bones and actually getting off my lazy arse to do so. It was 'Da Cooley Thriller' in Co. Louth. I'd been looking forward so much to this race, but didn't actually train as I would the Karapoti. Big Mistake! The result being that I didn't get a result. Having a wedding to attend on the same day, 4pm sharp some 100ks south of the race and just outside Dublin, I put myself under some undue pressure. The race course was a swamp, and having to jump off and back on the bike so often meant I was plagued by cramps. My legs didn't know if I was walking, running or cycling. Very boggy trails, and I mean boggy, it was far from the enjoyable event I thought I'd geared up for.. None the less, lesson learnt. Train more, lots more, and expect to be tested to the max.. My folks along with my sister Ann and nephew Aaron all meet me after the race. It was great to see them and it made me feel much better. Mum said she never seen me so muddy. So we got some photo's, some hugs, and time to sit and have a coffee and sambo before hitting the road..
Enough said, not exactly proud of that acheivement.
  The month of May seen me take to the road, day after my birthday, for the first 'Etape Mourne' race to be held in the country. One in a long line of many the event organizers told me. Yes, again another first as I'm not a roadie, and never will be. I did the race with my friend Kevie, he's a big roadie, always racing and stuff, crazy man. It was an unreal day, weather was awesome, and the result was even better.  Didn't actually believe Esther when I came in over the finish line.. I finished 4th place! Coming round the last corner I expected to see a mass of cyclists recovering from a long spell in the mountains, but no, there was a couple of bodies, and my welcome party. I was meet by the race organizer with a hand shake, a big smile and a 'very well done'. Still bewildered but slowly excepting the fact that, yes, I was 4th. Bugger me eh! Maybe there is room in the bike room for a road bike! My MTB mates would have a few choice words to say about that now..

Etape Mourne, with my mate Kevie, and a hug from Esther.. Great result, 4th place

Some of this success in the Etape could be thanks to the fact that I had a good couple of months work free.. Yes, work free.. I totally recommend everyone take a couple of months off work every year, if you can of course, after all, you owe it to yourself and hell do you deserve it.. I for one think we get too caught up in the 'nine-to-five', and don't take the time to really enjoy ourselves, so much so. 

Having time to do what ever the hell you want is never over-rated, in fact it borders on being just plain selfish. It's great.. I used the time to finish studying and do my Anatomy & Physiology exam, which I aced with a Distinction. Awesome, 92%.. I also spent time with the folks which was most important as for many many years I have been living overseas and travelling. So I tried to give a bit back, I missed them so much over the years, and dread the day I leave these shores again. 
I spend some time on the saddle as well, training with my mate Kevie, we've been friends since we were teenagers, and have a great bond for all that. So doing the Mournes race was all that much better, and a real pleasure to be in his company.




There was of course the trip to Wales  before that, taking in a few of the trail centres there. We chilled out at a log cabin just up the road from Coed y Brenin, which was the first trail centre in the UK, and a damn fine one at that. The pic's below don't do it any justice, in fact it's a great network of trails that cater for all levels. We meet large and small groups of people, out racing, venturing, and just crusing. From smooth flowing trails, to endless boardwalks and rock gardens. There are long climbs for the real hardcore, followed long decents back into the heart of the forest. Even a cafe out in the middle of the 'Dragons Back' if you feel like a break.
 I totally recommend that should you ever go to Wales, or anywhere close, take your wheels and check out the trails. It has real mountains! You will not be disappointed. Rain or shine, the all weather tracks are a pleasure to ride, bringing you out across some of the best views Snowdonia has to offer. Just go do it and stop making excuses!

Coed Y Brenin trail centre, in the heart of Snowdonia.

But moving forward again and to this weekend past, 25th August, myself and Esther were to do a race in Fermanagh, The Lakeland Warrior. A 100km race over some serious forest fire-road, and a bit of single track, but due to a lack of entrants, it was called off. What!! So we needed an event. 
Bring in the National XC Championships in Ballyhoura.. 75 k's of single track and a bit of fire-road into the mix.. It was tough going but enjoyable. Staying over night in Ballyhea, we made our way to the event on a glorious Sunday morning. It wasn't long before we realized how out of our depth we really were, as this was an event for the elite racers, and those looking to compete for a podium finish. Esther entered the Masters women's, and I the Veteran men's.. Veteran, just how old does that make me feel. Still, it was a great race, with an awesome atmosphere. Well organized. I was certainly more geared than last weeks disaster up in the Cooleys. Some familiar faces and a bit of friendly banter about the week before seemed to settle a few last minute nerves, so that was good. I finished a respectable 25th  of 35, in 5:13. Esther was a bit longer, 6:27, and again a good result. I tied with the last of the Elite men, that was a good feeling. Actually over took him and a few other on my favorite sections, the hill climbs.
Both Esther and I had a few spills, leaving the event with a few cuts and bruises, needing new brake pads and a service for the front forks. Got off light considering what some other people had. Broken pedals, rear mechs, chain etc.. 
Maybe time for a new bike, but gonna wait and see what happens.. The new Scott Spark looks awesome and has the same amount of travel the Trek has..
The next day we both felt a bit exhausted driving back to Dublin which only made our tired muscles stiffer.. A quick stop at Junction 14 to grab an Insomnia Coffee did the trick.. 

So what and where next? Italy, Lake Guarda, oh yeah!!! Taking the bikes, gonna do some trails over there and enjoy what could be our only real taste of Summer, since it has been a bit shit here to be honest.. Been looking at some photo's and doing a big of digging to find where the best trails are. But it might be hard to choose as there are hundred of k's of track and trails. Spoilt of choice..

After that it will be some treking on home soil up North of the border. Rostrevor, Kilbroney Forest Park. They are currently making over 40k of single track, plus what is there already should make it a good venue. They say you can go ride them now, at least the finished sections.
Happy days..