Good To Be Back
With two weeks off the bike there’s always a certain amount of anxiety getting back out again, a worry about how much fitness you’ve lost over the period of inactivity. With my week long back issue I was a bit more nervous getting on the bike this morning, in fact I was wondering if I’d…
Easy Does It
My back has been steadily improving all week since my sneeze of doom on Sunday morning. I was concerned about returning to work on Monday morning but my work car is so comfortable and supportive that I think driving has actually helped. I’m convinced that the heated seats have also contributed especially having them on…
Sneezey Does It
Since finishing the Festive 500 on NYE I’ve been very lazy. I have various excuses reasons: needing some recovery time, spending some family time, weather, returning to work. Unfortunately, also due to a niggling sore back that was pushed over the edge this morning. I’ve had an off-and-on issue with my back for about 20…
Looking Ahead
Happy New Year Everyone. I hope everyone had a happy Xmas and wish you all a healthy and prosperous 2026. At the end of 2024 I didn’t set any goals for the year ahead but ended up hitting a good many milestones regardless, almost 5000km cycling for the year, starting the Audax RRTY 100 challenge,…
Festive 500: Ride 7 of 7
Done and Done! Yesterday’s forecast turned out to be accurate and there was a distinctly chilly feeling leaving the house at 10am and -2°C! Once on my way though it was clear that the roads were once again dry and frost free. I headed for Ballybofey, looped around and took the main road to Clady…
Festive 500: Ride 6 of 7
Only one more to go! The overnight frost didn’t happen due to the cloud cover which was a pleasant surprise when I eventually dragged my ass out of bed shortly after 8:30am. I was still tired and my legs felt heavy but at least I was in bed at a decent time and had a…
Festive 500: Ride 5 of 7
With yet another night out last night and a bedtime well after 1am it was hard work dragging myself out of bed this morning. As it was, my estimated start time of 9:30am soon became 10am. I had planned to do my second 100km long ride today but part of me was screaming to do…
Festive 500: Ride 4 of 7
Past the halfway point now and feeling positive. Today saw a slight change in the weather with enough of a warming overnight to melt all the frost away. One of my planned routes goes over higher ground so today was the best day to get it done. It’s not as easy a route as I…
Festive 500: Ride 3 of 7
Boy that was a cold start! A hard frost overnight meant it was still -3°C at 9:30am ❄️🥶 With yesterday’s temperature not getting much above 1/2°C it left everything looking white and crisp this morning… I was a wee bit nervous setting off but despite white roads they were dry and the surface frost wasn’t…
Festive 500: Ride 2 of 7
Despite a hard overnight frost the roads were dry and I was out the door just after 930am as planned. Important today as Boxing Day is still very much part of Xmas here and another important family day. I really needed to be home by lunch. Today’s route was a repeat of the start and…
niall harran 