The week started of with a early rise Saturday the 5th to be at Heuston Station for 8:30 for the 9 o'clock train to Killarney county Kerry with my Scout group 10th Kilternan for our annual summer camp. With Action packed Adventure from 2 days Hiking and bivouacking in the foot hills of the MacGillycudd's Reeks which has Irelands highest mountain Carrauntoohil, or too the very mild adventure of the aqua dome in tralee.
The week flew by and in no time it was friday the 11th,time to hit the train home but this time I was not going home. I got off at limrick Junction to be collected by Alan Ayling himself and dan priestley to be then brought to another camp site where I will sleep for the next two nights while racing is on .
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| All ready for kerry with the scouts and Ballyhoura with the bike |
After hitting Ballyhoura early for regastration we where off on our bikes. Stages where mint, felt fast and was having fun as each corner had a new surprise as I rode it. long stages and long transitions meant for a long day out on the bike but a great day exploring the Ballyhoura hills with the lads (Alan,dan,shane) . Had a few troubles with the chain dropping on the stages which was really annoying, even with a clutch mech and a norrow wide chain ring - This frustration led to a dodgy experimental home-made chain devise at the campsite Sat night.
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| Experimental Pre-race home made chain devise - lets see how she holds up race day |
Sunday - Race day
Race day came and having to strike camp at the camp site we arrived at ballyhoura later then expected,actually less then 10 minutes before our wave of 11:02,but to my suprise we made it down on time.
Stage 1 : nervousness was upon me as usual before any event as I lined up at the line,but to my surprise the stage went well for me and the chain. At least I was warmed up ready for the next 4 stages
Stage 2 : I loved this stage with all the berms and flow but my worst enemy attacked half way through (THE TIME SAPPING CHAIN DROP!!!) Must have lost a minute frantically putting it back on.
Stage 3 : I say I said 'That as deadly' 10 times after I rode that on practice day,was loving the rough natural trail....but the enemy struck again Ten times worse as "The speed sapping chain drop" got caught in my pedal which led to on trail surgery ! took out the snips and sniped the cable ties on chain devise but forgetting the the hose was still on. Carried on anyway which led to the another drop which led to me EFFING AND BLINDING the whole way down while I used gravity to slowly bring me past the line.
Stage 4 : Loved this stage and all went well besides a few mistakes up top and being paranoid the chain would drop but it didn't at all.
Stage 5 : Last but not least,slogged up sefinn to be rewarded to the last final decent...All went well besides I almost shat myself with the speed on the narrow single track but the new magic marrys held there line like a star !
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| Magic marrys were magic on the natrual stuff |
Class week and weekend....Result was a shame with the time I spent off the bike....I figured I lost a minute on stage 2 and just under the 2 minute mark on stage three which was a great shame :/ Anyway thats racing...will just have to try harder at Djouce and a chain devise is in great need.Besides that I want to say thanks to Al in The Bike Rack for getting the bike fully over hauled,felt mint.
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| A picture of where I slept for good matter leading up to the event |
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| Watching the sun rise |
