Post by Stevo on Aug 27, 2013 9:07:38 GMT
Well for the second time, bigfoot and I stood at the startline of the Sean kelly 160km challenge, listening to U2 blaring out through the speakers while waiting for the man himself to send us on our way. only one year had passed, and yet both of us could not remember the pain of the 4 main hills in the ride.
We set off a reasonable pace, through Carrick, and up to Tickenor, the first cat 2 hill, all 3km of it and similar to Dree in steepness, then down for food near clonmel, back to Powers the Pot for some leg sapping 5km of hill (cat3) and then a 20km roll until Mahon Falls. I can't believe how much I blotted out of my memory from last year, but Mahon falls is brutal, nearly 4km of steep and very steep hills, culminating in a part like the Cornmill for 300m. Bigfoot shot past me here, with my legs screaming for forgiveness. At the top - we at least knew the worst was behind us, but then the really steep descent - which is hard on brakes and shoulders.
eventually we returned to the flat and a chance to spin the legs for another 20km before mama road - a cat3 hill, which is more a big long slope than any real problem, but it is long and you can see where you are aiming for for miles.
then the 13mile descent - or so bigfoot told me. funny amount of climbing in the descent, however we could get up to 30mph on the run into Dungarvan, with a couple of Galtee club cyclists (Mitchelstown). I reached the last 500m of the run and the legs packed in - unable to follow Bigfoot and the Galtee guys up the last incline (sorry descent). Back in for food and a seat. Felt great, but absolutely wrecked.... will try and remember how hard this is for next year.
Didn't feel as bad after mourne sportive.
Back to Sunday runs again, and Max's flat runs rather than bigfoots descents.
We set off a reasonable pace, through Carrick, and up to Tickenor, the first cat 2 hill, all 3km of it and similar to Dree in steepness, then down for food near clonmel, back to Powers the Pot for some leg sapping 5km of hill (cat3) and then a 20km roll until Mahon Falls. I can't believe how much I blotted out of my memory from last year, but Mahon falls is brutal, nearly 4km of steep and very steep hills, culminating in a part like the Cornmill for 300m. Bigfoot shot past me here, with my legs screaming for forgiveness. At the top - we at least knew the worst was behind us, but then the really steep descent - which is hard on brakes and shoulders.
eventually we returned to the flat and a chance to spin the legs for another 20km before mama road - a cat3 hill, which is more a big long slope than any real problem, but it is long and you can see where you are aiming for for miles.
then the 13mile descent - or so bigfoot told me. funny amount of climbing in the descent, however we could get up to 30mph on the run into Dungarvan, with a couple of Galtee club cyclists (Mitchelstown). I reached the last 500m of the run and the legs packed in - unable to follow Bigfoot and the Galtee guys up the last incline (sorry descent). Back in for food and a seat. Felt great, but absolutely wrecked.... will try and remember how hard this is for next year.
Didn't feel as bad after mourne sportive.
Back to Sunday runs again, and Max's flat runs rather than bigfoots descents.