Club League Round 3: Corkagh Park Crit 30 mins + 2 laps

Long Story Short

• Feeling good in the race,
• Made the catch to Limit after 10 mins
• My calf cramped at 16 mins as I was about to go off the front,
• Took a lap out to stretch it, but missed the group,
• Got the finish line Video.

Strava

Ride: Club League Round 3: Corkagh Park crit 30mins + 2laps.

Flybys: Round 3.
I enabled:

• The Lukester,
• Gar, he started with Semi-Limit and finished 3rd,
• Robbie, started with Semi-Limit and made an attack on the second last lap,
• Simon, started with Limit and won.

Short Story Long

Build-up

I got a letter, my apartment management company, €65 rent increase per person per calendar month kicking in in August. Paris-Roubaix was on, I looked at the Paddy Power odds. Tony Martin was at 65/1. This was fate. He would win this classic on Trentin's bike and pay my rent increase. I put €1 on him and €10 on Sagan at 3/1. I got up early to watch the full coverage. Early in the race, Tony was put on the front because Ettix-QuickStep cannot make a break. Then after the Cancellara crash, I watched my €11 go up in smokes. Sagan's group was blown apart and Tony was sent to the front to push the gap out by burning all his matches, like someone trying to light a cigarette in the wind.

What are the government doing about these rent increases? Debating over a fucking prayer at the start of the day. The only God answering their prayers is Loki. Where's my USC decrease? Where's the increase in housing supply to counteract this supply and demand crisis? The Independents need to sort their shit out and pick a fucking side. Prior to the election, I instinctively thought that Independents were shit cunts, just there to take up space and pick up €100k per year. I changed my opinion during the election, I dared to dream that maybe they could actually do something. But now, I have reverted it back to shit cunts.

Alan Kelly celebrating his free €100k and ability to practice nepotism. Labour are basically independents.

I got two cycles in since the last race. On Tuesday Night Hills, I took 1:20 of my PB up Curagh Rd. to Pine Forest. I was feeling good going to sleep... Until I seen Brendan's pictures of human dominos in the Women's B-race Sprint finish.

Pre-Race

I got to the track ealier than last week. There was a Strata3-VeloRevolution guy doing laps. He seemed pretty chill. I did my warmup, maybe I didn't do as good a one are the previous week. Killian joined me for the Hamstring stretches.

Tommy arrived. Everyone looked at each other nervously. Some were intimidated, others just didn't want to stare. I took a glance when he wasn't looking. His jersey was a bit looser on his arms. I used to go to the gym a lot, take Z-Mag, Creatine, Protein and eat scrambled Hen Periods. I knew what boat he was in. He wanted to be seen as more than just biceps. He wanted to be seen as a man... with a kick-ass beard. Ann had published an article about the Tour of the Foothills, about 20% of the article was describing Tommy's biceps. With all publishing companies looking for the next 50 Shades of Grey and/or Danielle Steele, Ann might be setting herself up for career change.

John rang his bell. This signalled 5 minutes to go. He gave the usual preamble speech, the shortened version is "Don't be a shit cunt during the race". Yvonne had a mechanical on the start line. She commandeered Rebecca's bike. We had Martin and Grainne making their League debuts.

Race

When Limit got to the bottom corner, I started agitating to be let go. I was saying "Now, come on, that's far enough" to John. Romano was in front of me, sealing a few inches. We were unleashed. I couldn't clip-in. My cleats are pretty messed-up since I changed them. I'll probably need to get them checked with lazers.

I was near the back on the first few laps. I needed to get to the front. At the back, you're red lining it to keep pace and you'll also miss the moves. I moved up slowly. My legs were not working, my warm up was not right. Gaining ground on the finish straight. Last week, I used this straight to take a sip of water. This week I was too focused on making up places. I eventually hit the front about seven minutes in to the race. On the main straight, I was on the front, I gestures for people to roll through. I got some help in the form of two able bodies. Not exactly the Calais Jungle I was hoping for.

We were reeling in Limit riders. Lots of us were sensing blood. I got boxed in and a bad corner had me at the back again chasing on. I was slightly off the back when the catch was actually made. Some lad messed up the last turn, went into the grass and then pulled out in front of a few of us. The pace up front slowed and we caught back on. We made the catch after ten minutes of the thirty.

It was going to be a slight rest, then time to start shelling riders. I was making up places safely. At sixteen minutes I was mid-pack. I was feeling really good, warmed up just in time for the business end of the race. Matt was in front of me, there was lots of space on the right to move up. I asked Matt to attack. When he declined my generous invitation, I spun it up. On the drops, low profile, Luke Ewan. I hit the front.

Now was the time to take a few riders with me. Split the field. Hopefully catch some of the stronger lads out of position. Divide up the points between us. This would be the winning move. I had the hair gel in the car, I've been working on a mohawk/mullet, ready for the podium. I was ready for my value, in the Orwell Fantasy League, to skyrocket. People would not be able to have Brian Mc and I in the same team.

That was the dream. But just as my gap started to go out. My non-driveside calf cramped. There was a pain in my calf that felt like a pull. I tried to jam it back into place with my thumb. This did not work and Doctor Luke was reeled back in, chewed up and spat out. I pulled in on the home straight. I told John that I was going to take a lap out. I stretched the calf. It felt better. I tried to jump back on as the main group passed. But I was gone full Matt Stevens. I could not clip in. I missed the group. Race Over.

Post-Race

I decided to be helpful, I rushed to the car and changed into warm clothes. I picked up my phone. I heard the bell being rung. John's ringing of the bell would later be known as "Bellgate". I sprinted to the track, as I, like Tommy and Robbie, though it was the last lap. I had the camera ready to record in 120fps, to get the slow-motion video. The group approached, but John was shouting last lap. Dave was asking where Tommy was.

It wasn't the last lap. I got the finish of the race. Simon won, for real this time. I helped John identify the placers.

Robbie and Tommy were very confused. They went for it on the Bell Lap. But that bell only signified the end of the 25 minutes. So they had run out of steam for the actual final. Mistakes were made. The #JusticeForTommyAndRobbie hashtag didn't gain much traction on Twitter, despite The FroomeDog championing their cause.

What Was Learned

I need to drink more to avoid cramps.
I need to monitor the warmup too, last year 4x45seconds @ Z6 worked well for me.

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Club League Round 2: Corkagh Park Crit 25 mins + 2 laps

Long Story Short

• Goal for the race was last 30 mins before getting dropped, the race was 29 mins long and I did well
• Winning break went on the first corner,
• I bridged two gaps solo,
• Was never outside the top five wheels in a group after bridging,
• Took a last lap flier for 7th place,
• Lead out the sprint for 7th,
• Got 11th

Strava

View the Ride on Strava: Club League R2: Corkagh Park crit 25 mins + 2 laps. Top 11 finish.

View the Race Replay on FlyBys: Round Two.
I enabled:

• Myslef, as per ús, I am the protagonist,
• John B, started with SL and won,
• Tommy S, started with Limit and finished in the points.

Short Story Long

Build Up

After last week's anniliation, my confidence was a bit low. Still, I was keen to make ammends and test myself properly against the Limit groups. I intended to do some 30/30's on the Turbo on Monday, but I was too pissed off at The Walking Dead's cliffhanger. Pretty stupid blackmail AMC. Considering that there will be leaked set photos of the character on the ground with their brains exposed. My money is on Abraham getting romantically involved with Lucile. The show has a quota of African-American characters that they can have on the cast at any one time. I presume that this also applied to Gingers. Carol and Morgan encountered a new Ginger character.

Tuesday I cycled into work and cycled to the Tuesday Night Hills. I put in a few digs that would simulate the 30/30's that I missed the previous night. I got home, showered, fed and watched Wrestlemania. I also kept up my GitHub Commit Streak and extended it to 13 days at that point.

Pre-Race

As a member of our team in work was leaving, we went to Eddie Rocket's for Milkshakes. As I have been getting a little Lactose intolerant from my more Vegan/Vegeterian focused diet, I arrived at the circuit without much extra weight sitting in my digestive tract.

This diet change has also lead me to renounce my previous life as a Tuna Steampot consumer. I had my second bowl of Porridge, Almond Milk, Maple Syrup and Granola of the day at 5pm. I was at the circuit at 18:10. Which is not great timing, as my office is the next exit to Corkagh Park.

I couldn't decided what colour lenses to use, Yellow or Dark. There was rain promised, but it was bright at the bottom corner of the circuit. I went with the Darker ones. I was also employing the use of the Long sleeve skinsuit with a vest base layer and leg warmers and ankle socks.

I did my warmup and stretches. I went back to my car to throw in my jacket. Up the road Rachel was rubbing two Huskies. I have a bucket list, and hugging a Husky is on it. I could not let this moment pass. As they approached I bent down and stuck out my hand. They started jumping all over me. Next thing I was hugging them and they were licking my face. It was everything that I though it would be.

Jules showed up with a broken pedal. I produced my multi-tool from my utility belt.

Race

Racing in the rain, lets hope the Luke Staring at Stems does not become a thing. (Photo by Ian Anderson)

After standing around in the cold waiting for Limit to gain on us, Dick unleashed us. I was at the front for a few seconds, but I was struggling to clip in. I lost loads of places before I got clipped in. The biggest danger in Corkagh Park is that someone will lose a wheel and it'll be race over. Even before we got to the first corner, the guy in front of me lost the wheel. Some other guy was crossing wheels with me, thus boxing me in. I asked for space to get out close the gap. But these guys were in league with Mr. Blennerhasset and kept this animal caged. Spoiler Alert: the race was over before we exited the first corner.

I eventually got out and waited, near the front of the group, for someone to start the bridge. I have been watching some Cycling Maven and Vegan Cyclist videos on racing. I had one tactic, sit in and wait. No one wanted to come though. The race was getting away from me, I looked up and seen four groups ahead; Limit, John, Richard and Killian.

I punched hard and made the solo bridge to Killian's group. He was suffering from a dodgy hamstring. Obviously he wasn't warming up like The Cable Guy. There was two lads sitting on his wheel waiting for Killian to work. I took a breather at the back. I seen Killian pulling over and these lads were looking at him. I knew that there would be no help from these guys.

I jumped Grouppo del Killian and spent 5 mins averaging 263 Watts to catch the next group. Richard was in the same situation, except for bikes instead of hamstrings being his injury. Lads sitting on his wheel. We were now catching Limit Riders that had been spat out the back of John's group. I was taking a few small turns in this group with Richard.

I looked back and seen that Garret was leading the chase to our group. The main bunch was also in pursuit. They merged with us. "Great now we have all the firepower to reel in John" I thought. I was wrong. It was only Garret, Richard and myself taking turns. Three guys tired of bridging and chasing vs The Blenerhasset Express.

The three of us got a slight gap, and we caught Peadar on a slow section of the course. I yelled at him in good time to tell him to jump in behind me. He did. We were soon joined by the remainder of the group. It was getting darker and starting to rain, maybe even hail, hard. I should've used the Yellow lenses on the glasses, as now I could barley see 50 meters ahead.

I made a series of hand gestures to encourage more people to come through, but only Diarmuid joined us at the front. This was the opposite of the Turkish border, no one coming through. I stopped working. I let the three lads take a lap and then I'd make a gap for them to slot into.

When Dick announced that there was 2 laps left, I said to Richard, Gar, Peadar and Diarmuid to keep the pace really high. This would stop us getting swamped by the others and them stealing our hard earned point-less, imaginary places at the end for bragging rights.

As we passed a rider, Dave Mc was shouting "Don't let them laps you". Who was getting lapped here? Surely not Grouppo Luko. We evaded the Smackdown. I was half expecting Dick not to shout "Final Lap", but he did.

Final lap, I moved up along the outside of  the uphill home straight with really high cadence. I took the first corner really well. Then looked under. No one there. I hit the gas to the end of the straight. Still no one on my wheel. "7th is in the bag, just gotta keep going here Luke" I though. Coming out of the bottom corner I was still free. Gar got onto my wheel on the slight uphill. I lead it into the final corner. I moved left, as I wanted shelter from the cross wind on the run home.

Gar, Richard and two others powered past me. I kept it going for a Top 11 finish.

Post-Race

It was a bitter sweet finale. I lost my 7th place, but the lads who worked with my group got good places because I kept the pace high. I shook hands with Richard at the end, fist bumped Peadar. I would've offered some high-fives but my bicep was almost frozen from the wind and rain.

I stripped off the wet clothes and dried up as much as possible and messaged my house mates to turn on the hot water. Set the heat high in my car and drove/shivered all the way home.

I was very happy I stayed towards the front. The difference in Average Power output between myself and Dan was almost 50W. He was at the back of the pack and had to work harder due to the accordion effect. I had some celebratory Falafel on the Thursday night.

What Was Learned

• Maybe Damien Long was correct. I can mix it with these Semi-Limit lads.
• But he was also incorrect when he was talkig about lads not losing the wheel.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad