Christmas Update / Race plan / Sponsors

A few things happened that made this christmas an incredibly stressful, unusual, but mostly successful week.

Day 1) Job interview, I had focused on looking for a job in the Cycling / Outdoor sports industry for a while, and after a brilliant 2 hour interview, I was told that I had got the position! I'm Absolutely delighted, and excited to be working in a field that's obviously my passion!! And the boss is an excellent guy too!!

However 70km after the interview (I cycled to it) I arrived home to find out my amazing father / No.1 cycling fan, had been rushed to the hospital and was presumed dead or dying!!! (He keeled over at work) This was incredibly stressful to hear, but it turns out, he was alive and well, and had keeled over after a medication mix up. Dad's had more heart attacks than cappuccino's, so anything health related, tends to set the alarm bells off with me / the family..

Day 2) I was out training (on the way to Kerry to visit the 90 year old granny) And I came face to face with absolute death. 2 cars racing side by side up a narrow country road, coming straight at me, speeds at over 100kmph. Divine intervention, call it what ever you like, I'm lucky to be fucking alive.

Day 3) Christmas in the lovely south west of Ireland, amazing views / mountains, great but highly dangerous training roads, and of course the constant pissing of rain!! That's Sneem, Co.Kerry for you!

Anyway's, everyone's alive, no one actually died, I got a job, all is well!!!!

For 2013, I have one massive event organized, its the Iron Bike, which goes across Italian alps for 9 days! Its over 8 hours racing each day, so i'm focused on being in tip top condition Mid July!

Also, I'm happy to say, that Met are supporting me with a range of their amazing helmets, to keep the brains intact on the rough descents! Also, Ill have news on an exciting new bike Sponsor very soon!!! 

Happy christmas everybody, and go ride your bikes!

Rich

Winter Update / New Focus

Firstly, I successfully got my Advertising Degree, and since then, I've had to knuckle down and start a job hunt, its not as easy as it sounds but I've been able to train a lot.


For 2013, I'm changing focus, longer, grueling, endurance mountain bike events are to be my main focus. They normally last for about a week, and tend to go across vast mountain ranges with riders sleeping in tents nomadic style. I decided this in June, and since then have been trying to adjust to a longer distance style of racing.

There's bound to be incredible experiences, and of course serious high's and low's. I think i'd that's why they appeal to me. In Ireland, we've only really had one event like this before, a shortened version, everyone who raced it loved it!

One of the events I have in mind (more on this soon) is 9 days long.. 9 days!!! 4000 meters climbing each day, its going to be beyond difficult. Its going to encompass everything I love about mountain bike holidays or Races in the alps, History, Sun, incredible descents, and mountain top war fortresses. Italy is full of these. on the french border, nearly every peak has a one, Amazing!


Here's a picture of Briancon, the town is surrounded by this amazing Vauban fortress from the 1700's.  its an incredible place to ride a mountain bike for over 8 hours.

More on the Races soon.