MONDAY12th May - 8 weeks to go

Miles last week 365 (365 road, 0 indoors)
Climbing 12,000ft (3,600m)
Weight : 14st 7.0lbs (-0.0 lbs)
Body fat : 22.5% (-2.7%)
Tantia body type 2 (obese)

Well, three of the four days of the Tour of Ireland in this week's figures. Surprisingly, no weight loss, however, some funny things going on with body fat which is well down. I'll wait a couple of days to see if both readings stabalise to something different.

Just back from four brilliant days at the Tour of Ireland with Paul and Rupert. Here's Paul on the one sunny day cycling through Kilkenny on the way to Carlow. Thursday afternoon we arrived in Belfast where my other brother, Patrick, had arranged transportation and a short tour of the sites for us. Then off with him for our first, but not last, taste of real Irish Guinness.

Thursday morning saw us in the sports centre assembling our bikes with 250 other riders - I had expected a fair few 'fun' riders, but instead everyone else seemed fairly serious - we had the only unshaved legs in the place. Unbelievable array of bikes, must have been at least quarter of a million pounds worth of bikes there. Rupert and Paul had both bought a DHB bike box and both had had problems fitting their bikes into them. Unlike with my box, they had to remove their handlebars, and Rupert came across with the various bits from his ahead set in his hand asking whether I knew how to re-assemble it! An early trip to the event mechanic soon put that right.

Surprisingly tense before the start and we were all a bit nervous, but then we were off with police escort in the rain. We soon settled down into a rhythm with a group of about 12 others until we got to the first hill and it all started to break up. 125 miles later we arrived at Cavan, had some dinner and found a local pub for a ride de-brief, here's Rupert showing it was not all cycling. Had a fantastic day, scenery brilliant up on the mountains and amazed that (a) we managed to do it and (b) didn't feel too bad! Was it our imagination or did our police escort disappear as we approached Crossmaglen?

Saturday saw a much flatter ride which suited me much better, 120 miles to Galway with only 1000m of climbing. Joined a very fast peleton to the first feed stop at 60 miles then Paul and I left early to get over the only climb of the day and as luck would have it they caught us 40 miles later at the next feed stop, so we were able to have a fast run in to Galway with them. A very creditable 17.5mph average over the 120 miles.

Sunday, the weather improved and we were off on the marathon 140 miles to Kilkenny... important to get there in good time as Ros, Maeve, the Mother and various other extended family who live in Kilkenny were waiting at the finish line.

Great reception in Kilkenny and off to Morrisseys bar for some food and refreshment.

Paul and I stayed with our mother who gave us a big Irish Breakfast (just like a full English breakfast but with more of everything) on Monday morning. Unfortunately, that's not the best food to ride 120 miles over the Wicklow mountains and after 30 miles we were feeling distinctly tired, here I am having just climbed a very long hill.... Not ashamed to admit, that we took an executive decision to abandon at about 40 miles and took the train into Dublin. In Dublin we had a very pleasant lunch off Grafton Street before cycling the 10 miles out to the finish line. Rupert, on the other hand continued on into the Wicklow Mountains and completed the ride. It was a fantastic effort on his part as Paul and I were completely spent and had no hope of completing that stage. Rupert mixing it at the front with the shaven legged brigade reminds me of another of our friends, Pete, running near the front group of the Portsmouth 10 mile race surrounded by club runners in their racing singlets while he was kitted out in a normal tee-shirt.

So, great four days, and great preparation for the Etape. What lessons did we learn... well,

1) don't disassemble your headset before a big ride;
2) need to prepare better and have a map of the race with you so you know what's coming up;
3) have food bars already open and accessible. Saw lots of people with small bags on the cross bar for holding food bars, going to get one of those
4) find out what pharmaceutical substances Rupert is on.