Cycling long 3:20:57 [3] 103.51 km (1:56 / km) +1006m 1:51 / km
ahr:129 max:181 shoes: Spiuk ZS11
The Mike 'Iron-Man' Murphy Memorial Cycle 2016
Apart from a shower leaving Ballinskelligs it wasn't that bad a day out.
Cycle was for a cycling cause so a good reason to drive the hour to Cahersiveen. Lucky it was an hour as somehow I either didn't set an alarm or I slept through, most likely didn't set it. So when I woke up and saw my watch just after 8 I got a bit of a shock. Managed to get on the road for 8.25 which included making/eating porridge, and getting the bike on the car. Bag was packed though. Bit of a stressful start. And the buses behaved themselves on the road so I made good time down.
The lead car controlled the pace nicely up to the windfarm at Knockaneden and then down to Masstergeeha, so a relaxed start. Slight increase in pace then back to Waterville where there was a food stop after only 27km!
Was wondering if there was going to be a stop every 25km after that.
Once off the Ring of Kerry Road and heading for Ballinkskelligs the pace of the group increased a bit, so average was increasing. As we climbed out of Ballinskelligs I was at the front, wanted some space. Could see a big shower of rain over Bolus Head which then hit us. Decided to put on my jacket as wasn't wearing much other than a jersey, hummed and hawed about arm warmers before leaving the car but decided against them. Jacket was then inside out so lost more seconds getting the arms the right way. Then it was a chase back up the hill after the group. I didn't catch the front of it by the top. Wet descent then so took it a bit handy, but caught the front again in the Glen. They weren't going that fast.
Struggled on the section back to Portmagee, group was moving fast, down to about 13/14 riders now, into a strong headwind. Not sure why but wasn't finding it easy. Stopped then for more food in Portmagee. Sun was shining now so put jacket back in my pocket.
Got around Valentia fine but coming back into the wind along the coast road the pace was again high. A small gap opened so I went to the front of a small group of Killarney riders to try and maintain the gap. When I realised that the lads behind me had disappeared and I was only left with 1 it was then a matter of trying to close the gap. Ended up having to close it on my own, got very close just after Chapeltown but they kicked on, and I was in no mans land. No one behind me so cycled all the way from there home on my own. Had a nice tailwind back to Cahersiveen but the rises started to hurt, legs were now tired, but still had energy left.
Nice spin on roads I wouldn't be familiar with.