Ireland, Sickness and CX

Another long time between updates. I have a new laptop and I think that will really help with updating more often.

Karma, Mom and I were in Ireland for 10 days in September. We flew into Shannon and made our way up to Galway, through County Mayo, County Donegal, over into Northern Ireland to Londonderry, Belfast and down the east coast to Dublin. No real plan...just play the whole trip by ear and take it as it comes. I decided not to take a bike. It turns out the weather was not good for riding anyway. Unfortunately, I was not able to hookup with my close personal friend, Sean Kelley...see this post from last March 13.

Cliffs of Moher

Political Murals in Londonderry

After we got back from Ireland and two full weeks off the bike, I was ready to get back to riding and try a little cyclocross. I am probably one of the worst cyclocross racers around but I try to do a couple of races every fall. I'm never have much fitness for that type of riding this time of year and I tend to fall down a lot but it is too much fun not to do a couple of races. After we got back from the trip, I got back on the bike and trained hard for a week and planned to do a CX race the following Saturday. I did the race and then came down with a cold. Apparently, this was not your ordinary run-of-the mill cold virus. I felt completely miserable for two full weeks, fighting a fever that would come and go every other day. I decided there was no point in trying to gain any real race fitness and just not worry about where I place in future CX races.

I'm riding with the Olympus Luxury Homes team next season. It a good group of guys and I am really looking forward to riding with them. We're going to be a very strong team next year. This is a couple of pictures from last Sunday's 60 mile ride.