Posts
Monday, 24 June 2013
McQuaid interview on Newstalk
Very edgy interview, and fascinating insight into his mindsight. Gilroy does a decent job, just keeps at him. Would love to see him referee McQuaid and Kimmage some day - I'd pay to hear it :)
Podcast is here (broadcast 23rd June).
Monday, 17 June 2013
Running
1.
Running is a constant struggle. Niggling
injuries. Difficult to get out the front door. Dour, tough training. Back /
knee / shin / ankle pain. Frustration. Too easy to say no.
2.
Running is gliding along a road. Pain – free. Head
space, relaxing and enjoyable. Exercise but seems like little effort involved.
Controlled. Easy. Pleasurable.
The difference?
Chi running. Did a course with Catherina McKiernan three
weeks ago and I’m a convert. There have been times during and since the course
when running seemed almost Zen-like, gliding along the seafront. Really
relaxing. My attitude has completely changed from measuring distance and time
to relaxing, concentrating on technique and enjoying being out.
In addition, you get to spend a day with a friendly, down to
earth legend with an incredible passion for running. She is only too delighted
to help everyone from experienced, top level runners to people who are starting
out (generally the high side of 35 and carrying a few pounds J)
Check it out (€150 for the day)….Friday, 14 June 2013
Monday, 10 June 2013
Granite
Long summer evenings mean the possibility of after work spins, and a few of us have been heading up the hills midweek, usually Wednesday (it's always dry on a Wednesday for some reason). I missed last week (Olympia). Thursday (30th) was a cracker, so I left work at 6 and within the hour was on top of Three Rock. Hazy views out over Dublin Bay, Howth, Lambay island in the distance. Always time to take in the views. Especially after that climb (450m.)
In my mind I'd worked out a route down while climbing, a track I hadn't done in a year or more, off the beaten track. So down I went, fairly tricky, which I knew, so careful. Rocky, then winding into the trees, and rocky again. A small spill, just landed on my side on boggy ground. Dusted off, then back up. Not really concentrating, so didn't "get going" properly (it was fairly steep), and I hadn't clipped in the left foot properly. A small bump brought me to a stop, and with the body-weight all wrong, I slowly went up on the front wheel. Slow motion, and (too relaxed) landed over the handlebars. Didn't really feel anything, so dusted myself off, and picked up the bike.
Only then noticed some blood. Lots of blood actually. Pouring from my forehead, on which I had inadvertently and unknowingly landed (the helmet took no impact due to the angle of the fall). No other symptoms or pain - I was clear-headed and didn't panic, but knew I had to act quickly and carefully. No-one was going to find me here in a hurry, even if I could explain where I was. I took my top off to stem the flow of blood (compression, right?). Somehow worried about blood on my shoes and on my bag. And the icebreaker soon to be soaked in blood.
So, now topless, holding the t-shirt to the wound, I walked the 10 minutes or so back up to the masts. It would be faster home this way. I phoned Richenda to fill her in (impossible to talk, kids all at full pelt - bedtime pending). A couple of Polish lads on top saw me coming towards them, I showed them the gash (they gasped of course - helpful). I was probably like something out of a zombie flick. Another lad came on the scene, army man - full first aid kit, put on his latex gloves, cleaned me up, bandage, tape - the works (I took his number, and rang him later to say all OK). Discussed if stitches needed (he thought yes) and if it would scar (ditto).
We worked out that the bike was in good nick. With barriers blocking car access to the mountain, I decided to find my own way down. Another phone call home to arrange a hospital trip. And down I went - gingerly. Cleaned myself up in the shower, changed, ate (I pretty much knew the wound was superficial - although somewhat woozier now). My Kiwi neighbour Adrian drove me to Tallaght emergency department. You really do see all sorts here. I was seen by the triage nurse fairly quickly - he took off the bandage, and knew I'd need stitches. Another 15 minutes to see a doctor. Clean-up job (he got stuck in), then the dreaded needle. Not too bad to be honest. A tetanus shot (you know where) just in case. God knows when I had the last one. A nurse cleaned up my knee and shoulder, and bandaged them - hadn't really noticed before. Back home within two hours. God bless the HSE (at least it wasn't post-midnight Saturday night).
I took Friday off work - I was very foggy for the next 24 hours, like being drunk and hungover at the same time. Pain kicked in some more that night, but nothing serious. Over a week later, it has healed quite well. And the sorest part of me now is the ribs (not bruised - possibly cracked?). Some hard lessons learned. I always ride with helmet, and within myself, but sometimes alone obviously (never at night though). Some of this will have to change. And I've bought a new helmet too.
In my mind I'd worked out a route down while climbing, a track I hadn't done in a year or more, off the beaten track. So down I went, fairly tricky, which I knew, so careful. Rocky, then winding into the trees, and rocky again. A small spill, just landed on my side on boggy ground. Dusted off, then back up. Not really concentrating, so didn't "get going" properly (it was fairly steep), and I hadn't clipped in the left foot properly. A small bump brought me to a stop, and with the body-weight all wrong, I slowly went up on the front wheel. Slow motion, and (too relaxed) landed over the handlebars. Didn't really feel anything, so dusted myself off, and picked up the bike.
Only then noticed some blood. Lots of blood actually. Pouring from my forehead, on which I had inadvertently and unknowingly landed (the helmet took no impact due to the angle of the fall). No other symptoms or pain - I was clear-headed and didn't panic, but knew I had to act quickly and carefully. No-one was going to find me here in a hurry, even if I could explain where I was. I took my top off to stem the flow of blood (compression, right?). Somehow worried about blood on my shoes and on my bag. And the icebreaker soon to be soaked in blood.
So, now topless, holding the t-shirt to the wound, I walked the 10 minutes or so back up to the masts. It would be faster home this way. I phoned Richenda to fill her in (impossible to talk, kids all at full pelt - bedtime pending). A couple of Polish lads on top saw me coming towards them, I showed them the gash (they gasped of course - helpful). I was probably like something out of a zombie flick. Another lad came on the scene, army man - full first aid kit, put on his latex gloves, cleaned me up, bandage, tape - the works (I took his number, and rang him later to say all OK). Discussed if stitches needed (he thought yes) and if it would scar (ditto).
We worked out that the bike was in good nick. With barriers blocking car access to the mountain, I decided to find my own way down. Another phone call home to arrange a hospital trip. And down I went - gingerly. Cleaned myself up in the shower, changed, ate (I pretty much knew the wound was superficial - although somewhat woozier now). My Kiwi neighbour Adrian drove me to Tallaght emergency department. You really do see all sorts here. I was seen by the triage nurse fairly quickly - he took off the bandage, and knew I'd need stitches. Another 15 minutes to see a doctor. Clean-up job (he got stuck in), then the dreaded needle. Not too bad to be honest. A tetanus shot (you know where) just in case. God knows when I had the last one. A nurse cleaned up my knee and shoulder, and bandaged them - hadn't really noticed before. Back home within two hours. God bless the HSE (at least it wasn't post-midnight Saturday night).
I took Friday off work - I was very foggy for the next 24 hours, like being drunk and hungover at the same time. Pain kicked in some more that night, but nothing serious. Over a week later, it has healed quite well. And the sorest part of me now is the ribs (not bruised - possibly cracked?). Some hard lessons learned. I always ride with helmet, and within myself, but sometimes alone obviously (never at night though). Some of this will have to change. And I've bought a new helmet too.
Saturday, 13 April 2013
Banff Mountain Film Festival
Went to the Banff Mountain Film Festival last night. Each film was better than the previous, world class.
Here are the trailers for movies which played.
Wide Boyz - Two unknown English lads attempt to beat the best American climbers on their own turf, including an attempt on Century Crack, the toughest climb of its kind on the planet. 'Off-Width' (crack) climbers really are a different breed, hard nuts.
Strength in Numbers - Mountain-Biking in the Swiss alps, and local teenagers with incredible skills in an urban bike park in California.
Flow Hunters - White-water kayaking on the South Island's west coast, and Tree Trunk Gorge near Taupo.
Crossing the Ice - Highlight of the night. Two Aussies with little skills or experience attempt to become the first to hike from the Antarctic edge to South Pole and back, unassisted. A Norwegian starts out to do the same one day before them, so this is a race as well as a battle of survival. Gripping.
Being There - Skiing in Norway. Does what it says on the tin, incredible skills and scenery.
Honnold 3.0 - Alex Honnold attempts to free-solo 3 of the biggest walls in Yosemite (El Cap and Half-Done included). Crazy enough, except he aims to do it in 24 hours.
Lily Shreds Tailside - Super short, Lily is a Jack Russel. Just watch.
Here are the trailers for movies which played.
Wide Boyz - Two unknown English lads attempt to beat the best American climbers on their own turf, including an attempt on Century Crack, the toughest climb of its kind on the planet. 'Off-Width' (crack) climbers really are a different breed, hard nuts.
Strength in Numbers - Mountain-Biking in the Swiss alps, and local teenagers with incredible skills in an urban bike park in California.
Flow Hunters - White-water kayaking on the South Island's west coast, and Tree Trunk Gorge near Taupo.
Crossing the Ice - Highlight of the night. Two Aussies with little skills or experience attempt to become the first to hike from the Antarctic edge to South Pole and back, unassisted. A Norwegian starts out to do the same one day before them, so this is a race as well as a battle of survival. Gripping.
Being There - Skiing in Norway. Does what it says on the tin, incredible skills and scenery.
Honnold 3.0 - Alex Honnold attempts to free-solo 3 of the biggest walls in Yosemite (El Cap and Half-Done included). Crazy enough, except he aims to do it in 24 hours.
Lily Shreds Tailside - Super short, Lily is a Jack Russel. Just watch.
Monday, 28 January 2013
Ski Sunday meets Tom Burt
Ed Leigh meet up with snowboard legend, Tahoe local, Tom Burt, on Ski Sunday this week. He came across as a legend should and it was amazing to hear that he has never repeated a line.
Unfortunately the bbc iPlayer for TV is still not usable outside Ireland without fiddling with your proxy. Set your series record for Sunday at 17.15.
Sunday, 18 November 2012
Best bike routes in Ireland - Part 1: Sally Gap
I've always appreciated the amount of great mountain-bike trails on my doorstep. What I've come to realise more recently is the even more extensive network of mountain roads extending from home over the Dublin Mountains and into Wicklow, with a huge number of loops and permutations to be explored. A spare hour on a weekend afternoon is time enough to bike up Three Rock, over to Glencullen (the church where I was married), and back via Pine Forest/Tibradden in about an hour - and all ridable on my road bike (actually cyclo-cross, but anyway...). In forty minutes I can be up on the Featherbead (Military Road) which at nearly 500m. is even higher than the masts at Three Rock (by comparison, the Connor Pass near Dingle is 410m above sea level).
The Military road leads to the Sally Gap, a mountain crossroads in the middle of Wicklow (or middle of nowhere perhaps - there isn't a house that I know of within 5 miles). It too is nearly 500m elevation, and is often closed (and the scene of mountain rescues) every winter. Straight on is Laragh & Glendalough, right brings you to Blessington and its lakes, and left is the beautiful road past Lough Tay, Luggala and towards Lough Dan (past Ballinastoe).
The map above (full route here on MapMyRide) describes the route as 48.8 km, with 727 m. total ascent, and it is this loop I biked on the 1st July this year. I'll let the pictures do most of the talking.
Pine Forest - 4.5 km from home; 250 m elevation (home is 100 m); 20 minutes.
Top of Cruagh Road nearing the junction with Military Road, this section has an alpine feel (350 m; 7 km; 27 min).
Looking down from the Featherbed into Glenasmole valley and the Bohernabreena reservoirs.
The lane (Bog Road) in the picture - heading towards Kippure mountain - marks the boundary with Co. Wicklow (486 m; 11 km; 40 min).
Bog cotton beneath Kippure.
Sugar Loaf in the distance.
After a nice descent, it's a steady climb again to Lough Bray Upper. The cliffs behind are home to nesting Peregrine falcons which I've seen up here during summer hikes. The road keeps climbing now to the highest point of the day at about 520m.
Man and bike at Lough Bray Upper (470 m; 17 km; 60 min).
This humble stream is actually the beginnings of the mighty Liffey - a muddy hike upstream will bring you to its source (maybe another day).
At the gap (486 m; 22 km; 1:15 on the clock)
Turn right towards Blessington for a fast descent into the Liffey Valley (not the shopping centre thankfully).
This may be the Liffey.
Very green up here. A right turn at Kippure Estate and the road climbs again to Ballinascorney...
Keep out. Kilbride army camp, and military ranges (480 m.; 36 km).
This river flowing out of the Bohernabreena reservoir is (I just discovered...) the Dodder which I ride alongside to work every morning.
Back to civilisation at Firhouse breaks the spell somewhat, but it's a fantastic loop - at any time of year - with inspiring views and little traffic. Home for a well-earned lunch in just under two and a half hours, average speed for the day was 20km/h.
Road biking is of course a very different buzz from mountain-biking, and I'm very lucky to live somewhere where I have great options for both as the mood takes me.