Sean Kelly Tour

I had hoped to be part of a Setanta team for the Stone Cross to Lug relay having enjoyed it last year but a change of date meant that it clashed with the Sean Kelly Tour which I had already entered. This is a cycling challenge with options of 50km, 90km or 160km and is organised as a tribute to the achievements of Sean Kelly, world number 1 for over 6 years. Having never cycled any kind of long distance except about 50km once before I decided to enter the 90km. Colleen and Louisa also entered the 90km while Brendan entered the 160km.

On the day of the event Brendan was off with the serious riders an 8:30am while we waited for our start at 9:30. We were about 15 minutes late starting but eventually we got off. It was a nice cruising pace. With about 1,500 people there was no time when you weren't cycling in a big bunch so it was difficult to get up any speed. The route was from Dungarvan out to Tramore on an inland road and back again on the coast road - 45km out and 45km back. The road out was pretty flat compared to the route we were used to cycling around Kilakee. Along the way we met fellow orienteers Una May (3Roc), Nuala Callery (Wato) and Elaine Mullen (Wato) so we cycled and chatted with them.

At Tramore, we stopped for a quick food stop (chicken pasta and chocolate muffin) before hitting the return leg. We had been warned that this would be the hilly section and it was into a fairly strong head wind. As people were starting at different times due to the food stop everyone was much more spread out and we were able to cycle at our own pace and up the tempo a bit. This section was very scenic, up over cliffs and down to sandy coves, with views out to sea. Although some of the hills were quite steep, they were short and didn't really compare to what we had been training on around Dublin and Wicklow and even with the wind we managed to do the return leg more quickly than the way out. In total it was less than 3.5 hours cycling.

It was a great day's cycling. There was a good atmosphere and the volunteers and support along the way were fantastic. Sean Kelly himself was everywhere, signing autographs, having photos taken and talking to people. He rode out at the start of each event, spent some time at the food stops for both the 90km and 160km and was back at the finish signing more autographs.

The 160km route which Brendan did was a circuit of the Comeragh Mountains using many of the roads and climbs that Sean Kelly trained on such as Powers the Pot, Máma Road and Mahon Falls. After a little bit of trouble with his bike early on he completed the course in around 7 hours cycling, sometimes with groups but often on his own. Brendan even managed to get his photo taken with his hero!

Hopefully I'll manage to do it again next year. I might even try the 160km and hopefully it won't clash with the Stone Cross to Lug relay!