Des Hanlon - 19 Mar 2017 - Epic MTB Forum Archive

19 Mar 2017, 22:15

Well, another day, another ass wopping at the hands of the shaven leg brigade. Lined up for the Des Hanlon today, all guns blazing. Dropped on the main hill of the course, out the back after an hour. Nothing if not consistent! Raging, as I was nearly over. Its fine margins with this lot. Gave myself a nice bit of sliding back room, started up the hill near the front. Such a big group, over 100 I'd say, only a few meters off the back over the top. There's no hanging about for the stragglers. Stayed with a group of chasers for a while. This is a big profile race, with a cavalcade following, stuck with the cars for a while, more for the buzz of slipstreaming cars at speed, than any hope of getting back on. Pedalled in solo to Carlow and that was that. Have a new found respect for road bike racers that leap frog from car to car in the cavalcade and work their way back to the bunch. Some power needed in the legs when you stick your nose back into the wind. Nice day out to be out on the bike round the green fields of the midlands, rain held off, bit of sun. Banjaxed again