Lately I've just been trying to get my legs to sort themselves out. It's a bit of a drainer, as I enjoy riding my mountain-bike in forests and on mountains, not lying in my room stretching a couple of times a day, and rolling about on a foam roller. Guess you sometimes gotta do stuff you don't like to be able to be better at stuff you do like!
Hadn't been out on the MTB in a very, very long time but heard that Richie Byrne was organising a bit of a spin up in Djouce. Legs/knees still aren't working too well for me, but was getting tremendously bored of riding the turbo day in day out,
so thought I'd see what sort of shape the lower limbs were in and if there would be any sense in heading down to Djouce. Stuck the slickest tyre I could find onto the bike and found the wettest field for a bit of sideways craic/serious leg testing.. To you that don't ride bicycles, yes, you unfortunate folk wasting your life away, you probably wont understand the entertainment that can be had from getting a bike sideways, but I'm afraid that's entirely your fault, so I'll not bother explaining what it's like. But basically, it's pure lethal.
Going up hills was like being on nature's very own turbo-trainer,
just sitting there, pedalling like a loon, but still not going anywhere.. Only it's definitely a lot harder to fall off a turbo trainer. Definitely had some embarrasing trying to cycle up a hill in 3 inches of mud, coming to a stop and trying to spin out of it, then just falling over moments. This photo you see on your left, that was me trying to pedal up a hill, in a straight line. You can see how slick the field was from the marks in the ground, little dry tyre just wasn't for digging in. #easilyamused . Going downhill was obviously more craic. Good straight sideways moments, didn't take any photos as firstly I was otherwise occupied and secondly I'm sure you've all seen a field before, and if you haven't, there's two photos up above for your pleasure, I can send you some copies if you like.
Legs felt allright after that ride, so decided it'd be worth it to drive the 2 odd
hours down to Djouce and get a good spin in there. Djouce is an incredible place if you've never been there. I've only been there twice, but on the two occasions the sun's been beaming and it's been like I'm in France or something; the views are mad, along with the trails. The below photo'l hopefully be a bit more exciting than the above two, was really scraping the barrel for them..
In the above picture we'd actually just descended the waterfall you see there. Hardcore XC to the max. That's me in the fluorescent jersey, mummy told me to wear one in case I got lost. And it's waterproof, so it made riding down the waterfall a bit cosier. Big shout out to
Green Oil for supplying all my chain lube and bike wash and stuff, it's all environmentally, made from coconut oil and nice things you'd normally put in your dinner, so all the fish in the waterfall weren't poisoned.
I've always fancied myself as a Dangerwoman of The Future so Richie's 'Dangermen and Women of The Future' spin seemed like fate itself was calling, so I jumped at the opportunity. The trails in Djouce are special. I'm not sure if it's because I just haven't got used to them yet so there's still a huge novelty factor, or if they are just genuinely amazing. They're not just plain old ride up a fireroad for hours, blast down a straight line downhill trail type jobs, they're proper xc twisty switchbacky pumpy jumpy floaty ones, you know what I mean? Definitely want to get down there a few more times this year, have a few technical skills I need to brush up on and that's definitely the place.
Spin was intended for U12s to U16s I think, so thought it'd be a good outing as I've currently only got the legs of an U12 rider. And I don't even say that as a joke, they were absolutely flying on the day! Some crazy talent we've got, elites is going to get packed pretty soon! There's a wee group photo down below for you.
Great day was had, some good craic with Conor Lavelle and Aaron McCann, and good to see everyone else, it gets wild lonely stuck at home on the turbo! Good to ride with Joe McCall too, man has some experience. Got a puncture, but that was the only bad part of the day, really must go tubeless. Rest of the day was sweet; good sunshine, good trails, good craic. Even managed to stay on two wheels all day which is a pretty big thing. Cheers Richie Byrne and all who turned up.
Plans for the next couple of days/weeks are just to keep at trying to get my knees fixed and start some training! Have a few 2020 dates and maybe a couple of other things, so will keep you's informed.
Monty, out.
Ps. If you're bored give
Rynopower extreme sports monster making edible & drinkable stuff a look, oh and unless you're me mummy or daddy, follow me on twitter
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