About My First Ultra Race

A summary of my preparation for my first ultra race at age 65 and a brief description of the event

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Getting serious about racing at 60

A ‘trainining makeover’ written for Cycling Weekly magazine and published in December 2019
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Opinion Piece on the future direction of an Rás Tailteann

The dilemma for Ireland’s Rás Tailteann: tradition, sustainability and strategic purpose
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How to Achieve Competitive Longevity

Why you should stay competitive through the decades, and how
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Eddie Dunbar – On the Cusp

Reflections on the coming of age of my former club-mate, Eddie Dunbar
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‘Types’ of Masters Riders: Which are You?

There is no one-size-fits-all advice for older riders Continue reading

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The World of Suffering

Suffering and its management is a central element of cycling Continue reading

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Training through the ages

Our bodies change as we age and we have to modify training to be the best we can possibly be

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Review your mental-wellness and relationship with cycling

Cycling can be healthy and stimulating, but it may become a lonely and damaging place.
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Judging Recovery and Readiness to Train

Judging recovery is essential to making sure you benefit fully from your training. Here I review ways to judge if you’re ready for that next session

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A 5-Element System for Sportive Preparation and Performance

Nail your Key Sportive – A System for Preparation and Performance

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The fats Vs carbs debate – some good evidence at last

At last we have some good evidence from research on the High Fat Low Carb Vs High Carb diet debate. These are some of my thoughts on the issue.

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Cycling and Alcohol over Christmas – the Hard Facts

“The facts about the relationship between alcohol and fitness may help to make sensible choices over Christmas”

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Thinking about racing Cat. 4 next season?

At the end of the season a lot of leisure and sportive riders will be mulling over the prospect of racing in Category 4 next season. The challenge is daunting for many and some never take the leap. Others do, but without being ready.
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World Road Championships as a Target for 2017?

Do you fancy competing in the UCI World Road Cycling Championship in 2017?
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Additional Protein Needs for Older Athletes

This is a good GCN video on protein needs for cyclists and is well worth looking at. However, it doesn’t mention the fact that even more protein is normally recommended for older cyclists. This is a key aspect of recovery and performance, and therefore worth paying attention to.
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Fartlek Anyone?

“If you feel that your mood and motivation is low, and that you are slipping into a kind of summer hibernation before the start of the winter training, think about a bit of Fartlek speed play”

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Science Vs Wisdom in Training: Finding the Balance

“Science and wisdom have their place and finding that balance is important – both should be judged on their merits and none should be taken at face value”

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Awareness of a Darker Side of Cycling – Mental Health Issues

In this post I discuss problems with mental health and well-being associated with competitive cycling and suggests that the cycling community begin a discussion about taking a more proactive approach in addressing the issue

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The Art of Tapering

“This margin of gain, over such a short period, is almost impossible by any other legal means”

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Track Cycling for Roadies?

“I often encourage riders who would like to have a go at racing to try track cycling as it helps overcome fear and improves skill and confidence – here’s why”

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Don’t Blame the Other Guy

“Cycling is more than a test of strength, power and speed – it’s also a game of strategy”

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Avoiding two Key Triggers of Injury and Overtraining

“A vein of either good or bad form can strike unexpectedly at any time, but a proper reaction will avoid key mistakes that lead to overtraining and injury”
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The Iron Man

On the occasion of the death of ‘The Iron Man’ – Mick Murphy – I am making available this chapter from my book The Rás: The Story of Ireland’s Unique Bike Race (Collins Press 2003).

Some background to this story, along with a reflection on the wider character that was Mick Murphy, is also available here ….

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Mick Murphy – a Reflection

I wrote this reflection on the death of the legendary Kerry cyclist, Mick Murphy, at the time of his death in Sept. 2005.  It gives some background to the story that I wrote about him in my book about the Rás , along with a reflection on the wider character that was Mick Murphy.

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Time to Assess the Sunday Group Ride?

“The Sunday morning group spin is one of the undervalued cornerstones of cycling development but, with many new clubs, they are sometimes occurring without the benefits of tradition and long-experienced riders”
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Going the Distance part 4 – Recovery, the Secret Ingredient

“Recovery is even more important for older athletes – for our performance, overall health and enjoyment of the sport in general”
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Going the Distance part 3 – Performance and Training

“It is a mistake to think of physiological ageing as a linear progression, with the various elements of fitness declining in tandem with each other”
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Going the Distance part 2 – A Solid Foundation

“To retain as much muscle and bone density as possible from our mid-40s, we have to prioritise load-bearing, strength-type training”
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Going the Distance – Introduction

“With appropriate training, the physiological impact of ageing can be hugely reduced and older cyclists can achieve levels of performance beyond their imaginations”

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