The Mountain is Waiting

Collected my new Lapierre mountain bike at Cyclesports today. Fantastic advice from Paddy. I had been to Ballyhoura yesterday with Kevin, Anthony X2 and Declan. Was so taken with the experience on a rented bike that I decided there and then to do the business!

Added extras: shoes, clip-in pedals, summer tyres, bike-bag & tube and camelbak water backpack.

Lapierre X-Cantral 210

I am reminded of Dr. Seuss: "Today is your day, your mountain is waiting, so get on your way."

Lapierre X-Control 210 2012 Mountain bike - Full Specifications
Frame X-CONTROL 210 Alloy SuperLite FPS2® 100mm
Rear Shock LAPIERRE R Hydraulic Damping Technology
Fork ROCKSHOX XC32 TK 120mm Black + Poploc
Headset Alloy PT-1805H 1-1/8 Black
Bottom Bracket Roulements de boitier intégrés SHIMANO BB7141A
Crankset SHIMANO FCM542 42x32x24 Black / 170mm : size 41 • 175mm : size 46/51/56
Stem LAPIERRE RAID Series 31.8x90mm 6° 2012 Black
Seatpost LAPIERRE RAID Series 31.6x350mm SB Black
Handlebars LAPIERRE RAID Series 31.8 30x680mm 2012
Front derailleur SHIMANO Deore FDM-591-10 L6 10 speeds
Rear derailleur SHIMANO SLX RDM663SGS 10 speeds
Brakes SRAM Elixir 1 White / DISCSRAM G2CS 160mm
Shifters SHIMANO Deore
Saddle LAPIERRE RAID Black/Grey
Wheel MACH1 Neo Disc 26" 32 holes
Sprocket SHIMANO Deore CS-HG62-10 11x36 10 Speeds
Tires HUTCHINSON Cougar TR 26x2.2
Weight 13.5 Kg

Awareness

A psychologist at a girl's college asked the members of his class to compliment any girl wearing red. Within a week the cafeteria was a blaze of red. None of the girls were aware of being influenced, although they did notice that the atmosphere was more friendly. A class at the University of Minnesota is reported to have conditioned their psychology professor a week after he told them about learning without awareness. Every time he moved toward the right side of the room, they paid more attention and laughed more uproariously at his jokes, until apparently they were able to condition him right out the door.

-- W. Lambert Gardiner, Psychology: A Story of a Search, 1970

Isn't Christmas Wonderful?

Christmas 2012 at mam's

Isn't Christmas wonderful? Every year it's the same! Wonderful, just wonderful. And this year is no different. Running, racing right up till late Christmas Eve...and then there's that lovely feeling of calm and relaxation.

TV yesterday and today included Father Ted, Mrs. Brown's Boys, the Sound of Music, reruns of Downton series 1, and loads of other interesting stuff.

Unfortunately, a really good season for Crystal Palace ended on a bum note as they were beaten 2-1 in Cardiff today.

Well now, happy Christmas!

So much for my September intentions to recommence my blogging habit. So, another start, and with gusto this time.

Happy Christmas to me from me! Even better, happy Christmas to my thousands of readers. Seriously, I wonder...if my Facebook and twitter followers were to saturate the wires with posts and retweets would this go viral? then I'd have to write really engaging stuff.

Nollaig Shona ó Dhúngarbhán as Déise.


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Twitter @deburcapadraig
Facebook patburke58

Busy Busy

Friday: took a day off and drove to Allenwood with Meabh to look at Renault Clio. Car looked great and Meabh agreed to buy it. We had lunch and arrived home at 4pm. Car will be serviced and NCT'd and will be dropped down early next week. Quick turnaround with coffee and headed to Clonakilty for half-marathon. Registered at Inchydoney and returned to Quality Hotel for dinner and three pints.

Saturday: up early, no breakfast (and no water until 9am) and arrived at start-line in plenty time. I was delighted with my run. Stayed with the pacers all the way until 11 miles, then pushed on a bit and finished in 2:13:55. The advice at 500 metres to go was spot on...keep usual pace until 200 metres, and then give it welly! It worked, and I felt brilliant crossing that line. Delighted! Back to hotel for shower and food. Later, Marion and I had beautiful meal with friends at Richmond House in Cappoquin, before finishing the night off with some beer at Ladybelle.

Sunday: believe it or not I was up at 7.30, and at 1pm and drove to Dublin for Andre Rieu concert at the Point. Parked at Red Cow and got Luas in to Middle Abbey Street. Meal and then concert. Fantastic entertainment. Luas back out at 11, and drove home, arriving at 1.45am. What a weekend! Busy, busy.

Christmas 2012

It's Christmas! I was supposed to be running the half marathon in Waterford today but I did not get my entry in time. Instead I will run a half marathon in Clonakilty next week.
Lovely morning stroll to town with new Nikon D60 camera. Usual Bagel Bar hot chocolate. Home again now to hoover and put up the Christmas tree. Bring on Christmas. Dragged the tree from the attic, and later Meabh helped me finish it. Results very impressive I think.

BEAUTIFUL beautiful bacon & cabbage for dinner.

At 9.30 I dropped Meabh to the Lady Belle for a party, and decided to go in for one. Great night with many of the cycling club who were there after the usual Christmas Ballyhoura mountain-biking day out....left the car and will collect in the am.

Putting up the tree is hard work

So, once again, as autumn approaches, and I return to school, it is time again to return here after a long summer break.