The Art of War is an ancient Chinese military book dating from the 5th century BC. Written by the ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu it has clearly been read, reread and highlighted by Marcus the Merciless. I know this because he said as much as we cycled together tonight. Much of it deals with how to protect power once you have attained it and it strongly recommends killing your ex-allies and anybody else that may represent a threat to you.
Its practical application on a club cycle can include sprinting up Breemount and pushing on for home before the others have got their breath back. Give them no hope. Now I know Marcus isn’t always like this, but maybe the banned substances are having side effects.
Maybe we should all cut back on them. Gary’s “jelly babies” for starters. And Anthony’s “special capsules”. I don’t want to do a name and shame but the list goes on. And those are the self same guys who are bursting for explosive finishes.
Lets return to the days of Tantric Cycling, another ancient practice from Sun Tzu’s part of the world. Where everybody works together and finishes at the same time, satisfied. What a happy club we could be! 
Ps. Aren’t Sun Tzu and Ming very similar???
The green eyed monster was very much in evidence tonight. Why should Gary C be the one to take the ladies group for a spin to Tara? The rest of us set off in silence but it wasn’t long before John A feigned a mechanical so he could turn around. Don’t know if he headed for home or Tara.
The second group passed us as we fiddled with John’s bike, but there was none of the usual banter. You could see they also wanted to go to Tara.
Those pictures the ladies group post on Fb are viewed by thousands of people. Imagine if they did a charity calendar …
Anyway we had a very enjoyable spin in the end. It was great to see Mark D back out with us, splendid in his BMC gear, and in spite of the usual “oh I haven’t really been out much for the past two years” burning up the road on the way home from Rathmolyon. Always a big mistake to let two Marks on the front of the group.
Weather stayed good for us, which at this stage is worth saying.
Marcus The Merciless was taking no prisoners tonight. Coming in the Longwood Road after a 52k cycle – averaging over 31kph – he jumped for glory. Flash Gary considered fighting back, momentarily, then opted for the safety of the group.
Whatever type of rub down Marcus received after his Ring of Kerry exploits, he certainly was ready for action tonight. Maybe its a Welsh thing just now.
Anyway it was a lovely dry evening to get out, there was a terrific group in Lenihan’s Car Park (including Dale Arden and Princess Aura) and hopefully all enjoyed themselves.
Davy Dalton used the picture below, taken on his recent holidays, to promote today’s Summerhill GFC Meath Kildare Tour on Strava. In spite of this, or maybe because of this (?), a great number of Trim’s red jerseys were present to enjoy what was a testing route.
Well done to all involved, great route, lots of refreshments available afterwards, and the first dry cycle in weeks. Don’t know how he does it. You will know, by the way, that it really is Double-D in the photo by (i) the bandana and (ii) the lashings of Sudocrem.
Well done also to Jonathan Nangle who was first home in the 50k and to the three Trim riders who finished in the first four on the 90k. No more can be said – Cycling Ireland are involved.
But most of all well done on the turnout. It must be great for event organisers to see The Friendliest Club in Ireland turn up in those bright red jerseys and big smiles, to tackle whatever is put in front of them and to eat all their food afterwards.
Ever wonder if we’re in the wrong game? Below is a photo of the weather forecast for the week ahead, taken last night after the football. More soakings. And although the teasing sun shone briefly this evening, it was of course pouring once again by 7pm.
There were a dozen of us on the road, the desire to get a run over Davy’s course before Sunday proving too much for some. For others it was a final spin before the Ring of Kerry.
Anyway, it turned out to be a most enjoyable spin. Layers were peeled off at Mullagh Cross as the rain stopped and from there on we enjoyed ourselves. On the run in from Kilmessan the pace increased and we even got to have a little fun.
So it was worth getting out, despite the adverse conditions. And guess what? It usually is. Best of luck to those heading to Kerry, hopefully many of the rest of us will be in Summerhill on Sunday for the choice of 90k and 50k routes. We might even get a bit of weather by then.
Nobber Fair Day. It was a strange feeling, after setting off at 8am this morning, to be cycling out towards Wilkinstown and meet the Route 2 cyclists on their way home. Of course we were delighted to see them but when they had passed we were still only heading out the road, with 1.5 hours cycling already in our legs, and needless to say it was raining.
But any thoughts that we would rather be heading home were soon dispelled as we approached Nobber. It was Nobber Fair Day! Stewards pulled back barriers on the road to allow us in; there was banter; Colin got to closely inspect sheep, cattle and poultry; there was a pig on the spit; and “Hey Good Looking” – a song only Vincent was old enough to remember(!) – was blasting over the speakers.
We stopped at Nana’s Kitchen for what was a lovely coffee with free refills and chose to stand outside, with me telling the others I had planned this deliberately. I did my best on the Selfies but its at times like this that you appreciate the artistry of Stephen.
Anyway, having overcome the temptation to stay, enjoy a bit of craic, watch the matches and sort out getting home later, we returned to our task. All did well on Loughanlea and enjoyed the roll home. In the end, a most enjoyable spin, the rain eased and we were home in time for the match.
Grit: The stuff you know you will be swallowing and trying to wipe from your eyes on a wet Thursday evening club spin.
True Grit: Those teak tough men who turn up anyway. The Clint Eastwoods and Chuck Norris’s of the club.
And those guys deserve their good fortune if the weather should improve, as it did tonight.
So bravo to Michael, Colin, Brendan, Liam, Frank, Mark, Canice and John, plus special guest Stephen, for turning up ready to roll on what looked like a badass evening.
Martin, my even more famous cousin, has already been in touch to see if we can organise a motivational phone call for his Boys in Green before Sunday’s match against France.
And with that in mind we discussed heading out early on Sunday, so that we can be back in plenty of time. All present agreed that we could leave at 8am and be back in time for our ice baths and rub-downs. Before kick-off.
So the suggestion is out there. 8am on Sunday? Let us know what you think either on Fb or WhatsApp.
Like mice there is never just one puncture. Tonight it was Canice’s turn with an impressive brace in a short space of time. But no bother to Trim Cycling and Puncture Repair Group and before long we were back on the road and chasing the second group.
Their attempts to shake us off included taking wrong turns but recently we have become very good at this ourselves and we certainly weren’t fazed. With Mark urging us to “engage our cores” we pressed on and were delighted to get home while there was still light. (Speaking of which it was impressive to see so many on Tara for the Summer Solstice.)
No need to go for a swim today, to relieve the midsummer heat. According to my weather app it was likely to remain dry until 11, but my weather app is particularly optimistic. So instead it rained and rained for the duration.
There were 6 of us in the first group and being keen we all listened intently as Mark went over the finer points from the climbing article shared earlier in the week by Anthony on Fb.
Much was made of engaging the core and Mark kindly offered to illustrate the technique for us on the flyover at the Downs. And it was an impressive sight indeed as he launched himself from the back of the group. It wasn’t until Mark and the spray from his rear wheel receded into the distance and over the bridge that our admiration turned to mirth. In fairness we’ve all become poor at remembering our turns, but it took a lot of shouting to get Mark to realise that he had gone too far and the rest of us had already turned for Kinnegad.
By the time we got to Mother Hubbards there was little appeal in sitting in wet clothes eating scones and then having to get back on the bikes afterwards. Besides, being Father’s Day we knew there were likely to be youngsters (and their bright-eyed mothers) eagerly awaiting our return so we pushed on for Trim. (The same pressure obviously wasn’t on the second group given the photos on Strava). At Enfield Brendan, Mark and Colin turned for home; at Summerhill Vincent did the same; and in the end it was Martin and myself who, wet and battle-hardened, spun into Trim. A quick visit to those bright-eyed mothers (before the second group got home!) concluded what was an active morning.
Idlings of an Undiscovered Super-Domestique
