Mark Cavendish makes the tour

I just read on the BBC that Mark Cavendish has made the T-Mobile 9 for the Tour de France. It would be amazing if he made it all the way to Paris. Hopefully he might take a stage with a bit of luck!

Why win?

Fabio Capello was sacked. He wins the league for Real Madrid for the first time in 4 years (when theysacked their then manager Vincente del Bosque).

Was it for how he treated Beckham? I don't think so, The Sporting Director is supposed to deal with those matters.

It's a mystery! Why win?

Astana dope?

Mattias Kessler has been suspended by Astana for a dodgy test result. Will this affect Vino's attempt at the tour and make my prediction wrong (although Michael Rogers should be in with an Aussie shout)?

I'm going to back Thor Hushovd for the green jersey and if he doesn't do it I think there will be an Aussie winner.

Triathlon (2)

I haven't done much on this to be honest but I did get in touch with the only person I know that has done a triathlon. Padraic, is living in Boston these days but he only left Ireland a year ago.

He did his triathlons in Ireland and I have mailed him to ask his advice on bikes. I want to get a decent starter bike and I want a bike that won't detract from my performance (come on! the only detraction will be me!)!

Baby steps eh?

So little time

You might have noticed that my blog entries have become more and more sparse and there are a few reasons for that. I've not been on my motorbike lately because it was in for a service and it's waiting for a new air filter. It's taking ages.

So I've been on the bus, trying not to laugh at Peep Show on my iPod. I started laughing too much so i turned it off so i don't look mental.

On top of that there is so much else to do! I will get on top of things and i'll be back in the game soon!

Trouser Chump

Check this story out from the bbc.

Some so called intelligent man tried to sue a dry cleaners for $54 million for losing a pair of his trousers.

He is a judge, a judge? What sort of mindset sues for that amount over a pair of trousers!!!

Triathlon

I have always wanted to do a triathlon and I have deciding it is the right time to start training for one. I hope to do one in 2008 some time.

Now considering I am still recovering from patella tendonitis and that I can't swim it is going to be tough.

But why would I want to do it if it was easy.

I'll keep you posted.

The Dubs

Went to Croke Park to see Dublin versus Offaly. It was a terrible game. Dublin were very poor and Offaly were rough and just plain terrible. To top it off the referee was whistle happy and inconsistent.

On the upside Dublin won and are in the final and there will be no hype about winning the all ireland after that performance.

Let's hope the put in a performance in the final

Orthotics (2)

Well I picked them up and wore them yesterday and today for a few hours each time. It is a big difference on my left foot so it is uncomfortable and will take some time to get used to them.

My knee so far seems fine, i put that down to the cycling more than the orthotics at the moment.

I intend to do a short run maybe 1 or 2 k on monday night, so fingers crossed.

Orthotics

Well the podiatrist called and my orthotics are ready to collect. All I have to do is make it over to tallaght between 9 and 5 monday to thursday and hand over €310.

Let's hope they don't cause me problems like the last set. Injury to my wallet is a whole different ball game!

Round 2!

Remeber the riots on O'Connell St. in 2006? Well the group who were having a legitimate rally want to hold another one.

Let's hope it is organised properly this time

Cross Dressing Cyclist

I was cycling in today and i was being passed by numerous cyclists as usual. One passed me and it was a real hard core cyclist. So Hard core in fact he was wearing see thru tights. It was a site that will haunt me in my dreams.

Bicycle repairs

I cycled into work again today and decided to have my bike serviced, Just to see if it made life any easier. I left it into a shop near work and asked for a service, brakes and gears and to fit a bottle cage.

They said come back later so i came back at about 10 past 5 and my bike was there to collect. They said there was no charge and I saw no bottle cage so I thought "free service" excellent.

I hopped on to ride back to work and nothing had been done!!! Nothing, the bike had not been touched! Brakes are not tight and the gears and a bit sloppy. And my front tyre had gone down slightly!!!

Should I name the shop?

Dublin Vs. Meath

We went to the Dublin Meath reply on Sunday. We managed to get tickets last minute, We were directly behind the goal at the canal end.

The highlights for me was me nearly catching a ball and Graham Geraghty hitting the inside of the post! Nice!

Dublin were victorious. Then it was a few after words with Steve, Ronan, Martin and Gillian. Name dropping eh?

Basso Suspended

Top Class cyclist Ivan Basso has been banned for 2 years for attempting to dope. But as he is 29 it will give him time to come back and maybe win the tour. Should bans be a lot harsher or is 2 years enough???

Pulling a fast one.

A guy in a bar sees a guy chatting up a cheetah, he says to the barman, he's trying to pull a fast one...

That's not the point of this entry but I love that joke.

Dick Roche on his last day as environment minster decides to sign an order which allowed a National Monument near Tara to be studied and then destroyed to make way for the M3. Nice work! So John Gormely has to deal with this on his first day in the job.

Talk about having your knees taken from under you, but if you look at Ireland's track record on the environment and archeology it shouldn't be a surprise.

WTF?

The Green Party has voted to go into Government with Fianna Fail. Then Trevor Sargent ups and resigns as party leader, WTF?

John Gormley for Tanaiste. Yikes!

Vinokourov - Is it his year?

Will Vino win this year's Tour? I will say here and now that I think he will, it all depends on how strong his team is. Judging be today's performance in The Dauphine he is in great form.

So check back in mid july to see if I am right.

More Cycling

I won't be doing the tour de france anytime soon but i will be buying a gel saddle immediately.

I tried a new route in and home today and there was a lot more cycle lanes but still I had to cycle through the M50 roundabout and avoid the liffey valley slip road. Motorists don't give a damn, they drive way too close!!!

Tomorrow I will try going through Ballfermot to avoid that crazy roundaabout.

Oh and well done Bren! Booyah!

Cycling

I've started cycling to work because my motorbike is out of action. It is about 10 miles and takes me 50 minutes in and 70 minutes home.

This morning when I got on my bike my poor ass!!!

Time for a gel saddle I think.

More bike troubles

Well I cycled into work today which is between 9 and 11 miles each way. It was so so tough but I will be doing it again tomorrow.

My motorbike is still having problems. I got a socket set and changed the oil and oil filter (so what if i spilled all over the side lane). I went out for a ride tonight and it was going great but then i was accelerating in third and it felt like it was going to cut out...

Dodgy petrol? Who knows! Time for a service.

Bike Troubles

Well my friend Bren showed me how to tighten my chain today so we sorted that and I need to pump up the tyres.

I was on my way home and the bike wouldn't go over 25 MPH and was threatening to cut out too. I want to change the oil and filters but i've not been able to loosen the nut to let the oil out.

Yikes!

Great Song, Great Video

I have mentioned Kopek before because I host them. They have launched a new video and it is fantastic. It is done by Eoin Duffy who I also host.

Enjoy.

Le Tour 1996

Now that Bjarn Riis has been taken off the list of winners for his 1996 "victory", what next? Will they award the race to the runner up? Jan Ullrich!!!

I'm biased as he has always been my favourite cyclist. But there are allegations against him too!

Such a shame he retired!

You've got to have it.

I've got all the things any self respecting blogger should have, Agloco, Bidvertiser, Hittail, Technorati, but does any of it do anything for me?

The short answer is no, nothing. But I have to say hittail is interesting, the random stuff that people search for and find me!

Does my site make any money? No, do people read it? Yes and that's what it's all about for me.

Now back to work I go!

Another Lesson

I was out for another driving lesson tonight and this time it went well. I hadn't driven since the last lesson because I live such a busy and popular life. Seriously, I do.

My driving skills are definitely improving so when I get my test date I will definitely pass. Only another 6 months at least to wait!

Idiot Drivers

I was on my way home tonight going along a nice new road. It was a 60kph zone so I was doing 60kph when suddenly a bmw flew by me on the inside within about 12 inches of me. I had seen him in my mirrors but that sort of manouvre always annoys me. Especially at high speed on the inside in the bus lane!

So another car did the same because obeying the speed limit really upsets some people.

There was a silver lining. They were both stuck at lights about 200 metres further on so i passed them with glee and rode on home.

Speeding Chumps!

Take that!

You wouldn't see take that do this!

Birthday Wishes!

Today is a fabulous day, despite the rain and the fact I am waiting for some furniture to be delivered. It is my birthday. Hurrah!

I had a scout around the internet for others who share my birthday and what a motely crew we have.

We have Johnny Weissmuller, the original and best Tarzan. He also won 5 Olympic gold medals for swimming.

The author Thomas Hardy, Pope Pius X, and the Marquis de Sade and of course the Yorkshire Ripper himself (yikes) also share the birthday.

Podiatrist

Well this morning I saw a podiatrist. He checked out my gait and my feet and knees and it turns out that the orthotics I had been given last year were the cause of my knee pain (or so he says).

So in 2 weeks with a lighter wallet I will try running. Fingers crossed!!!