Paul Caldwell From The Cloudforests Endurance Team Steps Up Preparation for The Rift Iceland

Paul Caldwell from the Cloudforests Endurance Team has stepped up his preparations for the Rift Iceland Race, which is only two weeks away. The Rift is a 200 km (125 miles) off-road bike race through the dark lava fields in the highlands of Iceland.

As part of these preparations, Paul rode his first Mountain Bike National Point Series (NPS) race amongst the foliage this past weekend in Mullameen Forest.

This Mullaghmeen is an isolated area of forest rising above the farmland of north Westmeath. Mullaghmeen Forest is the largest planted beech forest in Ireland. Along with beech, within its 400 ha of forest, it also has Sitka spruce, Scots pine and Noble fir and a very interesting native tree collection. The forest, once an out farm belonging to Lord Gradwell, has many examples of the former impacts on the landscape. The summit of Mullaghmeen provides magnificent views north across Lough Sheelin and into the neighbouring county of Cavan.

Paul commented on the race by saying:

“Conditions were slippy but mega fun. Well done to all the organisers on a great day out.”

Then, last weekend, Paul had his last big training ride before the Rift Iceland. The route he took was along the Grand Canal and Barrow Ways as well as some of the South Leinster Way.