Jemma O'Brien

Moruya Bicycles proudly sponsors and supports Jemma O'Brien, a road rider from Tuross (near Moruya).  She's living in Sydney now and travelling all around the NSW & Australia to compete.

  

 

 

 

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23/7/09

Jemma Report

When it rains it pours.....

 

2 weeks ago I competed in my first race since the start of my season, the Canberra Women’s tour. My preparation leading up to this event has not been great, trying to juggle the still underlying injury to my left leg that occurred in December, which seemingly was evolving into something new; some days better than others and some just downright crap, especially when you can’t weight bear.

Diary Update May 2009

It’s May and after some much needed time off the bike I have commenced base training; still some niggly injuries from a tough summer campaign and coping with one of the many viruses going around at the moment, but it’s god to be back on the bike even though a bit legless.

Race Report July 2008

 

It’s been a long time coming, but finally a diary update.

2008 and the usual ups and downs; work, training, racing, sickness, but no studies.  I’ve finished and the world looks a lot brighter and cycling seems less stressful, as much as it can be working full time at a Sydney hospital.

World Cup Round 1 February 2008

Just returned from the Geelong womans Tour and the 1st round of the world cup where I was riding in the NSWIS team. I finished up 25th in the World Cup. Had some bad luck in the tour, flat tyre in the ITT put me down the field but gradually climbed my way back to 57th on GC, but my main role was to assist Leonie Burford who finished 5th on GC.

Cronulla Grand Prix December 2007

Jemma suffered a heavy fall during this race.

Shire Cyclist Gears Up for National Series

This article appeared in the Bay Post / Moruya Examiner, July 27 2007

July 2007 Diary

Mid-winter and it always seems to be dark; very little time for road training except on the weekends, but racing  takes much of that time now, so it’s indoor training, night workouts at Waratah Park and take the form you’ve got into the race. 

April 2007 Diary

Hi Everyone,

2007 is up and going, without me at the moment as I recover from injuries suffered after a heavy fall at the Geelong Women’s’ Tour at the end of February. 

12/3/06 Diary

It’s been a long time since my last entry and a fair bit has happened since my 2005 wind down.

Jemma finishes in top 20 in the Australian road Championships

Congratulations Jemma on finishing in the leading bunch only 12 seconds from the leader in a world class field.

24/9/05 - Bridge to Bridge Womens Race, Bargo

Bridge-To-Bridge Women’s Race, Bargo, 24/9/05

17/9/05 Grafton to Glen Innes

World Heritage Way Ladies Challenge, 160km. Jemma comes third!
It’s been a long year, training since December and always somewhere in my thoughts, Grafton.  It’s that kind of race, not about winning it, though that would be great, but about meeting the challenge, 160km- the foothills 70km, 17km up the Gibraltar and then 70km of hard slog with whatever you’ve got left to the finish at Glenn Innes; the men of course have another 70km after that to Inverell. 

13/9/05 - Preparing for Grafton to Glen Innes

Grafton to Glen Innes is only 5 days away.  It’s been like I have been waiting all year for this.  It is the best women’s race in Australia and it is a pity that there seems to be only 16 starters this year.  The 160km distance and the tough 17km 10% climb up the Gibraltar range has probably got a lot of the girls balked but the sense of achievement in completing the event or even just getting up the range is what this race is about.  The training has been intense, speed and power, recovery and then be fresh for work, a juggling act but I’m coping pretty well.

The racing has been great!

10/9/05 - National Club Championship Road Race, 90km, Sunshine Coast

A hot day with a hot line up, Kathy Watt and Katie Mactier (Individual pursuit world champion); it was going to be a tough day on the bike.

4/9/05 - NSW Road Race Championship, 99km, Kurrajong

Woke to a miserable, wet, cold day with a tough race ahead. 3 laps of a 33km circuit with a 2.5km 10% climb each lap; undulations make up the rest of the course to the start finish before the steep descent and back to the climb again.

28/8/05 - Cootamundra Recovery 70km

Another handicap race, I am not sure about “recovery” though; 3 laps on the “suicide” course.  I am not sure what it means, except for hills, pace and no survivors.

27/8/05 - Cootamundra Open Annual Handicap 120km.

There were about 180 riders starting the race with a handicap of 44 minutes. I was off with the 22 minute group and there were a record 17 woman starting the race.  A perfect day for racing.

August 2005 Diary

This month is all about preparing for my busy end of season schedule through September and October, starting with the Cootamundra [NSW] 120km handicap at the end of the month, then in September the 90km Parramatta NSW Champs, National Club’s [QLD], the highlight of the season Grafton-Glenn Innes 160km [the best women's race in Australia] finishing off with the Victorian Open.

Criterium Racing at Moruya