With the Rás dominating the weekend racing, we thought it an appropriate time to catch up with one of last year's Men of the Rás, Diarmuid Collins, and find out a bit more about the Limerick man.

Age: 37

Years with Orwell: Just over 4 years now

What made you choose Orwell Wheelers? I moved back to Dublin in January 2010 and wanted to join a club. I was moving to Rathfarnham so my starting point was to join a club in that area. I knew no-one in cycling clubs in Ireland so I just had to pick a suitable club. I was on boards.ie and a few Orwell members were active there so I think I just fired off a mail to Dave Mc with my subs on the 1st of March in the hope of getting joined up before the first race out in Dunboyne (probably a couple of days later) True to form, Dave delivered.

How did you get into cycling? Well apart from tearing around on a bike in the country as a kid then commuting in college, I didn't do a whole lot of biking when I was young. In my first job after college, a few guys were into mountain biking so I figured I'd give that a blast. I got pretty good at going downhill (down the Boneshaker) and not bad at going up. And by not bad, I mean I only had to stop a few times between Leopardstown and Three Rock. I started traveling soon after that so the bike was retired.

In November 2007, after some encouragement from my biking friend Damo, I pulled my bike out of the basement and starting going for spins with him. Within a month I was hooked and bought a second hand road bike (too big for me, naturally) and already had found out about l'Etape du Tour. After a hard winters training (250km) I crawled up the Hautacam to finish the Etape in 8 hours. On returning to Ireland I joined Orwell and started racing

Do you still do any sportives amongst the racing? I haven't done a sportive in a good while. I did the Sean Kelly Tour a few years ago, and the Tour de Burren once but apart from that it's been all racing since returning to Ireland. The sportives are fun but not the same intensity and tactics as the racing.

Where are your favourite places to get out for a quiet spin? That's easy. Pretty much any route in Wicklow (bar the N11). The roads are quiet, the scenery is great and it's on my doorstep so what's not to like. No coffee stops though!

I've done very little cycling outside the Dublin region that wasn't in a race. So obviously Kerry (Rás Mumhan) is nice, when the rain isn't falling sideways, Donegal (Rás Dhun na nGall) is pretty spectacular, as is the Burren.

What bikes do you own? I own a Canyon SLX for racing, a Scott mountainbike, a Ribble steel frame that I built up as my commuter. I strongly deny the existence of other bikes such as a Trek road bike, a TT bike and a CX bike. That's just one of the other bikes with different wheels, Yvonne.

So have you used the CX bike for much CX? I did do some CX racing 2 (or was it 3?) seasons ago and in fact won the B race in Grange Castle. I promptly retired and got out at the "top" (well not really) It's good fun and a great workout for those with limited time to spend training and racing. I'd like to get back at it. However after a season of racing it's tough to keep the dedication to train in the miserable, wet and dark evenings that you would need to do to race at a good level. It's good to take a break from the bike too, so that you can be motivated for the winter training and the follow years racing.

Any particular favourite races and results? I like the races down in Roundwood, Christie Mac, Hammond and try and do those most years. The Stephen Roche is a great race due to the amount of spectators and speed of the racing. Stamullen is a tough race that's a really good barometer of your form. There's not many races that I don't enjoy racing really. As for results, well, I'll take my moment of glory in Dunlavin as my best (only) win. Getting a win is tough especially at the A1 level, when your gallop isn't the best. You have to do it the hard way, get in the breaks and get to the finish in a small group.

As an experienced racer, any advice to members looking to do well? Race aggressively and don't be afraid of blowing up. Better to attack and blow your lights out than ride around at the back of the bunch, and rolling in in 50th. If nothing else, it's more fun Race with a positive attitude. If you want to get up in races you need to be thinking of how you are going to beat the other guys in the bunch, right from the start. Don't pull stupid manoeuvres on the road. And most importantly if I'm in the break with you, lead me out for a win.

You competed in your first Rás last year - how was that? I believe you have some advice to riders aspiring to complete it... The Rás was a great experience, there's a great buzz to the whole event and the camaraderie for the week is great. Getting treated like a pro for the week with your manager, masseur and mechanic looking after everything for you. However it's hard. Very hard. A totally different levels from most other A1 races. Rás Mumham was the closest to the Rás in difficulty but even that race wouldn't prepare you properly. I distinctly remember saying "never again" numerous times that week! Your form following the Rás is something else, both in the legs and the head.

I'm not sure I'd have much advice for others. If you want to do it, prepare well, plenty back to back days and race the hard races. Dig in on those races and get used to suffering. And enjoy your week's holidays! :D