Des Hanlon Memorial Classic

[Sean]

Please pass on to your club members...thanks
Please note: The course this year has been modified from previous editions, namely, the final hill has been omitted and the race finish has been has been changed to the Kilkenny road. Also the Start/Finish Facilities are now at the Eire Og GAA Clubhouse on the O'Brien Road. Please visit www.carlowcycling.org for start location Map. The Race will have a neutralised roll out to the Portlaoise roundabout.

Des Hanlon Mem. Classic - Road Race

Sign-on: Eire Og GAA Clubhouse
9:30 - 11:00
Start Times (sharp)
Race 1 - 11:30
Race 2 - 11:35
Race 3 - 11:45


Race 1 - Senior A & B (3x Laps) 145Km
Race 2 - Combined (1x Lap) 62Km
Race 3 - Combined (2x Laps) 103Km
Prize list, Course info, Map, etc. visit:

WWW.CARLOWCYCLING.ORG

Aprés-Race - Eire Og GAA Clubhouse
Showers / Refreshments / and Prizegiving

Course Map and brief description on website.

--
Ray McKenna
Club Secretary,
Carlow Road Cycling Club
++ (353) 86 8415160

[ryan]

Mel and I will be heading down to this one - a great race - a toughie!

[Richie]

Me too - though not sure if I'll do the 1 lap or 2 lap race. Hopefully my local knowledge will pay off :)

[ryan]

Anyone else heading along to this one? It's a classic and the best roadrace (!) that I have taken part in.

The Shay Elliot is another I will try later in the year but it is only open to A,B class.

The profile for the 3 lapper from last year is attached.

[Scrivo]

Think I'm missing something, what date is it on?

[Morgan]

It's on Sunday March 29th.

[Arek]

Hope to go there too, I'll know on Saturday.

[Richie]

Good man Arek. So will it be Race 2 - Combined (1x Lap) 62Km or Race 3 - Combined (2x Laps) 103Km

Might as well rip the arse outta it lads and do race 3...

[Arek]

I’d like to go for 103km but I’m not strong enough jet, we’ll see on Sunday, if its warm and nice I’ll do the long one, but no breakaways this time;)

[ryan]

Some race details: http://www.carlowcycling.org/pb/wp_358658fe/wp_358658fe.html

Races start at 11:30 (signon ends at 11)

[Richie]

Arek, Scrivo, have ye decided which race you'll be doing? It would be good for us all to be in the same one. I'd be happy (read relieved) to do the 62km race, but it will be full on from the start I'd say.

Sure, we can decide down there on the morning.

[ryan]

Guys, give it a go. It will be an eye opener for sure. The speed is great and at 62km (or even the longer 110k version) it's not that long. 62k is probably 1:45 or so. About 2 hours of my race (probably 4:20 long) I'll find horribly boring but the first and last hour makes up for it.

It sounds like I'm really pushing road racing, I'm not, I do 2-3 per year, but keeping it at that level, they are actually pretty good fun and a very very good workout.

[TomH]

Good luck tomorrow lads!

[Richie]

Well, that was an experience! Meself and Arek decided to to the 110km race. Everything was grand till the first serious climb about an hour in. Then the big boys decided to push the pace up. Meself, Arek and Mel were at the wrong end of the peloton and got thrown out the back. Despite best efforts of ourselves and a couple of Epic lads, we did not make it back up (I was doing well to keep up with Mel!) Still, it was a great day and I would highly recommend it to any mountain bikers - even just from the training point of view.

Oh, and I've come to detest the wind. It was in my face on the second lap, and with no one tuck in behind, it was horrible.

[Arek]

Yea that was a great fun and experience;) After I was dropped I had to work more then 1 hour on my own, was tuff, lucky 2 guys caught up and we did most of the second lap together. Nearly 3 hours above 174 heart rate ;) I can feel it now…