NPS round 1

[Barrydanzig]

does anyone know anything about this race?


i have checked the sorrento cc website but the only information they give about it is the price, the start times, and directions to b/stoe.


http://sorrentocyclingclub.com/site/?page_id=141


it doesn't give any info about the number of laps, route of the course, or course description.


thats the kind of info you'd want to know before entering a race.

[ryan]

I know - can't find anything about it either! Will probably be riding the first lap blind as I heard a rumor of a 50 min (expert speed) lap!


No idea if it is true.

[Richie]

Yeah, one of the Sorrento guys came up to us in Castlewellan and mentioned hour(ish) long laps. They were supposedly out timing it last night.

[jackieo]

do u reckon there'll b extra parking somewhere or do they think we are all gonna fit in that wee bay in front of the entrance? Or is it the other car park that we start? Can't seem to get much info on this one! Anyone got any info re pre-rides that am?

[paddyobrien]

Hey Jackie, All i've heard is as richie said there, supposed to be a really really long lap such that sports will only do the one lap. There's generally nothing too tricky there mind you so about the only bit you'd need to practice really would be the bombhole near the end. Not that its tricky either, but just its nice to get the confidence up!

[Richie]

The fella also said they would try to get cars parked on some of the fireroads not being used as part of the course...

Funny you should mention the bomb hole - my first ever MAD spin was in Ballinastoe and I had a nasty body-part-meeting-bike incident in there, I was black and blue after that spin... You would not even think twice about lashing into it now - out of the saddle of course.

[ryan]

Parking around there for competitions has not been a problem in the past. There is a gated area close by that is usually open.


I wish there was parking problems - that would mean 200+ racers :)

[ollietrex]

That would be impressive to see 200 riders, was reading Ollie Backing Sale's web site and he was talking about a field of 260 people descending into the single track at the world cup. That would be an impressive sight to see...

[Sean]

Something like this?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qC7EJM4q4A

[Richie]

Still no word on the site about a pre-ride tomorrow, so I'm guessing its not happening. Anyone else hear anything?

[Richie]

Was onto Conal from Sorrento, the story for tomorrow is they won't begin to mark the course after 3pm, so if you want to pre-ride it you'll be looking at sometime after 4, or maybe 5pm.

[ryan]

Hmmm, if anyone actually gets out for a preride (with a garmin?) could you just post a little about it.


Would like to know about any big climbs etc... so I know how hard to go at the start as I probably wont get a practice lap in if it is a 40+ minute lap...


Actually looking forward to the race now - start the defense of my title :P

[Richie]

Conal also said if you turn up at 3 he'll have the map with him and will show you the route, so you can head off and give it a lash while its being marked.

[Fergal]

Was talking to Karl from Epic (ex-Sorrento) last night, and apparently the logging has disturbed their plans for using any of the Lugalla end of the forest - which I'm sure the organisers are pretty annoyed about - as far as I know they were looking to use some of the older/classic POG/NPS sections, not many options left to them now....anybody who loves fireroad & the work of Dafydd Davis will have a good day.....regardless, get up there on the Saturday and give it a go, and best of luck to all racers, I'll be chillin' with a beer and burrito down on the docks in the San Francisco sun thinking of ye....

[jackieo]

so with such a long lap it's unlikely a preride of Sun morning wud b allowed or whaddyiz reckon?

[Arek]

Is enyone heading up there today? I wonder if I should go now and catch some sunny spells, or wait til 3-4pm and have course marked but preride it in lashing rain...

[diamondG]

Hey Arek,


I'm going up today, I'll be there 3

hopefully the rain won't :)

[Arek]

3 is perfect. I'll be there!

[ryan]

So how is the course? :)

[diamondG]

just back, I'll put the garmin up later, gotta take care of something first.


the summary is:

6km lap, not sure how many for each category though

all the climbs are fireroads, 90% of the climbs are on the first half of the course.

the latter half is across and down via 3 of the man made sections (literally impossible to pass, or let someone pass) They do have small fireroad sections between these 3 man made trails though


lots of small puddles sections, so glasses are a must, there not the sort of trails you can close one eye on, I'll be picking shtuff outa me eyes all night.


there's no real mud on the course, a tiny bit on one of the decents, just spots though.


the man made trails are tricky when you're trying to get speed, and it doesn't seem much faster, the difference between pushing it on them and takeing it handier and pumping into the dips and rises.

All the pedalling is wasted braking into the corners (which can be too tight not to).


its all markedout now, tape and yellow spray


there's no real new stuff, just 2 small sections near the carpark. No bomb hole, you actually join that trail a bit higher and climb it instead of decending.


its enjoyable overall, if you like fireraod climbs you're laughin

[diamondG]

how the fup can you export the elevation chart from the garmin software, forgive the ignorance, but I've never done it before.


also, forgot to say, the guys marking out the course recon its a 20 minute lap (maybe for elites) so you might be able to work out how many laps for each cat that way..


let us know what you think for masters

[ryan]

If it is an Elite 20 min lap then probably


6 Elites

4 Masters/Expert

3 Vets

2 Sports


Export from garmin software - no idea. Print Screen? that is how I do mine for my blog.


Damn - was hoping for a really long lap and then there would be no lapping on the man made stuff... That will be fun :)


Thanks for the update Graham!

[Sean]

Best of luck tomorrow guys, won't be there to cheer you on but I'm sure you'll be just fine without me :-)