Sunday 27th August
Hi,
After much debate over where and how much we’ll do this weekend, I’ve made a decision…..though whether or not I’ll be there depends on me getting a lift ooop north for a race.
The original plan was to do the Wicklow way to Ballinastoe, taking in the Sally Gap and Kippure on the return leg. Now, our Commander in Chief (Morgan) is the only one I know of to know the trails down off Kippure (cliff paths by Lough Bray) and seeing as he is off inspecting airport security in Heathrow this weekend, we’ll be putting the Kippure part on ice for the moment.
So, the route will be as follows……the Wicklow Way to Djouce, at which stage we’ll evaluate energy levels and time factors and decide to either (1) return home via Enniskerry or (2) go to Luggala for the POG course and return home via the Sally Gap.
Meeting at the Yellow House at 10am.
This is the longest spin that we’ve done in a long while, so you’ll need fit legs, lots of food and water and if possible, a good sense of direction. As there’s a reasonable distance involved, stopping and faffing will need to be kept to a minimum.
There are various opt out points along the way, most returning home via the Enniskerry road, should they be required.
Also, the Ulster XC champs are on this weekend, should be a good event. Both myself and Ryan are willing to trade petrol money for a seat in a car if there’s any going spare.
We may also have a club meeting at some stage next week, keep your eyes peeled for details.
Happy biking,
Sean
086 3354576
August 28th, 2006 at 10:18 am
Great weather, good company and great views were there on Sunday.
Totally 10 bikers rode together from Yellow Pub in direction of Ballinastoe - Wicklow Way.
The tracks were great and I really enjoyed!
Great ride, lots of fun, C U all again; hopefully soon!!
August 28th, 2006 at 1:35 pm
Yep the weather was fantastic alright. I either had a touch of sunburn on my arms or i took one too many trips through the gorse bushes.
I’ve put a couple of photos on the gallery
August 28th, 2006 at 11:36 pm
that’d be the Nasty Nicholas Nicotine coming to the surface Paddy, after red,you’re arms will go yellow, then blue, after that green, (you can borrow my arm-pads for this awkward period) then back to normal and you’ll be all cured and happy!
August 29th, 2006 at 7:04 am
Well done to fergal, 2nd in sports at the weekend in ulster…………protein shakes and arm pads are the way to go.
Well done fergal
August 29th, 2006 at 10:20 am
cheers Geoff, yeah that was a fun race ok, pads & protein rule ;-). Although if the winner (a Slovak guy called Lubo )stays in Sports next year, may have to add some other magic ingredient to the mix!
August 29th, 2006 at 11:14 am
don’t start getting all up and away as geoff said next year is his year watch us tremble
August 30th, 2006 at 9:46 am
don’t worry Shane-you’re the cocky one, not me
Besides, I think I know what I’m missing, and that’s ‘THE LOOK’, so I got myself some cool new Endura Humvee shorts, and once I get some gloves like Geoff’s, I reckon that’s all I’ll need to keep pace with Rapid Rooney…
August 30th, 2006 at 2:29 pm
cocky me never used to be but not no mores rapid rooney ha ha
August 30th, 2006 at 3:08 pm
I detect a slight hint of sarcasm there lads.
August 30th, 2006 at 3:35 pm
you got it in onegeoff now get training for next year man
August 30th, 2006 at 9:00 pm
not at all Geoff, just starting your build-up for next year early, are you (or any of MAD) gonna go for this cyclo-cross carry-on over the winter? was thinking of it then saw the cost involved for a new bike and it scared me away…
August 30th, 2006 at 9:32 pm
i’m going to stop now but lets see how well you do next year all of us now lets all think positive for sunday
August 31st, 2006 at 8:44 am
fergal,
therell be lots of people (well a few anyway) doing the cyclo cross races on mountain bikes so you can still enter them as a way of keepign fit etc.
Just get some thinner tires and lock out your suspension. Your bike may be a bit awkward for he carrying sections but hell, if thats whats stopping you from winning then its time to splash out on a cycle cross bike!!
August 31st, 2006 at 10:07 am
I might do a few of the CX races on my mountain bike too. I don’t think I’m ready to get another bike yet! 45-60 minutes of going all out, sounds like fun
August 31st, 2006 at 11:41 am
45 - 60 minutes going all out … sounds like sports class to me!!
August 31st, 2006 at 12:18 pm
cool, skinny tyres on the stumpy it is so, I’ll come up with some way of carrying it.
About this carrying lark - is it like over obstacles or up steep hills or the like? as I heard some of the races are held in public parks and I’m trying to figure out why you would need hop-off and hoist…..?
August 31st, 2006 at 12:33 pm
its a weird thing about cyclo cross. they put these wooden boards across the course at various points .. and you have to hop off and run to the next board .. maybe 50m away at most. Its all very strange really … i’ve no idea of the whys or wherefores. Perhaps sean can enlighten us?
August 31st, 2006 at 4:56 pm
Cyclocross, the sport of kings and the like, is one of the most fun and competitive of the cycling disciplines. In the 2 races I competed in last year, there was never more than 200m between me and the guy in front or behind me, one missed gear shift, braking too early or a slight slippage on a corner is enough to lose you a place or 5.
Of course, even bigger chunks of time can be lost or gained negotiating the running obstacles on the course. They generally come in 2 forms, a set of boards which must be jumped over, or a steep hill to be ascended over a distance up to about 50m. Sometimes the hill takes the form of steps. Be fluid in the dismount and remount is of highest importance and takes poise, athleticism and PRACTICE. How you carry your bike makes a big difference to the speed you can move at. I’ll give a demonstration at some stage, it’s time I started getting back into the groove of it anyway.
Fergal, well designed ‘Cross courses such as those in Tymon Park and Corkagh Park can have great steep hills, even though they are in public park.
For more on Cyclocross, check out http://www.cyclocrossworld.com or the forum on http://www.mtbireland.com.
I’ll post the links to some good videos on googlevideo soon.
September 1st, 2006 at 3:49 pm
Can you tell that Sean is excited?
September 1st, 2006 at 4:03 pm
sport of kings?? we’ll have to kick him out of the mountain biking club for that one!
September 1st, 2006 at 4:40 pm
“Can you tell that Sean is excited?
“
well, just a little. I’m waiting to have my wheels before I get truly giddy…..
September 1st, 2006 at 7:36 pm
yeah I agree with Paddy, such blasphemy should not be tolerated, let’s get a lynchin’ mob together and head around Seans’ way…
September 1st, 2006 at 8:58 pm
Video 1
Video 2
Video 3
Video 4 - Katie Compton