Rides this weekend (December 9th, 10th)
This weekend sees the start of the MAD Beginners Uphill Bootcamp with a ride from Tallaght, up the Embankment to Slade Valley and back. This will be an easy-ish start with a gentle climb, mainly on the road. Be sure to bring all the essentials for a mtb ride - it seems people have been turning up unprepared. As with all our beginners spins the pace will be set by the slowest rider so don’t be worried about holding people up.
Meet at AOL Citywest (car parking available) at 10am (Citywest map, AOL map)
Also on Saturday, a few people will be heading out to Kindlestown for a spin - contact Judith for details.
Our Sunday spin will be around Djouce and Crone wood. This will be tougher than the Saturday ride and not suitable for beginners. Meet at the Djouce middle car park at 10am. If that car park is closed we’ll meet at the first car park instead. Lifts will be available - contact the mailing list to arrange something.
Finally, if you’re feeling competitive, the Leinster Cyclocross Champs takes place this Sunday in Tymon Park. We’re expecting great things from the MAD cross team at this event so come along to race or support.
Keep an eye on the MAD Calendar for details of all upcoming spins.
December 7th, 2006 at 12:25 pm
From Met Eireann:
3 Day Outlook
Cold Friday night, with scattered showers. Windy at first, but ground frost likely by dawn, as winds ease a little. Saturday: A cool, breezy and fairly sunny day, with just a few showers. Highs 6 to 9 C. Cold after dark with frost in places, but wet and very windy weather will develop overnight. Sunday : Most of Sunday will be extremely windy and quite wet , with a risk of some local flooding. Southwest winds are likely to gust to 100km/h or more also. At this stage, it looks as if winds will moderate late in the day on Sunday, or overnight, with the rain giving way to scattered showers. Monday will be a bright, windy day with further heavy showers in places.
Be prepared clothes wise!!!!
December 8th, 2006 at 11:25 am
Regarding Sunday, the middle carpark is closed off with boulders, as is the upper carpark. The first carpark on the road, coming from Kilmacanogue, was still usable when last I checked. Sadly, it’s a lot lower down than the other two 8-[
Ciaran
December 8th, 2006 at 12:46 pm
Deadly, we can cycle up the crazy-steep hill!
December 8th, 2006 at 9:56 pm
I wont be able to come along on sunday, it is just a pity, as i again have to work :-(((
but i will be at the track on Slade valley as soon as i get my gear cable fixed…gotta get up early tomorrow.
for the time being, some mouthwatering pictures from Italy this year… a possibility for the annual club trip: http://schicht.org/garda06
December 9th, 2006 at 1:40 pm
the loggers have now noved up as far as the bridge up in slade and the place is in a bit of a jock. another tree has fallen next to the one we made a trail around on friday.
i don’t think the new trail will be there for much longer at this rate
December 9th, 2006 at 1:41 pm
IS sexy Tom’s jump still surviving?
I’d say its so well constructed that it’d take the punishment?
December 9th, 2006 at 2:27 pm
yes the bridge is still there as i didn’t notice until i went over it
when they clear the logs away we might be able to revive the trail
but we will have to wait and see
December 9th, 2006 at 3:26 pm
that’s quite unfortunate. As soon as we find a great location for races, it gets torn to pieces within a year
December 9th, 2006 at 3:53 pm
Carsten, those photos are fantastic!! Looks like a wonderful place to go!
Unfortunatly, the forest section is not much of a racing section any more as Shane said. Those trees a really in the way! Hopefully we will be able to revive those sections tho soon, as it certaintly is a great place to go! I didn’t get a chance to ride there, having missed the club champs, but it is a really good venue. Hopefully the logging won’t destroy too much of our new trail!
December 9th, 2006 at 7:50 pm
nice one coillte, make sure and damage any amenities, Especially ones near the capital where the highest concentration of people are,…god forbid the irish would take up a hobby asides from drinking!
December 10th, 2006 at 9:39 am
lads the section from the bridge s ruined! was very disapointing considering the work done!
However, the good news is sexy toms jump is still in tact (but is in the line of felling :-(), golf ball berm is holding out and the lower section is untouched……..
December 10th, 2006 at 10:02 pm
The “MAD Cross Team” placed 13th in the Leinsters today, on a cool short-track (3min/lap)course.
Pictures from Peter on http://www.irishcycling.com
December 11th, 2006 at 1:40 pm
That was some wild weather there yesterday but a brilliant spin around Djouce and Powerscourt including a quick go on the slides and diggers in the kids playground!!
The sheer relief after we finished that killer climb into the wind and rain and got to start goign downhill again (especially after waiting for Oisin and Mark with their synchronized punctures).
And special points for next years championships to Mark for managing to get a puncture not only in his bike but also in his car!
December 13th, 2006 at 8:36 am
i thank you, thankfully my car passed the NCT so has redeemed itself somewhat…..deadly spin, some of those tracks are sweet, dude