Mountainbiking Association of Dublin

From Kindlestown Beginners Ride

We’ve just finished a month of MAD beginners rides (with over 50 riders turning up for some spins). So what’s next? If you want to continue riding with the club you should join up for 2009. You’ll find membership details here.

We’ll continue with a series of “easy” spins over the next few weeks. These will be at a level above the beginners spins, with less stops. However, they’ll still be at a manageable pace and nobody will be left behind. You can find details of the first spin in the club forum.

Cycling Ireland have just announced the final nominations for the CI Member Awards scheme. This gives ordinary CI members (licence holders) the opportunity to recognise peoples outstanding contribution to the sport. There are several mountainbikers in the list of nominees, starting with MAD’s own Fergal J Kilkenny, club secretary and prime-mover in trailbuilding who is up for the “Most valuable volunteer contribution in Leinster” award.

Then there’s Cait Elliot from UCD (nearly as good as being in MAD) nominated as “Best domestic based female Senior rider”

Another nominee deserving your support is Maeve Baxter for “Best Irish performance abroad” for her silver medal in the World Masters MTB Championships.

We’ll forgive the omission of MAD from the candidates for Best Club of the Year - it’s only fair to give someone else a chance in the spotlight now and again. You can see the full list of nominees here.

You can vote by by emailing awards2008@cyclingireland.ie up to November 14th. Each submission must include your name, club, license number and date of birth. Get your votes in and support the mountainbikers!

Following on from the success of the National Trail Day, and the second installment in Kindlestown and Glen of the Downs last weekend, we’ll be running the third installment of the beginners course in Ticknock/Three Rock Co. Dublin, site of some of the best trails around. We’ll meet at the lower car park in Ticknock at 9.45am on Sunday and start riding at 10am. Once again, riders will be divided into groups based on ability (or enthusiasm) and let around the trails by awsome MAD folk.

Take a look at our beginners pages to see what you should wear and bring with you. If you have any questions, send an email to committee@madmtb.com or just ask in the forum.

• Map to Ticknock

To all MADMTB members:

On Sat 11th Oct at 10am, the club intend to do a walk-up from Ticknock carpark to the aerials/3Rock with litter bags and collect various litter to help improve the appearance of the place.

Some areas are quite messy with lots of cans/bottles etc that need to be removed.

We’ll meet at lower Ticknock carpark at 10am - hopefully that time will suit people - it leaves your afternoon free for whatever else you want to do.

It will take us no more than 2 hours if there’s a fair few of us.
I’ll arrange the bin-bags, ensure you bring some gardening gloves along and some warm clothing.

This will serve the purpose of making the place more presentable for ourselves and our fellow forest users and help build good relations with Coillte and the various users of 3Rock.

Please come along and give a hand-out if you can - thanks a lot!

Regards,

Fergal Kilkenny MADMTB Club Secretary

Ireland’s first ever Singlespeed National Championship takes place this month (18th October) in Clarenbridge, Co. Galway. The event (sponsored by Kearney Cycles in Galway) takes place in Kilcornan Wood. The course is mostly singletrack and is reported to be dry at present - should be nice and fast on the day. Read more on the event website:

www.singlespeedireland.com

Irish XC Mtb (www.irishxcmtb.com) are conducting a survey on the cross country racing scene in Ireland. This is your chance to express your opinion, whether you’re a sports rider or a seasoned Vet. Even if you don’t race at all your response is still important.

You can complete the survey here:

Irishxcmtb Survey

Following on from the success of the National Trail Day last weekend, with 55 new riders running amok in Ballinastoe Wood,  we’ll be running a number of beginners rides this month. The first takes place this weekend at Kindlestown, Co. Wicklow. We’ll meet at Kindlestown car park at 9.45am on Saturday and start riding at 10am. Once again, riders will be divided into groups based on ability (or enthusiasm) and let around the trail by awsome MAD folk.

Take a look at our beginners pages to see what you should wear and bring with you. If you have any questions, send an email to committee@madmtb.com or just ask in the forum.

• Driving directions to Kindlestown