Stephen Roche Grand Prix

WicklowRacer

Anyone racing in this ?

I went to watch last year, great evenings' entertainment...

Stephen Roche Grand Prix 25/06/2008 to 25/06/2008
From 7:15pm Dundrum
The Stephen Roche Grand Prix will take place in Dundrum on Wed 25th June. Cyclists will complete a number of circuits of Meadow Mount and Meadow Grove. Up to 100 cyclists are expected to participate.

kenmc

I'll probably go along to watch and take some pics.

Caroline_ie

25 laps around the Roche's parents estate ) ... with Primes every 5 laps or something.

I might go to watch ... since it's an orwell event.

blorg

Sounds like a good one to watch all right, just down the road from me, I may be along.

Gavin

Ditto

smithslist

yeah mite pop along, you should all race instead of spectating, especially if your wit Orwell......who knows the man himself might be there along with Nicolas (if he is was riding nationals)

both were there last yr, lets just hope the weather holds.

kenmc

i'm nursing a 2 week cold/chest infection, hence the spectating

blorg

Can we just go and race, without a license? If so, screw spectating, I'll be the one at the back ;-)

Caroline_ie

blorg wrote: »

Can we just go and race, without a license? If so, screw spectating, I'll be the one at the back ;-)

You can buy a 1 day licence on the day for this one orwellwheelers.org they tell you all about it

Caroline_ie

Actually ... i am not sure. I was told that, but it doesn't say it on the site...

smithslist

in all national races you are able to buy a one day licence, there wil be a cycling Ireland commisare at the race (there is one at every race) and you buy the one day licence of him..........

ba

i might be racing this one. depends really on how i feel on saturday, i think you have to feel good for this one, there's no way i'm hanging at the back in a crit.

smithslist

ba wrote: »

i might be racing this one. depends really on how i feel on saturday

eh race is on tmw night

ba

definately not doing it now. thought it was on sunday. bummer.

blorg

On reflection, a tight-cornered fast-paced crit is not going to be an optimal introduction to road racing for me ;-) I'll probably go along to watch however.

Chips Lovell

Nicolas Roche raced in it last year, which should give you a good idea of how fast it'll be.

TinyExplosions

So, anyone want to set a meet point and time for folks goin to this? (I don't really know Dundrum too well!)

Caroline_ie

I am not what time and where I'll be there ... but I'll have to wear Orwell gear even if I don't race and if that's any help and I'll have a blue back pack with me and I'll be on my specialized bike ... i'll be cycling from D15 to Dundrum via the Park.

AndyP

Well I will be going from Donnybrook around 7ish.

kenmc

Suggest this?

Caroline_ie

kenmc wrote: »

Suggest this?

Is that where the corner shop is? what time?

kenmc

yep, corner of beaumont avenue, there's a londis/hairdresser/chinese takeaway ....
7:30? starts at 7:45.
Are the rest of us in uniform? Doubt I'll be on the bike though, so I'd just look silly!

Gavin

I will probably wander along! Bicycle yes. Uniform, no.

Caroline_ie

Verb wrote: »

I will probably wander along! Bicycle yes. Uniform, no.

Not sure what time i'll get there at but I can try and pop by at around 7.30 outside the shop.

TinyExplosions

I'll try to be there for 7.30 if I can find the place!

No uniform for me, but I'll be on my Paddy Wagon

Caroline_ie

Say hello if you see me ...

TinyExplosions

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Say hello if you see me ...

If you're heading through the park up to Dundrum, want to meet at the corner of Patrick St and Kevin St and head up together (so I don't get lost!), at say 7.00?

Caroline_ie

TinyExplosions wrote: »

If you're heading through the park up to Dundrum, want to meet at the corner of Patrick St and Kevin St and head up together (so I don't get lost!), at say 7.00?

Street names ... argh do you have a map?

Just pulled a map. That's perfectly fine with me. Ill be there for about 7.00.

TinyExplosions

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Street names ... argh do you have a map?

Just pulled a map. That's perfectly fine with me. Ill be there for about 7.00.

Cool so, I'm the beardy one on the blue bike, holding a rolled up Herald in my right hand, and sporting a rose in my buttonhole*

*paper and flowers optional

Chips Lovell

I may come along depending on if I get out of work on time.

Caroline_ie

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Cool so, I'm the beardy one on the blue bike, holding a rolled up Herald in my right hand, and sporting a rose in my buttonhole*

*paper and flowers optional

I was going to say I was the hairy one hehe... chances are I will also wear sone kind of reflective vest.

blorg

I'm going to try to make it down for around 8pm to catch most/the end of it. I'll be the one with (most likely) a spare wheel strapped onto the back of my bike.

Caroline_ie

Caroline_ie wrote: »

I was going to say I was the hairy one hehe... chances are I will also wear sone kind of reflective vest.

Tiny,
I shuld make it on time at that 7PM meeting point, just in case i am late ... sorry.

TinyExplosions

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Tiny,
I shuld make it on time at that 7PM meeting point, just in case i am late ... sorry.

No problem, I'll wait for ya!

King Kelly

Ahhhhh....isn't that lovely!

smithslist

so how did everyone do?

TinyExplosions

Just watching, not racing -was pretty good, though Roche went away about 5 from the end and no one could get anywhere near him

blorg

Nicolas Roche won pretty decisively. In parts I have to say it was looking really easy for him and he ended up with a significant lead- he didn't break too early, but he was close to the front from the start and when he did the gap just kept increasing. It was mighty fast stuff from my vantage point, they whipped around the course really quick. Was talking to one of the marshalls that I had cycled round most of the Orwell randonee with.

blorg

Here's an example of what I mean by him looking fairly handy (second in this image, was near the start):



KenMc had an impressive looking camera which I'm sure will provide some better images- also met spectators Tiny, Caroline (nice bike) and Verb, who had the nicest Raleigh Max I have ever seen ;-)

Chips Lovell

blorg wrote: »

Here's an example of what I mean by him looking fairly handy (second in this image, was near the start):

Knee warmers? You can tell he lives in France.

Caroline_ie

I wonder what Nicolas will do with the 50quid Joe Daly's vouchers he got last night ... I imagine he used cycle to the same laps when he was 4 years old on a Sunday afternoon at his gran's with his tricycle :pac: that has to to an advantage that helped him win this race....

PT: 'So Nick, when during this race did you feel the most vulnerable?'

Nick Roche: ' Well Paul, Probably when I had that acid reflux at the end of the 19th lap, and I thought I should have taken these two Rennie my gran offered. But the team ( me and myself ) helped get back up to the top to win this wonderful race, a great accomplishment ...


Was great to meet everyone and to see the banana bike in real!

Raam

Any more pics? I was mostly moving wardrobes and ripping up carpets so couldn't make it out.

TinyExplosions

el tonto wrote: »

Knee warmers? You can tell he lives in France.

And arm warmers that by that stage had been rolled down

Caroline_ie

TinyExplosions wrote: »

And arm warmers that by that stage had been rolled down

Or maybe there were 'elbow warmers' ... I am sure the pros have that.

He looked good though, you can tell he's a pro ... I'd take him home to my mum... I'd probably have to drug him and kidnap him 1st though.

Caroline_ie

You remember the only woman racing with the guys last night? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Heal ... she was also probably just having a quiet spin last night.
I knew I had seen her on Cycling weekly too!!!! http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/Pro_Bike_Rachel_Heals_Orbea_Orca_article_178578.html

TinyExplosions

Caroline_ie wrote: »

You remember the only woman racing with the guys last night? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Heal ... she was also probably just having a quiet spin last night.

Looks like she wasn't well...

...I got back from Philadelphia just over a week ago, and promptly got ill as soon as I got back...
I'm now pretty much recovered and looking forward to a couple of weeks of good training before the National RR Championships in Yorkshire the weekend after next.

-posted on the 18th on her website

Gavin

blorg wrote: »

KenMc had an impressive looking camera which I'm sure will provide some better images- also met spectators Tiny, Caroline (nice bike) and Verb, who had the nicest Raleigh Max I have ever seen ;-)

Haha, how generous! Yup, nice to meet yee all and put faces to names as you said !

blorg

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Looks like she wasn't well...

I think I have a photo of her too, if she was the only woman (second again, note the pink Hudz); she's looking in less pain than most of the guys around her:

Chips Lovell

blorg wrote: »

I think I have a photo of her too, if she was the only woman (second again, note the pink Hudz); she's looking in less pain than most of the guys around her

That's my mate Malcolm on her wheel.

skim

she must be in the country 4 the week seen her racing in kildare at the paddy flanagan over the weekend

bunnygreen

I dared to take part last night,gave up after 10 laps,completely bollixed,the mental crash came as i was going around a corner flat out and Nicholas Roche passed me and HE WAS'NT PEDALLING.back to the club leagues for me i think and the anonymity of the bunch.