Early season races

Chips Lovell

I was just looking at the Cycling Ireland calendar to see what's going on in the first few weeks of the season. There's a few races I'm thinking of trying, namely:

Sunday 1st March - Cycleways Cup in Navan
Saturday 7th March - Mick Lally Memorial in Batterstown
Tuesday 17th March - Usher St Patrick's Day Race in Batterstown

Has anyone done these in previous years? Or has any other recommendations for early season races. I'm a (not very good) S3 and can only do races within cycling distance from Dublin (no car).

Quigs Snr

I have done Navan. Course is ok, 2 laps of about 40k each. One long drag about 5 miles into the course that goes on for a few , usually thats where the damage gets done, its nothing serious but it is long. Apart from that its mostly flat, but exposed in places to the wind.

Trouble is you can get a lot of riders at it, last year it was about 150 riders and it was mental at the start, going out taking both sides of the road playing chicken with oncoming traffic etc... I missed the break last year and tried to make up for it by sprinting for what I thought was 8th place, turned out I thought the finish line was the line marked at the bottom of a small hill. Wrong. Broke from the bunch with 500 to go and rode across that line only to look up and see the fella holding the flag 200m further up the hill. Ended up about 17th or something if the photo's on Irishcycling are anything to go by.

Decent race. Get near the front and stay there, it went off hard last year and I know a couple of strong riders went out the back quickly which surprised me. The bunch will break and about 50 riders who are not up to much will go out the back on that first climb, another split occurs just before the climb when you turn left off the main road onto a narrower one and the road starts inclining almost straight away the bunch gets strung out there after the corner and it catches a lot of people out, so unless you are up in the front half of the bunch it will be race over for you after 10k. I lost my bottle trying to get to the front last year and ended in a bunch of about 40 out the back on the first climb, had to solo across to the front before we hit the top of the hill (I knew it would be curtains for me if I didn't) After the descent of the climb there is a sharp left back onto a main road and again you can get caught there..

The good news is that once the break goes away it all calms down after that. Although Bennett and Lavery won't be at it this year and a lot of the stronger munster riders will be down in Kerry that day so I have a feeling that the race might go off a little slower this year.

So to summarise, get into the top 30 at the start, stay there around the first junction, get ready to stand on the pedals after the turn and grit your teeth for the next 5k as the climb starts there. After the descent be awake and ready to stand up and hammer it around the left junction back onto the main road. Enjoy.

And oh yes, its not the end of the world if you get dropped, theres a lot of fellas out of shape there, so there will be a group for you no matter what pace you go... Last year I was dissappointed not to be in the top 5. This year I'd be thrilled to finish a lap. What a difference a year makes.

King Kelly

Some good advice there from Quigs

Have you taken part in any club races or used to group riding?

Don't want to put you off but those early season races are tough. Very big fields, fast - particularily in the first 25 miles, generally crap weather and usually a few pile ups!

We all have to start somewhere but I would always recommend riding club leagues/inter club events first and then open races towards the end of the season when the fields are a bit smaller and the weather better before a full scale assault on the following season!

Anyway best of luck if you try them out.

DirkVoodoo

I'd say Tonto will manage, he is a pretty strong rider especially on the flat.

Just shave off the beard before you race, aerodynamics and all that

Lumen

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Just shave off the beard before you race, aerodynamics and all that

Nah, hair prevents boundary layer separation. Like shark scales, innit.

Stark

You need to grow hair on your palms and under-forearms and shave it off everywhere else.

Edit: oops, wrong forum.

Raam

I had considered doing the one in Navan, but I think I'd like to learn in the club league ones first. I have no idea what to do in a race.

Chips Lovell

Fantastic stuff there Quigs. Thanks for taking the time to put that together.

Quigs Snr wrote: »

And oh yes, its not the end of the world if you get dropped, theres a lot of fellas out of shape there, so there will be a group for you no matter what pace you go...

I'm wholly expecting to get dropped at some stage in this one.

King Kelly wrote: »

Have you taken part in any club races or used to group riding?

Don't want to put you off but those early season races are tough. Very big fields, fast - particularily in the first 25 miles, generally crap weather and usually a few pile ups!

I'm well used to group riding and did a few club league races last year. To be honest, the club league will probably be the main thing for me this year, but I guess there's no time like the present to get stuck in and try a few open races too. I'll have to start some time.

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Just shave off the beard before you race, aerodynamics and all that

I'm way ahead of you. It's already gone.

Raam wrote: »

I had considered doing the one in Navan, but I think I'd like to learn in the club league ones first. I have no idea what to do in a race.

Phew. One less person to get dropped by.

ba

i knew nothing about racing, or sitting in the bunch this time last year. i did navan too, quigs snr you must have just finished ahead of me, cos i thought i was around 19th place. i was even mad enough to count back from photos! but i was new to racing.

yup, the first 30 is the place to be, except anywhere above 10 and it is very aggressive. it can be tough holding onto your place, as lads will always be moving up on the inside and outside, you can quickly find your way to the back otherwise.

el tonto, try find a lift to the races, there's always a load of riders from orwell at them. it is orwell you ride with?? save your legs for the race.

DirkVoodoo

Lumen wrote: »

Nah, hair prevents boundary layer separation. Like shark scales, innit.

Hmmm...are you thinking that if turbulent flow develops around the hairs then it may lead to vortex shedding which could upset his speed?

Maybe there is an aerodynamic "cycling" beard that might improve performance and euroness, its worth further study no? Get some funding, go cycling every day, publish some half-assed, inconclusive research that warrants "further study"?

cunavalos

Just shave off the beard before you race, aerodynamics and all that

who said a beard wasnt aerodynamic

if it was good enough for sean eadie :D

Quigs Snr

One final tip. If you do it, and you should... murder yourself to stay in at the start and empty the tanks on the climb, if you can ride within yourself, fine, but it you have to throw the kitchen sink at it to get over that first climb then do it, you may want to throw in the towel and wonder why you bother if you are struggling, but remember it will get easier. It settles down after that and very few moves happen at that point. You will be able to recover on the descent and sit in for another 30k at that point if you are clever and finish in the bunch sprint. In short if you are still in after 15k you will still be in at the finish. The second time up the climb is more controlled and civilised and the bunch will have found a rhythm.

If you fancy going for a gallop though at least know where the line is ! Ba if I finished ahead of you last year it wasn't by much, I was going backwards at the finish. If you were paying attention you would have seen a red blur make a bolt for it with about 500 to go on the far right (so far right I nearly had to bunnyhop the footpath on the far side of the road). I then raced to a line on the road and sat up when I realised it was the wrong line and was going very much backwards at the finish, 10 riders must have come around me on either side, I was blown and sitting up by then. A valuable learning experience you might say.

Raam

Sounds rather tempting now

Chips Lovell

ba wrote: »

el tonto, try find a lift to the races, there's always a load of riders from orwell at them. it is orwell you ride with?? save your legs for the race.

Yes, I'm with Orwell alright. I've a mate in the club who might be going out and another guy has also offered me a lift, so if I'm still feeling brave enough in six weeks time, I shouldn't be stuck. I looked at Navan again on the map last night. Having thought it wasn't too far beyond Batterstown, I got a bit of a shock. Definitely a bit of a stretch to cycle out.

Raam wrote: »

Sounds rather tempting now

It's not like you're a total noob. You've done the Tour of Ireland after all and you handle yourself as well in a bunch as most club riders. I'd put good money on you finishing ahead of me.