Race in Phoenix Park tomorrow Night

bunnygreen

Good race in PP tomorrow evening start time 7.30 all cats,a crit type affair.It's the first of a few i think.

Caroline_ie

I will probably be there to watch the show

zzzzzzzz

bunnygreen wrote: »

Good race in PP tomorrow evening start time 7.30 all cats,a crit type affair.It's the first of a few i think.

Was thinking about doing this but something's come up and I won't make it. Really hope there's more of them over the summer - looking forward to doing one.

Best of luck to yous.

Out of interest - is there a course map up anywhere?

ba

will give the bike a scrub tomorrow and head out to it for sure.

Stark

bunnygreen wrote: »

Good race in PP tomorrow evening start time 7.30 all cats,a crit type affair.It's the first of a few i think.

Who's organising it and where's the meeting point?

zzzzzzzz

Stark wrote: »

Who's organising it and where's the meeting point?

Usher - sign on at the popes cross

Stark

Cool. Just found the Cycling Ireland entry on it with a link to a map of a course lap: http://www.cyclingireland.ie/html/site/cyclingireland/story.jsp?id=1255

Anyone have any idea of race distances, entry fee etc.?

Chips Lovell

Hi Stark,
There's usually an entry fee. The last few I've been to, it's a tenner.

If you are a member of Cycling Ireland, but don't have an open racing license, you'll have to pay €10 for a day license. If you are not a member of Cycling Ireland, you'll have to pay €20 for a day license. In addition to this, if you are either of the above, you'll have to get a number at sign on, which usually means leaving a deposit of around €10 for it.

@Mods. It might be a good idea to merge this thread with the other Paddy Sullivan Memorial one.

Billy Whizz

Glad to see it's going up the Khyber Road and not down it.

Chips Lovell

Billy Whizz wrote: »

Glad to see it's going up the Khyber Road and not down it.

So the start is at the bottom of the Khyber now? That's a bit less scary.

Caroline_ie

el tonto wrote: »

So the start is at the bottom of the Khyber now? That's a bit less scary.

Tonto, are you doing it??

Chips Lovell

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Tonto, are you doing it??

Planning on yes. If so, don't laugh. I'll be lucky if I amn't dropped very early.

Caroline_ie

el tonto wrote: »

Planning on yes. If so, don't laugh. I'll be lucky if I amn't dropped very early.

No no .. won't laugh, will just have the camera ready.

Chips Lovell

Caroline_ie wrote: »

No no .. won't laugh, will just have the camera ready.

Ah sheesh. You could at least take pictures at a race where I'm not going to be utterly destroyed.

Straatvark

Is Rapha-Condor going to be present tonight, or did they left already?

GP

Straatvark wrote: »

Is Rapha-Condor going to be present tonight, or did they left already?

No, they left on Sunday evening. Back for Ras + TOI.

niceonetom

I've done a million laps of that course (in both directions) but only at training pace. Racing it would be great fun but I hope someone will go and give a couple of those corners a bit of a sweep - there's lots of gravel and twigs and stuff at the corner where the military rd. meets the bottom of the Kyber and you'll be going at a far speed through there. Dicey.

There's also some serious potholes at the bottom of the kyber right beside where the cars park so beware.

Bring the stickiest tyres you've got, and unless you're very familiar with the circuit I'd recommend a good recce, there's a lot of technical stuff on it, so it'll favour the brave and punish the foolhardy.

I might go down to witness the carnage.

blorg

niceonetom wrote: »

the corner where the military rd. meets the bottom of the Kyber and you'll be going at a far speed through there. Dicey.

Sounds like a good spot for spectating.

niceonetom

I'll be wearing a boards jersey drinking cans and pretending I'm on the mur de huy. G'WAAAAAAAAAAAN MARIO!!!

smithslist

niceonetom wrote: »

I'll be wearing a boards jersey drinking cans and pretending I'm on the mur de huy. G'WAAAAAAAAAAAN MARIO!!!

the Mur de Huy is nothing compared to the Kyber Pass

ROK ON

+1 on Niceone comments.
Cycled home that way y'day.
Lots of tree stuff (twigs etc road is effectively covered in part by trees on both side) on Kyber.
Also there is a difference in the quality of the road surface on the hill between the bike lane (coloured) and walking lane - bike lane is better IMO.
At the bottom, (by the little bridge!!) the surface is uneven.

Military road - was here this morning. Road surface is fine - best surface in the park IMO.
It does get slippery when wet, but that said, should be fine now.

For the past few days there have been a huge amont of deer congregating in the evenings on Military road (they are usually up by Chapelizod/Furry Glen). Just be careful with them, they dart all over the shop, and when they get frightened they just bolt for it like crazy. (I presume that the park rangers will try herd them away from the general race area!!!).

Anyway, best of luck.
(and I hope that all ye cyclists dont back up traffic in the park, as I have to be in town for dinner this evening:D).

Chips Lovell

niceonetom wrote: »

I'll be wearing a boards jersey drinking cans and pretending I'm on the mur de huy. G'WAAAAAAAAAAAN MARIO!!!

There's nothing to stop you racing yourself.

blorg

el tonto wrote: »

There's nothing to stop you racing yourself.

The drinking cans might be a problem, it will be a tight bunch.

Chips Lovell

blorg wrote: »

The drinking cans might be a problem, it will be a tight bunch.

He could save cracking them open until after the race is done. They'll taste all the sweater.

You in blorg?

blorg

el tonto wrote: »

He could save cracking them open until after the race is done. They'll taste all the sweater.

You in blorg?

I am going to presume that is intentional. I don't think I'll take part, although it is getting better I am still in some pain and don't want to make things worse.

Chips Lovell

blorg wrote: »

I am going to presume that is intentional.

Lol, we need sub-editors on Boards. Who else is goign to crrect my seplling?

TinyExplosions

I'll be at the popes cross about 7 or so, for picture taking and general ridicule of all and sundry. Not taking part though -too rich for my blood

DirkVoodoo

I would pop along and check it out, the cans part had me interested, but I plan on just sitting around this evening :rolleyes:

Poncherello

how many laps of that circuit would they be doing ?
What is the standard, I get the impression from the people just going along to watch that it is serious enough ??

petethedrummer

I'll be there too (in an old-style Renault jersey).

Chips Lovell

Poncherello wrote: »

how many laps of that circuit would they be doing ?

Apparently, it's usually an hour's racing plus two laps.

Caroline_ie

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

I would pop along and check it out, the cans part had me interested, but I plan on just sitting around this evening :rolleyes:

I will bring a coke for your Dirk Will be there on the fixie.

DirkVoodoo

Cool, sure I'll pop along so, looks like a nice evening.

EDIT: Oooh, just remembered; Barcelona v Chelsea is on.

Chips Lovell

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

I would pop along and check it out, the cans part had me interested, but I plan on just sitting around this evening :rolleyes:

DirkHairdo: Too lazy to go knacker drinking in the park.

TinyExplosions

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

EDIT: Oooh, just remembered; Barcelona v Chelsea is on.

Why would that stop you coming down? Wuss....

eggie

Was looking forward to watching this but did my first 45Km in about 10 years today so its legs up and watch the game (using arms to lift legs on to couch):o.

Good luck to those who are entering, looks a tight course, was around today, be a few spills if the clutter on the road edges/junctions isnt tidied.

Chips Lovell

Oh boy. I did not enjoy that one. Fast corners caught me out and I lost my nerve. Out the back very early.

DirkVoodoo

How did you finish up?

In hindsight, watching racing in the park would have been better than that 90 minutes of boredom I just sat through.

smithslist

el tonto wrote: »

Oh boy. I did not enjoy that one. Fast corners caught me out and I lost my nerve.

I thought it was a good technical course, quite fast and alot of scary moments, good race thou.

hopefully the park races are back on the calender on a more regular basis.

Raam

el tonto wrote: »

Oh boy. I did not enjoy that one. Fast corners caught me out and I lost my nerve. Out the back very early.

How did it go down?

ba

yeah, would like to see more of these races on the calender cos that was fun

Chips Lovell

Raam wrote: »

How did it go down?

As the lads said, it's a fast technical course and I just couldn't hold my position. I just gave up very quickly on trying to keep in there and ended up riding most of the race on my own then until I dropped out a few laps from the end. I'm just crap at taking the right line in corners and I brake way too much. I think I don't trust myself too much either since crashing earlier on this year.

dave2pvd

el tonto wrote: »

As the lads said, it's a fast technical course and I just couldn't hold my position. I just gave up very quickly on trying to keep in there and ended up riding most of the race on my own then until I dropped out a few laps from the end. I'm just crap at taking the right line in corners and I brake way too much. I think I don't trust myself too much either since crashing earlier on this year.

A criterium! This sounds like a Michelin ProRace 3 circuit.

Did you manage to follow others and learn their cornering lines? How about asking others what corners actually need brakes? The answer can often be surprisingly few.

blorg

dave2pvd wrote: »

Did you manage to follow others and learn their cornering lines? How about asking others what corners actually need brakes? The answer can often be surprisingly few.

We know the theory, the practice is a hell of a lot more difficult When someone slows in front it is difficult not to overcompensate. I hope it becomes easier with practice, I certainly need it.

First lap was neutralised and we were stopped at the end. Then Vets/women/juniors went first. Cs next. I was at the front on the line and one guy in particular went tearing off. Noticed he had a powertap hub, reckoned "maybe he knows what he is doing" and decided I would superglue myself to his wheel. We were ahead, I did a token pull but he was a fair bit stronger. I guess I was hoping we might somehow catch the Vets quickly, I could tag on the back and I wouldn't need to deal with this crazy bunch race going on behind me.

Managed to stay front of the pack for the first couple of laps mainly out of terror of cornering in a bunch (easy to corner if you are in front), then got steadily sucked backwards... By the time I was still at the front but IN the pack it was terrifying, I was yelled at for braking and not following my line and rightly so, think it might have been the third pass coming down to the Khyber I was particularly bad. This is a sharp descent with a left turn at the bottom. I had the same problem in the Cycleways Cup in Navan. After that I lost my nerve and moved back, it became a lot easier again then as the concertina effect meant you were taking the corners a lot slower.

Was dropped midway on the third last lap, but a very fast guy came up behind and I hooked onto him. Very tough even just to stay on his wheel but managed it and he dragged me back to the pack in time for the climb. I think he may have been a breakaway from the A or B race, I wasn't thinking straight.

At some point towards the end a Myhome guy put his arm around me and asked "have you ever raced on the road before?" I appreciated that, honestly. It was terrifying. My first crit. Christ. I survived it at least and more to the point wasn't the cause of anyone else's demise.

I was finally dropped for good later on the third last lap going up the Khyber I think, I was at the back at this point and were caught by the group behind (As/Bs) and I pulled in to let them past.

I was still hanging on the end of the bunch when they had up "2 laps to go" - I think. And then was dropped on that lap, went up and around for what I thought was the final lap, but then there was another. Bliss, on my own, sun going down, nice colour. The terror was over.

TinyExplosions

blorg wrote: »

At some point towards the end a Myhome guy put his arm around me and asked "have you ever raced on the road before?"

A smooth chatup line if I've ever heard one...

Well done to everyone though, was great to watch, can only imagine of scary it was to race!

Raam

http://www.irishcycling.com/publish/news/art_3834.shtml

I think I see some familiar faces here

Caroline_ie

Blorg is on a photo from that page
Was great to watch indeed.
One person racing shouted ' ye lazy bnoardsies' to us cheering at the side on the road ... but we knew that already.

Well done Tonto, blorg, ba and everyone else.

Raam

I also see Billy Whizz quite prominent in there.

TinyExplosions

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Blorg is on a photo from that page

Tonto is just to his right in that picture! And he's in another one too

LDB

Sounds utterly terrifying!
looks like it was a big bunch. roughly how many were you riding amongst?

zzzzzzzz

LDB wrote: »

Sounds utterly terrifying!
looks like it was a big bunch. roughly how many were you riding amongst?

almost 200 according to irish cycling! :eek:

fair play to ye lads.