Peter Bidwell Memorial?

C3PO

The only race I can see on in Leinster next Saturday is the Peter Bidwell Memorial in Drogheda in the evening. Anyone know what sort of a course it is? Suitable for an new(ish) A4 rider who is determined that this time he's not going to get dropped?

Raam

Coombes Connor the day after in Drogheda too. That was my first proper open race a few years ago.

Dura Ace

It's probably not the best race to start off in as an A4. It's handicapped, and I don't think the A4's got much of a lead last year, whereby they were caught fairly quickly. It's a short enough lap with a climb. I think the race the following day might be a better race to start off in.

On another note, be careful where you park your car. Last year, a number of cars were broken into at the sign-on area. The sign-on was at the retail park in Drogheda. There are two car parks, whereby one was a lot busier than the other, so it might be better to use that one, or alternatively, sign on and then drive a few kms out to the circuit, where there will be some people watching the race.

kennyb3

Whats the second days course like dura ace?

shaungil

Do either of the course go thru Donore village? Think I did one last year with a sharp hill on it.

Dura Ace

kennyb3 wrote: »

Whats the second days course like dura ace?

I haven't actually done the Sunday race, but afaik it's a longer lap and flattish.

The race on Saturday goes through Donore

shaungil

Okay so the race on Saturday (am open to correction from Duraace) the lap sweeps into Donore from Drogheda very fast and veers left into a slight uphill out of the village. A bit bumpy then into a sharp left and immediate steep but short hill. You need to work here to keep in touch but is a power hill not long to break anything up. After that goes into a long very fast straight and then a few turns past a quarry and another hill a bit longer but you are at speed going into it. Think this might be where the finish is. Think was the Brendan Campbell race I did.

Then left and back onto main road with one small drag back in to Donore. This was the lap last summer that David NcCann of Giant asia won on. He demolished the field. Demolished.

@Raam what's the Sunday course like.

RobFowl

Slightly off topic but some times the name of the race is taken for granted somewhat.
Peter Bibwell was a very good rider who rode the Ras on a number of occasions. He never won a stage but had a good sprint and placed a lot. He along a good bunch from Drogheda wheelers moved into race organising , particularly organising races forU16 and the younger age groups.
In terms of the Ras he was a hard working volunteer who supported the race in various roles. He drove team cars, acted as manager for some teams, acted as safety officer and drove the medical control car and acted as a chaperone in anti doping tests.
He was a great laugh and had story after story about cycling which he recited at length
Tragically he was struck with cancer and after a long hard battle died far too young and left a wife and 2 young children.
He is missed by many and to see him name and memory being kept alive with this race is something that would have meant a lot to him.
Good luck to all who race it this weekend.

pprendeville

is there anybody cycling up from Dublin on Sunday? would make a good round trip. sign on is at 11 in Drogeheda retail park i think. race not starting till 1 so will probably be leaving around 11:30ish

nomadic

Great little lap for that race this evening. The a3/a4 bunch was caught with 2 laps to go and it finished in a bunch sprint. I kinda blew my light with half a lap to go and finished at the back of the bunch. Was that any of the swords lads off here picking fights at the end?

Raam

nomadic wrote: »

Was that any of the swords lads off here picking fights at the end?

??

nomadic

Raam wrote: »

??

There was a bit of a heated discussion going on between a couple of Swords lads and a few lads off another team afterwards.

shaungil

Storm in tea cup. some rider alleged he was impeded in the sprint. Brought his team and buddies with him for support. Was told where to go in no uncertain terms. The commisaire obviously:D

Mark dowling jumped with about 800 m to go to win Paul K Swords second I got first A3 unplaced.

Messy not much working going on in A3/A4 bunch so we were caughtt with two laps to go . I tried to break it up but wasn't happening then a team ate up the road so had to sit on. Hairy finish nearly down twicw but followed a good wheel. So happy enough.

bcmf

well done Shaun. Not long now before A2.

shaungil

Thx but no points for unplaced riders. A good bit to go yet.

killalanerr

i had a go at this this evening first time out in 20 years found it hard going got dropped twice ,kept going until the last lap ,caught a few others and enjoyed the run but i will have to work on finding a lot more speed,i am hoping go a bit further 2moro in the a4 only race,is their one ?

missed the set to i had the car parked before the finish

A44Ever

It was pretty impressive in the Peter Bidwell when the 1's and 2's caught us with two laps to go. Especially the ease with which the 3 guys from Dectek came around the entire group on the outside around the trickiest bends of the course to take control of the race from there on out. Huge jump in speed from then on, it's like we hadn't even been racing until that point. I think one of those Dectek guys ended up winning so chalk one up for team tactics. Us less experienced riders in the bunch can learn a lot by watching the good / smart riders from inside the race when the bunches come together in these handicapped races.