Swords League Race 1

shaungil

First race tom night Weds 13th. TT up Ardgillen hill.

Beasty have you last years results so we can open the book now.

Beasty

You did 4:32, staro 4:20, the now departed Mr Skeffington had the best time at 3:45, superlav second at 3:58 (although I understand someone tried it after we had all finished, and clocked 3:20:eek:)

My target is 5:20;) (which is an average speed of just over 20kph)

The white lines have disappeared, so the course may be a different length! - last year's was 1.81km with 80m of climbing (4.5%), the steepest bit 12% about 40-50 seconds in, with 8% a few hundred metres before the Ardgillan gates. I think the key is to have something left tio blast it once you are over that 2nd "crest" - it's still a drag, but I hit 36kph along that bit last year (and 38kph on Saturday)

Forecast is overcast with possible showers - it's quite sheltered, and wind is forecast at 20kph or so from the SE (which makes it a crosswind)

There's quite a lot of fine gravel to watch out for particularly if it's wet - it's best to try and keep to the car tyre lines and not go in the middle of the lane

Watch out for Raam and ryaner - neither of whom did it last year

BTH

Going to give this a go myself tomorrow as well.

Realistically, how long will it take to drive out there from town this time of year? And what time does it all kick off at?? Had presumed this was the same hill as the end of season one last year, but i now see its not.

kennyb3

Good man Beasty. Also Dave Wherity who was 4th in the corduff TT last year and is flying it early this season.

I was looking forward to this, but it will be a couple of weeks at least before im racing again. i ll prob try get out and watch.

Any rumours on who the 3.20 was by?

kennyb3

BetterThanHoyte wrote: »

Going to give this a go myself tomorrow as well.

Realistically, how long will it take to drive out there from town this time of year? And what time does it all kick off at?? Had presumed this was the same hill as the end of season one last year, but i now see its not.

Its about 35-45 mins from Drumcondra depending on traffic plus whatever it takes you to get to Drumcondra.

07Lapierre

kennyb3 wrote: »

Good man Beasty. Also Dave Wherity who was 4th in the corduff TT last year and is flying it early this season.

I was looking forward to this, but it will be a couple of weeks at least before im racing again. i ll prob try get out and watch.

Any rumours on who the 3.20 was by?

Martin Irvine was there that evening.

manwithaplan

I'll be giving this a go but I won't be troubling the oddsmakers. I have gone up it a few times on club spins but I'm not sure of the start/finish for this. If I get there early enough, I'll take an easy spin up to check it out.

I'll be driving out from town at 5ish with room for one other with a bike if anyone's stuck.

This will be my first season of club league races. What do people coming directly from work usually do grub-wise? This is more an issue for future rounds than for tomorrow. I generally have something light at lunch and eat my dinner in the evening - I presume a decent feed at lunchtime would at least be required on race days.

kennyb3

@manwithaplan,

Id generally have either a bigger lunch, a banana at 5 before leaving the office. Some sports drink before the start and maybe even a gel.

Or smetimes i can get a bagel in at 3 or 5. Im sure you ll get lots of different answers though.

07Lapierre

manwithaplan wrote: »

I'll be giving this a go but I won't be troubling the oddsmakers. I have gone up it a few times on club spins but I'm not sure of the start/finish for this. If I get there early enough, I'll take an easy spin up to check it out.

I'll be driving out from town at 5ish with room for one other with a bike if anyone's stuck.

This will be my first season of club league races. What do people coming directly from work usually do grub-wise? This is more an issue for future rounds than for tomorrow. I generally have something light at lunch and eat my dinner in the evening - I presume a decent feed at lunchtime would at least be required on race days.

The Start is at Lap/Marker "1" and the finish is at marker "2".
(ignore my time of 5:37, it was a bad day! )

shaungil

Twill be nice to do this in light and know we don't have 4 more to do and a wet dark descent after each one.

As a one off climb it is a power climb so won't suit a Raam type but would say some of the Stamullen lads will be there or thereabouts. Bragging rights for the winter training are up for grabs though.......Might try to use the small ring a bit more this year.

Spokes of Glory

Forget about results. The burning question is; will 07Lapierre be riding his new Pinarello if its raining ?? And what will his new nom de plume be now ? I propose "CurvyForks_Domestique".

Spokes

Beasty

There are a few non-boardsies not mentioned so far that are in with a shout. Watch out for Henry Crowley in particular.

Some stats participants might be interested in. Based on my weight (90kg or so) every kg I can jettison is worth about 2 seconds, and every extra 2 watts of power is worth about 1 second.

gilbass

Are non swords members able to compete in this league?

Raam

gilbass wrote: »

Are non swords members able to compete in this league?

Bring lots of biscuits and we will talk.

manwithaplan

shaungil wrote: »

Might try to use the small ring a bit more this year.

Looking at the map so kindly provided by 07Lapierre, the small ring will be firmly in use from the bend to the gates of Ardgillan. I have nothing but admiration for those still in the big ring for much of that section.

goldencleric

first attempt at "racing" ... wish I'd done more in the winter after scouting it out at the weekend

Raam

Raam wrote: »

Bring lots of biscuits and we will talk.

BTW, I've no input into who can compete. I just want biscuits.

07Lapierre

Spokes of Glory wrote: »

Forget about results. The burning question is; will 07Lapierre be riding his new Pinarello if its raining ?? And what will his new nom de plume be now ? I propose "CurvyForks_Domestique".

Spokes

NO I certainly will not!

07Lapierre

Raam wrote: »

BTW, I've no input into who can compete. I just want biscuits.

I decide who rides, and I LOVE Biscuits!!!

morana

stick the results up here so we know who to sit on in the next open race

Best of luck with it swords.

BTH

kennyb3 wrote: »

Its about 35-45 mins from Drumcondra depending on traffic plus whatever it takes you to get to Drumcondra.

Cheers Kenny, I'll actually be travelling from Drumcondra so that's great. Unfortunately it'll be close to 6:30 before I get going, so I'll be one of the last off on this. Don't want to lay down my marker too early anyway!

Beasty

BetterThanHoyte wrote: »

Cheers Kenny, I'll actually be travelling from Drumcondra so that's great. Unfortunately it'll be close to 6:30 before I get going, so I'll be one of the last off on this. Don't want to lay down my marker too early anyway!

The intention is to start at 7, and I'm sure we will try, given light conditions, particularly if there are large numbers (48 or so from recollection last year) - however it did not get going until about 7.20 last year, and people were signing on at the start line after that.

I'm not saying they will be so flexible this year, but it is a bit of a challenge to get everyone there and signed on by 7

pprendeville

Anyone cycling out from town. I'll be leaving around 5.45 and taking old airport rd to make sure I'm well on time (missed race at weekend due to poor time keeping and forgetting license and money. Doh).

killalanerr

i will be leaving the motorbike at home this year a taken to the bike the BTW scheme has a lot to answer for,i wont be troubling the top of the leader board but no matter what i do will be a PB as i never done it before.
looking forward to meeting some of my new club members and putting faces to some of you boardies is their any other over 45 doing this for the first time ? give me something to compare my performance with

duffyshuffle

I've to buy my cycling ireland membership in the morning and if it's approved before cob then do I just bring a copy of confirmation email and I'm ok to sign on? Or are there one day licenses for club races? I'm not in a club and haven't bike raced before, would love to give it a lash tomorrow

Beasty

killalanerr wrote: »

looking forward to meeting some of my new club members and putting faces to some of you boardies is their any other over 45 doing this for the first time ? give me something to compare my performance with

I was over 45 doing it for the first time last year (it was my first ever competitive cycle event) - 5m 22s was my "official" time (I recorded 5m 21s, which is why 5m 20s is my target this year)
(I'm doing it for the first time over 50 in a competition this year)

What I can say is the slower you are the better chance you have of being placed in one of the slow groups when the proper racing starts next week. You watch RobFowl if he's taking part - he's a master at getting in the "right" handicap group by virtue of his performance in this hill climb;)

07Lapierre

duffyshuffle wrote: »

I've to buy my cycling ireland membership in the morning and if it's approved before cob then do I just bring a copy of confirmation email and I'm ok to sign on? Or are there one day licenses for club races? I'm not in a club and haven't bike raced before, would love to give it a lash tomorrow

Proof of the appropriate CI LIcense, 5euro sign on fee, a helmet and ur good to go.

kennyb3

Beasty wrote: »

which is why 5m 20s is my target this year)

So in other words you are completely sandbagging. I predict low 5 or possibly even sub 5 for ya.

As Beasty says you dont want to go too well and end up in group 3 if you're not use to racing.

duffyshuffle

Is there a recommended sock length/colour? Are euro jerseys allowed or only club gear and plain colours or is that open races that rule is? Thanks

English Bob

got to babysit tonight so won't be able to get to this one
Good luck to you all!!

07Lapierre

English Bob wrote: »

got to babysit tonight so won't be able to get to this one
Good luck to you all!!

Its about time those kids of yours became more independant! there really screwing up your training/racing schedule!

(My youngfella's 17, so I HAVE to go cycling...DAMN!):D:D

killalanerr

Beasty wrote: »

I was over 45 doing it for the first time last year (it was my first ever competitive cycle event) - 5m 22s was my "official" time (I recorded 5m 21s, which is why 5m 20s is my target this year)
(I'm doing it for the first time over 50 in a competition this year)

my first time in a league race and i find myself in competition with the grate Beastys last years time (how did that happen )
right so 5.22 sure ill have a go,hope the weather picks up it pissing down just now,i dont do rain,

Beasty

duffyshuffle wrote: »

Is there a recommended sock length/colour? Are euro jerseys allowed or only club gear and plain colours or is that open races that rule is? Thanks

You need to go back to Raam's fashion advice thread re the socks

In terms of jersey, I wore a variety last year, and hardly received a comment.;) We even had jimbo28 impersonating Cav in his HTC Colombia kit, and hardly anyone ribbed him about it...

RobFowl

Am looking forward to this tonight purely as will be watching rather than racing

It's a good test and enjoyable if you're going well.
Out of interest Mr Skeff who won it last year did the whole climb in the big ring....

The key a Beasty says is to have something left to kick on over the second steep section and get back up to speed asap.
The second half of the climb is a gentle 2-3% gradient and can be quite quick.

Getting my eyes lasered in May so deferring any racing until June or so (thats my excuse and I'm sticking to it...)

shaungil

Getting my eyes lasered in May so deferring any racing until June or so (thats my excuse and I'm sticking to it...)

Seriously. Getting your eyes done in mid season. You had all winter to do that. Or next winter.

Beasty

kennyb3 wrote: »

So in other words you are completely sandbagging. I predict low 5 or possibly even sub 5 for ya.

We had a tail-wind last year, about 15kph IIRC. Tonight we are forecast a 20kph southerly, which is largely headwind

However it's quite sheltered, and I would estimate an overall increase in net headwind of something up to 10kph, which would slow me down by around 20-30s, so 5m 20s is my real target, and I will be surprised if we see anyone under 4 minutes tonight, unless the wind is less or turns round from the forecast direction (or Martyn Irvine turns up)

Oh, and I also have the bad back/sciatica excuse, and old age, and .....

duffyshuffle

I've got my gear picked out and ironed. I've just paid for cycling ireland membership and now have license number, do i just bring a print out of my CI account online with the number on it to the race with my €5 so? Thanks again, sorry for the noob questions

Raam

duffyshuffle wrote: »

I've got my gear picked out and ironed. I've just paid for cycling ireland membership and now have license number, do i just bring a print out of my CI account online with the number on it to the race with my €5 so? Thanks again, sorry for the noob questions

Don't forget the biscuits.

duffyshuffle

Is there a thread you've authored and supervised discussing appropriate biscuits? Do swords prefer certain brands? Jaffa cakes suit the colours but they'd be seen as mid-ride rather than with cup of tea after? confused?

07Lapierre

duffyshuffle wrote: »

I've got my gear picked out and ironed. I've just paid for cycling ireland membership and now have license number, do i just bring a print out of my CI account online with the number on it to the race with my €5 so? Thanks again, sorry for the noob questions

Yep!

Raam

Jaffa cakes will do perfect.

kennyb3

Im not a jaffa cake fan so some chocolate ones from a high quality brand would also be desireable

07Lapierre

duffyshuffle wrote: »

Is there a thread you've authored and supervised discussing appropriate biscuits? Do swords prefer certain brands? Jaffa cakes suit the colours but they'd be seen as mid-ride rather than with cup of tea after? confused?

Mcvitie's jaffa cakes??? mmm

shaungil

I'm partial to Viscounts or Taxis (yeah I know bars but if you don't ask).

Beasty

The idea is to offload excess ballast prior to a hill climb, not supplement it:rolleyes:

Idleater

Beasty wrote: »

The idea is to offload excess ballast prior to a hill climb, not supplement it:rolleyes:

sounds like he's offloading them onto his fellow competitors

kennyb3

Beasty wrote: »

The idea is to offload excess ballast prior to a hill climb, not supplement it:rolleyes:

Ah but you have to keep your strength up

plus im not racing, so i ll bring my flask of tea in anticipation of some biscuits

Beasty

kennyb3 wrote: »

Ah but you have to keep your strength up

plus im not racing, so i ll bring my flask of tea in anticipation of some biscuits

I can see Raam needs beefing up, but shaungil :eek:

duffyshuffle

just youtubing some prologues, will everyone have one of those stationary bike things for the warm up? would anyone have a spare one for me? is there any other way i'd be able to get my warm up in if i didn't have one? thanks again

Raam

duffyshuffle wrote: »

would anyone have a spare one for me? is there any other way i'd be able to get my warm up in if i didn't have one? thanks again

Yeah, there will also be pretty girls holding umbrellas.

duffyshuffle

will my mountain bike even fit on one actually?