Swords CP this wk/end

English Bob

On the cycling Ireland calender there's a Swords CP this wk/end (05/06/11).
Anyone know anything about this?

Beasty

It's the Swords GP on the Corduff Circuit (finishing on the hill;))

Martyn Irvine won this race last year

There is also the Kathleen O'Sullivan on the Garristown circuit the following Thursday

shaungil

Last year was a combined A4 and A3 race with A4 getting about 2 mins. All came together at the end.

A1/2 race was a war of attrition with only about 15 finishing. will be intersting to see how many appear for it after the Ras just finishing yesterday.

Lusk Doyle

The website shows two different distances - 80k / 120k. Anyone know the setup for the A4 race?

Raam

Probably A3, A4 for the 80km and A1, A2 for the 120km.

Lusk Doyle

Ta!

Beasty

So that's 4 times up the Nags head for the slow race and 6 times for the fast one

I think the Kathleen O'Sullivan is only for A3s and A4s (although I expect to see you all at the 25mTT the previous night anyway)

kennyb3

Will the A4 still be 80k this year even with the distance restriction this year? Im sure i ll hate this hill enough after wednesday anyway

shaungil

There was talk of a seperate a4 race last year but the fear was the lap wasn't long enough and that the A1's would catch so it was combined.

not sure what the deal is this year but last year there were combined races of up to 100km and A4's were thrown in. Will see what I can find out at club league tomorrow.

morana

shaungil wrote: »

There was talk of a seperate a4 race last year but the fear was the lap wasn't long enough and that the A1's would catch so it was combined.

not sure what the deal is this year but last year there were combined races of up to 100km and A4's were thrown in. Will see what I can find out at club league tomorrow.

A4's are restricted to 80km!

shaungil

Not going to name clubs but I did a combined 100 km race as an A4 last season. It was advertised as seperate A4 but when I arrived they said there weren't enough numbers so we were thrown in a combined A1234 race in the lashing rain for 100km. I mentioned the distance restriction but was answered with a shoulder shrug. Carnage but great fun.

If 80km on Sunday would guess it will be combined A3/4.

RobFowl

shaungil wrote: »

Not going to name clubs but I did a combined 100 km race as an A4 last season. It was advertised as seperate A4 but when I arrived they said there weren't enough numbers so we were thrown in a combined A1234 race in the lashing rain for 100km. I mentioned the distance restriction but was answered with a shoulder shrug. Carnage but great fun.

T'wasn't at Robinstown by any chance :rolleyes:

shaungil

You may think that but I couldn't possibly comment. Bonus point if you can name the TV series.

killalanerr

kennyb3 wrote: »

Im sure i ll hate this hill enough after wednesday anyway

are we doing this track tomorrow as well ? some body said the tt was this wen ?

kennyb3

killalanerr wrote: »

are we doing this track tomorrow as well ? some body said the tt was this wen ?

25Mile TT is the following week AFAIK

niceonetom

Anyone care to link to a map of the circuit for those of us who aren't swordsmen*?

*why don't you guys call yourselves that? I would?

Lusk Doyle

kennyb3 wrote: »

25Mile TT is the following week AFAIK

Correct.

Lusk Doyle

Here is the Swords "Swordsmen" peleton in action!

Raam

I think this is it

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=Naul+Rd&daddr=Naul+Rd+to:R129+to:R132+to:Unknown+road+to:Unknown+road+to:Naul+Rd&hl=en&geocode=FYSsMAMdlF2g_w%3BFWCoMAMd7F-g_w%3BFaJwMAMdxHyh_w%3BFeAiMQMdTj6h_w%3BFSEsMQMdsrKg_w%3BFXY8MQMdNEqg_w%3BFSetMAMdMV2g_w&mra=mi&mrsp=6&sz=18&sll=53.521686,-6.267411&sspn=0.002421,0.004823&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=53.530105,-6.219292&spn=0.071425,0.145912&z=12

Lusk Doyle

So the GP is the same as Wednesday's league race only (much) longer?

kennyb3

niceonetom wrote: »

Anyone care to link to a map of the circuit for those of us who aren't swordsmen*?

*why don't you guys call yourselves that? I would?

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/80502

niceonetom

Thanks folks!

manwithaplan

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

So the GP is the same as Wednesday's league race only (much) longer?

Not enormously so - only one extra go up the hill for A4s. I wouldn't have minded chancing this as my first open race but the Dubs (and my football mad youngfella) must take priority.

Lusk Doyle

manwithaplan wrote: »

Not enormously so - only one extra go up the hill for A4s. I wouldn't have minded chancing this as my first open race but the Dubs (and my football mad youngfella) must take priority.

Must they? You should teach him to deal with disappointments!

A44Ever

Does anyone have a map for the route on Sunday?

Raam

A44Ever wrote: »

Does anyone have a map for the route on Sunday?

It's been posted twice now, four or five posts above yours.

RobFowl

A44Ever wrote: »

Does anyone have a map for the route on Sunday?

Yes

Raam wrote: »

It's been posted twice now, four or five posts above yours.

Wed's am blues ??

Raam wrote: »

I think this is it

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=Naul+Rd&daddr=Naul+Rd+to:R129+to:R132+to:Unknown+road+to:Unknown+road+to:Naul+Rd&hl=en&geocode=FYSsMAMdlF2g_w%3BFWCoMAMd7F-g_w%3BFaJwMAMdxHyh_w%3BFeAiMQMdTj6h_w%3BFSEsMQMdsrKg_w%3BFXY8MQMdNEqg_w%3BFSetMAMdMV2g_w&mra=mi&mrsp=6&sz=18&sll=53.521686,-6.267411&sspn=0.002421,0.004823&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=53.530105,-6.219292&spn=0.071425,0.145912&z=12

kennyb3 wrote: »

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/80502

A44Ever

Thanks for the maps, and sorry for asking again. I should have checked for any updates before posting. It's all new to me so bear with me.

kellt

with this race being an open race i presume that the pace is not as intense as a swords club league race on the same route or am i wrong?

shaungil

I've never done an Open race as hard and as intense as some of the Club leagues so yeah typically is easier until near the end as you're not chasing down the earlier groups.

ryan_sherlock

kellt wrote: »

with this race being an open race i presume that the pace is not as intense as a swords club league race on the same route or am i wrong?

Opposite - it will be quicker in the open race

kellt

shaungil wrote: »

I've never done an Open race as hard and as intense as some of the Club leagues so yeah typically is easier until near the end as you're not chasing down the earlier groups.

Thanks SG thats the answer i was hoping for

Lusk Doyle

Ohh - two conflicting views! Who to believe - the Ras racer veteran or the Ras Marshal veteran?!?

ryan_sherlock

Well, I have not ridden many club league races so possibly the guy who has done both. I just know how full gas that race can be.

(I looked at my data from doing it 2 years ago - I was in the winning break of 5 but my Garmin mount broke and the bike computer fell to the ground - I stopped - OT, the new Garmin mounts are fine...)

ryan_sherlock

And the 2009 race on Strava: http://app.strava.com/rides/507025#

(I didn't finish the race)

RobFowl

SG rides the league races in scratch so the A3/4 race will be slower and easier than that.
From most of the rest of the groups bar possibly semi-scratch it'll be a lot harder.

Raam

RobFowl wrote: »

SG rides the league races in scratch

Is that what he tells ya?

niceonetom

Re: league .v. Open races and which is harder.

I've never done a swords league race but I know that I take a hammering in the Orwell league (racing now in the scratch group) that I never get in open A3 races.

In the league I'm in with A2s and some A1s as well as A3s like myself. The pace is higher, the racing more aggressive and any sign of weakness is likely to inspire someone to try to jump off the front - and that's in CPs! In DMS format it's even more attacking. None of that happens in A3 where the racing is largely negative and cautious. There's probably an element of league racing being lower-stakes for most involved so they're more prepared to be adventurous with the tactics and see what happens.

Irvine's presence at the swords races is probably responsible upping everyone's pace a bit too.

Lusk Doyle

niceonetom wrote: »

Re: league .v. Open races and which is harder.

I've never done a swords league race but I know that I take a hammering in the Orwell league (racing now in the scratch group) that I never get in open A3 races.

In the league I'm in with A2s and some A1s as well as A3s like myself. The pace is higher, the racing more aggressive and any sign of weakness is likely to inspire someone to try to jump off the front - and that's in CPs! In DMS format it's even more attacking. None of that happens in A3 where the racing is largely negative and cautious. There's probably an element of league racing being lower-stakes for most involved so they're more prepared to be adventurous with the tactics and see what happens.

Irvine's presence at the swords races is probably responsible upping everyone's pace a bit too.

I think we should ban him for being too awesome! Either that or make him ride a fixie!

ryan_sherlock

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

I think we should ban him for being too awesome! Either that or make him ride a fixie!

I'd say put him on a mountain bike (with only a 44t big ring) - slow down the motorbike!

shaungil

No A3/4 race I've done is harder than semi scratch or scratch even some of the combined ones are easier beacause you can hide in the bunch and sit on. The league is always chasing a group so youi have to work and then when you're caught you're already on the limit and have to try and hang on.

I did 4 races in scratch last year none this year because the lads in scratch were prepping for Ras and I knew I'd get a kicking and not be able to hang on.

Of course if you scrub in Semi scratch or scratch then an open race may be harder. I hope that clarifies my opinion. Ryan drop down anytime and you can see yourself.

RobFowl

shaungil wrote: »

Ryan drop down anytime and you can see yourself.

1 pro kicking ass is enough !!!

(Fat and out of shape but making season début tonight ...)

ryan_sherlock

shaungil wrote: »

Of course if you scrub in Semi scratch or scratch then an open race may be harder. I hope that clarifies my opinion. Ryan drop down anytime and you can see yourself.

I plan on making it out at some point - thanks.

ryan_sherlock

Is there anyone traveling from the Dundrum area that can give me a lift to this race? Mel is going to the stage race up in Donegal with the car this weekend.

Split petrol/tolls etc.

PM me.

Ryaner

I'd be in group 3 in the swords league and like shaungil said, they are typically easier until the end, more so if no one wants to work. Few of the A4 races have gone at pedestrian paces for the first lap or two.

A1/A2 races always look different. The Lucan GP was the only one I remember that the bunch didn't appear to get split to pieces. One of the northern races I went to looked like less than 10 finished in the A1/A2 race.

Lusk Doyle

ryan_sherlock wrote: »

Is there anyone traveling from the Dundrum area that can give me a lift to this race? Mel is going to the stage race up in Donegal with the car this weekend.

Split petrol/tolls etc.

PM me.

You should cycle over. Give the rest of us a chance. Its not like you have been training hard for it recently anyway

ryan_sherlock

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

You should cycle over. Give the rest of us a chance. Its not like you have been training hard for it recently anyway

I would except I wouldn't get to ride my Lightweights in the race... (don't want to ride through the city on tubs!) Those wheels are just too nice not to use when racing.

English Bob

The sign on time is 12? That right?
Looking forward to a good couple of hours of suffering!!!!

Beasty

English Bob wrote: »

Looking forward to a good couple of hours of suffering!!!!

+1

I'm definitely looking forward to seeing you guys suffering;)

Hungrycol

Would love to be there but I'm away for the next week. Look forward to reading all the race reports. Enjoy folks.

Raam

ryan_sherlock wrote: »

I would except I wouldn't get to ride my Lightweights in the race... (don't want to ride through the city on tubs!) Those wheels are just too nice not to use when racing.

I rode a pair a few weeks ago that my older bro had on loan. Damn those things are light.