Silver Pail GP 2012

Go2Guy

Anybody heading down to this? If you have any details on the course could you post a link? It's hard to find details on the Fermoy cc website.
It will be my first bike race so if you've any tips in that regard they would be very welcome!
Thanks a lot,
G

Morrisseeee

Here's Patrick's ride from last year, the circuit is ~20km, fairly flat, a few longish drags, and the finish is an uphill drag, ie. fairly tough (alot of power needed).
As he did 80km, I assume he was in the A3 race, the A4 is 3 laps, ie. 60km.
This was my 1st ever race last year, and I was spat out the back after 10km, but I kinda expected it as I was only just starting out.

Tips: first bend is a sharp left after a fast downhill segment, try and be wide & near the front, there's a long uphill drag after this & if you get dropped it's fairly hard to catch up !

Go2Guy

Thanks for the tips.
I don't feel inspired since it was your first race too and you were dropped...what hope do I have!?! Can I ask if you were happy with the amount of training you had done before it?
It looks very lumpy, that might be ok although it will probably worsen the accordion effect. Also...on his first lap he doesn't seem to have reached the same altitude as the next 3...strava telling lies?

Morrisseeee

I had just started the previous August, so I knew I would struggle, it was just a case of 'when' I was going to get shelled out the back.
As for yourself, I have no way of knowing how you will cope. Everyone's different, it really depends on your fitness/experience/base miles/leg strength/ability to suffer etc etc, btw I'm no expert.

............best of luck !

murf85

Go2Guy wrote: »

Anybody heading down to this? If you have any details on the course could you post a link? It's hard to find details on the Fermoy cc website.
It will be my first bike race so if you've any tips in that regard they would be very welcome!
Thanks a lot,
G

You won't be alone don't worry, after alot of thinking about it, questioning whether or not im be fit enough, iv decided that il be heading down too for my first race...

Dubba

is there a one day licence available? might give it a lash. I've yet to do an open race but considering it even tho ill probably be dropped but ill try my best to get back on, get dropped, rinse, repeat

Morrisseeee

Dubba wrote: »

is there a one day licence available? might give it a lash. I've yet to do an open race but considering it even tho ill probably be dropped but ill try my best to get back on, get dropped, rinse, repeat

Yep, one day licence should be available. For those that don't know: normally you rent out a number (€5 or €10), ie. return the number & get your money back. You then register for the race, another €10 or so.
Tip: don't wear any 'pro' gear, eg. Saxo Bank, Astana etc, the commissionaire will not be happy !

Dubba

Cool, thanks for the info Morrisseeee.

Junior

Are the times in the calendar right ? Lunchtime start ? Any idea where sign on is ?

Dubba

Seen this posted on Fermoy Cycling Club facebook page:

Silver Pail Grand Prix - Sunday April 1st. Racing for all categories. Sign on at Colaiste An Chraobhin. Race start Castlehyde, Mallow Road. Note change from Calender- Underage start 11.30. Snr/Jnr start 13.00. Sign on closing 12.30.

How does the A4-A3-A2-A1 roll out work? I presume there are staggered times, is A4 last off, do the groups overlap?

Morrisseeee

How does the A4-A3-A2-A1 roll out work? I presume there are staggered times, is A4 last off, do the groups overlap?

Yep A4 last, and staggered start, 10mins or so.

Warning: spotted a pothole (or more of a lump taken out of the road) at the sharp left bend in Glanworth, it's right in the middle as you take the turn, loose stones/chippings aswell !

Dubba

First open race I've done and first crash - 1km out from the finish, I'm 10 or so back in the middle of the left lane when a car comes towards us leaving little room so people had to pack in to the left at speed then somebody clipped my rear wheel, I stayed up he and another couple went down I think. I had to walk my bike to the finish - 3 broken spokes & very buckled rear Cosmic wheel.
Apart from that I really enjoyed it, was able to keep up and even had something left for a sprint if I'd been luckier.

fixie fox

Dubba wrote: »

First open race I've done and first crash - 1km out from the finish

Nearer 300 metres from the finish I'd say - the sprint was full on. I don't know where that car came from. There was another mass pile up in same spot in A3 race.

Dubba

Yea probably 300m alright, it happened at the base of the hill before the finish after a fast little decent. Some dogy driving by a few people out there today tho most were cool, pulled in a bit to their left and slowed down.
I was talking to an organizer who said there was also crash with the A3s in the exact same place, he also said no one was badly hurt thankfully.

lalorm

A few bad crashes in the A4 race alright and tyres exploding. Didn't see the last A4 crash, but heard it just behind me. The A3 race was a little further up the road just at the start of the little drag up to the finish. Not sure exactly what happened, but saw bikes and riders in the air all over. Happened right at the spot where a white VW was parked and sticking out on the road a little.

Saw one of the A4 riders, an older gentleman with silver curly hair close to the front near the end of the race and then saw him at the back of the A3 bunch when they came around for their finish, then again at the back of the A2 bunch as they came around!

Morrisseeee

I'm just uploading my stava details atm, it certainly was an interesting race, weather was fantastic, huge group of A4's, 2 crashes, one just to my left and just missed the 2nd one before the finish, that was my first (& 2nd) experience of 'crash, smack, crack' of carbon/aluminium !!
Personally I knew I had the fitness to stay with the bunch but hadn't the form to push for a sprint finish, very happy to finish safely tho!

LeoD

Anyone come across any photos of the A4 race on Sunday?

Morrisseeee

On Facebook, Fermoy Cycling Club have a link to some pics, via Picasaweb.

Here's the finish to the A4's (I think)........



Any chance Peter Purfield would cover a Munster event :rolleyes:

Morrisseeee

Someone has posted up a video of the A3 race.


/just turn the volume down!!