Ben Mc Kenna Memorial Race

Pablo Rubio

Just in from doing a couple of laps of the course this morning.
Good course ,but lots of narrow roads (which were in S***e this morning) and a couple of tricky descents and corners. Could be a case of leave the good wheels at home tomorrow. Should be some tough racing allround tomorrow;)

Caroline_ie

... descending? ... what about the bits that go up?

manwithaplan

There's one descent in this that worries me far more than any of the climbs.

iridemybike

manwithaplan wrote: »

There's one descent in this that worries me far more than any of the climbs.

Which one is this? Where abouts on the course is it?

25sean

how long is the race.. A3? ive seen different distances... is it 90km?

manwithaplan

iridemybike wrote: »

Which one is this? Where abouts on the course is it?

Here:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=77789913&postcount=16

manwithaplan

25sean wrote: »

how long is the race.. A3? ive seen different distances... is it 90km?

The flyer I have says "3 laps - 80k".

25sean

thanks for that... hope we get the sun...

columbus_66

I can't find my sunglasses after the Harry Reynolds this evening, so if anyone finds a pair of grey Rudy Projects with red lenses could they give them to the organiser please? I will have a look myself tomorrow as well. Thanks.

buffalo

Great bloody* race! A4 split toward the end of the first lap, about eight riders up front, and maybe 15 (?) in a chasing bunch (incl mise). Looked like we were closing the gap after Ballyboughal, but they pulled away again. Only caught up with them with about 200m to go, I think most of the winners were from the break.

Lots of marshalls, bunch was the safest I've been in so far this year, perhaps due to the narrow roads stopping people taking silly risks. Only complaint is that I heard nothing about the rollout. Didn't know that it was happening, how long it was. When we stopped for the starting line, I thought there had been a crash ahead at first. And it meant the first climb was neutralised, which didn't suit me. That info would've been good to have beforehand. But other than that, take a bow Balbriggan CC!


*I didn't originally mean it literally, but now that I think of it, I did actually see some blood on one lad at the end of the race. Just scrapes and bruises thankfully.

killalanerr

Again another good weekend of bike racing well done and thanks to the balbriggan cc for putting on a super show they even had the weather sorted
Im more than happy with my weekends work i managed tho pick up placing in both the Harry on sat and again today in the Jazzer
In the Harry race the handicapper got it just about right my group A4s were caught by the A2 and A3 early in the race,i found the the increase in speed as each group caught us a bit of a shock but managed to adjust,despite some hard riding throughout the race a group of 80 riders charged up the hill for the final sprint with the A1s just making contact as the front of the race crossed the line,as the bunch drove for the line i managed to hold my place and raise a decent sprint to get up for a place and first A4 to cross the line
The Jazzer was always going to be about the hill at the start of lap 2 i still have not got 2 days back to back in me yet so i knew i would have my work cut out to match the skinnies on the hills and i was proved right when the hammer went down i was found wanting and missed the brake and ended up in the chasing group the brake of 8 were just off the front and were not really going anywhere but we were making heavy work of getting them back as we turned up the hill to the finish the brake was just off the front as the sprint got going we just got on to the back of them with the top 4 in the brake getting the top places and the chase group sharing what was left i managed to nip up for a place despite a guy in front of me just siting up when i was in full flight sure thats racing
Bit disappointed that i didnt pick up a few points but other than that very happy

manwithaplan

I got into the break on the hill at the start of the second lap. We worked together well and I was feeling strong. I was sick when we were swamped just before the finish but no excuses - the first and second places went to lads in the break and they were strong enough to stay away from the catch. There were six of us left in the break at the finish so I was thinking about banking the couple of points I needed for an upgrade!

As buffalo says, it was good safe riding all the way around although one guy crashed out of the break just in front of me. I only just avoided him - in fact, my front wheel clipped his helmet.

Thanks to Balbriggan. Looking forward to a weekend off over Easter and hope to be raring to go for Stamullen.

killalanerr

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGyWhM5VP14&feature=share clip of the

Harry Reynolds

DKO

Unlucky manwithaplan, I was towards the front of the bunch watching you guys. Have to say it was interesting riding. No one was really game to chase it seemed until the bitter end. Bits and pieces of pushes with nothing really sustained. Everyone hedging their bets. Tough luck you didn't all just make it, but glad in a way a few of the break got high places.

DKO

Forgot to add, I enjoyed the race, most interesting one of the few I have done, loads of variations, good roads, not so good roads, wide, narrow, hills, descents.

Pablo Rubio

What was story with the guy who crashed in the break. Was 4th or 5th in the line in the chasing group when there was a big swerve and just saw him sitting on the rode.
The little humpback bridge at the end of the descent was a bit hairy , one guy took off like the "Dukes of Hazzard" over it. Glad I was in first few down it.

kenmc

broken frame and bruises and scratches for him. he doesn't really know what caused him to go down, but someone else who saw it says that a rider came up and over the trinity lad and possibly cut in a little sharper than he should, causing him (tcd) to brake which resulted in the next guy to crash

yeah that bump in the road was fun. I landed front wheel first after getting air. was grand though, quite enjoyed it actually!

iridemybike

kenmc wrote: »

yeah that bump in the road was fun. I landed front wheel first after getting air. was grand though, quite enjoyed it actually!

Me too, but I wasn't expecting it at all and it initially put the fear of god in me!

killalanerr

Pablo Rubio wrote: »

The little humpback bridge at the end of the descent was a bit hairy , one guy took off like the "Dukes of Hazzard" over it. Glad I was in first few down it.

Ya i was right behind the guy that pulled the bunny he got some air
but it was not much fun beening right behind him waiting to see how the landing went.Couldnt resit trying it on the run back to the club after the race got good air,the older i get the worst i get

kenmc

killalanerr wrote: »

Ya i was right behind the guy that pulled the bunny he got some air
but it was not much fun beening right behind him waiting to see how the landing went.Couldnt resit trying it on the run back to the club after the race got good air,the older i get the worst i get

Was it possibly me? Orwell? I figured that if you're going to get airborne, you're better to go with it than to try and keep the bike on the ground.