Intervarsity RR and TT 13/10/12

CramCycle

Just got an e-mail about this today for any of our college going posters, the league last year run by UCD/TCD was a great success and had cyclists of all capabilities out. It would be great to get a nice crowd out.

http://www.cusai.ie/?p=4559

The intervarsity league had representatives from UCD, TCD, DIT and ITT, would be great if a few other third and fourth level institutes turned out for this were to turn up as well.

Kerrangatang92

Hi, may I ask would this be suitable for someone with no experience at all cycling with a club or in any kind of bunch? I would be definately interested in it for the experience. And also, were there many inexperienced beginner riders at the previous intervarsitys? I go to DIT by the way. Thanks

dave_o_brien

Kerrangatang92 wrote: »

Hi, may I ask would this be suitable for someone with no experience at all cycling with a club or in any kind of bunch? I would be definately interested in it for the experience. And also, were there many inexperienced beginner riders at the previous intervarsitys? I go to DIT by the way. Thanks

Hi Kerrangatang, I was one of the small number of people representing DIT last year in this, and the simple answer is yes. Most of the events are TT's, so you get to measure yourself against others via a stopwatch. Simple, no danger, no bunch racing. The other race which was a group race was well organised in Corkagh Park, and people found their own natural groups within a few laps, mainly thanks to the devastation caused by Mr.Skeffington! The series was a great way for newcomers to find their feet and figure out whether or not they liked TT'ing and whether group racing was for them.

RockWerchter

Is there a reason for it being run in the off season? I know we're back in college now but surely it'd draw greater numbers if it wasn't on when the majority will be off of the bike? March to May would make much more sense.

Peterx

do night classes count?
If so I'll be happily riding for DIT!

Kerrangatang92

Thanks for that Dave. I might as well give it a pop, looking forward to it now. Also, would you know if the DIT club is active this year? I didnt see them at Bolton street the other day for sign ups.

dave_o_brien

Kerrangatang92 wrote: »

Thanks for that Dave. I might as well give it a pop, looking forward to it now. Also, would you know if the DIT club is active this year? I didnt see them at Bolton street the other day for sign ups.

Not a clue, I finished last year. The club last year was a bit of a joke anyway; there seemed to be a few guys who did a bit of MTB'ing, but they were poorly organised and had no interest in the road side of things. It didn't seem necessary to be a member of the DIT cycling club to participate in the Intervarsity's, more a requirement that you had a current student card.

Peterx

I think DIT cycling club had a stand up alright at the sports day in Bolton st this week but as Dave says just bring along a student card

colm_gti

Does anyone know if we have to cycle with a university club, or just be registered as a student in a university? If being registered as a student in a university is the only requirement, then I'll be there

b00mIR

colm_gti wrote: »

Does anyone know if we have to cycle with a university club, or just be registered as a student in a university? If being registered as a student in a university is the only requirement, then I'll be there

You just have to be a student in a University. If anyone has any questions I'm the organizer of the event. I decided to have it in October to encourage new members out while they're still keen to ride, also having it in March-May would clash with most of the open racing which is on.

Ireland finishes racing a lot earlier than any other country in Europe, I have friends from Belgium and Germany who race until the end of October. I think it would be nice if we had races through September at least. It seems like everything goes dead after the Rás

CramCycle

b00mIR wrote: »

You just have to be a student in a University. If anyone has any questions I'm the organizer of the event. I decided to have it in October to encourage new members out while they're still keen to ride, also having it in March-May would clash with most of the open racing which is on.

Its a great time of year for it, you'll have all the colleges/universities back, alot of students who will have considered it but never made the leap to an open race or a club race, a great plan, get/keep them interested at the beginning of the academic year while enthusiasm is high, really looking forward to it and hopefully drumming up a lot of interest in our own college.

RockWerchter

I definitively agree that the season should be longer, i suppose the only way to make it longer is to organise races later in the year. I suppose i would have just preferred for it to be announced a bit earlier so it could have been planned for. It's good to see it being ran, just a pity that i wouldn't be competitive at this time of the year.

theholyghost

Would love to have done this as my first college race but it clashes with the Roc D'Azur. Damn.

dermo1990

I might give this a go. I've only been cycling about 3 months and have done up to 100km spins in Wicklow, but have never raced before. Any advice on participating in a first road race would be welcome

CramCycle

dermo1990 wrote: »

I might give this a go. I've only been cycling about 3 months and have done up to 100km spins in Wicklow, but have never raced before. Any advice on participating in a first road race would be welcome

Have you been riding in a group before, I know ITT are starting spins this week and I presume the likes of UCD and TCD are already running them. Where are you going to college? Most colleges (and I can be corrected) are happy to have others tag along, I'm out in ITT and you are welcome to join for a conversation and a bit of company.

Most important advice, don't pull your brakes in a bunch, don't drag people along on the first lap no matter how strong you feel, I KNOW, but most importantly, get out with a group and see how you feel.

dermo1990

CramCycle wrote: »

Have you been riding in a group before, I know ITT are starting spins this week and I presume the likes of UCD and TCD are already running them. Where are you going to college? Most colleges (and I can be corrected) are happy to have others tag along, I'm out in ITT and you are welcome to join for a conversation and a bit of company.

Most important advice, don't pull your brakes in a bunch, don't drag people along on the first lap no matter how strong you feel, I KNOW, but most importantly, get out with a group and see how you feel.

Cheers for that, I'm in TCD so I've already done one or two spins with them so far, so I'm starting to get a feel for group riding, but still find it a bit strange. Ah well, I suppose that will take some getting used to.

CramCycle

dermo1990 wrote: »

Cheers for that, I'm in TCD so I've already done one or two spins with them so far, so I'm starting to get a feel for group riding, but still find it a bit strange. Ah well, I suppose that will take some getting used to.

Nice bunch of guys there, met them at the inter varsities last year, one of our guys goes on spins with them now and again, like i said, it doesn't seem that anyone is territorial or unfriendly, most of us are just trying to help the TCD/UCD guys getting an interest up and running and they have done a great job so far.

If the group you are with get up to racing speed, and you get comfortable, then you are half way there. I also imagine that with the variance in levels, it will split into small groups quite quickly. Compared to one of the posters here who I done my undergrad with(if b00mIR is who I think he is), I'm like a child on a tricycle racing Nicholas Roche, but I still feel comfortable going out with these guys, at the very least it will be a fun day out, at best it will give you a taster of something you like.

colm_gti

b00mIR wrote: »

You just have to be a student in a University. If anyone has any questions I'm the organizer of the event. I decided to have it in October to encourage new members out while they're still keen to ride, also having it in March-May would clash with most of the open racing which is on.

Ireland finishes racing a lot earlier than any other country in Europe, I have friends from Belgium and Germany who race until the end of October. I think it would be nice if we had races through September at least. It seems like everything goes dead after the Rás

Someone said we need to race as part of the university and that I'd need a UCD jersey. Is that so? Or can I race in my clubs gear?

EDIT: Also, what format will the race be? Handicapped start?

CramCycle

colm_gti wrote: »

Someone said we need to race as part of the university and that I'd need a UCD jersey. Is that so? Or can I race in my clubs gear?

I hope not as we don't have any yet.

colm_gti

CramCycle wrote: »

I hope not as we don't have any yet.

Loaners all over the place

CramCycle

colm_gti wrote: »

Loaners all over the place

I attempted to join UCD a few times when I was there but was always to busy, now I am a postgrad I am free to entertain such things out here in West Dublin, we're alot closer to climbing country. Must try and organise a race on the Brittas circuit one evening.

Peterx

Quick request - Could someone please post up the loop?

I had a quick look on Strava but am obviously unable to drive Strava as all I got back was a 1.3km climb segment.

patrick151

Someone more knowledgeable feel free to correct me but I believe this is it http://app.strava.com/rides/1145470

CramCycle

patrick151 wrote: »

Someone more knowledgeable feel free to correct me but I believe this is it http://app.strava.com/rides/1145470

Not certain, that is one of the league ones but I actually thought it would be this one: http://app.strava.com/segments/710884 with the start in Batterstown and rolling out onto the circuit and twice/three times around?

Peterx

Well that was great fun, thanks to all the organisers and marshalls. Despite their best efforts I managed to go the wrong way at an early roundabout;)

You have to stay focussed, lads were pinging off the front for a lap and half and getting nowhere and then all of a sudden the decisive break just seemed to drift away and then sure and it was gone. Gah...

Well done to all the medallists and very very well done to the lads for whom this was their first race. You don't usually have to try and keep up with A1, A2, A3 and juniors in your first race!

colm_gti

My god that was the hardest race I've ever ridden!

Pretty chuffed with my 4th place in the TT and 9th in the RR though all the same, considering bunch that was in it!