Women's Racing 2013?

NamelessPhil

We've had threads on audax, cyclocross and Men's racing now it's time for the women.

Last year I put my money where my mouth is and joined a club. They graciously allowed me to do training spins with them (actually they were/are real gents about it, thanks lads:D) and after hearing all the war stories I've decided to try and race in 2013.

Long, long ago (mid-90s) I survived one season as packfill in C-cat racing. I saw the back of the bunch disappearing into the distance too many times but I've decided to have another go. I'm now a MAFIL who likes climbing and is trying to pick up a bit of speed on the flat.

I'd like to hear people's suggestions as to where and how to race in 2013. I'm south Dublin based and have signed up for club league racing (if the numbers permit) but outside of that are there any other races I should target?

Thanks!

killalanerr

no chauvinism here racing is open to all have a look here http://womenscycling.ie/blog/ im sure some of the ladys will be along with better info

RobFowl

Beasty races womens races so may be able to point you in the right direction.

Harrybelafonte

I'd suggest doing track accreditation in February racing in the league in the Summer and Autumn and the various weekenders. But, then again, I suggest that to everyone. (In seriousness there's a load of support for women on the track, one or two Masters World Champs there)

NamelessPhil

I've never ridden track and can't afford another bike.
I've met one of the women's Masters Champions and I'm definitely not in her league!

Lusk Doyle

NamelessPhil wrote: »

I've never ridden track and can't afford another bike.
I've met one of the women's Masters Champions and I'm definitely not in her league!

Track bikes can be hired at sundrive and use delta pedals.

Harrybelafonte

NamelessPhil wrote: »

I've never ridden track and can't afford another bike.
I've met one of the women's Masters Champions and I'm definitely not in her league!

As Lusk Doyle says bikes can be rented (you can use flat pedals with straps too) and the accreditation will get you ready for all the track brings.

I'm not in the same league as the ladies in question, but it's still great fun.

Beasty

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

As Lusk Doyle says bikes can be rented (you can use flat pedals with straps too) and the accreditation will get you ready for all the track brings.

I'm not in the same league as the ladies in question, but it's still great fun.

Just to add there are three separate racing groups (plus juniors) - some of the ladies are in the middle Group (probably including the Masters Champions referred to), but any track novice will almost certainly start in the third group. The thing about the track is you get up to 4 races in each evening with different types of races offering opportunities to both sprinters and endurance cyclists. They usually split the 3rd group with the ladies often having their own race.

StudentC

If the club league you've signed up for is the Tiernan's/Orwell/UCD/Lucan/IRC one, you'll start in the limit group (slowest group). That's the group with lots of beginners (including other women) so it can be disorganised because riders don't know what they are doing, but if you do get spat out the back and can't hang on there'll be others in the same boat :-)

As well as that league, if you're interested in women's-only racing possibly the best place to start are women's crit leagues. Much shorter races run on closed circuits, with lots of handicapping so you can race against other complete beginners.

Orwell have run one for the last few years in March - May based at Sandyford Industrial estate, but then when the track opened in Corkagh park we moved to there. (it's not a track-cycling track, it's tarmac circuit about 1km long). Absolutely brilliant for learning to race, cornering, getting used to groups etc because it's a really nice surface and traffice free.

I'm not sure if anybody is running similar this year, I'm out of the loop. But last summer the various clubs got together and ran races at Corkagh every Tuesday night - different club organising each week. Hopefully something similar will happen this year.

Cuchulainn (Louth) also started a league last year, and Bray Wheelers have run one some years.

That's what's happened around Dublin for the last years, I'm not sure about elsewhere.

Then there is a bit of a jump up to the national league, which is a series of about 6 races, around one a month. Probably wouldn't be best for absolute beginners, but there were definitely girls in it last year who had only started racing earlier in the year in the crit and interclub leagues - they weren't winning or anything but they were hanging on in the bunch.

Then there are other races randomly sprinkled through the year, and the big one at the end of the season in Ras na mBan in September, a 5 day stage race, in Kerry in recent years but Clare this year.

If Caroline_ie sport this thread she might know what sort of things are happening this year.

NamelessPhil

Thanks for all the information so far.

I don't mind doing open races as well as/instead of women only races. Is it possible to race A4 even if there is no women's category specified in the race?

The lads in the club are beginning to up the training in anticipation of early season events and there's no point in me doing the same thing if the only racing available to me is in April/May rather than early March.

buffalo

NamelessPhil wrote: »

Thanks for all the information so far.

I don't mind doing open races as well as/instead of women only races. Is it possible to race A4 even if there is no women's category specified in the race?

I think when there's no specific women's race, they're often put in with A3. But I'm open to correction.

StudentC wrote: »

Orwell have run one for the last few years in March - May based at Sandyford Industrial estate, but then when the track opened in Corkagh park we moved to there. (it's not a track-cycling track, it's tarmac circuit about 1km long). Absolutely brilliant for learning to race, cornering, getting used to groups etc because it's a really nice surface and traffice free.

I would hope this would happen again this year, despite the pressures of the Orwell league and the chief organiser having another matter to deal with.

StudentC wrote: »

I'm not sure if anybody is running similar this year, I'm out of the loop. But last summer the various clubs got together and ran races at Corkagh every Tuesday night - different club organising each week. Hopefully something similar will happen this year.

Keep an eye on https://www.facebook.com/CorkaghParkLadiesRacing for this.

buffalo

buffalo wrote: »

Keep an eye on https://www.facebook.com/CorkaghParkLadiesRacing for this.

Just looked at that page, I was reminded of this:

Ladies Newbie Skills Session this Saturday 19th January 10:30am at the Papal Cross Monument, Phoenix Park - please text Aideen Collard on 0874179967 or email orwellwomen@gmail.com if attending - this is a fun skills session including introduction to bike basics, exercises & games aimed at gaining more confidence on the bike. Afterwards, there will be a short spin focusing on bunch riding skills finishing by 1pm for optional tea/coffee/lunch in the cafe in the Farmleigh House Grounds. This is a must do session for everyone from newbies to racers with exercises to suit all- we're expecting a good gang and the session also promises to be a bit of craic! Experienced riders might also wish to come along to assist with the session- all help appreciated. This is also an ideal opportunity to meet like-minded riders particularly as we will also be using the session to match riders up for self-organised training spins. Please bring warm clothing, rain jacket, drink, snack, money for coffee stop, spare tube, levers & pump and ensure that your racing bike is in good working order (with 80-100psi air pressure in the tyres) & you have a properly fitting helmet.

Aideen runs these beginner skills sessions approx every 6 weeks on behalf of Orwell Wheelers but all are welcome including members of other Clubs. While you might be past needing that sort of training Phil, might be a good idea to go along and get to know some people, and they can hopefully confirm a lot of what's in this thread.

NamelessPhil

My own club held a training day in Corkagh park last November that covered similar skills but the information may be useful for someone else.

Racing with A3 you say, just by virtue of being female! I think that might annoy some people who worked hard for an upgrade from A4

Beasty

NamelessPhil wrote: »

Thanks for all the information so far.

I don't mind doing open races as well as/instead of women only races. Is it possible to race A4 even if there is no women's category specified in the race?

You can race in whatever CI category you are in, based on your licence - If you have an A4 licence you can race that category

You need to petition the clubs to perhaps put on some combined Womens/Masters (50+ A4s) races (there was one at the Traders Cup in Dundalk last year)

Caroline_ie

Yo Phil, IM me your email

wav1

Just a pointer as regards the womans nat league races.There are 2 different nat leagues in operation,at least there were last year.
1 The womans nat league suits all abilities as a lot of the riders are also new and the manner in which they allocate points at the finish reflects this.
2 The womans classic league is for the more experienced and stronger riders where they ride 1n the A3/Jun race on specified dates.From what I seen last year there weren't too many woman in these races,where as there were much bigger fields in the woman specific nat league races.
We promote one of the nat league races in May which covers 56km and also one in August which covers 45km.

lennymc

wav1 wrote: »

We promote one of the nat league races in May which covers 56km and also one in August which covers 45km.

These are up in Drogheda (just in case you were wondering)

NamelessPhil

lennymc wrote: »

These are up in Drogheda (just in case you were wondering)

Yes, I've been looking at the CI calendar and the racing is pretty spread out.

buffalo

buffalo wrote: »

Aideen runs these beginner skills sessions approx every 6 weeks on behalf of Orwell Wheelers but all are welcome including members of other Clubs. While you might be past needing that sort of training Phil, might be a good idea to go along and get to know some people, and they can hopefully confirm a lot of what's in this thread.

This has just been posted.

N.B. SORRY NEWBIE BIKES SKILLS SESSION TOM 19TH JAN IN THE PHOENIX PARK CANCELLED OWING TO WINTERY WEATHER CONDITIONS - WILL BE RESCHEDULED ASAP

buffalo

Above ladies' classes have been rescheduled according to FB - https://www.facebook.com/events/478784285513080/?ref=3

Suitable for female racers of all fitness and ability levels, I'm running a block of 5 x 1hr Racing Skills Masterclasses over five Saturdays (9.30-10.30am) from next Saturday 2nd February 2013 at Corkagh Park, Clondalkin, Dublin 22. Although organised on behalf of Orwell Wheelers, these sessions are open to all including youths, members of other Clubs and total novices who have never raced before but would like to race this year. Most of the sessions would also be suitable for non-racers who wish to up their cycling game. There is no requirement to do all the sessions, just drop in for those that interest you, €5 per session to cover rent, any current CI Licence will suffice with a few sessions grace for those who have never held a Cycling Ireland licence before. Properly serviced racing bike & helmet essential. Remember to bring warm clothing, spare tubes, pump, drink, snack, money & licence. As the track is booked for an additional hour after each session, feel free to practice what you've learned or train there afterwards otherwise you can go on a self-guided group spin with the other attendees. Promises to be informative and fun and will hopefully sharpen you up for the forthcoming season. Please confirm your interest here and text Aideen on [redacted] or email orwellwomen@gmail.com to indicate which dates/sessions you are attending.

Sat 2nd Feb - 9.30am - Corkagh Park - Drafting & Race Formations

Sat 9th Feb - 9.30am - Corkagh Park - Cornering & Descending

Sat 16th Feb - 9.30am - Corkagh Park - Attacking & Sprinting

Sat 23rd Feb - 9.30am - Corkagh Park - Racing Tactics & Feeding

Sat 2nd March - 9.30am - Corkagh Park - TT Set-up & Training

Although Aideen's number is public on the FB page, I'm not comfortable republishing it (might be against the rules anyway). If you're not on FB, just PM me.

Raam

I know some of the ladies prefer the racing in the Classic League.

Peterx

Corkagh Park is a fantastic venue for training or crits. Enjoy!

ednwireland

probably as good a place as any to put this

Ladies’ Tour of Qatar to be broadcast live on Al Jazeera TV

Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/13807/Ladies-Tour-of-Qatar-to-be-broadcast-live-on-Al-Jazeera-TV.aspx#ixzz2JMxgnqxz

The fifth edition of the Ladies’ Tour of Qatar is to be broadcast live on TV station Al Jazeera, thanks to a deal struck between the TV station and the Qatar Cycling Federation (QCF), the Qatar Tribune reports. The four-day women’s race - an increase of one day on the four previous editions - will run from January 29th to February 1st, and will kick off the cycling season in the northern hemisphere.