Ned Flanagan Road Race 17/02/13

CramCycle

Planning to enter this but haven't seen anything about entries being excepted yet, anyone have any details?

manwithaplan

Doubt if its pre-entry. Just show up with your licence and a tenner.

And stop reminding me!

buffalo

Missed this last year - what's the course like?

And is anyone else planning on avoiding it to miss the start of year crowds? :pac:

daragh_

I'm planning on going. I won't be happy about it though.

colm_gti

buffalo wrote: »

Missed this last year - what's the course like?

And is anyone else planning on avoiding it to miss the start of year crowds? :pac:

I'll probably head over and watch the finish for this simple reason

Hmmzis

Planning on doing this one as my first race. Did some research last week on it and it appears it is a handicap race over a single 70k loop starting in Monasterevin then on to Portlaoise, Athy, Kildare and back to Monasterevin. Mostly flat with one drag.

manwithaplan

Think it's A1-A4 so the opportunities for early season suffering are endless. Don't think I can make it so I'll do the same as last year and start in Dundalk.

lennymc

whats the dundalk race like? Traders cup isnt it?

nilhg

Ryan's strava from it last year,

http://app.strava.com/activities/4301438

Hopefully there'll be a sportive as well again this year, if there is I'll be doing it.

joker77

Here's the boards thread from last year

and a race report from Ryan Sherlock's 2nd place

I didn't do it last year, but am planning on honing my wheel sucking skills at this handicap....

manwithaplan

lennymc wrote: »

whats the dundalk race like? Traders cup isnt it?

Traders Cup alright. I can't dig out the details but I think it was four laps of a 17k circuit last year in A4. It's out the Carlingford Road past the Ballymascanlon Hotel and back around by Ravensdale. There's a decent drag up the back of the course but it wasn't enough to break things up. There's a long straight finish on a wide road. It finished in a bunch sprint last year, although I'd say a fair few were dropped along the way.

buffalo

manwithaplan wrote: »

Traders Cup alright. I can't dig out the details but I think it was four laps of a 17k circuit last year in A4. It's out the Carlingford Road past the Ballymascanlon Hotel and back around by Ravensdale. There's a decent drag up the back of the course but it wasn't enough to break things up. There's a long straight finish on a wide road. It finished in a bunch sprint last year, although I'd say a fair few were dropped along the way.

Sounds like a nice opportunity to get some training in.

CramCycle

I'm excited for it, no training over the winter, a gut that I haven't had for awhile, how badly could it go. Might take a spin down one of the weekends to get a look over the course.

daragh_

CramCycle wrote: »

I'm excited for it, no training over the winter, a gut that I haven't had for awhile, how badly could it go. Might take a spin down one of the weekends to get a look over the course.

Well at least you'll have me for company.

Beasty

manwithaplan wrote: »

although I'd say a fair few were dropped along the way.

Two-thirds of the men were dropped in the women's race iirc:pac:

Diarmuid

manwithaplan wrote: »

Traders Cup alright. I can't dig out the details but I think it was four laps of a 17k circuit last year in A4. It's out the Carlingford Road past the Ballymascanlon Hotel and back around by Ravensdale.

Is that the same circuit that will be used in the National Champs this year? I know it's some circuit up there.

lennymc

Diarmuid wrote: »

Is that the same circuit that will be used in the National Champs this year? I know it's some circuit up there.

i dont think so, the national champs are going through carlingford. Traders cup doesnt.

shaneward2004

I've heard a rumour that the traders cup circuit could be changed to the Knockbridge circuit this year.

lennymc

shaneward2004 wrote: »

I've heard a rumour that the traders cup circuit could be changed to the Knockbridge circuit this year.

which one is the knockbridge circuit?

shaneward2004

lennymc wrote: »

which one is the knockbridge circuit?

http://app.strava.com/segments/1604615

padjo5

shaneward2004 wrote: »

I've heard a rumour that the traders cup circuit could be changed to the Knockbridge circuit this year.

Am I right in saying that is the pan flat route we did a few times in the cuchulainn league?

Doubt I'll make it to the Ned Flanagan race. Are yee sure it will not have a separate a4 race?

wav1

padjo5 wrote: »

Am I right in saying that is the pan flat route we did a few times in the cuchulainn league?

Doubt I'll make it to the Ned Flanagan race. Are yee sure it will not have a separate a4 race?

Padjo5 Knockbridge circuit is anything BUT pan flat.Still have mental scars from that circuit.Our much missed former club chairman PB won the Traders cup when he was only 16 beating his so called buddy in to 2nd place.1977.Ah happy days.

Pieterblurb

The weekend before the Ned Flanagan (so on 10th of february) there is a sportive departing from Portlaoise, 100 or 45 km.
More details here: www.laoiscycling.com.

oflahero

If you don't get anywhere in this (it's a flat handicap, so very likely if you're not A2+), at least there's a chance of entertainment in the form of a dust-up in the pub afterwards.

Harrybelafonte

Anyone esle decided to do this. It'll be my first road race, so keep your tales of mangled corpses and a finish line scattered with the flesh of wannabe sprinters to yourselves.

Also, is it ok for me to throw my bottle away 1k from the end in preparation for the sprint?

I jest (just in case).

lennymc

i was gonna do this, but the mangled corpses, scattered bodies, peoples head exploding and bikes spontaneously combusting, complete with the throwing of water bottles has just put me off. good luck harry!!

colm_gti

Is there a cut off point with regard to the number of riders that will be allowed sign on for this race? Seems like everyone I speak to is planning to do this race....reckon I'll give it a miss if there are massive amounts signing on, don't want to risk injury so early....

Harrybelafonte

lennymc wrote: »

i was gonna do this, but the mangled corpses, scattered bodies, peoples head exploding and bikes spontaneously combusting, complete with the throwing of water bottles has just put me off. good luck harry!!

Ooops, I had a gif there, but it's terribly annoying.

Well, it's too late. Am committed to doing it now. I'll only get to do a few races so have to take my chances.

lennymc

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

Ooops, I had a gif there, but it's terribly annoying.

Well, it's too late. Am committed to doing it now. I'll only get to do a few races so have to take my chances.

you will be fine (if you manage to avoid all of the previously mentioned hazards, which should be easier if colm_gti is not doing the race)

Hmmzis

Anyone has a link to the technical rules/guidelines that have to be followed to take part in the race. Like, are overshoes allowed, helmet visors, mudguards, spacers above stem, where do the race numbers go and how to attach them etc.?

It'll also be my first race and have only found the general UCI rules for bikes that talk more about the frame geometry.

colm_gti

Hmmzis wrote: »

Anyone has a link to the technical rules/guidelines that have to be followed to take part in the race. Like, are overshoes allowed, helmet visors, mudguards, spacers above stem, where do the race numbers go and how to attach them etc.?

It'll also be my first race and have only found the general UCI rules for bikes that talk more about the frame geometry.

The first rule of bike racing....do not speak about bike racing!

Harrybelafonte

Hmmzis wrote: »

Anyone has a link to the technical rules/guidelines that have to be followed to take part in the race. Like, are overshoes allowed, helmet visors, mudguards, spacers above stem, where do the race numbers go and how to attach them etc.?

It'll also be my first race and have only found the general UCI rules for bikes that talk more about the frame geometry.

Are you just trying to add to the other things I'm trying to keep in mind LOL

some info here:

http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/a-pre-season-message-to-road-racers-new-and-experienced-from-cycling-ireland/

colm_gti

lennymc wrote: »

you will be fine (if you manage to avoid all of the previously mentioned hazards, which should be easier if colm_gti is not doing the race)

I'm not that much of a disaster

buffalo

Hmmzis wrote: »

Anyone has a link to the technical rules/guidelines that have to be followed to take part in the race. Like, are overshoes allowed, helmet visors, mudguards, spacers above stem, where do the race numbers go and how to attach them etc.?

It'll also be my first race and have only found the general UCI rules for bikes that talk more about the frame geometry.

Overshoes yes, mudguards no, helmet visor... wtf?

http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/a-pre-season-message-to-road-racers-new-and-experienced-from-cycling-ireland/ will answer some of your questions.

daragh_

Hmmzis wrote: »

Anyone has a link to the technical rules/guidelines that have to be followed to take part in the race. Like, are overshoes allowed, helmet visors, mudguards, spacers above stem, where do the race numbers go and how to attach them etc.?

It'll also be my first race and have only found the general UCI rules for bikes that talk more about the frame geometry.

Technical Stuff is here

chakattack

Hmmzis wrote: »

Anyone has a link to the technical rules/guidelines that have to be followed to take part in the race. Like, are overshoes allowed, helmet visors, mudguards, spacers above stem, where do the race numbers go and how to attach them etc.?

It'll also be my first race and have only found the general UCI rules for bikes that talk more about the frame geometry.

There might be something on CI website.

No mudguards or the little metal spikey things that hold them in place. Make sure you have bar ends.

Otherwise the rest is up to you.

Personally I wouldn't advise a flat, fast handicap as a first race. When the bunches come together, the speed will go up, the groups will swell and be all over the road, the weaker riders will be swinging around on the limit and concentration and handling suffers.

An A3/A4 race only race would be a better learning ground.

colm_gti

chakattack wrote: »

There might be something on CI website.

No mudguards or the little metal spikey things that hold them in place. Make sure you have bar ends.

Otherwise the rest is up to you.

Personally I wouldn't advise a flat, fast handicap as a first race. When the bunches come together, the speed will go up, the groups will swell and be all over the road, the weaker riders will be swinging around on the limit and concentration and handling suffers.

An A3/A4 race only race would be a better learning ground.

Can't wait to pull my mudguards off again at last!

I done a flat, fast handicap race on mondello as my first race and got on grand, even hung on til the last 1000m when the pace really shot up! Saying that the track is wide enough and there's no traffic to worry about.

Might just ride til we catch A4, then turn off and ride home when the A1/2's catch up and the group swells....

daragh_

Mudguards off, saddle-bag removed, Gatorskins stowed away, bike all shiny and clean, handy bag of safety pins bought....

all ready to be spat out the back 10 minutes in.

Happy days

Hmmzis

Thanks lads for the links and info. Will have some reading to do tonight.

buffalo

daragh_ wrote: »

Mudguards off, saddle-bag removed, Gatorskins stowed away, bike all shiny and clean, handy bag of safety pins bought....

all ready to be spat out the back 10 minutes in.

Happy days

You remove your saddlebag to race!?

lennymc

why not try to hang on to the a1/a2/a3 or whatever groups you can? If you get dropped you get dropped, so what. Im currently A4, and will be doing handicap races where i fully intend on busting my hole trying to keep with whatever faster group I can. As someone said once before, you will get so much more out of 40 minutes trying to keep with a group than 4 hours pootling around on your own. It is racing afterall

Just my two cents.

daragh_

buffalo wrote: »

You remove your saddlebag to race!?

It's probably for the best.

Lusk Doyle

buffalo wrote: »

You remove your saddlebag to race!?

You use a saddlebag!?

vigorelli

shaneward2004 wrote: »

http://app.strava.com/segments/1604615

According to http://www.cuchulainncc.com/open-events/traders-cup-road-race/ it's on the ardee dorians league route, but out and back, starting and finishing on the castlebellingham road.

It should be mayhem

One_Time

daragh_ wrote: »

Technical Stuff is here

Just reading through the "Costume" rules, couple of questions...

• T5.A2.1 - "shorts above the knees", are tights banned even if it's freezing?
• T5.A2.3&4 - I haven't got my club gear yet, how do I know if registered club clothing is mandatory in this race?

Any and all guidance gratefully received!

buffalo

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

You use a saddlebag!?

I find it difficult to reach around and get food from my pockets.

Plastik

Can I wear a Camelbak?

Lusk Doyle

buffalo wrote: »

I find it difficult to reach around and get food from my pockets.

But doing the same to a saddle bag is easier? Short arm syndrome?

buffalo

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

But doing the same to a saddle bag is easier? Short arm syndrome?

oh, my mistake. I meant a feedbag.

buffalo

Just looking at http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/preview-ned-flanagan-memorial-gets-domestic-season-underway-this-weekend/ - is sign-on €20?!

C3PO

buffalo wrote: »

Just looking at http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/preview-ned-flanagan-memorial-gets-domestic-season-underway-this-weekend/ - is sign-on €20?!

That's what it says alright!