Cycleways Cup. 3rd March

superotty

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF SIGN ON VENUE!" Sign on @ Simonstown GAA on R162 Kingscourt rd. ( 500m from race finish ).
3 RACES A1 & A2 combined 120km.
A3 & j 75 km.
A4 75 km
Sign on from 10.00 am RACES START 12.30
PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT CHANGE OF SIGN ON VENUE!

joker77

Cheers

Got a route profile?

manwithaplan

If the course is the same as last year, it's more like 85k in A4. Some poor chap relied on his Garmin last year and attacked solo with about 25k to go. He put in a great effort and was only caught with about 7 or 8k to go. He was none too happy with the advertised race distance being so far off, particularly as the finish line is only crossed once.

GlennaMaddy

superotty wrote: »

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF SIGN ON VENUE!" Sign on @ Simonstown GAA on R162 Kingscourt rd. ( 500m from race finish ).
3 RACES A1 & A2 combined 120km.
A3 & j 75 km.
A4 75 km
Sign on from 10.00 am RACES START 12.30
PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT CHANGE OF SIGN ON VENUE!

Does sign-on close at midday?

daragh_

manwithaplan wrote: »

If the course is the same as last year, it's more like 85k in A4.

:eek:

Pawlie

I think this is what happens
A1's + A2's 3 lap race together
A3's 2 lap on own
A4's 2 laps on own

here is the route I found,so it should state that A4 race is 83km
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/5702271

Hmmzis

Pawlie wrote: »

I think this is what happens
A1's + A2's 3 lap race together
A3's 2 lap on own
A4's 2 laps on own

here is the route I found,so it should state that A4 race is 83km
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/5702271

Is that not against the CI rules? Wasn't there something that A4 races can't be more than 80k?

Pawlie

I thought is was less to be honest with regards distance but this is the map and distance,I'd sooner have longer a4 races as it should probably in theory sort out the crazy sprints and crashes that everyone goes on about,

killalanerr

Hmmzis wrote: »

Is that not against the CI rules? Wasn't there something that A4 races can't be more than 80k?

first 15 or 20km were neutralized to cover CI rules before,(except that it wasnt)
i rode the A4 for the past few years it a super race,ride hard and you will come out of it flyin

RobFowl

killalanerr wrote: »

first 15 or 20km were neutralized to cover CI rules before,(except that it wasnt)
i rode the A4 for the past few years it a super race,ride hard and you will come out of it flyin

Or flyin out the back like i've done in the past :rolleyes:

killalanerr

RobFowl wrote: »

Or flyin out the back like i've done in the past :rolleyes:

We have all been their Rob,this is one of the races that can set you up for the early part of the season so even if you do go out the back make sure you finish it dont be temped to cut it short

wav1

Hmmzis wrote: »

Is that not against the CI rules? Wasn't there something that A4 races can't be more than 80k?

It is a little over the 80km but to be fair to them with the circuit they use it wouldn't really be possible to shorten it except by neutralising the first 5k.The A3/Jun race and the A4 race are identical in length.As killallener says its a good tough race and it will stand to you.Different sign on this year so at least a few km less to ride to the start and from the finish after the race.

C3PO

Anyone got a Strava link for last years A4 race?

C3PO

C3PO wrote: »

Anyone got a Strava link for last years A4 race?

Just dug one up for one of my club mates! It's for the A3 race but I think that's the same for A4? Looks like 2 fairly hard climbs?

http://app.strava.com/activities/4783431

colm_gti

They posted on their facebook this morning that the route has been changed due to roadworks...

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2183589

wav1

colm_gti wrote: »

They posted on their facebook this morning that the route has been changed due to roadworks...

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2183589

Very minor change.Just means its turning left earlier after the start than usual.Instead of going out the whole way to the Slane Castle gates you wll be basically going left between the start and Slane which brings you across on to the normal route anyway.

colm_gti

Went up to this for the A3 race today, my first A3 only race on a course that would suit me, was immensely fired up for it!

Woke up early, got there early to drive around the course to increase my chances of a decent result, signed on early, warmed up properly. Chain skipped while warming up, thought nothing of it, started to feel a bit of drag from the rear break, figured I'd adjust it when I got back to the car. Went back, got sorted for the race, took a piss and got ready to roll out...then checked brake...spoke was snapped! I was sick, didnt bother bringing spare wheels. Nobody was willing to lend me one. All I could do was pack up and go home...

My run of bad luck continues, punctured tubs, snapped chain and now a broken spoke...I give up!

Hmmzis

colm_gti wrote: »

Went up to this for the A3 race today, my first A3 only race on a course that would suit me, was immensely fired up for it!

Woke up early, got there early to drive around the course to increase my chances of a decent result, signed on early, warmed up properly. Chain skipped while warming up, thought nothing of it, started to feel a bit of drag from the rear break, figured I'd adjust it when I got back to the car. Went back, got sorted for the race, took a piss and got ready to roll out...then checked brake...spoke was snapped! I was sick, didnt bother bringing spare wheels. Nobody was willing to lend me one. All I could do was pack up and go home...

My run of bad luck continues, punctured tubs, snapped chain and now a broken spoke...I give up!

You're overdue for some phenomenal luck. Tried playing the lottery lately?
Shame about the broken spoke though.

lennymc

just back, i had nothing in the legs today for some reason. felt dead on the bike. there were (according to one a3 rider) 4 crashes in the a3 race, so maybe it was lucky colm!!

lad fro cuchullain won the a4, junior won the a3, then i went home. bad day at the office

bcmf

lennymc wrote: »

just back, i had nothing in the legs today for some reason. felt dead on the bike.

Did you shave off the beard?

If the answer is 'Yes' then therein layeth the problem. The beard is gone and took all your energy.

If the answer is 'No' then therein layeth the problem. The beard is absorbing all your energy.


Blame the beard always.

lennymc

i shaved it off yesterday.....l think you might be on to something there

dedocdude

lads - what were the results today?

maloner

A4 race was quick and the rolly nature of the course meant lots of bursts of hard work. I made one little trip of the front during the first lap. Someone else was heading up the outside of the bunch so I followed along and went up the road a little. The “hill” on the first lap was ok, made it over but was at the limit and managed to hang in there.

Second time round, I was struggling somewhat and could have done things better. I started off too far down the bunch for one. Near the top there was a slight downhill break and I should have tried to make up more ground and get farther up the field. I was in the group for the last section but started to drift back and had a gap of about 150/200m going over the top to the bunch. Gave it everything on the decent to get back on but didn’t manage it. Had a tail of 4-5 lads hanging on who were mostly no help so they sailed on when I was spent. Don’t know if they made it on but we were still a good bit back. Even if I’d got on I doubt I’d have lasted long given how much I put in to get back in there.

Only my second race so happy out none the less. A better strategy at the top of the second climb might have been to keep the pace up but try and recover and work my way back in with the few lads who were behind me. A4 winning pace I think was around the 37km/h mark.

Anyway, I didn't crash, no mechanicals and had a great day.

daragh_

Similar day to Maloner. Felt great most of the day but dropped off the bunch near the end of the hilly bit in the second lap. Caught up with Maloner and we assembled a little groupetto to bring us home.

All of a sudden my legs woke up and I could climb again. Everyone else seemed pretty wrecked and we were too far off to regain contact so that was that.

Happy enough for my second open race. Bit more focus on positioning is called for I think.

Cheers to the lads who put in a dig to bring us home - eire og jersey is all I remember.

And a big group hug to colm_gti who was really gutted not to race.

Arthurdaly

Why can't every A4 race be this long and difficult. The second time up the hilly section it broke to pieces with about 10-15 riders getting a gap.

Unfortunately everyone seemed to be spent when we crested the hill and were unable to take advantage. Spoke with a guy who mentioned that the chasing bunch had to bury themselves to get back on, the time to apply the pressure was after the hills when everyone was hurting but it didn't happen and everyone seemed to take the opportunity to take a breath, guess this is the difference between A4 and the higher cats.

The chasing bunch managed to get back on and that made the bunch about 35-40 strong coming into the closing stages and although it was quite nervy towards the finish given the speed we were moving at the there no major incidents.

Savage race and well done Navan CC.

Diarmuid

Arthurdaly wrote: »

Unfortunately everyone seemed to be spent when we crested the hill and were unable to take advantage. Spoke with a guy who mentioned that the chasing bunch had to bury themselves to get back on, the time to apply the pressure was after the hills when everyone was hurting but it didn't happen and everyone seemed to take the opportunity to take a breath, guess this is the difference between A4 and the higher cats.

When I started racing A2s, it was one of the things I noticed. The climbs were tough, trying to hold the wheel, all lined out etc... However when the first few guys went over the top, that's when the real pain started.

buffalo

Is that a boardsie from "Lacan" cycling club who got in the prizes?

fat bloke

daragh_ wrote: »

And a big group hug to colm_gti who was really gutted not to race.

Ah... I'll shake his hand, but he's not getting a hug!

padjo5

Any snaps floating around of the weekend's racing?

killalanerr

I rode the A3 today firstly omg the speed,after riding round in the in hi 20s/low30kph for the past few months it takes a bit of geting use to travelling at them speeds round the widening side roads
My plan was to get around and get some speed in the legs their was lots of racing going on with brakes coming and going all day,i got over the drags ok the first time round hard going but recovered ok after each of the small peaks,got round the rest of the lap with out to much drama it got a bit tight a few times when we were meeting on coming traffic
2nd time on the drags didnt go to well i had to berry myself but i was well positioned so managed to hang on again recovered well and was able to told a good position for the rest of the lap as the race went on i was starting to relax and was enjoying my day out, after just missing the crash @ 2k out i found my self in a good spot for the sprint,last year at this finish i went to early with this in mind i took my time i did get boxed a bit but finished strong hiting the line a full tilt but just out side the first 8,happy with my days work

I believe their were a couple of crashes the only one i seen was the one about 2k out hope everyone is ok
Thanks to navan rc its a super course

Pawlie

For 84.5 km of the A4 race it could not have gone any better,sat in the back for first 5km getting legs into a rhythm and then slowly moved up along outside to about 20th position,after about 20km the pelaton was very stop start so I decided to attack,1st off a few :-),off I went for about 2km,I had hoped a few strong riders might jump across to me and we get a break away going,but no one bought a ticket and didn't want to play :-(.I decided to sit up and let them go past and I jump in and coast along,no way was I going solo that early.

As the saying goes "god loves a trier" off I went again at 30km,same again no attendees :-(,sit up,jump in and coast along.Then at around 50km some strong lads came alongside the WRC train,I had a few words with some riders and we agreed we would drive it on and try get a brake,as much as some tried they just hindered it,either by coming thru to slow or going to fast and then blowing smoke out off themselves,jesus at times I thought they had picked the new pope there was that much white smoke :-).I then said to myself and my team mate that I am sitting in and gona try two more jumps and see what happens,unfortunately it was same **** different jump,no one wanted to play.But it was funny to watch guys try and jump away after I had popped back in to pelaton,why wouldn't they jump after me and get something going.

Anyway after my efforts to get away I just sat in around 15th position and kept rolling up to 3rd maybe 4th and back down just to check and see how lads where going.Then with about 5km I moved up slowly to 5th then with every maybe half km I would move up and eventually with a km to go I was in 3rd,I was feeling great,legs where fine spinning away and I was actually buzzing for the sprint.

Gradually the speed was cranking up,lads jostling for positions,elbows everywhere,lads shouting keep your ****ing line etc,mad stuff,Spielberg couldn't script what was going on :-),anyway along the road you could see 1km to go,500m to go and so on and I was still happy out in 3rd,then 200m to go this fella comes across thinks an inch is enough to get a bike with a 15 stone through it and boom it was either brake or go ditch swimming,picked the brake option :-).

So all in all was a great race,would have loved to got a few points towards the upgrade I am gunning for but I am happy myself and my bike are in one shape and most important I had some fun :-)

MadHatter

buffalo wrote: »

Is that a boardsie from "Lacan" cycling club who got in the prizes?

It is indeed. Spelt my surname wrong too! Just contacted stickybottle about it - it may be the only time I see my name in the places, they may as well get it right

Delighted with the place in the end. I'd given it socks on the both sections on the hill on the second lap but it wasn't enough to create the breakaway. I wasn't looking forward to the sprint but luckily I end up near the front with a clear run to the line, just managed to pinch 3rd by a couple of inches.

I know where you're coming from Arthurdaly re pushing it over the hill, but I think most of us were in the front group were on the limit getting over it, we did push on but a couple of failed attempts to get an up and over going meant we couldn't stay away.

Great day for it, nice course too. Lesson for the day is to get back to base early if you want some grub!

Arthurdaly

Madhatter you certainly deserved 3rd place, you were very strong over the hilly section on the second lap. I was 92% maxhr on cresting the hill, I simply could not take a strong turn on the front to push things. Cycling is hard and complicated.

MadHatter

Arthurdaly wrote: »

Madhatter you certainly deserved 3rd place, you were very strong over the hilly section on the second lap. I was 92% maxhr on cresting the hill, I simply could not take a strong turn on the front to push things. Cycling is hard and complicated.

Yeah I gave it everything. I suffered like a dog but I figured it was the same for everyone else. However, it looks like you'd another 8% in reserve

You're right though - its hard and complicated!

DKO

I had a similar finish to Pawlie, I was riding into a gap (my line) when a big lad rode into it from the right, I was about 2m in from the left edge of the road, I have his rear wheel etched into my brain! I reckon I got with an inch of hitting it, saw it coming and was breaking as gently as I could so as not to get rear ended, apologies to any behind me, it was the only option.... so if you had to break becuase of some fool in front of you, that might have been me and thats the reason :-)... his move was very marginal... the gap was only barely there and it could have been nasty... not sure if he knew anything about it though...

I did see a few lads though do something that perhaps is equally dodgy, ride at the front of the group to the point where the sprint starts and then sit up and not contest.... I saw one very strong rider in particular do this yesterday... he rode strongly throughout, trying breaks and the like, stayed on the front to the bitter end and then promptly sat up and stopped riding.... he started going backwards just as those who had been on his wheel were about to go.... I would think if the sprint is not for you perhaps get out of there altogether inside the last 500m.... ease off in time... otherwise you end up in the middle of or causing a crash that you were maybe trying to avoid in the first place... stating the obvious or what...

Colonialboy

Pawlie wrote: »

after about 20km the pelaton was very stop start so I decided to attack,1st off a few :-),off I went for about 2km,I had hoped a few strong riders might jump across to me and we get a break away going,but no one bought a ticket and didn't want to play :-(.I decided to sit up and let them go past and I jump in and coast along,no way was I going solo that early.

As the saying goes "god loves a trier" off I went again at 30km,same again no attendees :-(,sit up,jump in and coast along.

I am sitting in and gona try two more jumps and see what happens,unfortunately it was same **** different jump,no one wanted to play.But it was funny to watch guys try and jump away after I had popped back in to pelaton,why wouldn't they jump after me and get something going.

reading your post Id say your first two breaks were too early,,, 20km and 30 km into a long hilly course .. why would anyone follow you and expect to hold it for 50km. Why not just drive the pace at the front and burn people off

I imagine the other jumpers though the same thing , why didnt you jump after their break.

sounds like .. everyone follow MY break or Im going home with my football .

Lumen

Colonialboy wrote: »

reading your post Id say your first two breaks were too early,,, 20km and 30 km into a long hilly course .. why would anyone follow you and expect to hold it for 50km

Pawlie

Colonialboy wrote: »

reading your post Id say your first two breaks were too early,,, 20km and 30 km into a long hilly course .. why would anyone follow you and expect to hold it for 50km. Why not just drive the pace at the front and burn people off

I imagine the other jumpers though the same thing , why didnt you jump after their break.

sounds like .. everyone follow MY break or Im going home with my football .

Long hilly it was not,85km with one cat 4 is not tough,

It would have been tough to stay out alone for 30km yesterday especially with the head wind along the final 10km stretch,
and that is why I was jumping is too see if they where any takers and get something going,

going by the results then i would say that they where no strong riders out there and lads would just rather coast along,suppose this is a4 racing for you

Doing 50km with 4/5 strong lads averaging 38-40kmph on that type course would not be hard to do,I was'nt forcing lads to follow,up to them if they wanted to.....

Racing is not all about sitting in a bunch thinking your great been dragged along by 4 lads at top,you have to do these things especially if they want to be upgraded and race in longer harder and better races like Gorey or Ras Mumhan.

Peterx

organising the 4/5 strong lads is the hard part I think

The A3 race was won by one lad staying away on his own so you should be able to assume 5/6 strong lads all working well and honestly together should be able to stay away. the hard parts are the well and the honestly:)

Pawlie

Peterx wrote: »

organising the 4/5 strong lads is the hard part I think

The A3 race was won by one lad staying away on his own so you should be able to assume 5/6 strong lads all working well and honestly together should be able to stay away. the hard parts are the well and the honestly:)

Very true about getting strong lads,and if they where lads strong enough to jump over to me I'm sure they would have,as I said 50km with strong lads you would pull away,especially when the a4 groups comes to lull which seemed to happen too many times yesterday.

lennymc

the a3 was won by Dylan Foley, a junior who is on the nicholas roche performance team, and is part of the talent team 2020 for cycling ireland afaik.

Lumen

Pawlie wrote: »

Very true about getting strong lads,and if they where lads strong enough to jump over to me I'm sure they would have,as I said 50km with strong lads you would pull away,especially when the a4 groups comes to lull which seemed to happen too many times yesterday.

Surely the group comes to a lull because there's no one up the road?!

joker77

lennymc wrote: »

the a3 was won by Dylan Foley, a junior who is on the nicholas roche performance team, and is part of the talent team 2020 for cycling ireland afaik.

Indeed - and he wasn't away the whole time on his own. There was a break of maybe 6 / 7 riders (of which 3 were from the Nico Roche team, I think - along with another strong junior), they were away for a long time until a concerted effort was taken to bridge / pull them back. (various bridging attempts were undertaken, some by yours truly)

Once the majority were pulled back, there didn't seem to be a huge appetite to bridge to the leader.

It was a very aggressive race for the most part though - really enjoyed it as opposed to Saturday's borefest

fondriest

Pawlie wrote: »

Very true about getting strong lads,and if they where lads strong enough to jump over to me I'm sure they would have,as I said 50km with strong lads you would pull away,especially when the a4 groups comes to lull which seemed to happen too many times yesterday.

You wouldn't necessarily pull away just because you had 4 or 5 strong riders willing to work , it is a big part of it but if a bunch is willing to chase hard then it's almost impossible to stay away particularly in A4 . If you are up the road for long enough the bunch will lull at some point and that's when the elastic snaps because the guys who have been doing the chasing will get pissed off and look for help . Then that's when the real work starts .

C3PO

Pawlie wrote: »

Long hilly it was not,85km with one cat 4 is not tough

In my experience 85kms with 800mts of climbing is very "tough" for an A4 race in Ireland .... it certainly felt tough to me! Not complaining, I'd much prefer a longer race but if you found it easy you should probably have taken the A3 upgrade!

1750W

colm_gti wrote: »

Went up to this for the A3 race today, my first A3 only race on a course that would suit me, was immensely fired up for it!

Woke up early, got there early to drive around the course to increase my chances of a decent result, signed on early, warmed up properly. Chain skipped while warming up, thought nothing of it, started to feel a bit of drag from the rear break, figured I'd adjust it when I got back to the car. Went back, got sorted for the race, took a piss and got ready to roll out...then checked brake...spoke was snapped! I was sick, didnt bother bringing spare wheels. Nobody was willing to lend me one. All I could do was pack up and go home...

My run of bad luck continues, punctured tubs, snapped chain and now a broken spoke...I give up!

You need to start looking after your bike better. A certain person was very put out that my wife wouldn't lend him one of my spare wheels yesterday! How would it be fair in me who prepared properly if I punctured on the roll out and you had my wheel?

1750W

colm_gti wrote: »

Went up to this for the A3 race today, my first A3 only race on a course that would suit me, was immensely fired up for it!

Woke up early, got there early to drive around the course to increase my chances of a decent result, signed on early, warmed up properly. Chain skipped while warming up, thought nothing of it, started to feel a bit of drag from the rear break, figured I'd adjust it when I got back to the car. Went back, got sorted for the race, took a piss and got ready to roll out...then checked brake...spoke was snapped! I was sick, didnt bother bringing spare wheels. Nobody was willing to lend me one. All I could do was pack up and go home...

My run of bad luck continues, punctured tubs, snapped chain and now a broken spoke...I give up!

You need to start looking after your bike better. A certain person was very put out that my wife wouldn't lend him one of my spare wheels yesterday! How would it be fair in me who prepared properly if I punctured on the roll out and you had my wheel?

Colonialboy

Pawlie wrote: »

Doing 50km with 4/5 strong lads averaging 38-40kmph on that type course would not be hard to do,I was'nt forcing lads to follow,up to them if they wanted to.....


But it was funny to watch guys try and jump away after I had popped back in to pelaton,why wouldn't they jump after me and get something going.

I think you missed my point , you thought other fellas making breaks WAS FUNNY... all because they didnt follow YOUR BREAK...
what was so ****ing special about your break , other than you were in it .
I didnt read anywhere in your report where you said you jumped across to support someones else solo break... all I hear is moaning no one jumped across to you

Pawlie

C3PO wrote: »

In my experience 85kms with 800mts of climbing is very "tough" for an A4 race in Ireland .... it certainly felt tough to me! Not complaining, I'd much prefer a longer race but if you found it easy you should probably have taken the A3 upgrade!

Cant upgrade as this my first year racing,and if i was allowed i would have done it straight away.

Pawlie

Colonialboy wrote: »

I think you missed my point , you thought other fellas making breaks WAS FUNNY... all because they didnt follow YOUR BREAK...
what was so ****ing special about your break , other than you were in it .
I didnt read anywhere in your report where you said you jumped across to support someones else solo break... all I hear is moaning no one jumped across to you

my point being when lads did jump they did for less than 50 mtrs and blew up,thats what is funny.......its actually funny seen lads fly up outside and go to the front thinking their great and then blowing up and causing the group to slow down to around 27kph.

And if I was going to jump i would have waited till they had a good gap from main bunch and then went,because if it was any closer I would have prop dragged a few too many riders,you see this is called using your head in racing.

do you know what you do if you dont like my report go swing from a tree and chew on some bananas.

Hmmzis

Pawlie wrote: »

Cant upgrade as this my first year racing,and if i was allowed i would have done it straight away.

I think you only need 10 points to upgrade, so two podiums and it would mean an A3 license in the post.