New BMX track in Balbriggan

turbodiesel

There's someone building a few astro soccer pitches and is donating the material he is digging out. The council have identified a site and are looking for a club in the area to take on the project and it will be their new home/race track.

These oppurtunities don't come up very often so if you're interested get in touch with Lar Massey or Eamonn Wyer from BMX Ireland.

More Details over on the BMX Ireland facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/larmassey?hc_location=stream#!/BMXIreland/posts/335901313202568

lennymc

an excuse to buy another bike.....

Harrybelafonte

lennymc wrote: »

an excuse to buy another bike.....

I have a few BMXs you could borrow

j0hn1

Check out the Bike Skills Park in Bunclody for some ideas: http://carrickduffbikepark.com/
Really good amenity for kids of all sizes

Some of the MTB lads from Racing 795 put a fair bit of effort into making this work
www.racing795.com

turbodiesel

j0hn1 wrote: »

Check out the Bike Skills Park in Bunclody for some ideas: http://carrickduffbikepark.com/
Really good amenity for kids of all sizes

Some of the MTB lads from Racing 795 put a fair bit of effort into making this work
www.racing795.com

Great to see any form of new track but especially one for learning the basics at a low danger level. I've mentioned it over on the BMX Ireland/Ratoath BMX/DC BMX facebook pages so hopefully it will help it to get some use this summer.

Beasty

A follow up on this

There is a real chance of a BMX track at the northern end of Balbriggan. It will take a bit of time to go through funding options, but I've been speaking to Fingal Council (who own the land) about this and they are keen to put on a kids/youths "Fun Day" to test local interest

We have CI and BMX Ireland on board and are looking to put on an event on the weekend of 6th and 7th July (alas I will be winging my way to Orlando that weekend ...)

We are planning on putting in a couple of short tracks - one circuit suitable for very young kids on their bikes and will even accomodate balance bikes. The other will be a pump track more suited to older kids/youths, either on BMXs or perhaps MTBs. Helmets will of course be compulsory

We are looking to run this between 2 and 6 on both days. Now here's the crunch - we need some volunteers to help the day go smoothly - some of the Ratoath/BMX Ireland guys will be there, but we need people to keep kids heading the right way, stop others straying onto the track, make sure they have their helmets on etc

If you can help out on either (or both) days please drop me PM. I need to get a "volunteer" list to Fingal CoCo over the next week or so, and without such volunteers there will be no event

If there is positive feedback to this event that will improve the chances of getting Council support for a full track (and help in applying for lottery funding). If we can get it running it will be a CI affiliated club in it's own right (as Ratoath is)

As I say, drop me a PM if you want any more info or are willing put your name forward to help out

morana

Beasty wrote: »

A follow up on this

There is a real chance of a BMX track at the northern end of Balbriggan. It will take a bit of time to go through funding options, but I've been speaking to Fingal Council (who own the land) about this and they are keen to put on a kids/youths "Fun Day" to test local interest

We have CI and BMX Ireland on board and are looking to put on an event on the weekend of 6th and 7th July (alas I will be winging my way to Orlando that weekend ...)

We are planning on putting in a couple of short tracks - one circuit suitable for very young kids on their bikes and will even accomodate balance bikes. The other will be a pump track more suited to older kids/youths, either on BMXs or perhaps MTBs. Helmets will of course be compulsory

We are looking to run this between 2 and 6 on both days. Now here's the crunch - we need some volunteers to help the day go smoothly - some of the Ratoath/BMX Ireland guys will be there, but we need people to keep kids heading the right way, stop others straying onto the track, make sure they have their helmets on etc

If you can help out on either (or both) days please drop me PM. I need to get a "volunteer" list to Fingal CoCo over the next week or so, and without such volunteers there will be no event

If there is positive feedback to this event that will improve the chances of getting Council support for a full track (and help in applying for lottery funding). If we can get it running it will be a CI affiliated club in it's own right (as Ratoath is)

As I say, drop me a PM if you want any more info or are willing put your name forward to help out

and you an activist with nothing to offer!!!!!

CI with BMX Ireland had identified 23 possibilities of BMX tracks around the country. New board member Senan was using his council contacts to try progress these. There is one that's quite a bit advanced in Lucan I believe.

RobFowl

Will try to rustle up some troops.

Beasty

morana wrote: »

and you an activist with nothing to offer!!!!!

CI with BMX Ireland had identified 23 possibilities of BMX tracks around the country. New board member Senan was using his council contacts to try progress these. There is one that's quite a bit advanced in Lucan I believe.

I was originally in touch with Senan about this. In some places they have teh funding but no one to take it forward locally, in others they have the volunteers but no location/funding

It looks like Lucan and now Balbriggan have the potential to move forward into something that can be put into action. Ratoath had 600+ members when they first opened, making them for some time the largest cycling club in Europe. Numbers have eased back a bit in their second years but they still boast a club with getting on for 300 members

This to me is a great way to get kids (and indeed adults) involved in cycling at a competitive level in a safe environment. If we can get a few of these tracks up and running I would hope it would bring fresh impetus at youth level. Clearly numbers taking up cycling in Ireland have been on the up in recent years, but I think you mentioned previously morana, the average age of CI members is increasing, and now approaching 40. We need to find a way of filling that gap when kids move on to secondary school and in many cases are distracted by other things losing interest in their bikes. I certainly thing BMX is one discipline that can help

lennymc

i wont commit just yet, as I may have something on that weekend, but if I dont I will pop down and give a dig out.

Does anyone remember the track that was there during the 80s? I remember getting a third place there back in the day on a raleigh super burner. Fun times. I lived in Dublin at the time, and remember thinking Balbriggan was miles away in the middle of the country.

picture of the old track

detones

Sounds a great idea beasty and something real positive for the area. I'm local and should be available to help on the Sunday. I'll PM you my details.

bcmf

Count me in as a volunteer as.
Will deffo have 1 young fella and possibly 2 to come along as riders.

eddiem74

Might be worth a request/posting in the "Dublin County North" forum on here?

Beasty

eddiem74 wrote: »

Might be worth a request/posting in the "Dublin County North" forum on here?

I'll post it in the event thread once we have the details finalised - don't want to risk upsetting the local mods by spamming the request for volunteers across 2 forums

Beasty

And here's the poster:

clog

I remember racing on the track in Balbriggan in a big meeting there in the mid 80's, had a bit of sponsorship at the time and team travelled down from Belfast . I think it may have been some type of championships. Remember finishing 3rd to a fella who was literally twice my size.
Would love to know what exactly those races were.

Morpheus

i grew up flying around that track, on my dads limited edition "eddie merckx" racing bike

Beasty

Just a final reminder this takes place tomorrow and Sunday between 2 and 6

As already mentioned the more interest that is shown in (and positive feedback emenating from) this event the higher the likelihood of getting Council support for a permanent club on the site. This could be a great facility where kids (young and old!) can benefit from acquiring great bike handling and racing skills in a safe environment.

We could still do with some extra hands to help marshal, particularly on Sunday, so if anyone can spare any time to help out please drop me a PM ideally sometime during the course of today (as I'll be heading off on holiday first thing in the morning, although will try and log on when I get chance)

bcmf

Just back and a great day with a decent turnout and a great set up.
kids really enoyed it.