Ned Flanagan Road Race, Monasterevin, 16 February 2014

Chips Lovell

They're aiming to run separate races this year, A1/A2, A3, A4 and a Women's race.

bcmf

16th Feb is scary early.
4 weekends from now.

Inquitus

Do these be slightly slower than races in the height of the A4 season? or is it full gas madness from Mid Feb onwards?

Diarmuid

Full gas. And then some

Inquitus

Diarmuid wrote: »

Full gas. And then some

So I need to wait a few races until the feckers who did 5000km over the winter get upgraded and things get civilised again?

bcmf

Civilised + A4 = Does not compute

Beasty

The issue with early season seems to be sheer numbers trying to put that winter training into practice, with novices in the A4s seemingly a particular issue

Fortunately for me there should hopefully be one or two more civilised "Masters" races in the North for me to dip my toes in as I really don't fancy early season A4 races given the reports we've had in previous seasons

Inquitus

Beasty wrote: »

The issue with early season seems to be sheer numbers trying to put that winter training into practice, with novices in the A4s seemingly a particular issue

Fortunately for me there should hopefully be one or two more civilised "Masters" races in the North for me to dip my toes in as I really don't fancy early season A4 races given the reports we've had in previous seasons

How old do I have to be for Masters? 40?

killalanerr

you to be the age as the beast 150 . Afaik its 50 on an a4

Beasty

Inquitus wrote: »

How old do I have to be for Masters? 40?

Alas no - 50 by 31 December 2014

IVCA allow men who are 40 during this calendar year (35 for women) to join, and their racing usually starts at the end of March - again a bit more civilised, and they have started restricting numbers (turning CPs in DMSs if too many turn up - they've been working to a limit of 100 per race over the past couple of years). They will also take proper note of "transgressions" and impose racing bans particularly for repeat offenders, which helps keep everyone in line (or on the correct side of it anyway )

smurphy29

Think it's a good move to have separate races on this circuit. Last season this was a pretty chaotic fixture with a huge peloton snaking around the route, and that was without most of the A1s who had gone the wrong way at a roundabout. I won't forget that horse and trap in the middle of the road in a hurry!

Beasty

smurphy29 wrote: »

I won't forget that horse and trap in the middle of the road in a hurry!

I bet they were in a hurry when they saw you lot bearing down on them ...:)

daragh_

Glad to see they are going for separate races.

A4 got a bit hairy last year and it was hectic when we were caught by the big boys.

I missed that horse and trap by inches, got dropped and thankfully missed the crash.

Waiting a bit longer before I get back to open racing this year.

Pawlie

smurphy29 wrote: »

Think it's a good move to have separate races on this circuit. Last season this was a pretty chaotic fixture with a huge peloton snaking around the route, and that was without most of the A1s who had gone the wrong way at a roundabout. I won't forget that horse and trap in the middle of the road in a hurry!

I wouldnt say most a1's went wrong way,its was about 6-8 of them,race became alot faster and safer too when the 1''s and 2's caught the bunch with around 25-30km to go

nilhg

Big changes to the course this year according to that poster, which should take most of the narrower bits out, if ye all cant fit up the old N7 from Ballybrittas into Monasterevin than there won't be many other roads suitable for racing about.

I think it's a pity the leisure event has been moved away from the race, it was nice to go over last year and see the start, then head on on in the slow group, I was still back for the sambos and presentations in the Bellyard, it felt like you were involved if only peripherally.

Harrybelafonte

Am just happy it's not a handicap.

TBH, last year's threw me. I felt ok on all the drags, which surprised me, then made a stupid move and was dropped. When the A3s came, I hopped in, we came around almost a u-turn and the pace went ballistic. I figued at the end the A4s were just biding time til A3s came along, hence the "easy" drags.

bcmf

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

Am just happy it's not a handicap.

TBH, last year's threw me. I felt ok on all the drags, which surprised me, then made a stupid move and was dropped. When the A3s came, I hopped in, we came around almost a u-turn and the pace went ballistic. I figued at the end the A4s were just biding time til A3s came along, hence the "easy" drags.

So you have been given your instructions to race.

Harrybelafonte

bcmf wrote: »

So you have been given your instructions to race.

Yes, pretty much. Still haven't bought licence though.

bcmf

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

Yes, pretty much. Still haven't bought licence though.

one day license!?!

Harrybelafonte

No unfortunately, need full licence to train at Sundrive, which starts 1st Feb... if weather holds off.

smurphy29

Pawlie wrote: »

I wouldnt say most a1's went wrong way,its was about 6-8 of them,race became alot faster and safer too when the 1''s and 2's caught the bunch with around 25-30km to go

http://www.stickybottle.com/races-results/barry-meade-takes-stylish-win-at-ned-flanagan-trophy-opens-account-for-planet-tri/

I think it was mor than that Pawlie... the breakaway went the right way and the rest went the wrong way is how sticky bottle reported it anyway...

My own recollection was of the bunch getting very nervous once we hit that tailwind section after the A1s caught up... and the crash happened after it too, so not sure how much safer it was. I was 'lucky' to get a mechanical after smashing into a pothole about 5k before the crash...

wav1

Couple if points of info here
1 A reason why a lot of the early season promotions this year will be separate races is the fact that the 140 max rider rule in handicap races that include A4s came in to play on April 1st 2013.

2 Cycling Leinster passed a motion at its AGM that the MAX entry fee allowed in 2014 will be e15.This is not an amount tha has to be charged as the previous was e10,just a max amount allowed.The promoters of this event have advertised an entry of e20 for both the race and the leisure event.To the best of my knowledge the promoters got a correspondence this week informiing them of same.As there is no set fee for sportives/leisure events the e20 will stay i suppose.I know the races is advertised as being for charity but a e20 entry would be a very dangerous precedence to set in February.

Pawlie

smurphy29 wrote: »

http://www.stickybottle.com/races-results/barry-meade-takes-stylish-win-at-ned-flanagan-trophy-opens-account-for-planet-tri/

I think it was mor than that Pawlie... the breakaway went the right way and the rest went the wrong way is how sticky bottle reported it anyway...

My own recollection was of the bunch getting very nervous once we hit that tailwind section after the A1s caught up... and the crash happened after it too, so not sure how much safer it was. I was 'lucky' to get a mechanical after smashing into a pothole about 5k before the crash...

Dont think lad so cause 2 my clubmates where in it,it was the first breakaway that went wrong way as the other riders behind could see that they where going wrong way and said it at the finish when they all rolled back in,and the crash happened with about 4/5km to go after the last left hand turn,it was cross wind coming over left shoulder then,think it was a case of wheels touching that caused it,

Harrybelafonte

wav1 wrote: »

Couple if points of info here
1 A reason why a lot of the early season promotions this year will be separate races is the fact that the 140 max rider rule in handicap races that include A4s came in to play on April 1st 2013.

2 Cycling Leinster passed a motion at its AGM that the MAX entry fee allowed in 2014 will be e15.This is not an amount tha has to be charged as the previous was e10,just a max amount allowed.The promoters of this event have advertised an entry of e20 for both the race and the leisure event.To the best of my knowledge the promoters got a correspondence this week informiing them of same.As there is no set fee for sportives/leisure events the e20 will stay i suppose.I know the races is advertised as being for charity but a e20 entry would be a very dangerous precedence to set in February.

We were asked to pay same last year. When the price was raised at sign on, reply was "It's for charity". Bit of a pain but charity is charity.

wav1

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

We were asked to pay same last year. When the price was raised at sign on, reply was "It's for charity". Bit of a pain but charity is charity.

They have received official notice of max entry fee this year.
As for the charity,i agree they should be supported,but remember they have a sportive running hand in hand with the race in the day.
A race is a race and therefore governed by rules.

tom francy

Can you still get a one day licence or are they done away with this year??

wav1

tom francy wrote: »

Can you still get a one day licence or are they done away with this year??

AFAIK they are available until the end of March again.

Plastik

Pawlie wrote: »

Dont think lad so cause 2 my clubmates where in it,it was the first breakaway that went wrong way as the other riders behind could see that they where going wrong way and said it at the finish when they all rolled back in,and the crash happened with about 4/5km to go after the last left hand turn,it was cross wind coming over left shoulder then,think it was a case of wheels touching that caused it,

Most of the A1 field never caught that day. The majority of them missed an unmarshalled junction coming into Portlaoise. In fact so many missed it that they were all pulled in at the side of the road by the lead car to regroup and then run off as a separate race.

cantalach

Sorry to revive a week old thread, but the 'map' showing the race route on that poster is is a bit vague. Does anyone know the exact route and if so, is it along the lines I've shown below? I'm just wondering if there is anything even remotely resembling a climb before I consider making the journey.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4005615

Mr. Grieves

This was last year's route: http://www.strava.com/activities/41255028

No hills.

cantalach

Mr. Grieves wrote: »

This was last year's route: http://www.strava.com/activities/41255028

No hills.

Thanks but that was last year's route. Going by the description and the crappy little 'map', it is different this year. No?

nilhg

cantalach wrote: »

Thanks but that was last year's route. Going by the description and the crappy little 'map', it is different this year. No?

It is different this year but it's hard to figure out exactly where it will go, from the description it doesn't seem to be going over the Windy Gap which would be the only climb in the area, looks to me like it'll be fairly flat, with the majority of the course on the old N7.

macbane66

good news having separate races for the various categories

Daithi BC

cantalach wrote: »

Sorry to revive a week old thread, but the 'map' showing the race route on that poster is is a bit vague. Does anyone know the exact route and if so, is it along the lines I've shown below? I'm just wondering if there is anything even remotely resembling a climb before I consider making the journey.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4005615

I live in Stradbally, and my intepretation of the map is that the race route goes out the Heath road from Stradbally and over a nice hill (http://www.strava.com/segments/826666) onto the Heath and back onto the old N7. It's not very clear from the map, but that's the most obvious to take.

couerdelion

6 days away. Plan all winter has been to do this and now I'm not too sure. Will probably be down to give it a go and watch from the back to start with and see how things are going - would anyone bet on there not being a crash?

Harrybelafonte

couerdelion wrote: »

6 days away. Plan all winter has been to do this and now I'm not too sure. Will probably be down to give it a go and watch from the back to start with and see how things are going - would anyone bet on there not being a crash?

No

Koobcam

Forecast not looking great at this stage-low temperatures the day before, a bit of rain, so ice would be possible, though hopefully by race time this won't be too much of an issue. The course is basically flat, no climbs, though a slight drag before turning for the main road towards the finish. I attempted to do the course a couple of weeks back but our group took a wrong turn and cut out about 10km, but I think its around 65km, finishing in Monasterevin, but from the direction of Portlaoise (rather than Kildare, which I think was the finish the last two years).

Chips Lovell

Yeah, it's forecast at the moment is looking a bit wintery, which is always a risk when you have a race this early in the year. Still, it's only Monday, so it could change as we get nearer the weekend.

macbane66

There a nice cattle grib afaik on the bottom of chicken byrnes hill
Last time I was down that way about 3 weeks ago , it was completely flooded, should be interesting so !

Bianchi00

Is there a separate a3 race????

makker

So do you think there is any chance of the A4 group getting split up?
Given it's the 1st race of year I would imagine that there would be quite varying levels of fitness, or am I being too hopeful as don't fancy a 50-man sprint finish.
Also anyone know if the road wide at the finish? Thanks

couerdelion

makker wrote: »

So do you think there is any chance of the A4 group getting split up?
Given it's the 1st race of year I would imagine that there would be quite varying levels of fitness, or am I being too hopeful as don't fancy a 50-man sprint finish.
Also anyone know if the road wide at the finish? Thanks

Doubtful - Some will drop off if it's their first race and it's a bit quicker than they expect but it's not particularly hilly so probably be 100 in the group coming into the finish

Harrybelafonte

couerdelion wrote: »

Doubtful - Some will drop off if it's their first race and it's a bit quicker than they expect but it's not particularly hilly so probably be 100 in the group coming into the finish

That's 50-100 bidons being chucked in the last 800ms

morana

Can posters stop writing/talking about crashes BEFORE races...its bad luck..!!!

Political Wall Map

Exactly Morana. Its them who cause the feckin things!

smurphy29

My guess is this will be the route, sticking to the 'R' roads as much as possible and comes in close to the mooted 60k.

http://goo.gl/maps/jdh17

Harrybelafonte

Looks like last year's route up til point c?

Nope, I think I'm wrong there. i saw that U-turn and thought it was, but looks different now on street view

Solobally8

Hoping to do this as my first race ever. All this talk of crashes is making me very nervous! Hoping enough women show up to keep us separate if not there will be a handicapped race for us with the A4s.

Harrybelafonte

Ignore the crash talk.

nilhg

smurphy29 wrote: »

My guess is this will be the route, sticking to the 'R' roads as much as possible and comes in close to the mooted 60k.

http://goo.gl/maps/jdh17

If that is the route then mostly it's fine, much better than last years, though as anyone who did the Portlaoise spin last week knows the old main road has it's own challenges in the wind.

The one spot to watch would be here, this is at the bottom of the descent off Chicken Byrnes hill and just after a tight enough left hander, but I'm sure it'll be well signed and marshalled.

Koobcam

I think that route looks about right. Let's hope for weather like today. It will be interesting if the wind picks up though, that last stretch along the old N7 into Monasterevin can be tough if the wind is up