Women's Crit League

buffalo

Women's mid-week racing returns for the spring! Perfect for beginners, or the more experienced rider!

A different format from last year, the league has moved away from the traffic in Sandyford to the track in Corkagh Park, making this the perfect opportunity for beginners to dip their toe into racing. And there'll still be enough for the more experienced rider too!

http://womenscycling.ie/orwell-crit-league-starts-tuesday-8th-april-batterstown-tt/
http://www.orwellwheelers.org/womens-news/598-2014-women-s-crit-league

buffalo

The first round of the league takes place on Tuesday 8th April. It will be a 16k time trial starting in Batterstown, Co. Meath. The course will be an out and back route from Batterstown on the Trim road as far as the roundabout at Drumree and back to Batterstown. Under 16s will ride half this distance. The under 16s will go first at 6.30pm. Sign on will be at Black Bull before the race and riders are encouraged to ride out to the start as parking is limited.

For safety all participants should have lights on their bikes (particularly a rear light). The clocks are going back on Monday, but there still won't be a great amount of light for the later finishers.

lennymc

Hey Buffalo,
what licence is needed for this? Limited comp or full race?

buffalo

lennymc wrote: »

Hey Buffalo,
what licence is needed for this? Limited comp or full race?

As per the Orwell link, "all participants must be members of CI, and have at least a Limited Competition licence."

lennymc

buffalo wrote: »

As per the Orwell link, "all participants must be members of CI, and have at least a Limited Competition licence."

makes note to self - read links.

Thanks!

buffalo

Sign up now availabile at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGhQYV81dzhmczBmOGdIT0FWR1B2V3c6MA

bazermc

buffalo wrote: »

For safety all participants should have lights on their bikes (particularly a rear light). The clocks are going back on Monday, but there still won't be a great amount of light for the later finishers.

Clocks go forward on Sunday. !!!!!!

buffalo

bazermc wrote: »

Clocks go forward on Sunday. !!!!!!

Whatevs, the clocks change, you know what I meant!

bazermc

buffalo wrote: »

Whatevs, the clocks change, you know what I meant!

Don't be late for work .

NamelessPhil

I did this last year when it was held in Sandyford. It hurt a lot and I got lapped at least once, but it was great crack. The camaraderie and the experience of racing against some of the best women in Ireland was brilliant.

I'd recommend anyone to turn up and do it and if you're not sure just come and watch one, you'll be thinking "I know I can go faster than that!".

If the catering is as good as last year you'll replace all the burnt off calories with one of the cupcakes afterwards.

Thanks to Orwell for organising this event again this year and I hope it's a great success.

Beasty

Thing is though even if you get lapped, with it being a crit just try to hang on - hopefully by then the lead group is going a bit slower, and it's a great way to build up the fitness (and speed). If you get dropped again, again try and have a bit of a break and put the effort in to get back on when they lap you again

NamelessPhil

Beasty wrote: »

Thing is though even if you get lapped, with it being a crit just try to hang on - hopefully by then the lead group is going a bit slower, and it's a great way to build up the fitness (and speed). If you get dropped again, again try and have a bit of a break and put the effort in to get back on when they lap you again

Yes, I did all that last year. It paid off later in the year when I finally got a place in one of the later crit races. Crit racing is a great way to build confidence in your cornering at speed, you have to do it to keep up or you're a goner!

buffalo

To add some detail, races will be €5 per event, or €25 for all six if you pay in advance.

Races start at 19.00 (except TTs for youth/juniors at 18.30).

buffalo

Everyone in the league should've gotten an email, but if you didn't, or you're looking to head out and watch, details for tonight's round are up at http://www.orwellwheelers.org/womens-news/604-women-s-crit-league-r1

lennymc

Best of luck to everyone taking part tonight!

buffalo

Great turnout tonight! http://www.orwellwheelers.org/womens-news/609-fitzgerald-and-o-reilly-top-first-crit

NamelessPhil

Woohoo! 4th place in the B race.

I didn't get dropped or lapped, mind you it was only for 20 minutes + 2 laps not the 40 minutes of last year. The weather was great dry and sunny although there was a stiff breeze on the bottom corners. It felt good to be back racing.

Thanks to Orwell for the organising and the catering, it's the main reason my 4 year-old is keen to come and watch.

Scrappy600

Prob a stupid question but is there a men's running at the same time too or is the same format available to men at a different time (suitable for novices)?

buffalo

Scrappy600 wrote: »

Prob a stupid question but is there a men's running at the same time too or is the same format available to men at a different time (suitable for novices)?

Nope, sorry. Have a look at the Mondello series for something similar for men, though not so much for novices. For that you'd want to be joining a club with a league.

Scrappy600

Think Mondello might be a bit too advanced for me. I'll try see what clubs are about with leagues. Thanks for the help.

buffalo

http://www.orwellwheelers.org/womens-news/623-darley-dominates-amid-deluge

If anyone was out in that rain last night (who didn't have to be), I pity them. The hard women of Irish cycling were giving it socks in Brittas - fair play to anyone who stayed in the saddle and didn't abandon in those conditions!

jimm

Well done to the 2 girls from Towers CC in their first season of racing. It's payback time now for all the hard winter miles.

Savage conditions last night. Chapeau to all who took part in that rainstorm.

daragh_

NamelessPhil can stop sandbagging about how she doesn't have race legs. :rolleyes: