first cx race of the year!! August 14th

lennymc

First cx race of the year is on August 14th in Rathfarnham.

Entry is now open here

I'm looking forward to it!!

(no affiliation to the organisers, just posting it here)

AstraMonti

Bit early isn't it? Anyway always nice to see more cx racing.

nak

AstraMonti wrote: »

Bit early isn't it? Anyway always nice to see more cx racing.

Good few summer races in other countries now.
Race is going along the main street in Rathfarnam, should be a great showcase for the sport.

dooverylittle

nak wrote: »

Good few summer races in other countries now.
Race is going along the main street in Rathfarnam, should be a great showcase for the sport.

Are you sure about this? I cant imagine how this will work, Is the main road between the village and rathfarnham castle going to be closed? (unlikely, I would have thought)

nak

dooverylittle wrote: »

Are you sure about this? I cant imagine how this will work, Is the main road between the village and rathfarnham castle going to be closed? (unlikely, I would have thought)

That's what I was told by one of the organisers. It's part of the Rathfarnam family fun day so other events are on too.

Tenzor07

dooverylittle wrote: »

Are you sure about this? I cant imagine how this will work, Is the main road between the village and rathfarnham castle going to be closed? (unlikely, I would have thought)

Yes, it's part of the Rathfarnham village festival so there will be road closures.

Race info:

Thurs August 14th, 2014

Race 1: 19:00 - 19:40
Race 2: 20:00 - 20:45

Peterx

This is going to be super cool.
I think I'll get my poor Mam and/or wife to come along and pour strong Belgian beer all over me as I grind up that grassy hill behind the village. I'll need cowbells also. And tubular wheels. and a CX bike!:eek:



As an off topic aside it's great to see one day licences available for this. The road racing restrictions were made for good solid reasons but deny access to potential future road racers. All credit to CX/MTB.

Koobcam

What's the story with the categories? Senior A & B? I've never raced CX before, so what's the most appropriate one for me-presumably B? Can you do both races?

Raam

Koobcam wrote: »

What's the story with the categories? Senior A & B? I've never raced CX before, so what's the most appropriate one for me-presumably B? Can you do both races?

A race for you.

QueensGael

Will I look like a complete saddo if I rock up on an MTB? Looks like they're allowed in the B race. I have my pure Euro image to consider

Koobcam

Raam wrote: »

A race for you.

Just signed up for the B. I've been riding my cross bike on the road for the past month, so it will be nice to put the cx tyres back on and use it as it was intended

nak

QueensGael wrote: »

Will I look like a complete saddo if I rock up on an MTB? Looks like they're allowed in the B race. I have my pure Euro image to consider

MTBs are allowed, makes some parts more difficult, but need more women racing.

QueensGael

Cool, will give it a shot so, just registered

lennymc

QueensGael wrote: »

Cool, will give it a shot so, just registered

It really is good fun. Lots of people try it out on an MTB in advance of buying a dedicated cx bike. At anyone doing their first CX race, if you get a chance between now and then practice mounting and dismounting the bike, and lifting it over small obstacles. It will help on race day. Also turn up an hour or so before the race to get in some practice laps!

wanderer 22

Just signed up for the B race...I think i'll be fine for the on road bit, may get a little hairy after that :-P

daragh_

Hmm. Looks at Kaffenback. Scratches chin.

How much are CX tires?

lennymc

crc had some recently for about 15 quid a pop iirc.

nak

daragh_ wrote: »

Hmm. Looks at Kaffenback. Scratches chin.

How much are CX tires?

Dangerous territory there - Cyclocross will turn you into a tyre nerd. Finest handmade tubs only Dugast Rhinos seem to be the tyre of choice as far as tubs go. Clement PDX clinchers are good, as are the Specialized ones, have the Tracer clinchers and used the Terra tubs last season (using them again as they're already glued on). Choice is endless really.

lennymc

alternatively buy a set for 15 quid and just enjoy it!

I got a set of wtb cross wolf mud tyres and they are good in the mud, not so good in non mud, but seem to be lasting me a couple of seasons. I was going to try tubs this year but never got round to it.

LennoxR

Looks to me like you could do this on road bike with 28 or even 25 tyres? There's only one bit of grass and you'll have to run up most of that anyway.

lennymc

is the route available? They did say on FB to bring cx tyres......

daragh_

Cheers for the tips. My Kaff is a heavy lump so if I do this it will be for the craic. I'll throw on the cheapest tires I can get and see if I can make it. Same night as the Club league TTT.

lennymc

daragh_ wrote: »

Cheers for the tips. My Kaff is a heavy lump so if I do this it will be for the craic. I'll throw on the cheapest tires I can get and see if I can make it. Same night as the Club league TTT.

do the tt on the kaff with cx tyres, then lobby the club to create a cxtt category and claim you are the champion.

nak

LennoxR wrote: »

Looks to me like you could do this on road bike with 28 or even 25 tyres? There's only one bit of grass and you'll have to run up most of that anyway.

Most of the course is off-road, so could be very muddy. Have yet to see someone attempt a cross race on a road bike (not saying it hasn't happened) - geometry isn't ideal.

Tenzor07

Official entry form is here: http://fs25.formsite.com/twracing/form12/index.html

Will be the same format as any of the previous Cyclocross events, probably as much tarmac and offroad as at the Grangecastle course, so yes you will need decent CX tyres


https://www.facebook.com/events/1433158186967379/

ba

Signed up for the B race myself. It's my first CX race. Looking forward to it. Got some challenge fango tyres for it, not tubs but can get low psi on em if needed.

LennoxR

nak wrote: »

Most of the course is off-road, so could be very muddy. Have yet to see someone attempt a cross race on a road bike (not saying it hasn't happened) - geometry isn't ideal.

Saw a lad doing this years ago in a cross race in UCD Belfield. He might have been riding for UCD, I can't remember, this would have been in about 2003. He had ordinary road tyres at 20psi, apparently he got around alright!

Euro Fred

Is there a CX calendar anywhere?

i remember i just missed one in Corkagh Park and i was gutted

nak

Euro Fred wrote: »

Is there a CX calendar anywhere?

i remember i just missed one in Corkagh Park and i was gutted

Not yet, probably no race in Corkagh again as the cycle track kind of spoiled the course

First race in the Fixx league is probably late September/early October. Fixx Supercross Facebook page is your best bet for information.

Tenzor07

Keep an eye on the website also, will be updated first with news on the upcoming season:

www.irishcx.com/cx-rathfarnham

wanderer 22

lennymc wrote: »

It really is good fun. Lots of people try it out on an MTB in advance of buying a dedicated cx bike. At anyone doing their first CX race, if you get a chance between now and then practice mounting and dismounting the bike, and lifting it over small obstacles. It will help on race day. Also turn up an hour or so before the race to get in some practice laps!

Managed to get a bit of practice mounting/dismounting (the bike) etc. over the weekend. Jesus I'm sh*te.

Any other boardsies signed up for this?

Raam

colm18 wrote: »

Managed to get a bit of practice mounting/dismounting (the bike) etc. over the weekend. Jesus I'm sh*te.

Any other boardsies signed up for this?

Yes, and I'm shíte at it also.

nak

+ 1 on the sh*teness. We can't all be Sven Nys/Marriane Vos.

RobFowl

I'm in and if raam is ****e then I'm his clumsy slightly deluded talentless cousin !

Love it though

daragh_

colm18 wrote: »

Managed to get a bit of practice mounting/dismounting (the bike) etc. over the weekend. Jesus I'm sh*te.

Any other boardsies signed up for this?

Same here. I'm utterly brutal. So much so I'm going to go do a Timetrial instead. Best of luck!

wanderer 22

daragh_ wrote: »

Same here. I'm utterly brutal. So much so I'm going to go do a Timetrial instead. Best of luck!

Ah Daragh, I was relying on you to be a fellow off road newbie!

Tenzor07

Entry for the race will close tomorrow evening Tues. 12th at 18:00. There will be limited on the day sign on but you will have to be early. Over 100 riders registered...

Tenzor07

Details on the event updated here: www.irishcx.com/rathfarnham-cx-details/

Raam

I might not be able to race now. Took a wallop to the ribs when I crashed in training and even breathing normally hurts.

Tenzor07

Always room for spectators

Alek

Always room for spectators

Good, see you there lads. Unless the more important male will start teething again.

RobFowl

Raam wrote: »

I might not be able to race now. Took a wallop to the ribs when I crashed in training and even breathing normally hurts.

Drugs are good !

See some one or get advice

Did a tri and a RR on successive days with a broken rib earlier this year...

(note to self wasn't the greatest idea in the world to have done that....)

lennymc

i found my cx bike today - it was buried in the shed - hasnt moved since the nationals. Off for a spin on it now to see if it works.

Raam

RobFowl wrote: »

Drugs are good !

See some one or get advice

Did a tri and a RR on successive days with a broken rib earlier this year...

(note to self wasn't the greatest idea in the world to have done that....)

I've hit the nurofen plus.

lennymc

Raam wrote: »

I've hit the nurofen plus.

TUE?

RobFowl

lennymc wrote: »

TUE?

Not needed

lennymc

was out on the cx bike last night and after seeing the course decided that the gearing was way off. I was running a 36/17 for most of last year, but have changed to a 46/17 for tomorrow. A bit of a spin in the park this and i think it's either spot on or too big. Guess I'll find out tomorrow

nak

lennymc wrote: »

was out on the cx bike last night and after seeing the course decided that the gearing was way off. I was running a 36/17 for most of last year, but have changed to a 46/17 for tomorrow. A bit of a spin in the park this and i think it's either spot on or too big. Guess I'll find out tomorrow

Not one for the climbers then? Loads of tarmac I guess.

Tenzor07

nak wrote: »

Not one for the climbers then? Loads of tarmac I guess.

CX races rarely if ever have any climbs to speak of(apart from Bray last year), just short sharp kickers.. close gearing will be good for the tarmac sections tomorrow... it has roughly the same amount of tarmac as say GrangeCastle..

Raam

Tenzor07 wrote: »

CX races rarely if ever have any climbs to speak of(apart from Bray last year), just short sharp kickers.. close gearing will be good for the tarmac sections tomorrow... it has roughly the same amount of tarmac as say GrangeCastle..

Ahem!



It's worse than it looks and there was a headwind that day

nak

Tenzor07 wrote: »

CX races rarely if ever have any climbs to speak of(apart from Bray last year)

Swords and Portmarnock do too. The Portmarnock hill was nasty into the wind.