2015 Irish CX Champs - all you need to know

Caroline_ie

Dear friend cyclocrosser boardsie,

That time of year is upon us. No, I'm not talking about renewing your Ben Dunne gym membership ...

It's almost time for the National Cyclocross Championships!

They will take place on the 11th of January, less than two weeks now. McNally Swords have taken on the job of organising it for the first time.

Experienced (cyclo)crosser David O'Neill has designed a great course, as challenging as it is fun.

It has all everything you need for a great race : some climbing on and off the bike, tight forested areas, long grassy descents and hopefully mud. A lot of mud.

There will be three races on the day.

11.15am — RACE 1 : Cyclocross Support Race. Race time 45 mins. All Non IRL codes, novice riders with CI licence, IVCA licence holders.
12.30pm — RACE 2 Junior Men, Veteran Men (M40,M50 & M60), Junior Women, Senior Women Championship Race (in that order, at 1 min intervals). Race time 45 mins.
14.00pm — RACE 3 Senior Men & U23 Men & Senior Men Team Championship Race. Race time approximately 1 hour.

How to register you're wondering? Well, let me guide you !

- www.thebikecomesfirst.com/champs (our mini site)
- Click on Registration, on the right hand sidebar
- Fill out the form
- You're in

You can find all the information you need on www.thebikecomesfirst.com/champs and you can like our facebook page.

Hurry, registration closes on Sunday 4th.

Any question, let me know

Caroline Martinez
Race PRO

cdaly_

So, are lights mandatory for Race 1 at 1.15am?...

RobFowl

I'm in (cannon fodder)

Beasty

cdaly_ wrote: »

So, are lights mandatory for Race 1 at 1.15am?...

It's not a championship race so we thought we would try something different. I will have a torch to illuminate the worst bits but may turn it off intermittently for the craic.....

Beasty

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Experienced crosser David O'Neill

I believe David has lined up a very special outfit for the day

Caroline_ie

Edited. Your posts are now totally irrelevant.

GlennaMaddy

Caroline_ie wrote: »

www.thebikecomesfirst.com/champs (our mini site)
- Click on Registration, on the right hand sidebar
- Fill out the form
- Pay your entry fee by Paypal
- then You're in

^^Make sure you pay your entry fee

Beasty

GlennaMaddy wrote: »

^^Make sure you pay your entry fee

Also make sure you have a 2015 CI licence number for the championship events. For the non-championship race IVCA licences are being accepted, although you will not have a licence number from them by the time the race takes place. You will though need to have renewed membership and have insurance cover for racing events

Eamonnator

@Caroline_ie
I am changing clubs.
I have tried to renew my licence.
The website tells me, that my application is "awaiting approval" and to contact my club secretary. I did this. He told me, that he is having a problem with C.I.
He also told me, to print off the page, showing "awaiting approval" and that this will be sufficient. If it's not sorted by race day, will this do?

Caroline_ie

Hi

have you paid yet? Was a 15 license number generated?

Eamonnator

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Hi

have you paid yet? Was a 15 license number generated?

No, haven't paid. It won't let me proceed that far.

Beasty

CI's office is closed until Friday. I would suggest dropping them an e-mail (or getting your club secretary to do so) ahead of then, explaining the urgency

Caroline_ie

Eamonnator wrote: »

No, haven't paid. It won't let me proceed that far.

Like Beasty said :

Beasty wrote: »

CI's office is closed until Friday. I would suggest dropping them an e-mail (or getting your club secretary to do so) ahead of then, explaining the urgency

This new years day thing are very unpractical this year.

I will inquire as well.

Eamonnator

Hopefully, I'll get it sorted.
In the meantime, I'll start a novena.
I don't know, why I'm worrying, because, if there's anything less than cannon fodder, that'll be me.

umami

It's a bit much of CI to insist on this rule & then not have the manpower to process it, no? Same situation last year only probably worse with CI's spanking new portal & it's teething problems.

Beasty

umami wrote: »

It's a bit much of CI to insist on this rule & then not have the manpower to process it, no? Same situation last year only probably worse with CI's spanking new portal & it's teething problems.

What rule? Are you referring to the requirement that cyclists must be licensed (and therefore insured)? That "rule" is for everyone's benefit!

CI's membership renewal system was in operation last year. I renewed in the middle of November without issue. So far this year I've seen one issue from Eamonnator above that may well be sorted by Friday.

umami

Yes I am. I'm not sure I'd agree with you it's for everybodies benefit, and was also not stringently imposed in the past. The cx season is arbitrarily split (on it's backend) by a calendar year.

Yes I'm aware of that, it was a nightmare to get a licence sorted in time last year with emails ping ponging with kelly roche house. Good for you. I am also still waiting to here back from them...

Beasty

Racers need to be insured in case they cause or are subject to injury. The organisers do not own the land on which the race takes place. The owners (in this case Fingal County Council) insist on a minimum public liability insurance (€6.5m IIRC) which can only be provided via CI. CI will certainly not sanction races where there are uninsured participants (whatever may have happened in the past). Without everyone covered by appropriate insurance the event will not take place. It is therefore for everyone's benefit (by everyone in this case I mean all participants) that proper insurance is in place as without it they cannot race

umami

You're pedantically correct about the insurance, yes, and I take your point.
However, my point was that if CI are going to insist on 2015 licences then they should have the manpower in place to process those licences. I used the example of last year as it illustrates that they were not prepared properly (and not only in my experience).
Also my point on the arbitrary nature of the licensing year being aligned with the calendar year still stands. If the cross season ends at end of January (& the road season does not begin usually until mid Feb) perhaps the racing licences should be Feb-Feb.

Beasty

There is nothing arbitrary about the licensing year being aligned with the calendar year - you will have to have a whinge at the UCI for that one as it's completely outside the control of CI

The licence issue is not about manpower as it's all now automated - yes they had a few teething problems with the new system last year, but anyone who knows anything about the way these things operate at this time of year and want some assurance over their licence for early in the new year really should be sorting it out at the beginning rather than end of December. I've witnessed a few issues myself with the system on behalf of my club over the last few days, and have worked around them knowing there is no-one around. I can imagine any club officials tackling this system for the first time (as indeed I have been) may struggle with one or two things, but I don't see why anyone should be blaming CI for that (although I recognise blaming CI for all the woes in the cycling world is a popular pastime for some)

Eamonnator

When I said, that my club was having a problem with C.I., I did not say, nor did I infer, that the fault for the problem lay with C.I.
When Caroline_ie posted details about registration for the championships today, I read through the details, and saw, that there was a race for M60s. I decided today, that I would race. If this hadn't arisen, I wouldn't have been in such a hurry to renew my licence. I would have allowed my new club to do so at their own pace.

Beasty

Eamonnator wrote: »

When I said, that my club was having a problem with C.I., I did not say, nor did I infer, that the fault for the problem lay with C.I.
When Caroline_ie posted details about registration for the championships today, I read through the details, and saw, that there was a race for M60s. I decided today, that I would race. If this hadn't arisen, I wouldn't have been in such a hurry to renew my licence. I would have allowed my new club to do so at their own pace.

Don't know how many will be in that cat and the race will certainly be combined with all the other vets, womens and junior cats, but you might want to drum up a bit of support from a few more (ideally slower!) sexagenarians (and indeed older crossers) Eamonnator;)

The tax man

Signed up, sure it's a day out.:)

Eamonnator

Two more questions:
1)If there are sufficient numbers, will there be minute gaps between M40s, M50s and M60s?.
2) Will M40s, M50s and M60s have distinguishing numbers?.

lennymc

Eamonnator - give me a shout tomorrow if you are still having problems and I can talk you and your club guy through the transfer process if that helps.

Must enter meself tomorrow.

Beasty

As I understand it championship rules limit the fields to 50, and registration for the championship races must close on Sunday the 4th. I would therefore encourage everyone who wants to take part to sign up via the link provided in the OP asap

Caroline_ie

Eamonnator wrote: »

Two more questions:
1)If there are sufficient numbers, will there be minute gaps between M40s, M50s and M60s?.
2) Will M40s, M50s and M60s have distinguishing numbers?.

I'm not sure to be honest. We are very close to reaching the minimum entries requirements so I reckon this will be the case.
As for the numbers :I don't know if this has been decided yet.

Please register, the entries are filling up fast!

Alek

I have registered, but there was no option to pay. Am I in?

Also, do you think it is realistic to hope for 2015 CI license applied for on 4th Jan? (need to wait for the credit card to clear... )

Raam

Alek wrote: »

I have registered, but there was no option to pay. Am I in?

Also, do you think it is realistic to hope for 2015 CI license applied for on 4th Jan? (need to wait for the credit card to clear... )

You should be emailed with a link to pay.

Alek

Thanks, I got it now.

I still rather wait with this until somebody gives me just a hint of hope that a CI membership can be renewed within 6 working days I remember some stories of waiting and waiting...

RobFowl

Beasty wrote: »

What rule? Are you referring to the requirement that cyclists must be licensed (and therefore insured)? That "rule" is for everyone's benefit!

CI's membership renewal system was in operation last year. I renewed in the middle of November without issue. So far this year I've seen one issue from Eamonnator above that may well be sorted by Friday.

Up to a few years ago your 2014 licence would have covered you for the national cross champs in Jan of the following year.
They changed this rule (I think 2 years ago) and now insist on a 2015 licence for it.

lennymc

entered.

If any of the guys who have transferred to new clubs are having problems give me a shout, as I can walk their club guys through the transfer process which can be a bit of a pain.

Alek

Fekkit, I've entered too If CI will not renew my license by 11th, I will have unique oportunity to heckle you guys from behind the lines, for mere e15.

Beasty

RobFowl wrote: »

Up to a few years ago your 2014 licence would have covered you for the national cross champs in Jan of the following year.
They changed this rule (I think 2 years ago) and now insist on a 2015 licence for it.

Don't think they've any choice due to the insurance running to the end of the calendar year (and they are in the process of changing underwriters for 2015, which makes it even more important there is a clean cut-off)

It is creating some challenges though, and perhaps thought should be given to pushing the nationals towards the back end of January in the future

bcmf

Alek wrote: »

Fekkit, I've entered too If CI will not renew my license by 11th, I will have unique oportunity to heckle you guys from behind the lines, for mere e15.

I will be heckling them from the sidelines FOR FREE!!
If anyone wants some special heckling and abuse they can pay me and I will oblige.
A form of cycling prostitution

RobFowl wrote: »

CI in their wisdom seem to have taken our club off the drop down menu !
Emails sent and awaiting response.....

Jaysus ...who are you going after now.
I thought we discussed this. You were retiring from that behaviour.

Lusk_Doyle

If I bring my old Swords gear with me and throw it at carefully selected targets as they go past on the course, would that be frowned upon or what?

lennymc

Never mind bringing swords gear. Who is bringing the beer?

Carawaystick

lennymc wrote: »

Never mind bringing swords gear. Who is bringing the beer?

I've never cyclocrossed before, but I've found beer in a bottlecage on a road is very fizzy...

RobFowl

Carawaystick wrote: »

I've never cyclocrossed before, but I've found beer in a bottlecage on a road is very fizzy...

Last year myself and another boardsie threw beer on Lenny every time he went round (I do recall he even stopped for a quick drink at one stage).

I think Bcmf is volunteering for that role this year.....

bcmf

RobFowl wrote: »

Last year myself and another boardsie threw beer on Lenny every time he went round (I do recall he even stopped for a quick drink at one stage).

I think Bcmf is volunteering for that role this year.....

Yep.No problem!

Beasty

General CI renewal queries moved here

lennymc

RobFowl wrote: »

Last year myself and another boardsie threw beer on Lenny every time he went round (I do recall he even stopped for a quick drink at one stage).

I think Bcmf is volunteering for that role this year.....

If you remember correctly I managed to cycle one handed up the off camber mudslide while drinking the beer. Later, at tshe same spot, when I wasn't drinking beer, I fell off. In conclusion, Beer.

midonogh

Hopefully I can address some of the concerns re. licencing

• It is necessary to have a 2015 licence to race in the nationals
• Competitors will be required to present their 2015 licence at sign on on the 11th. It will not be necessary to have the actual plastic licence. We will accept a print out of the pdf licence that CI provide in the email that is sent out once you have paid your CI fee and completed the licence application
• Registration for the CX Nationals closes on Sunday 4th January. While online registration has a field for licence numbers it is not necessary to have your 2015 licence number to complete the registration. Competitors who do not have their 2015 licence number should just put in their 2014 number or a dummy licence number.

So get signed up for the nationals before Sunday 4th and then you have until Sunday 11th to get your licence sorted out.

As I posted in another thread, my experience of renewing my licence last night was very straight forward. I started my online application at 7pm, my club secretary had approved it overnight and I completed my paypal payment at 14.18 today and CI sent me a pdf of my licence at 15.00.

Eamonnator

^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I'm delighted for you.

Lusk_Doyle

Eamonnator wrote: »

^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I'm delighted for you.

Rather harsh! Nice post to end the year with.

Peterx

Any chance of getting a profile/description of the lap?

I'd like to go mad and attempt to do some spins before the 11th that possibly replicate what the course will throw at us. Laps of the Phoneix Park are fun but maybe not what's required.

Are there many run-ups?
How long/steep are they?
How long is the course?
percentage grass?
et cetera...

I got my unattached 2015 licence sorted with no bother at all, the system worked fine. Maybe it's harder for those in clubs.

Eamonnator

I'm delighted for you too.
I think, my problem arose, because I was going from unattached to a club.
I have a feeling, that if there is no change in the licence, then there is no problem.

stecleary

Eamonnator wrote: »

I'm delighted for you too.
I think, my problem arose, because I have a bit of an attitude problem

fixed that there for you

Eamonnator

That too, and mixed with stupidity and computer illiteracy.

lennymc

Peterx wrote: »

Any chance of getting a profile/description of the lap?

mud, grass climbs, tarmac climbs, boards, mud, mud.

stecleary

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Irish-National-Cyclocross-Championships-2015/1562469803982123?fref=ts

plenty of mud pics here