LACEY CUP

ciaeim

thinking of entering this but am i mad ? i have never raced and i am pretty new to cycling approx 1 year. have lost a load of weight at cycling and have gotten lot stronger on bike but i do not want to be embarrassingly spewed out the back after a few k. i can average up to 30 kph on my own,but i hear that during this race averages could be 37 ish pretty sure this is beyond me. i am 51 pretty new to cycling and a novice so i suppose my question is would this be a bridge too far for me , has any one any idea how long it takes A4 racers to complete this race or any other knowledge or advice ? thanks..

sorry for this longwinded post but i am very nervous about entering

Beasty

Are you a member of a club? Is there a club league option for you? That's what I would recommend to start off racing (it's the way I started racing aged 49)

Personally I would not throw myself straight into A4 (although I appreciate club racing is not an option for many, the IVCA is an option for over 40s)

In your position I would suggest trying to build up experience with a club and make sure you am comfortable riding in fast groups before attempting racing

ciaeim

Beasty wrote: »

Are you a member of a club? Is there a club league option for you? That's what I would recommend to start off racing (it's the way I started racing aged 49)

Personally I would not throw myself straight into A4 (although I appreciate club racing is not an option for many, the IVCA is an option for over 40s)

In your position I would suggest trying to build up experience with a club and make sure you am comfortable riding in fast groups before attempting racing

i am in a club,but they dont have a club league. i have been cycling with the racers in the club over the winter hold my own to a degree, theirs usually 10 to 15 of us and i sit in for the most part and do a few stints in front. i would love to give it a go but not sure i am ready. have you any idea how fast A4s go in the lacy cup or do you know of somewhere i could find out , thanks for replying

Beasty

One option for a first race is to try a Masters race

These are well established in Ulster, where they are run for A4s aged over 50. These races are typically safer than A4s as the fields are generally smaller (usually combined with ladies, but you are probably talking up to 50 in a race). In additiion the racers are generally much more experienced and will not take unnecessary risks (not that these races are risk free as I can definitely attest to!)

There are also a couple of races taking advantage of the new CI Masters cats of M40, M50 and M60. These were mentioned here

Following an accident I had last year (which was in an Ulster Masters race) I have no intention of racing A4 again as I do feel these races are particularly risky due to large fields and particularly inexperience with a early season influx of riders new to racing

ciaeim

Beasty wrote: »

One option for a first race is to try a Masters race

These are well established in Ulster, where they are run for A4s aged over 50. These races are typically safer than A4s as the fields are generally smaller (usually combined with ladies, but you are probably talking up to 50 in a race). In additiion the racers are generally much more experienced and will not take unnecessary risks (not that these races are risk free as I can definitely attest to!)

There are also a couple of races taking advantage of the new CI Masters cats of M40, M50 and M60. These were mentioned here

Following an accident I had last year (which was in an Ulster Masters race) I have no intention of racing A4 again as I do feel these races are particularly risky due to large fields and particularly inexperience with a early season influx of riders new to racing

Thanks again but as I live in South Kerry I think I would chance lacy cup as its a lot closer to home 😄still unsure tho as bad and all as it would be to get dropped early I definately don't want to be in accident (I know no one wants to be )

StevieGriff

Beasty wrote: »

Following an accident I had last year (which was in an Ulster Masters race) I have no intention of racing A4 again as I do feel these races are particularly risky due to large fields and particularly inexperience with a early season influx of riders new to racing

Beasty, was your crash directly caused by big A4 field/inexperienced riders?
Always seems to get said by Boardsies but I have a feeling that might be due to the majority of Boardsies being Leinster based...ie bigger attendance? Maybe..?

Other thing that has me wary of A4 racing is knowing that chaps like yourself have raced it, and judging by your Sweaty Plastercast thread and other posts I know full well you'd be WAY ahead of the level I'm at personally. A mixture of lack of time during this time of year and asthma making winter difficult has me far off where I wanted to be. 50/50 about opening the season up with the Lacey cup.

royrogers

ciaeim wrote: »

i am in a club,but they dont have a club league. i have been cycling with the racers in the club over the winter hold my own to a degree, theirs usually 10 to 15 of us and i sit in for the most part and do a few stints in front. i would love to give it a go but not sure i am ready. have you any idea how fast A4s go in the lacy cup or do you know of somewhere i could find out , thanks for replying

You could check out Strava for distance/average speed etc.

Beasty

StevieGriff wrote: »

Beasty, was your crash directly caused by big A4 field/inexperienced riders?
Always seems to get said by Boardsies but I have a feeling that might be due to the majority of Boardsies being Leinster based...ie bigger attendance?

It was an Ulster Masters race - I entered on the basis it should have been "safer" given it was 50+ A4s plus ladies. There was a field of 40-50. I have no recollection of what happened but from what I've gleaned from a number of sources there may have been one or two novice ladies who were getting tired as we entered the final few km. We had a tailwind and it was flat meaning we were going at 50 km/h. It had also started raining. The suggestion is that someone veered a liitlle to the right either as a result of or causing a touching of wheels. Maybe 8-10 came down and I suspect I was towards the back of those caught up, with no-where to go other than over the bars

My comments about A4 were because I've seen very risky manoeuvers in pretty much every A4 race I have done. When I see them all over the road, passing oncoming traffic on the right hand side and often oblivious to the rules of the road (with many resultant crashes) given the scale of my own accident it's a risk I suspect I will be no longer prepared to take

StevieGriff

Beasty wrote: »

It was an Ulster Masters race - I entered on the basis it should have been "safer" given it was 50+ A4s plus ladies. There was a field of 40-50. I have no recollection of what happened but from what I've gleaned from a number of sources there may have been one or two novice ladies who were getting tired as we entered the final few km. We had a tailwind and it was flat meaning we were going at 50 km/h. It had also started raining. The suggestion is that someone veered a liitlle to the right either as a result of or causing a touching of wheels. Maybe 8-10 came down and I suspect I was towards the back of those caught up, with no-where to go other than over the bars

My comments about A4 were because I've seen very risky manoeuvers in pretty much every A4 race I have done. When I see them all over the road, passing oncoming traffic on the right hand side and often oblivious to the rules of the road (with many resultant crashes) given the scale of my own accident it's a risk I suspect I will be no longer prepared to take

Nasty spill by the sounds of things. The whole passing on the wrong side sounds more like mad max than a bike race. The real catch 22 I suppose is you have to race A4 to get out of it. Decisions decisions...

ROK ON

ciaeim wrote: »

thinking of entering this but am i mad ? i have never raced and i am pretty new to cycling approx 1 year. have lost a load of weight at cycling and have gotten lot stronger on bike but i do not want to be embarrassingly spewed out the back after a few k. i can average up to 30 kph on my own,but i hear that during this race averages could be 37 ish pretty sure this is beyond me. i am 51 pretty new to cycling and a novice so i suppose my question is would this be a bridge too far for me , has any one any idea how long it takes A4 racers to complete this race or any other knowledge or advice ? thanks..

sorry for this longwinded post but i am very nervous about entering

If you are training with your clubs racing crew and are able then the only way that you will know that A4 suits you is tondo the race.

Amprodude

Have a go at it Op. You will enjoy it and don't be hard on yourself if things don't go to plan. We all had to start somewhere. Best of luck.

Beasty

StevieGriff wrote: »

Nasty spill by the sounds of things. The whole passing on the wrong side sounds more like mad max than a bike race. The real catch 22 I suppose is you have to race A4 to get out of it. Decisions decisions...

I do suspect the Leinster fields are much larger than elsewhere. In Ulster they are limited to 80 or less through agreement with the police.

One of the problems is everyone wants to move up from the back and in such large fields crossing the white line is often the only way to progress on the flatter circuits. The last A4 race I did involved so much reckless riding I dropped off the back with a few km to go. A couple of minutes later I turned a bend to witness carnage as a result of someone on the wrong side of the road colliding with an oncoming car

Quigs Snr

A4 at the Leacy cup is fine. Its not a huge field, the roads are quite wide and of good quality. Its not particularly dangerous. I find it one of the safer ones. The first climb is about 13k in and that splits it up a bit, although you will definitely still be part of a group on the road.. and then hang in to the coast run by inch beach where it usually stays together until the last climb with a few k to go...

Do it. Worst case scenario you get popped early. No big deal. Nothing to lose. Forget average speeds. It will heat up a bit on the climb at the business end of things and it can sometimes go off a bit hot, but otherwise you are spending half your time trying not to roll into the guy in front of you because you are coasting.

Give it a go. You'll be surprised.

Although... Leinster A4 races... SOME of those I would avoid like the plague if I were still an A4.

zurbfoundation

ciaeim wrote: »

LACY CUP

Quigs Snr wrote: »

Leacy cup

Sorry to be pedantic - its the Lacey Cup.

couerdelion

The only way you will know is to try it. If you get chucked out the back after a few km so what?

Also against all the advice you'll get I'd sit in at the back and just watch and learn for your first few races. You might miss a split in the pack and you won't be in the mix at the end but you will learn. I did this a couple of years ago in my first season and learnt a lot watching and staying away from the sprints for 20th place.

At 51 I'd guess you aren't expecting to move up to A1 anytime soon so just enjoy the racing for what it is.

thebouldwhacker

Do it. If you are slow it means I'll have company. if you are afraid of crashing stay out of the bunch.

Hi Ho

thebouldwhacker wrote: »

Do it. If you are slow it means I'll have company. if you are afraid of crashing stay out of the bunch.

If you are afraid of crashing stay out of bike racing.

Hi Ho

Hi Ho wrote: »

If you are afraid of crashing stay out of bike racing.

Well, I suppose I should re-phrase that. Almost everybody is afraid of crashing. But stay out of bike racing if you are not prepared to accept it as a consequence.

Give the race a go - the worst that can happen (apart from crashing) is that you'll get dropped.

You should probably also stay out of it if you're not prepared for that as well.

Amprodude

Anyone have the route for this race?

StevieGriff

Amprodude wrote: »

Anyone have the route for this race?

Here ya go.

inc21

This was my first race last year. Got blown out the back on the last climb but had great time all the same. 1 small touch of wheels on 1st climb and some lads went down. Idiots making dangerous moves is easy enough to spot, then just try to stay in front of them. Leacy cup is great starter it has climb quite soon. That will break up the bunch and make it way less dangerous, just be at the front when it comes. If you get caught behind, there is no way coming back.

ciaeim

inc21 wrote: »

This was my first race last year. Got blown out the back on the last climb but had great time all the same. 1 small touch of wheels on 1st climb and some lads went down. Idiots making dangerous moves is easy enough to spot, then just try to stay in front of them. Leacy cup is great starter it has climb quite soon. That will break up the bunch and make it way less dangerous, just be at the front when it comes. If you get caught behind, there is no way coming back.

Amy harm in asking how long it took or a Strava link on your ride?

barleyman

here you go, a4 stats

as has been said nice safe race, with a b1tch of a run in to the finish!

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/450157215

ciaeim

barleyman wrote: »

here you go, a4 stats

as has been said nice safe race, with a b1tch of a run in to the finish!

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/450157215

Hope you won 😄

tailendcharlie

Just give it a go, i got blown out the back of 15 A4 races last year and by the end of the season i got the upgrade to A3. If your afraid of making a fool of yourself you'll never accomplish anything.

Koobcam

Hi Ho wrote: »

If you are afraid of crashing stay out of bike racing.

Actually, if you are afraid of crashing, probably the best strategy is to get fit enough that you can ride near the front and be able to go like the clappers. I usually feel safer when the speed goes up and people are lined out rather than bunched up

inc21

https://app.strava.com/activities/115550156

okane1

inc21 wrote: »

https://app.strava.com/activities/115550156

Was that from the A4 race?

ciaeim

tailendcharlie wrote: »

Just give it a go, i got blown out the back of 15 A4 races last year and by the end of the season i got the upgrade to A3. If your afraid of making a fool of yourself you'll never accomplish anything.

Yea i agree with you thanks just what I needed was a little kick up the jacksy! I AM entering and to hell with it if i go out the back sure it's a lovely part of the world for a Sunday cycle thanks for all yere input !!

Taxuser1

when did the A1s reach the head of the race last year ?

bwalsh1983

Taxuser1 wrote: »

when did the A1s reach the head of the race last year ?

They didn't save for Damien Shaw.

Taxuser1

bwalsh1983 wrote: »

They didn't save for Damien Shaw.

really! what was the handicap given ?

inc21

okane1 wrote: »

Was that from the A4 race?

yes.

Amprodude

A4 is separate this year.

iwillhtfu

I'm not sure if you're on facebook op but Naas cycling club posted a good video of the A3 race on their page.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10203773541487395

It gives a good idea of what to watch it seems the surges are what catch people out and the stronger lads seem to break just before a bit of a ramp.

Plenty of tight spots and cycling toward cars I'm not sure what the etiquette is on cycling on the oppsoite side of the road.

Beasty

Amprodude wrote: »

Anyone have the route for this race?

I've been approached by someone who wants to start a proper "race" thread. As this thread has really been covering other issues and in particular the OP's request for advice on starting racing I am happy for that poster to start a new thread with relevant details in the OP

thebouldwhacker

iwillhtfu wrote: »

I'm not sure if you're on facebook op but Naas cycling club posted a good video of the A3 race on their page.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10203773541487395

It gives a good idea of what to watch it seems the surges are what catch people out and the stronger lads seem to break just before a bit of a ramp.

Plenty of tight spots and cycling toward cars I'm not sure what the etiquette is on cycling on the oppsoite side of the road.

Great vid, some shocking club kits though...

ciaeim

Anyone else here doing the Lacey cup? If so,be safe and the very best of luck and enjoy it !

Hi Ho

ciaeim wrote: »

Yea i agree with you thanks just what I needed was a little kick up the jacksy! I AM entering and to hell with it if i go out the back sure it's a lovely part of the world for a Sunday cycle thanks for all yere input !!

Well??

ciaeim

Hi Ho wrote: »

Well??

Enjoyed it thoroughly. Got dropped off main bunch with 8k to go

Hi Ho

ciaeim wrote: »

Enjoyed it thoroughly. Got dropped off main bunch with 8k to go

Well done ...

wirelessdude01

Anprodude, if your reading how did you go? Know from your postings on here that you were targeting this A4 race?

StevieGriff

Being my first road race it was a huge eye opener. Learned a lot and know what I need to work on for the rest of the year.
Made the dumb mistake of thinking I'd be better off switching to an easier tempo up Gleann na Gealt instead of risking blowing up, what resulted was me getting completely dropped from the man pack and getting isolated on my own between the pack and the group behind while hopelessly trying to catch back up with everything I had. Annascaul to Castlemaine solo was a world of hurt. AND I learned that my Max HR is 199 not 186.

P.S, I couldn't for the life of me figure out what caused all the random hard braking followed by a pointless surge?

Amprodude

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Anprodude, if your reading how did you go? Know from your postings on here that you were targeting this A4 race?

Disaster got a puncture 30km into race. Felt good but I don't think I would have won all the same. Race pace, you can't beat it for training but I think I won't be getting out of A4 anytime soon. Alot of reckless riding there today from what I saw.

JK.BMC

Amprodude wrote: »

Disaster got a puncture 30km into race. Felt good but I don't think I would have won all the same. Race pace, you can't beat it for training but I think I won't be getting out of A4 anytime soon. Alot of reckless riding there today from what I saw.

Maybe I'm psychic...! (check previous thread)

A puncture is unfortunate, happens to everybody, hard luck, but not a disaster in reality. Always next week, and the next.

Maybe after all those months training, you needed new tyres.
Just a thought.
Keep at it.

Amprodude

JK.BMC wrote: »

Maybe I'm psychic...! (check previous thread)

A puncture is unfortunate, happens to everybody, hard luck, but not a disaster in reality. Always next week, and the next.

Maybe after all those months training, you needed new tyres.
Just a thought.
Keep at it.

You were right.

Hi Ho

Amprodude wrote: »

...Alot of reckless riding there today from what I saw.

I didn't see anything I'd consider 'reckless', never mind a lot of it (in 30k). And there was a very good Garda on a motorbike policing both the traffic and the bunch very well. I guess different people have different expectations of bike racing.

ciaeim

Amprodude wrote: »

Disaster got a puncture 30km into race. Felt good but I don't think I would have won all the same. Race pace, you can't beat it for training but I think I won't be getting out of A4 anytime soon. Alot of reckless riding there today from what I saw.

I must say in my opinion that i thought the race was very safe and that most of the riding was very good. Only time was first 15k lots of stop starting which was a bit dodgy at times.

outfox

StevieGriff wrote: »

Annascaul to Castlemaine solo was a world of hurt.

That stretch of road is just soul destroying. It goes on forever. Well done for sticking it out.

Amprodude

Hi Ho wrote: »

I didn't see anything I'd consider 'reckless', never mind a lot of it (in 30k). And there was a very good Garda on a motorbike policing both the traffic and the bunch very well. I guess different people have different expectations of bike racing.

If you talk to A1s or A2s they will tell you all about how reckless A4 races generally are. Yesterday no different with lads going left and right around the road and not holding their lines.

wirelessdude01

Amprodude wrote: »

If you talk to A1s or A2s they will tell you all about how reckless A4 races generally are.

Personally think that a lot of A1/2 riders forget that they were once those 'reckless' riders as well.