Lenny, Alek and Rob's cyclo crossbromance

coach22

So my cyclocross bike arrived today! Super excited to get out on it.

Apart from Phoenix Park where else are there good trails around Dublin?

Hellfire, Massey Wood? Are these okay to cycle.

Has anyone any Strava links they can provide?

Peterx

coach22 wrote: »

So my cyclocross bike arrived today! Super excited to get out on it.

Apart from Phoenix Park where else are there good trails around Dublin?

Hellfire, Massey Wood? Are these okay to cycle.

Has anyone any Strava links they can provide?

The newest Coillte MTB trails on 3 rock are CXable as a lap loop

https://www.strava.com/activities/661240954/segments/16191333749

Masseys is probably easier in that you can avoid rocky sections. Loads to do in there, up the middle, down the outside. With strong legs, up the outside and down the middle. All good stuff in there.
Obviously all the public parks are CXable but be sensible and avoid children, dogs and adults. Probably in that order

nak

Plenty of fire roads in Dublin/Wicklow mountains if you get yourself an OS map. I wouldn't personally ride the Coilte trails on the CX bike as it's more fun on a MTB. Some of them are probably a bit much if you've never ridden off-road before, depends on experience.

There's nothing that technical in the cross courses anymore, plenty of stuff in Phoenix Park that's more challenging than the race courses themselves. The Curragh is good if looking for something a bit different. I use a small local park for doing basic skills and Phoenix Park for 1-2 hour spins. Massey is good as it tends to get quite muddy in the winter. Nice to mix it up, but a lot of people forget to work on the basics.

wanderer 22

Here's a couple of my cx spins in Phoenix park; there's a loop all the way around and some nice hills near the magazine fort https://www.strava.com/activities/370579487
https://www.strava.com/activities/645515568
https://www.strava.com/activities/578223574

There's a few trails around the leadmines in Shankill: https://www.strava.com/activities/178263418

Don;t forget the Royal and Grand canals too for a more leisurely offroad experience ;-) https://www.strava.com/activities/343722739

Pantanifan84

Let's talk stem length. How long us regarded as too long?

Lusk_Doyle

Pantanifan84 wrote: »

Let's talk stem length. How long us regarded as too long?

How long is yours?

Pantanifan84

110mm

RobFowl

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

How long is yours?

Oooo eeeer missus....

Lusk_Doyle

Pantanifan84 wrote: »

110mm

Meh. I've had longer.

Pantanifan84

That's what she said......I'll get me coat

Alek

170mm should please most.

Pantanifan84

Sure that's like a second top tube

Lusk_Doyle

Alek wrote: »

170mm should please most.

I think that you are being a bit generous there. Looks like 165 to the middle to me. Do you often overstate the length of things?

Alek

We wouldnt get too far as species if everyone was so meticulous about promises vs. reality :-P

Pablo Rubio

Alek wrote: »

170mm should please most.

Looks a bit dull in spots, could do with a bit of a rub.

Alek

Pablo Rubio wrote:

could do with a bit of a rub.

Apt nickname, sir.

splanagan22

Is there a list of racing leagues anywhere online. I really want to do some Cx this winter. Also it there tracks you can just rock up to and practice. Based in Louth/Meath

lennymc

find a park, cycle round it, look at some cx specific training drills on you tube. Where in Louth/Meath are you based?

Can we change the name of the thread back now?

nak

splanagan22 wrote: »

Is there a list of racing leagues anywhere online. I really want to do some Cx this winter. Also it there tracks you can just rock up to and practice. Based in Louth/Meath

Pretty sure dates were posted in this thread.

You can't train on any of the courses - the race organisers ask people not to train on courses prior to races. The courses can be quite convoluted and it would be hard to guess the route in advance anyway.

splanagan22

lennymc wrote: »

find a park, cycle round it, look at some cx specific training drills on you tube. Where in Louth/Meath are you based?

Can we change the name of the thread back now?

Ok will do. I'm from Drogheda.

Dermot Illogical

I got a CX bike and have been honing my skills alongside the roadworks on the coast road at Clontarf. Where do I sign up to win some races?

The tax man

I think it's time to get the CX bike down from the attic.

Miklos

This video makes me realise I a) need to get a bloody CX bike and b) really need to go back to Iceland.

wanderer 22

Miklos wrote: »

This video makes me realise I a) need to get a bloody CX bike and b) really need to go back to Iceland.

Nice - heading there on Sunday :cool:

ht9zni1gs28crp

Getting excited now, just finalising works on our updated course here in Navan and its going to run epic...we can run it in both directions so will most likely switch it around between events. Its tough but will reward the bike handlers amongst you!

irishrover99

Tatiana Big Swag wrote: »

its going to run epic...we can run it in both directions so will most likely switch it around between events.

You should start half the race going one way and the other half going the otherway. Maybe give the some Javelin's to spice it up a bit. It could be themed as a Roman CX race

Mr. Grieves

Tatiana Big Swag wrote: »

Getting excited now, just finalising works on our updated course here in Navan and its going to run epic...we can run it in both directions so will most likely switch it around between events. Its tough but will reward the bike handlers amongst you!

Is there a date for this race? Really liked that course last year.

ht9zni1gs28crp

3 dates in the book. First Sundays in October, November and December.

Exact details will be announced over the coming weeks.

RobFowl

Really enjoyed that course in Navan last year, did b race and rode well but was fell off about 4 times on the various sections by trying to carry too much speed. Rewards good bike control and has great variation.
Thats 3 I plan to do for sure

CramCycle

irishrover99 wrote: »

You should start half the race going one way and the other half going the otherway. Maybe give the some Javelin's to spice it up a bit. It could be themed as a Roman CX race

Javelin, nah, joust for the dramatics:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnfwhwMaK9U