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Harry Reynolds/Ben McKenna/IVCA race Summerhill
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Not a massive field, but enough to make moving up the narrow lane ways difficult. We were neutralised for about 2km or so. The first action occurred leading down the main road into Ballyboughal. The action being that we finally started going fast. The neutralised section was quite lumpy with some deceptively steep sections which just sap the the legs. The bumpy road wasn't helping either.
When the race proper started we flew through Ballyboughal, swinging left at the bridge onto a road which takes us towards the R132 (old N1). We leave that road before the R132 and swing up a narrow twisty laneway. Shaungil tried to attack here but only succeeded in lining it out. At least it meant no other team could attack. This road then ends with a sharp rise to the right which flys over the motorway and leads back onto the R132. It was full of holes so people were more concerned with staying upright than doing anything else.
On the main road there was a bit of a breeze and we stayed on it for about 2km. That's a guess. We then take a left turn at the Five Roads leading on to some short bumps and the climb up towards Nevitt. After the bumps and at the foot of the hill a rider broke away. I know him from Porto so I figured I might as well bridge to him. That or chase him down. Whichever comes first. Halfway up the hill we turn right to go down by McNally joinery towards Walshestown. The two of us had a gap at this point but it was coming back after the turn. There wasn't enough of us to do anything.
This part of the course is twisty, turny, narrow, fast and dangerous. I was leading it out and had to slow up because an ambulance was tending to a rider from one of the other races and the road was half blocked. At the bottom we turn left and some riders came through to take the lead. The road continues on a bit and turns right. This is the fun part. It is once again narrow and culminates with a very very fast descent ending with a small bridge which, if you time it right, would allow you to get a bit of air
No air for me today as the better descenders took the lead. The bottom of the hill sees us turn left, and just up the road the finish line where we completed our first lap.
Shortly after this, we hit those nasty bumps again. Eventually I realised that a break had gone and I wasn't in it. It stayed away for a bit but came back on the fast road down to Ballyboughal.
The bunch was together all the way back to the M1 flyover. At this point I stood on the pedals to test the legs on the short steep part. They started to seize up. Not good.
On the main road, I spoke with Shaun and said we will try something just to see what happens. He attacked hard, with me in his wheel. I think we got a small gap, but I'm not sure as I only had enough blood to fuel my legs, not my eyes. I came round him... wrecked. He told me to ride on, so I did. I had a gap.
I wasn't looking behind me, but I knew I was on my own. It wasn't much of a gap, I think, but at least I was up the road a bit. I hit the turn at the Five Roads and started on to the bumps. Dammit, I had no legs. I got caught before the start of the longer hill and then cramped up and got dropped, finishing on my own.
Verdict: I don't have the legs to match the aggression, yet.0 -
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Thanks Raam. That almost sounds exciting.
Better to have tried (several times) but not prevailed than to have sat in the bunch and got bored.
Thanks, Lumen. I'm disappointed that I couldn't stay with the bunch after my attack, but I am happy that I tried to do something. It's all building blocks I guess.0 -
To Add to Raam's always good race reports despite not posting all the resulkts over every race to keep everyone happy seeing as Cycling Ireland have nothing yet.
I flogged myself yesterday and had offered to try domestique for Raam today as I think the course could suit him in the right conditions. We went out with a plan which involved attacking a few times and trying to race and do something to the race instead of the race controlling us. Spoke to a couple of lads form the previous day who were prepared to work and told them we were going to go hard at certain points to try and break it up.
Attacked at these points but wasn't meant to be maybe cos just me and Raam working hard . First lap hung on in the hills. I'm not a big fan of hills at 15 &1//2 stone. Start second laps big struggle maybe worked too hard first lap maybe just tired maybe just not great on hills. A group were away but talking to the lads in that group afterwards they said no-one was prepared to work and they were caught. I hung in and we caught some A3's including ladies and yes I did draft. Last night was 15 year lads today it was ladies. I am ashamed.
. Caught the group ahead and it rolled around to the old N1
Spoke to Raam againand he said he was struggling but left it as his call so attacked hard to try and lead him out , of course at that point Glena mddy our clubmate was leading so looked a bit bad or sly that he was slowing it down as we came round the outisde, went hard for 500 metres and waited for Raam to come thru then as he went thru sat up. He had already said he was struggling but he still stayed away for another half a mile so considering he says his legs aren't great I think he has more in him and it's early days yet.
Sat on near the front and to be honest expected to be murdered. Watched 3 guys I knew were strong from previous races and stayed on them for as long as I could but was in top ten or so. Wheel was dropped three places ahead and let a yell to cross over so the guy who dropped it to be fair made the gap. Cut the corner still was top 8 or so. Dundalk lad jumped as I expected someone would and again I yelled but did not chase just sat on. Was suprised I was still in the game and a ferociuous downhill before the final sprint loomed, got on a crap nervous wheel and wasn't prepared to risk rounding him. Saw eventual winner go through a very small gap the downhill and was concious I wasn't going to do that.
Hit final strech in top 12/14 guy infront was too far off the wheel so had to go around him. Caught the next wheel but suffered two caught me but went again and caught a few bodies and got 9th. To be in the mix I needed to have been more aggressive down the hill and wasn't prepared to do that.
Really happy again today.We went out with a few goals the 4 of us as a team did all we could and did what we agreed to do and learnt some lessons. Was suprised how strong Iwas on a hilly course and went through some suffering and came good towards the end. Saw good performances over the weekend form the lads who trained in the winter and defo felt we tried some stuff.
I know it's only A4 but it's all new to me and better to try and fail than sit in a bunch for 2 hours and then sit up in the sprint. Nice to have a chat afterwards with the lads on what we can do better and then hear what others percieve it too. Think first and second today upgraded and some of the lads move to mountain bikes now so the dynamic changes again by the next race. Roll on the Stamullen races and hope I haven't peaked.0 -
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Love the reports Shaungil and Raam and well done to both of you.
Special congrats to Shaungil on your win yesterday. 15 1/2 stone :eek:, maybe you should be considering the track as I was watching the sprinters in the world championships today. Christ have any of you seen the legs on Robert Forsterman, German track sprinter. I thought Hoy was big.
You will be a marked man especially when you lose a few more pounds. Well done again.
I'm sure Shaun would to love to claim the win, but it was a different Swords rider who clinched it yesterday, Paul Kennedy 0 -
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