Swords League Race #2 - Garristown 20 April

Beasty · 18-04-2011 09:43PM #1

Two ascents of Ardcath on Wednesday. Given light conditions, a relatively short 33km or so

I thought I would start this thread a little earlier than usual. The same race last year was my first "proper" race, and I am conscious that a few boardsies may be in a similar position this year, based on the number of new entrants in last week's hill climb

I was very fortunate in that I was placed in a relatively small group of very experienced riders. Even then, my naivety shone through, and I made plenty of basic errors

I suspect there will be a few more "novice" racers in larger groups this year, and mc2000 suggested I highlight an article on safe racing by Paddy Doran . I would suggest those new to racing give this a read before Wednesday's race

IIRC we had our only major incident at this race last year, with someone coming off and breaking his collarbone as a result of clipping a pothole. You can rest assured the road conditions are unlikely to have improved since then.

Oh, and one final point - remember who the protected rider in your group is is - he's normally the oldest in the group and wearing a jersey that sticks out like a sore thumb. Your main job is to make sure he is well looked after - drag him back to the group if he is dropped, offer a gentle push up the hill if required and give him a decent lead-out in the unlikely event he is still in contention at the finish;)

manwithaplan · 19-04-2011 09:00AM

As a newbie, I will try very hard not to do anything stupid. Hopefully the group riding on training spins will be of some use.

I've never ridden out that way before and, with only two laps, there will only be one preview of the hill(s)/finish - the hill looks very near the end? If I can manage to concentrate on anything other than the wheel in front of me, I will try to make some mental notes.

I say that in order to make me look vaguely professional in my approach. In reality, the only significance of any preview will be so I know how much further I have to cycle on my own* second time around.

*out the back, obviously

BTH · 19-04-2011 09:30AM

Anyone cycling out from town tomorrow for this? And what time would one need to be leaving at? Seems to be a good distance out.

manwithaplan · 19-04-2011 09:39AM

I measured it as 34k from Killester so you can add a couple on to that. I would ride out but, with my cheap lights, I'd be worried about getting back to public lighting before nightfall.

kennyb3 · 19-04-2011 09:43AM

Hopefully the marshalling crisis wont be a continued trend throughout the league. I know Alan and others missed a few races last year as they ended up marshalling races instead of racing them, while others raced plenty without marshalling. A sahme really as the races can't exist without people putting in what you get back out of it.

I've still problems with my QL muscle so going to try get out to help out.

Raam · 19-04-2011 09:45AM

I picked this one as one of my marshal races.

pprendeville · 19-04-2011 09:55AM

BetterThanHoyte wrote: »

Anyone cycling out from town tomorrow for this? And what time would one need to be leaving at? Seems to be a good distance out.

Ya I could meet u. Not sure what time yet. WIll pm omob no.

pprendeville · 19-04-2011 09:58AM

manwithaplan wrote: »

I measured it as 34k from Killester so you can add a couple on to that. I would ride out but, with my cheap lights, I'd be worried about getting back to public lighting before nightfall.

My front light died last wk just after airport. Will make sure she's fully charged this time round.

07Lapierre · 19-04-2011 10:20AM

Beasty wrote: »

Oh, and one final point - remember who the protected rider in your group is - he's normally the oldest in the group and wearing a jersey that sticks out like a sore thumb. Your main job is to make sure he is well looked after - drag him back to the group if he is dropped, offer a gentle push up the hill if required and give him a decent lead-out in the unlikely event he is still in contention at the finish;)

Thanks for thinking of me Beasty, but I'll be Marshalling tomorrow night! You have my permission to go for the win yourself!

BTH · 19-04-2011 10:39AM

33k race done in under an hour? 7:30 latest kick-off? should be on the road home by 8:30/8:45? surely its still relatively bright then?

pprendeville, not sure whether I'm spinning out or sprinting to Drumcondra to get the car. need to figure out what time I'd need to leave at. technically only finish work at 6, but obviously that wont do!

Raam · 19-04-2011 10:40AM

BetterThanHoyte wrote: »

33k race done in under an hour? 7:30 latest kick-off? should be on the road home by 8:30/8:45? surely its still relatively bright then?

pprendeville, not sure whether I'm spinning out or sprinting to Drumcondra to get the car. need to figure out what time I'd need to leave at. technically only finish work at 6, but obviously that wont do!

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=78&month=4&year=2011&obj=sun&afl=-11&day=1

Sunset is at 8.34

BTH · 19-04-2011 10:48AM

Raam wrote: »

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=78&month=4&year=2011&obj=sun&afl=-11&day=1

Sunset is at 8.34

Not sure about that, it was still fairly bright at 8:30 last night. I was out on the bike until then no probs.

Raam · 19-04-2011 10:49AM

BetterThanHoyte wrote: »

Not sure about that, it was still fairly bright at 8:30 last night. I was out on the bike until then no probs.

I don't mean that it's dark, just that it is setting.

gilbass · 19-04-2011 10:55AM

OK if I'm not a member of swords or cycling ireland can I do this???

BTH · 19-04-2011 11:02AM

gilbass wrote: »

OK if I'm not a member of swords or cycling ireland can I do this???

AFAIK

if I'm not a member of swords can I do this YES
if I'm not a member cycling ireland can I do this NO

Raam · 19-04-2011 11:03AM

BetterThanHoyte wrote: »

if I'm not a member of swords can I do this YES

At the organisers discretion.

RobFowl · 19-04-2011 11:03AM

gilbass wrote: »

OK if I'm not a member of cycling ireland can I do this???

No sorry, minimum of a CI club competition licence needed (or IVCA one).
No one day licences are allowed at club events either.

BTH · 19-04-2011 11:07AM

Raam wrote: »

At the organisers discretion.

At the risk of shooting myself in the foot I havent been chased out, yet. Therefore, you guys arent very picky!!

gilbass · 19-04-2011 11:09AM

BetterThanHoyte wrote: »

AFAIK

if I'm not a member of swords can I do this YES
if I'm not a member cycling ireland can I do this NO

Ah ok.

Is it possible to buy one day licence like it is at open races?

manwithaplan · 19-04-2011 11:15AM

gilbass wrote: »

Is it possible to buy one day licence like it is at open races?

Dont think so!...

RobFowl wrote:

No one day licences are allowed at club events either.

07Lapierre · 19-04-2011 11:33AM

Don't forget...anyone who was at last weeks hill climb. You were given a race no. If you are coming to the race tomorrow, please bring your race no with you. No Number? No Race. tks.

BTH · 19-04-2011 11:45AM

07Lapierre wrote: »

Don't forget...anyone who was at last weeks hill climb. You were given a race no. If you are coming to the race tomorrow, please bring your race no with you. No Number? No Race. tks.

I was a late arrival last week, and signed on at the start line. Didnt get a number. Will I just bring the number I got from Cycling Ireland this year, or will I (turn up on time) get one from the club.

07Lapierre · 19-04-2011 12:04PM

BetterThanHoyte wrote: »

I was a late arrival last week, and signed on at the start line. Didnt get a number. Will I just bring the number I got from Cycling Ireland this year, or will I (turn up on time) get one from the club.

Bring your CI number. Ask at sign on for a Swordscc Number. If we're short of numbers, the CI no. will do. Turn up on time too!

mc2000 · 19-04-2011 07:40PM

Many thanks to Beasty for the opening thread - for the noobs especially, along with the article Beasty has put up already there's also this excellent one by Paddy Doran as well, which talks about up and overs in groups - one of the best bits of advice in this piece is where Paddy, when he mentions the Double Line formation talks about:

"As riders change position from second to first place in the line, the constant speed should be maintained; the rider moving from the front position should do so smoothly and safely with a very slight easing off the pace to allow the second rider move into first position smoothly. The rider who moves into first place should maintain the group speed."

For newcomers, this I think is the key to the whole thing, and in fact, has led to me and RobFowl shouting at people for the past 7 or 8 odd years [well me anyway, RobFowl might have been shouting for a lot longer

]

Anyway all those articles by Paddy Doran are all worth a read and are great advice, and for newcomers they'll add to your enjoyment of the whole league, as well as the advice you'll pick up from riders in your group.

BTH · 20-04-2011 06:37PM

Hope you all race safe this evening. An over night illness has ruled me out this week.

Enjoy.

English Bob · 20-04-2011 08:37PM

Really enjoyed tonights race although second time up that main climb drained me! Gotta lose a couple of stone to stay up front!!
Welldone beasty for a great effort! Saw you come thru to front approaching last hill & tried to latch on to your wheel but didn't generate the watts!!!!!!
Congrats to the top 10 finishers!!

Ryaner · 20-04-2011 09:37PM

Was a very good race although quite fast.

An average power of almost 300W in the second group 3 which is higher than the A4 races I've done this year. I only did this circuit once last year, but from group 2. That had a power of 266W.

Beasty · 20-04-2011 09:39PM

Some big groups out tonight, with the middle group having to be split in two for safety reasons. A total of over 70 racers, and I was in semi-limit with over 20 others

We started off at quite a pace - I hit nearly 69kph on the first downward stretch. A few in our group were not used to racing and it was a course that chopped and changed a lot, meaning the up and overs became a bit messy and some riders were pushing too hard when they hit the front.

Having said that, we kept up quite a pace, and swept up a few from the limit group during the early part of the second lap. I was slighly concerned we were pushing too hard, as I glanced down to see I was in new territory with normalised power of over 330w for the first lap

By the start of the second ascent of Ardcath I was sensing we might stay away - we had dropped a handful from our group, and I was trying to get a head start on the hill, as I knew I would be swept up before getting to the top. I ended up about 30m or so back, but picked up pace when it flattened out and managed to re-attach myself to the group.

We then had the final ascent to conquer - the one I had come down at 69kph. Again I got detached and 11 riders managed to get far enough ahead to ensure I was not going to contest the finish. However I'm more than happy with 12th place on that course, and that our group managed to stay away to claim the victory.

Now to the stats, with those from last year in brackets

Time 52m 40s (57m 17s, when I was dropped on the 2nd ascent of Ardcath last year)
Speed 36kph (33.4kph)
Power - pedalling 303w (279w), average 287w (253w), normalised 325w (298w), max 1,008w (755w)

All the power details are PBs for a race, and exceed the corresponding race last year, and my other races, by around 30w or so, and hence I am delighted with tonight's performance.

RobFowl · 20-04-2011 10:32PM

Did lead car for the large group 3 tonight.
Lovely evening for it and was yet again impressed by the dedication of Joe, Deano and the rest of the club. 3 lead cars for various groups up to 3 marshals on every corner.
Got a bit of a shock on the section Beasty hit 69k on where I was doing 70kph in the car and saw a rider steak away from the group and almost overtake me (196bhp 2.0L turbo's come in handy at times

).
The 3rd group rode really well. Looked smooth stayed on the left of the road and got to 60 seconds of the winning group at the end.
After group 4 caught on went on forwards to follow the back of the winning group to the finish. Didn't see who won but was well deserved.
Classy looking ride from Beasty and half of the boards wing of swords seems to be marshalling too. Lapierre07 as dedicated as ever as were Raam and LDB.
70+ racing bodes well for the rest of the season and the future of the club.
Well done to all who raced and marshalled tonight.

Beasty · 20-04-2011 11:21PM

RobFowl wrote: »

Didn't see who won but was well deserved.

I understand John Rohan won it, with Jack Whelan, who looked less than a third my age, coming second. Jack had a tremendous ride and I suspect he has a very bright future in cycling

manwithaplan · 20-04-2011 11:28PM

First race for me tonight. I was in the second iteration of group 3 with denizens of Boards such as Ryaner, pprenderville and honkjelly.

Things were a bit stop start on the first circuit but we found our rhythm second time around. I am not entirely sure how it all panned out but we weren't caught by group 4 or 5 (although a solo rider got across) and I think we caught the other part of group 3 on the Ardcath climb on the second circuit (although maybe that was group one?). I did my best to contribute and wasn't dropped at any stage so I was delighted with that. It was great to be able to hang with some good riders on the hills. I found it very tough but I thoroughly enjoyed it and my non-cycling friends are already sick of listening to my increasingly flowery accounts of the action over pints this evening. 39 is a bit late in life for an introduction to competitive cycling but I look forward to boring the arse off friends and family for a long time into the future.

I have no stats but Ryaner said our average speed was 38 kph odd (that became "almost 40" in the pub).

Many thanks to all the organisers and marshalls who did a superb job. Swords is a great club who have made me feel enormously welcome since I first fetched up at a training spin and thanks to the saturday crowd who have patiently answered my stupid questions.

Good performances from the Boards crew - as well as Beasty's near miss on the top ten, all those I mentioned in this post were still there in our group at the finish.

Swords League Race #2 - Garristown 20 April

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