Sundrive Track League

Chips Lovell

Details have just been published on the summer programme of track racing at Sundrive Road in Dublin.

There'll be two leagues this year, first starting on 5th of May and the second on 7th of July. All racing will be on Wednesday nights.

Note that you need to be accredited to race. They're having an open day on Saturday April 24, where they'll be doing accreditation.

Beasty

Clashes with the Swords League on a Wednesday night, so Shanugil and I are thinking of popping along whenever Swords have a hilly course:)

Chips Lovell

Beasty wrote: »

Shanugil and I are thinking of popping along whenever Swords have a hilly course:)

Good idea. It's about time you two let the other guys have a chance in the hilly races.

Beasty

I want to try and get into category D - I may not be youthful, but am claiming beginner status (having now completed my one and only competitive cycling event:))

NB - there are other accreditation sessions, normally on the first Saturday of the month (10.30), and a a mid-month Friday evening (6.30).Full details are on the track cycling website

There's no point in going down if it's raining though - you might get away with intermittent rain (it's fast drying), but they cannot use the track when wet

Harrybelafonte

I wear straps cycling to work, if I just wear the same shoes I would for them, should I be ok? I don't have proper cycling shoes

Beasty

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

I wear straps cycling to work, if I just wear the same shoes I would for them, should I be ok? I don't have proper cycling shoes

They have straps that click into the pedals, so you can use runners. However with a track bike, it's best if you have your feet as securely fixed to the pedals as you can.

They mainly use Look Delta pedals on their hire bikes, BTW

Chips Lovell

They said they do have a few rental bikes with straps as well.

Harrybelafonte

Yeah site said they use straps as well as look pedals but they also mention cleats and I thought track tends to use both so I'd better check.

Beasty

They definitely have "clip-in" straps (ie straps that click into the Delta pedals - they use the same system in Manchester for those who do not have cleats) - Shaungil used them when we went for accreditation a couple of weeks ago

Chips Lovell

You could always drop them an email to make sure.

Beasty

This thread is encoraging me to start looking for a track bike:D

Harrybelafonte

Beasty wrote: »

This thread is encoraging me to start looking for a track bike:D

I'm hoping to use the Bowery.

blorg

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

I'm hoping to use the Bowery.

I got accredited on my Bowery no problems. You will have to remove all the brakes; I just swapped the handlebars as it was less hassle than taking the brakes and bar tape off. If you want to borrow them I have a spare pair of brakeless bars taped up you would be welcome to.

If using straps I think you would want them done up tightly enough that you can't get your foot out without leaning over and undoing them.

Harrybelafonte

blorg wrote: »

I got accredited on my Bowery no problems. You will have to remove all the brakes; I just swapped the handlebars as it was less hassle than taking the brakes and bar tape off. If you want to borrow them I have a spare pair of brakeless bars taped up you would be welcome to.

If using straps I think you would want them done up tightly enough that you can't get your foot out without leaning over and undoing them.

Thanks for the offer man. I have a set of brakeless handlebars at the mo, but I'll be dragging my 6 year old with me so will be bussing it, that's why I was wondering about the straps. I'm going to ring them about it now.

blorg

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

Thanks for the offer man. I have a set of brakeless handlebars at the mo, but I'll be dragging my 6 year old with me so will be bussing it, that's why I was wondering about the straps. I'm going to ring them about it now.

They have to be drop bars as well BTW. Just in case!

RobFowl

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

I'm hoping to use the Bowery.

I was chatting to Hugh Byrne from the track commission and he thought the gearing on the Bowery would be too low, (Blorg doesn't count, he's an animal)

blorg

RobFowl wrote: »

I was chatting to Hugh Byrne from the track commission and he thought the gearing on the Bowery would be too low, (Blorg doesn't count, he's an animal)

Stock would actually come to think of it. I had a 14T on mine, 46 up front. 88.7"

Diarmuid

how do you go about taking a blast of the track cycling? Is there some night / time slot for people who have no idea (ie me)

Chips Lovell

Diarmuid wrote: »

how do you go about taking a blast of the track cycling? Is there some night / time slot for people who have no idea (ie me)

Go along to the open day. You can rent a track bike and be brought through the basics and get accreditation.

ROK ON

Can one only get accreditation at weekends? Would like to do this and Wednesday suits.
Also I have a non competition license, does that matter?

Beasty

ROK ON wrote: »

Can one only get accreditation at weekends? Would like to do this and Wednesday suits.
Also I have a non competition license, does that matter?

The only other time they do it is Friday evenings. You don't need a licence for getting accreditation or training, but do need either a full or IVCA licence (and accreditation) for racing

It may be worth giving Hugh Byrne a call or dropping him an e-mail (details are on the trackcycling website) to check if there is any other way to get accreditation, but it would normally involve being on the track with others, to allow line-lapping and changing etc.

Chips Lovell

ROK ON wrote: »

Can one only get accreditation at weekends? Would like to do this and Wednesday suits.

From the site:

If you can't make it on the day, there will be a further Accreditation on the following Saturday. Thereafter, accreditatiions will be run only on the first Saturday and 3rd Friday of each month. Check www.trackcycling.ie for exact dates.

Would a Friday suit instead?

ROK ON wrote: »

Also I have a non competition license, does that matter?

I'd check with the organisers and see if they'd issue a day licence. Either that or upgrade your licence to restricted competition if you plan to race just on the track.

ROK ON

Thanks for that. Unlikely that I will be in Dublin either Fri/Sat for a long time.
No worries.

blorg

Give Hugh a call and explain your situation, he may be able to fit you in. Worth asking.

Harrybelafonte

Is there a particularly good time to ring? Tried earlier, no answer.

Beasty

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

Is there a particularly good time to ring? Tried earlier, no answer.

Try e-mailing him at:

trackcyclingireland@gmail.com

Whenever I have e-mailed him he has got back to me between about midnight and 1am

Golfanatic

will the accrediation open day be for juniors aswell?

Beasty

Golfanatic wrote: »

will the accrediation open day be for juniors aswell?

Yes - they actively encourage juniors (I think Hugh mentioned to me that it's suitable for those typically aged 12+) They have bikes that should suit kids of this age (unless they are particularly small)

Bike hire is €5 for adults, €2 juniors

kumate_champ07

where can you read the rules? what kind of bike spec is legal? been thinkin about doin track racing for a while as I love speed/sprints
does the weight of the bike make much difference on the velodrome?

DirkVoodoo

I might try and get my brother to try it, I keep telling him he would like cycling and I think there may be track potential there. Of course, we share genes so maybe not

Beasty

kumate_champ07 wrote: »

where can you read the rules? what kind of bike spec is legal? been thinkin about doin track racing for a while as I love speed/sprints
does the weight of the bike make much difference on the velodrome?

I would suggest you try one of their bikes first. Weight hardly makes any difference, as, although banked, te track is flat. Hugh will be able to advise you on the specs, although drops are a must, and you cannot have any brakes

I went down on my own fixie the day after I gained accreditation, and had the track pretty much to myself for couple of hours (and hence the fact I had a brake on didn't matter)

shaungil

tried track, good fun , go fast , nearly killed myself cos thought I could free wheel after a spring, defo going back.

Harrybelafonte

Anybody go in the end?

Chips Lovell

Weather is looking a bit dodge for tonight. Let's hope the rain clears. The site says that racing will be moved to the following Friday any time the Wednesday night is rained off. They've also published a full race programme.

Caroline_ie

Tonto, will you need your fan club there?

Chips Lovell

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Tonto, will you need your fan club there?

Who's my fan club??? Given that I haven't raced track in a few years, I doubt that I'm going to be setting the world alight tonight.

blorg

el tonto wrote: »

Who's my fan club??? Given that I haven't raced track in a few years, I doubt that I'm going to be setting the world alight tonight.

You going though? Rain is clearing and I have my bars and fork changed (took 5 minutes )

Chips Lovell

blorg wrote: »

You going though? Rain is clearing and I have my bars and fork changed (took 5 minutes )

I'll go alright. It's on my way home, so no big deal if it's rained off.

superlav

Thinking of heading over tonight instead of Swords League.

Never rode a track bike till accreditation a few weeks back, lots of fun. However, I'm afraid I might enjoy it 'too' much and end up spending way too much time thinking about how to go faster and imrove times etc. and there is just not enough time in the day to obsess about road and track...... or is there?


Note to self: keep pedaling!!!!

blorg

Tonto won a race! Woohoo!

DirkVoodoo

blorg wrote: »

Tonto won a race! Woohoo!

W00t! I hope this means he isn't going to quit the road racing now that he is a track king. Do we start calling him Sir El Tonto or does that come later?

Chips Lovell

I really enjoyed that. Had a disastrous start to the night, puncturing on lap one of the first race. Then I managed to win the 10 lap scratch race. Gambled on going for the win in the Win&Out in the third race, but I was pipped in the sprint by a guy who made a great move on the final bend. Final race of the night for me was a four lap handicap in which we didn't manage to catch the limit group in our race.

Was put in the C group tonight, but I reckon I'll be bumped up to the B group next week.

Mr. Skeffington had a good night, winning the Win&Out in the A category.

Blorg and Superlav were also racing in the B group and were riding very strongly for guys making their track debuts.

levitronix

Well done el tonto , might drop by next time when im off to see what its all about dont plan on racing just watching ha ha if signed up for anything else she'd have a canary

Beasty

blorg wrote: »

Tonto won a race! Woohoo!

Mockler didn't turn up then?

blorg

Beasty wrote: »

Mockler didn't turn up then?

Difficult to get lost on an enclosed track!

Beasty

blorg wrote: »

Difficult to get lost on an enclosed track!

That's your next challenge then, el tonto

Congratulations on the win, by the way.

Hopefully I'll be down to Sundrive some time shortly (don't want to wish rain on you all, but Friday works much better for me than Wednesday)

ROK ON

Well done Tonto. Unleash the power.

blorg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7Zuvh1Qtgc

Mr Skeffington keeps up his winning ways in the Derny race. I think he may have got another. Darragh Zaidan got at least one win and a second, his win yesterday didn't seem to be holding him back. I managed third in the B group 500m TT which was my first track placing. Quite enjoying it I must say, it is very technical and tactical, I keep doing things that cost me! Lots to learn.