National Hill Climb Champs

jimm

The mass start challenge is a great idea for us non-racers, and if enough enter it should guarantee a sizable group at the top to cheer on the TT'rs.

Can't wait for the suffering fun.

CramCycle

ryan_sherlock wrote: »

A website to go up a little later but online signon is up and available here: Online Signup

Paid, any idea on the running order, after the mass start, I presume its A1s first?

buffalo

CramCycle wrote: »

Paid, any idea on the running order, after the mass start, I presume its A1s first?

A1s will be last.

Just so they can pass us out on the way up.

cantalach

So if I understand correctly, entry to the timed event proper is only available to holders of racing licences. Are day licences available?

CramCycle

cantalach wrote: »

So if I understand correctly, entry to the timed event proper is only available to holders of racing licences. Are day licences available?

From the site its A+, and A1-A4 entries only, no day licences AFAIK, unless you just want to enter the mass start.

cantalach

CramCycle wrote: »

From the site its A+, and A1-A4 entries only, no day licences AFAIK, unless you just want to enter the mass start.

Thanks. Yes, I saw what the website says but it's silent on the question of day licences. If one of those involved in organising could answer here (or else update the website with this info) it would be great. Those of us who live outside the Pale need clarity before undertaking a 600km round trip

buffalo

cantalach wrote: »

Thanks. Yes, I saw what the website says but it's silent on the question of day licences. If one of those involved in organising could answer here (or else update the website with this info) it would be great. Those of us who live outside the Pale need clarity before undertaking a 600km round trip

Vladimir Kurtains wrote: »

I'm assuming this will be the same as previous years, so only A1/2/3 and no day licences.

I reckon this stands.

MichealD

No one day licences are issued for National or Provincial Championships.

However as the A4 category is not a championship category one day licences may be available. I'm sure Ryan will clarify shortly.

Morrisseeee

cantalach wrote: »

Thanks. Yes, I saw what the website says but it's silent on the question of day licences. If one of those involved in organising could answer here (or else update the website with this info) it would be great. Those of us who live outside the Pale need clarity before undertaking a 600km round trip

You can use my licence cantalach, it's the only chance 'I'll' be in top 10

ryan_sherlock

Day licenses can not win a National title (those are the rules), but will be available on the day.

Entering the mass start challenge (you will get a time etc...) will not need a day license.

Myself and a few buddies will be going for a spin around the area after prize giving etc... A nice little loop that also goes over the Shay Elliot. I will then be in "off-season" mode - pace will be easy Another reason to come up to the area...

buffalo

So A4/non-comp cyclists need to choose between doing the actual competition, and getting a time but no prize, or doing the challenge, and getting no time... is there a prize?

Lumen

buffalo wrote: »

So A4/non-comp cyclists need to choose between doing the actual competition, and getting a time but no prize, or doing the challenge, and getting no time... is there a prize?

As I understand it there is no choice. If you don't have an A3 or higher licence, you cannot compete in the sense of achieving an official result.

I don't see the problem TBH. The only placing that counts is 1st (right, Ryan? :pac:) and unless Contador turns up there is sod all chance of a A4/non-comp cyclist winning it.

ryan_sherlock

buffalo wrote: »

So A4/non-comp cyclists need to choose between doing the actual competition, and getting a time but no prize, or doing the challenge, and getting no time... is there a prize?

Everyone will get a time, and maybe a few prizes in the Challenge too (not necessarily the fastest) - this will depend on number of entries.

Maybe an 'endurance award' for the rider that takes the longest, maybe a clydesdale award for the heaviest rider to break 50 minutes...

The CI rules state that day licenses/A4s can't do a National Championship, like last year, we get a waiver from this rule so that they can at least take part in the TT if they wish. The Challenge is there for one and all

ryan_sherlock

Lumen wrote: »

As I understand it there is no choice. If you don't have an A3 or higher licence, you cannot compete in the sense of achieving an official result.

I don't see the problem TBH. The only placing that counts is 1st (right, Ryan? :pac:) and unless Contador turns up there is sod all chance of a A4/non-comp cyclist winning it.

If you are not an A3 or higher, you can't get a Championship medal.

You must also be Irish (IRL UCI code on your license) to win it! (Thankfully, I hear Contador was thinking about it...)

Keep_Her_Lit

ryan_sherlock wrote: »

Running along side the HC Champs (which are run as a TT) there will be an open mass start challenge using the same course starting at 10am.

This is a brilliant idea! In fact, it might well end up eclipsing the main event. I bet the start will be mayhem (in a good sorta way).

ryan_sherlock wrote: »

Myself and a few buddies will be going for a spin around the area after prize giving etc... A nice little loop that also goes over the Shay Elliot. I will then be in "off-season" mode - pace will be easy

Hmmm. Could you translate "easy" for the rest of us, please.

ryan_sherlock wrote: »

Everyone will get a time, and maybe a few prizes in the Challenge too (not necessarily the fastest) - this will depend on number of entries.

Maybe an 'endurance award' for the rider that takes the longest, maybe a clydesdale award for the heaviest rider to break 50 minutes...

I have my strategy worked out already. I will be starting from the very back. If I manage to pass anybody on the way up, that will represent "victory". If I don't, then at least nobody will notice ... until the Lanterne Rouge is awarded.

ryan_sherlock

Keep_Her_Lit wrote: »

This is a brilliant idea! In fact, it might well end up eclipsing the main event. I bet the start will be mayhem (in a good sorta way).

I hope so - I have wanted to do something like that for a long time. Hill Climbs are great, go out, push yourself (safely - you are going uphill) and over time, see your improvements (when you go back to the climb). They are big in the US (which Mel and I do each year). If, and I would love this to happen, we have big big numbers, we would split the mass start into 2 or more smaller groups starting a couple of minutes away from each other.

Keep_Her_Lit wrote: »

Hmmm. Could you translate "easy" for the rest of us, please.

Going for a stroll on a bike

buffalo

Lumen wrote: »

I don't see the problem TBH. The only placing that counts is 1st (right, Ryan? :pac:) and unless Contador turns up there is sod all chance of a A4/non-comp cyclist winning it.

I wasn't suggesting there was a problem. I was just trying to decide that if I were a non-comp cyclist, would I enter the competition or the challenge?

I love the challenge element btw, kudos!

daragh_

As a lowly A4 I reckon the Challenge will be more Craic. If I can knock a few minutes off my time on Strava happy days.

Well done Ryan. Great idea.

lennymc

as a lowly a4 i entered the championship - i suspect i should probably do the challenge. Ryan, can I swap? (actually i dont mind either way, a race is a race is a race)

ROK ON

@Lumen. I completely disagree with your assertion that a non racing cyclists could win or take some sort of result.

I personally am aware of at least five non racers that would beat almost every murder almost everybody in the country in an uphill TT.

There are some absolutely fantastic cyclists out there - not all of them race.

@ Ryan
Clydesdale award is a great idea.
I have claimed in the last that I am the best fat climber in the country and I stand by that.
I now weigh 92kg. If I can negotiate a weekend pass to Dublin you can out my name on that award.
I reckon I will do 42min unless there is a crazy headwind.

cantalach

Many thanks for the clarifications, Ryan.

Lumen wrote: »

there is sod all chance of a A4/non-comp cyclist winning it.

You're right...I've seen how I compare with guys like Ryan on many Strava leaderboards. Sobering. But just for the record, there are lots of reasons people don't race. I'm a very skinny guy who loves to climb but there is a distinct lack of long climbs in the Irish racing scene and almost no summit finishes. From everything I've heard, races invariably come back together and are decided by an often dangerous sprint finish. Given that I can't sprint to save my life AND that my domestic situation makes me quite risk averse, racing would be a risky and most likely pointless exercise for me. So I just have to be content with beating the racers on Strava

kingoffifa

cantalach wrote: »

So I just have to be content with beating the racers on Strava

lol!

J Madone

ROK ON wrote: »

@Lumen. I completely disagree with your assertion that a non racing cyclists could win or take some sort of result.

I personally am aware of at least five non racers that would beat almost every murder almost everybody in the country in an uphill TT.

There are some absolutely fantastic cyclists out there - not all of them race.

@ Ryan
Clydesdale award is a great idea.
I have claimed in the last that I am the best fat climber in the country and I stand by that.
I now weigh 92kg. If I can negotiate a weekend pass to Dublin you can out my name on that award.
I reckon I will do 42min unless there is a crazy headwind.

I'm delighted for you that your participating in the national championships, but to say
I personally am aware of at least five non racers that would beat almost every murder almost everybody in the country in an uphill TT.
Talk is cheap.

If they are so good sort out a license and sign them up

Lusk Doyle

@ manwithaplan - I see your mug is up on stickybottle.com for the hill climb champs. Even if you don't win you have that at least!

Lumen

ROK ON wrote: »

@Lumen. I completely disagree with your assertion that a non racing cyclists could win or take some sort of result.

I personally am aware of at least five non racers that would beat almost every murder almost everybody in the country in an uphill TT.

Thanks Mr Contrarian. Care to back that up with a wager? :pac:

ROK ON

Murder was a poor choice of words but was based on my slightly inebriated state at the time.

It would be more reasonable to say at the very least match.
I think you (&JMadone) maybe inferring a negative in my statement.

What I mean is the following. The overwhelming majority of top cyclists in the country that race would be highly competitive on a hill TT.

There are a very small amount of cyclists that I have seen that while they do not race (for whatever reason) would IMHO be highly competitive in an uphill TT against many of the those that race.

I can't bet you on that unless these folk turn up for the National championship, and I cannot compel others to race simply to prove my honour.

Ryan made an original point that it would be nice to have a hill climb league or series. I agree in the same way that I think there should also be a regular TT league.

Cycling is varied and there is room given it's increasing popularity to cater for a wide variety of competitive events.

This is dangerously OT but it does strike me that CI is built around high cat road racers preparing largely for the Ras. Those in other disciplines and levels are largely thought of in a secondary fashion. That is a pity given the breakdown in membership.

@Lumer/Madone. To avoid straying further off topic pls feel free to respond to this post elsewhere.

joker77

ROK ON wrote: »

This is dangerously OT but it does strike me that CI is built around high cat road racers preparing largely for the Ras. Those in other disciplines and levels are largely thought of in a secondary fashion. That is a pity given the breakdown in membership.

I'm not so sure of this at all. CI is a licencing / governing body, but the road races are run by clubs - it's primarily grassroots organising that put the work into the road calendar. If there was enough of an appetite for the hillclimb league - should the clubs not take it upon themselves to start running races?

harringtonp

buffalo wrote: »

So A4/non-comp cyclists need to choose between doing the actual competition, and getting a time but no prize, or doing the challenge, and getting no time... is there a prize?

Anybody can get a one day so the difference as I see it is either hanging around waiting for a start time and cycling it on your own in a TT environment
or

cycling in a large group where you wheel suck.

Challenge sounds like more fun.

Lusk Doyle

harringtonp wrote: »

Anybody can get a one day so the difference as I see it is either hanging around waiting for a start time and cycling it on your own in a TT environment
or

cycling in a large group where you wheel suck.

Challenge sounds like more fun it's easier.

Fixed that for you!

harringtonp

joker77 wrote: »

I'm not so sure of this at all. CI is a licencing / governing body, but the road races are run by clubs - it's primarily grassroots organising that put the work into the road calendar. If there was enough of an appetite for the hillclimb league - should the clubs not take it upon themselves to start running races?

It has already happened outside the Pale

http://www.gotri.ie/hill-climb-series

GlennaMaddy

Looks like we'll have competition coming over from China for this one

buffalo

GlennaMaddy wrote: »

Looks like we'll have competition coming over from China for this one

I think he was aiming for the boards KOM.

Lusk Doyle

GlennaMaddy wrote: »

Looks like we'll have competition coming over from China for this one

Mad for the cinema that fella!

manwithaplan

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

@ manwithaplan - I see your mug is up on stickybottle.com for the hill climb champs. Even if you don't win you have that at least!

Think I can see J madone, honkjelly (who actually rode) and tawfeeredux (with his freshly busted collar bone) there too.

Having seen cantalach's times on Strava, there is no question that he would be competitive at a very high level when the road points upwards.

honkjelly

manwithaplan wrote: »

Think I can see J madone, honkjelly (who actually rode) and tawfeeredux (with his freshly busted collar bone) there too.

Having seen cantalach's times on Strava, there is no question that he would be competitive at a very high level when the road points upwards.

and diarmuid

Idleater

honkjelly wrote: »

and diarmuid

and me beside tawfeeredux

morana

ROK ON wrote: »

This is dangerously OT but it does strike me that CI is built around high cat road racers preparing largely for the Ras. Those in other disciplines and levels are largely thought of in a secondary fashion. That is a pity given the breakdown in membership.

I would strongly disagree ROK but if you would like to start a new thread I would happily comment.

I would be in favour of not having a championship for anything that doesnt have a number of events in the discipline each year. So I would be happy to scrap this as a championship after next years edition unless we get a hill climb "season"

buffalo

morana wrote: »

I would be in favour of not having a championship for anything that doesnt have a number of events in the discipline each year. So I would be happy to scrap this as a championship after next years edition unless we get a hill climb "season"

Nooooooo! Please don't scrap the one champs I stand a chance of winning some day!!


some day in far, far, far distant future. Maybe

ryan_sherlock

morana wrote: »

I would be in favour of not having a championship for anything that doesnt have a number of events in the discipline each year. So I would be happy to scrap this as a championship after next years edition unless we get a hill climb "season"

There were actually a good few hill climbs this year in various parts of the country - just not very well publicised unfortunately... Also as part of stage races (Mullingar, Donegal, Suir Valley, maybe others)

Thank goodness for Ulster - otherwise we would have only had one standard TT other than the Nationals down in Clonmel.

Wrote a quick post on the HC Champs - nothing new to this thread: linky

buffalo

btw, I make the climb 5.5% without the little 300m stretch going past the turnoff in the strava segment used.


(If it was really 5.2% I'd win.)

Hmmzis

Signed up for the challenge.

I like mass starts

John1997

mass start challenge looks like fun/painfull, any chance a under16 rider could enter?

morana

ryan_sherlock wrote: »

There were actually a good few hill climbs this year in various parts of the country - just not very well publicised unfortunately... Also as part of stage races (Mullingar, Donegal, Suir Valley, maybe others)

Thank goodness for Ulster - otherwise we would have only had one standard TT other than the Nationals down in Clonmel.

Wrote a quick post on the HC Champs - nothing new to this thread: linky

Thats my personal opinion! In Engerland they have a dedicated Hill climb season culminating in the champs we dont have that. the Tt's are different because there is an international dimension with lots of TT's and its a recognised UCI discipline.

i accept what you say we need a TT league down south preferably in the late winter!

ryan_sherlock

And I have small page up - will put up some more posts on it, results etc... will be there too: http://irishhc.blogspot.ie/

Anyone going to give the climb a go this weekend?

jimm

ryan_sherlock wrote: »

Anyone going to give the climb a go this weekend?

Meet the new Strava KOM!!!.........well in my age group I am (mainly due to the fact that I'm the only one in it ). Hope to see a few more MAMIL's out next Sat.

I went up it this morning in truly awful conditions, cycled down the easiest way I know, to save the legs for T.H. Through Enniskerry, Long Hill, Roundwood, etc. and stopped at the cafe in Laragh for a highly sugared coffee. Checked out where the race HQ will be, then gave the climb a blast. Absolutely horrible swirling winds seemed to be coming from all directions except behind me. Only got the benefit of a tailwind once on one of the switchbacks after the yellow gate to Turlough. Met a cyclist descending as I was going up, he must have thought I was barmy as I shouted "any snow up there?" Shortly after that a gust of wind took my glasses off my helmet and I lost about 30 seconds retrieving them.

First time up there and not a day to enjoy the view, (there wasn't one). Hope to do the Challenge Event and improve on today's time. Should knock off a couple of mins if there's no wind, but that's not likely to happen in Wicklow any time soon. I hope there's a big turnout as I could do with a tow.

BTW, I think the gate will be open next week for the climb, as I read on Ryan's blog that a car will be going to the top to take stuff up.

Mr. Grieves

That was me coming down. I think if conditions are like that next Sat I'll stay home... or bring some aerobars... I had to get out of the saddle on the descent where it turned into the wind.

g0g

Gonna do register for challenge defo but have one question. Seems to force even challenge entrants to take a category:

Does "Junior" mean "youth" or "someone who hasn't competed at high level"?

If it means youth, then what category do >18 year old non-vet/senior people belong in?

buffalo

g0g wrote: »

Gonna do register for challenge defo but have one question. Seems to force even challenge entrants to take a category:

Does "Junior" mean "youth" or "someone who hasn't competed at high level"?

If it means youth, then what category do >18 year old non-vet/senior people belong in?

Youth is <16, junior is 16-18, senior is >18, vet is >40 for men, >35 for women.

g0g

All signed up!

I'll be there provided the weather's nice and there's a tailwind! My personal challenge will be to get to the top before the last of the racers! Hopefully the 45 minute head-start will do the job! :eek:

Just gotta decide now whether to make a day of it and cycle over from Dublin or focus all my efforts on the climb and drive there! :rolleyes:

Now to go sort one of those Road IDs for when I collapse in a heap on the side of the road.....

manwithaplan

Are the rules on bikes and equipment the same for a hill tt as an ordinary tt? Leaving aside consideration of the benefits of aero kit going up a hill, are disc wheels, aero bars, shoe covers, aero helmets etc allowed on a hill climb? I don't possess any of this stuff (other than overshoes) so I'm just curious.

I would imagine riders stronger than me could get up to speeds on the draggier sections of this course that would bring about a benefit from aero stuff.