Racing season 21

daragh_

Cats out of the bag now.

wav1

Awkward ish for promoters but workable.
Waves of 100 will allow for separate races on the day for the different categories but definitely with staggered start times and staggered finish times..
Again akin to 2020 no presentation mandatory online entry no refreshments etc.
It will rely on the riders more than anybody for it to work.
Eh when race is finished go straight to your car and get out of there.no congregation on the road for post mortems etc as all of a sudden half an hour later another race is finishing and the riders from the previous race are still there..the wave of 100 includes scenarios like this and also in the car parks after..prizes can be distributed later on like last year..all not ideal but it will get us off the mark..hopefully there will be further guidance from government in a month or so to allow larger waves or gatherings which will help too

CramCycle

daragh_ wrote: »

Cats out of the bag now.

It will be grand, either I am let up the road on my own after everyone else keeps looking at these two lads they heard about on the internet, or I continue my streak of A3 35th place finish

wav1 wrote: »

Awkward ish for promoters but workable.
Waves of 100 will allow for separate races on the day for the different categories but definitely with staggered start times and staggered finish times..
Again akin to 2020 no presentation mandatory online entry no refreshments etc.
It will rely on the riders more than anybody for it to work.
Eh when race is finished go straight to your car and get out of there.no congregation on the road for post mortems etc as all of a sudden half an hour later another race is finishing and the riders from the previous race are still there..the wave of 100 includes scenarios like this and also in the car parks after..prizes can be distributed later on like last year..all not ideal but it will get us off the mark..hopefully there will be further guidance from government in a month or so to allow larger waves or gatherings which will help too

So long as there is enough money generated to cover the cost for the organisers, I can see it working really well. I'd be in favour of scrapping monetary prizes for A4 or A3. If anyone is entering A4 or A3 races for monetary gain, they are in the wrong sport. Incredibly selfishly as soon as I seen the size of the A3 field in the first race I grabbed a ticket, I find a small field as very tempting. In the unlikely event I place, I don't want a prize, I want the organisers to see it as a financially sustainable thing to do. I'll cover the cost of getting my palmarès updated and printed in every major local and national newspaper.

CramCycle

For anyone looking for standalone womens race, Starsky are running a standalone womens race on the 7th June but only 8 entries so far. As its preentry only, I imagine they are going to need more signed up if its going to go ahead in the next few days.

dahat

Has anyone got a file for last years ladies national course? Looking to ride with it on the trainer before racing it.

harringtonp

dahat wrote: »

Has anyone got a file for last years ladies national course? Looking to ride with it on the trainer before racing it.

Is that not the same lap that you raced in the A3 last year ? I was assuming it was but let me know if you find different

CramCycle

Anyone from here entered in the Starsky race?

JimmiesRustled

CramCycle wrote: »

Anyone from here entered in the Starsky race?

Yep. Surface heading towards rathcoole, before windmill hill is fairly rubbish but aside from that, 6 times up that hill should be "fun".

I'd be delighted if I was A3 with only 30 riders.

CramCycle

JimmiesRustled wrote: »

Yep. Surface heading towards rathcoole, before windmill hill is fairly rubbish but aside from that, 6 times up that hill should be "fun".

I'd be delighted if I was A3 with only 30 riders.

I'm over the moon, top 40 no matter what happens :pac: Going for a spin up there next week to give it a test run.
Stupidly entered the Ronnie Coates as well, so looking forward to getting shot out the back on the first lap by the A2s.

dahat

harringtonp wrote: »

Is that not the same lap that you raced in the A3 last year ? I was assuming it was but let me know if you find different

Hope not! Thought it was a different course as I didn’t like that at all but sure a race is a race.

Wave 2 is on the ladies national course form 2020 which isn’t what we raced last year. It looks like 500m over 82k from what I saw on Strava.

wav1

The leinster road race calendar was more or less brought up to date last Friday..bit sparce at the beginning but not too bad..the online cycling Ireland calendar is more or less accurate now with possibly one or two more to add..
Drogheda wheelers will promote
Peter bidwell memorial sat July 24th
Brendan Campbell memorial Sun Jul 25th
Boyne gp Sunday August 1st

dahat

Boyne GP, that’s one for me.

Race entries will be like gold dust again though the pre entry system seems to work well.

Macy0161

Had to pull the plug on racing for at least the start of the season. Work changes mean I really can't afford to crash, and going in with that mindset is a recipe for crashing! Club league and then take it from there. Probably safer (for everyone) after a couple of years since my last open racing venture!

CramCycle

dahat wrote: »

Boyne GP, that’s one for me.

Race entries will be like gold dust again though the pre entry system seems to work well.

Admittedly after the first two weekends, unless the race is near Wexford, I will only be doing the club league and Mondello series. Family is proving to be quite the negative in regards my career as an amateur racer.

dahat

CramCycle wrote: »

Admittedly after the first two weekends, unless the race is near Wexford, I will only be doing the club league and Mondello series. Family is proving to be quite the negative in regards my career as an amateur racer.

Probably better off. I’ve yet to test the form as things are all quiet down south with no league races even. At this stage I’m still convinced I can win an A3 race so I’ll plug away with that false belief until I get fed up.

wav1

We will post here in plenty of time date and time that entries will open..restrictions will probably ease a bit more in July too.
Dont know but after first few weeks demand may not be what we experienced last year

eeeee

Any sign of a women's only race this year? We had 0 last year! I think the Women's Commission are offering financial help to run them this year.

CramCycle

eeeee wrote: »

Any sign of a women's only race this year? We had 0 last year! I think the Women's Commission are offering financial help to run them this year.

Starsky have one so there is a starting point, going out for a spin a round the circuit tomorrow with a co worker, trying to convince her to sign up. Heard the training night for Corkagh went well tonight.

eeeee

That was such a good idea, the training night. I did one a few years ago, I think it was before racing one night and I wasn't as late as I usually am

I can't do the Starsky race cos I'm helping out with the Masters track champs. I don't feel too bad about missing it now having seen how hilly it is

CramCycle

I think financial support is a great idea, even just enough to cover Comms and an ambulance would be a massive help and something CI centrally should push for a few years.

eeeee

Yep as far as I know the Women's Commission are doing that, they're getting in touch with clubs too about running women's races. We can't have a repeat of last year. I have high hopes!

harringtonp

eeeee wrote: »

Any sign of a women's only race this year? We had 0 last year! I think the Women's Commission are offering financial help to run them this year.

https://www.facebook.com/newcastlewestwheelers

This looks like a women's only race to me... if the number sign up

----

The Michael Shiels & Darach McCarthy & Co. Solicitors Road Races will take place on June 20th. This event will be Round 1 of the Cycling Ireland National League. Entries are now open. Please note that the event will be run in three waves to comply with Govt. Guidelines. Entries will also be limited and will close on June 13th, which is one week in advance of the event. The event timetable is subject to change depending on entries. But our current plan is as follows:
Ladies Senior & Junior: 8.30am start. 83km Entries limited to 50 riders.
A4. Start 8.40am. 62km. Entries limited to 50 riders.
A3. Start 11.00am. 83km. Entries limited to 65 riders.
Juniors. Start 11.05am. 83km. Entries Limited to 35 riders.
A1/2. Start 1.20pm. 137km. Entries limited to 120 riders.
Wave 1 is Ladies and A4 races. (Combined Capacity of 100 riders)
Wave 2 is A3 and Junior races. (Combined Capacity of 100 riders)
Wave 3 is A1/2 races. (Combined capacity of 120 riders)
We will work to ensure that all waves accommodate the full capacity. As an example, if we were only to receive 20 Male Junior Entries, we would increase the A3 field to 80 riders. That's IF!
Our advice at this point is to enter early.
After June 13th there will be no refunds.
Wave 1 and 2 will use the Ladies circuit from the 2020 Nationals.
Wave 3 will use the Men's circuit.
All entrants will receive an email at least three days in advance of the event confirming their event start time and protocols surrounding parking etc.
Online team car registration will open next week.
Please visit the event website for more information: www.ncwwheelers.com.
If you have any questions please email the race organiser.
liamcollins@accountant.com

eeeee

Deadly.

wav1

The raising of the numbers to 200 in the waves or bubbles announced yesterday is going to make things more workable and more riders can be accommodated if necessary too...all going well could be 500 by July 5th..Will be able to sell the spectator tickets again

daragh_

Well done Starsky CC for running a great days racing on Monday.

Brutal course to start back racing on. Predictably I got a kicking in the Vets Race

burger1979

So my cycling club is holding a bike race dont ya know....

Ballivor Grand Prix 3rd July 2021, off at 7pm, handicapped race, link here to enter:

https://eventmaster.ie/event/vKQ5CPoSb4

Also the following races are upcoming:

10th July - Robinstown Grand Prix (Youth Races also)

31st July – Mount Nugent GP

14th August – Beechmount Cup

15th August – Collins Christie

I'll post up entry links/info for those when I get them.

burger1979

So another race that my club is holding: Robinstown Grand Prix on the 10th July 2021, link to the evenmaster page is as follows:

https://eventmaster.ie/event/b4dRh9AHjr

There are youth races also on that day from 4pm, should any parents of budding cyclists want to bring them too.

Thanks, Burger.

dahat

Anyone got a line with Fermoy CC? Trying to find out out if the gp for July 25th is going ahead this year.

JimmiesRustled

Looks like Mondello is off until further notice.

dahat

Road racing getting alot of heat on social media with images of rider upside on the road not helping. It also makes a change that is isn't the A4 lads at fault.

Is it possible the handicap field of A1/2/3 is too big?

Macy0161

Has it been going that bad in terms of incidents? I didn't see the original comments that caused the cancellation, only the fall out.

Plastik

Field size had nothing to do with the latest 1/2/3 crash at Mondello IMO. There's CI points/prizes for the top 3 placers, with two unplaced prizes. The melee happened between lads who were so far back they were barely even in the same timezone, not to mind in with a chance of anything. In all the Mondello races I've done I've rarely seen a crash on a dry night, so was surprised to hear to two big ones within 3 weeks.

JimmiesRustled

Plastik wrote: »

Field size had nothing to do with the latest 1/2/3 crash at Mondello IMO. There's CI points/prizes for the top 3 placers, with two unplaced prizes. The melee happened between lads who were so far back they were barely even in the same timezone, not to mind in with a chance of anything. In all the Mondello races I've done I've rarely seen a crash on a dry night, so was surprised to hear to two big ones within 3 weeks.

Yeah and they (organisers) seem to have capped numbers in each category so even numbers in each group shouldn't be an issue. I know week 2 had something like 23 A1's, 15 A2's and 45 A3's.

It could be confidence, the fact racing has been off for so long, bike handling skills or a bit of all of the above but it's made for some interesting racing.

As Plastik mentioned above, the crash on Tuesday was towards the back/tail end of the front group. You're talking maybe 30 places back? I know what its like to crash and break bones/require surgery but I don't think the blame should lie at the organisers feet. They're providing what CI are deeming appropriate.

It also doesn't bode well for open racing with a handicap. I'm thinking the likes of Balivor at the weekend. If there are crashes on dry nights on a wide open track with no traffic followed by a number of complaints and criticism of organisers, I'd be worried about the organisers getting hate for something similar. We keep going like this there'll be no racing left.

wirelessdude01

JimmiesRustled wrote: »

Yeah and they (organisers) seem to have capped numbers in each category so even numbers in each group shouldn't be an issue. I know week 2 had something like 23 A1's, 15 A2's and 45 A3's.

It could be confidence, the fact racing has been off for so long, bike handling skills or a bit of all of the above but it's made for some interesting racing.

As Plastik mentioned above, the crash on Tuesday was towards the back/tail end of the front group. You're talking maybe 30 places back? I know what its like to crash and break bones/require surgery but I don't think the blame should lie at the organisers feet. They're providing what CI are deeming appropriate.

It also doesn't bode well for open racing with a handicap. I'm thinking the likes of Balivor at the weekend. If there are crashes on dry nights on a wide open track with no traffic followed by a number of complaints and criticism of organisers, I'd be worried about the organisers getting hate for something similar. We keep going like this there'll be no racing left.

Look beyond the criticism and complaints, look at the reason for them. No ambulance is the issue. I stopped going to Mondello many years ago after a then clubmate of mine was left on the circuit for 1.5hrs before an ambulance arrived. He hasn't raced again due to the injuries he had.

I know that the 3 club leagues I have raced won't race unless the ambulance has arrived. Should be the same for all races, no ambulance, no race. I've been in an open race where a crash occured in a different category race that required the ambulance to go to hospital with someone and our race was pulled mid race.

keoclassic

There was a crash in the challenge cc race last weekend in the sprint. In all fairness, it was a very well behaved bunch until the last 2-3km. Some hairy stuff in the last k but that's bike racing. I'd say there is definitely some merit in the zwift crew losing some skill but having big power but it's hardly any different than any other year. The risk of crashing is there for us all, be safe out there folks........ The collarbone you break might be your own
!

JimmiesRustled

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Look beyond the criticism and complaints, look at the reason for them. No ambulance is the issue. I stopped going to Mondello many years ago after a then clubmate of mine was left on the circuit for 1.5hrs before an ambulance arrived. He hasn't raced again due to the injuries he had.

I know that the 3 club leagues I have raced won't race unless the ambulance has arrived. Should be the same for all races, no ambulance, no race. I've been in an open race where a crash occured in a different category race that required the ambulance to go to hospital with someone and our race was pulled mid race.

My issue isn't with the reasoning for the complaint, my issue is with the organisers having to deal with the brunt of it.

It's a CI sanctioned event with CI Comms there on the night. The first round of the event, the Comms just made no decision at all in terms of calling the race or shortening it etc after the crash or doing anything about complaints of riders riding dangerously after the race.

It was the same thing going back to the nationals in Wexford. The organising club got a load of flak for the time gaps and this and that. Justified or not the complaints should be made to cycling Ireland as it is a CI event in my opinion.

The amount of clubs setting up events around the country continues to fall year on year.

CI are signing off on these events, they're the governing body of the sport and we pay them €150 - €200 (can't remember exactly) for the privilege of being allowed to race yet there is zero responsibility laid at their feet when things go wrong. Instead, it's the lads going out of their way to organise an event that get laid with the blame.

Just as a side note, I'm not saying that the criticism is unjustified. I'm also not trying to vilify riders for complaining.

dahat

keoclassic wrote: »

There was a crash in the challenge cc race last weekend in the sprint. In all fairness, it was a very well behaved bunch until the last 2-3km. Some hairy stuff in the last k but that's bike racing. I'd say there is definitely some merit in the zwift crew losing some skill but having big power but it's hardly any different than any other year. The risk of crashing is there for us all, be safe out there folks........ The collarbone you break might be your own
!

Looked like he pulled the bike underneath himself to me.

keoclassic

dahat wrote: »

Looked like he pulled the bike underneath himself to me.

Could have, but that in itself might be due to being a bit rusty skills wise or a lapse in concentration. He went down on my left, I think he overlapped a wheel with the Galway bay rider in front and over compensated on the correction?? But I couldn't be sure to be honest! Either way down he came. There were a good few expierenced riders in that bunch but even so, crashes happen, it's a fact of racing. It's a pity racing is getting flack, it would be a shame if organisation's pulled races because of bad press. We are very lucky that clubs put on these race's. Take challenge for example, they have taken over as the main club in the west to promote competition both open and league and fair play to them, they are doing a great job of promoting cycling in the west. Long may they be able to continue.

elchupanebrey

As someone taken out of it in my 1st race this season due to guys bombing down the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic, and diving back into the bunch at the last second in order to make up places I can see why racing gets criticism. I wasn't 1st to hit the deck, but came down on top of them. I wasn't hurt myself but yer man was well cut up. My bike and at least one other was broken as a result. Crashes might happen, but not all of them are caused by overpowered, underskilled riders.

eeeee

There's usually an ambulance at Mondello. The first night they needed three.

I do think two winters of no group spins and a lot of trainer/solo ride time is happening. Nothing else has changed in Mondello, but that. It was never as crashy before. I think it's a skills issue. I had to learn how to go fast again after the restrictions lifted, even though I was fit enough.

Mondello is well run in fairness. Closed circuit, no traffic. There are crashes happening in almost every road race too, it's not just Mondello. The common denominator I think is two winters without group spins and associated skills, and a shorter racing season - skills would be sharp by now in a normal year with racing usually starting in March.

Morris Garren

dahat wrote: »

Road racing getting alot of heat on social media with images of rider upside on the road not helping. It also makes a change that is isn't the A4 lads at fault.

Is it possible the handicap field of A1/2/3 is too big?

You could put 150 into Mondello and if the group consented to race properly and follow wheels you would not get any problem.
Last Tuesday was a good race - fast pace throughout and the final group of less than 40 riders overall hitting the final lap. Attacked myself a number of times but something intuitive made me sit up at the 3rd last bend, rolled home safely.

No issue at all till it seems a few riders wanted their names on Sticky Bottle reports and went galloping for 20th place--- I just can't fathom what guys are thinking at that point, or why 20th, 30th or 40th matters so much... and now we have it all blown out of proportion, albeit there are riders with significant injuries which is unfortunate.

This will hopefully pass; we will race again and I hope the injured recover eventually. As for the gallopers riding up and inside lad's arses to finish 20th.... not sure I have the words

keoclassic

All racing in mondello now cancelled!

That's a real shame, hope it doesn't catch on with other event organiser's. Sometimes these things have a bit of a snowball effect. It's one thing to comment on events which are lacking in supports ( genuine cases) it's quite another to stir things up on social media and create sensation. We are only getting back into it, I for one am really looking forward to racing again, I hope these people who are creating the commentary don't ruin other events going forward.

Morris Garren

It's hard to escape the feeling that there is a small element of hysteria around this issue, amplified by some social media commentary that has gotten out of hand. Its a common issue nowadays. Such a shame.

Its terrible to see Mondello racing on hold and perhaps there is more going on on the backgrounds here than the Joe Public knows about. Why else would it all be suddenly pulled? I don't envy the race organisers and volunteers and a bit of calm, plus some leadership at CI level, would be a help. Hopefully it's not the start of the end....

The recent crashes on TV especially in the Tour has perhaps made people more nervy. Another factor to consider is the age profile of many club racers--- lots of men in the 'veteran' category are found in A3 and A4, the types with family, job and mortgage to worry about and maybe some of them are becoming over sensitive about safety? Where was all this hand-waving and righteous anger in previous years?

Because in all fairness, everyone surely knows that you cannot have a safer race circuit than Mondello. If we can't race there, then where?

dahat

Is all this just an issue regarding ambulance cover on tje night? If the organisers are required to have ambulance cover as part of CI race sanction then it’s a problem if one isn’t there on the night. Ambulance cover itself isn’t cheap and may be part of the suspension of racing rather than the crashes.

ratracer

dahat wrote: »

Is all this just an issue regarding ambulance cover on tje night? If the organisers are required to have ambulance cover as part of CI race sanction then it’s a problem if one isn’t there on the night. Ambulance cover itself isn’t cheap and may be part of the suspension of racing rather than the crashes.

I don’t know anything about the Mondello set up, but i presume one ambulance is deemed sufficient at an event?

The problem occurs when two or three (or more) competitors get injured in a short space of time. The one ambulance crew can only do so much, and they also can only take one casualty at a time to hospital, effectively leaving the event with no first aid cover.

wirelessdude01

Is it true that one of the riders injured over the past number of weeks has gone down the legal route?

EAD

ratracer wrote: »

I don’t know anything about the Mondello set up, but i presume one ambulance is deemed sufficient at an event

CI deem a first responder/medic as sufficient. And the medics in Mondello are top class. They then respond to the needs of the situation as they see fit. It's a whole other issue if it takes an hour for an ambulance to arrive from Naas. And you're right - two riders, two ambulances, three riders, three ambulances...and so on.

EAD

Much of the talk around ambulances is unrealistic - will one be needed at every club league, every inter club league, every open race, every Mondello, every TT? Every Corkagh Park?
Goodnight racing, if that's the case!

wirelessdude01

EAD wrote: »

Much of the talk around ambulances is unrealistic - will one be needed at every club league, every inter club league, every open race, every Mondello, every TT? Every Corkagh Park?
Goodnight racing, if that's the case!

The three club leagues I have ridden always had a no ambulance in attendance, no racing policy. Two nights we had racing cancelled due to the ambulance not being able to attend. If I remember right from being on the club committee it was €225 to have one attend per night.

dahat

EAD wrote: »

Much of the talk around ambulances is unrealistic - will one be needed at every club league, every inter club league, every open race, every Mondello, every TT? Every Corkagh Park?
Goodnight racing, if that's the case!

What is the CI requirement for club leagues?