Biking Blitz 2022

Top Dog

More photographers galleries from Sunday

Matthew Lysaght - https://www.flickr.com/photos/matthewlysaghtphoto/albums/72177720314584771/

Brugha Photography - https://www.brughaphoto.com/biking-blitz---round-1--ballinastoe?ct=2&gt=1&st=1&id=5cc6a56f-f88b-4ab7-aeaf-3c5d2cacdd91&rootId=526c2c56-9318-45d7-89f5-40c5d51263fa&lf=526c2c56-9318-45d7-89f5-40c5d51263fa&rootPageId=512903d3-f698-4343-adc9-6285df487c6d

Gerry

https://www.flickr.com/photos/matthewlysaghtphoto/53510620886/in/album-72177720314584771/ that was a good spot for photos.

Gerry

So ticknock blitz is going to be 28km or 42km

I can't seem to link to the Facebook post here.

I guess I'll do it but its going to be pointless after 30k. For the first time I am strongly considering dropping down to the "novice" category.

anyone else doing it?

prunudo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121927673#Comment_121927673

I believe they will be using some of the new trails.

Top Dog

Ticktock usually gets a good entry thanks to its proximity to Dublin so I reckon it'll be seriously busy and parking chaos. Add a 3 hour each way drive into the mix and I've decided to skip it. Coolaney next for me.

Enjoy if you go Gerry

Gerry

well it was enjoyable for the most part. I stuck with the 3 laps. paced myself fairly well for the first two. really enjoyed the new red trail. It is fairly sketchy on an xc hardtail but great fun. The back tyre lost pressure near half way into 3rd lap, wheel was done for beforehand so this was no surprise. the legs were cramping at that point so no huge loss. hope to do sligo next.

duboce

Yeah the new trails are very good - some in this video

<iframe width="923" height="519" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VHNcIAF8TJ0" title="2024 Biking Blitz - Round 4 in Ticknock, Dublin" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

duboce

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHNcIAF8TJ0

correct link

Gerry

I'm not going to be making the trip to coolaney, haven't gotten back wheel sorted yet.

I see the distance is now 25 or 50. I'd happily do the 25 at this point, I think this will put off a lot of newer people which was meant to be what the blitz is about.

Top Dog

Saw that alright. 50km will be one of the longest yet. Between that and the weather it'll be interesting to see how many line up tomorrow.

Ceepo

Hi all, I'm thinking of doing a few of biking blitz this year. So I'm just looking for a heads up on what to expect. I've absolutely no experience of these mass start events at all. I've done a few of the grassroots events alright. Id imagine I'd online able for the novice version as I'm old and unfit 🤣.

So I'm thinking I'd need to be there 60/90 mins before hand to get parked, reg and warmed up. Would that be enough time. What parking like in Balso?. Is the standard highly in the novice section comparative of course. I don't mind a bit of suffering tbh, just don't want to be embarrassed. Any and all tips and tricks gratefully received. TIA.

Tenzor07

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123131309#Comment_123131309

They should have additional parking in a nearby field for this event, otherwise traffic management in place to park everyone in the public car parks…

Make sure you have your registration done, number plate on about 60 mins beforehand to ensure you get a bit of a warmup and get lined up in a good position for the start of the race…

It's meant to be a fun race so will be like a fast spin just with a lot of people around you..

Ceepo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123132678#Comment_123132678

Thanks for the advice. I'll be travelling 2+ hours to get there so I don't mind leaving a bit earlier. I'll aim for approximately 90 minutes or more before hand just to give a bit of breathing space and have a snack before the race. Thanks for the advice about reg and getting a good position.

Can you do a practice lap or 2 before hand? Sorry not sure how far the lap is

Tenzor07

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123132746#Comment_123132746

Lap is too big to do a full practice lap but you can go up and down the lower sections to warm up at least.. main thing is to have your number plate fitted and watch out for the call up to the start line..

Gerry

lap is supposedly 14km, I think it was billed as the same last year, but my strava shows 16km. I doubt they've shortened it for this year. I would recommend novice if you arent sure.

32km was a hell of a lot for me and I'd say I'm reasonably fit. 2hrs 24 and the last 30-40 minutes of that was not pleasant.

Check out my activity on Strava: https://strava.app.link/sDnz1bQGIQb

There will probably be extra parking at the golf club but don't quote me on that. check with organizers. I'd say aim to be there earlier if you can.

Ceepo

Thank you all for the information.

I'll aim to be as early as I can so

16k 🤔 novice it is so 🤣.

Anyone else doing it on Sunday or planning on doing any of the other events

Gerry

Im planning on racing Sunday yep. hope the weather holds up!

Ceepo

Good man. Will you do the expert this year again or drop down to the novice.

Gerry

This is the question. as is Im sticking with expert.

Ceepo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123138721#Comment_123138721

Big boy pants on so 🤣.

Tenzor07

Bring all thermals! :-D

Gerry

yeah, tomorrow is shown as 1 or 2 degrees less cold so I'm hoping its going to be melted. but yea, will be wrapping up

Ceepo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123149511#Comment_123149511

Probably better than pi@@ing rain anyway

CramCycle

Best of luck everyone

Ceepo

Made it to Ballinastoe today anyway to do the Novice race.

Having never done any xc type races before, I made a decision to start a bit further back , so set myself up mid pack. Passed a few before the 1st single track, and just settled in behind a few until the fire road. Passed afew more after that, but always had it inmy mind that it would be we'll over an hour so tried to just settle into a pace. Down hill sections were very good I have to say. I found the 2nd last fire road tougher as the energy levels were dropping. All in all I have to say I was reasonably happy, it was tough going g in placedue to the lack of fitness and old age:).

I need a few days to recover now before deciding on whether I'll do another one.

Thanks for the advice posted here.

Ps, if any knows a link to results as they don't seem to be the website. TIA

.

easygoing39

results are up on the Blitz website now.Oddly it shows a lot of DNF's in the Expert race?????

Ceepo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123154997#Comment_123154997

Thanks, I seen them earlier on this morning. Looks like I need to do a lot more training 🤣

Gerry

This was a grim day on the bike for me. always find it tough to get the fuelling right for a race starting this late in the day, I didnt time my meals and had absolutely no energy. fired out of the start gate but was fairly quickly gassed. the first lap felt like the last lap. despite that, I was only 4 minutes slower than last year. Went well on the proper descents ie expressway and pigdog, and people were nice about getting out of the way. They knew they'd be passing me again going up the next hill 😀

Did really enjoy the descents but it took a fair push to even keep going for a second lap.

My mood was not helped when I got to the finish line to find the timing gear was already packed up, and I was far from last.

This is the reason for the large number of dnf. @easygoing39

I suggest to the organisers to find a way of kicking the senior races off a bit earlier.

anyway hopefully next one will go better. not sure if I'll do limerick

Ceepo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123155095#Comment_123155095

Well done on gutting it out. I certainly know I wouldn't have got another lap done.

'My mood was not helped when I got to the finish line to find the timing gear was already packed up, and I was far from last."

So does that mean you didn't get a an official finish time?

This really isn't good enough. People pay good money to do the event. Surely that have a spotter on the course to let them know where the last person is. If they are to go down that road then they should have a cut off time or suggested cut off time so people are aware of it.

Gerry

ah, I'd be more bothered if I'd set a personal best, which I didn't. some of the other guys maybe were more annoyed.