well, much nicer conditions today. bit blowy, but an awful lot warmer. that was welcome after the misery of clonard. similar result as last week for myself. gassed by the halfway mark and out the back. nice though, short loops, the car was never too far away. stress levels way down, steady riding, hardly used the brakes at all. Did have trouble getting used to the type of riding needed on the faster parts of the course. Could see other lads cruising and recovering on these long wide road descents. I seemed to be bursting a gut just to hang on. Suppose that can learned with a bit of practice and more nerve to get close at those speeds! Couple of the epic crew knocking about today, Chris and Doris both going well in the other races. Next week, will have a go at Des Hanlon, loads of climbing. lovely
Boyne GP - 12 Mar 2017
Good lad Ronan fair play keep it up long season a head.
Ah taught I had my tactic sorted for today but of course more lesson were learnt. Went off at a fair gallop for the first lap then settle in the second until the climb when a few lads started making shapes and I decide to follow in case a break materialised but looking back should have laught at it recovered after that and started to race smart it hide in bunch happy out did that for two and a half laps. The got in a great position for the last climb thinking I'll hang at the front not getting boxed in however need to be close to the front rather than on the front so made a good stab of it and hung on as much as I could but I'd just don't too much in the run up and focused on position rather than conserving energy for the sprint and shot the load a couple of hundred meters out, sure more lesson learned nice day on the bike did an extra two laps with John n Paul. Fair play to Paul got an eye opener into how tactical and how negative the racing can be but at the sage put in a serious effort and then got boxed in at the run up to the line. John Doris was right up there in the A2 but just out of the places in a very fast finish.
Ah taught I had my tactic sorted for today but of course more lesson were learnt. Went off at a fair gallop for the first lap then settle in the second until the climb when a few lads started making shapes and I decide to follow in case a break materialised but looking back should have laught at it recovered after that and started to race smart it hide in bunch happy out did that for two and a half laps. The got in a great position for the last climb thinking I'll hang at the front not getting boxed in however need to be close to the front rather than on the front so made a good stab of it and hung on as much as I could but I'd just don't too much in the run up and focused on position rather than conserving energy for the sprint and shot the load a couple of hundred meters out, sure more lesson learned nice day on the bike did an extra two laps with John n Paul. Fair play to Paul got an eye opener into how tactical and how negative the racing can be but at the sage put in a serious effort and then got boxed in at the run up to the line. John Doris was right up there in the A2 but just out of the places in a very fast finish.
Great detailed write up Chris. Yes i certainly did have my eyes opened. It wasnt as much fun as i expected it to be. I actually found it stressful and inconsistent. I couldnt settle into it. I didnt feel as if i was doing too much but obviously by how tired i felt by the end i was. I got boxed in and then the legs went when i tried to go at it to the line. I kinda found it so strange that no one worked and then some of the bunch came past me in the end. Felt hard done by but i just wasnt expecting it. Ill be wiser next time and play the game and try not to be an mtb hero. Found it to be great for training though which is something i can take from it
Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk
Thats the thing about A4 racing,its all about the gallop for the line.Breaks up the road are chased down,they'll let you sit on the point breaking your b0ll1x,but by God you wont get any help.
Only way to race A4 is to do F -all till the last 5km,then get to near the front,if you end up on the front do the bare minimum,slow down and let a few heads go around you,then hold station around 10 from the front till the dash for the line.
This tactic will work for 90% of A4 races.Next week at the Des will be different,because the strong climbers will get awat,this,despite the fact I've heard the course is'nt as hard this year.
As Paul said,great training if you ride at the front,and well done to all Epic riders who raced on the road today.
Only way to race A4 is to do F -all till the last 5km,then get to near the front,if you end up on the front do the bare minimum,slow down and let a few heads go around you,then hold station around 10 from the front till the dash for the line.
This tactic will work for 90% of A4 races.Next week at the Des will be different,because the strong climbers will get awat,this,despite the fact I've heard the course is'nt as hard this year.
As Paul said,great training if you ride at the front,and well done to all Epic riders who raced on the road today.
Well done lads, fair play to you, great training & you always learn something in every race!
Hope to get back to doing a few roads races soon
Hope to get back to doing a few roads races soon
Great to see a few Epic lads out at the races and well done. I think we need a team talk! Lovely change with the weather, I was at cracking point with all the rain.
Got away with 4 others on the 1st lap , but then we were reeled in. Just picked the wrong wheel for the sprint (he ended up in the ditch and nearly hit a steel girder!) so the brakes went on.
All in all, an enjoyable race.
Got away with 4 others on the 1st lap , but then we were reeled in. Just picked the wrong wheel for the sprint (he ended up in the ditch and nearly hit a steel girder!) so the brakes went on.
All in all, an enjoyable race.
ok. thats good to know about the des hanlon. had a look at the 2017 route they've posted on strava. the new loop is on different roads, the old four climbs are gone. new loop is 338 metres gained versus what used to be 400+. The climbs look at lot less intimidating. Ha, I'll let you know how that all works out.
New
https://www.strava.com/routes/3686142
Old
https://www.strava.com/segments/3676802
New
https://www.strava.com/routes/3686142
Old
https://www.strava.com/segments/3676802
Those of you doing the Des Hanlon >>> Make sure you are up the front on the 2nd last climb. Hard to pass on the narrow descent from that, which goes immediately into the last climb (where the winning move nearly always comes from).
You wanna be able to spend your energy going with a break off the front on that last climb & not clawing your way up through the main group (coz you've positioned yerself badly on the descent). Positioning is really important in that race. I messed it up one year, despite cruising. Made the winning break the next year.
You can see the profile of the lap in the image that Ronan posted from Strava
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
You wanna be able to spend your energy going with a break off the front on that last climb & not clawing your way up through the main group (coz you've positioned yerself badly on the descent). Positioning is really important in that race. I messed it up one year, despite cruising. Made the winning break the next year.
You can see the profile of the lap in the image that Ronan posted from Strava
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Hi,
if any of you are planning to go to the Des Hanlon memorial can you offer me a lift with your car?
if any of you are planning to go to the Des Hanlon memorial can you offer me a lift with your car?
Hi Gary, I've got a complicated journey. heading to cloughjordan afterwards for the night. I can bring you down, getting back, portlaoise is the closest I'll be passing to Dublin.
Ronan, thanks for the offer, I will send you a PM.