Now..a lot of people have asked me this .
Sports or age category.
heres the thing and I don't want or care about opinions on whether the Sports category should be a championship cat.
Its not and never will be a Championship Category.
So shut up about it.
So some of you are Masters ( 30 - 39 in your birthday year)
Sports is for newcomers and people who want to race in pads and camelbacks and baggies on ALL MOUNTAINBIKES. If you start in Sports and aim to stay in it and win " Ghost Points " and point at yourself in October and say "I'm the greatest Sports rider in Ireland" then you are a muppet.
If you are riding XC regularly and fancy racing, race your age category or in the event that you are under 30 and over 18 race Experts.
Its a long enough season. Train in between races and get stronger and aim to improve.
We are in a peculiar situation that all the top Vets and masters are really Faux Elites.
So realistically if you enter Vets and masters as a " Journeyman" Vet or Master, you will have your work cut out. But don't despair, race against your peers. Forget about Damo and Alfie or Doris and Willie Mulligan. Just race and make sure you don't get lapped !
But blame the system and the Commission.
Or genetics or the recession or Brunos Superchunks
Every year there is waffle by people about the sports being this and being that. I introduced these categories to Ireland in 1991 or 1992, so I get to say what it is and what it isn't. XC racing is not meant to be fun, its a test of skill, endurance, Stamina, Courage, tyre choice, saddle bag or pocket, Pump or gas canister, Carbon or lightanium, shaved or not shaved.
Just race, enjoy the banter for the first time theres will be a dedicated MC and as he has a supernatural recall of names , nobody will escape " the encouragement"
Richie
Sports or age category.
heres the thing and I don't want or care about opinions on whether the Sports category should be a championship cat.
Its not and never will be a Championship Category.
So shut up about it.
So some of you are Masters ( 30 - 39 in your birthday year)
Sports is for newcomers and people who want to race in pads and camelbacks and baggies on ALL MOUNTAINBIKES. If you start in Sports and aim to stay in it and win " Ghost Points " and point at yourself in October and say "I'm the greatest Sports rider in Ireland" then you are a muppet.
If you are riding XC regularly and fancy racing, race your age category or in the event that you are under 30 and over 18 race Experts.
Its a long enough season. Train in between races and get stronger and aim to improve.
We are in a peculiar situation that all the top Vets and masters are really Faux Elites.
So realistically if you enter Vets and masters as a " Journeyman" Vet or Master, you will have your work cut out. But don't despair, race against your peers. Forget about Damo and Alfie or Doris and Willie Mulligan. Just race and make sure you don't get lapped !
But blame the system and the Commission.
Or genetics or the recession or Brunos Superchunks
Every year there is waffle by people about the sports being this and being that. I introduced these categories to Ireland in 1991 or 1992, so I get to say what it is and what it isn't. XC racing is not meant to be fun, its a test of skill, endurance, Stamina, Courage, tyre choice, saddle bag or pocket, Pump or gas canister, Carbon or lightanium, shaved or not shaved.
Just race, enjoy the banter for the first time theres will be a dedicated MC and as he has a supernatural recall of names , nobody will escape " the encouragement"
Richie