Yiz missed a great spin up in Castlebleedindeadly.
Exceptional, bone dry course with a new climb/decent put in. Definately one of the greatest courses in the country. Blue skies and 17 degrees. Great day out and only 90 min from Dublin.
yeah well done Smoothie, 4th..jaysus though, apart from the masters and the vets there were feck all there..!! XC is turning into a sport for old people..at least you had a good race..
there was a huge turnout at C'welly for the K-Cup, and it really is an excellent course,
and all racers had a great spin, so why the poor numbers on Sunday?
well, likely because the series is spread halfway across the year - crazy, who can maintain interest in training for that length of time? very few I think
and timed to clash with the National Trails day (31 MAD heads) and the Bree DH!
no point in me preaching to the converted I know but this goes to show that
the MTB (xc/dh/other events) race scheduling in this country sucks big time
the short concise league like the K-Cup definitely retains the racers interest,
and it's in the Spring where's there's virtually no clashes....hmmmm......I hear a bell ringing....
It remains to be seen what way the 2009 NPS works out, so far, 4 races. all together in Springtime.
I've actually lost all interest since we were refused the 2009 XC Nationals.
its a joke people, but everybody bends over and takes it, so I think i'll just sit back, do Sunday spins, the occasional race and let somebody else worry about it.
Richie
MAY S
Sun 3rd XCO MTB XC Carlingford Cuchulainn CC Johnny McCabe johnny_mccabe@iolfree.ie
Sun 24th XCO MTB XC Magheramourne Team Madigan Bill Mackness 7872910832
It was a great day. My first XC race. 11th in sport. Go on the baggy short wearing DH massiff!!! Great track, well done Banbridge CC. Never thought a bunch of roadies could build such a great course
Well done Oz, Our only epic flag flyer, Looked like a good last race of the season, Sorry I was working and missed it, as its allways a good venue for a race, and Banbridge are a sound bunch of lads, As of next year I for one will not be doing the first race with sorrento as they to my mind Sorrento really don't try very hard with there races, Its more of a fund raiser for the club.
The other coarses really don't get me to excited, Sunday spins are to me the most fun and its what really gets me smiling.
Awesome race course. Tough climb, great singletrack, a real MTB course. Good improvement on the K-Cap course and the way forward...much like the Epic NPS race or the K-Cup Kilreuddery course. Pity it was so late in the season but I don't think they can be blamed for the bad weather that caused the postponement. The lateness in the season was responsible for the low numbers I reckon, but it was an awesome course.
Don't lose hope in the race scene. Most riders do appreciate the work which goes into running these races. Hopefully a replacement can be found for the K-Cup as well.
Good man ,Ben, its easy to lose interest in the XC race scene. Once upon a time there were loads of XC races all over the country. Then it just came down to the NPS, then the K Capital Cup. Nopw the K Capital Cup is gone, the season is left chaotic and with no real structure.XC racing by its very nature requires long term training. Its not like other disciplines where even if you are not fit, you can have a go. You can't have a go at a serious XC race without being whipped if you are off your game.
or you haven't been training.
Or any number of reasons. XC has to compete with Sunday spins and/or Downhill racing.
Look at the makeup of the races, nearly everybody is over 30 and been at it for years.
I was doing most of them out of habit. I didn't go to Castlewellan because I knew I wouldn't enjoy it because I wouldn't be fit enough.
I suspect thats the same for most people , though they probably won't admit it.
I was at my fittest for the Sorrento race, after that i just got slower and slower.
I went to Carlingford the week before because I knew I would get a good spin in and have no pressure.
Whats going to happen next year with all the races before the end of May.
I have to disagree with Rory about Sorrento, they run an XC NPS with one or 2 people and have done it traditionally. I thought this years was grand, and they are one of the feww road Clubs that contribute to mountainbiking.They definitely don't make any money from it.
people have to realise that the Offroad Commission is responsible for the development of XC and Dh and even Cyclocross.
I had seriously considered running a series to replace the K Capital cup..but now I basically can't be arsed,
Like I have said on other forums,
The Commission needs a kick up the arse from the riders. The XC NPS should not be the only game in town, people are racing mountainbikes other than Ulster and leinster. Though you wouldn't know it from the amount of coverage they get.
Wake up people start demanding a better NPS, use EPICS race in Djouce this year as an example of how an NPS should be . Write to Cycling Ireland or the Offroad Commission and make your feelings known. I hear it all the time, but i only look like a crank because i'm the only one shouting.
Theres a whole heap of people with passion and great ideas who should be running the show, I talk to enough of you, its about time you put them into action.
