Weekend Spins (24th and 25th)

On Saturday we'll have an easy spin, heading up to masseys and the hellfire club since its been a while. Meeting at the yellow house at 10. Don't forget to check out the beginners section of the website for what you need to bring (helmets being an absolute requirement).

Sundays planned ride to Kindlestown is off since we haven't got enough lifts so instead we'll meet at the yellow house at 10am. This goes for anyone driving too as we'll be goign up / coming down different ways. It'll be a more technical / difficult spin with some tough long and rocky climbing to start (Masseys / Tibradden for those who have been there before). Again we'll up the pace compared to Saturday so you'll need decent fitness and ability for this. It will however be lots of fun (once the initial climbing is finished) with a good mix of all sorts of tracks.

Paddy

Kindlestown on Sunday

MAD are planning / hoping to take a little trip down towards Kindlestown / Glen of the downs / Sugar Loaf on Sunday next for anyone not racing up north, however this trip will require transportation down there and back again as its a bit too far to cycle.

It will be a fairly early morning start, hoping to leave dublin around 8:30am. I've no idea what time we'd be back at though.

Can anyone who wishes to come along let me know by email (please include a contact number to make it easier for me), and also if you have a car and how many extra bikes and bodies you can bring apart from your own and I'll try and organise lifts.

Paddy

NPS Round 6 - Leadmines

The final round of the 2005 NPS is on this Sunday at Conlig Leadmines, Newtownards. This is a UCI E2 event organised by XMTB.

Course map
Entry form

Weekend Stuff

Saturday morning will see Nigel, Sean and Steve take a beginners / easy spin up to 3 rock. Meet at the yellow house at 10 or ticknock carpark at 10:45.

For any further details contact Nigel, though he's probably too busy chasing girls around college to respond!

On sunday there's the National MTB Marathon Championships up in Carlingford (see earlier post about this). If anyone wants to arrange a spin for sunday then by all means do and send an email to mailing list so everyone knows.

Wednesday Night Ride

I'm heading out for a nighttime spin on Wednesday evening. If anyone else wants to head out then meet at the yellow house at 7 or ticknock carpark at 7:30.

It'll be dark by about 8 - 8:30 so lights will be required. Email or call (086 6087046) with any questions

2005 XC Marathon Champs

Ireland's first mountain bike marathon event is happening on September 18th at Carlingford, Co. Louth. Covering 60km off road this is more of a day out than a race. The route will be well marked so you can take your time. Sign on is at 10am in the Carlingford Community Centre, with a mass start at 11am. Get in touch if you want to come along.

MAD Mystery Sunday - 10am Yellow House

So, onto sunday. Details are sketchy as usual. Meet at the yellow house at 10am. Be prepared for a long spin down to djouce or somewhere (i.e. lots of water and food).

We may not go that far or even that direction, but it is an option so be prepared.

This spin will be fairly fast so you'll need good fitness for it. It is not a beginners spin (sorry ... we'll have an easier spin next weekend) Any questions send me an email or call 086 6087046

Paddy

Beginners Day II - Saturday 10th

After the sucess of last weekends beginners day, the second one is being held this Saturday (10th).

The same idea as the last time. Meet at the yellow house at 10am or ticknock carpark at 10:45. For details of what to bring with you check out our beginners section on the website.

The two most common questions i've been getting are:

Q) Can i come along?
A) Of course ... its a beginners day ... everyone welcome.

Q) What should i bring?
A) Check out the beginners section (link above). It has all the details.

If you've any *other* questions or anything then email me or call (086 6087046)

Paddy

Blast 2 Videos

Paddy has some great footage from the Blast 2 last Sunday, some very funny crashes. Look out for Dylan on the bridge in the last one - he seemed OK afterwards.

General mayhem
Eoin Keith crashing
More general mayhem
MAD team crash

There are some photos from the race in the Gallery too.

Beginners Day report

Saturdays beginners day was a fantastic success with something like 25 people showing up for the fun. Some had been out with us once or twice before but for most it was their first offroad experience. We split the group into more manageable groups of 3 or 4 riders and then started out by climbing up to the ariels and then heading down the boneshaker, before turning left and heading off through the trails in Ticknock forest. We took our time on the first run, teaching people how to get over the various difficult bits and then headed back up for a final mass run down the same trails.

After that it was time for the newly formed, MAD aerial display team (Bjorn, Sean, Nigel and Steve) to show off their fancy jumping skills. Morgan got a bit confused and did the jumps without his bike for some reason, while some others decided that it looked like fun and started practicing their jumping skills as well. All the newcomers did really well with some of them even hitting the jumps at the end (very impressive for people who had never been offroad before).

A big thanks to all who showed up to help out, Thomas, Morgan, Mick, Steve, Sean and Nigel (sorry if i missed anyone). Hopefully the weather will be as good next weekend as well.

Pictures are up in the gallery (though it may be a few hours before they get approved). Steve has posted the following videos and picture for us too.

http://media.putfile.com/Mad-beginner-spin-1-009
http://media.putfile.com/Mad-beginner-spin-1-008
http://media.putfile.com/Mad-beginner-spin-1-007
http://media.putfile.com/Mad-beginner-spin-1-006
http://media.putfile.com/Mad-beginner-spin-1-004
http://media.putfile.com/Mad-beginner-spin-1-003
http://media.putfile.com/Mad-beginner-spin-1-002
http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=9/24513362434.jpg&s=x4

September Ride Schedule

Date	Destination	Meeting Place	Contact
4-Sep-05	The EPIC Blast II	Ballinastoe, 9, 10am	Morgan
10-Sep-05	Beginners introductory ride	Yellow House 10am, Ticknock 10.45	Paddy
13-Sep-05	Night ride	Yellow House, 7pm or Ticknock 7.30pm	Paddy
17-Sep-05	Easy ride on Three Rock	Yellow House 10am, Ticknock 10.45	Nigel
18-Sep-05	National XC Marathon Champs	Carlingford	Morgan
24-Sep-05	Easy ride - Masseys	Yellow House 10am	Paddy
25-Sep-05	NPS Round 6	Conling Leadmines, Newtownards	Morgan
	Sunday spin	Yellow House, 10am	Paddy