Races This Weekend

There are a couple of races taking place this weekend. For the students among you, UCD Cycling Club are running round 2 of the Intervarsity League this Saturday in Ballinastoe Wood, Co. Wicklow. On Sunday the 2006 downhill season kicks off with round 1 of the Plush Winter League at Moneyscalp, Co. Down. You're encouraged to go along and compete or spectate at both events.

Keep an eye on the 2006 race calendar - we're updating it as details arrive or change.

Intervarsity League Round 2
Plush Winter League Round 1

Thursday 26th January - night time babeh YEA!

Hey folks,

Night ride this Thursday. CHANGE of meeting place - we will be meeting at 7pm at the Gala Shop at Lamb's Cross in Sandyford. Going for a spin to Leadmines for a change. Apparently it's great at night. If you need directions then send me an EMAIL or give me a buzz on 087 9335 403. try to let me know if you are coming if possible.

Nigel
poloholemint 'AT' gmail.com

Sunday 22nd January

On Sunday we will head out from the Yellow House at 10am as per usual. The route will take in Masseys, Glendoo Mtn and Cruagh, Hellfire and Masseys (again). It's not an overly long route and there are plenty of oppurtunities to drop out if required. Anybody who managed Paddy's Saturday ride last week should be fine.

As there is a good chance that part of the route (Glendoo) will be damp and windy, please come equipped with warm, preferably waterproof, clothing which will keep your hands and feet warm. As always, helmets, food, water etc required.

Finally, if the weather is as bad as last Sunday's torrential downpours, we wont be getting out of bed!

Sean
woohoo.downey@gmail.com
086 3354576

Thursday 19th and Saturday 21st

Thursday 19th Night race - Ticknock arials at 7:30.

Meeting at the ariels at the top of ticknock forest for 7:30 for an interclub XC night race. If you're unsure of hte way then just follow the fireroad in ticknock all the way to the top. The race should take about 45 mins to 1 hour at most. CAn go for a more gentle spin after if you want.

Email Paddy or call on 086 6087046 for details.

Saturday 21st Beginners spin - Yellow House at 10am.

Sean will take a beginners spin on saturday morning. Probably 3 rock or somewhere thereabouts. Everyone and anybody will be welcome along.

Email Sean for more details.

Details of anything happening on sunday will follow when someone decides whats happening.

And finally ... don't forget folks, you really really really need a helmet and other basic safety features like brakes when going mountainbiking. For a full list see here

Paddy

MTB Access Update

This report is a summary of the events taking place on the trail access front over the past couple of months, there is of course more detail surrounding the various points, please keep an eye out for further notices.

• Read the full announcement here (Word, 32kb)

Inter-club League Round 1

Last Sunday saw the first round of the inter-club league being held at Djouce in stormy conditions. The rain began around 9am and got heavier throughout the morning but everyone who braved the weather was rewarded with a fun race on a tight, twisty, slippery course. Once into the trees we were sheltered from the rain and gale. There was a fantastic turn out - 38 riders in all from EPIC, IMBRC, MAD and elsewhere. There was a great atmosphere, with nobody taking things too seriously - a good thing considering the melee at the entrance to the singletrack. Well done to everyone who took part and thanks to Richie from EPIC for the organisation.

Round 2 takes place on February 19th. If you can't wait that long MAD's night races will begin this Thursday. Details later.

• Race results
  
• Dagget's race photos

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Sunday 15th January 8.00am

Hey guys.

This Sunday Richie from EPIC has organised an inter-club race. We want a good showing from MAD in this race. It will be well run and will hopefully give you a taste for more!

If you have a car available can you please contact me and say how many people you can fit.

If you need transport can you please contact me too!

We plan on leaving the Yellow House around 8.30 (edit) at the latest so please be there beforehand as we will need to load bikes into/onto cars. I know some people have mentioned that they have a car available but can you get in touch just so i know it's still available. I'll need to know this ASAP

Cheers folks

Nigel
087 9335 403
poloholemint@gmail.com

Under 14/Under 16/Junior XC spin Saturday 4th February

To promote underage riding this year, there will be a series of XC specific spins for underage and junior riders interested in XC racing. These will happen once per month, meeting at the Gala Shop at Lambe's Cross, Sandyford, Co. Dublin.

Participants will need

• a mountain bike in good working condition
  
• a helmet
  
• gloves
  
• rain jacket
  
• 2 spare tubes
  
• a pump
  
• a chain breaker
  
• a set of Allen keys
  
• at least 1 litre of water
  
• energy bars, or some sort of hi-energy food

Anybody interested should contact Richie Byrne, the MTB Underage Development Officer with Cycling Ireland. Please call 087 6376065 with any questions you might have.

Night Riding on Thursday (and Night Race details)

Hi All,

First of all there'll be a night ride this Thursday 12th. Meeting at The yellow house at 7pm or ticknock carpark at 7:30pm.

Secondly, MAD will the running the first of a short series of Interclub (i.e. everyone welcome) night races on Thursday the 19th of January.

Meeting at the Ariels on 3 rock at 7:30pm for a quick practice lap. The race should take no more than about 45mins to 1 hour in total and will most likely be run on our old club course, including the newly reclaimed lower section.

(This is all assuming that Coillte haven't logged it by then so fingers crossed. If they have then we'll look for an alternate venue).

Paddy (086 6087046)

MAD Weekend Report (7th and 8th)

Saturday saw myself, Steve, Judith, Roddy, Louis and Shane heading out for the spin over Tibradden. Steve was the first casualty as he was feeling very ill on the climb up Kilmashogue and so decided to head for home. Roddy was next after damaging his frame at the seat tube. With a little persuasion (i.e. hitting it with rocks!) we got him back up and running, though he decided to head for home then rather than risk trying to mountian bike wihtout a saddle which, we can only imagine, could be a little painful. So the remaining 4 of us headed off down the Wocas until the turn off for tibradden where we headed upwards again all getting a good soaking of the feet in the big huge puddles/lakes on the track. The rocky descent off tibradden claimed two more victims, both of them, unfortunately, being me :( Luckily though after going over the bars i had the incredible presence of mind (sometimes known as luck) to land between the rocks, rather than on them, and so managed to cause only cosmetic damage to my hand, elbow and knee. That'll teach me for trying to keep up with Louis!

(and sundays report from Nigel)

Sunday saw Paddy, Maciek, Louis, Andrew, Juan and myself head for a spin. I met them up in ticknock car park and then off we went to Fairy Castle, and then down towards Wocca Wocca's. Then we set off for Prince Willie's but Paddy had to leave us at this stage due to an injury from a crash on Saturday. Followed the Wicklow Way looking for the descent through prince willies, but we couldn't find it so we headed for the descent through Cloon. Juan decided to leave us at this stage and headed back along the WW. Some felling has taken place at the top but we managed to get through. The descent through cloon is as good as ever so maybe it was a good thing that we missed the prince willies descent! Andrew and Louis left us here and headed towards Enniskerry for some well deserved food! Maciek and myself then set off for Crone via WW and that nice descent just before the steps with all the sheep. We made our way up to the car park and then decided that it would be best to head home. We both wanted to finish the day with a descent so we decided on heading back along Military Road and then down through Massies which was lovely and muddy!

I'll post up picures and also a video of Louis jumping on the Wocas tomorrow assuming i remember to bring my camera in to work with me.

Paddy

MAD Weekend Rides (January 7th and 8th)

First off a happy new year to everyone, hope all the hangovers are gone and you're all enjoying being back at work as much as i am! (spot the sarcasm!)

Right, onto all things biking now,

Saturday 7th - Intermediate spin, Yellow House at 10am. We're going to take a spin up Kilmashogue and then up over Tibradden for a fun, yet extremely rocky descent. Following this we'll head across through Cruagh and into Massies before heading back down to the yellow house. If you've been out on a beginner spin with us before and didn't die halfway around then this is for you. It'll basically be halfway between an easy saturday spin and a tougher sunday spin.

Sunday 8th - Long trip, Yellow house at 10am. This time we're heading off down to Prince Willies, Cloon, Crone and anywhere else we can find. Bring plenty of food and water as it could well be a long one. Also, some little LED flashy type of lights could be handy for the road back just in case. Possibly also a few quid for a shop stop iof we find one.

See ye there,

Paddy (paddyobrien@gmail.com, 086 6087046)

Underage Beginner Spin

Underage beginner spin Saturday 28.01.06
For riders aged 16 and under. We will just be riding some singletrack and giving some gentle instructions.
Adults are welcome to attend provided they bring an underage rider along. I also want at least one volunteer to assist me.
The Venue will be Djouce Woods middle car park at 10.00.
Djouce woods can be found just South of Enniskerry on the old long hill road.
As its the first of one per month it won't be more than one hour.
The riders will need a decent bike with working brakes and gears, a helmet and gloves.
They must be accompanied by an adult (no abandoning of children please, the moms or dads can wait until we come back) - we won't be long.
Don't hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have.

Richie Byrne
MTB Commision Underage Development Officer
087 637 6065
richie.byrne@gmail.com

Night Ride Thursday 5th

Right,
Thursday 5th January 7pm Yellow House. Night lights are essential obviously!

Nigel
087 9335 403

January Ride Schedule

Date	Destination	Meeting Place	Contact
Monday 2-Jan-06	New Year spin to Djouce	Yellow House, 10am - bring transport if you can	Nigel
Wednesday 4-Jan-06	Night ride up Kilmashogue	Yellow House, 7pm	Morgan
Thursday 5-Jan-06	More night riding	Yellow House, 7pm	Nigel
Saturday 7-Jan-06	Intermediate spin	Yellow House, 10am	Paddy
Sunday 8-Jan-06	Long spin	Yellow House, 10am	Paddy
Saturday 14-Jan-06
Sunday 15-Jan-06	Interclub league round 1	Yellow House, 8.30am. Djouce middle car park 9.30am	Morgan
Thursday 19-Jan-06	MAD Night Race	3 Rock aerials, 7.30pm	Paddy
Saturday 21-Jan-06	Beginners spin	Yellow House, 10am	Captain Sean
Sunday 22-Jan-06	Sunday ride - Kilakee and around	Yellow House, 10am	Sean
Thursday 26-Jan-06	Night ride at Leadmines	Gala shop, Lambs Cross 7pm	Nigel
Saturday 28-Jan-06	Underage beginners spin in Djouce woods	Djouce Woods middle car park, 10am	Richie Byrne (Cycling Ireland Underage Development Officer) 087 637 6065
	Easy Saturday spin	Yellow House 10.30am, Ticknock car park 11am	Steve
Sunday 29-Jan-06	The Sunday Spin	Yellow House 10am	Morgan