NPS season under way

The NPS season kicked off with a great race up north on sunday, in Glenarm Forest Park. MAD had a sizable contingent, with 8 of us taking to the start line (plus Cait from UCD who was honorary MAD for the day), on a course that included some tight twisty singletrack, some fast straight singletrack, some sketchy gripless sections and a killer steep fireroad climb.

Cait had a great race taking 2nd in the Elite ladies with Mel taking a well deserved 3rd place in her first race of the season, for MADs only official podium. Unfortunately for Judith the mechanical chain gremlins struck causing her to retire.

In the U16s class, Shane took 4th wiht Ciaran just behind in 5th place.

The sports race was great fun, despite chasing hard i just could not catch Daniel who took 7th place for MAD, with myself in 8th, Arek in 10th and Mr Diamond taking a great 13th in his first ever race. Hopefully we'll get some good photos courtesy of Marta who was busily snapping away whenever i walked up any of the hills (dammit).

Round 2 takes place in Ballinastoe next Sunday which is so close to us that there's no excuse for not getting out and giving it a try. As Tom would say .. Bring on the Power!

Saturday spin - the winner is announced!

well folks, wiht over 50% of the vote, Yellow house To Cruagh via Masseys is the decisison of the masses. Meeting at the yellow house at the ungodly hour of 10am. Don't forget your spare tubes, helmets, water, food etc

On Sunday the first round of the NPS is on in a land far far away so there's no regular organised spin unless someone who's not racing decides they want to organise one. Go on, you know you want to ...

Paddy

NPS 2007 promo video

Yeah baby! XC racing to the MAX!!

Just to get you in the mood...turn the volume UP!



...but you know there's a better quality one on the Irish XC MTB website - it's the first News item halfway down the page.

Click on the image below to get there.

Moutainous-Cycling Activities this week

Barely enough time for the sore legs to recover from racing but we're at it again!
Tuesday April 24th night spin up 3 Rock
Meet at Taylors pub at 7pm, ~7:15 at Ticknock.

Thursday 26th April EPIC Night Race League.
An excellent way to improve your race form (needless to say I'll need to do a lot of them)
More info...
Park your car at Palmers Golden Ball pub, don't drive-up to the Leadmines, not very safe for cars up there and very limited parking space.
Race is at 7:30pm at Leadmines tower.

NPS Round 1 is on Sunday 29 April in Glenarm Forest, County Antrim, East Antrim Audi promoting.
XC race calendar
There may be a spin arranged for Saturday but I won't be around at the weekend, so watch this space for further announcements.

Bye for now!
Fergal
087-792-7730

Good Luck to all MAD racers this weekend!

For a preview of the final round of the KCapital Cup series,
checkout the homepage of the soon-to-be-officially-released Irish XC MTB website!

None other than your MADMTB Club Secretary is the webmaster for this site, so please drop me a mail if you think there's information that you would like to see on this site.

Cheers
Fergal

Fergal's Summer Blockbuster

MAD Spins: more therapeutic than any therapy!

God I had a crap day at work yesterday, I mean really crap, I was angry and depressed after slaving for the man for 11hours and getting nothing done.
I was thinking of heading down the the local halting site with my top off
and roaring:
"WHO WANTS IT!!??!! Which one of you fairies wants it!!?? Eh??!!"

..but luckily I remembered my bike was on the back of my car, and that I knew the way to a beaten-up place called 3 rock...

Suffice to say after finishing my spin with a jaw-dropping descent of the boneshaker all anger and grumpiness was magically spirited-away.
It works, it really does, don't go home angry, get on your bike and head-on out, if only for 30 mins, Irish XC trails are like that island in LOST, some magical healing force there man.....groovy

Anyway......my main man Paddy (yo!) will be fronting an exhilerating spin of 3 rock tonight.
Not sure what route he has in mind but it's Paddy so you know it's gonna be good.
I'm sure it'll include a lap or two of the newly completed XC track (I was on it last night - it is the biz!)

Meeting point is at 7:00pm at Taylors pub or 10-15 mins later at Ticknock car park

and....the last race of the K-Cap series is on this Sunday so lets have a lovely training spin to celebrate!

Thursday 19 April the Leadmines is our venue, with the addition of EPICs new circuit this is an ideal venue for both grunt-wheeze-intensity and techno-techno-technicality.

Meeting point is at 7:00pm at Palmers Golden Ball pub

Hope to see ye out!

Fergal
087-792-7730

Evening spin Leadmines Friday 13 Apr

Howdy Miners of Lead!
The lads above have been spending too long down the mines digging out lead.
Their lead-mining purpose is to weigh their bikes down during races to give other clubs a fair chance.
But as a result, these prime athletes have lost a little glowfrom their cheeks.

Far be it from them to use fake tan (ahem! can I say it? - can I say it?) some of these lads will opt instead for a rip around LeadMines course to get them looking halfway normal again.

Come along and join them - pace will be fastish but once you get to know the loop you can go at your own speed.

We'll depart for the spin from Palmers Golden Ball pub at 6:30 to avail of the evening sunshine.

See ye there!
In full colour!!
Fergal

Trail building on Sat for those tough enough!!

What's this?
A gap in the spin calendar this weekend?
Well now, better fill that void quickly!
Ok my trail-tuned friends, for those not doing the improvers spin,
it's time for a bit more trail-building up 3 Rock On Saturday 14 April

I'll be there from early (about 9am) until the afternoon - all welcome!

Bring saws/loppers/rakes for guaranteed good time
We'll work on the XC part of the DH trail we were previously working on.
Map of the area

try this link if the one above does not work:
Map of the area

Another MAD Weekend

After the cracking weather, dusty dry trails, and brilliant spins of the long bank holiday weekend comes what's referred to in certain circles as a 'normal' weekend. Theres only two days in this one so we'd better make the most of it.

On Saturday Martins democratic governance continues with a spin to be chosen by the howling masses. Click Here for the poll and get voting as polling finishes on Thursday at 6pm sharp. At the time of going to press only one person is going to get drunk and wake up with a hangover (and its not me for a change) so there should be plenty of people there. This spin will be somewhere between easy, fun and awesome on our trusted spin measuring thingy. Basically it depends where you want to go but bring plenty of food and water as it could last for 3 or 4 hours depending. Further details will be posted when the polls are closed, ballots counted and brown envelopes opened, counted, taken into account over a few beers and promptly forgotten about.

****EDIT**** The Masses have spoken .. or clicked buttons .. or something. Anyway, Ballinastoe was the narrow winner so meet at the carpark there at 10am. Shame on the 2 people staying in bed and remember to torture those 4 who have the big hangovers!
****EDIT****

Sunday sees the savageness being put back into the word savage .. or .. something to that effect. We're off on a long one starting at the yellow house at 9am. Bring loads of food, water and sacrafice small furry animals to the god of good weather and dry trails (St. Morgan of Kilmainham). We're going from the yellow house to Fairy Castle, Prince Willies, Cloon, Crone, around Powerscourt, Djouce, XTC (we all love that one), Powerscourt and then back home. This is one for the improvers amongst you who are yet to come out on the really long spins (points in the direction of John H, Conor, Richie C etc) as well as the normal crew. The pace will be steady without too many breaks and theres plenty of drop out points along the way just in case (not that we'll actually let you drop out)

Paddy (086 6087046)

ManvBike

www.manvbike.com
Courtesy of our friend Peter X O'Farrell.


Sean

Its a MAD Bank Holiday ...

Well folks, time once again to find out whats happening this weekend.

First off there's Shane "No longer a Mystery Man since meeting him in Wales" Lavelles' evening spin on ticknock. Meeting at the carpark there at 8pm. Get in touch with him on 086 3195936 if you need any more info.

Friday features a spin around kindlestown, meeting in the carpark there at 10am.

Saturday has an early morning spin starting at 7am from the hellfire carpark for those of various levels. Contact Shane Lavelle for this one.

On Saturday there'll also be a big long spin meeting at 10am at Crone. This will be a "Savage" on the MAD spin-o-meter so only for the fit, fast and mentally challenged. Bring lots of food, water, tubes, puncture repair kits, spare wheels, frame bearings etc. The route will be taking in Crone, Maulin, Djouce, The Boardwalks, Lugalla (POG Course), Ballinstoe (Blast Course), Djouce, XTC, Powerscourt, and finally back to Crone.

Saturday also features Martins Magical Mystery Tour, meeting at Taylors 3 Rock pub at 10am. Contact him on 087 0515057 for more details. But since its magical and mysterious he mightn't tell you anything. This is a fun spin and will be suitable for all and sundry.

On Sunday is the first round of the DH NPS in Cloon woods. Run by EPIC this is sure to be a cracking event with the soft sound of ambulance sirens providing some atmosphere. Our very own downhill people, Steve, Fergal and Robb should be taking part (no guarantees though as i ain't been speaking to them), so go along and support or cycle down there to support. EPIC may still be looking for some extra marshalls for the weekend (mainly on the sunday i presume). If anyone is going down to watch and wants to help them out and get to see all thats involved in organising a race check out this post .

Monday, hmmm, magical mystery tour maybe? Again keep an eye out in the next day or two and i'll update things.

Paddy (086 6087046)