'Tis the season where we sit down, eat mince pies, drink wine, and watch whatever "year in review" programme" is on the telly. We said we'd jump on the bandwagon, and therefore publish our own "year in review" to look back and see what we have achieved in cycling this season.
Our year has been split into two distinct seasons for all riders. For some it was the road season, then the cyclocross season, for others it was the drinking coffee/beer season followed by the cyclocross season. But other than drinking a lot of coffee and eating copius amounts of cake throughout the entire year (see our celebration of the coffee spin here stfinbarrscyclingclub.weebly.com/home/in-praise-of-the-coffee-spin ), what have the club achieved on a cycling level? It was a largely quiet season for the club in the road racing scene this year. Work committments, family, and age all played a part in less club riders racing. However Richie and Seán were regulars in racing most Sundays over the course of the season. Seán was racing A4 and picked up a few nice results considering this was only his first full season racing. While he didn't quite manage to get the upgrade, he had some outstanding performances, and is very close to moving up the ranks to A3. Richie also performed solidly, regularly picking up top 15 places on the road in strong A1/A2 bunches, with his top result 2nd in the Deenside Cup. He also managed to pick up a couple of Wexford County medals along the way (That's a story for another day). Our own St.Finbarrs GP road race promised to be a great event. The sun was shining and numbers were good. Unfortunately for us the event the event was halted soon after the start due to a bad crash for one of the competitors. This was the low point of our season, but this event will be back again next season. Where the club really thrived this year was on a social level. The numbers on the club spins increased over the summer and this can only be a good thing. After all, cycling isn't all about racing, and it helps to be mindful of that also. The biggest success for the club came in the cyclocross season. It really restarted the club's racing side and we had 8 riders compete throughout the CX season. The standout highlight for us was of course Crossbarrs at Fota. This was the start of a brilliant cyclocross season in Munster and we were honoured to start it off with a bang. Over 100 competitors flocked to Fota, and while there are some improvements to be made next year, it was really a celebration of all that was good with the club. Everyone came together and created a wonderful event. Highlights of the race can be seen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=K39gkMVQgVQ On top of that event, our riders performed superbly throughout the season. Ger and Stevie progressed from B to A. Robbie had a few podium finishes in the B races and is well on his way to being an A next season. Carlton and Kevin dipped their toes in and were hooked by the racing, while Paul, Karl and Keith are chomping at the bit to get stuck in next season. Russell and Richie regularly featured in the results of the A race, both securing podium finishes in the League and the Champs. As a whole this has been a very good year for the club. It has been a very different year from previous seasons without a focus on the early season Easter Racing in Rás Mumhan, but it has been just as (if not even more) successful. We are all proud to be a part of this success and long may it continue into the future. We'll be taking a break from the blog for the next couple of weeks so all of us here at the De Barrs wish everyone who follows us here, on Facebook, or on the road, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Give us a wave if you see us on the road. Hon the Barrs!
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A championship race is something special. It usually stands out as being a main event of any cycling discipline, and it was no different last Sunday in Killarney for the Munster Cyclocross championships. The Munster league proved that the standard in Munster was high, and now the riders were set for one final battle to close out a hugely successful Munster season. Russell and Richie took to the line for the Barrs, and both were hunting for a medal on the back of their success in the league. However in a championship race anything can happen, and league results mean nothing. In one race there is no room for a mechanical, a bad patch, or an off day. The course in Killarney had been changed from their league race and the "descent of doom" was no more. However this was replaced with a fast section of flowing single track, and a long tarmac section through the finish line, heading back up into the field where the spiral and the bridge remained from the previous course. It was an excellent mix of skill and fitness, and would provide a worthy winner. Even though it was a slightly longer lap, it was much faster, with riders lapping 6 and half minutes. This would make for a nine lap race, where anything could happen. Riders were gridded on their league position, which meant Richie once again started on the front row alongside Richie Maes (Killarney) and the winner of the Munster League, Matt Slattery (Velo Revolution). Just behind were close rivals John Dempsey and Kevin Keane. Matt was the clear favorite after his dominant performances in the league, but the battle for the podium would be hard fought between the two Richies, John, and Kevin. Russell lined up on the 3rd row of the grid and was motivated to get a medal in the m40 category. This was going to be another hard fought battle. While Trevor Woods was the clear favourite after his league performances, the race for second and 3rd would be between Russell and John "the pizza cutter" Crowley. This rivalry (albeit friendly) has been going since this race last year, after John came out on top after a close fought battle. Richie got off cleanly from the start and immediately settled into the front group of four alongside Richie Maes, Matt Slattery, and John Dempsey. John wa making the early running and really sticking it to the other three. On lap 3 Richie Maes dropped back with a small mechanical issue, but with the pace full on at the front would find it hard to get back. This left 3 at the front. Matt pushed on up the next climb, distancing John but taking Richie with him going into the forestry. Richie fell going through the ditch, but despite losing precious seconds to Matt, kept his position ahead of John. With six laps to go it was a solo race for all the contenders. Matt capitalised and put 5-10 seconds a lap into Richie. However Richie managed to extend his lead on Maes and Dempsey as the race went on. This is how the race would finish with Matt showing that he is still the strongest in Munster, but with Richie getting his best result of the CX season finishing in the silver medal position, and Richie Maes rounding out the podium in 3rd. The m40 race also hosted a titanic battle between the favourites. Trevor, as usual, blasted away and wasn't too far off the leading elite riders for most of the race. As expected Russell and John Crowley renewed their rivalry. At the halfway stage of the race Russell was ahead but John was still close enough to be a threat with his trademark strong finishing. With two laps to go, Russell hit a root hard off a drop off and his handlebars dropped with a loud bang. Worried about damaged bars he had to execute a slick bike change at the pits just beyond the finish line going onto the last lap. However he limited his time losses and rode the last lap like a man possessed to keep the gap and claim the silver medal. The Munster Championships provided a fitting end to the hugely successful Munster Cyclocross season. A huge thanks to all the clubs involved who have come together to create a wonderful racing experience for all riders. Killarney CC deserve a special mention as they hosted two races this year, and stepped up to the plate to host the Championship Race. From our club's perspective we have had a great CX season. We were lucky enough to kick off the Munster season with a bang in Fota (which seems so long ago now!), and we proved strong enough as a club to be competitive throughout the season. Once again a big thanks to our own main sponsors Centra and McCarthy Cycles, as well as our race sponsors Cafe Velo and Johnson and Johnson. Hon the Barrs! It's Christmas! Well not yet. But it's nearly Christmas and that means it's the time of year to over indulge on your favourite treats, sweets, and beer. This is in stark contrast to the usual diet of the well trained (sort of), elite (ish) athlete that is the road cyclist. Christmas for many cyclists solely exists as a challenge to endure without deviating from the nutrition plan, while utilising the extra time off work in order to get a big training block in. Invariably this makes the cyclist cranky and miserable, as they watch friends and family actually enjoy themselves over Christmas.
However it doesn't have to be this way. As a cyclist you don't have to have a miserable Christmas, and you can enjoy the festivities to the full. First of all, most of us have a bit of time off work. This means more time for bike riding, which is always good. Instead of sticking with your regular Winter programme, make sure you have adapted your plan for the extra training time available to you. It will allow you to enjoy the bike more and you will feel good about having completed a good block of training, which will go a long way towards your preparation for the coming season. However, don't go too mad. Jumping from 6-8 hour training weeks to 20 is not advisable (unless you want to be truly miserable and fatigued over the festive period). An increase in bike riding means an increase in training load. This has the added benefit of increasing the amount of calories burned. This in turn has the benefit of allowing you to indulge a little bit over the festive season. Say yes to seconds, that mince pie, or extra slice of Christmas cake. Unless you're aiming to hit peak form for the Stephen's day Turkey Spin (but then you'd be a fred), you won't be doing any harm to your form (in fact you'll probably improve due to the increased training), and you will avoid becoming that irritable, miserable cyclist. Put the nutrition plan to one side at this time of the year, it's still a long way to the racing season. Another great worry of the diligent cyclist are the inevitable (sometimes dreaded) social occasions, which may involve late nights and/or alcoholic beverages. Surely this is a cyclists worst nightmare. How is it possible to perform in a race that is over 2 months away, if you engage fully in these social occasions? It may surprise you, but this is the time of year where catching up with friends and family is a common occurence and should be expected. Usually these social occasions are well planned, so factor them in to your training. Have a few beers or a couple of glasses of wine. Stay up late and enjoy the night. When the season gets closer these nights will be few or far between so make the most of them while you can. However, it is not advisable to plan a hard session (training or drinking) the day after. If you accomodate the odd festive night out into your plan, you can have the best of both worlds. All in all a few days of overindulgence isn't going to make a blind bit of difference to form or fitness come March. Christmas is there to be enjoyed not endured- Eat, drink, and be merry! (Oh and ride your bike). The Munster Champs are only 2 weeks away! The club will be returning to Killarney, this time on the hunt for medals instead of league points. This will sure to be a cracker of race to finish off the very successful Munster CX season. Killarney CC are also offering some excellent accomodation deals:
The killarney park hotel and gabys restaurant of killarney have joined forces to offer you a fantastic deal for the 17th Dec 》 ***140€ per room*** OR ***200€*** for a room and 3 course dinner for 2 persons at gabys restaurant. (This offer also applies to one person for 170€) Gabys have also made a special offer available to those not using accomadation. ***3 course for 35€ PPS*** (The ross hotel is also available for 120€ per room, so this would make the package 180€ for accomadation+dinner for 2). Just quote munster cyclocross when booking. Venues are to be booked seperately. Click the link below to enter! |
St.Finbarrs Cycling ClubEst. 1938 Archives
October 2017
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