Irish XC MTB

Irish Cross-Country Mountainbiking information

Archive for February 23rd, 2010

Race Report – XC Development Series Round 1

Feb 23

Posted by Morgan in Development, Report, XC racing | 1 Comment

Arctic conditions in Wicklow only added to the buzz in Ballinastoe Woods, Co. Wicklow on Sunday 21st February 2010.

165 eager riders from under-8 to over-60 to take part in the first race of its kind in Ireland. The brainchild of EPICmtb’s Richie Byrne, the idea was to get people racing XC for their first time without firing them untested in to the XC NPS.
I’ve always felt that if you put a human on a bike, regardless of its wheel size or whether its  tyres are slick or 2.5” of knobbily rubber, they will want to race it against another human.  I thought by running a race series just for Sports ( the entry level for adults racing) it would take the pressure off  newcomers and relative newcomers. Its also fair to say  that after 20 years involvement in MTB racing I know what people like! So I came up with a short lap without a desperate climb or unrideable descents. It had to be doable by everybody regardless of their ability. Then I split the senior category into two: Sports A for experienced riders and Sports B  for complete beginners. We also had Women, Under-16/Under-14/12/10/8.

From XC Development Race Round 1

The Offroad Commission got on board with me as did a whole host of people from across the MTB Community, with senior riders from nearly all the local MTB clubs helping out, not to mention Irelands no 1 Mountainbiker and unbeaten EPIC Blast Winner Niall Davis of Biking.ie giving a  hand with free pre-race coaching. Read the rest of this entry »

XC Development Racing: Round 2

Feb 23

Posted by irishxcmtb in Announcement, Development, Offroad Commission, XC racing | 1 Comment

The second of the developmental XC Race Series events commences on 7th March in Ballyhoura, Cork.

This series is sponsored by the Cycling Ireland Offroad Commission, Biking.ie, WheelWorx and Snap Printing, being managed by Richie Byrne from EPICMTB and supported by various volunteers and club-members around the country.

While you have the option of registering on the day, you are requested to register online for this event in order to speed-up the sign-on process and reduce queues on the Sunday morning.

Online registration will be closing at 1pm on Sat 6th March so make sure to register in time!
Sign-on on the Sunday will close at approx 11am so ensure to arrive early, get your race plate and have a practice lap or two!

This 3 race series is aimed at the beginner/novice, women and youth categories and there won’t be any savage climbs, everything will be rideable.

There will be an A and  B category for Sport:

  • A for riders who have reasonable experience on a bike
  • B for complete beginners

Other categories will be:

  • Women
  • Under 16
  • Under 14
  • Under 12
  • Under 10
  • Under 8.

Entry fee will be €10 for SPORT A/B, Women, and Under 14/16.
All other Youth categories will be free entry but one day licences will be compulsory.

It is planned that Under 8/10/12 races will start at 11am with Under 14/16/Sports A & B/Ladies at 12 midday.

The Offroad Commission will be providing the medals and additional support along with senior racers from various clubs – big thanks to those who have volunteered to help with this series!