Author: william parnell

News

Pedal the Peaks Challenge

Our friends in Tullamore Cycling Club are holding a sportive next Sunday, 27th August, with proceeds going to the Irish Kidney Association.   Sign-On is at the Tullamore Harriers Athletic Grounds in Spollenstown and will open at 8:00am.  Parking, shower and changing facilities are available. Tea/Coffee is also available on arrival.

There are three routes to choose from:  85 Km, 95 Km and 125 Km, with the 125 km including some difficult climbing.  Roll-out is between 9.15 am and 9.30 am for these events

More information is available here.

Your support for this worthy cause would be greatly appreciated by Tullamore CTC.

posterpdalthepeaks2017

News / Road News

Road Race Championships details

Next Sunday (20th August) sees the highlight of the IVCA racing calendar, the Road Race Championship, taking place.  This event is run as an Age CP, i.e. a single race handicapped on age.  The time gaps between the age categories are provided below.

Due to traffic diversions in Co. Meath as a result of the Dublin Ironman event, the IVCA race will now take place over 3 laps of the Kilcullen circuit, with sign-on at Kilcullen Community Centre from 8.00 am to 8.45 am.  First riders will be off at 9 am.

Riders will start in 5-year age groupings, based on their year of birth – i.e. the age they will reach by 31st December 2017.  If you are riding the event, the attached list shows the group you will start with, based on your year of birth.

A Women’s Championship and trophy will be incorporated into the race provided a minimum of 5 women riders start the event.  Each woman competitor will ride in the age category above her actual age (e.g. a woman aged 40 will start with the 45-49 age group, a woman aged 49 will start in the 50-54 age group, etc).  With an increase this year in the number of women racing with the IVCA, this is a great opportunity for an IVCA Women’s champion to be crowned for the first time ever.

 

Time Gaps for IVCA Age CPs (as agreed at 2014 AGM)

(1)       80 years and upwards at Go.   =                0 mins.

(2)       75 – 79  @  10 minutes               =          + 10 mins.

(3)       70 – 74  @  16 minutes               =          +   6 mins.

(4)       65 – 69  @  22 minutes               =          +   6 mins.

(5)       60 – 64  @  28 minutes               =          +   6 mins.

(6)       55 – 59  @  33 minutes               =          +   5 mins.

(7)       50 – 54  @  38 minutes               =          +   5 mins.

(8)       45 – 49  @  40 mins 30secs.      =          +  2 min. 30 secs.

(9)       40 – 44 @  41 mins 30 secs     =             +  1 min.

 

[gview file=”https://theivca.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Groupings-for-IVCA-Age-Standard-CPs-20171.pdf”]

News / Road News

Sonny Cullen Memorial

Next Sunday’s race (13th August) is the Sonny Cullen Memorial.  Sonny was one of the top riders of the 1950s and ’60s.  He was an Irish international and represented Ireland at Olympics in Rome in 1960. On the domestic scene he was a multiple winner of the prestigious Jack Woodcock Memorial and a regular victor in the IVCA.

Sunday’s race takes place on the Green Sheds circuit, with sign-on at Dunsaney GAA club.

There will be four separate races, with the Sonny Cullen trophy being contested by Race 1 (Scratch & Semi-Scratch.

For those of you who like the nostalgia of 1960s cycling, check out: http://www.muse-ette.com/2014/01/from-archives1950s-road-racing-in.html

 

General News / News

100 in 8 next Sunday (13th Aug)

The IVCA’s 100 in 8 tour takes place next Sunday, 13th August.

Covering 100 miles in 8 hours is one of cycling’s major standard touring challenges and has been a feature on the IVCA events calendar for many years.  An engraved Silver Medal is awarded each year to any member completing the 50 in 4, the Wicklow 200 and the 100 in 8.

This year’s event will start from the Grasshopper Inn in Clonee, rolling out at 9:00am sharp.

Even if you only want to ride part of the way, our touring members would be glad of the company and shelter from the wind as they take on this challenge.

Remember to bring some money for a food stop along the way.

News / TT News

Change of venue – Sat. 29th July

Please note that there is a change to the TT course advertised for next Saturday, 29th July.   The event will now be a 10 TT, held on the Kilcock course, in preference to the Rathcoffey course which saw only a very few out to ride the last time it was used.

For those members who may not have tried one of our Saturday TTs, it is highly recommended.  It’s great training, even for the road men, and you don’t have to have a time trial bike to compete.  In fact, there is even a separate “road bike” category in the League.

So why not give it a go?  The event starts at 9.30 am.  Details of sign-on are below:

IVCA 10M TT KILCOCK
Start Finish at slip road exit from R148 to Church Street. In line with traffic sign.
Proceed to Enfield roundabout. Turn with caution and retrace to finish directly opposite start.

You can also view the route by scrolling down the TT course page here.

 

CHAIN GANG / General News

OldVelos Vintage Classic, 10th Sept 2017

Our colleague Alex Darragh reports that the Waterford Greenway has been announced as the venue for the 3rd OldVelos Vintage Classic cycling event. The OldVelos Vintage Classic is open to riders on vintage steel racing bicycles from the 1900-1980’s.

This year’s event, on Sunday 10th September, will be based at the Coach House Café and Greenway Bike Hire on the workhouse in Kilmacthomas.  Leisure riders can choose between 10 & 20 miles Greenway routes and for the sports riders there are more challenging Comeragh routes of 60-80 miles.

All bikes must be pre 1990 in age and cyclists are encouraged to wear their vintage racing woollens or high nelly tweeds.

For the public there will be a free vintage velo expo, including racing bikes from the 1920’s-1980’s as well as a special Irish interest section.  For the riders there will be a Concours d’Elegance competition for best original and restored bicycles. We might even give a prize for the best dressed rider!!

Find out more on about the “Old Velos” phenonemon and register for your route at http://www.oldvelos.com/ as places are limited on all four routes.

General News / News

Founders Cup

After another successful Wicklow 200 last weekend, Sunday racing resumes this week in Summerhill with the prestigious Founders Cup to be competed for.

The Founders Cup was donated by the original founding members of the IVCA, whose names are engraved on the cup: Phil Byrne, Des Troy, Tom Dempsey, E. Dunphy, Denis Goody, Donal O’Connell, Dick O’Brien, Fred Smith and Paddy McInerney.

Sean Lally holds the record for the most engravings as winner of the event!

The race is run each year in an Age CP format.  Riders are handicapped in 5-year age groups, with the oldest riders first away.

Best of luck to everyone taking part and remember, safety is the most important consideration for us in the IVCA.  Always stay focused on what is in front of you and hold a straight line.

 

 

CHAIN GANG

Over 3,000 cyclists rode the Wicklow

The accolades are still coming in from people who rode the Wicklow 200 this year!

It is great for all of us in the IVCA to have been part of such a successful event.  Many seasoned riders said it was the best edition ever – tough, but with great event organisation and excellent marshals all the way around.

Check out a summary of the event here.

 

 

CHAIN GANG

Thank You Everyone!

On behalf of the IVCA, we want to thank all our members who helped us today and over the last week to deliver a fantastic Wicklow 200.  In spite of strong winds and frequent showers, the response we got from riders at the finish was that they thoroughly enjoyed the event and got a great sense of achievement from it.

Many, many riders commented on the excellent marshalling all along the route.

Our thanks, too, to everyone else involved – from Alan Heary and his team, to our photographers, social media minders, and the team at Bray Emmets GAA club who did a fantastic job fitting 3,000 cars into their premises and guiding everyone around the complex with such courtesy and good spirits.

It really was an extraordinary day and the Wicklow 200 continues to be a fantastic event.  Without all of our voluntary helpers, it simply would not be possible to keep the Wicklow at the top of the calendar as the stand-out sportive in Ireland.  We will build on this year’s experience in our new venue to make it even better next year.

Chapeau everyone and thanks again!

The IVCA Board

 

 

 

General News / News

WW 200 – the final countdown

Once again, we want to thank our members for agreeing to help out at the Wicklow 200 next Sunday.  A big thanks, too, to those who have been assisting in the preparations during the week.

*Some final important notes for you*

Please turn up promptly at your scheduled time.  You may be taking over from someone who has been on duty from early in the day, so your arrival will be greeted with much appreciation!

When you arrive at your designated point you must text your name to this number: 086 269 9059 so that we know your marshal point is covered.

You will be supplied on the day with some food, water and a hi-viz vest if you don’t have one.

We would ask that all road marshals bring a couple of spare tubes, tyre levers and a track pump (if you have one).  If you have to give someone a tube we will replace it for you.

Mechanical and medical emergency numbers are on the numbers attached to the handlebars of the participants bikes. They are:

*Mechanical -* 086 862 1831
*Medical emergency -* 087 414 7210
Please stay safe and remember you are not allowed or expected to stop traffic. If you are at the top of climbs, keep telling riders to take care on the descent.
Many thanks again for helping to make the Wicklow an enjoyable event for all participants.  We hope you also enjoy the banter with the cyclists and encourage them along the way.