Author: william parnell

General News / Leisure News / News

West Wicklow Tour next Sunday

The West Wicklow Tour takes place next Sunday, 10th September.  Following the significant drop in participant numbers in the last two years, this year’s edition will be confined to IVCA members (i.e. it is not an open event).  The tour is the 9th event in the Dick O’Brien Leisure League.

Roll out is from the Cycle Superstore in Tallaght at 9 am.  The tour is based on the familiar route through Saggart and Rathcoole, then on to Punchestown and Brannockstown.   Instead of continuing on to Dunlavin as in the past, the route turns left at Brannockstown and heads to Ballymore Eustace where there is an opportunity to stop and draw breath.

The route then heads back towards Hollywood and on to the N81 back to Tallaght.  The full route is available here.  Total distance is c 75 Km.

Please note there is no organised re-fuelling stop on this tour, so bring some money if you want to stop along the way.

 

 

General News / News / Road News

Bracken takes the title

One week after wining the Sonny Cullen Memorial, Sean Bracken delivered two-in-a-row at the IVCA Road Race Championship on 27th August.

On a windy and overcast day, this Age-Standard race came down to a sprint between a small group of 8 riders.  The tireless Sean Lally put in a tremendous ride in the windy conditions, out on his own for 75Km, and only caught in the last 4Km.  Behind him, a group of the strongest riders from other age categories had formed and worked hard together, never missing a beat, to chase down the leader.

At the line, it was Bracken who took the sprint for gold, followed by Terry Ferris in the silver medal position and Hugh David taking bronze.

rr-champs-2017

 

General News / News

AGM update

Documentation for the AGM of the IVCA which takes place on Saturday, 9th September, was forwarded by e-mail to all members on 18th August.  If any member has not received this documentation, please e-mail Secretary@theivca.com and we will arrange to have the material sent to you.

Leisure News / 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 / Leisure 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.