CXO in Europe – there will be mud

This weekend was round 2 of the Irish Super-Cross Cup.  This race was in Dublin, so no long trip to Northern Ireland for me this time.  Instead a sedate 15K peddle across town.

It has rained pretty much every day since the last Super-Cup race in October. And yes I know I came to Ireland freely and with full knowledge that rain is always in the forecast here.  So I am not complaining about the rain. I am just giving you some context.

In fact it has rained so much that the previous week’s race, which was to be held in a river valley in Lisburn (Northern Ireland) was cancelled. That’s right a cross race cancelled due to rain in a country where it always rains. So yes we had some mud yesterday.

But it was also one of those perfect days to watch a cross race. The course was super slick, but the sun was out and it was 10 (ish) degrees.

Oddly  these links to pictures and a  video show almost no crashing.

http://picasaweb....Supercross

http://www.imbrc.com/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=26&g2_itemId=22865

http://www.youtub...aJQYQeWJ4Y

And there were plenty of crashes.  Probably because there was not much in the way of the dreaded peanut butter mud- it was almost all soupy mud.  You could get up to good speed –and then you had to try and turn.

The course had a similar mix of power sections and technical bits as the previous Super-Cup course, but the power sections tended to be a bit shorter.  The course was mostly on grass, with some pavement thrown in. This one also had a few more roots and curbs so it was a hard day to dial tire pressure – low enough for good traction was a big risk bottoming on the rim.

The rest of the particulars.

Mass start – Everyone from multiple national champions to people in their first race go off at the same time. This works fine with 50 people if you design a course where people can pass. And most of the course was plenty wide.  There was only one short section where there was only one possible line. Though by the later laps there were plenty of places with only one preferable line.

They told us 10 laps before the race started and that is what those on the lead lap did – so rather than an hour plus a lap the winner did about 58 minutes – or basically 6 minute laps.

Attendance: about the same as the previous race- just over 50 starters.

Women: 2 or 3 – I think.

Kid’s races: they had them but the attendance was nothing like the last time.  Apparently the clubs in the North are better at getting kids into cross. So my heart is back to its normal temperature.

Other demographics.: In Ireland cross is officially an off-road discipline.  And as far as I know most of the people at the races and practices come from a mountain biking background. Not nearly as many roadies as in TO. That said there is a large contingent of tri-athletes doing cross over here – which is novel (I think).

The start: this never would have happened in Canada for safety reasons.  To spread the field out (I guess) we did about 50 meters up a paved road- into a roundabout.  Around the roundabout and back onto the same road we started on (think about what this means for the slower folks in the back rows ) and onto the course via a tight left turn that forced you to either hop a curb or take an ugly line. Needless to say it was a bit of mayhem for the first 30 or 40 seconds.

Barriers: 1 set of double barriers. A little higher than last time so bunny hopping was not in evidence.

Single track- just a real short section to link other bits of the course together

Other dismounts: None – though one short hill had a lot of folks off the bike by the later laps because traction was at a premium.

What else –

Some local team has a link to Rocky Mountain Bikes- so there were 5 or 6 people riding “Canadian bikes” and wearing maple leaf jerseys at the race- which was just plain odd.

Less bling  than TO.  Really high end kit is about but it is less abundant.  And for every Ridley with carbon tubulars there is someone on a mail order frame from Chain Reaction UK. And most folks have at best a second set of wheels in the pits – I don’t think I saw a single pit bike?

Results were up by 6pm for a race that ended just  after 2 – with laps times

Post race food – sugary snacks, tea and coffee, some sandwiches and the like seem to be the norm.  They make a nice touch.

Entry fee – 15 euro – or about 22 dollars.

Awards same as last race- first 5 overall get cash. First vet (over 40), junior and woman not in top 5 get a trophy and token cash.

Short Race report: The race was won by a guy who has been national champion multiple times. I managed to (just barely) finish on the lead lap in 12^th. Crashed once- crossing the start finish line at about 1.5 KMPH- very smooth. Was second in the vet (over 40) category – but this time the first guy in the 40 plus group was not in the top 5 so he got the cash and the keepsake.  If I had known he was the guy in 11^th I am sure I could have managed to crash a few more times while trying and failing to catch him.

Next time – practice which is savage.