Xc Youth Development Squad Weekend 1 + Kinetica-Munster Xc Series Rd 1 Race Report

Last weekend was the first time the development Squad got together in full in Killarney. Dad and I had an early start on Saturday to make it down to Killarney for 9am. We were up at 4 am. Left the house at half 4 to make the 3 1/2 hr's Drive down to the Aghadoe Youth Hostel in Fossa, Co Killarney. We arrived at 8 and had time to get some breakfast before arriving at the hostel were the squad were staying. At 9 we had a talk about the structure of the squad and what Jon's expectation's for the year were, which was really good in showing us what the squad was going to be about during the year . After that we were all measured up for our new squad gear which is looking really good!

At 11 am we hit the high ropes course on the grounds of the Hostel for some team building. The course is really good and was great craic going around with the rest of the team. It was certainly a different type of workout to mountain biking.

After we finished off on the High ropes at around 12:30 we all headed in for some lunch and then went to get ready to pre ride the course for the second round of the NPS and the race the next day. The track was absolutely brilliant and bone dry.

The squad lined up outside the Hostel to take some team photo's in our own club gear. Then we headed of to ride the course. Jon let us go ride the course at our own speed but we had to be back for 3:15pm to go look at some of the tricky sections of the track and sessioned them for a while before going for another slow lap of the track.

We came back to the hostel and had a lovely dinner put on by the owner of the hostel. We then had a talk about some more exciting things for later in the year and then headed off to bed.

The next day we were up at 8am for breakfast before signing up for the first round of the Kinetica-Munster Xc series held by Killarney Cycling Club. This year I am racing Junior. Last year I was racing U16 so this year there is a bit of a step up in the amount of laps I'll be doing. My plan for the race was to go at a steady pace and try to finish in the top 3.

So at 1'o clock the Juniors lined up at the start line. We had to do 3 laps. So off we went there was a sprint to the first corner in the field. Everybody filed out into single file as we continued around the field. Just before we got to the start of the singletrack Chris made a break at the front. I moved in behind Anthony and followed him for a while before making my move on an open flat corner. So at this stage I was in 2nd with Chris ahead of me and Anthony behind me. There was a small jump near the start of the course so I decided to do a little bit of showing off. I continued on through the race trying to keep a steady but fast pace. At one stage I managed to crash into a tree but that didn't really affect the race, I couldn't see Chris ahead of me so really tried to concentrate on my own race and hit all my lines. During the final 2 laps of the race the sun came out and it was roasting on track. I finished in 2nd, 13 seconds behind Chris.

I'd like to say a big thanks to Jon Hynes for organising the weekend and the Guys at the Aghadoe Youth Hostel for accommodating us, as well as Killarney Cycling Club for hosting the race. And finally to my dad for driving me down and back from Killarney over the weekend.

Scott

Ballyhoura Biking Blitz

Ballyhoura Biking Blitz

Last weekend The 2nd Round of the Biking Blitz was on in Ballyhoura, Co Limerick. I decided that on Saturday I would head down early for a spin around the trails with some of the Other members of my club to see what the course was like. After the spin I went back to the hotel I was staying in. I dropped my stuff of in the hoteland I went out to get some lunch.

Race Day

I arrived down to The trails around 11am. I went for a little warm up with my mate Kyle. After that we headed for the start line. There was a lot of confusion about were the start line was but eventually It was sorted and we lined up for the race. I got a good start of the line and was first into the first section of singletrack with Kyle close behind me. Out of the first trail and onto a fireroad climb to the next section where I was passed and went into 2nd just ahead of Kyle. I battled on with 1st for the next 2 sections of singletrack before he started to pull away. Kyle pushed me on but 1st continued to get away. At the next Fireroad kyle passed me and I dropped into 3rd. I just kept Kyle in my sights for the next couple of trails and eventually came to the final decent to the finish line. I had to catch him on the Decent. About half way down there is a bermed boardwalk corner. As we came down into it kyle crashed and I got past him. I spritned as hard as I could to get away from him but he was way behind as he hurt his knee. I finished in second place 26 seconds behind first. Kyle Finished 3rd.                     

                                                                                          

Biking Blitz Ballinastoe

Biking Blitz Ballinastoe

So last weekend the first race of the season was held in Ballinastoe by Biking.ie. Each year Biking.ie hold the opening races of the season in the trail centre's around Ireland. I arrived at Ballinastoe at 11 and went and signed on for my race. This year I'm racing Juniors. After that I went on a few practise loops of the U16's course with my friend Kyle. After this I lined up for my race.

The weather was pretty crap with misty rain trough out the race. I got on to the front row of the pack with 190 other people in other category's as well as juniors behind me.. The race started and I got a great start and was first to the top of the First climb. I drop back into 4th by the time we got to the first bit of singletrack. I could see first place. As we continued on we started to catch people from the category that started ahead of us. We got past some but there was a few people between me and first place and wasn't able to get past them to catch first place. As we came out on to the next fireroad I sprinted as hard as I could to try and catch 1st but still ended up with people infront of me for the next bit of single track. I still had 1st in my sights but just couldn't catch him with all the traffic. In the next section of singletrack which was a long downhill section. For the first half of it I was stuck behind some people but I got past them and tried to make up the lost time on the rest of the downhill. I had caught up a bit but not enough. Towards the end of the race 3rd place which was Kyle was catching me but he couldn't pass me in the last section of singletrack. I sprinted to the finish line. I came 2nd in Juniors 30 seconds behind 1st and 4 seconds ahead of Kyle in 3rd. Thanks to Biking.ie for holding a great event and a big thanks to Micheal Jordan from The Cycling Inn for fixing my bike right before the race. I'm looking forward to the next round of the series in Ballyhoura in 1 weeks time

Giro Hex 2012 Review

Giro Hex 2012

Last Year i Got the Giro Hex to replace my old helmet as I cracked it in 2 places. I decided to get it after I read a few good review of it on the internet. There are 7 different colours avaliable. Idecide to go for the Process blue/Bright yellow as its the nices colour in my opinion.

Design&Feel

The design is quite simple but very effective at protecting your head. The back of the helmet comes down to the top of your neck so it gives huge amounts of protection for the back of your head. Itis very well vented with 17 vents so it keeps your head nice and cool in summer but can be a bit colder in winter. The Hex uses Giros Roc loc system to secure the helmet to your head. It uses a small dial on the back ofthe system to tighten the helmet and has yet to fail on me. With 4 different sizes it will fit most if not all head sizes.

Conclusion

Overall this is a great helmet. Comfy, light, good looking and superb protection makes this on of the best helmets I've ever used

                                      5 Star

Canyon Strive ES8 Review (€2700)

Canyon Strive ES8 Review (€2700)

The Canyon Strive ES8 is a super all round bike. With 160mm travel its a real Enduro Race bike.

4.5 Stars

 Ride and Feel

With 160mm travel front and rear, a slack 66.5 degree head angle while still only weighing 13.5 kg makes this a super Enduro Race bike. This bike has been made to be ridden hard. The big 2.4" Shwalbe Fat Albert tyres help you to ride as fast as you can down trails.

The bike shines on real technical and fast trails. It's super stiff so its well up for anything you can throw at it. The back end stays planted on the ground unless you want to leave the ground! This helps to Hold the ground even through the roughest trails without fear.

When heading up hill, it makes it up without any problems. A flick of the RP2 shock into Propedal and you'll glide back up the hill. It certainly not a bike for racing up hill so there's no point trying to push it up the hills.

 

Frame and Equipment

The Canyons frame quite different with the 270box in the centre and its swooping Downtube and Toptube. It is however quite a light frame for an Enduro Frame.Up front the bike has A Fox 36 Talas RC2 FIT Fork which works extremely well at absorbing the hits and bumps. It has plenty of adjustments which makes it one of the most vesitile forks there is. It has a Rockshox Reverb so the saddle is out of the way on the descents. I have change the bike from a 2x10 Setup to running it with a Superstar Plasma chain guide and a single ring to quiet down the bike as well as to stop any potential chain drop during a race. The drivetrain is a Shimano XT which is pro forming brilliantly with crisp gear changes and super smooth running. The only let down on the bike has been the Sun Ringle Charger Pro Wheels.I've gone through 3 sets of bearings in the rear hub and a set in the front as there is no seals on the hubs.The brakes are Avid Elixer 7's which do a super job of stopping you when bating down trails flat out. For more info on the 2013 Canyon Strive ES8 Follow the link: http://www.canyon.com/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=3047