Today's DH Day

Thanks to everyone who turned up. Ended up with a fairly good gang of people.

I got a good few e-mail addresses from people who wated more info about signing up. If I didn't get one from you and you want some more info the ether PM you e-mail or mobile or send a mail to seanherlihy38@gmail.com

We are heading out on the Small bikes this Sunday. Anyone who was out today is more than welcome to come along. 10:00 in the car park of Lamb Doyles pub.

You will have to have a bike that you can pedal up hills, and be self sufficient, that is have food, water, rain gear a spare tube and the means to fix minor mechanicals.

The pace won't be hard though, the lad in charge of the pace is on crutches so it should be grand.

If you are not sure about it or want more in call Sean (087 9854445).

Christmas Spins

Hello Everybody,

We are organising a couple of spins over the Christmas and new year.  Below is what we have organised.  If people are doing other spins in between let us know and we will put up something about them.  Obviously the weather will have an impact on whether or not these go ahead, but we will plan an the basis that they will and go from there.

December 26^th  - EPIC Hangover spin !!! 10.00am Palmers for some good old fashioned EPIC messing up the leadmines.  All mountain bikes. All welcome regardless of Club!!

December 29^th   - Spin on the All Mountain Bikes. Djouce woods at 10:00. (Sean 087985445)

December 31^st             - DH day in Cloon, same score as before all welcome, will be riding both tracks. (Sean 087985445)

January 2^nd       - Spin on the All Mountain Bikes. May go on a trip somewhere, weather permitting, will keep you posted. (Sean 087985445)

Tuesday night spin report

So last night we could finally get out for a proper night spin again and it was a cracker. I was running at bit late due to rubber neckers on the M11 amazed at someone getting there car put on the back of car transporter, idiots. Anyway when I got up to Kindlestown there was about 12 lads itching to go, with some special guest appearances from the likes of Greg, Rod Davis, Niall Davis and Rory Bernie and of course all the other regular legends. So we headed off for a loop around kindletown, it was fairly muddy in spot but still great craic lashing around. Out from there we headed over to Glen of the Down and up to the tunnel trail, it was some fun lashing down trying to stay ahead of the quick lads. After that it was back up to the top and even with Bruce missing many a whammy was tried on the way up. From the top we lashed down the fast trail from the ruin, I was out the front until that stupid off camber right hander got me again and I was passed by Cummins, Rob and Niall lashing on down and  if one of us had of come off we where all goners. Into the deadly left hander at the bottom and Cummins took the wide line and I managed to follow Niall down the inside one try to T-bone Cummins on the way out but unfortunately I managed to undertake him cleanly. We where all buzzed up by the end so we climbed half way back up to lash down the trials to the right, coming into the steep section was nuts I had Greg and Niall up my hole and was trying my best no to go over the bars as we cut out all the switch back and just straight lined it down it, it was a death grip moment. We continued on down to the car park where Cummins was bitterly disappointed that there was no cars park up and we headed back up for the top. Down half the fast decent again and into the woods heading for the gate and back to the cars. Great craic had tonight and good to be getting at proper spin in again.

Now on a serious note poor young Gav had to deal with a big loss last night. After being in a 3 year relationship with his phone, his phone smashed on to the M11 and is no more. His Sony Ericsson tried it’s best to hold onto the roof of my car and after making from Kinlestown to M11 it couldn’t do it anymore and jumped ship smashing into a million pieces on the road. As funny as it was for me poor Gav was hurt.

RIP Gav’s Phone 2007-2010

EPIC DH Day Sunday 19th December

We are having a DH day in Cloon on the 19th December, 10:00.  DH bikes, or whatever you happen to have.  Trying to get everyone out so if you are about try and make the effort to come along.  It is ideal for newbies or anyone who wants to give us the once over before deciding to sign up. We will be on both tracks, sessioning sections and doing full runs. 

If you have any questions e-mail or text Sean (seanherlihy38@gmail.com / 0879854445).

Tues 14th Dec Night spin

For this Tuesdays Xc/Dh training spin we are going to head to kindlestown/Glen of the downs, Meeting at kindlestown car park at 7.20. See ya there.

Sunday 12th spin

Dying to get out on the bike again so heading up 3 rock, meeting at 10.00 in the blue light car park. See ya there

Club Meeting and Social Night Friday 17th

Well it's that time of year when socialising happens as much as biking so why not mix them both, well kinda mix them. On Friday the 17th at 8.00 pm our new club Epic DH, will meet up in the blue light pub, I'm sure most of ya know it but if you don't it's the one on the side of 3 rock. Now not only is this a social evening, I know that people want to find out what's happening in the new club so we'll have a club meeting and get everyone up to speed on what's been going on in the back ground along with future plans and ideas. We also want to give anyone that's interested in helping run things in the club the chance to step up and say 'anseo'. We should have our membership forms with us too so we'll be handing them out as well. Now I'm sure some maybe worried about getting home from here but there will be people from all sides of the city coming so I'm sure we can sort out taxi buddies for you on the night. Now we’ll have the meeting starting at 8.00pm and everyone is welcome to it, so if you want to know anything about the new club come along, but obviously we are in a pub so unfortunately any under 18's will have to be off the premises by 9:00. We do encourage everyone that is looking to join Epic Dh to come along but if anyone can’t, don’t despair, as soon as the hills clear we will be organising a social day out on the big bikes so everyone can meet up and you can get to see that there is some decent lads and lasses in the club. Prospective members are more than welcome. So if you just want to find out more or give ideas for the club or just have a social evening out come along for the craic.

Hopefully we'll see ya there.

Tues 7th Dec Night spin

Well we have to keep truckin on so this week we are going to meet at lamb doyles at 7.20 for our xc dh training spin and see how the night takes us. It's going to be a cold one so try not be late. By the way the car park in lamb doyles is very icy so don't park on the hill or your car might so for a spin of it's own when you're gone. See ya all there. Snowboards optional

Bruce’s famous spin report

Thanks to Bruce here's a spin report from yesterday's spin.

Sunday spin report

Are giant turkeys tastier than humans? 

Mmmm snow.  Myself, Sean and Alan headed up three rock on Sunday morning for a bit of snow messery. Sean developed mechanical problems for the first half of the spin.  It took him about 40 minutes to realise I was holding on to his back wheel every time he went to take-off.  He thought his bike had developed some form of freezing disease.

On the first downhill section through the trees the point and go show was employed, deadly craic.  It reminded me of off-piste skiing.  Then back up to the top of Three Rock and there seemed to be more bikes than walkers. 

A stroll up top the top of Fairy Castle and then a mini-apache off the top in the fresh snow.  Alan being the pillar of sense did not par-take in the snow jumping messing on the way up.  Interesting results, and lucky we were still wearing our helmets.  Take-one off the top didn’t go to well, we ended up lashing into the fresh snow and becoming stuck up to the top of our wheels.  Take-two.  The usual technique was employed: add in some more speed.  The result was carnage.  Lashed down Fairy castle, deadly craic we decided an adventure was on the cards next.  (BLANK  SECTION – don’t ask, I blame Alan)

Eventually back up to the top of Three Rock and lashed down the bone shaker.  Everybody must get up there and do this run in the compacted snow its deadly. 

Only the dinosaurs in Jurassic park have the answer to the question at the start of this report, please can we never mention giant turkeys again.

Bruce's Tuesday night spin report.

Tuesday snow spin report

Well if we formed a club for steamers we would have cancelled the spin! But here’s how it went...

It all started off as great craic: hand brake skids in a Micra while listening to girls Aloud (Herlihy’s music selection is brutal).  Then traffic and more traffic and a bit more traffic, eventually Herlihy ditched the Micra.  Not before trying to undertake a parked Micra.  Never been so embarrassed in my life, we looked like right spanners! 

Out on the bikes and the roads seemed to get better the further up we went.  Cycling up the snow covered fire road was interesting but tiring.  Met some lad on a bike at the top of three rock, it looked like he was going to the shops... 

Myself Gav, and Sean had to pedal, yes pedal, down the bone shaker good bit of craic going down lots of sliding. No whammies though.  Momentum was the key the faster you went the less chance you got stuck, all you need is speed...

Tues 30th Nov Night Spin

Well now for this weeks xc dh training spin we are going to play it safe due to the snow and do our spin from a place that most people should be able to get to, all going well. So we'll meet at lamb Doyle's pub at 7.20, I'll defiantly be there so don't worry about it being cancelled, depending on numbers and conditions we'll set the spin from there. If for some reason you can't drive up to lamb Doyle's you could park at Taylor's/3 rock bar and cycle up from there, just make sure you're at lamb Doyle's for 7.20 as it won't be a night for hanging around. See ya there.

EPIC DH – DH Session Cloon Sunday 5th December

We are have a DH day in Cloon on the 5th December, 10:00.  DH bikes, or whatever you happen to have.  Trying to get everyone out so if you are about try and make the effort to come along.  It is ideal for newbies or anyone who wants to give us the once over before deciding to sign up. We will be on both tracks, sessioning sections and doing full runs. 

If you have any questions e-mail or text Sean (seanherlihy38@gmail.com / 0879854445).

Saturday Morning Spin - Ballinastoe

Bruce is heading to Ballinastoe this Saturday for 10:00 for a beginner / improver all mountain spin.
If you are interested just text him on 0868215321.

MBW Skills weekend

 This weekend the lads in Moycullen bike works and crew have put in a mammoth effort to offer a fun weekend of biking, from pump track and giant air bags on Saturday to short Xc races on Sunday it should be a cracking weekend so go on over and support the lads for their efforts.

Here's a vid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aRrGnimwQU

Pics

Info
Pump Track and Air Bag Extravaganza presented by Elevate Promotions and Moycullen Bike Works. Sessions all day Saturday and Sunday.
Competition Saturday from 4PM under lights.
Mud and Mayham pdf check it out click here
Deranged airbag DISCLAIMER
LF8 PUMPTRACK Membership


Event Schedule
Pump Track and Air Bag – Moycullen Industrial Estate
Saturday 11 AM til 9PM (competitions after dark)
Sunday 11 AM til 4PM
This is organised by Moycullen Bike Works and Elevate Promotions
Pricing
Pump Track only: €10 annual membership- download the above
Airbag: €25 per day or €45 for both days – download the above

If you are under 16 you must have a signed parental consent form or you will not be allowed to participate.

MTB Coaching – Rosscahill
Saturday – Two hour sessions probably starting at 10AM.  Sessions for beginner, intermediate and advanced. 

MTB Race Sunday 28th – Rosscahill
Race trail will be marked out on Saturday.
Connacht League Race – nearly all singletrack.  Sign on at 10AM, racing from 11AM.
No parking at forest entrance – please follow signs.

See ya all there

Tuesday 23rd night spin

So for this Tuesday's xc Dh training spin we will be heading to the leadmines for a blast around there. Meeting at the Golden Ball/Palmer's at 7.20. See ya there.

Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st Nov spins

If your looking for something more relaxed for Saturday Bruce will be going to Ballinastoe for 10.00 for a lap of Dafyds, you're more than welcome to join him if you want. If your not sure who Bruce he'll be the fella wondering around the car park looking a bit lost.
Then this Sunday we are planning on doing a longer XC style spin. If you have look at the training info link you'll see we are running in a four week cycle where every week the spin gets a little harder then after the 4 one it goes back to easier again all the info is in the training section. Anyway so this week is week 4 so we are stepping it up a bit, now the pace won't be savage but the length will be longer but we have planned the route so there is plenty of opt out points so come along and do as much or as little as you want. We'll meet at Lamb Doyles pub at 10.00 Sunday morning, with a general plan of up 3 rock over 2 rock up price willies in curtlestown/cloon and back around, there is plenty of options for extra bits so we'll see how people are on the day.
See ya there.

Tuesdays Nights Spin Report (What a cracker)

Well I won’t normally do spin report for Tuesday night spin but I think it would be rude not to after a spin like that. Personally that was some of the best craic I’ve had on a bike in a long time. I got there to find people everywhere so thinking that there was a few clubs out together I parked up, got my bits and went down to a few of the crowd. We it turned out that everyone there was there for our spin, I think it must have been near all of the new club, a total of around 20 people. Anyway we started off with a loop of Kindletowns which was a bit sloppy but still riding well, there were lights everywhere it looked as if we were charging in to take over the forest. We regrouped in the car park and made our way over to the glen of downs. We headed for the tunnel trail first. Climbing up into it Cummins took to the front like a man possessed. We started into the downhill section and this is where the madness begun. It was dry and the track was covered in pine needles, so it was fast and drifty. Cummins was out front, with me after him and Greg and young Gav behind, we where having great craic lashing down the hill then Cummins get stuck in one of the berms so I had no choice but to plough into the back of him which freed him from the berm and got me stuck. Knowing I was about to get ram raided by Greg and Gav I was in a panic to get my bike of the tree but in the process just ended up hitting Greg with it a few times instead. Anyway I cleared the back log and we drifted our way flying down the hill to the end of the trail where Cummins entertained us by falling out of the forest into a gorse bush. Once we had everyone down we pedalled back up to the top for the fast decent from the octagon ruin thing. I started off at the front for this one again the track was dry and covered in leafs and riding quicker than ever. Flying down the track to where I was caught out by the off camber right hand kink thing that I had warmed everyone about, realising that there was no way I was making it I preceded off into the under growth, where I was over taken by Greg and Cummins who had been behind me. I managed to get back in behind them and play catch up. The track was riding so well the speeds were flat out, it was some buzz. The tight left hander at the bottom took us by surprise and near took us out but we showed it in the end. We regrouped again at the bottom and after some whammies on the way up continued up to the half way junction and took a right. We had a bit of a 4X race down the main trail and in to the steep section where all the lines were for the taking. Looking back up from the bottom there were lights zigzagging all over the place and some just coming straight down, it was mad. With everyone down safe we continued down to the main car park again but before we set off Al had warned me there where some trees down so I was keeping the eyes peeled. We came across the first one which you could ride under and found that the next few where the same, well for most. I stopped at the bottom where there was some giggling about someone nearly getting flattened by a tree, thinking this was the usual spin talk I didn’t think much of it until Bren came down looking slightly pale. It turns out that the talk was actually true, Bren was coming under one of the big trees when the tree decided it didn’t like him and start to slowly drop onto him. Getting out from under it the tree preceded to fall slowly onto his bars, which he managed to get out, then down onto his front wheel jamming it into the ground. With the help of 3 people Bren got his wedged bike out from under it unhurt. Injury by slowly falling tree would have been a new one for us so thankfully all he ended up with was a good story to tell his kids. We cycled on through the car park where Cummins had his best fun of the night by finding a few couples cohorting in their cars, the poor fella was very excited after that, never mind what the couples thought of the whole experience. Well we pedalled back up the top where on the way a small group of lads got excited by the tail wind they had and started sprinted up to the top but unfortunately the tail wind didn’t last until the top so it killed a few of us in the process. Back down the fast decent and right into the forest and back towards the car but not before ‘Pop apart Paul’ popped his knee out and back in again while trying to go too fast. All in all a deadly spin with a great group out. 

See ya next time 

(God I’m sick of typing)

Tues 16th Nov night spin

Right so folks this Tuesday we'll be doing our night spin from Kindlestown, Wicklow at 7.20. Again this spin is an XC style spin aimed at getting the fitness up for downhill, so a bit of pain going up and lots of speed going down. See ya all there.

13th Nov Spin (Chances of the 14th too)

This weekend the offroad AGM is on down in Lynham’s Hotel, Laragh Co. Wicklow. We'd recommend that anyone that has a interest in how the sport is run should attend this, there no point in giving out about how things are done if you're not attending this, it's your chance to give your opinion. Anyway democratics aside it's also a good chance to go out and have some craic.

So on for spins;
Saturday at 10.00 at Lynham's Hotel there will be several spin for different abilities. Some of the best riding is to be had down this part of the country so I'd highly recommend it.

Sunday (All depending on how well the celebration go the night before) there maybe a spin at 11.00 again from Lynham's hotel. Now the pace for this I'm sure will be relaxed as there will be a few delicate people around.

Also at
19:00 – Prize Giving for XC & DH NPS & Leinster XC League (There will be finger food etc).
21:00 – MTB videos and a few drinks. (Ronan Kavanagh aka Flexo will be selling copies of his excellent 2010 DH season video)

So come down to do some biking, give your political views or just have the craic.
See ya there.

More info here
http://www.irishxcmtb.com/

Epic DH meeting 11th Nov

Hello all,
I know there are people out there that have questions about the new Epic DH move so next Thursday, November 11th at 7.30 in lamb doyles pub we are going to have a meeting about Epic DH. Basically we will just go through the plans we have so far and try answer any questions you might have. So if you want to know more or have ideas you’d like to put out there come along.
Thanks

Tuesday 9th Nov spin

This Tuesday we're back to this fitness lark, so we are meeting at Djouce at 7.20. If you look at our training page link we are aiming these spins to a training schedule so if you are thinking of training for next years downhill season you'll really want to be getting cracking by now, if you leave it too long others will just be too far a head so don't hesitate, if you have some fitness come out and build up on that with us. See ya all there on Tuesday.

Rostrevor Spin Report.......Good times

Well with all the talk of hurricane Tomás we weren’t sure what the day was going to hold for us but it wasn’t to be, we turned up at Rostrevor to a lovely sunny, but cold, start to the day. After hanging around the car park for about half an hour it was clear to see that a lot of people were happy to see us come up for a spin, with about 25 or 30 people showing up just for us………Maeve Baxter was kind to offer her guiding services for the day, but I think she even got a scare when see saw the numbers out. 

And up and up we go

Well we set out up the fireroad that most of us are more use to getting up lifts on rather than cycling up, and it wasn’t long before we were missing the transit vans badly. We continued up going past the start of the two downhill tracks and on towards the upper car park, before we hit the car park we turned up in the forest to take on some savage never ending climbs that finally brought us out onto the top of the mountain. A small bit of a hike a bike and we were ready for some downhill, well after Bruce decided to finally break his hanger, they were going to leave him for dead but decided that since most of the next bit was downhill that they drag him along. 

Look at the happy head on him.

Starting off the top of the hill we were down and up some grassy slopes where we then regrouped before one of the funniest decents you can get. Flat out down this wet grassy, steep, pumpy track that would challenge anything Glendalough has, by the end of this several peoples brakes had faded and a ditch at the bottom was a good catch net.

Some deadly people

We continued down in a forest sections which had a great flowy fast sections with nice catchers in the corners where everyone came out smiling at the end. At this point we found a replacement hanger for Bruce so while he fixed that some of us cycled back up to redo the end section of the track we had just done. 

    Siliva being attacked by the jacket mosnter.

                                              

  Oh It's okay it's just Kamil

                                                      

After that we headed around the side of the hill where we found with a nice steep hike a bike which set us up for our next nice bit of downhill. After that people seemed hungry for more so off pedalling up the hill we went again.

After a quick stop near the top, and Sean trying to push this frosty bars on people again we headed off to do the last decent of the day a fast, rooty, ruff  track that dropped us just below the main car park, all in all about 3 hours and a great day out on the bike was had. Thanks again to Maeve and co for the grand tour. We’ll be planning a few similar spins to this before Christmas so stay tuned. 

Some more pics

   Happy out

 

 

 

                                                                  

Sunday 7th Nov Spin

Right folks this Sunday we are heading to Rostrevor for an grand tour all mountain spin. It’s deadly up there for it so bring a pedaly bike, tubes, mutitools, & any other bits you think you might need, you need to be self sufficient for this. Meeting in the main car park at 10.30 on Sunday Morning. Just note this is an all mountain spin and not a downhill one so be prepared for a small bit of pain.

Tuesday 2nd Of November

Right so this Tuesday we are forgetting about getting fit and heading out to have some craic, there's a big annual fancy dress spin happening. We're meeting at 7.30 at Lambe Doyles Pub, Heading to the top of 2 rock and lashing back down with costumes flying. See ya all there.

http://www.epicmtb.com/forums/showthread.php?p=101546#post101546

The New Epic DH

Welcome to Epic DH's new blog. As some might know we have formed Epic DH as a separate entity to run in partnership with Epic MTB to give all areas in Epic a better chance to develop within the club, for more information check out (http://www.epicmtb.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12415). Anyway over the coming weeks we’ll be posting up all the information here about spins and events, we'll also be posting up lots of helpful information you can use to work out your winter training schedule for the 2011 downhill racing season. Keep tuned.