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Post by manuel6b on Jul 4, 2013 8:24:50 GMT 1
The national championships will take place on 21 July 2013. Pre-entry closes on 14 July 2013. The link for information about the race is given on www.ulsterxc.com |
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Post by manuel6b on Jul 10, 2013 11:43:23 GMT 1
Don't forget to get your entries in before Sunday.
Lisa, Robert, Zoe, Barry and Peter R are registered.
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Post by manuel6b on Jul 13, 2013 18:49:43 GMT 1
Now less than 24 hours to enter the MTB cross-country national championships which is being held in Garvagh Forest by Carn Wheelers. Don't miss out. Over 200 entered so far. See www.ulsterxc.com for details. |
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Post by manuel6b on Jul 14, 2013 10:23:41 GMT 1
Pre-entry closes at 6 pm today.
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Post by barryvankellett on Jul 22, 2013 11:04:58 GMT 1
BVK race report: After a few weeks break since the Ulster champs, sunday saw the big one come to town, the XC nationals. Originally the goal was to break into the top 5 and improve upon last years placing, however with recent form and a few wins under the belt this year as well as some momentous Strava Segment KOM's of late... you start to believe that perhaps you could actually do something. With this in mind, I was taking things super serious in the run up to this race. A dedicated taper week, even if it ruined my reputation as the hardened commuter and cost me a months worth of diesel in one week. Lots of rest days and a couple of super hard rides to ready the body... Several litres of Beetroot juice sourced from Carlisles, for an overdose effect of Nitrate to the muscles... Every night watching the Tour highlights on the living room floor on the foam roller... Out for a prep ride on saturday night with Adi B and John S to keep the legs ticking over. Yes, I was as ready as I would ever be. Thankfully the race was gridded for once based on your performance the previous year and then your performances in the league this year. So I was on the front row of the Masters field, though it was still mayhem with likely lads looking to grab any ground before the race had even started. But Grimley kept them all in check with his cattle prod and mega phone. I had my eye on several guys in particular who were all in the first two rows. Last years Champ, Alfie Wallace, Oisin Boydell as well as Stuart Galloway and Colm Mullen from Team WORC and Enduro/XC cross over legend Stephen Pollock. From the whistle the pace was electrifying. As it turns out, lap 1 of the Masters race was the quickest of them all. Alfie went off from the gun with the other big names all maintaining the pace. I sat as soon as I had the gear turning and spun it instead of grinding it and it felt good. Within the next minute, Colm Mullen attacked really hard and was already trying to streak off the front. The fireroad was long though to the first section of trail but I wasn't letting a man of that calibre get away this early, fearing I would never see him again. I latched onto his wheel and sat there in the draft as he gave it everything and I desperately tried to recover from responding to him. He pushed on hard and I managed to stick with him but he realised I spend too much time hanging out with Dromara roadies so he eased off a bit. Stephen Pollock came past on a sneaky line through one of the bumpier sections and took up the pacing. I was happy to let the guys go in front as they are all better riders technically than me so it suits to follow their lines and just follow their pace. Coming through the end of lap 1 Aflie was back in front and I was just behind him with Oisin not far behind. Up the long fireroad again and I cruised into first place as the 29er wheels got up to speed. I got a great gap on Oisin now in 2nd but as soon as we hit the singletrack I could see he was pulling me back in at an alarming rate as I blundered my way through. As soon as we got out on the fire road again I would extend the lead out again. Coming through for the start of lap 3 I decided to extend it as much as possible and gave it all the beans I had and thankfully managed to get out of sight. On the final lap my thoughts were focussed on the bike and getting through the race as I had been suffering some gear slippage and jumping in the middle of the block. There is always the fear of puncturing when so close to the end as well. Suddenly I seen Oisin and Alfie working together on a section of trail I was switching back up against and knew they were working flat out to drag me back in and weren't going to give up that easy. Thankfully I held on despite their efforts and took it by about 30 seconds. Not much at all. So the Jersey is mine for next year. Hard to believe. A real bonus on an already amazing season. Thanks to everyone for all their help all year. Particularly our merry band of guys and girls in the MTB section of the club. Lisa for all her help with bottles and tech zoning. Martin for support, encouragement and generally making XC in Ulster what it is. John for driving the team car to the big races. Brian for organising the club league which has proved to be a superb training ground. And finally, Bryce, for all his reverse psychology with pithy proverbs such as... "You're only racing yourself"... "Strava is a load of **** "... "29ers are a marketing scam"... etc etc Couldn't have done it without you all.  2013 Masters XC Champs by barry_kellett99, on Flickr |
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Zako
Club member 
Posts: 333
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Post by Zako on Jul 22, 2013 11:48:09 GMT 1
Sounded like an epic race Barry, all your hard work paid off!
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Post by bigpeter151 on Jul 22, 2013 12:39:40 GMT 1
Well done Barry.
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Post by manuel6b on Jul 22, 2013 14:12:17 GMT 1
Brilliant report Barry, you've had a great season. All the time spent and sacrifices made have paid off for you. Hopefully you get some down time now, quality family time, chill out with mates on bikes, ignore Strava, eat pizza and chocolate cake.
You have a great portfolio of images and reports to bore your grandchildren for years to come.
And then there's the cross season..... ;D
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bryce
Club member
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Post by bryce on Jul 23, 2013 10:05:34 GMT 1
Well done bvk, and the report was good too. I had to use reverse psychology so you would work it out yourself, it's far more effective!  Your not just racing yourself, stravas NOT a load o' s****, and 29ers ARE the future! You ll never win it next year... |
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Post by barryvankellett on Jul 23, 2013 10:11:28 GMT 1
Brilliant report Barry, you've had a great season. All the time spent and sacrifices made have paid off for you. Hopefully you get some down time now, quality family time, chill out with mates on bikes, ignore Strava, eat pizza and chocolate cake. You have a great portfolio of images and reports to bore your grandchildren for years to come. And then there's the cross season..... ;D Ah Cyclocross season. I will be glad of the break now and getting on the cross bike in a few months, for some fun racing without having done 7 months of training leading up to it! Getting smashed every week by the big guns of CX. And yet I can't wait  |
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