2017 Cuchulainn CC 9th Wave MTB League

Welcome to the best season yet! Registration is now open for the Cuchulainn CC 9th Wave MTB League for 2017.

The first race is next Tuesday night - April 18th in Bellurgan Park. Register online here or pay at your first race. Registration will remain open all season.
Please remember to bring your Cycling Ireland Licence if you intend to register in person. No licence = no race.

We are delighted this year to announce sponsorship from:

This years league winner will receive a 9th Wave Carbon Wheelset worth €1,250. The winner can choose from road, cyclocross or mountain wheels in a size that suits their bike and if desired they can opt for a custom paint job. 

Second prize is an Intermediate Bike Service from BikeFix.ie valued at €100.

Third prize takes home two tickets for Bike Park Ireland.

There are also prizes for Best Lady and Best Junior. As well as an end of season raffle and some other highly desireable titles such as Most Beautiful Biker and Weight Weenie of the Year to mention but a few.

Junior League

This year, we will be running a Junior League alongside our normal races. This is a 5 round league for U14 riders. Entrants to this league can take part in all 13 rounds but after the 5th race they will not receive points.

Some other changes this year:

  • 13 Rounds with your best 11 performances counting towards your league total.
  • You will be obliged to marshall one race. Marshalls will receive the same amount of points as a race win. This is explained in further detail below.
  • Beers and banter at the first and last races as well as a BBQ. And possibly a few in between.
  • Entry fee is €45 and €25 for U14.
  • We have removed some of the least liked races and ramped up the distances of the latter races.
  • The first two races are mass start. From round 3 onwards we will be implementing a handicap system.
  • End of season prize giving, BBQ and raffle.

 Da Rulez

  1. You must have a Limited Competition or Race License to take part.
  2. Entry to the league is €45 for the season payable online or at the first race you take part in.
  3. All riders must wear a helmet. We will be adding further safety requirements on this page shortly.
  4. Marshals receive the same points as the race winner and an extra raffle ticket.
  5. All cars (with the exception of the race officials) to be parked in the lower car park beside Bellurgan House.
  6. Races will start on time. If you are late you can still race but you will likely be in a different handicap group.
  7. No eBikes :)

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How fit do I need to be?

The league is open to people of all abilities and fitness levels. If you could run 5k at a handy pace you should be fit enough to partake.

 

Q. Why do I have to marshall? What is involved?

In the interests of safety and simple logistics we need help to run each race. This year all participants will have to marshall once. Marshalls will be awarded the same amount of points the race winner receives as well as an additional ticket for the end of season raffle as a token of our appreciation for their assistance. Each race will have at a minimum of two marshalls one of which will have marshalled before. Marshalling involves helping to mark the course, directing traffic and riders, setting up the race sign on, ensuring the right riders start in the right groups, timekeeping, photography and cleanup. It's handy!

 

Q. What level of technical ability do I need?

This is the biggest issue for a lot of newcomers. This is not a downhill league. There are technical aspects to every trail and mountain biking due to it's nature has an inherent level of danger associated with it. If you are familiar with trail centres most of the races are well within the bounds of red loops. Race routes will be published shortly and practising the routes is encouraged. We will highlight any potentially difficult aspects of courses at each race briefing and most obstacles will be clearly marked on race day. Finally you can always get off and walk, there is no shame in getting around safely!

 

Q. How are riders graded - how does the handicap system work?

The single most difficult aspect of the league is getting the handicap system right. There are many variables involved and it's often a work in progress. Some riders suit a more technical course, some prefer long climbs, sometimes people have good weeks or bad weeks. Sometimes a rider might bring a carbon hardtail and the next week ride a 160mm enduro bike. All of these factors make it difficult to ensure that 20 - 50 people will start at different times but finish within seconds of each other.

The first two races will not be handicapped so we can see what you are made of. One is a short multi-lap race in Bellurgan Park, the second is a longer single loop on the open mountain. We try to group riders into groups of the same ability seperated by 60 / 120 seconds. We start by selecting a number of riders who we know give 100% in every race and based on the course, their times and average speeds per race we work outwards from there. The system improves with each race and overall it balances out. If you feel that you are in the wrong group please let us know and we will try to ensure you are starting with people at your level.