World Cups, international races, the nps series etc. are all very well and good, but it’s very difficult to beat the weekly Epic club league race on a Thursday night. From April until September riders from several Dublin mtb clubs, ranging from total beginners to some of the best xc racers in Ireland travel from far and wide up to the Leadmines for 3 laps of fast and furious racing.
The Leadmines tower
The course is unreal, it changes every week depending on the weather conditions but it’s always ridable and despite knowing it like the back of my hand I never get bored of it. A handicapped start means there is always someone to catch in front of you and someone hunting you down from behind. It might not be a serious race but it makes for some of the closest, most competitive racing around. Hammering over rocky singletrack, swooping round tight switch backs and hopping over greasy roots there’s no time to be cautious or to notice if you feel tired – just focus on the wheel in front.
race-head on!
As the track widens you have to jump out the saddle to attack the steep climbs. Just when you think your lungs are going to burst and you can’t possibly go any harder there will be one more person to catch before the next singletrack where you lose the chance to overtake, so somehow you have to find that extra burst of energy.
switchback climb
On those balmy, hot summers nights the track get super dusty and fast, making the pace relentless and increasing your chances of achieving a personal best time. In the rain, times are slower but it’s by no means easier – suddenly wet roots threaten to catch you out and high speed riding gets sketchy in the mud.
a muddy one
In no time you’re sprinting up a rocky climb for the last time, trying to hold off someone you’ve been dicing with for the last half an hour or desperate to catch one more person in front. It’s so enjoyable riding at speed, trying to beat your mates that you can really push your physical limits without even noticing it and suddenly one of the hardest training sessions of the week is finished but all you’ve done is had fun. After collapsing on the grass at the finish and struggling to get your breath back, it’s time to for a chat and a sociable spin home. And by the time you’ve had a shower the results are up online.
into the last climb
Unfortunately the nights are closing in and by the final lap last Thursday it was getting really dark in the woods. You had to ride mostly by memory, pretty dodgy at high speed! So that’s it for another year, time to get the night lights on charge for some winter evening fun.
View from the finish
Thanks to Epic for organising, trail building, timekeeping, and photography. I’m certain that the club league is the key to getting race fit, we’d be lost without them!