Inter Club League 2024

Entry to this year’s Inter Club League is finally open:
eventmaster.ie/event/x7oLtPyS91

I'll put a piece up on the website later on with more details, but the format is largely the same as last year. 

Note that we’ll be replacing the Facebook group with a WhatsApp community which will feature announcements about each week’s race and a sub-group that will allow you to look for marshal swaps. If you’re entering, I’d encourage you to join it: 


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We’ll be retiring the old Orwell Club League WhatsApp group once entries closed.

Calendar of races attached.

Diarmuid Collins has very kindly created a Inter Club League Google Calendar. If you subscribe to the club Google Calendar, it's already been imported into that. If you just want to subscribe to the ICL Calendar, here's the link: 


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The Inter Club League is kicking off next week with races on Wednesday (Limit and Semi-Limit) and Thursday (Scratch and Semi Scratch). Full details of the races (and every other week's races) will be posted each week on the Weekly Race Update group in the Inter-Club League WhatsApp community. If you haven't joined, I'd suggest doing so now:

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On most nights there will be four separate races (as long as sufficient numbers show up). Race distances may vary by groups, with the Scratch group usually racing the longest distance.

This week's races will be in Corkagh Park and we'll run two handicapped races. For the uninitiated, that means that Limit will get a head start on Wednesday night and Semi-Scratch will go off first on Thursday. 

Each race will be run as a criterium, which means the race will be run by time rather than distance. Wednesday's race will probably be 35 minutes + two laps and Thursdays 40 minutes + two laps. You'll get a bell or a whistle when you're starting the last lap.

For those new to the league, here's a few bits of advice:

• Don't be fooled into thinking Corkagh Park is a short flat race. It won't be easy. The technical nature of the circuit will mean that you're constantly accelerating as you come out of corners and you're likely to be blowing hard for the entire race. It's quite an exposed circuit in terms of wind and newcomers often make the mistake of launching attacks too early in the race. Even ten minutes is a long time to be out on your own there. Choose your moment wisely and if you're in a group that's strong and working well together, don't squander the advantages that provides.
• If you get lapped you can continue to ride, provided you let those lapping you pass safely. DO NOT join any group lapping you and try to pull out of the race before the final lap. We don't want a situation where people are trying to pass lapped riders during a sprint for the line.
• You'll usually see a big mix of abilities in the Limit group in the first few rounds of the League. If you're struggling, don't be put off. All of the strong newcomers will be promoted very quickly and the average range of ability will be a lot more even before long. The best way to improve is to keep showing up. Riding at that intensity week in, week out will bring you along.
• If you're lucky enough to be one of the strong newcomers, put some time into learning your craft. Work on your cornering, riding through smoothly in the bunch, your positioning. You'll have to learn all of this sooner or later and it's easier to do it now rather than waiting till you're riding Scratch. 
• I'd strongly encourage anyone who can to cycle out to as many races as they can. It's a good way of warming up and it avoids us causing congestion around the start.
• Do bring lights for the trip home for the next few weeks (and the last few weeks).
• If you have to drive, note that the car park in Corkagh usually closes before the race finishes, so you're better off parking out on the road. 

Good luck everyone!

This weeks round of the league is the 10 mile TT, which will also serve as the Orwell 10 mile TT championships, one of four medal events we're running as part of the league. That means that, aside from league points for each handicap group, there's also medals to be won. This year we'll be broadening the number of medals on offer. I'll be awarding medals to the top Orwell riders in the following categories:

• Overall Men's
• Overall Women's
• Veteran Men's
• Veteran Women's
• Youth Men's
• Youth Women's

To qualify as a medal event, two or more riders in each category must enter. You can be eligible for medals in two categories, e.g. medaling in the overall competition won't preclude you from medaling in Youth or Vets.

If you're new to time trialling, here's a couple of tips. 

Time trial bikes and equipment are permitted. However, if you don't have any, don't be put off. You can still be very competitive, particularly in the lower handicapped groups, on a regular roadbike. If you're new to racing, they're always worth doing even to just get the experience of going hard over the distance. If you're on a roadbike, stay in the drops as much as possible and keep the head low. It'll make a massive difference in your time.

A good warmup is essential. If you're driving out, throw a turbo trainer in the boot of the car. If you're cycling out, that will help get the legs moving but do try to do a few hard efforts before the start. Don't let yourself get cold. Ideally, you should be sweating on the start line.

The key to a good result is measuring your effort, consistently riding at just the level you can hold for that distance. For reference 21 minutes will be an excellent time and even the slowest riders will usually come in under 30. The biggest mistake you can make is pushing too hard because once you go into the red, you need to back off your pace significantly to recover and you'll end up losing time as you do. You're most likely to go too hard at the start since your heart rate takes a few minutes to catch up with your level of effort. 

Don't get distracted by other riders on the road. The start order is in order of sign on, so a limit rider could easily have a Scratch rider starting after them and passing them at some point. Remember, there's lots to race for: medals for the best Orwell riders and league points for the top six in each handicap group.

No drafting is allowed. If you catch another rider (good for you!) check that there is no traffic coming up behind you before pulling out, and give them loads of room as you pass. Remember they may have no notion that you're steaming through until you have actually passed them. On the other hand, if you are caught, keep on going at your own pace, don't be tempted to try sit on to the rider who has passed you.

Please don't hassle the timekeepers for your time- there's no problem asking, but make sure to do it at a time when there aren't any riders coming in.

Finally, if you do get the bug and decide you want to take them more seriously, you don't need to break the bank. Some of the biggest gains can be gotten from minimal investment. Clip on aero bars, a TT helmet, and some tinkering with your position for TTs will get you most of the way there. I've seen plenty of people get great results on this kind of setup racing against people with expensive rigs. 

Good luck everyone.

This weeks round of the league is the Hill Climb Time Trial, which will also serve as the Orwell Hill Climb TT championships, one of four medal events we're running as part of the league. That means that, aside from league points for each handicap group, there's also medals to be won. We'll be awarding medals to the top Orwell riders in the following categories:

• Overall Men's
• Overall Women's
• Veteran Men's
• Veteran Women's
• Youth Men's
• Youth Women's

To qualify as a medal event, two or more riders in each category must enter. You can be eligible for medals in two categories, e.g. medaling in the overall competition won't preclude you from medaling in Youth or Vets. 

Youth = U16 and Juniors. If we've only two or three youths, we'll do a joint mens and womens youth champs.

This weeks round of the league is the 25 Mile Time Trial. Route is: www.strava.com/segments/1266210

Parking and sign on is here: maps.app.goo.gl/7PkRWmp9LJShh6wVA

Sign on closes at 6.50 with first rider off at 7.00. 

The race will also serve as the Orwell club championships, one of four medal events we're running as part of the league. That means that, aside from league points for each handicap group, there's also medals to be won. We'll be awarding medals to the top Orwell riders in the following categories:

• Overall Men's
• Overall Women's
• Veteran Men's
• Veteran Women's
• Youth Men's
• Youth Women's

To qualify as a medal event, two or more riders in each category must enter. You can be eligible for medals in two categories, e.g. medaling in the overall competition won't preclude you from medaling in Youth or Vets. 

Youth = U16 and Juniors. If we've only two or three youths, we'll do a joint mens and womens youth champs.

Note that this year we'll have the prize giving on the last night of the league, August 15.