Zippy Doyle leads Ray O'Shaughnessy and Robin Seymour on his way to 2nd place in round 4 of the Fixx Coffeehouse Supercross Cup in St Anne's Park, Raheny, Dublin yesterday. (This photo by Gareth Gibbons and homepage photo by Sean Rowe)
On his way back to form after a break from the bike, Zippy Doyle hit cycling nirvana on the cyclocross trails of St Anne’s Park yesterday, glad to be back and loving cyclocross on a fine winter’s afternoon in north Dublin.
A cyclocross race is a strange challenge for me in that it requires a week or two of mental preparation, along with the obvious physical training required.
There are a lot of variables contributing towards a good result. I like to think of it as a 'race of inches' and you can't afford to lose a single one each lap.
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The mental pressure is enough to be dealing with without worrying about a puncture or two or a broken saddle; both of which befell a couple of lads yesterday.
These variables are out of your control but I like to try and take care of as many as possible; checking, double checking and then again for good measure.
You need to arrive on the day as fresh as possible. Nutrition has to be spot on; the bike has to be completely perfect.
Why do so many spend thousands of euro and so many hours training to have their race ruined by not spending five minutes checking these things? It makes no sense to me.
I arrived at St Anne’s in Raheny at 9:30am - fifth espresso in hand - to soak in the sense of occasion. My race wasn't until 1pm so why so early? Preparation.
This process starts with the perfect parking space. You then take out all your wheels, spares, race food, rollers, five outfits with matching socks that I still haven't decided on. You get the idea, I'm not normal.
Once you manage to put some gear on, you go ride a lap and check all the surfaces you're going to race over. Study the course, feel what the bike is doing under you. Where can I push, when do I need to back off? Where's the free seconds along the way?
Visualise the race. Picture it perfectly. Then head back to the car and check everything again and worry about it for at least another hour.
I fuss over it to the point of panic 10 minutes before the start, then try and calm down again. You need to gather your thoughts and prepare for the hardest hour you will ever spend on a bike.
I was gridded 3rd on the front row for the start which makes it a lot easier. The start and first two laps are where it counts in 'cross.
You sprint at the start, not the end. Straight up into the red and hold it there flat out for an hour; harder than a 25-mile time trial.
I got a great start, foot into the pedal and off like a scalded cat. I wanted to be leading into that first corner and then get through the bottle neck swiftly.
You need to try not to go too hot. This really is the key because if you overcook the first lap you spend the next five trying in vain to drop your heart rate and take control of your breathing again.
The difference between a good start and ‘game over’ can be pressing it just that little too hard.
I was surprised by how relaxed I felt and pushed on knowing full well it was only a matter of seconds before Robin (Seymour) and Evan (Ryan, also of Team WORC) would come up to me. But there was no sign.
I was surprised but I just pushed a little harder and myself and Ray O'Shaughnessy of Cuchulainn completed the first lap, still ahead of the others.
This made me worry, I glanced at the Garmin and my heart rate was 185 beats per minute. Hmmmmm.....
I felt maybe I should back off a little but the legs felt great and breathing was perfect. The Garmin must be wrong, I told myself. I pushed on.
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I think it was at the end of lap 2 that Robin appeared and order was restored. I was happy to let him through, sit on and check in with myself again. Yep, heart still high but I felt grand. It was probably all the coffees!
I slipped through to the front again and then behind I could hear a little squabbling between the three lads; Evan, Ray and Robin.
Then there was a tangling of bikes or wheels and Robin came flying past, clearly not in the mood to hang around and immediately we both gapped the other two.
Sean O'Tuathail from Bray Wheelers was a little further back in 5th.
The next eight laps were some of my most magical moments ever on a bike. The course yesterday was like a Scalextric track for bikes; amazingly fast and perfectly groomed by the guys from Donnybrook Landscapes.
I let Robin set the pace and it was the first time really that I've had the legs or chance to watch the master at work. We were like a tandem cross bike flying around, it was mental.
I think I ran into his back wheel ten times, even through the air over one of the whoops at one stage. I guess that's the roadie in me.
We swapped the lead a few times but I enjoyed following more; there’s no wind so no great benefit being behind, unlike a road race. And if anything getting slapped with branches every lap sitting in second is no fun. I'm pretty sure he knew this!
The way the bike/course was rolling, it was pure bliss and we gapped the guys by about a minute pretty quickly. Riding tempo on that course was something else; it flowed together so well.
Your level of concentration in a 'cross race is another factor; it’s the most important aside from bike skill. If you lose it for a second, you’re off. Slip just a little and the man in front is gone, never to be seen again.
I don't think I had a single slide yesterday and that went a long way to the good placing. It was pretty much the perfect race. Around half way through I thought I could take him, but I was too content with 2nd and that was my only mistake.
I could have thrown a couple of curve balls at him to see what happened. But blowing a gasket would probably have been the outcome and I really hadn't a clue exactly how far back the others were.
I was happy to stay in the Robin bubble as long as I could. That proved to be around a lap-and-a-half to go when my legs started to fire electrical pulses like they do just before a cramp.
I knew it was damage limitation time by that stage and I think he could sense it. I dropped a gear and away he went. I held him at 10 seconds for a bit and then lost another 15 or so on the last lap. But I was chuffed with my ride.
I never thought I'd be back to this level, never mind this quickly. So I definitely will aim for the Nationals now in January and try to build on the form that has come; hard work done, more to do.
A few Christmas hamper races should stand to me and put more speed in the legs. I look forward to our next encounter.
Until then I'll just prepare and check and fuss and check some more.
Cheers for reading and a massive, massive thank you to all involved in St Anne’s yesterday and the Fixx Supercross Cup.
It takes a lot of effort to put on a show like that and we all appreciate it. Well done one and all.
Zippy
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The cyclists’ travel agent, Neenan Travel are still taking bookings for the World Cyclo Cross Championships in Hoogerheide, Netherlands, January 31st- Feb 3rd, for what sounds like a great weekend away. Places are limited at this stage.
Details on www.neenan.travel/cycling
Or call Alan Neenan on 0868233791
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