Biking blitz – 3 Rock – 8th May 2011

I have been riding on 3rock for 22 years, so I had to be at the opening of Dublins first dedicated Mountain Bike trail! Coillte fininshed the short 7km look a couple of months ago, and this event was to mark the opening.

Niall from biking.ie put on a great show. There was a great atmosphere at the village area, and the lower section of the course was great for spectators. The course was just a lap of the trail, so up a tarmac road, but of singletrack climbing, ‘Metro 1’ descent, mega fast with drop, up the fireroad and down ‘Metro 2’, another megafast descent……so, probably not the most demanding couse but good fun nonetheless.

At 12pm we lined up, and the minister for Sport & Tourism, Leo Varadkar cut the ribbon and sent us our the way. About 170 riders rode up the road together, very special. At the top, there was a few of us still together, and at the end of lap 1, it was Peter, Richi and I. Peter dug on the 2^nd lap and I dropped off, and Richi dropped off me. That’s how it stayed, I rolled in 45 secs behind Peter, and Richi 45 behind me. Short race, but jez I was sufferin, must stop blaggin my way through the races and put the head down and get fit….

Congrats to Niall and his team, smart event and very enjoyable. Lots of families up there enjoying the forest, the way it should be!

Thanks to the internet for allowing me to rip Aine Conneff and Mike Wyley images, feel free to sue me.

Good video from Morgan

The grand opening, Peter and I looking like planks!

Nice and fast!

Fast berms were the order of the day!

Lots of underage riders

The podium!