The six round of the 2007 Irish NPS kicks off on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd September 2007 in Coolaveely Forest, home of the 2006 Irish NPS Round 3.

Take the Ben Reid pictorial masterclass on the Coolaveely Track

 

 

 

Off the fire road and straight into the bus stop – no brakes if you can, keeping your bike under control over the humps before setting up as far right as you can for the tight corner. Hit the rut and hold on hoping it spits you out in the right direction. Cross the fire road and drop between the trees into the slippy sliddy drop. Best just to hit this fast and hope that the berm catches you at the bottom or you’ll be picking pine neddles out of your ass for a day or two. The track is still steep here and with another bend and short off camber section you hit a big rutted berm into the next straight, a few pedal strokes and your at a set of bends with several lines, inside/inside, Outside/Outside, Inside/Outside, you choose.

Now your in the older part of the forest and face some long bermed switch backs before the track straightens out. Hit another berm, across the slippy off camber rock and tee up for the little step down, hit this fast and nail the next turn so your speed carries you up the slight rise in the ground before turning hard over the roots into the drop straight. Three drops in succession lead you towards the Gap. 3 Lines here – Brake early and get over to the right and pump through keeping your wheels on the ground, go for the step down landing neatly on the short transition, or, flat out and hit the full road gap. There is a line for everyone here. Next, it’s hard on the brakes to control your speed before dropping onto the fire road and drifting into the berm. Lean, lean, lean and keep your elbows off the ground before straightening up for the wall ride bus stop. Go high on the wall and wow the crowd or keep it simple and ride it like a berm. Back on to the fire road and give a few pedal strokes before you hit the last selection of jumps before the finish.

 

RACE FORMAT

The format of the 2007 Irish NPS is as follows:

Saturday

Sign On: 9.00-13.00

Practice: 1000-15.00

Uplift begins 10.00am

Sunday  

Sign On: 0900-10.30

Practice: 0900-11.30

Course Inspection: 1130-1200

Race: 1200-1700

Prizegiving

Uplift begins 9am

COST OF ENTRY

Elite/Master/Senior/Sport/Vets/Ladies - 50Euro £35Stg

U14/U16/Junior - 30Euro £20Stg

+ Race Licence

RACE LICENCE

Riders must be able to produce a full licence or a day licence in order to race in the 2007 Irish Downhill NPS..

Full licence
You can choose between a full international licence or an MTB only licence. You get these from Cycling Ireland through a club or as a private member. Once you buy one of these you wont have to pay anything more than the race entry fee.

Underage riders may be entitled to a free race licence which should be acquired in advance from Cycling Ireland. For further information contact Cycling Ireland.

Day Licence

Any rider who does not hold a 2007 race licence needs to obtain a day licence. Day licences cost £10Stg or 15 Euro for all riders except youth riders (U14/U16) - A race licence for U14 and U16 riders will cost £3.50Stg or 5 Euro.

A day licence will not automatically make you a member of Cycling Ireland, and therefore, anyone wishing to compete in the national championships in Rostrevor in July, and who doesn't have a full licence will not be eligible for medal (and also your race place will not be counted).

If you intend to race in the national championships, it is recommended you purchase a full Cycling Ireland licence immediately as each day licence fee cannot be claimed back towards the purchase of a full licence.

 

PARKING

Riders who have been at the venue will realise that parking is quite limited.

An arrangement has been made with a local farmer to use a nearby field on Saturday and Sunday, however, this will only be the base if weather permits. ie - if it doesn't rain....

Failing this, the organizers are doing everything in their power to make parking as best they can, keeping safety in mind. Limited parking will be available on the fireroad, however, it is anticipated that most vehicles will need to be parked on the road. If this is the case riders are asked to be very cautious and take their safety and the safety of road users into consideration. Cars parked in the forest are asked to be considerate in their parking and remember that space needs to be made available for an ambulance to come up and down the fireroad at leisure. Please adhere to marshall's requests when parking.

MINI-BIKES

Mini-bikes are not permitted at any of the venues for the 2007 Irish DH NPS, therefore please do not put the event at risk by bringing one along. Riders using mini-bikes will be disqualified from the series.

 

UNWANTED WASTE

Part of the conditions set out by landowners for the use of the venues for the Irish DH NPS is that organisers leave the land in the condition they found it. When riders leave rubbish either at an event or prior to an event, they are putting the use of the venue at risk. Please take this into consideration when discarding unwanted waste.

 

WEATHER

A full 5 day weather forecast can be obtained from www.bbc.co.uk/weather or www.accuweather.com

ACCOMMODATION

Camping

Silvercliffs Holiday Village (028) 2076 2550

2. Maguires Strand Caravan Park 028 2076 3294

Watertop Farm (028) 2076 2576

Hostels

Sheep Island View 028 2076 9691

Ballycastle Backpacker – 028 2076 3612

The Colliers Barn (028) 2076 2531

Castle Hostel 028 2076 2337

Whitepark Bay International Youth Hostel 028 2076 361

 

A full list of Ballycastle accommodation can be found HERE

 

DIRECTIONS

Riders traveling to Coolaveely should take the A2 Northbound towards Coleraine/Portrush. Exit at signposts for Armoy or Ballycastle (A44). When you get to Armoy turn right and drive on the twisty road for several miles. Coolaveely is on the right hand side.

Alternatively drive to Ballycastle and follow directions by using the Multimap Link.

Try the AA route planner for details. Multimap Link HERE