Irish NPS Round 2 Preview

Date – June 5th

Venue – Ravensdale (Lumpers) Co Louth

May 05

After some hard graft in the hot weather the Downhill Track for Round 2 of the Zeal Optics Irish NPS is now almost complete and is rideable. With only a bit of strimming, taping and few tweaks it will be ready to race.

The track will follow a similar route to the previous race course built by the Lawlors and co. but with a new top section and some alterations on the way down. The track is designed to be fast and fun with enough challenge for all and is fully rollable with no long chicken runs. The risky lines will only save the top riders a second or two.

The course is not taped but the course builders have marked the course by tying blue cord on trees down the side of the track so anyone who wants to take a look should be able to figure it out.

From the Top

Starting on an open hill top the track follows a grassy trail before swinging left round an off camber corner and heading towards the first feature. The trail goes steep and riders are faced with a choice of the line through a gap in a stone wall, or a slightly hipped step down off the wall. This leads into a sweeping bend followed by a small rock drop. A short section of single-track brings riders to the fire road crossing and towards the ‘Big Rock’

Last time this course was used there was a huge drop onto a flat landing but the rock drop is now fully roll-able with some new northshore.

Pump down the ramp and head into some flat out singletrack with sweeping bends and some old stone walls to negotiate before reaching the wall drop with two lines. The safer line is using the new north shore, bermed ladder or you can save a second and drop off the wall onto the rocks.

The next section is no brakes down a straight singletrack and into some sweeping corners between the trees and crossing an old stone wall three times. The track will be taped wide here so there will be plenty of lines to choose from.

Now follow the side of the wall, over the exposed roots and swing left through the gap onto some more smooth fast single track carving up the natural berm to get a fast line into the last high speed section of straight, steep singletrack followed by a long right hander. Try and keep your speed on this bend to get you up the slight rise before choosing the left or right rut to dive into the finish area.

How to get there

Go to Ravensdale Forest car park, off the A1 between Dundalk and Newry and follow the back road south past Ravensdale Post Office until yousee a pub called Lumpers. Follow the little road up the side of the pub until you get to the dead end and forest gate. Head up the fire road and you will immediately see the two bike made ruts coming out of the forest.

If you visit the area, be aware that there are private residences nearby, respect the locals, park sensibly, don’t block drive ways and don’t make a mess. If there is nowhere to park at the forest gates, use the Lumpers Pub car park (500 yards away) and buy a pint before you go.