by Mo and Ted
Lost Cat , Mid-Winter, 1998
Alleycats don't really work as a spectator sport. Even knowing the facts: Bruxelles - Hanover Quay The Buttery Bar, Trinity LPP, Black Pitts Clarke’s, Irishtown Brazen Head Connolly FastTrack Bruxelles. 13.75 miles: 20.22 mph: Over 200 bpm: A fast nun: Murray leading early on: Jonathon leading most of the race with Ciaron’s group close behind: Anto’s fast finish... they’re just bones. Here’s some flesh courtesy of Mo and Ted:
After a horrible day at XL, I met Bill at 5 p.m. on Liverpool Street Station for an exciting A.C. week end in Dublin. So let's hop in da cab and for only 60 Pounds to Stansted Airport. After the worst beer ever and usual problems with the bikes...?" we met Jeff, Barnsey, Elliot aka the Queen AND Jenny in a pub.....
On da next morning Jeff showed us the city and we visited Cyclone and as usual Guinness.. 19:30 pm.!! Dublin A.C. 22 Racers and one nun. We picked Anto and Jonathan as the fastest to follow...
Start was set on time so I followed Anto thru' a pedestrian precinct together with Barnsey and Elliot and another local, we came to the 1st c/point. get the egg-box and still in the top-group fluently to Trinity-College. In the T.C.,I came in 4th at the Red-Bull Checkpoint followed Anto, Elliot and saw Barnsey screamin’ jumpin' thru’ the gate. Fuck. Closed!??? So followed someone else, together with Bill and three locals we came to the next CP's at CP.
4, Jenny waited armed with huge envelopes and said: Ooh, you're doin’ well!" Hmmm?!!! Maybe 10th place and what’s next? Yellow pages!!! So hurry up and to the last 2 Checkpoints. At the 5th CP I saw Bill the last time so I was alone with the Dubliners (Brett and Murray).
On the way to the last Checkpoint I saw Elliot on the other side of the street rollin' thru' to the finish. After two almost crashes in the back-wheel of one local I came in 6th. In the Bruxelles we get drunk and had time to talk to the Dubliners and told them about the Champs, the HPR and the Alley Cat fever..I'm sure we gonna see them somewhere again, watch out for Jonathan and Anto.....
And watch out for me, verdammtes beschissenes fukkin' Trinity College.
MO, a Berlin messenger, is currently a tax exile in London. He has been at every CMWC and is a roving Alleycat critic.
The meet Bruxselles, 23 riders plus friends turned up for the start. The climate cold but dry, the chat friendly catch up with old acquaintances from Barcelona "World Championships" 97. Buffalo Bill London. Mole from Berlin Massive now working in London. Jeff starts sign on.
Everybody anxious to start. 7.30 called to order. Told first check point Hanover Quay gone rough from pint of Guinness while waiting. Adrenalin pumping. Reached Ringsend first check point. Package egg carton read instructions, buttery set off head for Dawson Street, Buttery Brasserie wrong no check point? Buttery Trinity Dame fly back down Dawson Street cut lights ramp Trinity Library, second check point "Red Bull Feeling better collect package instructions Litho Blackpitts. Historic part of our City where, the dead from the plague were brought out and burned. Hence the name. Third check point Litho, package instructions Clarke's Pub, Irishtown.
Hit Clanbrasil Street heading for Grand Canal. Hit I did take a fall lose some skin! Pick up bike. Legs starting to hurt hard days graft. Fourth checkpoint Clarke's to Brazen Head oldest pub in Dublin. Grit teeth back through Rinsend! Cannot see the rest am I the last. Fifth check point Brazen Head what no drink? Pick up package told Connolly Station Fastrack. Cross Liffey head up quays cut up some divers horn blaring. Sixth checkpoint thankgod nearly over. Fasttrack back up Quays to finish pass out Garda car flying up Grafton Street upps, Turn corner , Bruxselles. Yes.!!,
Finish 11. Told one disqualified, So end 10th. Everybody buzzing, time for quiet drink, Talk about next one.
Signing off 3 TED.
Ted Tierney is a veteran Dublin cycle courier and was at the CMWC in 1993 and 1996.
For more on the Dublin Alleycat ( including pix and results) check Timbuk2's Alleycat Points Series
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