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Ring of Kerry - a Q&A thread for the newbie!

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Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 5 Bonniexx


    Hey everyone,
    Im so glad i found this thread as i certainly am a newbie to the ROK. Ihavent cycled in about 15 years and i have recently started training for the ROK as i wish to support a charity close to my heart. I bought anew bike a racer with straight handle bars and took it for its first spin at the weekend (25 miles) I found the hills so tough and im afraid that i wont make it around the ring? Should i be able to do more mileage at this stage? Also would i be shunned for walking up hills on the day if i cant manage them?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,130 ✭✭✭mel.b


    dmire wrote: »
    I was also just wondering about the jerseys, anybody bought one? How are they for size?

    If you join the radio ring of kerry facebook group it has the sizing chart on there


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,969 ✭✭✭PeadarCo


    Bonniexx wrote: »
    Hey everyone,
    Im so glad i found this thread as i certainly am a newbie to the ROK. Ihavent cycled in about 15 years and i have recently started training for the ROK as i wish to support a charity close to my heart. I bought anew bike a racer with straight handle bars and took it for its first spin at the weekend (25 miles) I found the hills so tough and im afraid that i wont make it around the ring? Should i be able to do more mileage at this stage? Also would i be shunned for walking up hills on the day if i cant manage them?

    The hills on the Ring of Kerry aren't overly difficult. Theres 2 big ones. The issue with them relates more to their length not the actual gradients themselves. I think Molls gap is the longest at somewhere around 10km. They are more or less long drags and there water stops at the top of both.

    As for the milage as mentioned before on the thread if your able to do 100km before the event in reasonable comfort you should be ok providing you pace yourself on the day. The surface is by and large very good which makes both issues easier. Also the amount of people and stops makes it alot easier and more fun compared to cycling on your own.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 591 ✭✭✭ccull123


    can anyone tell me what gradient(roughly) the two big climbs are in this?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,831 ✭✭✭ROK ON


    3%


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,504 ✭✭✭Masala


    On the subject of cycling in Groups ..... do many people cycle it alone???

    I have arranged to go with a set of 'mates' but they seems to be all gung-ho about it and 'we'll set out around 6.30am' and 'we won't bother with the stop in Caherciveen as it will slow us down' !!!!!

    That's not what I want I told them and I am thinking of letting them go and setting off at my own pace. I am not in a hurry and want to pace myself and enjoy the day!!!

    Am I odd or what???


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,505 ✭✭✭macnab


    ccull123 wrote: »
    can anyone tell me what gradient(roughly) the two big climbs are in this?

    Lumen has a good illustration in post #4


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,069 ✭✭✭✭Seve OB


    Masala wrote: »
    On the subject of cycling in Groups ..... do many people cycle it alone???

    I have arranged to go with a set of 'mates' but they seems to be all gung-ho about it and 'we'll set out around 6.30am' and 'we won't bother with the stop in Caherciveen as it will slow us down' !!!!!

    That's not what I want I told them and I am thinking of letting them go and setting off at my own pace. I am not in a hurry and want to pace myself and enjoy the day!!!

    Am I odd or what???

    odd that you dont want to go gung-hoo and kill yourself by the first food stop which you aren't even allowed to stop at.... eh i dont think so.

    ive never been, but from what ive read, you will find plenty of others to cycle along with so let them off and at least that way you can enjoy it at a pace that suits you.

    we are going to go early ourselves, maybe about 7ish and will aim for about 25kmph average speed if you fancied tagging along with us. we will be taking both the stops and any others that might be required


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 591 ✭✭✭ccull123


    macnab wrote: »
    Lumen has a good illustration in post #4

    do u have a link? cant seem to find it:confused:


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,505 ✭✭✭macnab


    ccull123 wrote: »
    do u have a link? cant seem to find it:confused:

    Sorry, in me sick bed at the moment....forgot the link (the snooker is good though)

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055919698


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 591 ✭✭✭ccull123


    macnab wrote: »
    Sorry, in me sick bed at the moment....forgot the link (the snooker is good though)

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055919698


    exactly what i was looking for. thanks!!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,555 ✭✭✭Roger Hassenforder


    any solo non-freaks out there interested in forming a grupetto for this gig, i'll be on my maiden, and most of my usuals are going for a hammerfest.
    not interested in setting off at the crack of dawn though,and i like my spuds!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,069 ✭✭✭✭Seve OB


    any solo non-freaks out there interested in forming a grupetto for this gig, i'll be on my maiden, and most of my usuals are going for a hammerfest.
    not interested in setting off at the crack of dawn though,and i like my spuds!

    2 of us, will probably head off sometime after 7 and would aim 25kmph for the first half anyway, might slow down a bit later on if the legs arent up to it!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,069 ✭✭✭✭Seve OB


    For anyone interested, I got a ROK jersey last night in Fitz Cycles in Stillorgan. Pretty snazzy, get them before they are gone!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,995 ✭✭✭BailMeOut


    I plan on doing the ROK on my hybrid (Trek 7.2). I have had it for about 5 years now and have put a few thousand kms on it. The tyres are still the original 700x35 Bontragers and the still look fine and believe it or not I have never had a puncture over these 5 years with them. I was wondering however if a new set of tyres would make the ROK cycle easier and if so anyone able to recommend a new tyre that would work well for the ROK?

    Thanks!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,069 ✭✭✭✭Seve OB


    ROK ON wrote: »
    All of the charities involved usually campaign for you to choose their particular cause. In the past I have given all of my monies to one charity. When the funds were rec'd by me a got a cheque drawn up and posted it to the charity in question and got receipt for the same.
    mel.b wrote: »
    So if using mycharity.ie and wanting to raise money for one speific charity should you do it under the ring of kerry 'banner' or the charity you want. Reason i ask is i set up my mycharity page last night amd when i tried to do it for the speific charity and then put in the date of the event, the ring of kerry didn't come up (although it did give you the option of adding an event i think). So i ended up making the general page for the ring of kerry.

    Did you guys figure out how to donate to your prefered charity? I just set up mycharity.ie account but it looks like it is all going in one pot. I would like to donate to one specific charity rather than mixing it up between all 7.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,130 ✭✭✭mel.b


    stevieob wrote: »
    Did you guys figure out how to donate to your prefered charity? I just set up mycharity.ie account but it looks like it is all going in one pot. I would like to donate to one specific charity rather than mixing it up between all 7.

    Not online thorough mycharityy.ie, no. However i have seen flyers for enable ireland and the cf charity where you can contact them, so i presume they have their own fundraising cards you can use.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,504 ✭✭✭Masala


    6 weeks or so to go.. so just BUMPING this thread for those coming in late to the topic!!!

    Some good Q&A's in here on this thread...so am tryiny to keep it active for a few weeks to keep the advice going!!

    Just done Kenmare to Molls Gap. For those interested ... my bike-buddies advise me that it is 6 Miles of climb!! To be honest... it was not THAT bad!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,130 ✭✭✭mel.b


    Masala (or anyone else). Have you done corkscrew hill in Burren? Just wondering how it compares. I know corkscrew hill is shorter but it is the steepest hill i have made it up so far, so looking for a comparison to find out how bad Molls gap is.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,504 ✭✭✭Masala


    Meb. B......no haven't tried the Burren yet. In fact ...I am a complete newbie to climbing and usually avoid them if i can!!

    I am copying over a link posted on another thread....lput your curser over the graph at teh bottom and see the 'severity' of the Ring climbs

    http://ridewithgps.com/routes/966567

    Credit to the original submitter... I am just passing on the knowledge!!


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  • Registered Users Posts: 5 Bonniexx


    Heya guys, Im a first timer to the ROK but did waterville - Coomikishta- Sneem and back this evening it was a piece of cake.....for all ye other first timers out there :D


  • Posts: 16,720 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    The most important thing to know is that the buttered brack at the food stops are amazing.


  • Registered Users Posts: 10 D shelly


    Hi
    Doing the ROK cycle for the first time just wondering whats the best time to start at and also as im doing it by myself just wondering is there any one out there who would let me tag along with them


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,541 ✭✭✭Heisenberg.


    This post has been deleted.


  • Registered Users Posts: 5 Bonniexx


    EEEKKK got a bit of nervous excitement going on in the lead up to saturday. Anyone got an idea where would be a good place to park, i presume kilarney will be mobbed. Were staying in the gleneagle that night but i presume traffic will be mental out there with very littleparking


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 525 ✭✭✭Halo Kitty


    Bonniexx wrote: »
    EEEKKK got a bit of nervous excitement going on in the lead up to saturday. Anyone got an idea where would be a good place to park, i presume kilarney will be mobbed. Were staying in the gleneagle that night but i presume traffic will be mental out there with very littleparking

    You should have no problem parking in the glen as they cater for many guests and have ample car park spaces..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,952 ✭✭✭funnights74


    mel.b wrote: »
    Masala (or anyone else). Have you done corkscrew hill in Burren? Just wondering how it compares. I know corkscrew hill is shorter but it is the steepest hill i have made it up so far, so looking for a comparison to find out how bad Molls gap is.

    I've done them both and they are challenging in different ways, the corkscrew is a shorter climb and has steeper sections, especially the hairpin bends which really ramp up and this year on the 110 Km TdB it was moved to later on in the course making it slightly tougher but still very manageable.
    Molls gap on the other hand is longer and more of a drag type climb, nothing steep but a relentless gradient, and because it comes late on in the RoK most people have a plentiful supply of lactic acid in their legs as they leave Kenmare.


  • Registered Users Posts: 7 Fintydingdong


    Is there shower facilities somewhere for afterwards?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,761 ✭✭✭AngryLips


    *Bump*

    Thinking of doing parts of this route later this month. I've never been to the ring of Kerry. Generally I tend stick to small country roads and local roads when cycling. Usually try to avoid national or regional roads because I hate having to be too mindful of other road users when all I want to do is take in some nice scenery. Anyone any info or advice on how heavy the traffic is and what the safety is like in terms of car speeds along the route etc?


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