Ring Of Kerry Charity Cycle 2014

boredatwork82 wrote: »

What do you bring on the cycle?
This is my first cycle event so I plan on bringing the following.

Wearing, cycling top and shorts, helmet, and glasses.
Carrying, spare tube, puncture repair kit, pump, 2 water bottles, phone. I will also bring a number snacks, and dioralytes and some money for buying food along the way.

Is there anything I am missing out? Do you bring waterproof jackets etc.?
Thanks for your advice.

The forecast isn't great so a waterproof jacket is probably a must. I have one I got in Aldi that fits into a little pouch and I can tie (with the drawstrings of the pouch) between my saddle bag and my saddle. Also if it is raining look at getting one of those peaked cycling caps that fit under your helmet. I only started using one recently and it was a godsend for keeping water coming off my helmet and onto my face. If your shorts don't have padding get a pair that do.

Bring a second tube. It's a long cycle and a puncture early on would mean you'll be going 100K+ with no spare. Good strong tyre levers are a must. There is nothing more annoying than having a tube but forgetting your levers. Some people recommend carrying a small multitool with a tool for fixing a broken chain. I don't carry one because I don't know how to fix a chain but if you do then it sounds like a sensible option. One of the lads in my group brings a few baby-wipes wrapped in a sandwich bag to clean hands after fixing a puncture etc before getting back on the bike. Scrunched up they take up no space in the bag and the sandwich bag keeps them moist.

On that note does anyone know any shops on the route that sell tubes etc. It may be a good idea to post a list here so people know if they have used their spare they just have to go x km to a shop to get another.

It is my first time doing the ROK but by all accounts there is food (bananas etc) at the top of climbs etc as well as the official stops so I wouldn't carry more food than a small cereal bar and maybe a tube of wine gums or pastilles. If you get stuck have €20 in your saddle bag. Weighs a lot less than the food you can buy with it in any one of the many shops along the route. Keep the dioralyte powder or tablets you are used to. You don't want to be changing to something you don't know half way around.

Sun lotion. Even it is showery sun lotion is a must. You will be on the bike a long time and even if the sun comes out half the time that is more than enough time to burn you. You can get small bottles in any pharmacy for travel on airplanes which you can fill with sun lotion they will easily fit in your saddle bag. Rub some on at the start from the main bottle and then top up during the ride with the small bottle. Note I said sun lotion not sun cream. Lotion comes out of those little bottles a lot easier than sun cream. Wrap the bottle in a sandwich bag to prevent leaks. You'll be sweating throughout and I wouldn't rely on just the initial application of lotion in the morning.

Get a bike computer (if you don't already have one). That way you can tell how far you have to go. I also like to look up how long climbs are so I know how to pace myself and how far I have to go. It's really bad to have to stop and catch your breath on a climb and then find out the top was just around the next bend. There are cleap ones in Aldi at the moment. They don't seem to last too long on bumpy Irish roads but they would be better than nothing for one day.

EaSwe wrote: »

Staying in a house on the Killorglin road out of Killarney, I assume there's no need for us to pass through the start line and we can just start from where we're staying?

You will probably be beyond the bike tag checkpoint, that is the way around having no tag.

i never noticed one tagpoint last year. are they in the designated feeding stops or on the road ? i started from Kenmare at the same time so was 30 kms or so behind the start

Quick opinion needed.
I was thinking of doing a 30km cycle today, but alot of people say to take it easy the last week b4 rok.
Should I do more training this evening or do nothing until Saturday?

Ok Thanks for advice

Quote:
Originally Posted by Taxuser1 View Post
i never noticed one tagpoint last year. are they in the designated feeding stops or on the road ? i started from Kenmare at the same time so was 30 kms or so behind the start

MajesticDonkey wrote: »

How could you not have seen the one outside Killarney?! Every cyclist had to slow down to about 15km/h and filter through barriers, and there was about 20 people there looking for tags. Unless the checkpoint was gone by the time you got there?

i think the clue is in the quote!

they must have been long gone. i started in Kenmare and it's 30 kms away from Killarney starting with Molls Gap so I'd say they moved on by the time we hit the actual start point. We started meeting folks on the road around Caherciveen but there wasn't a sinner in Killarney when we passed through

Taxuser1 wrote: »

they must have been long gone. i started in Kenmare and it's 30 kms away from Killarney starting with Molls Gap so I'd say they moved on by the time we hit the actual start point. We started meeting folks on the road around Caherciveen but there wasn't a sinner in Killarney when we passed through

Ah yes, that's why I said they must have been gone by the time you arrived. I thought they would have stayed there though, because a lot of people start from Kenmare, and would have no problem catching others that started in Killarney.

Hi All,

I've a noob question for ye.

Are tandems allowed do this? The plan was my friend and myself to do it on one but he is getting nervous now, saying they're not allowed. I've tried contact the organiser but no joy,

Thanks

Taxuser1 wrote: »

i would be massively surprised if every b&b was taken up particularly as the Munster Football Final is in Cork rather than Fitzgerald Stadium this year. Yes, the hotels can be extortionate but does Dublin do it any differently around match/concert time ?

Do a bit of research and you'll have no problem getting a place to bed down which in essence you won't care about after a day of cycling !

Sorry for pointing out the obvious as well though - why leave it so late to get a hotel ? There's 10000 entered.

I only got a late entry , as i missed the cutoff.... My bad

Rockymurf wrote: »

Hi All,

I've a noob question for ye.

Are tandems allowed do this? The plan was my friend and myself to do it on one but he is getting nervous now, saying they're not allowed. I've tried contact the organiser but no joy,

Thanks

Defo lads on tandems the past two years.....
One pair cycled from Drogheda left Thursday arrived Friday and did the ROK on the Saturday.......:cool::cool:

I just cancelled one room in the Quality Hotel (my buddy can't make it) - if anyone is stuck for accommodation it might be worth a try right now...

ruskin wrote: »

Your buddy got a spare registration?

No he didn't actually register in the end - I made the booking back in February before registration opened.