Mick Byrne 200 2015

much smaller numbers generally. ive completed the 160 the last couple years and there may be 40-50 people per distance grade doing it, so forget about smashing around it in big groups like you can do in the wicklow. food stops/controls are low key but excellent.. out of the back of a car in the middle of a forest for one. creamed rice in icecream cones at someones garden gate for another. they do look after you well food-wise. decent lunch in the brocagh centre laragh too. its a tough day, a lot of lumpy terrain between aughrim and laragh which saps the energy. i do it as a preparation to the wicklow the week after like you're planning, certainly takes the sting out of the w200 once you've completed this. its very well organised.

Here you go!Mick Byrne Randonee

It is tough, there is a lot of climbing and it's evenly split across the ride. Don't go all guns blazing at the start because its a long, long day in the saddle. You won't get a jersey, the catering is good and there is a real volunteer spirit. I've used it as a training ride for Liege-Bastogne-Liege and others in my club use it as training for other hilly rides such as the Etape.

W200 is easy peasy by comparison.

Fantastic event in terms of course and organisation and as others mentioned, excellent preparation for WW200 and beyond. It is a tough route (if in doubt at a junction go up, was some advice given to me last year in terms of navigation) so no easy Sunday spin.

Having said that, there are some segments covered that will be new to many experienced Wicklow cyclists so great chance to explore the lesser roads and a much more personal feel than many of the bigger sportives

Anybody got the route map for the 160K. I had a look at Sorrento's website but couldnt see it

at1withmyself wrote: »

Anyone have link to website with details on this one??

http://www.audaxireland.org/calendar/gazetteer/200km-events/mick-byrne-200/

Done it a few times, the 200km is the best 200 in Wicklow by miles, savage day in the saddle, roads you never knew existed and our countryside at its finest.

And for good measure there is vico hill at 198km's. What other event does that????:D

vico hill at 198km's

After 198km of Mick Byrnes you don't call it a hill anymore

miller_63 wrote: »

I had enough at that point, only the self promise of burger and curry chips on way home got me over that last hill...

The walkers on the hill were bemused at the pain expressions adorning my face

I had to muster a bit of a smile as the photographer was perched at the very top.:eek:

I've signed up for the 100km.

If that goes ok I might start the Boards Evil the following week and see how far I can go before bailing out.

The tax man wrote: »

Must get my name on the start list. Not sure what state I'll be in after Slane the day before.

Ah you'll be grand. The climb up Slane is fairly short!

Debrad wrote: »

This is the 8th Annual Mick Byrne and we hope to fill all the spots by next weekend as entries are filling fast and the event is limited to 300 across the categories.

We now have 170 out of 300 spots filled and we will not be taking entries on the day as it causes delays at the food-stops...maps are up on our site in the events page and the route is similar to other years...


Real food and great coffee in Laragh guaranteed...
See you on Sunday 31st May...day off for the bank holiday next day!
The Sorrento Team

A day off? Need a week more like😜

Black Genesis Croix de Fer. I will be wearing old Boards jersey (blue/orange) most likely

Was roadmarked last year from memory but would imagine there's some routes of past years on Ride with GPS

It was 100% road marked with yellow arrows last year. I wasn't even checking my Garmin... too often

Trying to rehabilitate two torn hamstrings that caused me to miss the Orwell randonee. Signed up for 160 to see if there is still any hope of completing WW200. Not sure if I'll wear my old pink boards jersey or new Orwell gear.

Jim Stynes wrote: »

I'm planning on going down by myself. Will I be a loner or will there be groups or clubs setting off that I could sit in with?

It tends to get blown apart by its very nature, every time I have done it the majority has been solo.

Anyways I don't have the form to race the A3 at Deenside that weekend, and I can think of no better way of trying to find it then partaking in this fine spin, so I'll see you all in Dalkey

Jim Stynes wrote: »

hmmm I'm not so keen now! Coming down from Co Armagh and it will be my first time in Wicklow never mind cycling round the wicklow mountains! Im a cert to get lost!

There will be plenty of people to talk to on the way round, but there won't be big groups on the road to get a tow off of. And given the amount of climbing the people you ride with will change as the day wears on.

Jim Stynes wrote: »

I'm trying to convince a mate to come down with me. Doubt he will go though. Yeah I will be pacing myself and preparing myself for a long day. I will be doing the wicklow 200 the following week with a few fellas from the club.

I cycled a 200 km a few weeks ago and felt very strong at the end of it. However that was in a group and this will probably have twice as much climbing which will give me an indication of where I am at for the la marmotte! Doing a slow 160km tomorrow as well so I'm def getting good long runs in at the minute.

Is there any road assistance etc? I would hate to get a mechanical and be stuck at the side of the road in the middle of nowhere.

Oh and Black bianchi sempre pro! Say hello!

It's an Audax, one of the tenets of Audax is self reliance, which is why some of the lads carry the kitchen sink with them. If you have a drastic mechanical you can count on the good nature of your fellow riders to help you out, but if what's broken can't be fixed you'll be ringing a taxi or the missus.

Jim Stynes wrote: »

... I would hate to get a mechanical and be stuck at the side of the road in the middle of nowhere...

That's what's great about Wicklow - even when there's no organised event on, there's always plenty of other cyclists around. I've assisted several other stranded cyclists over the years.

dragratchet wrote: »

buddy of mine had a blown tyre one year and a well equipt audaxer got him back on the road, another buddy snapped his chain and was sorted in the same way, tbh, its not a bad event to have a mechanical.. you could be waiting hours for official support on some of the bigger attended events.

Aye to put it in perspective saying the Audax crowd carry the kitchen sink is not too far off here's an example from London-Edinburgh-London. I only tend to do the 200-300km ones not the true epics but even still I have been caught out without a spare tyre before and would now carry one just in case. While its unlikely you'll shred a tyre its far more likely you may find yourself at the side of the road in howling wind and rain unable to find the sliver of glass that keeps popping each new tube you put in! Happened to me in the Industrial Estates on the far side of Finglas at midnight and required a 12km walk to the finish in Whitehall, not what you need after 290km and 14 odd hours on the road.