Tour de Conamara 2014

tacklemore · 22-05-2014 10:37pm

dastardly00 wrote: »

Grand, it probably is the same this year. It'd be some pain if I stopped thinking there would be food!

I did think it was a food stop last year. We nearly didn't stop at the first food stop because of the queue but luckily we did. Lesson learned!

All in all, it's a good day out. Weather seems dodgy but feck that!

thekooman · 23-05-2014 10:09am

quinlivan wrote: »

Do people bring a small backpack or a bike bag or what? Sorry for the naive questions but I've no idea. When I'm running I carry water and bring gels in my pocket but I'm worried I could lose them.

Also, how long do people stay in the food stops? 2 mins or 30 mins?

no need for a bag... weather is supposed to be cold but not much rain.
a few bars/gels would fit in 3 pockets of a jersey along with a stuffable showerproof jacket. put the bottles in the bottle cages.

quinlivan · 23-05-2014 10:28am

I'm doing the 80K. Thanks for the advice guys

Here comes the klanger... I dont have a water bottle cage on my bike. I only bought my bike 6 weeks ago. Better head to Halfords this evening.

gordongekko · 23-05-2014 10:50am

quinlivan wrote: »

I'm doing the 80K. Thanks for the advice guys

Here comes the klanger... I dont have a water bottle cage on my bike. I only bought my bike 6 weeks ago. Better head to Halfords this evening.

Go to nigels instead

Esroh · 23-05-2014 11:08am

Guys.
The Wind over here at tthe moment is an unseasonal Northerly and strong enough. You will have a long section from Carna to Leenane where it will be Direct/Crossing headwind . It will be helping you at the start so be prerared.
After Leenane it should be more a help but its Connemara.
Enjoy the day.

thekooman · 23-05-2014 11:44am

Esroh wrote: »

Guys.
The Wind over here at tthe moment is an unseasonal Northerly and strong enough. You will have a long section from Carna to Leenane where it will be Direct/Crossing headwind . It will be helping you at the start so be prerared.
After Leenane it should be more a help but its Connemara.
Enjoy the day.

with that wind keep away from the flappy jackets as it is very open crossing at Maam

Grassey · 23-05-2014 6:46pm

Very slow outbound from Galway to Moycullen. Leave yourself plenty of time!

VanhireBoys · 23-05-2014 9:25pm

Grassey wrote: »

Very slow outbound from Galway to Moycullen. Leave yourself plenty of time!

There must be cyclists on the road outside Moycullen

Great atmosphere at this event - be there early and soak it up !!

Enjoy Lads ...!

G1032 · 24-05-2014 6:49am

Man alive the wind is very strong here in Clifden. No day for shorts either I think. I might even put on shoe covers. Going to be very tough today.

tacklemore · 24-05-2014 8:11am

G1032 wrote: »

Man alive the wind is very strong here in Clifden. No day for shorts either I think. I might even put on shoe covers. Going to be very tough today.

Just thinking the same myself. If it stayed dry, it would be great, one less challenge to deal with!!
Enjoy it and the best of luck!!!!

Soilse · 24-05-2014 8:35pm

Great day made even batter by the weather, the medal was a great touch and its lovely. Atmosphere wass great people were in great form and everyone seemed to have a great time. Couldn't find fault with anything.
Would love it if they had an option to do the other celtic events.

Mayo self-build · 24-05-2014 9:19pm

Great day out. Thoroughly enjoyed it, apart from the Carna to Maam leg which was tough going with the wind. Good atmosphere especially at start and end, and plenty of grub at the stops. Stunning scenery and lots of Connemara ponies everywhere!

The Gram · 24-05-2014 9:54pm

Mayo self-build wrote: »

Great day out. Thoroughly enjoyed it, apart from the Carna to Maam leg which was tough going with the wind. Good atmosphere especially at start and end, and plenty of grub at the stops. Stunning scenery and lots of Connemara ponies everywhere!

And goats...don't forget the goats!

Did the 80k today and shortly after the food stop at the turn into the wind got to shout something I don't think I'll ever repeat on a bike. "Watch the goats on the left"

Great day out. Wind made it challenging but not impossible. Hope to be back for the 140 next year.

tomc · 24-05-2014 10:01pm

Great day out, stunning scenery and great setup, well done to all.

tacklemore · 24-05-2014 10:10pm

Nailed the 140k, but that headwind was chronic. A good dose of HTFU served up to us.
Very well organised, lots of grub, will be back next year!!!

equivariant · 24-05-2014 10:55pm

Really enjoyed this today. Well organised and thankfully the rain held off. One small quibble - some non meat sandwiches woulda been nice. Plain old cheese or anything at all.

Overall lots of fun and I'll be back next year

Hani Kosti · 24-05-2014 11:04pm

equivariant wrote: »

Really enjoyed this today. Well organised and thankfully the rain held off. One small quibble - some non meat sandwiches woulda been nice. Plain old cheese or anything at all.

Overall lots of fun and I'll be back next year

The only sandwiches left in Cashel were cheese ones =(
Very little food left, they should definitely review this next year (no cakes, no bananas)
Can't complain, must thanks the paramedics and sweeper van guy again they saved me today!!!

JMLB94 · 24-05-2014 11:12pm

Hani Kosti wrote: »

The only sandwiches left in Cashel were cheese ones =(
Very little food left, they should definitely review this next year (no cakes, no bananas)
Can't complain, must thanks the paramedics and sweeper van guy again they saved me today!!!

Talking to the guys that provided the food and they said they had ham, cheese, turkey and even gluten free, which was a nice touch! They said they made over 2200 sambos and 1200 cakes/buns! There were also bananas at all the stops. Shame you missed out ðŸ˜‰

saidinmilamber · 25-05-2014 12:19am

Hani Kosti wrote: »

The only sandwiches left in Cashel were cheese ones =(

I'm a mayonnaise-hating vegetarian. I had no expectation that I was getting a sandwich. When I saw the cheese and butter sandwiches, I LOST MY FECKIN MIND!!!!!!!! :pac::pac::pac::pac::pac:

Great day out. First big event, and I loved it*

* The love does not extend to that nightmare wind between the food and refuel stops

slowcyclist · 25-05-2014 11:27pm

Just back in the big smoke after a lovely weekend in Clifden.

What a difference a year makes - last year was so wet and miserable, this year the sun shone, and apart from the horrible wind, the beautiful and rugged countryside looked it's best. Feedback from last year appeared to be acted on - much better organisation at the first food stop, and plenty of grub. Excellent marshalling, and well organised in general. Cut 15 mins from my 2013 time, finishing the 140km in 5 hours 30 mins, despite the wind - thanks to a number of groups that helped tow me up the windy drags. Will definitely be back in 2015. Loved the medal at the end - very nice touch.

Daithi BC · 26-05-2014 9:27am

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone involved in organising and running the event on Saturday. I had a really enjoyable day and thought the marshalling and food were great. On a dry day, it's hard to think of a more scenic course in the country.

snailsong · 26-05-2014 9:42am

Did the 140 on Saturday and found it very enjoyable. That stretch around Maam Cross sure is a b1tch in a north wind. Next year I might consider training for it.

I thought the food stops were adequate but some more cake and better choice of sambos would be no harm. I did it two years ago in the sunshine and we had apple tart on plates. Now that was nice.

Tour de Conamara 2014

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