Carraroe on Thursday

michaelm · 26-12-2006 8:10pm #1

Thinking of going to Ras-na-Turcai in Carraroe on Thursday (28th) - anyone taken part in this event before? - I'm a (very) average leisure cyclist - it looks like it is open to all-comers but just wondering whether I have any business being there or not?

vigos · 31-12-2006 1:43pm

did you do this in the end? if so how did you get on?

michaelm · 31-12-2006 5:21pm

Decided to go for it in the end and was well worth the effort. The event was 6 laps of a flat 10K circuit around Carraroe (for those not familiar with the place it is approx 25 miles west of Galway city). There appeared to be about 150 participants - a mix of some of Ireland's top cyclists, serious club cyclists and touring cyclists (my group!). The first two laps were controlled at around 15mph so everyone cycled together and basically chatted with each other - Cycling legend Sean Kelly made a point of making his way back through the full group chatting with everyone - this was a highlight for me - to cycle alongside the great man for a few minutes. After the first two laps the business got serious with each group (elite, touring etc) setting off at two minute intervals. To experience the speed of the elite cyclists was worth the trip for me alone - and I achieved my own personal goal(just about!) - not to be lapped! This is an event well worth keeping in mind for next year as it must be one of the few where the (very) ordinary cyclists participate longside the greats of Irish cycling. For the record the event was won by David O' Loughlin.