Ring of Kerry Accommodation

TinyExplosions

Anyone know any good B&B's in Killarney that I can use for a couple of days for the RoK?

Chips Lovell

We were originally going to stay in a B&B but none we rang were terribly keen on our late arrival and early breakfast demands. Staying in the Victoria House Hotel instead.

TinyExplosions

They're full on the friday!

Chips Lovell

we iz in ur hotel, sleepin in all ur rooms

TinyExplosions

It might have to come to that

Anyone else getting a 6.30 ish train down on the Friday?

Chips Lovell

We're on that one. Will we get cans?

trek climber

TinyExplosions wrote: »

It might have to come to that

Anyone else getting a 6.30 ish train down on the Friday?

That is also my plan, do you have to pre-book the bike or can you turn up with it on the day.

Glowing

We're staying in a B&B near the town centre who've offered to give KenMc an early breakfast. Can't remember the name of the place but I'll find out for yis ....

Actually this is it:
http://www.goireland.com/kerry/manderley-accommodation-bed-and-breakfast-id39669.htm

Edit: My room is FULL

TinyExplosions

Glowing wrote: »

We're staying in a B&B near the town centre who've offered to give KenMc an early breakfast. Can't remember the name of the place but I'll find out for yis ....

That'd be perfect, cos I think you're bringing my bike down too

El Tonto -cans sound the perfect way to prepare -we can wear our Boards kit too and scare everyone!

TinyExplosions

trek climber wrote: »

That is also my plan, do you have to pre-book the bike or can you turn up with it on the day.

I'd try to phone and find out -I think they only have a limited number of spaces (I've heard as low as one :eek:)

Chips Lovell

I always thought you could just show up with your bike. The guards van on those trains look big enough to handle a lot more than one bike.

TinyExplosions

el tonto wrote: »

I always thought you could just show up with your bike. The guards van on those trains look big enough to handle a lot more than one bike.

I could well be wrong... I'm slinging mine on Kens roof simply to make sure I can get it down there -I suspect there may be more than a few people trying to put bikes on

blorg

You can just show up with the bike and they can take a lot more than one, although I do think they have some sort of limit all right which would concern me. As far as I know it's first come, first on, there is no booking a bike onto a particular train (you do have to buy a ticket for it which costs €8 each way.)

Harpz

The nice newish green train (mark4) runs to cork. It has a big guards van that will fit loads of bikes. A problem may arise when you change train to go to killarney. Some of those trains just have spaces for 2 bikes. I'll be popping over from cork to killarney early on sat moning and i imagine the train will be empty so I'm hoping there wont be a problem.
There are a bunch of "rail enthusiasts" who have a site... http://www.railusers.ie/ these guys will know for sure if someone wants to ask them. They usually know more than irish rail.

TinyExplosions

Harpz wrote: »

The nice newish green train (mark4) runs to cork. It has a big guards van that will fit loads of bikes. A problem may arise when you change train to go to killarney. Some of those trains just have spaces for 2 bikes. I'll be popping over from cork to killarney early on sat moning and i imagine the train will be empty so I'm hoping there wont be a problem.
There are a bunch of "rail enthusiasts" who have a site... http://www.railusers.ie/ these guys will know for sure if someone wants to ask them. They usually know more than irish rail.

It's a direct train we're getting, not the Cork one so I don't know what it's guards van is like. That rail users site should have a great big anorak as its logo

kenmc

For anyone worried about not getting brekkie in a B&B or hotel the morning of the spin, here's a suggestion. Get yourself one of those clippy lunchbox food storage things. Put a couple of spoons of porridge oats, a sprinkling of cinnamon and cover in apple juice. The oats soaks up the apple juice and goes all soft, it's delicious. You can add raisins and honey as well if you want. Least this way you're self sufficient at 6 am!

ventoux

Hi
Having done 6 ROK the early breakfast is not as vital as the Wicklow as the pace is steady ,and also the terrain is a lot easier so your food should have time to settle.Every year we had breakfast at about 7.15 and had no problems.Some years it might be nearer 8.30 when it rolls out. Most B&B shouldn't have a problem either.There is that much food on route also,you dont need to go overboard on breakfast.

daymobrew

Watch the bikes-on-trains issue - my father-in-law got the 20:00 train from Heuston to Killarney, changing at Mallow. A few cyclists going the same way were prevented from taking their bikes on board at Mallow because it was a "commuter train" where bikes are not permitted. They were offered the option of boarding without their bikes, which would be put on the first train in the morning!
This occurred at 22:20!! I doubt that space was an issue :rolleyes:

I know you lads are planning on getting the direct train so are probably okay. It is probably worth ringing the station master in Heuston (station phone: 703-2132) to ask what the number is likely to be.
A backup plan might be to take the wheels off the bike and put wheels and frame into a bag.

penexpers

According to the guys from RUI, the schedule says the last train from Mallow to Killarney is the type they won't take bikes on, the rest should be ok. I'm probably going to head down on the 1830 on Friday now and get the 1750 back on Saturday.

daymobrew

Does anyone need help with directions in Killarney?
I can throw up some Gmaps Pedometer maps to show directions from train station to B&B and then to Glen Eagle Hotel.

I might be on for meeting those getting the 18:30 train at Killarney station at 10pm. I'll pass on my mobile to whomever is interested.

TinyExplosions

How close is the Killarney Court hotel from the start... it's looking like being my option, as it's 100 quid a night for a 4* hotel, and that'll keep the missus happy

blorg

Are most of you staying Saturday night, or getting the train back Saturday evening like penexpers (that will put the heat on him to get around )?

Chips Lovell

Myself and my mate are staying on Saturday night alright. Be great if we could all hook up and have some Boards beers.

TinyExplosions

Staying over Saturday night too, boards pints?

penexpers

I might point out that I plan to get the 1750 train back. might not work out though I think getting back on Sunday might be a bit of a nightmare with all the bikes on the train?

Just booked myself a hostel there, hotels don't like people travelling on their own

blorg

penexpers- where did you book- was thinking of booking "Neptunes Town Hostel" simply because it is in Killarney town (the An Oige one looks a lot nicer but it is 5km out.)

In my experience hotels have no problem with single travellers but are happy to charge you as much as a couple

penexpers

blorg wrote: »

penexpers- where did you book- was thinking of booking "Neptunes Town Hostel" simply because it is in Killarney town (the An Oige one looks a lot nicer but it is 5km out.)

In my experience hotels have no problem with single travellers but are happy to charge you as much as a couple

Booked myself into Killarney Railway Hostel. Found it on hostelworld.com.

daymobrew

TinyExplosions wrote: »

How close is the Killarney Court hotel from the start... it's looking like being my option, as it's 100 quid a night for a 4* hotel, and that'll keep the missus happy

2km from the start.

penexpers wrote: »

Booked myself into Killarney Railway Hostel. Found it on hostelworld.com.

You can't get any closer to the train station!

blorg wrote: »

penexpers- where did you book- was thinking of booking "Neptunes Town Hostel" simply because it is in Killarney town (the An Oige one looks a lot nicer but it is 5km out.)

Neptunes is right in the middle of town - close to train station.
I wouldn't worry about the 5km out bit (except for drinking on Sat night). The An Oige hostel is at Gortaree on the map. You can start there - I'll be starting at Pallis (on left side of map), and finishing there.

I am thinking of starting around 8am, and trying for a good time. There is a party for my father-in-law and niece in the afternoon.

blorg

Yeah, it would only be the drinking on Sat that I would be concerned with though! A lot of places are only available Fri or Sat, not both. Are taxis handy (and reasonable?), if so I might just go with that? The An Oige one looked like it might be a bit better for leaving an expensive bike around too ;-)

daymobrew

blorg wrote: »

Are taxis handy (and reasonable?), if so I might just go with that?

I think that they are both.

sooty11

daymobrew wrote: »

Does anyone need help with directions in Killarney?
I can throw up some Gmaps Pedometer maps to show directions from train station to B&B and then to Glen Eagle Hotel.

I might be on for meeting those getting the 18:30 train at Killarney station at 10pm. I'll pass on my mobile to whomever is interested.

Is it not leaving from the International Hotel Saturday morning??
http://www.ringofkerrycycle.net/

daymobrew

sooty11 wrote: »

Is it not leaving from the International Hotel Saturday morning??
http://www.ringofkerrycycle.net/

Oops, you're right. Then it's even closer for TinyExplosions, blorg and penexpers. It's right on the "roundabout" where the jaunting carts halt.

Strange location as I don't think there is much/any parking and it's not a great spot for a bunch of cyclists to congregate.

Map: http://www.killarneyinternational.com/location.asp

sooty11

ya its just across from the cinema.

it seems a crazy place to start from...as there is no where for everyone to gather with the bikes and all....
they are expecting 1500 cyclists this year!

where did it leave from last year?

daymobrew

sooty11 wrote: »

where did it leave from last year?

Gleneagle Hotel, hence my mentioning it earlier.

kenmc

daymobrew wrote: »

There is a party for my father-in-law and niece in the afternoon.

Can we come too?

kenmc

penexpers wrote: »

I'm probably going to head down on the 1830 on Friday now and get the 1750 back on Saturday.

I predict that you'll have plenty of empty seats around you on the return leg anyway Where's the 'holds nose' emoticon when you need it?

penexpers

Weather is going to be very wet and windy according to met.ie. Hope yiz all have mud guards.

Actually what do you wear to keep the legs dry? I have a pair of waterproof trousers but they are more suited to wearing over other trousers.

daymobrew

penexpers wrote: »

Actually what do you wear to keep the legs dry?

Cycling shorts - my legs don't absorb water but tights do.
I might bring overshoes. My sleevless water/wind proof gilet was brilliant last year for the frequent short showers I encountered.

If the temp is good then a little rain isn't a big deal.

Chips Lovell

I'd be the same. I don't really care about getting wet since you dry off in no time once it stops. Warmth is my main concern. For bad weather in the summer months I'd usually use arm warmers and sometimes knee warmers. If it's an absolutely terrible day, I'd wear a long sleeve base layer underneath my jersey. I wear lycra overshoes too, but that's to keep my shoes clean rather than dry.

sooty11

problem is with the kerry weather is that it could be pouring rain and blowing a gale in killarney and by the time you get to cahersiveen you would want to be putting on the sunscreen...it is so unpredictable.

sw2

hi,
a friend and i are thinking of doing the ROK this saturday but she doesn't think she'll make the whole thing. Does anybody know about lifts back to Kllarney if you don't finish the route? Also does anybody know what direction is goes in? Kenmare first or last?
cheers

trek climber

sw2 wrote: »

hi,
a friend and i are thinking of doing the ROK this saturday but she doesn't think she'll make the whole thing. Does anybody know about lifts back to Kllarney if you don't finish the route? Also does anybody know what direction is goes in? Kenmare first or last?
cheers

Kemnare is last

Chips Lovell

sw2 wrote: »

Does anybody know about lifts back to Kllarney if you don't finish the route?

Haven't read anything about there being a broom wagon, so you might be out of luck on that one.

penexpers

There was one last year? (According to the thread I just read on it).

niceonetom

just booked neptune's hostel through hostelworld.com. anyone else?

8 person dorm but very cheap . friday i probably won't sleep much anyway, and saturday, after a long cycle, a big feed, and several beverages, i'd be able to sleep upside down in a wheelie bin if necessary. but a bed is better for my back.

Chips Lovell

niceonetom wrote: »

...i'd be able to sleep upside down in a wheelie bin if necessary. but a bed is better for my back.

You know you're now asking to get left in a wheelie bin by a gang of drunken boardsies?

kenmc

Anyone know what the deal with the sponsorship money is - do we need to give it in at the start or how does it work? i.e. should I go pestering people for sponsorship now, or wait until I have actually completed the thing.

Beached

A couple of things for people doing the ring of Kerry,
The ROK is starting at the international hotel. There is not much traffic at that time of the morning so cyclist just mingle in the area between the international, Cinema and East avenue hotel.
If you have your sponsership with you, they will take it off u at registration. Otherwise you can post it back / hand it back, etc.
It is always a fairly leisurly spin out to Killorglan, dunno after that as i take it handy all the way.
Im not sure, but i think there might be parking arrangements out by the Gleneagle, this has ofter led people into thinking the start is at the Gleneagle. I missed last years ROK so I dunno where it started from.
There is plenty of Taxi's in Killarney, main Taxi rank is on College St. near Scruffys pub.
Plenty of broom wagons, used one myself going up Coomnakista in a storm 3 years ago.
If the weather turns nasty, its gonna be nasty and god help us all.
Hope ye like sandwiches, there will be a mountain of them to eat.
Food stop in Caherciveen is at the far end of the town in the community school, Caherciveen is a long town when ur tired.
Food stop in Kenmare is in the Community school also, Kenmare town involves a 1Km turn off the ROK road, u will be coming back the same bit of road.

This is lifted from the Met eireann website

Saturday will bring overcast weather with widespread and locally heavy rain country-wide. Saturday will also be cold, with afternoon temperatures in the low to mid teens in a strong northeast wind

Caroline_ie

kenmc wrote: »

Anyone know what the deal with the sponsorship money is - do we need to give it in at the start or how does it work? i.e. should I go pestering people for sponsorship now, or wait until I have actually completed the thing.

Well ... if I look at the example of the school kids knocking on my door for sponsorship, you usually ask for the cash before the event. I'll give you 20p

sooty11

i was told by my charity (enable ireland) to bring the card with me on the day for entrance into schools for food...but not to bring the money. keep the card and send it on with the money a few days later.

TinyExplosions

Beached wrote: »

This is lifted from the Met eireann website

Saturday will bring overcast weather with widespread and locally heavy rain country-wide. Saturday will also be cold, with afternoon temperatures in the low to mid teens in a strong northeast wind

I think the weather is going to be glorious, simply because I bought waterproof overshoes and arm warmers yesterday, and will probably get leg warmers tomorrow