Advice Sean Kelly

Funkyzeit

Ok Folks
Bit of a dilemma whether to do the 160 or the 100 and looking for advice.

Been cycling (as part of Tri's) for just under 1 year

The longest cycle I've done to date has been 110k (average speed of around 27k/h) a few weeks ago.

I do enjoy climbing hills (I live in Cork so have no choice !!) but I've never done a mountain so to speak.

I'd love to to the 160 as a challenge but am wondering is it feasible given above experience? For example could I plod along doing it very slow?

Any advice appreciated !

vigos

Did you do that 110k in a group or solo?

One thing not forget about is that get you use up alot less energy if travelling in a group, and i´m sure there will be big enough numbers that you´ll always have a wheel or two to suck off.

Freddy687

You need to make sure you have the best gear combination possible. You did not give the spec of your bike, so not sure if you have a double or a compact. I doubt you would need a triple for Triathlons
Personally I will be on a triple with a 12-27 on the back. This is gves me a get of jail combo of 30-27, low enough to nearly climb a wall.:D
If your small chain ring is a 39 you should definitely get a 27 or 29 for the back.
Remember you can skip the trip up Seskin hill & the last few Km of Mahon Falls. But there will still be one big climb after Mahon falls that you cannot avoid.
Your average speed is good enough to stay with most of the groups on Sunday. Get in a bunch and stay off the front you are not use to drafting.

Funkyzeit

Thxs lads

Fraid I'm on a standard 53/39 !!!

Didn't know about skipping Seskin....that might be an option!!

The 27k was solo - would there be many going much slower than that I could tailgate?

blorg

If you have done 110km solo at 27km/h you should get around the 160 no bother. The 100 is I believe quite flat and would not be much of a challenge to you. Hope to see you there on the day!

DirkVoodoo

FUnkyzeit I would put you as a few notches above me and I intend to do the 160 as I did the 100 last year without too much hassle.

I am joining caroline and LDB in the slow 160 (their slow is probably still a good pace for me!) so it would be great of I had someone else to try and keep up with in the group. Go for the 160, i think any cycle with the boards crowd will always place fun and socialising over any kind of competition mentality.

Funkyzeit

Thxs lads - will give it a go... DirkV - will PM you thanks!

hunnymonster

makes mental note to self: learn how to ride in a group!

72hundred

What's the pace is the "slow" group going to be? I'm planning on taking the first half easy given that hills don't start till the second half.

DirkVoodoo

I dont think anyone will be dropped from the slow group and I would imagine that it will be a bit of fun, so probably the pace of the slowest person. I'm not too worried about shattering records and would be more than happy to take her handy until the mountains pop up.

Caroline_ie

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

I dont think anyone will be dropped from the slow group and I would imagine that it will be a bit of fun, so probably the pace of the slowest person. I'm not too worried about shattering records and would be more than happy to take her handy until the mountains pop up.

haha who knows!! I can see myself waving at you from the bottom of the mountain ... think ' Oh dear ... how the hell am I going to get there' ...

irishmotorist

Caroline_ie wrote: »

' Oh dear ... how the hell am I going to get there' ...

Chocolate! I found out at the Ring of Kerry that an ould Kit Kat or something puts steroids in your legs for 15 minutes after the top of a climb. Maybe Sean Kelly would be good enough to put a feeding station at the bottom of them :pac:

DirkVoodoo

I'm more of a snickers man myself, one of those double snickers bars will power ye up any mountain. Plus the fact they used to be "marathon" bars long ago has to make them some way healthy!