Wicklow 200

nortal

Guys,

I am looking for advice on the wicklow 200, its my first cycling event, i have been cycling 50km every sunday since xmas, i plan to increase the distance now by 10 - 15km each weekend, on saturday i do a 10 -13 mile run, so i would consider myself in good enough shape, is this good enough training for the event. i had hoped to join EL Tonoto and his crew last september but got side tracked, so any trainng advice would be great

Raam

If you live near any hills, start cycling them now. The hills are the killer

niceonetom

el_tonto has a crew now? wtf?

hills hills hills. i don;t know if you've done the climbs in wicklow but if you haven't it's time to start.

get out on the saturday spins if you're not inot the whole club thing and you're dublin / wicklow based - distances will be a lot easier in a group and we always chose fairly hilly routes. it's also good to get used to cycling fairly near other cyclists (though we're no chaingang i assure you) before going out on the the road with a few thousand riders of all abilities.

50k is a good start, but by may you need to be comfortable doing about 130-150 on a fairly regular basis.

Raam

niceonetom wrote: »

el_tonto has a crew now? wtf?

Bags vice captain!

TinyExplosions

niceonetom wrote: »

el_tonto has a crew now? wtf?

Screw that, he's just been stealing my thunder cos I've not been around for the Saturday spins in a while.

OP, come along on Saturdays, and you'll be just fine. The TinyExplosionsTM training system is guaranteed to get you round ok -plenty did it last year.

Raam -you are of course vice captain

Chips Lovell

niceonetom wrote: »

el_tonto has a crew now? wtf?

Yep, you're my leadout train.

TinyExplosions

el tonto wrote: »

Yep, you're my leadout train.

Don't you have to be a decent sprinter to warrant a lead out train?

*meow!*

Raam

el tonto wrote: »

Yep, you're my leadout train.

Choo Choo!

nortal

Thanks for advice lads,


Think i might forgot about the cycling and just go along for craic, seems like there is plenty of that!!

I might tag along on a club ride saturday week if that ok - can you give me an idea what route you take so i can do a recce - make sure i know what i am letting myself into.

TinyExplosions

nortal wrote: »

Thanks for advice lads,


Think i might forgot about the cycling and just go along for craic, seems like there is plenty of that!!

I might tag along on a club ride saturday week if that ok - can you give me an idea what route you take so i can do a recce - make sure i know what i am letting myself into.

Hehe, he thinks we have craic... and are a club

You're more than welcome on any of the spins mate -they're open to all, and actually started out last year as training for the W200, so it's the right place. Usual route us us heading out from Dundrum towards Enniskerry, then from there it depends on the mood of the day, but possibly up glencree way and over Sally Gap, down into Laragh, and back, or even over the Wicklow Gap and back on the Blessington road.

Basically, we look after whoever comes out, and you can always turn back if you find it tough, but the faster guys (Raam!) always wait at the top of the climbs for the fatties like me

It's all very chilled, so come on out and have some fun!

Chips Lovell

We're not that organised, so the route is usually decided on the morning depending on who's there and what people feel up for. If you are concerned about not being able to last, don't worry. We do wait for people and regroup along the way and if you want to turn off at any point we'll make sure you'll know where you are going in order to get home safely.

EDIT: Tiny got there before me.

TinyExplosions

el tonto wrote: »

EDIT: Tiny got there before me.

Just like in any sprint we do....

Oh yes, on fire today I am!!! That's what sobriety does to me

Raam

C'mon out mate, you'll have a good time.
You get to see some beautiful parts of Wicklow and learn the routes for yourself. It will give you great confidence.

TinyExplosions

Raam wrote: »

C'mon out mate, you'll have a good time.
You get to see some beautiful parts of Wicklow and learn the routes for yourself. It will give you great confidence.

And you can meet the famous Raam, and marvel how our vice captain can be so thin and frail looking, yet still speed up those hills... his legs shouldn't be able to support him you know

dub_skav

A nicer bunch you couldn't hope to meet. I was in the same situation as you last year nortal - planning on doing the Wicklow 200 with only short spins in my legs. I went out with the guys on Saturday mornings and they were very welcoming with a reasonable pace and some great advice.
I only hooked up with them in April or something though, so you have plenty of time to get yourself in great shape for the big day.

I'll be back out when the rugby season is over and I'll have to start all over again

Gavin

Where did this crew lark come from !?

TinyExplosions

Gavin wrote: »

Where did this crew lark come from !?

It's not open to the baggy short brigade....

Gavin

TinyExplosions wrote: »

It's not open to the baggy short brigade....

You're laughing now mister, we'll see who's laughin on Sunday ! Oh we'll see !!

TinyExplosions

Gavin wrote: »

You're laughing now mister, we'll see who's laughin on Sunday ! Oh we'll see !!

It'll be me -out the other side of my face after the first tree I hit... I'll be there in my baggies and everything -I'll have the look, just not the chops

man, I'm getting scared already

Vélo

I don't want to see anyone without a hydration pack or baggy shorts/trousers (Camouflage would be nice), do you hear me Blorg? Helmets must be specifically for MTB'ing (camouflage again if possible). None of this roadie stuff. We have to be conscious of our image, we'll be mountain bikers for the day, we must fit in at all costs!!! It's for our own good.:cool:

I wonder will we meet this happy chappy?

scottreynolds

Aquinas73 wrote: »

I don't want to see anyone without a hydration pack or baggy shorts/trousers (Camouflage would be nice), do you hear me Blorg? Helmets must be specifically for MTB'ing (camouflage again if possible). None of this roadie stuff. We have to be conscious of our image, we'll be mountain bikers for the day, we must fit in at all costs!!! It's for our own good.:cool:

I wonder will we meet this happy chappy?

Just so every knows what is and isn't acceptable - Are there EURO Rules of mountain biking?

Gavin

scottreynolds wrote: »

Just so every knows what is and isn't acceptable - Are there EURO Rules of mountain biking?

I think the only rule actually is no Euro rules.

TinyExplosions

Aquinas73 wrote: »

I don't want to see anyone without a hydration pack or baggy shorts/trousers (Camouflage would be nice), do you hear me Blorg? Helmets must be specifically for MTB'ing (camouflage again if possible). None of this roadie stuff. We have to be conscious of our image, we'll be mountain bikers for the day, we must fit in at all costs!!! It's for our own good.:cool:

Does that mean I have to buy a hydration pack

I have Baggies, and a helmet (or sorts!), but neither are camouflage.

Anyone have a spare pair (or just left) elbow pad. It's still a bit sore, so I'll need some protection on it. If no one does, I'll pick up some with the bike tonight

I don't fit in, I fit round

Vélo

We've gone off topic.

ROK ON

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Anyone have a spare pair (or just left) elbow pad. It's still a bit sore, so I'll need some protection on it. If no one does, I'll pick up some with the bike tonight

I:)

Sure, my 4 year old daughter has some pretty pink elbow pads and knee pads that she uses roller skating. (Or should I say, uses falling down while on roller skates)>
We will be away this w/e, so you can borrow them if you like. They have adjustable straps, so they may just fit you:D

NeilMcEoigheann

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Does that mean I have to buy a hydration pack

I have Baggies, and a helmet (or sorts!), but neither are camouflage.

Anyone have a spare pair (or just left) elbow pad. It's still a bit sore, so I'll need some protection on it. If no one does, I'll pick up some with the bike tonight

I don't fit in, I fit round

its ok halfords are selling camouflage spray paint at the moment

Vélo

NeilMcEoigheann wrote: »

its ok halfords are selling camouflage spray paint at the moment

I got the tartan paint, looks pretty good.