The Wicklow 200 (2009) Thread

IM0

Ryaner wrote: »

Does anyone have a more detailed map than what is available on the website? Secondly, how much climbing is involved? 1000+ metres?

I did about 150k of it a few weeks ago, it totaled about 2000m+ actually. Then I did need a map (and the seat of my pants :pac: ) but the route will be much better market on the day Im sure.

victorcarrera

The toughest climb on the WW200 could very well be the little one on the return journey just before Enniskerry up to the powerscourt entrance. It's near the end but with 180K on the legs it can catch you out.

ROK ON

victorcarrera wrote: »

The toughest climb on the WW200 could very well be the little one on the return journey just before Enniskerry up to the powerscourt entrance. It's near the end but with 180K on the legs it can catch you out.

+1

I have done this so many times, but after a long spin it is a killer. Short but very tough when when you are tired, and just want to get home.

Gradient is 14% in parts.

kenmc

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niceonetom

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I bet it works like Dublin number plates.

Greyspoke

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Most importantly, who the F is number one ...

I know who No. 1 is!!
Not me anyway, I still didn't get mine yet- It was my jammy brother!

unionman

So much for the top ten! And I was an early applicant too. Never mind. I will be a lot more than 43 places from the front by the time we hit Enniskerry, never mind the 200km:o

Kudos to Cycling Ireland for the special offer of the one year licence at the Orwell Wheelers Randonee a few weeks back. Mine arrived with my W200 pack.

I'm actually getting excited about it. First timer doncha know. I'm sure the enthusiasm will be drained by Slieve Mann / Shay Elliott. I loved Ghost Riders description at the start of this thread - freewheeling backwards down Slieve Mann with a banana hanging out of my semi-comatose mouth (I'm paraphrasing).

Actually, it's not the hills that bother me, it's the so-called 'rolling countryside' - ie, terrain that cannot decide if it is going up or down. Meh.

niceonetom wrote: »

updated
1 Royston Brady
2 Caroline_ie
3 TinyExplosions ( not suse it's out yet )
4 Aquinas
5 ___
6 kenmc
7 ___
8 ___
9 Gavin
10 ____

I bet it works like Dublin number plates.

barrym91

Hi people,

Looking for your advice. I would like to do the Wicklow 200km. I have never done 200k before though. I have done a few 100km trips and am fairly tired after them.

Firstly, do you think I can do the 200km. And secondly, if so, I have a mountain bike (nothing flash). Would it be crazy to think I can complete it with a mountain bike or would I kill myself? I haven't been doing a huge amount of training. Maybe 200k per week but this is spaced out.

Please respond as I'm going to apply for it tomorrow if you think I can do it. It's for a charity that i'm fond of.

Regards,
Barry

billyhead

Barry,

For what its worth. I plan on doing the 200 route on the day and I have done piss all training for it. I cycle into work on the aul racer 2 to 3 times a week 20km each way and thats about it. Sure it will be no bother to you. It will probaly take around 8 hours to complete

lukester

On a mountain bike. You'd be fuppin mad to do so. But you might complete it. There was apparently a chap who did it on a butcher's bike last year, but I suspect he was seriously trained.

How much are you willing to suffer for your charity?

Can you borrow a road bike, or even a hybrid?

If you register, you can still do the 100, just decide on the day.

kenmc

billyhead wrote: »

Barry,

For what its worth. I plan on doing the 200 route on the day and I have done piss all training for it. I cycle into work on the aul racer 2 to 3 times a week 20km each way and thats about it. Sure it will be no bother to you. It will probaly take around 8 hours to complete

Are you for real? Seriously?

It took me 9 hours odd last year on a racer, hoping to do it in around 8 this year - on a 7kg carbon racer, and a fair bit of training in the hills..... on a mountain bike with not much training..... best of luck!

Harpz

Will start training tommorrow. Car has killed my cycling

billyhead

Yep. 8 hours is what I expect to complete it in. I know someone who did it last year with hardly any trianing in 8 hours. Now he does run Marathons and would be considered a very good distance runner. But I would be similiar so thats the target anyway:p

kenmc

ah sorry, i thought you were telling barry it should take him 8 hours on his MTB, not that 8 hours was your target.

Lumen

I like the direction this thread is going. I am not the worst prepared.

I spent my entire training ride today dreaming of canapes and brie sandwiches made with crustry french bread. I was thinking we could do a group buy and get a catering van to follow us around.

10 hours eating jellies can't be good for the spirit.

Nietzschean

i know, its the best motivation ever, i might not be last(maybe), if indeed i manage to finish

Greyspoke

barrym91 wrote: »

Hi people,

Looking for your advice. I would like to do the Wicklow 200km. I have never done 200k before though. I have done a few 100km trips and am fairly tired after them.

Firstly, do you think I can do the 200km. And secondly, if so, I have a mountain bike (nothing flash). Would it be crazy to think I can complete it with a mountain bike or would I kill myself? I haven't been doing a huge amount of training. Maybe 200k per week but this is spaced out.

Please respond as I'm going to apply for it tomorrow if you think I can do it. It's for a charity that i'm fond of.

Regards,
Barry

Don't be put off - my wife did it on a mountain bike a few years ago and she wouldn't have been a particularly strong cyclist at the time (quite a good runner though). Hopefully the bike you have is not too heavy and make sure you get some slick, narrow road tyres. You'll quite probably be more comfortable on the mtb with its more upright position and you'll have gears to get up anything. Just take your time, refuel well at the checkpoints and enjoy the occasion and I'm sure you'll manage to get around. Good luck!

barrym91

That's why I was asking. I thought I was mad even considering doing it on a mountain bike so thankfully this has been confirmed. I might just leave it and next year when I have the money purchase a decent racer and do a bit of training. I did the Camino de Santiago a couple of weeks ago on the mountain bike averaging about 90k a day but that was taking breaks, taking it easy in general and there were only two really difficult mountains to do along the route.

Bit of a shame, but there's no point in rushing into it and putting myself under too much pressure. Best of luck to everyone who is going to do it!!

ROK ON

Lumen wrote: »

I spent my entire training ride today dreaming of canapes and brie sandwiches made with crustry french bread. I was thinking we could do a group buy and get a catering van to follow us around.

10 hours eating jellies can't be good for the spirit.

What type of canapes? Also, has to be Brie de Meaux.

BTW got my number.
16.

barrym91

Hey Greyspoke,

How long did it take your wife to do it? I'd say I'll average less than 20k per hour on the racer. I'm very hesitant at this stage. Plus my girlfriend is wrecking my head saying I'm taking on too much too late. Come to think of it, my friend has a decent hybrid with much larger wheels. Good trek bike it is. Might check it out!

Lumen

ROK ON wrote:

What type of canapes?

Every type.

barrym91 wrote: »

'm very hesitant at this stage. Plus my girlfriend is wrecking my head saying I'm taking on too much too late.

Sure how hard can it be? The bicycle is the most energy efficient transportation device ever invented.

It might be an idea to try 100km at the weekend, to give yourself an idea of what the second half will be like. Or not.

barrym91

barrym91 wrote: »

I'd say I'll average less than 20k per hour on the racer. I'm very hesitant at this stage.

I started going on spins last June and haven't been able to go over an average of 20km/hr when heading up Wicklow so far, I'm usually around the 18 - 19km/hr mark. But it's not a race.

Sign up for the 200km and if you're not feeling fantastic on the day go for the 100km, but you should try sometime in the next week to do 100km up in Wicklow.

Possibly come along to one of the boards spins to see how you get on too.

Home:Ballyhoura

Is there much group work on the Wicklow 200, like wind sheltering and taking turns on the front or is it just a solo 200km all the way? This would play a huge factor in making my decision to sign up before tomorrow! Cheers

ROK ON

Home:Ballyhoura wrote: »

Is there much group work on the Wicklow 200, like wind sheltering and taking turns on the front or is it just a solo 200km all the way? This would play a huge factor in making my decision to sign up before tomorrow! Cheers

Absolutely.
If you sign on I will make sure that I shelter behind you and that you do your turn at the front:D

Home:Ballyhoura

ROK ON wrote: »

Absolutely.
If you sign on I will make sure that I shelter behind you and that you do your turn at the front:D

Funny thing is I am only about 5'6" and a scrawny f**ker so you don't get much shelter behind me. Plus side is when riding in groups, I am basically pulled along and when it comes to the hills my power/weight ratio helps me ride up the front!

Right so, here it goes! I'm off to sign up for the 200. Are there usually many teenagers doing it?

Greyspoke

barrym91 wrote: »

Hey Greyspoke,

How long did it take your wife to do it? I'd say I'll average less than 20k per hour on the racer. I'm very hesitant at this stage. Plus my girlfriend is wrecking my head saying I'm taking on too much too late. Come to think of it, my friend has a decent hybrid with much larger wheels. Good trek bike it is. Might check it out!

I'm not sure exactly how long it took her (she's away down the country tonight so can't ask) but it certainly wasn't too long - about 9 hours I think. She rode it with a friend who I think was also on an mtb. I also don't think she'd done any huge mileage in training - I don't think she'd done more than 100k spins beforehand. The worst that can happen is that you need rescuing at some point but as the day goes by you find yourself riding with people of similar fitness/exhaustion levels and it makes a huge difference to have company like that when you just want to finish and aren't too worried how long it takes.
Certainly a decent hybrid might be a better bet if you can get a lend of it (and it fits you).

DirkVoodoo

If anyone needs practice I am unemployed and available most weekdays to head out to Wicklow for some intensive sessions.

blorg

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@barrym91- if you can average 90km/day on the Camino on a MTB (I am presuming you followed the off road trail where possible?) you can do the Wicklow 200.

@Home:Ballyhoura- there is a lot of organised and semi-organised group work on the flat bits, you just need to get in with the right people. There are so many people doing it this generally is not a problem.

kenmc

ha, this is gonna make some start-line foto

Nietzschean

how many people who post here are actually doing the w200 now? 15 - 20?