Tour of Sligo

Mint Sauce

anyone doing it, thinking of doing the 60km (lough gill/strand hill), will be good training for one or two other events planning to do this year, might give the 160km (ox mountains) one a miss, might be a bit out of my leauge, biggest i've done is 110km, struggled on of the previous attempts as well, although like a glutton for punishment will probaly attemept again this year

linky

bobcar61

I thought about this too,the biggest I've done is from Longford to Sligo but that was a couple of years ago and these days I don't have the same physical fitness.

ednwireland

was thinking about doing this ,living in donegal town pretty unfit so would go for 60k, might see you there . must sign up, i'll be on the rattly old road bike with 7 speed shifters
ed

FrankGrimes

There's an outside chance I might be able to make this.

Would be interested to see a profile of the climbs to see how they compare to the climbs in Wicklow - I've only cycled in south Sligo and am not familiar with the Ox mountains.

Esroh

FrankGrimes wrote: »

Would be interested to see a profile of the climbs to see how they compare to the climbs in Wicklow - I've only cycled in south Sligo and am not familiar with the Ox mountains.

Roads dont go anywhere near the heights of Wicklow and although the % might be comparable, the length of the climbs will make them more short sharp shocks.
In the West we went round the mountains not over the top when building roads:D

ednwireland

info http://www.sligosportandrecreation.ie/html/Cycling_TheRoutes.html


60km map
http://www.sligosportandrecreation.ie/images/Microsoft%20Photo%20Editor%20-%20Circuit1.pdf

160km map
http://www.sligosportandrecreation.ie/images/Microsoft%20Photo%20Editor%20-%20Challenge1.pdf

FrankGrimes

Cheers, I might put the 160km route into MapMyRide when I get time and have a look at the profile of the climbs (will post here if I do it).

Mint Sauce

FrankGrimes wrote: »

Cheers, I might put the 160km route into MapMyRide when I get time and have a look at the profile of the climbs (will post here if I do it).

if i can go of subject very breifly, mapmyride, do you need a particular GPS system to use it, or can you use any and then just transfer your data to the website

from riding sections of the 60km one, i can say is quite flat, only a few very short climbs, not very high and only takes a maximum of a couple of minutes to get over them

Esroh

Should be able to use any as the files are all in gpx format.

decrrrrrr

FrankGrimes wrote: »

Cheers, I might put the 160km route into MapMyRide when I get time and have a look at the profile of the climbs (will post here if I do it).

The MapMyRide routes are at the bottom of this page...

http://www.connachtcycling.com/#/anposttourofsligo/4533158519

FrankGrimes

decrrrrrr wrote: »

The MapMyRide routes are at the bottom of this page...

http://www.connachtcycling.com/#/anposttourofsligo/4533158519

Thanks for that. Looks like a fairly flat course besides the two medium climbs. Might do it depending on how I'm fixed after the fight that week.

ednwireland

10 euro late entry fee btw if you sign up after april 30th just in case your going for a late entry

Mint Sauce

ednwireland wrote: »

10 euro late entry fee btw if you sign up after april 30th just in case your going for a late entry

thats on top of the regular entry fee

ednwireland

bump: anyone going i'm only up for the 60k (with the sore throat ive got at the moment i hope it goes away strepsils are a good alternative to gels anyway )
see you there

bcmf

Was thinking of making the trip across to do it but literally wont know till Sat or Sun early am.If I am going all the way over there may as well do the long one.

il gatto

The 160km route would have some short, sharp climbs, especially from Cloonacool to Easky Lough (very remote up there) with a long gentle descent into Dromore West, and a gentle ascent with one quite steep ascent from Dromard past Knockalongy with a steep, twisty descent into Coolaney. Rest of the route is fairly flat. Lots of small humps and hollows, but nothing of note. Some very nice scenary in the Ox Mountains and around Lough Gill is lovely. Lots of wooded hills and little valleys.

KStaford

I just discovered this event now, I see their web registration system has now closed. Is it possible to register now at all? I have emailed them to ask but just wondered if any of you have previous info on them?

ednwireland

you could ring them up http://www.sligosportandrecreation.ie/html/Cycling_FAQS.html

if your in sligo there is a sign on on sat night 4-6pm you could ask there my no. was 165 a couple of weeks ago so my guess is they wont be turning anyone away

found this for a list of irish events
http://wiki.boards.ie/wiki/Events-Cycling

KStaford

ednwireland wrote: »

found this for a list of irish events
http://wiki.boards.ie/wiki/Events-Cycling

great find, many thanks

KStaford

Actually, one problem I have with these events is the constant fund raising. I can only tap my family and friends for sponsorship cash as best once a year so I was wondering how do you folks cope with these events?

(dont mean to sound selfish, just being practical)

ednwireland

"Using the sponsorship card and raising money is optional for each participant,"

so I havent , in fact I don't expect to tap anyone for 60k not much in terms of challenge. if I was doing 300k might be a bit easier to tap people. but I will look at the t's and c's carefully in future. as you say you can only tap people so often

Mint Sauce

well its this sunday, no drink for me now till the presentation sunday night, many boardies going? will we get a boards jersey sighting in the NW?, good luck to anyone who has signed up, just read in one of the local papers of numbers of about a few hundred signed up across all three events

to save your self time and if your in the area, if you have your race pack you can register saturday evening at sligo IT and give any sponsor money you might have received

KStaford wrote: »

Actually, one problem I have with these events is the constant fund raising. I can only tap my family and friends for sponsorship cash as best once a year so I was wondering how do you folks cope with these events?

(dont mean to sound selfish, just being practical)

ednwireland wrote: »

"Using the sponsorship card and raising money is optional for each participant,"

so I havent , in fact I don't expect to tap anyone for 60k not much in terms of challenge. if I was doing 300k might be a bit easier to tap people. but I will look at the t's and c's carefully in future. as you say you can only tap people so often

thinking the same, tapped a few my self for the 60km, have one or two more bigger events later in the year, people will be dreading the sight of me come the last one

KStaford

I spoke to Andrea, one of the organisers on the phone yesterday, she is very kindly allowing me to register on saturday as a late entrant. She told me that there are curently over 600 in total taking part :eek:

It'll put manners on the cars around Sligo for an hour or two on sunday morning :cool:

Mint Sauce

KStaford wrote: »

I spoke to Andrea, one of the organisers on the phone yesterday, she is very kindly allowing me to register on saturday as a late entrant. She told me that there are curently over 600 in total taking part :eek:

It'll put manners on the cars around Sligo for an hour or two on sunday morning :cool:

wow, thats some number, hopefully wont be to much traffic around the place that time

ednwireland

wow 600, never seen more than one or two cyclists ever round here in donegal. i think i may be going very slowly,i'll be 3hours plus for 60k , as the sore throat isn't getting better quickly enough, might see people at registration tomorrow depends what time get back from inishmurray (ah the joys of having an archaeologist as a partner)
no boards jersey for me I'm afraid but if anyone wants an old 80's skil/miko jersey and an 80's descent jerey might give them away for a donation to charity, i'll be in the ratty 98 blue primera with half the paint missing (much like the bike really red and white steel, 7 speed, carbon look mudguards. full training at the moment Guinness and antiseptic throat spray !
getting carried away now and thinking of doing the mourne sportive and
# August 29th (Sat) - Yeats Country Tour (150k, 90k)

KStaford

Love to get acquainted with any fellow boardsies, I'm 6' 5" and very ugly I'm doing the 60k btw (which kicks off at 10am), I'm drivin a 04 OY Blue Megane

It'll be great to be back in Sligo, I lived near uptil last year, the most beautiful part of Ireland, every road out of Sligo is stunning. I also loved the people, I had geat neighbours round Ballinafad. For anyone unfamiliar with the place, wait til you see the scenery around Lough Gill, and everywhere realy. Bring your cameras !

and another thing, the weather is to be reasonable, forecasters are saying Sunday is to be the best day we have had in ages with lots of sunshine and just th echance of an odd shower. :P

Mint Sauce

ednwireland wrote: »

wow 600, never seen more than one or two cyclists ever round here in donegal. i think i may be going very slowly,i'll be 3hours plus for 60k , as the sore throat isn't getting better quickly enough, might see people at registration tomorrow depends what time get back from inishmurray (ah the joys of having an archaeologist as a partner)
no boards jersey for me I'm afraid but if anyone wants an old 80's skil/miko jersey and an 80's descent jerey might give them away for a donation to charity, i'll be in the ratty 98 blue primera with half the paint missing (much like the bike really red and white steel, 7 speed, carbon look mudguards. full training at the moment Guinness and antiseptic throat spray !

dont think i have ever seen any cyclists training round donegal town, not even on the approch roads in and out of it, know theres a few around letterkenny, done the time trails a few times on the dual carriageway there,

registering my self tommorrow, will be just me self and the bike sunday morning, only question is, the feeding station in balintogher, guide advertises it as in the GAA club, turning of the main route to get to, refreshments and fruit, does that mean its a get of the bike and stop, or is it the usual grab bottle and peice of fruit from an out stretched hand, have gone round the lough and through balintogher a couple of times in the last month or so and din't see the club, am sure those details will be filled in at the registration

KStaford

irish-stew wrote: »

dont think i have ever seen any cyclists training round donegal town, not even on the approch roads in and out of it, know theres a few around letterkenny, done the time trails a few times on the dual carriageway there,

registering my self tommorrow, will be just me self and the bike sunday morning, only question is, the feeding station in balintogher, guide advertises it as in the GAA club, turning of the main route to get to, refreshments and fruit, does that mean its a get of the bike and stop, or is it the usual grab bottle and peice of fruit from an out stretched hand, have gone round the lough and through balintogher a couple of times in the last month or so and din't see the club, am sure those details will be filled in at the registration

sounds like you'll be racing stew? I'll choke on your dust and I look for a cup of tea and a chat at the stop, never mind a hand grab

Mint Sauce

KStaford wrote: »

Love to get acquainted with any fellow boardsies, I'm 6' 5" and very ugly I'm doing the 60k btw (which kicks off at 10am), I'm drivin a 04 OY Blue Megane

so we going to have a secret handshake or look to help identify each other

KStaford wrote: »

It'll be great to be back in Sligo, I lived near uptil last year, the most beautiful part of Ireland, every road out of Sligo is stunning. I also loved the people, I had geat neighbours round Ballinafad. For anyone unfamiliar with the place, wait til you see the scenery around Lough Gill, and everywhere realy. Bring your cameras !

agreed on the views, there are some stunning one around the lough, also some good ones coming into strand hill around the base of Knocknarea, and of sligo bay coming back into town with benbulben in the background

Mint Sauce

KStaford wrote: »

sounds like you'll be racing stew? I'll choke on your dust and I look for a cup of tea and a chat at the stop, never mind a hand grab

certainly wont be racing , just looking for a reasonable time, have seen some of the club runners go round lough gill a few times, those guys dont hang around, i would not get half way round if i tried to keep up

:eek:

KStaford

well that was some babe! of a day. The sun shone, the 60k route was stunningly beautiful and I even ran into one or two baordsies. What a great way to spend a Sunday morning. It was very well organised, marshalls everywhere, great registration, great starting gate, great dj, great sounds, great great great. Well done Sligo, a top job.
Oh and aparently, there was 700+ riders in total, not bad considerig its the first time they ran it.

Mint Sauce

KStaford wrote: »

well that was some babe! of a day. The sun shone, the 60k route was stunningly beautiful and I even ran into one or two baordsies. What a great way to spend a Sunday morning. It was very well organised, marshalls everywhere, great registration, great starting gate, great dj, great sounds, great great great. Well done Sligo, a top job.
Oh and aparently, there was 700+ riders in total, not bad considerig its the first time they ran it.

it wasn't bad, i enjoyed it, chatted to a few of the riders along the way, it is a great route, nice rolling hills, views, and villages the whole way round, any idea how the ox mountain riders got on, looked to be a huge crowd for the family 12 km event, hopefully we'll see it again next year

ednwireland

KStaford nice to meet you, yep had a great day good job someone booked the weather . saw the 160k riders comeing in at about 3 pm so 6 hours (coming in in fairly large groups) apart from i saw one guy before 3 saw him riding out past grange later !!!!!!!!!!!!! (i really hope he wasnt going out training after)

big thanks to all the marshalls getting guided round cars at red lights always makes you fell good and had to stop myself stuffing myself at ballintogher great spread

KStaford

ednwireland wrote: »

KStaford nice to meet you, yep had a great day good job someone booked the weather . saw the 160k riders comeing in at about 3 pm so 6 hours (coming in in fairly large groups) apart from i saw one guy before 3 saw him riding out past grange later !!!!!!!!!!!!! (i really hope he wasnt going out training after)

big thanks to all the marshalls getting guided round cars at red lights always makes you fell good and had to stop myself stuffing myself at ballintogher great spread

You too Ed, I'm looking at their next bout (Burren, Clare 10k, 60k & 160k) coming up 20th June. Anyone interested ?

Kieran

Mint Sauce

want to do the sligo 160km now next year, if i keep training from now till then, i might make it

ednwireland

irish-stew wrote: »

want to do the sligo 160km now next year, if i keep training from now till then, i might make it

+1 only 4 stone to go !