Orwell Wheelers Randonnee

MadHatter

Orwell Wheelers Randonnee is taking place next Sunday, 26th April. Any interested parties?

I'm hoping to tag along for the 110km, maybe give the boards kit its first day out.

Info from here: http://www.orwellwheelers.org/news_events.html

OrwellWheelers wrote:

The annual Orwell Wheelers Randonnee will be taking place on Sunday the 26th of April.
Ballinteer Scout hall will be the start/finish venue for an event primarily aimed at people training for the Wicklow 200.

There are two routes on offer, a short but hilly 70k option and a 110k route which takes in the first 30k and last 40k of this years Wicklow 200 route. Refreshments will be provided on the course courtesy of Powerbar and tea and sandwiches will be available at the finish.

Sign-on is open from 8:30-9:30, entry costs €10. Ballinteer Scout hall is off Ballinteer Avenue (behind the church). Hardshell helmets are compulsory. For further information phone Dave on 087 9908528.

Chips Lovell

I'm in Orwell, so I'll probably go along. They don't seem to have a route up on the site yet, but I'm assuming its the same one as last year.

DirkVoodoo

Definitely be up for this, so I probably won't get out of bed.

FrankGrimes

Is it this route?

Is there a difference between a Randonnee and your average sportive - i.e. is it more aimed a club cyclists? If it's open to all comers and there's a few boardsies going, I might head along (assuming I can limit the beer intake on Saturday).

Chips Lovell

FrankGrimes wrote: »

Is it this route?

That was it last year alright.

FrankGrimes wrote: »

Is there a difference between a Randonnee and your average sportive

Nope.

DirkVoodoo

My Name is El Tonto wrote: »

I'm in Orwell, so I'll probably go along. They don't seem to have a route up on the site yet, but I'm assuming its the same one as last year.

Will you be wearing boards or orwell gear? Time to nail your colours to the mast.

Chips Lovell

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Will you be wearing boards or orwell gear? Time to nail your colours to the mast.

Orwell gear.

And I see what you did there.

rottenhat

I'll be there, sporting neither.

TinyExplosions

Big Dick wrote: »

Orwell gear.

And I see what you did there.

You should wear your boards gear -not seen you out in it. ever!

Raam

Is My Name El Tonto? wrote: »

And I see what you did there.

Did what with the which now?

Caroline_ie

is dirk talking about getting his nails done to match is bike now ?

barrabus

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Will you be wearing boards or orwell gear? Time to nail your colours to the mast.

orwell ... if i collect it on time.

scottreynolds

This whole name thing is wrecking my head. I think I'll subscribe and change my name every 2 days to really confuse things.

DirkVoodoo

Joke would be on you Scott, you'd have to buy a new bike/jersey/pump each time

scottreynolds

DirkHairdooAndNowNails wrote: »

Joke would be on you Scott, you'd have to buy a new bike/jersey/pump each time

hahaha.... I'll wearing your new boards jersey now as underwear. No chamiois but very comfortable. Don't worry about giving me your address there's a stalker in this thread who knows where everyone lives.

blorg

Big Dick wrote: »

Orwell gear.

I'll be doing it, Orwell gear for me too. Would be a bit cheeky as a club member not to wear the jersey on the club's own randonnee!

Chips Lovell

blorg wrote: »

I'll be doing it, Orwell gear for me too. Would be a bit cheeky as a club member not to wear the jersey on the club's own randonnee!

My reasoning entirely. Our sponsors pay the club after all for us to wear the kit.

niceonetom

Last year this randonné was the first organised event I ever did. I tried to stay with the lads on the fancy bikes with the wheels that make the cool noise for as long as I could. It hurt, but it was a good day out. I'll try to go along again this year, though i think i may actually be slower now. :rolleyes:

lukester

Seems like a fair few boardsies are in Orwell- do club spins clash with boards spins?

And two jerseys, do you feel torn, as between two lovers?

Chips Lovell

lukester wrote: »

Seems like a fair few boardsies are in Orwell- do club spins clash with boards spins?

Club spins are on Sundays. Boards spins Saturdays.

blorg

Generally Boards go out on Saturday and Orwell went out on Sunday... But I'm mainly in Orwell for the racing to be honest, AFAIK the fast Sunday spins are off now as everyone is off racing on Sundays anyway.

lukester

Is it worth joining if you're not racing?

Chips Lovell

lukester wrote: »

Is it worth joining if you're not racing?

You'll probably find yourself getting faster as you move up through the training groups. Spins are run pretty tightly, which means you tend to move pretty fast in a close bunch. It'll improve your bike handling skills as well. Late Autumn/early winter is the best time to join a club.

lukester

My Name is Mario wrote: »

You'll probably find yourself getting faster as you move up through the training groups. Spins are run pretty tightly, which means you tend to move pretty fast in a close bunch. It'll improve your bike handling skills as well. Late Autumn/early winter is the best time to join a club.

I saw that they only take members until March, which suits me.

Interesting, I may just have to do this. Grazie.

Chips Lovell

lukester wrote: »

I saw that they only take members until March, which suits me.

Interesting, I may just have to do this. Grazie.

Good stuff, look forward to seeing you in the winter. They're a nice bunch of people and I've gotten a tonne of advice and encouragement since joining.

lukester

My Name is Mario wrote: »

They're a nice bunch of people and I've gotten a tonne of advice and encouragement since joining.

Good to know - if you're outside an organisation like this, it's easy to imagine it's an intimidating group of po-faced, super-trained elites. That would not be much fun.

Raam

lukester wrote: »

Good to know - if you're outside an organisation like this, it's easy to imagine it's an intimidating group of po-faced, super-trained elites. That would not be much fun.

I only joined up with Swords recently. I didn't know anyone, but I got chatting to a few different people and same as other sports, it's just blokes who are the same as yourself and want to enjoy their sport.

MadHatter

lukester wrote: »

Good to know - if you're outside an organisation like this, it's easy to imagine it's an intimidating group of po-faced, super-trained elites. That would not be much fun.

Not in a club myself, but I'd imagine its like every other walk of life - one or two gob****es that are best avoided, but the vast majority are sound.

rottenhat

lukester wrote: »

Good to know - if you're outside an organisation like this, it's easy to imagine it's an intimidating group of po-faced, super-trained elites.

When I see some of the stomachs that are lurking under Orwell jerseys on Sunday spins, "super-trained elites" is not exactly the phrase that springs to mind....

Chips Lovell

rottenhat wrote: »

When I see some of the stomachs that are lurking under Orwell jerseys on Sunday spins, "super-trained elites" is not exactly the phrase that springs to mind....

Lol yes. We have a range of abilities and waistlines. You in Orwell too rottenhat?

rottenhat

yes, joined up in November but mostly for the sunday rides - no ambition to race.

dave.obrien

Just to let the Orwell Boardies, there are regular saturday spins now, though I think the pace is a little off the pace of the fast group on Sunday, pre-racing season. Nice bunch though. Generally meet up at Joe Daly's at half nine, though last weekend was a half eight start. I hope that was a one off...

Chips Lovell

I thought the ladies group met on Saturdays? Or is there another one? Saw nothing on the website. And are you in Orwell too Dave? Members are really coming out of the woodwork here.

unionman

Planning to this despite not ever sorting out membership. My belly will be lurking under a Kraftwerk jersey.

Chips Lovell

unionman wrote: »

My belly will be lurking under a Kraftwerk jersey.

He's a model and he's looking good...

Raam

My Name is Mario wrote: »

He's a model and he's looking good...

sumthin sumthin, Tour De France, Tour De France.

unionman

Raam wrote: »

sumthin sumthin, Tour De France, Tour De France.

Adrenaline...Endorphin...ABCD Vitamin...

rottenhat

My Name is Mario wrote: »

I thought the ladies group met on Saturdays? Or is there another one?

It's the touring group - Denis Gleeson does the organising - although I think they have united with the ladies on occasion. The rides would usually be a bit shorter than the Boards spin.

zzzzzzzz

A bloke I know in the club was saying that there's usually a mid-week evening training spin organised starting around this time of year. Maybe not an official club spin as such, but just organised by a few of the lads (S2s mainly from what I gather). It may or may not be put up on the website but I'll ask him about it next week.

Hungrycol

What's the forecast for Sunday? If it's not raining you'll see me there.

MadHatter

Hungrycol wrote: »

What's the forecast for Sunday? If it's not raining you'll see me there.

Met.ie doesn't go as far as Sunday yet, but AccuWeather are predicting a warm, mostly sunny day, but with a chance of a shower.

http://www.accuweather.com/world-forecast-details.asp?partner=forecastfox&traveler=0&locCode=EUR|IE|EI026|ENNISKERRY&metric=1&fday=6

dave.obrien

rottenhat wrote: »

It's the touring group - Denis Gleeson does the organising - although I think they have united with the ladies on occasion. The rides would usually be a bit shorter than the Boards spin.

that's the one. the spin last weekend was 100km from my house to joe daly's and back, then did another 30km on my toblerone, for good measure. a shade slower than you're average boards spin too, but that suits me better, being quite the newbie!

Tackleberry

Does anyone have any info on the climb out of laragh (presuming last years route is used this year - http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/ireland/dublin/489598553) It look very steep on the terrain map but I've never even heard of it!

Any info would be cool as I'm trying to plan out my next few spins and this randonee could fit the bill!

sy

Had a look at the route but not too familiar with the terrain, are there any climbs as might need to change my block. Might make it up on Sunday. Thanks

Chips Lovell

The only serious climbing is the Sally Gap followed by the road along the shoulder of Djouce. Essentially its the same way the Wicklow 200 went until it gets to Laragh. Lumpy but nothing serious after that.

tomc

Just to clarify, is this spin open to anyone interested, am not a member of OW or any other club but am interested in the spin in prep for the W200?

Tom Corcoran

zzzzzzzz

tomc wrote: »

Just to clarify, is this spin open to anyone interested, am not a member of OW or any other club but am interested in the spin in prep for the W200?

Tom Corcoran

Yep - it's open to anyone - €10 entry

Chips Lovell

So who's in then?

Myself and The Claw should be in Ballinteer for sign on at 8:30. We don't plan on hammering at the front with the fast lads, rather getting around at our own pace.

Weather looks set to improve and the rain could hold off for the whole day:

Met Eireann wrote:

Sunday will begin mainly dry and bright but rain will arrive in the northwest and west by afternoon. The rain will extend further east during the afternoon and evening but parts of the southeast may stay dry until nightfall. Winds becoming light to moderate, southwesterly; highest temperatures 11 to 14 degrees Celsius.

short circuit

Could someone post a map with the location of the sign-in? Thanks.

zzzzzzzz

short circuit wrote: »

Could someone post a map with the location of the sign-in? Thanks.

http://orwellwheelers.org/news_events.html#randonnee

MadHatter

In. Hope to be there around 8:30am. I'll be all fredded-out in boards kit so I'll be easy to spot.

I'll be coming from Castleknock direction, if anyone wants to meet up on route then shout and we can arrange. Just don't expect me to help with directions to start, I get nose-bleeds when I cross the Grand Canal