Gaelforce West - Discussion & Afters

Sniipe

VoteFoley wrote: »

Could you recommend shorts to wear that would be good for the cycling as well as the running? I am pretty much a total beginner to the cycling and was in pain after the short cycle during the training (still quite sore between my reproductive satchel and my waste portal!!)

You could try these shorts: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/triathlon/10/dhb_Earnley_Cycling_Bib_Shorts/5360024489/ which are used by triathletes

As for the pain in your barse you could try the product DZNuts, a chamois cream as the promotion below advertises:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uYBlBn004Q

"Protect your junk"

VoteFoley

That is one of the freakiest and funniest adverts i have seen in a while, excellent stuff Sniipe.:p

Appreciate all the input about the shorts, will have a look at them all and see what i come up with.

If anyone finds those Armadillo tyres anywhere will you let me know.

Bought a bike from chainreaction a Vitus something or other, hope it stays in one piece until after the race! Anyone know anything, good or bad, about them?

The lads on the training course were talking about having a dry run of the full race in the 2nd week in July in case anyone is interested. I won't be there myself i'll be training my drinking arm at a wedding:D.

Sniipe

Kearney cycles in Galway (headford road) always has those tyres in stock and I believe they sell well. Give him a buzz to find out how much they are and if he has them - 091 563 356 (I will be buying mine from him soon)

A dry run in July sounds good. I wonder if there is anything sooner that I could book into?

Peterx

Offroad tri Carlingford 4th July
IMRA Lugnaquille hillrun 27th June
IMRA Galtees hillrun 5th July
Park Duathlon first Wednesday of month
Wexford tri 20th June (sold out?)
IMRA Glenmacnass 11th July - this one is recommended, it's a decent distance but race organisers instructions include knowing the course so a recce is required.

After GF there's an event in Achill on the 12th September but that's probably for another thread

Sniipe

Peterx wrote: »

Offroad tri Carlingford 4th July
IMRA Lugnaquille hillrun 27th June
IMRA Galtees hillrun 5th July
Park Duathlon first Wednesday of month
Wexford tri 20th June (sold out?)
IMRA Glenmacnass 11th July - this one is recommended, it's a decent distance but race organisers instructions include knowing the course so a recce is required.

After GF there's an event in Achill on the 12th September but that's probably for another thread

Thanks for the info Peterx, but what I like about gael force is that I'm an average joe who fits in with other average joes eternally looking to get fit. I imagine (and of course I'm sure someone will come along and say otherwise) that the IMRA events which are specialised would chew me up and spit me out paddy last which is not what I'm looking for.

adagio

Sniip,

You should check out the Imra races.. this year has seen alot of new people at all levels.
I wouldn't be put off by not having experience - check out the Leinster League - you'll love it.;)

NavanHobbler

Just wondering if anyone has any bright ideas of a type of bike to buy? I know more about training badgers than I do about biking and need some help? Some sort of racer would probably be best, but I plan on doing triathlons maybe after gaelforce so.....

Esroh

Anyone who wants to test their fitness levels for GF can check out the following on the Weekend of July 18th and 19th

Joyce Country Challenge (Hillwalks which you can run )http://www.lakedistricthwc.com and click the JCC page

Westernlakes Polka Dot Challenge (cycle challenge with 3 routes)
http://www.westernlakescc.com

Both clubs look after entrants well during and after the events and there would be plenty of accom. available in the area. The events starts are only 10 miles apart and a few people have done both in the last few years

Enduro

Sniipe wrote: »

Thanks for the info Peterx, but what I like about gael force is that I'm an average joe who fits in with other average joes eternally looking to get fit. I imagine (and of course I'm sure someone will come along and say otherwise) that the IMRA events which are specialised would chew me up and spit me out paddy last which is not what I'm looking for.

Its exactly the opposite. Have a look at the results pages from IMRA races and see the huge range of times being run. There is a place for everyone. If lads of 70+ can race them then I'm sure you can!

Peterx

IMRA is very inclusive - practically the entire field on a Wednesday night consider themselves average Joes who happen to enjoy running in the hills.
The race director for the circuit of Glenmacnass has stipulated that you must know the course and in fairness to her has organised three different recces!
from IMRA thread http://www.imra.ie/forum/topic/id/1751/ today;

Recce of Glenmacnass:

Sorry for the late notice, but I will be recceing this route tomorrow at 8.30am.
Recce will take around 3.5 hours.
Meet at Lynhams pub in Laragh at 8.30am.


If this doesn't suit, I will also be doing a recce of each half of the route as follows:

Thursday 25th June: Recce of Start to Glenmacnass waterfall carpark. Meet at Glenmacnass waterfall carpark at 7.00pm to drive back to the start.

Thursday 2nd July: Recce Glenmacnass waterfall carpark to finish. Meet at 7.00pm at Lynhams in Laragh to drive up to the glenmacnass carpark.

Please let me know if you will be coming to any of these recces.
niamh dot oceallaigh at arup dot com
Phone
Please bring a compass if you have one and usual gear for being out in the mountains.

Niamh

VoteFoley

NavanHobbler wrote: »

Just wondering if anyone has any bright ideas of a type of bike to buy? I know more about training badgers than I do about biking and need some help? Some sort of racer would probably be best, but I plan on doing triathlons maybe after gaelforce so.....

How you getting on Hobbler?

I have attached a picture of the bike i bought, hoping it will suffice to get me through GFW. Not sure about triathlons though so maybe someone could advise....


....seriously though i took advice from some of the other lads and tried www.chainreactioncycles.com and bought a reasonable bike there.
Hope your 'training' goes well in slane this weekend....:P

thebouldwhacker

NavanHobbler wrote: »

Just wondering if anyone has any bright ideas of a type of bike to buy?...

Hey NavanHobbler, there are many such threads here, jump in and swim around:D:D

VoteFoley wrote: »

I have attached a picture of the bike i bought, hoping it will suffice to get me through GFW.

ahem.... nice....At least you have somewhere to put your running shoes........:)


@votefoley, which bike did you get??

VoteFoley

[quote=@votefoley, which bike did you get??[/quote]

I went for the cheap old Vitus Razor Triple, think it should do the job.
I am totally new to the cycling game but it seems light and the gear set up is what was recommended to me by more experienced pals of mine.
Will let you know how it works out for me....
The spec i obtained was as follows;

Razor Triple

Fork
Aluminium 1.1/8” Aheadset
Headset
TH industries n°28 1’’ 1/8
Stem
ITM racer alloy Black
Handlebar
Vitus ITM Road racing 300
Grip
EVA black
Rear Derailleur
Shimano Sora 8 Sp
Front Derailleur
Shimano 2200
Shifter
Shimano 2200
Brakes
Vitus by Tektro, dual pivot with adjustable pads
Bottom Bracket
Truvativ square axle
Crankset
Truvativ ISOFLOw 28 x38 x48
Cassette
SRAM PG850 8 sp 12x26
Chain
Lg 8 Sp
Rims
Rigida Flyer Black
Front Hub
Joytech
Rear Hub
Joytech
Tyre
Michelin Dynamic 700x 23c black
Pedals
Composite – Toe Clips
Saddle
Vitus Sport
Seatpost
Alloy black 27.2 x350mm
Total Weight
9.97 Kg

thebouldwhacker

how bad:)

You should pop over the the cycling forum now and again, good bunch over there and org boards cycles etc... enjoy the bike.


Are people from this forum planning any kind of meet up before/after GF?

Have ye entered as a boards team or is it just a group of computer literate mad mountain runners???:D

yop

thebouldwhacker wrote: »

how bad:)

You should pop over the the cycling forum now and again, good bunch over there and org boards cycles etc... enjoy the bike.


Are people from this forum planning any kind of meet up before/after GF?

Have ye entered as a boards team or is it just a group of computer literate mad mountain runners???:D

There is an official event after the GF, myself, my brother and mate put in a team but it makes shag all I think

Cracking bike there VoteFoley, real Mary Poppins

Slogger Jogger

Enduro wrote: »

Its exactly the opposite. Have a look at the results pages from IMRA races and see the huge range of times being run. There is a place for everyone. If lads of 70+ can race them then I'm sure you can!

Sure you even have 40 year olds winning (regularly)

Enduro

:D:D

thebouldwhacker

Anyone thinking of doing the bike challange a few weeks later? Looks fan-diddly-tastic:D

adagio

Hey guys,

A few of the Navan and Carlow guys have set up a Facebook training group.
We are a small group (7) w/different experience (marathon/IMRA/cycling..etc) and accordingly have different strengths/weaknesses.
Some of the guys have bought their first racing bike - some have run their first Imra race - and some are coming back from injury chomping at the bit to get back training (that's me)!!:o
The initial idea was a training forum for a group who know each other. But the info on this thread has been impressive and we would welcome your experience and enthusiasm.
Please feel free to join and make a contribution - only those who are interested in training please.... no random bloggers!

For those interested log onto Facebook and search 'GF6 training group 2009.'

Cheers.:D

Slogger Jogger

I'm not doing GF myself but I ran this hill (Croaghanmoira - T099 865) as part of a long run this morning. A much shorter version of the run starting from T096 846 would be a good training session for running Croagh Patrick. Its shaley and technical underfoot in places. Never as bad as CP, but a good exercise in stamina and determination. The roads and trails around there are ideal prep for pre and/or post run cycles too.

Poncherello

what website do you use to enter these T codes

Slogger Jogger

Thats a grid reference from an ordnance survey map. In this case is map 62, which covers south Wicklow. Not sure if there is a website where you can use them?

ChickenBalls

Hey Enduro,

What tyres did you use on your racer last year?
I've a cervelo time trial racer and was wondering if this would do with good tyres. If needs be I have a GT mountain bike with slicks but the speed difference between both is double or more...

How much exactly is on/off road for the cycle?

seanie500

have been researching bags for this race and from what i see this is the one to get if you can cope with the price:p

isnt too big so you could use for long runs as well

stores stores 2L of water plus pockets for your bars, first aid kit, phone Keys etc. anyone have one of these? any opinions on em? think i'm gonna buy one

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Camelbak_Octane_8_Plus_-_2_Litre_Hydration_System/5360028103/

Enduro

keith123 wrote: »

Hey Enduro,

What tyres did you use on your racer last year?
I've a cervelo time trial racer and was wondering if this would do with good tyres. If needs be I have a GT mountain bike with slicks but the speed difference between both is double or more...

How much exactly is on/off road for the cycle?

There was a debate somewhere around here somewhere about TT/Tri bikes for GF as oppossed to a road bike. My own opinion is that it would be an interesting experiment worth trying. Should definitely be better than an MTB with slicks over the GF course.

I used continental GP 4000s last year.

only a 1 - 2 K is off-road, off the top of my head. All the uphill is cycleable on a slick tyred road bike (or was for me at any rate). I ran with the bike for about 200m on the downhill, and the rest was fine.

Stary

seanie500 wrote: »

have been researching bags for this race and from what i see this is the one to get if you can cope with the price:p

isnt too big so you could use for long runs as well

stores stores 2L of water plus pockets for your bars, first aid kit, phone Keys etc. anyone have one of these? any opinions on em? think i'm gonna buy one

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Camelbak_Octane_8_Plus_-_2_Litre_Hydration_System/5360028103/

Hey Seanie,

can you let us know what you think of the bag when you get it? am thinking of getting one myself for GF6. Thanks...

Poncherello

The eventual weight of the bag when running will be a huge factor. I run in to work a bit and find if I can leave some bits and peices in work the day before it makes a huge difference. I am wondering are these water pouches in such bags really that necessary for this race. I will have 3 bottles on my bike possibly an extra one at transition and think that will be plenty.
Especially on the first run, surely a water pouch in a rucksack is just extra weight that can be avoided.
Would be interesting to hear Enduro's thoughts on this

seanie500

Stary wrote: »

Hey Seanie,

can you let us know what you think of the bag when you get it? am thinking of getting one myself for GF6. Thanks...

Will do

Theyre actually in 53 degrees north in blanch so check em out there

had a quick look the last day thought they might be a little big but was in a rush so need to have a proper gander

Enduro

Poncherello wrote: »

The eventual weight of the bag when running will be a huge factor. I run in to work a bit and find if I can leave some bits and peices in work the day before it makes a huge difference. I am wondering are these water pouches in such bags really that necessary for this race. I will have 3 bottles on my bike possibly an extra one at transition and think that will be plenty.
Especially on the first run, surely a water pouch in a rucksack is just extra weight that can be avoided.
Would be interesting to hear Enduro's thoughts on this

I didn't need any liquids on the run, although I think its mandatory to start with a supply of liquids. I just used a water bottle on the bike. That was enough for me (didn't even finish that). However, and this is a biggie, I need less water than anyone else I know, so my experience may not necessarily be relevant to anyone else.

I definitely agree that minimising your bag weight is very important.

adagio

Hey guys,

Bought the 25ltr Camelbak Hydration Pack (3ltr fluid volume).
I find it comfortable while running/cycling.
The pockets are accessible while running - happy enough with it.

I'm gonna take a trip to the race site in a few weeks... all those interested are welcome to join me.
Pm me if you interested.

Cheers.