Cycle a motorway.... legally.......

velogalway

Some of you may know that the final section of the new Dublin to Galway M6 is due to open before Christmas. Some friends and I are in negotiations with the contractors building the motorway in the hope that they may allow us to stage a charity cycling event on the Sunday before it opens.

This could be your only chance to cycle a motorway along newly laid very smooth tarmac for a distance of 50k beginning and ending in Galway city. The charity we intend supporting is the Irish Pilgrimage Trust which brings children with special needs on holidays.

I will keep you posted on our progress but we are hopeful that the spin will take place on either the 13th or 20th of December.

projectmayhem

Slightly related but something Ireland should look at, a cycle "highway" between two southern Holland towns...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zgf8wSx7vxU

Esroh

Class Idea . I work out of galway as a van driver although I a mayo man and have been wondering would someone come up with this. Keep us posted and I'll get the Westernlakes CC leisure crew to turn up:D

velogalway

Esroh wrote: »

Class Idea . I work out of galway as a van driver although I a mayo man and have been wondering would someone come up with this. Keep us posted and I'll get the Westernlakes CC leisure crew to turn up:D

Thanks Esroh, we should have news before the weekend.

monument

projectmayhem wrote: »

Slightly related but something Ireland should look at, a cycle "highway" between two southern Holland towns...

And, also slightly related, is the cycle superhighways which run alongside motorways going into Copenhagen, as linked to before...
http://www.copenhagenize.com/2009/08/copenhagen-bicycle-superhighways.html

vektarman

velogalway wrote: »

Some of you may know that the final section of the new Dublin to Galway M6 is due to open before Christmas. Some friends and I are in negotiations with the contractors building the motorway in the hope that they may allow us to stage a charity cycling event on the Sunday before it opens.

This could be your only chance to cycle a motorway along newly laid very smooth tarmac for a distance of 50k beginning and ending in Galway city. The charity we intend supporting is the Irish Pilgrimage Trust which brings children with special needs on holidays.

I will keep you posted on our progress but we are hopeful that the spin will take place on either the 13th or 20th of December.

Great idea, I'd be happy to support this especially as I've got a bit lazy in the last few weeks!

Alkers

projectmayhem wrote: »

Slightly related but something Ireland should look at, a cycle "highway" between two southern Holland towns...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zgf8wSx7vxU

Similar to the clontarf seafront cycle track which doesn't exactly work that great over here?

DurtyMurty

projectmayhem wrote: »

Slightly related but something Ireland should look at, a cycle "highway" between two southern Holland towns...

Ah - looks like a grand spot for walking the dogs, parkin the car or even storing a few bales of silage for the winter:D

stopped_clock

velogalway wrote: »

I will keep you posted on our progress but we are hopeful that the spin will take place on either the 13th or 20th of December.

@velogalway: Any update on a date? I'll be in Galway this weekend, so I'd head along if it was on the 13th.

jautukas87

New motorway to open on Dec 18th

Any update if its going ahead?

McTigs

I'd imagine if this was going ahead it would have to be this weekend and we'd know by now.... contractors probably made some ****ty excuse about Health and Safety or insurance or some such

Shame cos it's a great idea and the weather forecast is ideal for the next few days

Smooth brand new open road, no cars, weekend, cold, sunny and a light breeze.... ahhhhh!!!!

Esroh

McTigs wrote: »

I'd imagine if this was going ahead it would have to be this weekend and we'd know by now.... contractors probably made some ****ty excuse about Health and Safety or insurance or some such

Shame cos it's a great idea and the weather forecast is ideal for the next few days

Smooth brand new open road, no cars, weekend, cold, sunny and a light breeze.... ahhhhh!!!!

+1
Still alot of work being done on exits etc especially around Athenry. Presume having to use it during floods did not help.

rochefan

The motorway from Limerick to Nenagh is completed but not open to traffic yet, there is still work to do on the Limerick end. I know some guys that are cycling it the whole time as there are just big boulders at the exit which you can cycle pass. One guy is using it at night time as its guaranteed to not have potholes. Completely finished new motorway, cycling heaven

velogalway

McTigs wrote: »

I'd imagine if this was going ahead it would have to be this weekend and we'd know by now.... contractors probably made some ****ty excuse about Health and Safety or insurance or some such

Shame cos it's a great idea and the weather forecast is ideal for the next few days

Smooth brand new open road, no cars, weekend, cold, sunny and a light breeze.... ahhhhh!!!!

Very close to the truth McTigs....our big problem is that the road is opening on a Friday, it was originally planned for a Monday and the day before would have been ideal for the cycle as all works would have been completed.

We are still negotiating but not hopeful, they are citing health and safety as an issue and also the fact that they are working 24 hrs per day to get it finished. We will know for certain in the morning and I will update you.

As an alternative can I highly recommend this:

http://exit16kiltullaghcycle.com/

These guys already organise a 600 mile cycle through France with 150 participants so this local one should be very well organised.

A great way to kick off 2010! See you there.....

jautukas87

velogalway wrote: »

As an alternative can I highly recommend this:

http://exit16kiltullaghcycle.com/

Thanks was searching for some cycles around Galway area.

Any more similar cycles around Galway in JAN/FEB/MAR ?

McTigs

jautukas87 wrote: »

Thanks was searching for some cycles around Galway area.

Any more similar cycles around Galway in JAN/FEB/MAR ?

and preferably ones that don't involve getting out of bed at the crack of dawn on new years day

Esroh

jautukas87 wrote: »

Thanks was searching for some cycles around Galway area.

Any more similar cycles around Galway in JAN/FEB/MAR ?

This looks like a great start for 2010 getting a metric Century in on day 1.


Last season Leisure Cycles in Connacht did not start until April with the WestCoastWheelers 100km.So depending what your looking for. Most of the training races that are run do have leisure groups. They go up in distance every few weeks.There are no frills so really its just a chance to ride in a group with people of your chosen level.Keep an eye on Connacht Cycling.com for the dates.

jautukas87

Esroh wrote: »

This looks like a great start for 2010 getting a metric Century in on day 1..

Agreed, and plan on doing it.

Esroh wrote: »

Last season Leisure Cycles in Connacht did not start until April with the WestCoastWheelers 100km.So depending what your looking for. Most of the training races that are run do have leisure groups. They go up in distance every few weeks.There are no frills so really its just a chance to ride in a group with people of your chosen level.Keep an eye on Connacht Cycling.com for the dates.

Last year I did Aware Connemara Cycle. ("Saturday 18th April: Choose from a 30 mile or 55 mile route.") Week before WCW one.

cdaly_

velogalway wrote: »

As an alternative can I highly recommend this:

http://exit16kiltullaghcycle.com/

A great way to kick off 2010! See you there.....

Oooh! I'll be down Ballygar way on Jan 1st. Wonder should I go?

Thing is, I haven't done any long runs before (last I remember was cycling around Connemara over Easter Weekend about 30 years ago). My daily commute is about 27km and that feels pretty comfy so I reckon I should cope.

How do food stops work and such? Do I need to bring much grub myself? Do these events end up being something of a race or is it just touring? Will I be able to pace myself (I tend to do flat-out on the commute)?...

tester25

cdaly_ wrote: »

How do food stops work and such? Do I need to bring much grub myself? Do these events end up being something of a race or is it just touring? Will I be able to pace myself (I tend to do flat-out on the commute)?...

The Exit 16 Kiltullagh cycle event will not be a race of any form and will be similar to events such as the CROI cycle ie find your own pace and you are sure to find someone else to cycle along with. The food stop will provide you with hot drinks sandwiches etc so there should be no need to carry your own.

There will be mechanical support available on route with shower and parking facilities at the start/finish location.

Esroh

cdaly_ wrote: »

Oooh! I'll be down Ballygar way on Jan 1st. Wonder should I go?

Thing is, I haven't done any long runs before (last I remember was cycling around Connemara over Easter Weekend about 30 years ago). My daily commute is about 27km and that feels pretty comfy so I reckon I should cope.

How do food stops work and such? Do I need to bring much grub myself? Do these events end up being something of a race or is it just touring? Will I be able to pace myself (I tend to do flat-out on the commute)?...

27km is alot more than alot of us can get in at the moment.It will be no bother
At any event with a mass start the front tends to fly off,(front of Croi went at average 35/40 kph untill Maam)
Just take the day as it comes and you'll learn how to pace yourself