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Dying Sow 300/Dying Cow 200/Dying Sparrow 160
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31-08-2010 11:10pm#1
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23 is way too narrow for Audax
Thanks for the offer, I ordered off CRC this morning and it just shipped so I should have it in plenty of time.
good luck with that, I ordered a rear mech hanger of them last wednesday, got an e-mail that order had left the building same day, but it did not make it to my house in Kildare yet !!!!!0 -
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I was meant to start the 300 with LastGasp and the rest of the gang, alas as with nearly all CramCycles attempts to complete an audax this year, it looked like he would not make it this time, yet again. A long week and night before of work insured I was only leaving my house just before 8.
Having moved house recently, I was heading a different than normal route down to Bray, I went through Lambs cross and Enniskerry for a bit of a warm up before hand where I met a lovely lady at a petrol station just outside Enniskerry who stopped me to talk about men in lycra (she laughed when I said MAMILs) and how fitting and proper we all looked, very epic, adventurous and manly.
Getting into the clubhouse at I got signed up, very little debating got me to switch to the 200 as I was already 2.5 hours late. I am disappointed with myself but I was equally happy to get out for the day.
Off I set, and to my shock and surprise, I may finally have figured out how to follow a route sheet having made no mistakes up to the first control. At the first control I was met with a gratuitous smile from one of the nicest people I have ever met (from Sorrento I assume) plus two guys who had pulled in but lived just up the road, one a lovely Swedish girl who had tea in her flask if I wanted any and two a guy on a mountain bike who was recovering from a recent broken leg and was on his first trip out since it happened. Here I was plied with water, orange juice, apple juice, jellies, bananas, cake, ambrosia creamed rice and the list goes on. Eventually I had to say no more or I'll never move again. We chatted for far longer than I should have but a great stop. 40 minutes behind the last person, I felt happy I was not going too slow at this stage.
Heading on for Hacketstown, I was again alone for the trip, heading up through Aughrim and Rathdangan. Around 2 or 3 km from the control at Hacketstown, there was a warning of a steep descent before a mandatory stop. As I whizzed down the road, hands firmly on brakes the whole way down, I realised what I thought was the steep descent, was just an average descent before the short but sharp actual descent they warned you about. In hindsight, this 300yard stretch should be re-named a cliff as I suspect the similarities are enormous. I got into Hacketstown with my arms about to sieze from the strain going down that cliff put on them. Into Hacketstown, I put my socks and shoes on a radiator and let Paul and John pamper me with goats cheese, ham+cheddar sandwiches, a few elevenses bars, pineapple and possibly one of the nicest cups of tea I have ever had in my life. Just as I walked in two of the 200 lads walked out, so I felt a bit better for having gotten closer and inside I met a first attempter, who was debating whether to switch to the 160 or the 200. I recommended the 200 as she'd regret it if she completed the 160, she went for the 200 and set off, Paul informing her I'd be after her shortly so she'd have company. Topped up the old Bidons and set off again.
A km out the road Paul and John passed me, checked I was Ok before heading on to Bray. I turned for the 200km about 5km out the road and immediately realised why the 160 cut off at this point than somewhere else. About 5km, maybe less, after the turn off, I came across the steepest hill I have ever climbed. It was incredible, I had dropped into middle ring and the largest cog at the back and I made it to the first drive way before having to turn around to drop into, yes, for the only time I can ever recall, the Granny Gear. I mean, I was out of my saddle and this hill was so steep that with me standing vertical (not intentionally leaning over the handlebars) my shoulders were square with my brake hoods. I finally realised why everyone like cycling so much, the noises I was making going up that hill, well, pardon my french but the only other time I have heard someone groan like that, well actually, I better not finish this sentence :eek:.
I apparently passed the Dying Cow pub here but alas i was so focused (can be replaced with destroyed), that I completely missed it. Got as far as the Gap pub where I stopped for a Toastie and a cup of coffee as I was feeling a bit run down. Chatting to a few lads but on the way out one of them said, your a brave man coming into the pub like that and I quote "I couldn't walk into the pub when I'm out on my bike, in my gear....
... I'd have to have a pint, fair play to ya"
I headed onto Woodenbridge, where I bumped into the girl from the control at Hacketstown. Just after a puncture she was very pleased at her successful first attempt at a tyre change. More importantly she had discovered powerbars at the last control and immediately realised there benefits (although, I could be wrong, she maybe the only cyclist I have ever met who actually likes them). Kinda scared by the look of an addiction starting to form
I got a great rush of energy from the coffee, so I bid adue and powered on to the control at Woodenbridge. I sat here for quite awhile, having a honey mustard and chicken wrap, with a bag of Tayto C+O and a lovely cup of coffee. I decided to wait for the girl as it was done for me on my first attempt and I thought it a good call to pay it forward. She arrived not to long after me and I apologised for taking off, just got that rush which could not be ignored.
We discussed the route for a bit and where both happy that the last 50km were pretty relaxed compared to the first 150km. I rang Paul to say we\d be about 3 hours give or take and we set off.
A nice straight stretch we turned for the Coast Road after about 25km. It was starting to get dark now so the lights came on and we slowed down a good bit. My company had never done night riding before and wasn't too comfortable with it so we knocked it down to about 15km/hr and I tried to give a few tips I'd picked up from personal experience and other cyclists and all went well for quite some time.
I'll leave out the next bit about certain drivers on the coast road at this time as my blood will boil :mad:, anyway, the bad parts aside, we were on the home stretch and on time. One last, incredibly long hill and we were there.
Paul and John were there waiting for us, coffee in hand 1 minute later, rehydration drinks galore, scones, sandwiches, it was epic.
Pleased as punch to have completed my first audax, after many, many attempts. Big round of applause for the support on the day, yet again the service was unparalleled. Have to prepare to get my SR series on next year, after a year of nearly and almost, it was incredibly satisfying to get a completion on the record sheet.
Hopefully see a few more out for the Dying Light next month as it was a shame not to see more out for the day as it was a well run event and a few more faces would have made quite a difference.0 -
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Had to pack due to digestive system failure on route to Woodenbridge.
It was good to exchange more than a "hello" with LastGasp as I managed to keep up for longer in this event than the others we started together.
Congrats to LastGasp on achieving the Super Randonneur award. I stand corrected, but I think they'll only be handing out 4 or 5 nationally this year and at least two will go to boardsies.
Congrats also to CramCycle for finally making it and fair play for staying with the first timer and encouraging her to stick with the 200. She'll have a greater sense of achievement and might think about doing more. It can be a bit daunting cycling alone in the dark for the first time.
The Dying Cow climb is my favourite after the Marie Blanc in the Pyrenees. The Cherokee bit of me told me that the guy who climbed it before me had run out of gears, but made it up in one piece. I was running a 34/28 so could just about keep a straight line. My arms are feeling it now, though. Miles in the arms are needed more than miles in the legs for this event with over 4000m of climbing, most of it in the first half. I was fortunate enough to be able to look left as I passed the Dying Cow (Tallons), because I knew where it was, having done it last year. It looked quiet enough.
Can't say enough about the feeding, friendliness and moral support by Paul and John at the two controls. Sorrento/Audax Ireland are legendary for this. It was like as if the community centre at Hacketstown was made of food. The radiator was put to good use too. It was hard tearing myself away.
Just also want to point out that the sow, cow and sparrow have each made a full recovery. 3 coincidental misdiagnoses.
See you on rottenhat's Dying Light.0 -
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Thanks LastGasp and tax man for the encouraging words and hats off to anyone who did the 300k on Sat, with those hills and the weather its impressive. Yeah, I did go for the medal as the boys in the clubhouse at the end recommended I get one and you never know... it might be motivation to start a collection
Can't remember who said they were going to mount their medals but whoever is doing that I say fair play! Make sure they're displayed somewhere prominent!! As for the food and water... I totally learned my lesson, doinked myself over rightly with that. Next time around (hopefully) I'll be forcing food into myself the whole way round and I'll make sure the carb loading takes priority the night before. I wonder what time the Dying Light starts at? If its 6am I'd be sorely tempted to squeeze it in before my night out, I happen to know that its relatively flat and I'd love to do another one of these with less hills (read: suffering) involved!!0 -
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Thanks. I'm being unusually philosophical about it. There's a 300 in Taiwan, if I needed one badly. Mrs Rughdh would kill me though. Don't think it justifies remortgaging.The tax man wrote: »Sorry to hear about your problem rughdh. Shame to get so far and have to dismount. Good to hear you're OK though.
How are the knees these days? 0 -
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Thanks. I'm being unusually philosophical about it. There's a 300 in Taiwan, if I needed one badly. Mrs Rughdh would kill me though. Don't think it justifies remortgaging. How are the knees these days?
Hmm... Taiwan is a tad on the far side.
The old knees are still acting up but I'm hoping to start rottenhats audax. I hope when he said flat he means it. Hopefully I'll get a scan soon to see if there's any serious damage.0 -
You're right.The tax man wrote: »Hmm... Taiwan is a tad on the far side.
It'd be good to see you there and good luck with the scan!The tax man wrote: »The old knees are still acting up but I'm hoping to start rottenhats audax. I hope when he said flat he means it. Hopefully I'll get a scan soon to see if there's any serious damage.0 -
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