sky ride cycle

raindodger

hi guys a bit of advice please
my sister a bit of a fitness freak is talking about the etape sky ride in clare on the 21st aug and is trying to rope me in to do this.
this is about an 84 mile ride around clare which was also ran last year .
did any body do this and is it really difficult
also is it only for the real deal or have novices any place and would you have to have a good road bike

ashleey

I did it last year. It is hard work but you can find your speed. I wouldn't attempt it without a road bike though as you'll be dispirited and miss the great scenery. A novice with training can do it so go for it and enjoy it. I was worried it would be for the serious guys only but it wasn't at all.

Joxer_S

I did it and it was pretty enjoyable despite the well documented problems with the feed stations that were discussed on another thread here.

My aunt also did it despite having never done a ride longer than 60km before, she's in her mid 40's and was on a hybrid!

Edit: Also I got the feeling that because of the higher profile of it over other sportives there were more inexperienced riders there, my brother also completed it after taking up cycling 3 months before, he wasn't able to pedal 10k before that. It's absolutely doable for a beginner with the right training.

smacl

I'm mid 40s, only started cycling last January, did this on a hybrid, and strangely enough also did it with my sister. Loved every minute of it, going back this year, and doing the Tour de Burren as well.

You have plenty of time to train up, and do this in a comfortable time. The trick is as easy as getting out on your bike every weekend and building up to the distance. The course isn't that hilly, and the scenary, local people and general buzz is great. Go for it!

Jawgap

have a look on youtube for a few videos from the day and you'll see there were all classes of bikes and all shapes of people participating.

I did it and despite my bitching about the organisation of it I both enjoyed it and I'm going to do it again this year.

You'll need to get some training in to get the most fun out of the day.

Here's the link to the pre and post event discussion for 2010

_sheep

I did it last year after only being cycling since June, really enjoyed the day but the climbs were more difficult than I expected. I'm 5' 9" and I think I was around 20/21 stone at the time and had no realy problems - just slip in with a group and enjoy the scenery.

michael196

Raindodger

absolutly go for it, 84 miles is not that massive compared with >100 for other sportives.

more experienced cyclists are getting well used to seeing novice and new people on hybrids and moutina bikes at these events ,

take ur time, find a group that moves at your pace ( that happens automatically as you fall away from one group because they are moving too fast , you fall back on another slower moving group, more suited to ur speed).

the scenary is spectcular, the crowds are enthusiastic and welcoming, the craic is mighty, the finish is class,

absolutly go for it and enjoy..... then I think 2 weeks later ( or earleier do the Sean Kelly Tour of waterford !! )


there will be a few Pfizer jerseys there if you feel any performance anxiety !!!

raindodger

thanks for all the feedback. Found the links very informative.
Now its time to take the next step and go for it.
Advice is now needed on the equipment that i shall require starting with the bike Can anybody recommend a good entry level road bike
Have been looking at websites and am confused to what to look for.
What are the major things, what gearing should the bike have?
Are there any brands of bikes to stay away from?
I will be able to qualify for the cycle to work scheme.
thanks again, hope someone can help me out.

lennymc

i did the etape last year, and found there were a lot of hills, so maybe consider a compact chainset (smaller front chain rings) to help with climbing. im sure other people will be along to advise on the bike, but as for gear you should (IMHO) allow for a couple of tubes, a pump, a saddle bag, shorts, shoes, cycling jersey, helmet, gloves, sunglasses, water bottles and cages.

you will enjoy it!!

Lumen

raindodger wrote: »

Can anybody recommend a good entry level road bike
Have been looking at websites and am confused to what to look for.
What are the major things, what gearing should the bike have?
Are there any brands of bikes to stay away from?
I will be able to qualify for the cycle to work scheme.
thanks again, hope someone can help me out.

First decide exactly how much you want to spend (you can spend under or over €1000, it's just the limit for tax relief), then find out from your employer whether there are any restrictions on who they will buy from (including outside Ireland).

Without this information it's impossible to give any recommendations.

raindodger

hello guys have finally decided on my budget will just stick around the thousand mark in total for bike and gear so presume this will roughly mean 900 for the bike.
Will be claiming through dept of education so will use the list on the o.p.w site
Live in the south limerick north cork area so if i could find something reasonably close

michael196

what about the bike to work scheme, increases ur budget up to 1500 euro, and pay off over 1 year ? coupled with tax free on the amount ( i think)

otherwise, look at the kellys range of road bikes or Scott speedsters roadbikes ( I highly recommend those ) !!

raindodger

michael196 wrote: »

what about the bike to work scheme, increases ur budget up to 1500 euro, and pay off over 1 year ? coupled with tax free on the amount ( i think)

otherwise, look at the kellys range of road bikes or Scott speedsters roadbikes ( I highly recommend those ) !!

That was my budget after the scheme net cost to me around five hundred euro. could i expect something reasonable for this?

Lumen

raindodger wrote: »

That was my budget after the scheme net cost to me around five hundred euro. could i expect something reasonable for this?

Yes, you can get a decent bike for €900.

kincsem

Spend €30 on a track pump. Keep the tires at around 100 psi and the bike rolls faster. Its the best spend on a bike imo.

Good luck. And if you think you will spend only €100 on clothing you will be amazed at the excuses you will invent over the next few years to buy dozens of cycling jerseys.

kincsem

lennymc wrote: »

i did the etape last year, and found there were a lot of hills, so maybe consider a compact chainset (smaller front chain rings) to help with climbing. im sure other people will be along to advise on the bike, but as for gear you should (IMHO) allow for a couple of tubes, a pump, a saddle bag, shorts, shoes, cycling jersey, helmet, gloves, sunglasses, water bottles and cages.
you will enjoy it!!

This is the best advice. You need to get the lowest climbing gears to make it easier to get up the hills. A compact with 50/34 chainrings on the front and a 12/27 cassette on the back (or an 11/28) gives a top gear of 50/12 = 4.16 high gear and a 34/27 = 1.26 low gear.
I use a triple with 52/39/30 on the front and 12/27 on the back for a low of 30/27=1.11.

lennymc

kincsem wrote: »

Good luck. And if you think you will spend only €100 on clothing you will be amazed at the excuses you will invent over the next few years to buy dozens of cycling jerseys.

i've been there . winter, summer, long, short sleeves, full zip, half zip,, ooh look its blue, etc etc

High Nellie

Joxer_S wrote: »

I did it and it was pretty enjoyable despite the well documented problems with the feed stations that were discussed on another thread here.

There weren't any problems with the feed stations last year unless you wished to stop for a sit-down lunch. There was adequate food and water to supplement what you brought to get you around. If you need tea, coffee, sandwiches, soup, etc, along with a table and chair, bring money to stop at a cafe.

ashleey

Exactly. But on a serious note, bring something with you because after 80 k on energy gels only you will be sick. Unless you have the constitution of a pro rider of course.

smacl

ashleey wrote: »

Exactly. But on a serious note, bring something with you because after 80 k on energy gels only you will be sick. Unless you have the constitution of a pro rider of course.

+1, the back end of the event when you are tired and peckish may not be the best time to try your first ever zipvit gel, even if they look more hi-tech than the flapjacks and banannas you brought yourself

Gotta say, I'm looking forward to the tour de burren with all that beautiful scenary and cheesecake.

raindodger

lennymc wrote: »

i've been there . winter, summer, long, short sleeves, full zip, half zip,, ooh look its blue, etc etc

here"s me thinking about wearing an o"neills county jersey and a pair of runners.
When i make it to clare it will be easy to pick me out
Must get serious about bike shopping and then see whats left in the budget

Lumen

ashleey wrote: »

Exactly. But on a serious note, bring something with you because after 80 k on energy gels only you will be sick. Unless you have the constitution of a pro rider of course.

Not all energy gels are bad, it's the fructose that causes digestive problems (and possibly other health problems - google fructose cancer).

Plain old maltodextrin can be freely consumed until your knees fall off, in my experience.

ashleey

Is that those tablets/ sweets from the chemist? Little blocks of orange flavour sugar? Brings back child hood memories of being sent back in by mum to apologise for taking them off the counter when I was five.

anoble66

+1 - really looking forward to the burren again - and the cheesecake

Must train smarter for the etape this year - actually found this one tougher than the Sk160 for some reason.

smacl wrote: »

+1, the back end of the event when you are tired and peckish may not be the best time to try your first ever zipvit gel, even if they look more hi-tech than the flapjacks and banannas you brought yourself

Gotta say, I'm looking forward to the tour de burren with all that beautiful scenary and cheesecake.

raindodger

Been looking at bikes what do you think about these bikes and prices.
Giant defy 4 675

specialized 16 730
specialized 24 770

trek1.2 799
which of these would be best value and have you any comments

thanks in advance

ashleey

I'm on my phone so can't check those but as a spec for that ride you need to aim for a compact double chain set or maybe a tiagra set up? Then go for the lightest of the lot as they are all reputable brands with good warranties.

johnam

raindodger wrote: »

Been looking at bikes what do you think about these bikes and prices.
Giant defy 4 675

specialized 16 730
specialized 24 770

trek1.2 799
which of these would be best value and have you any comments

thanks in advance

I am doing the etape this year, as a first time cyclist, and bought the Trek 1.2 around three weeks ago. I haven't done anything too long on it yet, just 30 km spins, but I have to say it is comfortable, light and gear changes are smooth. Online reviews say the brakes are a bit soft, but I don't think I would want anything more severe than these as the last thing you want when you are zipping downhill at 50+ kmph is to pull the brake and for them to bite so hard that the wheels lock up. There is so little rubber between you and the ground that you would just skid.
As I say, I am a first time cyclist and so I don't have much experience of the other bikes, but the Trek 1.2 gets the thumbs up from me. Change the pedals to clip in ones though, not the ones with the straps that come with the bike