An Post Cycling Series 2011 - Dates Announced

Jawgap

here

http://www.anpost.ie/AnPost/content/Cycling/An+Post+Cycle+Series/

and here

http://www.facebook.com/#!/AnPostCycling

Dave11

Did the 'Tour de Burren' last year and enjoyed it so much that I'm just off the phone to the hostel and were booked in again!

I really have nothing but good things to say about this series and in particular Clare.... good raods, great weather and food stops were well stocked and well placeds along the route.

For anyone who did it you'll know what I mean when I say....bring on the 'Cheesecake'

The hostel I used was in Kilfenora and it was really nice. Really nice girl called Orla running it and there was a Flea on that weekend and she said it's on again this year so good craic in the bar at night and Ballvaughan is only 20-25 mins away in the morning!

Have I sold it to ya yet..... ha ha ha

thebouldwhacker

Gonna miss the burren (and west cork 200) out of the country :mad:

ednwireland

tour of sligo again for me great day out

Mr Velo

ednwireland wrote: »

tour of sligo again for me great day out

What's the Tour of Sligo like? The Ox Mountain challenge obviously has some testing climbs??

ednwireland

nah not too many but like evrything round here its lumpy 3 main climbs coolany, easky lough and the main one of ladies brae, (i'll gpo and hunt out the stats from last year

Daithi BC

Mr Velo wrote: »

What's the Tour of Sligo like? The Ox Mountain challenge obviously has some testing climbs??

There's a map of the route on mapmyride (but it's private, so you can't see any details). It lists it at 154 km and 835m of climbing.

ednwireland

Daithi BC wrote: »

There's a map of the route on mapmyride (but it's private, so you can't see any details). It lists it at 154 km and 835m of climbing.

sounds about right mine said 155km last year cant remember the height gain

Gipo3

1460m of climbing.

CheGuedara

Mr Velo wrote: »

What's the Tour of Sligo like? The Ox Mountain challenge obviously has some testing climbs??

Mapmyride LINK

Spent three years in Sligo IT and in all my cycles never headed for Easky or Ladies Brae - man was I missing out, they're good climbs!

Easky is almost stepped getting up to the lough and Ladies Brae is a good, consistent climb that puts the 'challenge' in OX mountains challenge. Mind the descent though, the surface last year was a bit loose and there's one bend that could (and did) throw a few riders wide on the exit and off into the bog (for a thankfully soft landing!).

It's an excellently run event though and I'd have absolutely no problem recommending it as highly as the tours de Burren and Waterford.

fran oconnor

Did the one in Trim last year, that was very good i'll defo be doing a few this year. much rather do these than the Wicklow tbh.

G rock

would love to get to a few of these but realistically will prob only make the one in meath. what's it like and how does the tour series rate as an event for a relative beginner? would prob be fit for the distance but haven't done any events or cycle in groups

CheGuedara

G rock wrote: »

would love to get to a few of these but realistically will prob only make the one in meath. what's it like and how does the tour series rate as an event for a relative beginner? would prob be fit for the distance but haven't done any events or cycle in groups

Well they're not all 160km epics - most (all) of the events typically have three routes, a 60km, a 100km and a 160km. Some even have a shorter one on a following or preceding day.

Training up to being able for the 100km is infinitely possible with the time between now and Meath and even if you wanted to start by taking in a 60km you'd be fine if you got going up to even 40km comfortably in training. On the day you'll be in a group and the additional distance will take care of itself as you roll along.

It's very possible to train for these kind of events solo but if you can get together with a few friends (for charity or whatever if you like) or even get in with your local club it will make training a more fun and social thing so you'll be less likely to let training slip and will increase your confidence cycling in a group of cyclists before hand.

G rock

thanks che,

do a good few of my spins around there and can cope with solo distance up to about 120k already (well, up to when i hurt my knee a few weeks ago!),

so was just wondering if they're well run etc and a more sociable event to enter? think i might stick it on the to do list for the year if it comes recommended!

CheGuedara

G rock wrote: »

thanks che,

do a good few of my spins around there and can cope with solo distance up to about 120k already (well, up to when i hurt my knee a few weeks ago!),

so was just wondering if they're well run etc and a more sociable event to enter? think i might stick it on the to do list for the year if it comes recommended!

Ah well, now yer talking a 160km game! Definitely consider the longer ones if you're currently able for 120km rides, if you find yourself in a group and get stuck into sharing the draft you'll be amazed how much a difference group cycling can make when covering distance.

Of the An Post rides I can definitely recommend the Tour of Sligo, the Tour de Burren and the Tour of Waterford - they're top drawer in terms of route (challenging and very scenic) and organisation (food stops, support, marshalling etc all excellent). If you can only do one of the events this year pick it from this three.

I've also done the Meath event but its the one I'll be slowest to do again. Some will say it was a perfectly good event but for me I feel there is room for a bit of improvement. It's still steps ahead of some other events I've ridden and if I heard the route was less circuitous (bajillions of junctions onto/across main roads!) this year I'd have no probs giving it the thumbs up.

The only one I've not done personally is the Rebel Tour but a lot of my club mates have completed it and the reports have been very favourable and I would be very surprised if they don't go back to do it again this year.

The An Posts are generally sociable and it's v. rare that you would find yourself on the road by yourself - you'll nearly always find yourself in a group of riders with the same ability as you. They're a more pacey type of event that say the Ring of Kerry as riders will tend to be of the more trained variety and putting down (or attempting to put down) a good pace but there's always a good buzz.

If you're interested in these kinds of events don't forget to give your local cycling clubs leisure event(s) a look in. They might give you a way to build up group cycling confidence before riding larger events. As a soft rule they're generally smaller events, you might not get a Tshirt/medal/jersey/other (but they'll be cheaper to enter anyway) but they're by and large very well run as clubs put their best foot forward when sharing their best route with its participants.

Gipo3

Tour of Sligo entry now open here.

ednwireland

beat me to it

online entries now open

more info
http://www.sligosportandrecreation.ie/cycling/how-to-enter/

entry form
http://www.sligosportandrecreation.ie/wp-content/uploads/a4-entry-form-20111.pdf

online entry
http://ie.katana3.com/online/quick.ctrl?cmd=signupFrm&event=622851897

Read more: http://www.fourmasterscycling.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=11#ixzz1FGB5v0IG

CheGuedara

Got my registration pack for the tour of Sligo today - regular fare all in all but two interesting things;

1. theres an event jersey that can be bought for those interested in having one (no clue as to the appearance but could be pretty tasty if they decide to keep to county colours) - 20 beans makes it reasonably priced

2. the 160km route has been reversed and slightly modified - prob gonna be a longer haul over both Ladies Brae (S->N) and Easkey Lough (N->S) but with fast descents off them. Should mean a flatter return to Sligo just as the tank is hitting the empty mark too though!

Have the accomodation booked - looking forward to what'll be the first long one on my to do list for the year

ednwireland

see you there then (i'll be the lardy one at the back)

Lazairus

fran oconnor wrote: »

Did the one in Trim last year, that was very good i'll defo be doing a few this year. much rather do these than the Wicklow tbh.

I found meath quite dull route, I did the 160 , it was tough but not alot to see, too many Bothereeens

Possedion

delighted they have a 100km route for sligo... I was going to give it a miss for just the 60km.

Gipo3

Just picked this up.

john__long

Where they selling those Gipo? What riverside did they speak of!

Mr Velo

Gipo3 wrote: »

Just picked this up.

Nice... these have to be purchased right?? (i.e. you don't get one for just taking part in the An Post Tour of Sligo?)

Gipo3

€20 in Offices beside County Council. Has teagasc on outside wall. Just got them today but they are very limited. Prob wont be open till tuesday now.
Here ya go

john__long

Gipo3 wrote: »

€20 in Offices beside County Council. Has teagasc on outside wall. Just got them today but they are very limited. Prob wont be open till tuesday now.
Here ya go

Thanks! I took a spin in and got mine!