Mount Leinster Challenge 2011 - Slaney Cycling Club

King Kelly

This years MLC takes place on Saturday May 14th. The Sportif covers 100km and 140km routes in the Blackstairs Mountains and starts and finishes in Enniscorthy.

We had a beautiful day last year and about 300 riders in total took part. This was about 50% up on the previous year and the maximum number we feel we can cope with. If you've done the event before you'll know the effort the girls put in to the home made food at the Kiltealy food stop so for 2011 we have put a limit of 300 riders and have introduced online pre entry. Entry will close when we reach 300 entries and we do not intend taking entries on the day.

Details of the event & online registration can be found on our website at www.slaneycyclingclub.com

The Mount Leinster Challenge helps fund Slaney CC’s racing and under age cycling activities. This year Slaney CC will have teams in the Gorey 3 day, Rás Mumhan & Tour of Ulster as well as numerous 1 day races around the country. We also promote novice and underage racing and will have underage teams at the Mayo Youth Tour, All Ireland Underage Champs and 1 day events. All proceeds will be ploughed back into local cycling.

Have a scroll down through our club website to see what we get up to!

DirkVoodoo

This is on Saturday, anyone signed up and heading down for it?

The tax man

Yeah I'm heading down.

DirkVoodoo

The tax man wrote: »

Yeah I'm heading down.

Awesome, won't be on my lonesome so!

The tax man

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Awesome, won't be on my lonesome so!

I'll try to keep up on the climbs.

ROK ON

I'm doing this but God only knows why. Feel total crap and legs feel like lead. No appetite at all for the bike.

Using this as an excuse to head to Kilkenny with the missus on Friday. Lovely tapas in Grapevine followed by pints in Tynans. If I don't quite make it to the start on Saturday then ye know where I'll be
:-)

DirkVoodoo

ROK ON wrote: »

I'm doing this but God only knows why. Feel total crap and legs feel like lead. No appetite at all for the bike.

Using this as an excuse to head to Kilkenny with the missus on Friday. Lovely tapas in Grapevine followed by pints in Tynans. If I don't quite make it to the start on Saturday then ye know where I'll be
:-)

I will keep an eye out for the Mapei kit, probably the last thing I will see as I am sure to be blinded by its awesomeness

Aquos76

As far as I know regristrations are now closed for this event, The organisers set a limit of 300 and that number was reached this week.

Full list of entrants is available here

http://ie.katana3.com/online/event.ctrl?cmd=startList&event=1162973356

chakattack

Anyone pulling out and have a spare entry?

ROK On - Let me buy you an excuse and more drinking time

ROK ON

I need some help.
I have to be back early so if I do the 140km I will have to start early (8/8.30am) and so cycle on my tod.

Alternatively if I do the 100km I can easily afford to start at 9.30am. However it seems a shame to just do the 100km. So if I end up doing this one, I would like to at least try to get to the mast of Mt Leinster.

Question: can anyone pinpoint where on the 100km route the road veers off to take in the private road up to the mast.
Question: on that private road, what is the distance travelled and altitude gained?

Thanks

cython

ROK ON wrote: »

I need some help.
I have to be back early so if I do the 140km I will have to start early (8/8.30am) and so cycle on my tod.

Alternatively if I do the 100km I can easily afford to start at 9.30am. However it seems a shame to just do the 100km. So if I end up doing this one, I would like to at least try to get to the mast of Mt Leinster.

Question: can anyone pinpoint where on the 100km route the road veers off to take in the private road up to the mast.
Question: on that private road, what is the distance travelled and altitude gained?

Thanks

I think this is the road you're talking about, which would put it maybe 67-68km into the 100km route, at a guess? You can estimate it from the location relative to the 2 nearby wooded areas on each map As for the distance and altitude gain, I'm afraid I've no idea!

MichealD

ROK ON wrote: »

I need some help.
I have to be back early so if I do the 140km I will have to start early (8/8.30am) and so cycle on my tod.

Alternatively if I do the 100km I can easily afford to start at 9.30am. However it seems a shame to just do the 100km. So if I end up doing this one, I would like to at least try to get to the mast of Mt Leinster.

Question: can anyone pinpoint where on the 100km route the road veers off to take in the private road up to the mast.
Question: on that private road, what is the distance travelled and altitude gained?

Thanks

You will past the entrance to the mast road on both 100 & 140km routes. (the 140 brings you back to the summit but just from a direction). The entry to the mast is very obvious, just opposite the car park for the viewing point at the Nine Stones. There is a locked gate at the entrance but an open stile at the side you can lift your bike over. There is a drinks stop at this point on the 140km route (not on the 100km route)

Haven't been up to mast in years but be very careful on descent - long steep straight road. Rough but fairly well maintained. I'm sure others will provide gradient/distance details.

Morrisseeee

I would like to be doing this sportive but I'm still recovering from a viral infection, bummer.

Re: ROK ON >

Feel total crap and legs feel like lead. No appetite at all for the bike.

I would like to at least try to get to the mast of Mt Leinster.

Pic of road:


Advice is therefore, don't do it !! or at least bring some serious gearing.
This is my account of the ascent.
Just to clarify:
Here's a breakdown:
1st 200m : 9.5%
Next 400m : 16%
Next 500m : 12%
Next 450m : 17.5%
Next 300m : 11%
Next 350m : 18%
Next 200m : 13%
Last 200m : 9%
Those long sections at 16/17/18% are the real killers, and can be further broken down into mini 25/30% sections.

EMPM

I did the climb to the mast in March. It certainly was the toughest climb i have ever done but i did enjoy it. Here are garmin details

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/75353357

The decent can be a bit tricky in parts, there is a cattle grid you have to cross at some point near the bottom and a few walkers to avoid.

I think you should give it a go it is doable, what have you got to lose.

NeedMoreGears

I'm in too.

Great event last year - although I nearly didn't make it out of the hall at the food stop (they kept bring more cake, sausages, sanwiches.........)

The climb nearly killed me. i had to zig zag a fair bit to get over the hill. This year have changed the rear cassette for an 11-30 so hopefully it'll feel a little easier

Sr. Assumpta

Happy climbing, and descending, today folks! Sun is shining, looks like it'll be nice day out in the 'mountains'........

I had been signed up and looking forward to this event for a while; I can't do it now though and am not sure whether I should be more disappointed to be missing out on the Foodstop than on the hills!

Anyhow, all reports posted by any of the other 299 of you will be read enviously....

(I hope the Tapas lived up to your expectations ROK ON )

barrabus

Very good event, hats off to the organisers, good food + marshalling. Generally good quality of rider so you weren't fearful some one would do something stupid in the bunch.

ROK ON

barrabus wrote: »

Very good event, hats off to the organisers, good food + marshalling. Generally good quality of rider so you weren't fearful some one would do something stupid in the bunch.

+1. Great day out. I much prefer these smaller events as opposed to the events that get 10-15 times the turnout.
Enjoyed this immensley.
First 60km covered in just under 2 hours. Great speed from front group into a wind. I sheltered toward rear - a few bikes lengths behind Barrabus.
Had to drop out for a wee break just before Bagnalstown - bad idea. There were no groups immediately behind us. A chap from Urlingford and myself made it to bottom of climb when we fianlly got back on.
Corrabut Gap - man thats a ball breaker.

Good food stops.
Marshalling very good.
I hope to be back next year.
Great part of the country for cycling.

Met Dirk, MAWS, Barrabs, Emty, The Taxman. Good to meet some old friendly faces.
This should be in everyones diary for next year.

ROK ON

http://pix.ie/paulbolger/album/410146/goto/2317789

mvt

Yeah,another very well run event from SCC-food stop just keeps getting better .Thanks to all the folks who put in a lot of effort to make for such an enjoyable day out for the riders.
Nice to see the gang as well.

spyderski

Well done to everyone in Slaney Cycling Club for a fantastic event. Safe, well marshalled, incredible amounts of food! IMO one of the best sportives in the country.

Morrisseeee

I would really liked to have done this, as I know the route quite well.
ROK ON > did you tackle 'the mast' ? it would have been tough after 'the Corrabut Gap' !!
Here's a great pic of the 'gap', showing elevation & pain.

The tax man

Fantasic day. Well done to all involved at Slaney CC, especially the ladies at the food stop,you know how to spoil us.
Great company onroute with a bit of friendly racing on the climbs.;)

Sr. Assumpta

Thanks for reports & photos! I see the Drogheda Wheelers are also contributing content, from their very own thread, obviously

After seeing my crew off from Enniscorthy I made my way to the Corrabutt Gap (yes, I am that sad; couldn't ride it, but couldn't stay away) in time to watch The Suffering........ Holy Cow but it was a good show!!!!!!

I was delighted to see two of my clubmates powering up in the first group of 10, and both still smiling! After that it was a long and steady stream of survivors. The earlier arrivals made that last climbing bend look a lot friendlier than I know it to be (DV); as time passed the heads hung closer and closer to the bar tape, and a lot of granny rings were engaged. I didn't see anyone dismount before the summit though, a tough bunch indeed!

ROK ON wrote: »

+1.

Met Dirk, MAWS, Barrabs, Emty, The Taxman. Good to meet some old friendly faces.
This should be in everyones diary for next year.

I met ROK ON (and obviously made a huge impression ^^ ). Also met Pinar_ello (I look forward to the photos!), NeedMoreGears (I'm told he has more now), What's a Derailleur? (First 'Lady' over The Gap, and still fresh as a daisy!), and of course, the impeccably turned out (as ever) DirkVoodoo.

mvt

Friendly,my ass!!
Just as I was cresting to glory I was blow away by some idiot on a fancy px. I think it was the gleaming cassette that distracted me

DirkVoodoo

Have they announced the winner for sexiest rider yet? I was told over the first pass of Mt.Leinster that I was in the clear, but I never got my podium at the finish!

macadam

Great day out, thats the way to do it well done Slaney CC and all involved, see you all next year.

andy69

yeah, have to agree....brilliant day out. Well done to SCC for the great organisation, and for the super food stop! wow!

By any chance, would anyone know the gradient on the Corrabut Gap? (just curious....heading to France in a couple of weeks, and wondered if it was a good 'taster' of what's in store). Must have been 15% in places anyways, was it???

macadam

andy69 wrote: »

yeah, have to agree....brilliant day out. Well done to SCC for the great organisation, and for the super food stop! wow!

By any chance, would anyone know the gradient on the Corrabut Gap? (just curious....heading to France in a couple of weeks, and wondered if it was a good 'taster' of what's in store). Must have been 15% in places anyways, was it???

Think it was more like 20%, and then you were meant to smile for the camera at the top.

andy69

jeez! no wonder i was on my smallest gear!!

531

Great spin, first class marshalling, back up, foodstop etc. Flawless. Well done Slaney CC and all involved.

Were they hailstones hitting me on the descent of Mount Leinster or was I just going so fast into raindrops that they were stinging?!

I averaged 15.39mph (24.62kmph), happy with that.

lennymc

very enjoyable day, will definately be back next year. great foodstop

TinyExplosions

andy69 wrote: »

(just curious....heading to France in a couple of weeks, and wondered if it was a good 'taster' of what's in store)

It depends on where you're going in France of course, but generally it's not much of a comparison. If we're taking about the famous passes the tour uses (Galibier, Hautacam, Tourmalet etc etc), then they tend to be less steep, but a lot longer -more like if you imagine that Sally Gap was about 3 or 4 times longer, but at the same gradient.

It's not bad training for French climbs though, so don't be too disheartened!

andy69

TinyExplosions wrote: »

...(Galibier, Hautacam, Tourmalet etc etc), then they tend to be less steep, but a lot longer

thanks! yeah, gonna do Alpe d'Huez, the Galibier, and the Ventoux (not all in one though!).
Reckon yesterday was a nice bit of training alright!

TinyExplosions

andy69 wrote: »

thanks! yeah, gonna do Alpe d'Huez, the Galibier, and the Ventoux (not all in one though!).
Reckon yesterday was a nice bit of training alright!

D'Huez is fairly steep at the very start, then flattens out a bit (so from maybe 15% to 10% or so) and if you're doing it fresh, is a long slog, but not too bad.

If you're staying in Bourg D'Oisans and approaching the Galibier from that side, again it's just very long, but not many massively steep ramps, and the descent from it back to Bourg is fecking awesome!

andy69

brilliant, thanks TinyExplosions, that's great info
cheers!
andy

NeedMoreGears

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Have they announced the winner for sexiest rider yet? I was told over the first pass of Mt.Leinster that I was in the clear, but I never got my podium at the finish!

'thought you were a shoo-in for that with your cool pink'n'black arm warmers......

Great day out. 34/30 is your only man for some of the steeper parts.

Met Dirk, MAWS, Sr. Assumpta & BeQuick (camouflaged in Naas CC gear).

Well done SCC - back next year for more

macadam

Loved the descending yesterday, road was in good condition as were the cattle grids, something wrong with my garmin showing a max speed of 138kph, my partner said we hit 78kph dont know what happened to my max speed.

ROK ON

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Have they announced the winner for sexiest rider yet? I was told over the first pass of Mt.Leinster that I was in the clear, but I never got my podium at the finish!

Get back in line bitch.
You know for a fact that I win that contest hands down.

Magilla Gorilla

Big thanks to all at Slaney CC for a well-run event.

Very organised sign-on, good route, well marshalled, great food stop and a shower at the end (the good kind!). Will probably do it again next year.

The only (small) crib I would have is that there was quite a bit of broken glass around the clubhouse- surely this could have been cleared before 300 cyclists started to congregate.

Does anyone know why we stopped for a few minutes just after the start? Just curious- not complaining!

Joxer_S

Magilla Gorilla wrote: »

Does anyone know why we stopped for a few minutes just after the start? Just curious- not complaining!

That was for the neutralised start, although SCC did clearly state that it was not a race.

Magilla Gorilla

Right, that makes sense. I thought we were just "neutralised" until we got safely out of town- didn't realise there was a formal start as such.

christeb

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Have they announced the winner for sexiest rider yet? I was told over the first pass of Mt.Leinster that I was in the clear, but I never got my podium at the finish!

I think this top gives me automatic victory!

Super day out and huge thanks to Slaney CC, that spread at 80+ k was amazing! Really enjoyed both climbs around the mountain, the pitstop 2nd time around was beautifully timed too. T'was my first sportive, got around in just over 5 hrs (of cycling), I'll be back

ROK ON

christeb wrote: »

I think this top gives me automatic victory!

I met you on the road and commented on that top. Great top to be cycling behind.

DirkVoodoo

christeb wrote: »

I think this top gives me automatic victory!

I didn't want to have to do this, but you leave me no choice. Here comes "the smoulder":



And Dirk takes the podium, the champagne and the podium girls.

*Thankfully you can't lose points for a stupid grin, front wheel on the wrong way and being in the smallest gear.

christeb

I see your stripey armwarmers and raise you with this

For extra coolness, this was posed for while waiting on my buddy to join me at the top :cool::cool::cool:

DirkVoodoo

Hmmm...I suppose my backwards facing wheel doesn't look so bad next to your upside-down bike.

Well played sir.

Aquos76

Another good few pictures from Saturday, courtesy of Ciaran Fallon are up

http://www.irishcyclingphotos.com/cycling-photos/1349/

The tax man

Aquos76 wrote: »

Another good few pictures from Saturday, courtesy of Ciaran Fallon are up

http://www.irishcyclingphotos.com/cycling-photos/1349/

Great shot of ROK ON.

DrGroove

I agree the Rok On shot is iconic - also that serious race face on him and the ballroom of romance in the background.

Aquos76

Which pictrue are ye referring to guys?