Viking Ride 2011 - Entry now open

vikingride

New sportif on this years calendar.

Saturday May28th.

http://www.vikingride.com/

2 Routes - The Warrior 150k & The Longship 100k

mickmcl09

(Shameless bump....I know) but is there much interest among the boardsies for this one.

Quigs Snr

It's interesting that there is a car ferry component to both routes (Passage East). You don't see that often on a sportif (first time ?). Being from the area, they are some very nice routes. Pretty hilly stuff all along that coast after the car ferry on to Woodstown, Dunmore etc...

Sign me up.

seve65

havent reg'd yet, but will be doing this one. You cant beat a rip-roaring Viking challenge.

Inquitus

Quigs Snr wrote: »

It's interesting that there is a car ferry component to both routes (Passage East).
Sign me up.

There better be tea and cakes on the Car Ferry

mickmcl09

Inquitus wrote: »

There better be tea and cakes on the Car Ferry

A slice of carrot cake, choc fudge cake or tea brack on offer while queuing up for the ferry...... We didn't think to organise a sign to ''thank Inquitus for the cake'', enjoyment will be guaranteed!

ktz84

I was on looking for something to do while I was down in Tramore for the Ras but it's rather unfortunate that this is on the Sat and not the Sunday. Ah well. Looks like a nice route alright. I've done parts of it when I was down last year.

I've had the experience of the ferry ride on a Sportive before as there is one that includes a trip over from Portaferry - Strangford. Nice break before you hit the hill out Strangford towards Downpatrick.

I was going to take the ferry over last year to explore out Wexford way but never got round to it. Like the coast road between Tramore and Dungarvan too much. Maybe this year though.

Good luck to all that are doing this.

JacksonHeightsOwn

my favourite part of Ireland, all around Passage East is absolutely stunning

i wont be able to make this weekend myself, but would urge an anybody interested to do so,

because routes dont get much more picturesque than this!

groovyg

This looks good. Is there a better map of both routes? For some reason not sure if its my browser but am only seeing half the map on that website.

mvt

Quigs Snr wrote: »

It's interesting that there is a car ferry component to both routes (Passage East). You don't see that often on a sportif (first time ?). Being from the area, they are some very nice routes. Pretty hilly stuff all along that coast after the car ferry on to Woodstown, Dunmore etc...

Sign me up.

The Pink Elephant 200k Audax out of Middleton takes you on a car ferry across the Lee(I think).
Great event ,very scenic and a nice touch with the ferry part.

mickmcl09

Here is a link to the routes

Warrior 150k
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/169920

Longship
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/169854

Links to the Routes via the website will be back up ASAP.

mickmcl09

Halfords have just confirmed that they will be putting up a minimum of 10 spot prizes worth €25 to €40 each. Bike Tool Kits, Cleaning Kits etc.

Quigs Snr

Whoops. The route section on the website should be fine now Mick. Give me a call if there are any more problems.

mickmcl09 wrote: »

Here is a link to the routes

Warrior 150k
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/169920

Longship
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/169854

Links to the Routes via the website will be back up ASAP.

wanderer 22

newbie to road cycling here-can anyone tell me if this event would be suitable for a beginner like myself or is it just serious racers who take part?! Got my first road bike two weeks ago and have done 30 and 40 kilometre trips so far-now i'd like to try a longer distance in a group setting..would this be a good way to start? Apologies for sounding like a complete idiot:rolleyes:

mickmcl09

colm18 wrote: »

newbie to road cycling here-can anyone tell me if this event would be suitable for a beginner like myself or is it just serious racers who take part?! Got my first road bike two weeks ago and have done 30 and 40 kilometre trips so far-now i'd like to try a longer distance in a group setting..would this be a good way to start? Apologies for sounding like a complete idiot:rolleyes:

pm sent.

Climbs come early in both routes. Rochshire hill @ 8km, perfect road surface, gradient between 6 and 14% for 800metres. Tory Hill @ 16km, road surface a little rough for the first half km, road smoothens and the gradient gradually builds up to 20% after 1km and stays between 10 and 16% for the last km of this 3km climb.

Tory Hill is comparable to Seskin in Carrick, in terms of effort, but no 2 hills are the same. Seskin demands alot of effort at the last corner before the top, whereas on Tory the effort is required half way up.

The 100k is doable for anyone with a good base fitness, just take your time for the first 35km. But you'd need a basic training plan on the bike in place for maybe 6-8 weeks at least, prior to doing the 100k.
The Broomwagon will only be doing 20km/hr for the first 35km.

mickmcl09

2 free entries for the best depiction of a Viking Warrior to be integrated into the outline of the 'Warrior' Route. (one on a bike maybe)
&
2 free entries for the best depiction of a Longship head piece to be integrated into the outline of the 'Longship' Route.

Entry detail on our Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Waterford-Ireland/Viking-Ride/193680627342175

mickmcl09

On line entry closes on Sunday night 22nd May.

Muckers

I'm in. Where are the food stops on this one?

mickmcl09

Muckers wrote: »

I'm in. Where are the food stops on this one?

For the 100k - Foodstop in Horeswood GAA club @ 58k.
For the 150k - 1st FS in Inistioge @ 45k & 2nd FS in Fethard-on-Sea Community centre @ 90k.
There will be food provided afterwards also.

mickmcl09

Track pumps will be available at the food stops as well to get the pressure back up in the tyres if your after doing a puncture repair.

No need to worry about more serious mechanicals either, Halfords will have 4 mechanics setting up in Listerlin, after which they will move to the far side of New Ross and then they will move to the Ferry.

There will be broomwagons to pick you up and bring you to the next mechanic station. They'll have everything except spare bikes:cool:

seve65

you Viking boys r so professional ! Anyway I just signed up.

also noticed u r showing up on a uk sportif site : http://www.sportivescene.co.uk/viking-ride-2011/, interesting to see if u get any takers from over there.

mickmcl09

1 week to go to the Viking Ride

mickmcl09

6 days to go
5 climbs having gradients reaching 20%
4 Decents exceeding speeds of 70km/h
3 Food stops
2 Routes
1 Ferry

groovyg

I registered a few days ago, can you sort out the weather as well :rolleyes:
not sure I can handle another long day of cycling in gale force winds.

Have you got many entries?

mickmcl09

groovyg wrote: »

I registered a few days ago, can you sort out the weather as well :rolleyes:
not sure I can handle another long day of cycling in gale force winds.

Have you got many entries?

Wind won't be an issue for most of the route (big hedges), assuming it's southerly or south westerly. A little exposed after Fethard-on-Sea to Duncannon on the 150, plus road surface is rough for 6km around Fethard on Sea as well.
If there's wind it should be blowing at your back from Dunmore East to the City.
We are expecting 100+ on the day.

mickmcl09

Getting lots of e-mails and phone calls today about entry on the day.
Just to clear it up for anyone on here that might be doing it.

Entries to the event will be accepted on Saturday Morning. Event has to roll out at 10am for the Gardai, as the route goes through the City.
No late sign on fees.
Parking is free.
Facilities have guaranteed hot showers.
Secure locker facilities are available, reception will issue you with a swipe card to open/close your own locker.

Details of the event www.vikingride.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Waterford-Ireland/Viking-Ride/193680627342175

mickmcl09

The Ferry is free for participants, just don't forget to put on your event wristband @ sign on!

Dubba

Thanks for the info mickmcl09, good to see a reasonably priced Sportive and the route looks nice!

Anyone know how long it would take to drive from Cork city in the morning?

henboy

Dubba wrote: »

Thanks for the info mickmcl09, good to see a reasonably priced Sportive and the route looks nice!

Anyone know how long it would take to drive from Cork city in the morning?

I'd say an hour and half should do ye ... Lovely route this one with a nice few rises in it . I spent many a good mile on the bike with Mickmc09 wish him all the best and everyone else involved .... I'll be there make sure you say hello i'll be on a focus cayo ..

Dubba

Cheers henboy will do, I'll be one of the few on a PX :pac:

Inquitus

Heading down from NCD at about 7am, will be sporting a boards Jersey on the start line. Hopefully the weather does us a good turn, I don't expect sunshine, but gusts less than 40kph would be nice

Dubba

Weather looks good for tomorrow according to windguru.cz ....

no rain, not too heavy cloud cover and light winds (relatively :pac:).
But could be a bit chilly tho. 13°C

http://www.windguru.cz/int/index.php?sc=47761

mickmcl09

Just checking the signage on the routes right now. Weather seems to be holding up well over night. Wind is only slight southerly at the minute in Fethard on Sea.

mickmcl09

Small drizzle at 6 this morning. Sky is looking bright right now. Rain should hold off. No sign of rain coming. It'll be a cloudy normal Irish day.

Inquitus

Just back to Dublin after this now. Really enjoyed it, did the 105Km, really well organised until just after the Ferry when marshalling and signing seemed to disappear a wee bit and mine, and another few lads, 105km varied from plan slightly!

Thanks to the angels with the cake at the ferry!

New max speed on a bike of 70kph, 1220m of climbing....Waterford is either up or down, they don't seem to do flat....

Bonked a bit 10km from the end, muchos gracias to the 2 fellas who towed me home!

mickmcl09

Big thank you to all the participants today. See you all again on the last Saturday of May, 2012, hopefully.
We hope you enjoyed yourselves. We'll do our best to rectify some of the glitches for next year.

And finally, a hugh thank you to all the people who made the day happen, you know who you are.

Tonio

Great day. Thanks to the organisers. One tip for next year.......leave out Tory Hill!!!

slowsteady

Inquitus wrote: »

Just back to Dublin after this now. Really enjoyed it, did the 105Km, really well organised until just after the Ferry when marshalling and signing seemed to disappear a wee bit and mine, and another few lads, 105km varied from plan slightly!

Thanks to the angels with the cake at the ferry!

New max speed on a bike of 70kph, 1220m of climbing....Waterford is either up or down, they don't seem to do flat....

Bonked a bit 10km from the end, muchos gracias to the 2 fellas who towed me home!

Saw the Boards shirt while watching on Tory Hill, I'm sure the style looked much better going down the other side.:)

I have my running session on the hill in the morning - it is just as painful.

Well done, my girls were very impressed.

Clippers

Inquitus wrote: »

Just back to Dublin after this now. Really enjoyed it, did the 105Km, really well organised until just after the Ferry when marshalling and signing seemed to disappear a wee bit and mine, and another few lads, 105km varied from plan slightly!

Thanks to the angels with the cake at the ferry!

New max speed on a bike of 70kph, 1220m of climbing....Waterford is either up or down, they don't seem to do flat....

Bonked a bit 10km from the end, muchos gracias to the 2 fellas who towed me home!

It's was a tough day yesterday. Big thanks to Inquitus for towing me around unti the ferry, those hills shredded my legs early on, I really need to get out on the bike more this year.

Feeling the pain in the legs this morning...

henboy

Was indeed a tough day I did the 150km . Got stuck in no mans land for around 40km not a sign of anyone until the food stop in fethard on sea where I taged along with a group on to the ferry . My knee gave out going up woodstown hill was enjoying it up till then .

Good day well organised ........ enjoyed the water taxi

I'll look forward to this next year ....... well done Mick Mc great success ..

seve65

A very well organised ride with the motorcycle out riders and vehicles.

Tory Hill was a 'nice challenge', took my heart rate to the max chasing up the field. Almost came off twice, as in my early sleepy state, I had two clashes with back wheels, one was well iffy and Im surprised i didnt go down the bike seemed to spring back up when heading down to the tarmac. Apologies once again to the other guys:( , if u r on here, hope there was no damage to your wheels.

Several fabulous descents from that point on to Inistioge (nice place btw). There was 1 dodgy gravelled section of road later on which it may have been better to go around at whatever the cost to the distance ! Spoke to boardsie Quigs Sr for a while, nice to meet you, who passed on a tip on how to sprint and a few other nuggets. Also spoke briefly to Docman(?) and Cunavalos. Several others on the ride were good company. All in all a good spin at 4h 40 and av 30.6k http://app.strava.com/rides/636278 (espec as I noticed my back was practically flat at the end, I thought it felt like something was dragging on the back , seems I have a not so slow puncture:mad:). Not sure why but my garmin only has 143k though, no obvious omissions on the route.

Appreciated the hot showers at the end. Well done to the organisers, and all for a good cause.:):)

Inquitus

seve65 wrote: »

A very well organised ride with the motorcycle out riders and vehicles.

Tory Hill was a 'nice challenge', took my heart rate to the max chasing up the field. Almost came off twice, as in my early sleepy state, I had two clashes with back wheels, one was well iffy and Im surprised i didnt go down the bike seemed to spring back up when heading down to the tarmac. Apologies once again to the other guys:( , if u r on here, hope there was no damage to your wheels.

Several fabulous descents from that point on to Inistioge (nice place btw). There was 1 dodgy gravelled section of road later on which it may have been better to go around at whatever the cost to the distance ! Spoke to boardsie Quigs Sr for a while, nice to meet you, who passed on a tip on how to sprint and a few other nuggets. Also spoke briefly to Docman(?) and Cunavalos. Several others on the ride were good company. All in all a good spin at 4h 40 and av 30.6k http://app.strava.com/rides/636278 (espec as I noticed my back was practically flat at the end, I thought it felt like something was dragging on the back , seems I have a not so slow puncture:mad:). Not sure why but my garmin only has 143k though, no obvious omissions on the route.

Appreciated the hot showers at the end. Well done to the organisers, and all for a good cause.:):)

You were supposed to pass the ferry the first time round, and loop over the climb, returning to the ferry.

I missed this too, only found out later.

Inq

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/169920

seve65

ah I see ! Now i recall some of the guys talking about another climb before we boarded the ferry. I thought they were talking about something additional for the craic, rather than the official route.

mickmcl09

seve65 wrote: »

ah I see ! Now i recall some of the guys talking about another climb before we boarded the ferry. I thought they were talking about something additional for the craic, rather than the official route.

It was on the route alright, I think we'll have to provide an incentive at the top of it for next year.

There were a number of reasons why (most, I think) of the participants didn't do it.
1. Our angels at the Ferry, with the Carrot cake and Chocolate Fudge Cake.
2. Worried that by doing it without everybody else that were waiting at the Ferry, that you would be on the next Ferry on your own, when you got back around.
3. Ya, that it was something else 'for the craic'.
4. We should have had additional signage / marshal at the Ferry.
5. Too tired to do it.
6. The gradient. It does look like a wall from the Ferry.

groovyg

Thanks to the organisers for putting on a really good event, really enjoyable cycle and lovely route. Missed out on the loop at the ferry as well although I'm not sure I would have done it anyway, cake was needed at that stage.

Aquos76

Plenty of photos from the event taken by Ciaran Fallon now available on

www.irishcyclingphotos.com

mickmcl09

€1700 raised for the Irish Heart Foundation - thanks to everybody for your generosity!

Some spot prizes still not claimed. Go to the Viking Ride Facebook page for names and e-mail your contact details to us.

Quigs Snr

Special thanks to the broomwagon who stayed with the missus on the 100k for the day and made sure herself and her mate (who's previous longest cycle was 20 mins!) made it home. Good event, well organised but if you could make Tory Hill a little little flater for next year that would be super. Fudge cake was the highlight of the day.

Good to talk to so many Boardsies on the day too. One to mark in the calendar for next year. Great to have another top quality event of this calibre in the region, between this, the Sean Kelly Tour and the Tour of Kilkenny among others, the local riders are spoiled.