Howl at the Moon Night Ride - Dublin, 10pm, 17th May 2011

emtroche

Check out our new event!



The Howl at the Moon Cycling Challenge offers a new experience to cyclists. The challenge involves an organised cycle around the streets of Dublin on the night of the full-moon. Through our organisation of the Race Around Ireland we have become aware that many people enjoy cycling at night-time. For this reason we hope to use our organisational experience to provide a safe, fun and rewarding challenge which is open to everybody ...over the age of 18.

The main cycle will cover a 50k loop around the streets of Dublin. There will be a shorter 10k loop for people looking for an easier challenge.

The event will start and finish from FitzCycles.ie, which is situated in the Old Church Hall, Kilmacud Road, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin. It will start at 10pm on the night of the full moon - Tuesday, 17th May 2011. The event will run each month under the full moon, so check your calenders for the next ones.

Click here to register and to see more details
http://www.racearoundireland.com/howl_at_the_moon.asp

More details to follow!

Captain Havoc

Finally a mid-week cycle I'm in.



I do understand why there's no midweek events

_DMac_

i taught this was gonna finish at the howl at the moon boozer and we would go get hammered in your spandex and slide around in the cleats

night cycle around dub could be interesting though

Jawgap

Bit past my bedtime but I'll be up for this.

LD

What'd the pace be like on this? I've never done a group cycle, I just commute and head off on my own. I've done 30km stuff but I'm no speedy gonzales. I'm not the type to be up for early cycles, this appeals to me tho cos I like city/night cycling.

funnights74

Gr8 stuff, any plans to do this in Cork?

Kiith

Might try this. It's a week after my knee surgery, so i might just stick to the 10km though.

Captain Havoc

opcowner2007 wrote: »

i taught this was gonna finish at the howl at the moon boozer and we would go get hammered in your spandex and slide around in the cleats

I'm sure this could arranged

_DMac_

Captain Havoc wrote: »

I'm sure this could arranged

:eek:

DisasterIRL

The 50k costs €25, seems a bit expensive to me, there is food and a goodie bag apparently, but I've been at larger charity events that offered more and cost the same

rattur

Is this a race or just another let's-have-a-ride-together-and-pay-for-it type of event which (probably) exist only in Ireland?

Captain Havoc

rattur wrote: »

Is this a race or just another let's-have-a-ride-together-and-pay-for-it type of event which (probably) exist only in Ireland?

Sportives, leisure and charity events happen everywhere.

Alkers

Never done any serious road riding e.g. racing bikes/drop bars but have done 160km before on a sponsored cycle and am a MTBer. Is this for spandex clad racers or are we welcome on commuter bikes etc. Is it possible to get a refund if you opt in for the 50km and end up doing just the 10km. Also what if I just happen to be passing the bike shop at that time and fancy going for a 50km spin on public roads?
Also don't have a CI license.

LD

Simona1986 wrote: »

Never done any serious road riding e.g. racing bikes/drop bars but have done 160km before on a sponsored cycle and am a MTBer. Is this for spandex clad racers or are we welcome on commuter bikes etc. Is it possible to get a refund if you opt in for the 50km and end up doing just the 10km. Also what if I just happen to be passing the bike shop at that time and fancy going for a 50km spin on public roads?
Also don't have a CI license.

I also lack lycra.

Tackleberry

Really looking forward to this one - better be a clear night!

Cookie_Monster

Simona1986 wrote: »

Also what if I just happen to be passing the bike shop at that time and fancy going for a 50km spin on public roads?

do that and just don't pay 25 quid for a sandwich would seem to be the sensible option...

also was anyone else disappointed this wasn't based out of the Pub in town by the same name?:P

DisasterIRL

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

do that and just don't pay 25 quid for a sandwich would seem to be the sensible option...

also was anyone else disappointed this wasn't based out of the Pub in town by the same name?:P

Big time! I was instantly interested, now not so much

Captain Havoc

Who's doing this? Is it a single speed affair or are we allowed to bring real bikes?

Hermy

From the website:

Any type of bike is welcomed as long as it is roadworthy and has working lights front and back.

€15 for a 10km spin seems ridiculous. The spin from home to FitzCycles.ie will be longer than this and won't cost a cent.

petethedrummer

It's for charidee isn't it? Anyway, it's dark most nights so you can just head out on your own if you don't want to pay.:pac:

Captain Havoc

Hermy wrote: »

Any type of bike is welcomed as long as it is roadworthy and has working lights front and back.

It says that but when I show up in my lycra with deep section wheels will I be the only one not on a fixie, wearing skinny jeans and smoking rollies?

Hermy

petethedrummer wrote: »

It's for charidee isn't it?

Not sure if it's for charity or for Donncha's RAAM attempt.

CianRyan

Ah, I would have done this but I've plans on Tuesday night.
Hopefully there'll be something similar again.

chakattack

Captain Havoc wrote: »

It says that but when I show up in my lycra with deep section wheels will I be the only one not on a fixie, wearing skinny jeans and smoking rollies?

Real cyclists don't fit into skinny jeans :cool:

JMJR

Hermy wrote: »

Not sure if it's for charity or for Donncha's RAAM attempt.

from the website:
Charity:
2011 will see Donncha Cuttriss - Race Around Ireland finisher 2010 - become the 1st ever Irish Solo entrant in the legendary Race Across America (RAAM). His chosen charity for the event is Aisling Group International www.aislinggroupinternational.ie. This first Howl at the Moon challenge will be used to assist Donncha in this awesome endeavour.

JMJR

Tackleberry wrote: »

Really looking forward to this one - better be a clear night!

from met.ie

Tomorrow (Tuesday)

Rather cloudy and damp tomorrow Tuesday with rain and drizzle at times. Longer drier spells too though, once again the best of these across the southern half of the county. Mild, with afternoon maxima ranging 15 to 18. Staying breezy, with moderate to fresh southwesterly winds.


TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy and breezy, with outbreaks of rain moving down southwards across the country. Lowest temperatures 8 to 11 degrees, with fresh and gusty westerly winds

Hermy

JMJR wrote: »

from the website:
Charity:
2011 will see Donncha Cuttriss - Race Around Ireland finisher 2010 - become the 1st ever Irish Solo entrant in the legendary Race Across America (RAAM). His chosen charity for the event is Aisling Group International www.aislinggroupinternational.ie. This first Howl at the Moon challenge will be used to assist Donncha in this awesome endeavour.

I read that too.
So which is it - charity or RAAM fundraising?

poochiem

from what I saw yesterday around town the whole place is pretty much in lock-down for the Garda Overtime Benefit - will the route be around a car-park?

seamus

poochiem wrote: »

from what I saw yesterday around town the whole place is pretty much in lock-down for the Garda Overtime Benefit - will the route be around a car-park?

Most streets will be reopened tomorrow around 5.30pm. Will actually be a nice city centre spin with no cars parked everywhere and presumably taxi ranks being monitored.

emtroche

Due to the Queen’s visit and difficulties we have had acquiring necessary resources we have been forced to alter tomorrows Howl at the Moon.

We are still going ahead with the cycle, however it will be run in a more casual format. We have decided to run the event as a no fee cycle.

We have decided to omit the entry fee, so for this reason people should be aware that there will be no medical back-up, no food, no signage or marshalling. The 10k cycle has also been cancelled and due to uncertainty regarding road closures there may be changes made along the way to the 50k cycle. Tomorrow’s cycle will be used as a trial run for the next Howl at the Moon due to take place on the 15th of June.

However there will be marshal cyclists to guide the way and nobody will be left behind.

There will be no entry fee but you are welcome to donate to the Aisling Group on the night if you wish.

Remember to bring your helmet, lights and high-vis clothing.

We hope you can still make it along for what should be a great night of cycling!

Hermy

Will participants still be required to get CI insurance in order to take part?

emtroche

Hermy wrote: »

Will participants still be required to get CI insurance in order to take part?

No

emtroche

Heres the route for tonights Howl at the Moon if anybody wants to download it to their gps
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/355758

Captain Havoc

Anyone floating around before this, I'll probably be in Dublin at around eight or before (the next time I check here)?

CianRyan

Wish I was getting ready for this.

Alkers

I'll be there

Rofo

So how did this event go? I was thinking of heading out but too knackered by 8 o'clock :rolleyes:

Caroline_ie

The ride was a success. 2 group headed off, a faster group who completed the 50km and a slower group who did 30km. The faster group was fast, but not crazy fast, we were still waiting for people stuck behind lights at junctions and no one got lost.
I am sure more people will comment once they get up. I was back home at 2am after 22km commute back.

Fitzcycles is deffo worth a trip to Stillorgan if you have a a few quid to spend. Their selection is spot on and the staff is really nice too.

Captain Havoc

Before the event had begun my night was ruined by some half-wit at work. We had builders in and they told me their boss was coming from Dublin with a key for the shop to lock it when they'd finished, I still offered them my key anyway and said I'd pick it up in Dublin (where they live) and they declined. Just before roll out the inevitable happened, phone call, no key, I told them to wait as I had done everything I could but I still felt I should get back to them. This is why at the end I had to dart off so quickly when I would have liked to chat for fifteen minutes.

It was nice to meet a couple of boardsies aswell as some old faces. I was delighted to have a leisure event to go to during the week as I work weekends. The route itself was good, the lack of light did cause obvious observational difficulties but it was fine. I think with marshalling the night would have been excellent as there was a lot of stop-starting at junctions but I fully understand due to HMERII routes were uncertain and the organised aspect had to be abandonned. The route was 50km as Caroline stated not mad fast, at Killiney there was a sprint to the top of the hill, I tried to keep up with the skinny guys but I knew I was too fat for this. Near the end a few guys decided to speed up and I stayed with them as I wanted to get out of Dublin quickly. I thought we'd be in at midnight but it was about 12.30 - 45 when we got back, which might be a little late but again with marshalling, I'm sure you could knock 15 minutes off this.

I feel I'm a bit of a moaning Michael this morning due to lack of sleep and I'm not writting about this event in the positive manor it deserves but I only got to bed at 3 and was up again at 7h45, so hence the grumpyness. To sum it up, next Howl at Moon, I'll be there, I'll be handing over money and I'm really looking forward to it but not the morning after.

velo.2010

Short but sweet. I bugged out at town. With no grub at the finish I didn't want to be cycling back to Kildare on a empty stomach and into a fair headwind.

Highlight of the night was 'Marcelo from Brazil', off his head but totally harmless. His rendition of the Sex Pistols' 'God save the queen' along the coast road was spot on, not! Also peddling round Killiney/Dalkey was a new experience for a Northside Dub like me. You could almost smell the wealth!

If the event proper goes ahead next month then I'll do it in full. Maybe some laps of the Dalkey area to fully appreciate how the recession obviously hasn't affected some areas!;) Fair play and thanks for the effort of the team involved even though it wasn't strictly an official event.

Captain Havoc

Here's my Garmin from last night, unfortunately it turned itself off half way through but we went down Strand Rd and over the East Link.

Captain Havoc

Is this happening next week?

miketv

Is it on tonight?

Caroline_ie

miketv wrote: »

Is it on tonight?

Not today. Organisers are in the USA crewing for Donncha Cuttriss at RAAM. It will back next month.

Captain Havoc

No, got an email saying two of the organisers are involved in Donnicha Cuttriss' RAAM attempt.