Leinster loop or skyride etspe: which one? Both on Aug 21st

ashleey

I did both of these last year but this year they are on the same date of August 21st. I'm leaning towards the Leinster Loop as it's a 'local' event and was superbly run last year. The skyride has full road closure and timing chips and greater participation. What do people think? Personally I think the Leinster loop deserves support more than the skyride and after riding in Clare last weekend (including Corkscrew Hill) my legs are weakening at the thought of Clare again, despite the beautiful scenery

johnam

Being a local, I'd have to go with the Etape. Didn't do it last year, but have signed up for this year. The last leg from Miltown to Ennis seems like a bit of torture. Tried doing a smaller loop including the Miltown to Ennis route yesterday and had to give up (first time giving up on any route or any hill:( ). The wind was unreal. There was two of us, and cycling into the wind we couldn't break the 10kmph mark at one point. We may as well have walked. Back out there again next week....it will not beat me;)

ashleey

The wind wasn't too bad last year if it helps!

LastGasp

ashleey wrote: »

I did both of these last year but this year they are on the same date of August 21st.

Give 'em both a miss and do PBP instead. http://www.paris-brest-paris.org/pbp2011/index2.php?lang=en&cat=accueil&page=edito

brayblue24

The Leinster Loop is a charity event-see you there:)

michael196

I did both last year, as they were separate dates......

I know a good friend on the organising committe for Leinster loop,

I had already signed up for Sky,

what does my good friend do ? he signed me into the leinster also !!!

now what do I do ? I am signed into both

ashleey

As it's for charity I'm going with the Leinster loop. Thanks for pointing that out brayblue24.

smacl

ashleey wrote: »

...and after riding in Clare last weekend (including Corkscrew Hill) my legs are weakening at the thought of Clare again...

The Sky ride goes down the cork screw rather than up, if it's the same route as last year. The Clare locals really made the day for me last year; little kids offering you bottles of water on the side of the road, pure gold. That and tearing through Lahinch at full tilt, a real joy. Shame the two events are on the same day.

corkchef

smacl wrote: »

The Clare locals really made the day for me last year; little kids offering you bottles of water on the side of the road, pure gold.

loved the local support last year. it was truly amazing. those poor folks trapped in their houses setting up lawn chairs at the road and cheering us on like we were on the tour de france. it was priceless.

the finish line atmosphere is unlike any other i've seen

doing it again this year!

ashleey

I agree with you about last year's support. It was brilliant and the scenery was unbeatable. It's just a shame that we have to choose between them as the Leinster Loop was also brilliantly run by local volunteers. Even stretching to having a gash on my knee cleaned and dressed while I was eating the post race meal like I was 5 years old again falling off my bike.

BGT

I am one of the event organisers of the Leinster Loop. Once again, we are delighted to have Stephen Roche riding the event and Cuisine de France as the main sponsor. This year there is a 120 km, and two new routes, a 80 km and a 45 km. As pointed out in previous comments, the Leinster Loop is entirely for charity and there is no commercial profit making involved. This year, all on-line registrations will be entered in a draw for accommodation and airport transfers for 4 people in beautiful Villamoura on the Algarve. Perfect for a cycle holiday/winter sun break, so please spread the word. www.leinsterloop.com

michael196

it is a pity that you scheduled the same date as the sky etape. You will automatically reduce ur potential take for the day. I realy hope that you schedule free from big events for 2012.

One suggestion is to schedule as per / against a race calander, so the leinster could target leisure cyclists .

buzzingnoise

leinster loop is for charity, gets my vote.

last yr i thought the sky ride was too expensive, especially as they had sold my goody-bag by the time i signed in and offered no apology. in addition the food stops were brutal and the road surface left alot to be desired. the roads were officially closed, but that doesnt mean you could trust it. a white transit came against a group of us and was not expected. was disappointed as a whole.

Ride the an post tour of the burren if you want to see clare. its great, supports the local clubs and is very very well run.

BGT

I agree, Michael196, but the calendar at that time of year gets very full. Given many of the poor reviews of last year'e etape and our excellent reviews, we feel what we are offering greatly outweighs the other. €30 + booking fee, riding with SR, an excellent goodie bag, hot food and showers, riding through Athy in the bunch last year with the helicopter and camera man overhead and Stephen Roche by their side was such a buzz for so many riders. We had over 100 road marshalls, motor bike support and lead and medical vehicles, all volunteers, all for National Breast Cancer Research Institute and the local Community Centre. All this and only 45 minutes from Dublin! Also as Kildare are going to win Sam this year, we need to keep September free!!

penexpers

michael196 wrote: »

it is a pity that you scheduled the same date as the sky etape. You will automatically reduce ur potential take for the day. I realy hope that you schedule free from big events for 2012.

One suggestion is to schedule as per / against a race calander, so the leinster could target leisure cyclists .

TBH, the Sky Ride has a different target market. A fair amount of the riders last year were English who were only over to do the Etape and would never know about or be interested in the Leinster loop.

Around that time of the year, organising a sportive that doesn't clash is impossible at this stage - week before is Tour of Kildare, week after is Sean Kelly Tour etc..

penexpers

BGT wrote: »

I agree, Michael196, but the calendar at that time of year gets very full. Given many of the poor reviews of last year'e etape and our excellent reviews, we feel what we are offering greatly outweighs the other. €30 + booking fee, riding with SR, an excellent goodie bag, hot food and showers, riding through Athy in the bunch last year with the helicopter and camera man overhead and Stephen Roche by their side was such a buzz for so many riders. We had over 100 road marshalls, motor bike support and lead and medical vehicles, all volunteers, all for National Breast Cancer Research Institute and the local Community Centre. All this and only 45 minutes from Dublin! Also as Kildare are going to win Sam this year, we need to keep September free!!

In defence of the Etape, I really enjoyed the closed roads. Being able to take the racing line around corners without needing to worry about cars coming around the corner was great. The local support was fantastic and I don't think you can beat the scenery around Clare. The food stops were rubbish and it was expensive, but I think on balance, the closed roads justified the cost.

BGT

penexpers, I was not trying to dismiss the Etape, merely trying to point out that the Leinster Loop is a great sportif, 120 kms of a brilliant route, with stunning scenery of the barrow valley. Are closed roads necessary when you have marshalls and good signage at all junctions? The route is tough and challenging, but most riders last year were absolutely buzzing at the end, as they knew they has acomplished something, and the organisation and welcome was great.

ashleey

The roads were really well marshaled on the Leinster Loop and saved me from going under the wheels of a BMW when falling in Tullow. The food stop was magnificent.The other riders were really friendly and the after ride food was lovely. The charity aspect makes it preferable as well as it beating the Etape on all the above points. The Etape won for local support and timing chips and scenery. The Etape was very commercial and is aimed at getting you to put some money into the local economy the night before which you can understand if not approve of.

I'll be doing the Leinster Loop and hopefully next year can do both.

On a different note at least we don't get our tyres spiked:

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/saboteurs-wont-derail-etape-caledonia-insist-organisers-30277