Tour de Conamara

dastardly00

Just wondering if any Boardsies are doing the Tour de Conamara this weekend? 80 & 160 km loops starting in Clifden on Sunday morning. The scenery will be great, weather could be a bit dodgy but should be good craic nonetheless

FuzzyDunlop100

Wish i'd known about this in advance, i'd defo have signed up for it.
Not sure I could realistically make it at this late stage.

S'

I'm thinking about doing it. Whats the route like? Is it mostly flat or Hilly?

My legs are just about recovered from the Tour of Sligo:)
A flat cycle would suit me fine in this wind!

dx22

Im doing the 80k just got my road bike in February and am lovin it. This will be my first time doing anything like this so am slightly anxious about it!

john__long

I just mapped it in Runkeeper. Looks pretty flat. No bad hills to speak of.

I'm very very tempted too. Damn these pesky final year exams...

Soilse

Ill be doing the 80k and guaranteed to be last, anyone recommend a campsite have only stayed in one of the B&B's there and it was freezing and damp prefer to guarantee myself a decent nights sleep rather than do that again

Herc

Relatively flat except for a 4-5km 90m climb between Letterfrack and Clifden on the home stretch - will be interesting to see how the winds effect us on the early stretch of the spin down the coast road to Roundstone, quite open down there - that climb towards the end might seem all the more leg sapping if the winds have been against us to that - Inagh Valley stretch down the middle has spectacular views to keep the mind occupied

FuzzyDunlop100

Any idea how many would be doing the 160k?

dastardly00

I'm doing the 80 km. I only got my road bike about 6 weeks ago so I haven't had the time to do any spins anywhere near 160km so I'm not going to risk it on Sunday!

I mapped out the route on maymyride, it looks alright, the only climb that showed up as categorised is 10 km from the end.

ArraMusha

Doing the 80k on sunday, was hoping to do the 160k but wont due to injury.

There will be a big number of cyclist at this as it has been well publicized and is being organized by trisport's Padraig Quinn a former International cyclist for Ireland.

Tríspórt hope to develop the event in 2012 to be part of an international cycling festival, and even the legendary five-time Tour de France winner, Bernard Hinault, has hinted that he will be heading to Clifden for 2012!


Roll on Sunday...hope the drizzle is not to heavy in the morning...!

Esroh

Herc wrote: »

Relatively flat except for a 4-5km 90m climb between Letterfrack and Clifden on the home stretch - will be interesting to see how the winds effect us on the early stretch of the spin down the coast road to Roundstone, quite open down there - that climb towards the end might seem all the more leg sapping if the winds have been against us to that - Inagh Valley stretch down the middle has spectacular views to keep the mind occupied

Inagh is spectacular but fear the wind:eek:
Pray to your chosen Weather God that its a tail wind as a more natural wind tunnel is hard to find;)

at1withmyself

Signed up for the 160 one, looks ok on map-my-ride until the second food stop (95km) and from then on gets a bit hilly and back in against the wind so will be a tough finish although the final 8km or so look to be back with a tail or side wind.

After the Tour of Sligo last week this looks a bit easier with only about 600m ascend in total opposed to the 1555m last week.

Hopefully this link will work for the 160km ride:

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/34321952

FuzzyDunlop100

at1withmyself wrote: »

Signed up for the 160 one, looks ok on map-my-ride until the second food stop (95km) and from then on gets a bit hilly and back in against the wind so will be a tough finish although the final 8km or so look to be back with a tail or side wind.

After the Tour of Sligo last week this looks a bit easier with only about 600m ascend in total opposed to the 1555m last week.

Hopefully this link will work for the 160km ride:

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/34321952

I think your route is only visible to "friends" on the site. Not to worry, we'll see the real deal tomorrow!

at1withmyself

FuzzyDunlop100 wrote: »

I think your route is only visible to "friends" on the site. Not to worry, we'll see the real deal tomorrow!

Sorry Fuzzy although probably best you didn't look at it as it gave 591 meters ascend and with RTE telling me that today was gonna be the best of the weekend it turned out to be a much harder ride then expected today.

Raining all morning and in total 53 (from what I heard at the finish) in total pulled out for the 160km loop in the poor conditions. I was up near the front of the group from the start and went through as far as Carna for my first stop when I was starting to struggle with the lead pace. It was then I noticed the pack had split in 2 but as it was cold and wet I was keen to keep moving and headed away with the lead group again but after about 10km the pace really picked up again and I couldn't keep up any more and for the next 100 km worked with another rider who fell off the back of the lead till the finish. Was a tough day with the wind as well not helping. The top section which came off the N59 and back into Letterfrack was bloody tough and remote!

Hopefully it'll grow because the food stops where well positioned and overall well run for the amount of riders, if the weather was dry I'd imagine the scenery would've been special but was busy keeping my head down!

Finished in 6hr 12 min for the 167km and ascended 2052m.

Well done to all involved....

Herc

Hard work alright today - was in the 80k and towards the top end of the field in that throughout - top of the Inagh Valley to Kylemore was absolutely terrible, very strong Westerly side on with driving rain to add to the mix, thought I was going to have the wheels swept from under me a couple of times - was supposed to be a stop at Kylemore but no sign of anything, wasn't planning on stopping as just wanted to plough on at that stage but a couple of people were saying after they were hanging for it after the slog through the Inagh, supposedly set up after we had gone through - potential for a good event there if a few areas could be tightened up. Off now to empty the car of my nice soaked smelly gear:rolleyes:

ArraMusha

Did the 80k which felt like 130k due to the wind and rain.

The Inagh valley was indeed a wind tunnel and very tough. Was holding out for the Kylemore stop too but there was none there, so had to run on raindrops back to Clifden. The Station House did a might job on laying on soup and sandwiches, fair play.

Pity about the conditions today, hope this bad spell clears up soon...jaysas.

dastardly00

Did the 80 km, took me around 3 hr 23 min.
The first 40 km was grand but then going around Derryclare Lough and Lough Inagh it got very tough. Cycling up through the Inagh valley in the pelting rain felt like a form a torture. I was pretty annoyed that there was no 2nd food stop when I passed by Kylemore Lough as I was looking forward to a few minutes break with some food. I also got stuck for a few minutes at the temporary traffic lights for road works somewhere around there too!

There was plenty of food at the end which was very good; the soup, sandwiches, chips were very welcome. And it was great that we could use the showers in the Station House Hotel leisure centre too.

I thoroughly enjoyed the cycle despite the awful weather, I would definitely do it again next year!

Also, someone fell around Cashel, he looked to be ok when I passed him, but shortly after an ambulance passed us heading to the scene. Hopefully he's ok.

FuzzyDunlop100

Many thanks to the organisers, especially the motorcycle dude who gave me a push when I fell behind the 160k group after Maums Cross!

Horrendous weather but what can you do!

VanhireBoys

Had a good run also.. Really ejoyed the day... We took off in a group of about 5 or so and met up with 2 Galway GAA dudes Sean the footballer and Ollie the hurler... Dont follow GAA so havent a clue who they were but nice lads and great craic all the same ! Strong fellas too for lads that dont cycle...

Glad I fitted "The Gate" with a 28T block ..Inagh Valley to Letterfrack was great training.... Nice going up the climb after Kylemore as well.. Real sting in the tail !

Michael Angelo.

Poorly run event in my opinion.

at1withmyself

Michael Angelo. wrote: »

Poorly run event in my opinion.

Care to expand?

Considering it was the first year (or was it?) and absolutely shocking weather conditions there are a lot of others who beg to differ so just wondering your reasons and maybe the organisers might be on here to take your points.

Organistation was nothing like some of the An Post tours but with less then 70 starters for the 167 loop it was more then adequate IMO.

Galway could do with an event like this and the route on a better day would be very scenic and worthy of a place on the Sportif calendar...

dastardly00

Anyone get their rain jackets in the post yet?

Herc

Nope, still waiting

dx22

no

Michael Angelo.

at1withmyself wrote: »

Care to expand?

Considering it was the first year (or was it?) and absolutely shocking weather conditions there are a lot of others who beg to differ so just wondering your reasons and maybe the organisers might be on here to take your points.

Organistation was nothing like some of the An Post tours but with less then 70 starters for the 167 loop it was more then adequate IMO.

Galway could do with an event like this and the route on a better day would be very scenic and worthy of a place on the Sportif calendar...

I would gladly care to expand, there was supposed to be 2 food stops, there was one at 20k and thats it... the staff came across as they hadn't a clue, credit to the motorcyclists though. Also whats the delay in the jackets?.. If i was to be critical I could say the website/page was poor also. Still it was its first event so Well done. Here's to improvements going forward!!

FuzzyDunlop100

dastardly00 wrote: »

Anyone get their rain jackets in the post yet?

Does anyone know if these have been sent out yet?

Herc

Haven't received one yet anyways

at1withmyself

Just sent them an email through the site so so if they'll get back to me and will post the reply.

dastardly00

Just got this email from the organisers about the jackets. Seemingly a big problem with the jacket suppliers. I've posted the full email below as the organisers don't have any email addresses for people who registered on the day of the event.

A Chairde,

We have had a number of queries recently regarding the rain jackets that participants were to receive as part of the Tour de Conamara. Although some of you have received the jackets, there is understandable frustration at the delay in the receipt of the bulk of the jackets.
Firstly, I would like to sincerely apologise for the delay regarding the jacket. We have been having problems from day one with the jacket suppliers, who have not fulfilled their order to date, and who have been extremely frustrating to deal with.
So far, only two small batches of jackets have arrived and have been sent out, but the bulk of the order has as yet to be fulfilled, despite repeated requests. As things stand, we expect the jackets to arrive in two weeks time. I must stress the word "expect" however, as we have been given reassurances previously that have only been partially fulfilled, or not at all.
I realise that this in itself is not the most satisfactory of answers but I can assure you that you will get the jacket, and that the jacket itself is of a high quality.

As for the event itself, as you know, this was the inaugural holding of the Tour de Conamara, and was organised to raise funds for a new triathlon club, TríSpórt. We are very much aware that there were issues on the day that could be improved, most of which stemmed from a lack of manpower on the day for various reasons. We are already putting plans in place to ensure a better event next year, and a complete review is being undertaken as part of that. It is our mission to provide as perfect an event as possible next year, and we will be examining every facet of the 2010 event so as to ensure we learn all lessons. We would appreciate any suggestions or feedback regarding the 2012 Tour de Conamara, and would genuinely like to hear your views on this year's events and how it may be improved for 2012 (unfortunately, I do not have emails for people who registered for the event on the day, so feel free to forward this to anyone you make think be interested in it).

Again, I apologise for the delay in the receipt of the jacket, and I hope that the reason outlined above explains that delay.

Mise le Meas,
Rónán Mac Con Iomaire
--
TríSpórt
Aonad 6, Estáit Tionscail Chasla
Casla
Co na Gaillimhe

www.trisport.ie
clubtrisport@gmail.com