Wicklow 200 2011

manwithaplan

ROK ON wrote: »

Training starts tomorrow.

On top of all your other cycling this year! Those distances would make bugger all difference if you didn't have a base laid down.

I wouldn't care about recovery after 180k the previous weekend either - 7 days is bucketloads - but there's not much point in it other than to prove you were ready in the first place.

smacl

Back from a spin taking in Slieve Maan and Shay Elliot, roads around Slieve Maan seemed ok, but I came from the Aughrim side, so I'm guessing the bad bit is coming from the Donard direction. The second half of the Shay Elliot descent is a mass of pot holes, but nothing new there. A bit slow going into the wind as far as Rathdrum this morning, but a pretty decent day out apart from that. Found the hills grand, but my pace leaves a lot to be desired. Loving the new Brooks saddle, such a great bonus to come in the door without a sore rear end.

Might give the Enniskerry-Sallygap-Blessington-Donard approach a go next weekend.

get on your bike

I wouldn't care about recovery after 180k the previous weekend either - 7 days is bucketloads - but there's not much point in it other than to prove you were ready in the first place.

Why is it of no benefit

manwithaplan

get on your bike wrote: »

Why is it of no benefit

Because a couple of long efforts in the last couple of weeks are not really going to bring you on unless you have been building up to it over time. The 180k the previous week on your todd takes a bigger effort than the 192k on the day riding in groups etc. Nobody runs 30 miles the week before a marathon - it kind of defeats the purpose.

g0g

#70 myself, and like most I doubt I'll do the low number justice! Got out for 110km today, probably the longest I'll get before the event, but too late at this stage! Did Sally Gap twice (with conditions fairly miserable at times!) - my god that was my first time approaching Sally Gap from the Lough Tay side and the hill nearly killed me just before the start of the lake!

On the way up from Kilbride to Sally Gap there was a council truck and a few laps filling the potholes wioth gravel or something. Hopefully cars will mash it all down before the day of the event! Good to see at least they seem to be seeing to parts of the course!

Cookie_Monster

g0g wrote: »

my god that was my first time approaching Sally Gap from the Lough Tay side and the hill nearly killed me just before the start of the lake!

did that myself yesterday, savage hill. had to stop for a breather at the top

trek climber

smacl wrote: »

Back from a spin taking in Slieve Maan and Shay Elliot, roads around Slieve Maan seemed ok, but I came from the Aughrim side, so I'm guessing the bad bit is coming from the Donard direction. The second half of the Shay Elliot descent is a mass of pot holes, but nothing new there. A bit slow going into the wind as far as Rathdrum this morning, but a pretty decent day out apart from that. Found the hills grand, but my pace leaves a lot to be desired. Loving the new Brooks saddle, such a great bonus to come in the door without a sore rear end.

Might give the Enniskerry-Sallygap-Blessington-Donard approach a go next weekend.

We did the Shay Elliott from Laragh last Saturday and then up Slieve Mann,is that from the Donard or Aughrim side....

smacl

trek climber wrote: »

We did the Shay Elliott from Laragh last Saturday and then up Slieve Mann,is that from the Donard or Aughrim side....

Depends where you went afterwards. I went from Laragh to Rathdrum, Aughrim than Slieve Maan - Shayy Elliot to do them in the same order as they appear in the WW200. I reckon the climbs you did taking them in the other direction from Laragh are more difficult.

The route I took last Saturday is in blue, the WW200 will be coming from Donard - Rathdangan - over the hills to Laragh - Rathdrum and onwards. Thinking of doing the sally gap - donard - SM/SE - Laragh run next weekend, weather and motivation willing.

kellt

I cannot wait till sunday week to complete this event. I may not want to see a bike for a week later but it will be an great achievment to finish. id say you would probably need 2 rest days before the event ?

seamus

kellt wrote: »

I cannot wait till sunday week to complete this event. I may not want to see a bike for a week later but it will be an great achievment to finish. id say you would probably need 2 rest days before the event ?

Depends on your typical workload. If I went out for a big spin the week beforehand and then did my normal commute all week, I'd be annihilated on the route. However, if I stayed off the bike from the Wednesday, perhaps a very short 20k or something on the Saturday for mechanical checks and to loosen up the legs, I'd be fine. Likewise if I didn't go out for a spin this weekend and just did my commute, I'd be fine for the WW200.

I'm equally excited and nervous about doing this. Relishing the challenge, but at the same time I've no idea what condition I'll be in by the time I hit the 100k mark in Donard. I'll really only know on the day.

daragh_

What time are yiz all thinking of heading off?

I'm doing it in the company of my esteemed training partners (Unionman and '68 Fastback to the rest of you) for as long as I can keep up. I imagine we will be starting around 7?? They may disagree forcefully.

Would be nice to see a bunch of Boards jerseys on the road together, for a short while at least.

Opens can of worms, backs away slowly.

trek climber

smacl wrote: »

Depends where you went afterwards. I went from Laragh to Rathdrum, Aughrim than Slieve Maan - Shayy Elliot to do them in the same order as they appear in the WW200. I reckon the climbs you did taking them in the other direction from Laragh are more difficult.

The route I took last Saturday is in blue, the WW200 will be coming from Donard - Rathdangan - over the hills to Laragh - Rathdrum and onwards. Thinking of doing the sally gap - donard - SM/SE - Laragh run next weekend, weather and motivation willing.

We started from Blessington and headed north for Dublin and took the right turn off the N81 and headed up Sally Gap. Took a right at the top and came down by Glenmacnas ? into Laragh, then Shay Elliott and Slieve Mann. At the top of Slieve Mann we literally turned around and came back the same way.

seamus

daragh_ wrote: »

What time are yiz all thinking of heading off?

I'm giving myself 9.5 hours to do it, including stops, and for morale reasons I want to get back before 6pm, so I'm thinking about setting off at 8am.

trek climber

iregk wrote: »

Just a word to the wise here to anyone looking to do this at the weekend. I've done them a couple of times in the past few weeks. On saturday we left Blessington and did essentially the W200 trail up to the rathdrum road but we went to Laragh and Sally Gap instead.

I've mailed the organisers about it in case they need to get onto the council in order to resolve some of it prior to the 200. The road up to Donard has been resurfaced with gravel and is lethal. We got off and walked but not before it made a mess of my mates 28 Gator Skin Hardshell!!!

Various gravel repair sections between Donard and Sleive Maan. The little hill prior to Slieve Maan, which a few first timers last year thought was Sleive Maan is grand but the descent after it between that and the Maan has a lethal long section of Gravel resurfacing done on it. Its large white stones and its deep so very hard to control the bike on it.

Just something to keep in mind if thats where you're going. Bring spare tubes!!!

See note up on the Wicklow200 website advising that the route around Slieve Mann may be changed due to the road conditions

iregk

Yeah. I got a reply back from them to say the route manager had looked at it and agreed a re-route may be needed. Now the council may well have it sorted out in time in which case nothing is required but always good to bring it up with time to spare.

Lusk Doyle

Myself and Kellt are going for the worms. Early start at 6am.

Would love to wear my boards jersey but the lad that ordered it is out of the country for the past while and I don't know when he is back

Keep an eye out for us two rocking it in the Swords club gear :cool:

manwithaplan

Will probably start early and will most likely wear the Swords gear too. Haven't a breeze how long it will take me - maybe 8.5 hours allowing 30 mins for stops. I probably wouldn't do that solo so hopefully I hook up with a couple of groups along the way.

Lusk Doyle

manwithaplan wrote: »

Will probably start early and will most likely wear the Swords gear too. Haven't a breeze how long it will take me - maybe 8.5 hours allowing 30 mins for stops. I probably wouldn't do that solo so hopefully I hook up with a couple of groups along the way.

Hook up with us so. I need my lead out train

daragh_

It took me 9(ish) hours last year, mostly solo, with the odd lift where I could get away with it. So I'll be hanging on the back of every single one of you I see.

Shame there isn't a team car with magic sticky bottles

FuzzyDunlop100

I'll be gutted if they re-route around Slieve Maan, people will think it's a Wicklow-lite!

ROK ON

Anyone interested in startting in Sandyford instead of Greystones and hooking up with the route at Coolakay Cottages.

I presume that one does not need to sign on given that we have recd the credit card thingy.

Finally, if there is gravel on the descent of Slieve Maan then I would hope that they avoid it. I descended a fast steep descent on Sunday and hit a newly gravelled patch. Only luck kep me upright. Not fun at all.

smacl

ROK ON wrote: »

I presume that one does not need to sign on given that we have recd the credit card thingy.

I think they swipe it at registration for your start time. If you're not worried about their time for your ride, probably doesn't matter.

eoghan84

Just want to ask is it the descent of the Slieve Mann that is dangerous at the moment? From reading the form here I am confused about a small climb ahead of it being the one with the bad descent. Its been a while since I was there so I can't picture it completely. I was thinking of going for a spin tomorrow so I'll be extra vigilant. Thanks guys for the heads up

smacl

FuzzyDunlop100 wrote: »

I'll be gutted if they re-route around Slieve Maan, people will think it's a Wicklow-lite!

Did Slieve Maan last weekend and it was fine, I think its the Donard - Slieve Maan road is the issue, and there's other ways to get there. Mind you, many of the other L-Roads around there are the type with grass in the middle.

Bikerbhoy

smacl wrote: »

I think they swipe it at registration for your start time. If you're not worried about their time for your ride, probably doesn't matter.

There aint no swiping re times its only to register you onto the event and to print your cert on completion.

Planet X

ROK ON wrote: »

Anyone interested in startting in Sandyford instead of Greystones and hooking up with the route at Coolakay Cottages.

I presume that one does not need to sign on given that we have recd the credit card thingy.

Finally, if there is gravel on the descent of Slieve Maan then I would hope that they avoid it. I descended a fast steep descent on Sunday and hit a newly gravelled patch. Only luck kep me upright. Not fun at all.

Reckon you should sign on.
Do they not publish the times after the event? Used to.
You might not get your cert if you've not swiped at every station. Whose to say that you didn't join at the first feed station/swipe point?
Up to yourself of course. I didn't enter last year but joined it at Kilmacanogue and did the 100k. Bit of fun. Went around with Irishmotorist I remember. Brought my own scran.

Again I don't think you'll get a Cert. if you don't register / sign on.

irishmotorist

Yup - sounds like my recollection too. A swipe at the leisure centre starts your time and it's registered again when you get back. I'll be doing it like that again this year, but I don't think I'll get anywhere near last years time. Training has been abysmal.

Are there many other 100ers doing it? The 100 is a fun distance and I've done the 200 but didn't find it so enjoyable. I'm able to keep a bit of an output going for most of the 100 and perhaps try to chase a good time. That said, unless I've got a Planet X shaped train in front of me, I won't be chasing too much of a good time this year :pac:

manwithaplan

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

Hook up with us so. I need my lead out train

Won't make any arrangements but I'll be on the lookout for Swords jerseys. Hopefully get a chance to natter somewhere along the way.

smacl

Out of interest, how many rest days are people planning before the 200, and will you be doing a final long cycle this weekend? Any idea how long the body takes to fully recover from a longer spin? I'm mid forties and normally train for an hour each week morning, and get a long spin at the weekend. Wouldn't mind getting a long spin (140k - 160k) this weekend, but wondering if it is wise. Haven't ever done 200k in a day before.

stas

Can the experienced share a successful strategy of completing the 200? I'm guessing taking it easy at the start and then a great deal of teeth gritting and HTFU towards the end?