Wicklow 200 on Saturday

bikeradar

Now that we know for certain the weather will be awful for Wicklow 200 on Sunday who will join me and do it on Saturday - same route, start from Greystones at 07.00hrs

Leroy42

it really isn't looking good at all for Sunday, but then again these predictions are just that.

Monday & Saturday actually seem ok, so they need only to be wrong by one day and the day will be grand, it wouldn't be the first time the weather forecast got it wrong. However, the current weather does give them a good chance of being right.

But then why not just leave it till next weekend, or the weekend after. Surely the whole 'point' is that its the day, with 2500 others

Inquitus

Leroy42 wrote: »

But then why not just leave it till next weekend, or the weekend after. Surely the whole 'point' is that its the day, with 2500 others

Exactly

Joeyde

Leroy42 wrote: »

But then why not just leave it till next weekend, or the weekend after. Surely the whole 'point' is that its the day, with 2500 others

He may get 2500 replies to this thread...

bikeradar

Everything is set up by Saturday - road markings etc. All the training is done. The weather from my 'Weather Pro' App is sunny all day Saturday with only 19kph winds - perfect for cycling as against rain all day Sunday from 5am and 30kph winds. Its a no brainer.

Bikerbhoy

I can never get my head around all this faffing about the weather, will it rain will it not ,will it be windy will it not ,checking weather forcasts every 5 mins..... The way I see it the W200 is a challenge and part of that challenge on the day is the weather , what will be will be we cannot change the conditions on the day..... CAN WE JUST GET ON WITH IT.

As for doing it Saturday to avoid the hardship of a potentially bad day on Sunday .....what if saturdays forcast changes ..... are you going to put it off til Monday or do it tomorrow ????

AstraMonti

Anyway w200 is nothing special, just another day in the lovely wicklow. There are by far better organized sportives in this country.

Beasty

Let's not be too negative so close to this event. A lot of people will be trying it for the first time on Sunday, and will be able to share their experiences after the event - who knows, they may be pleasantly surprised

On the weather point, the forecast was very similar back in 2009, and it actually completely switched round, with Saturday being a complete washout and Sunday had reasonable weather. Of course you also have all the support, including marshalls and mobile mechanics, on Sunday - on Saturday you are pretty much on your own

smacl

Beasty wrote: »

Of course you also have all the support, including marshalls and mobile mechanics, on Sunday - on Saturday you are pretty much on your own

Not to mention the encouragement and camaraderie of a few thousand like minded fools of all shapes, sizes and abilities also out for a great day in what passes for summer on this godforsaken rock we call home. It'll be an amazing buzz, weather and all, sure why else would you do it?

iregk

The forecast last year was shocking as well. There was a bit of rain, ok heavy rain climbing to the gap but after that it was grand and even a nice bit of sun going up the mann and shay.

Cookie_Monster

just turn all the wind mills on the Arklow bank to max, thus dragging the rain in faster so it arrive on sat, and all nice and clear on Sunday.

Now I'm not a wind turbine engineer, but I don't see any flaws in this plan

manwithaplan

I was talking to one of the elder lemons in our club and he told me that he did the W200 twenty odd years ago. Himself and his comrade stopped at a couple of pubs for a pint and a couple of times for ice cream. Sounds like a decent plan for avoiding the showers. We need a list of pubs on the route - all the swots that have been pounding the course for the last six months should be able to post a few;) . Surely the law would look the other way if they opened a little early. All the better if they sell ice cream.

daragh_

manwithaplan wrote: »

I was talking to one of the elder lemons in our club and he told me that he did the W200 twenty odd years ago. Himself and his comrade stopped at a couple of pubs for a pint and a couple of times for ice cream. Sounds like a decent plan for avoiding the showers. We need a list of pubs on the route - all the swots that have been pounding the course for the last six months should be able to post a few;) . Surely the law would look the other way if they opened a little early. All the better if they sell ice cream.

Few pints and a choc ice in Glenmalure followed by a Boards 'sprint' up the SE. What could possibly go wrong.

seamus

manwithaplan wrote: »

I was talking to one of the elder lemons in our club and he told me that he did the W200 twenty odd years ago. Himself and his comrade stopped at a couple of pubs for a pint and a couple of times for ice cream. Sounds like a decent plan for avoiding the showers. We need a list of pubs on the route - all the swots that have been pounding the course for the last six months should be able to post a few;) . Surely the law would look the other way if they opened a little early. All the better if they sell ice cream.

Well, there are pubs in Enniskerry, but that might be a little too early to start. There's a little pub that looks nice in Ballyknockan (or it might be Valleymount), you see busses of tourists going into it, so you could expect a decent welcome. There are two pubs in Donard, Toomey's and Moynihan's. Both small town pubs. Toomey's is the preferred bar of the locals, great Guinness. Though the publican is known for being a bit "country" and has in the past cleared the bar out with a shotgun, so not too sure how he'd react to lycra and cleats on his stone floors.

After that there's absolutely nothing till Glenmalure, where there's a B&B/restaurant which seems popular enough so it must have taps. Nice rest if you fancy a pint before SE :eek:

manwithaplan

Right. Game of darts in Toomeys. Game of pool in Glenmalure. Instant triathlon.

bikeradar

I need say no more about yesterday. I believe quite a few spent last in hospitals suffering from hypothermia and I also heard there was a pile-up after the Sally Gap.
I and many more did the 200 on Saturday. Fantastic day. Weather perfect and great support for everyone. They all knew what was coming yesterday.
Who was the 'maths graduate' who put up the mileage posters from before Rathdrum stating that the 200 riders had 10km more to go than the 100's? when both had the same mileage to cover.
The organisers should also have informed us that the route had in fact changed from last year after Avoca.

Beasty

bikeradar wrote: »

The organisers should also have informed us that the route had in fact changed from last year after Avoca.

Not sure why you are complaining about the organisation when you chose not to do the event:rolleyes:

smacl

bikeradar wrote: »

Who was the 'maths graduate' who put up the mileage posters from before Rathdrum stating that the 200 riders had 10km more to go than the 100's? when both had the same mileage to cover.

Nope. Signs were for distance covered, not distance remaining, and the W200 is only about 194k, whereas the W100 is 100k, hence the difference. Doesn't take 3rd level maths, primary school adding and taking away work just fine

bikeradar

Sorry Beasty - I did do the event and enjoyed it along with hundreds more

iregk

bikeradar wrote: »

Sorry Beasty - I did do the event and enjoyed it along with hundreds more

They did. They said it on their website last week that it had changed. There was a discussion about it in the official 200 thread. Beasty's point though is still valid. You didn't do the actual event so you can't really complain.

Beasty

bikeradar wrote: »

Sorry Beasty - I did do the event and enjoyed it along with hundreds more

No you didn't - you did the course (or at least that's what you are leading us to believe in this thread) on Saturday - the event was on Sunday, and the "organisation" you are referring to was put in place for Sunday, not Saturday

You are in no position to comment on the "organisation" for Sunday's event if you did not take part in the event on Sunday

FuzzyDunlop100

Beasty wrote: »

No you didn't - you did the course (or at least that's what you are leading us to believe in this thread) on Saturday - the event was on Sunday, and the "organisation" you are referring to was put in place for Sunday, not Saturday

You are in no position to comment on the "organisation" for Sunday's event if you did not take part in the event on Sunday

+1, The Wicklow 200 was held yesterday. Anyone cycling the route any other
day did a 200k cycle in Wicklow.

smacl

And anyone saying they did the 2011 Wicklow 200 is referring to the hellish conditions yesterday, not the altogether more pleasant weather on Saturday. Different challenges altogether.

07Lapierre

bikeradar wrote: »

I need say no more about yesterday. I believe quite a few spent last in hospitals suffering from hypothermia and I also heard there was a pile-up after the Sally Gap.
I and many more did the 200 on Saturday. Fantastic day. Weather perfect and great support for everyone. They all knew what was coming yesterday.
Who was the 'maths graduate' who put up the mileage posters from before Rathdrum stating that the 200 riders had 10km more to go than the 100's? when both had the same mileage to cover.
The organisers should also have informed us that the route had in fact changed from last year after Avoca.

They Did. The changes have been on the wicklow200 website for weeks.

manwithaplan

bikeradar wrote: »

I need say no more about yesterday. I believe quite a few spent last in hospitals suffering from hypothermia and I also heard there was a pile-up after the Sally Gap.

No need to sound so happy about it.

iregk

manwithaplan wrote: »

No need to sound so happy about it.

It appears that the OP will base the smugness of his decision on the number of people involved in a pile up.

bikeradar

The wise ones did the 'Wicklow 200 2011' on Saturday. No point in whinging about it now. I will say no more about this matter

ThisRegard

bikeradar wrote: »

The wise ones did the 'Wicklow 200 2011' on Saturday. No point in whinging about it now. I will say no more about this matter

I thought it was pretty simple, you did a 200k cycle in Wicklow on Saturday, the Wicklow 200 however was on Sunday. It's like me claiming to have done the Great Ireland Run today as I did a 10k run in the Phoenix Park at lunch.

Arthurdaly

Ops post stinks of I told you so, guess what? We were all aware of forecasts and potential conditions! You went for a sat spin down Wicklow, many that took part yesterday regularly cover 100+ km around Wicklow and have probably covered every inch of yesterdays route. Yesterday was an event and celebration of cycling, you were not part of this event so shhh! Very rare that an event such as yesterday goes off incident free.

Plastik

You're funny! Doing the route does not equal doing the event. HTFU.

Beasty

bikeradar wrote: »

I will say no more about this matter

Good idea, as based on some of your posts to date, including one I have deleted, if you continue posting in this vein I will be considering it trolling and will act accordingly

Thanks

Beasty

iregk

bikeradar wrote: »

The wise ones did the 'Wicklow 200 2011' on Saturday.

No we all did the 'Wicklow 200 2011' yesterday. What you did was a Saturday spin with a few others!

It's like someone else has said. I've ran 40km but I can't claim to have done the Dublin marathon as thats not what I ran the 40km in.

smacl

bikeradar wrote: »

The wise ones did the 'Wicklow 200 2011' on Saturday. No point in whinging about it now. I will say no more about this matter

Whatever you say, Wally!

barrmur

How many do people reckon will turn out for the W200? I have just registered for the maracycle, the second year after its comeback last year and online registrations are only about the 250 mark. There was about 700 last year from what I remember. Is the W200 more popular because its all over and done with on the 1 day and there is no need to sort out accommodation??

Also what is the route for the W200. Never did it before so might stick it in my 705 to be done at some stage.

Beasty

barrmur wrote: »

How many do people reckon will turn out for the W200? I have just registered for the maracycle, the second year after its comeback last year and online registrations are only about the 250 mark. There was about 700 last year from what I remember. Is the W200 more popular because its all over and done with on the 1 day and there is no need to sort out accommodation??

Also what is the route for the W200. Never did it before so might stick it in my 705 to be done at some stage.

About 2,500 signed up this year - they had the option of 100 or 200km - routes are here

barrmur

Bloody hell, 2500. Must remember not to go anywhere the day its on. The roads must be jammers.

Cookie_Monster

Beasty wrote: »

routes are here

they're wrong though.

Don't turn left in Glenealy, keep going straight through and take the next left and to the end of that one and left again.

Hermy

bikeradar wrote: »

The wise ones did the 'Wicklow 200 2011' on Saturday.

Yeah, and I did the Tour de France last week.:rolleyes:

seamus

bikeradar wrote: »

The wise ones did the 'Wicklow 200 2011' on Saturday.

The whole point of a challenge event like the wicklow 200 is that the mileage is only part of it. You set a date, and you do it on that date, regardless of weather or preparation or whatever else. That's the challenge; If the weather is crap or you don't have enough training, that doesn't matter. You either accept the challenge or you don't.

By wussing out and doing it on a day when it was known that the weather would improve, you effectively decline the challenge and opted for something easier. By the same token, if I opted not to do it yesterday and instead waited until it was warmer and I was better prepared at the end of the Summer, I couldn't tell people I did the WW200 2011.

I've played golf in in the K Club, but I'm not for a second going around telling people that I played in the Ryder Cup. The course was the same, but the conditions were different.

Esroh

Op
Let me enlighten you.
I came up with the routes for the Westernlakes Polka Dot 4 years ago. Have cycled the Fada route 4 times but I Have Never Ridden the Westernlakes Polka Dot Fada as on the Day. I dont claim to have ridden the event and dont wear the T-Shirt:D

Beasty

The OP has indicated he has nothing more to say on the matter, so let's leave it there - further discussion on the WW200 may, of course, continue in the "Real WW200" thread