Cycle Sportives 2012

Signal_ rabbit

There seems to be a lot of these happening this year, more than most years. I am spoiled for choice and can't make up my mind as which ones to do.
Has anyone a link to a definitive list of all the events?

funnights74

Most dates have yet to be announced, Blarney on feb 19th has a 100Km, ROK is 7th of july,Stephen Roche Tour de cure is 13th of may from midleton, no news yet on the An post series. But as you say so many being added it's a case of picking and choosing

Esroh

Croi Lap of the Corrib Sunday April 29th(Mr Kelly is making an appearence)
An Post Tour of Sligo Sunday May 6th
Westernlakes Polka Dot Saturday May 12th.( Moves from July)
Tour of Connemara Sunday May 27th.

Captain Havoc

If ye have a definate date of a sportive, perhaps put it in the calendar in the FAQ thread, I tidy this up as we go along.

ROK ON

I hope to do some of the 200km audax series this year, I did the Dying Light 200 in late October and twas a very enjoyable day on the bike (even if I did suffer a bit).

Other than that, Mt Leinster Challenge is great.

I have not done the Tour de Burren but want to rectify that this year. I have cycled with the gent organising it while doing the Tour de Munster, and he is a top bloke.

Also want to get to Tour de Kilkenny.

Last year I did the Naas CC sportif around the Blessington lakes. I enjoyed it until my chain exploded But is was a very well organised day.

Hopefully there will be an Etape stage to the Ras Mumhan last year. I know that it had some detractors, but it ranked as one of my highlights for the year. Really enjoyable.

If there was anything around Lough Derg or the Slieve Blooms I would like to do them, as they are stunning places to cycle.

Finally, I may give the Celtic series thing in Connemara a blast.

Sr. Assumpta

Tour de Kilkenny will be on Saturday of August Bank Holiday weekend, as always, would be delighted to see you there

Etape Ras Mumhan is on Easter Saturday (7th April) and finishes atop the Conor Pass http://www.etaperasmumhan.com/

Tour de Burren is well worth the trip to Ballyvaughan, Burren CC are a great group of people, and the route and scenery were awesome last year (as was the wind!)

velo.2010

ROK ON wrote: »

Last year I did the Naas CC sportif around the Blessington lakes. I enjoyed it until my chain exploded But is was a very well organised day.

+1. Much better going the 'opposite way' round the lakes than the norm. Well organised with lovely spag ball at the finish. The Naas lads were using this as a prep for Gorey a week later. Wonder if the dates are similarly placed this year?

Lucan have their marathon event sometime in May usually. I'll look to do those two plus a few more besides.

penexpers

Audax calendar is here

http://www.audaxireland.org/calendar/

Kare Tour De Foothills is on 15th April this year.

velo.2010

penexpers wrote: »

Kare Tour De Foothills is on 15th April this year.

Thanks. Just looking at the page now. That puts it a week after Gorey. It was yourself I bumped into after the event. Did you do the full route or the shorter option?

Benbecul97

Esroh wrote: »

Croi Lap of the Corrib Sunday April 29th(Mr Kelly is making an appearence)
An Post Tour of Sligo Sunday May 6th
Westernlakes Polka Dot Saturday May 12th.( Moves from July)
Tour of Connemara Sunday May 27th.

What a terrible pity it is to have these 4 events bunched over 5 weeks. One a month would make more sense.

Is the Western lakes Polka Dot the same 2 routes as last year? Is there now no Lap of the Mask that used to be on this second weekend in May?

thebouldwhacker

Any word on the Kinsale cycle which was early last year? Great event....

MichealD

ROK ON wrote: »

........Other than that, Mt Leinster Challenge is great.....

Down for Saturday May 19th this year. Limited to 300, online entry only again this year.

michaelm

ROK ON wrote: »

If there was anything around Lough Derg or the Slieve Blooms I would like to do them, as they are stunning places to cycle.

The North Tipp Wheelers club tour usually goes around Lough Derg, I'm not aware of the date as yet but it will in the Cycling Ireland Calendar (tomorrow?) I will post it as soon as it becomes available. Also keep an eye on the Birr Cycling Club tour (Billy Butler) as they usually go through the Slieve Blooms.

Esroh

Benbecul97 wrote: »

What a terrible pity it is to have these 4 events bunched over 5 weeks. One a month would make more sense.

Is the Western lakes Polka Dot the same 2 routes as last year? Is there now no Lap of the Mask that used to be on this second weekend in May?

The club decided to move the Polka Dot as so many people felt July was Holiday time
The Lap of the Mask itself is moving to July but the 3rd route on Polka Dot willleae Ballinrobe on a quieter road and go round Lough Cara to join up with the LOM route beyond Partry should be no more than 10km longer. Only climb will be Maumtrasna. Routes will be finalised within the next few weeks.

rigal

Does anyone know if/when Carrick Wheelers are running their Challenge Sportive this year? Cheers....

Benbecul97

Esroh wrote: »

The club decided to move the Polka Dot as so many people felt July was Holiday time
The Lap of the Mask itself is moving to July but the 3rd route on Polka Dot willleae Ballinrobe on a quieter road and go round Lough Cara to join up with the LOM route beyond Partry should be no more than 10km longer. Only climb will be Maumtrasna. Routes will be finalised within the next few weeks.

Maybe, but by moving it to from July to May you now have 3 big events in the same general area within 5 weeks. I think that that will affect participation in each of the events - probably will in my case.

So the Polks Dot will be back to its 2010 format of 3 routes.
Any date for the Lap of the Mask in July?

Benbecul97

rigal wrote: »

Does anyone know if/when Carrick Wheelers are running their Challenge Sportive this year? Cheers....

It was on Sunday, June 5th, 2011 so maybe Sunday, June 3rd, 2012?

Esroh

Benbecul97 wrote: »

Maybe, but by moving it to from July to May you now have 3 big events in the same general area within 5 weeks. I think that that will affect participation in each of the events - probably will in my case.

So the Polks Dot will be back to its 2010 format of 3 routes.
Any date for the Lap of the Mask in July?

As the Person who first came up with the WLPD I understand where you coming from but it was a committee decision.:)
LOM should be the 3rd Sunday in July will have to check that out.

The 3rd routes always climbed Hills at Bohaun and Lally's and Maumtrasna in the past , this time the 3rd route is low lying and only climbs Maumtrasna. It actually has less climbing than LOM as it does not go up to the pub and over Derrymore.

The 3rd route is specially aimed at the riders who would hae ridden LOM in the past at that time of the year.