Hilly Challenge?

g0g

I've seen some threads recently talking about sportives abroad and the Irish calendart for the year. Initially I was thinking of looking at travelling to the UK, but I've never really even gone to a far-away Irish event yet so might start with that. Normally the question asked is which is best organised, but I'm coming from a different angle.

Does anyone know of a one-day event in Ireland with huge amounts of climbing? I've never done more than about 2,000m in a day but would love the challenge of something like 3,000m without having to cycle more than 100-160km (or leave the country!). Are there any such events in Ireland?

murf85

g0g wrote: »

I've seen some threads recently talking about sportives abroad and the Irish calendart for the year. Initially I was thinking of looking at travelling to the UK, but I've never really even gone to a far-away Irish event yet so might start with that. Normally the question asked is which is best organised, but I'm coming from a different angle.

Does anyone know of a one-day event in Ireland with huge amounts of climbing? I've never done more than about 2,000m in a day but would love the challenge of something like 3,000m without having to cycle more than 100-160km (or leave the country!). Are there any such events in Ireland?

Wicklow 200 would probably be your best bet I would think if you want hills, hills....and a few more hills.

Have a look here....might answer a few questions

http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2055947496

Sr. Assumpta

That Carrick Wheelers thing last June promoted itself as excpetionally grim hilly, as far as I remember it was (only) 160km too...... I'd review the thread but I'd be a little scared of the memories that might resurface.....

iwasonbwh

Donegal would be the perfect place for a really tough hilly challenge, its a pity there isn't one on

shaneward2004

Dromara CC - Mourne Sportive

http://www.mapmyride.com/s/routes/view/road-cycling-map/united-kingdom/lisburn/29341736

ROK ON

Audax Ireland
Dying Cow 200km and 2600m of climbing

Mick Byrne 200km (claims 3500m of climbing but I dont believe that)

Alternatively join the Tour de Munster and there is a private event that is 180km with 2400m of climbing over 5 major and about 5 minor climbs.

Iveragh 200 with 3000 m of climbing. with four reasonably steep climbs (one after 185km).

seve65

Carrick wheelers is about 2500m
Wicklow 200 is about 2000m
skt is about 2100m
dying sow 300 is 4100m
mourne is 2900m
mick byrne 3438m
all logged on strava.

Iveragh 200 has a few decent climbs as well

g0g

Thanks all for the quick suggestions. Yeah I did the W200 last year but it's a long cycle for "only" ~2,000m climbing. I'm looking for a good bit less than 200 but with more climbing if possible. The link to that Dromara CC one only has 1,638m if I'm reading it right? Looking at the Carrick one from the elevation profile on their website seems to have a fair bit of it!

Making one up myself I managed to get 2,600m in 170km, but that's just the hills I can pick out on a map.

Anyone else got ideas!?

seve65

if you are going to make your own up....then heres one I intend to do with a few of the tough climbs around Ballyduff, Waterford:

ridewithgps.com/routes/884577

fairly savage I think. about 2500m in 105k.

Cookie_Monster

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/898140

2067m in 115km, can make variations of same for more height in less dist too I'd imagine

g0g

seve65 wrote: »

if you are going to make your own up....then heres one I intend to do with a few of the tough climbs around Ballyduff, Waterford:

ridewithgps.com/routes/884577

fairly savage I think. about 2500m in 105k.

Looks mental although I don't know the area at all. TBH I just made one up to illustrate my point that lots of climbing in short distance is possible. Ideally I'm looking for an organised, marked event with food etc along the way and a bit of company!

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/898140

2067m in 115km, can make variations of same for more height in less dist too I'd imagine

Already ticked a very similar box last year on the "Sally Gap Challenge" (four times up and down) with some friends last year! Great cycle, highly recommended!

Inquitus

seve65 wrote: »

Carrick wheelers is about 2500m
Wicklow 200 is about 2000m
skt is about 2100m
dying sow 300 is 4100m
mourne is 2900m
mick byrne 3438m
all logged on strava.

Iveragh 200 has a few decent climbs as well

My SKT 160 came in at 2000m - http://app.strava.com/activities/1431313

My WW200 came in at 3400m - http://app.strava.com/activities/726896

And for sure the WW200 had more climbing in it imo.

Cookie_Monster

http://app.strava.com/rides/1090142

2212m for my W200

same data on garmin gives 3,708m corrected and 2226m uncorrected, the temp change at the second stop seems to mess it up totally,
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/91920139

Inquitus

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

http://app.strava.com/rides/1090142

2212m for my W200

same data on garmin gives 3,708m corrected and 2226m uncorrected, the temp change at the second stop seems to mess it up totally,
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/91920139

You have to use the correction, otherwise it obliterates Shay Elliot and a load of smaller bumps completely.

jimzy

Yeah, looks like the Carrick Wheelers challenge is probably one of the toughest without running into audax territory. Might give it a shot this year if there are any places available, anyone else do it last year, or planning on doing it this year?

http://carrickwheelers.com/?page_id=625

Sr. Assumpta

jimzy wrote: »

Yeah, looks like the Carrick Wheelers challenge is probably one of the toughest without running into audax territory. Might give it a shot this year if there are any places available, anyone else do it last year, or planning on doing it this year?

http://carrickwheelers.com/?page_id=625

Don't bring your 'good' bike, that gravel-road section was like cycling through a sand storm while being machine-gunned, ......ping, ping, ping, ouch!

I'd consider doing this again if the strada bianca section was optional / could be diverted around.

IIRC entry numbers didn't reach the 300 limit last year.

ednwireland

iwasonbwh wrote: »

Donegal would be the perfect place for a really tough hilly challenge, its a pity there isn't one on

inishowen 100 2200m

http://foylecycling.net/wordpress/index.php/inis-100

g0g

ednwireland wrote: »

inishowen 100 2200m

http://foylecycling.net/wordpress/index.php/inis-100

I like the look of that one, although when I saw the "100" in your post I was hoping it'd be km not m!!!!

daragh_

g0g wrote: »

Making one up myself I managed to get 2,600m in 170km, but that's just the hills I can pick out on a map.

Anyone else got ideas!?

You should stick a detour up to the top of Kippure in that.
Just to make it hard like

CramCycle

http://www.audaxireland.org/calendar/gazetteer/brown-stuff-400/

/thread

daragh_

CramCycle wrote: »

http://www.audaxireland.org/calendar/gazetteer/brown-stuff-400/

/thread

Sweet jebus. :eek:

g0g

daragh_ wrote: »

You should stick a detour up to the top of Kippure in that.
Just to make it hard like

Never actually cycled up that way. Is it ok on a hybrid or is it a mountain bike track or something? Stupid question but is it private property or grand to go up anytime? Any idea on climb height from road and how steep?

Harrybelafonte

ednwireland wrote: »

inishowen 100 2200m

http://foylecycling.net/wordpress/index.php/inis-100

If I remember correctly, Cycling Weekly (I know, I know) gave this a really positive review last year and mentioned it being pretty tough.

daragh_

g0g wrote: »

daragh_ wrote: »

You should stick a detour up to the top of Kippure in that.
Just to make it hard like

Never actually cycled up that way. Is it ok on a hybrid or is it a mountain bike track or something? Stupid question but is it private property or grand to go up anytime? Any idea on climb height from road and how steep?

I've done it a few times on my Road Bike. Surface is ok, like your average back road in the middle of nowhere in Wicklow. Patches of gravel to look out for when descending.

Will dig out elevation details.

ednwireland

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

If I remember correctly, Cycling Weekly (I know, I know) gave this a really positive review last year and mentioned it being pretty tough.

keep planning to do it but i think long sportives may be out for me this year (havent ridden a bike in 2 months and no sign of recovering enough to do so anytime soon)

anyway the weathers been pretty dreadful the last 2 years (although i think north pole cc do one as well)

-K2-

g0g wrote: »

Never actually cycled up that way. Is it ok on a hybrid or is it a mountain bike track or something? Stupid question but is it private property or grand to go up anytime? Any idea on climb height from road and how steep?

http://app.strava.com/segments/634444

The last segment is tough going up. Be careful on the decent, lots of potholes and gravel.

Also: Turlough Hill off the top of the Wicklow Gap.

youtheman

The Tour De Munster crowd do a cycle called the 'Viscous Cycle' and it includes Priest's Leap outside Kenmare. Drove up it in a car and was scared (if I remember the climbing is approximately 16 km, and with a lot of it the you'll do well to keep the front wheel on the ground it's so steep). Anyone cycle it?.

Dermot Illogical

g0g wrote: »

I like the look of that one, although when I saw the "100" in your post I was hoping it'd be km not m!!!!

North Pole CC also run a 150km event in the same area. Usually in June.
http://northpolecycling.wetpaint.com/page/Tour+Of+Inishowen

ROK ON

ROK ON wrote: »

Audax Ireland
Dying Cow 200km and 2600m of climbing

Mick Byrne 200km (claims 3500m of climbing but I dont believe that)

Alternatively join the Tour de Munster and there is a private event that is 180km with 2400m of climbing over 5 major and about 5 minor climbs.

Iveragh 200 with 3000 m of climbing. with four reasonably steep climbs (one after 185km).

youtheman wrote: »

The Tour De Munster crowd do a cycle called the 'Viscous Cycle' and it includes Priest's Leap outside Kenmare. Drove up it in a car and was scared (if I remember the climbing is approximately 16 km, and with a lot of it the you'll do well to keep the front wheel on the ground it's so steep). Anyone cycle it?.

Yep, I have been up it 5 times. Never again will I climb it. The road has deteriorated very significantly in the past year. Not that it was more than a potholed strewn boreen to begin with.

Tore ligaments the last time, before that I have
Vommited at the top,
Fainted at the top,
Wheelied half way up and cut my ass and back as the bike lost traction.

However a few people on this site (Blorg, Cantalch, Karlmyson, Phil2Me) have made it up in a pretty good speed.
In fact Blorg raced up it on his touring bike with full panniers as a guy on a fancier bike overtook him. He caught the guy btw.
http://app.strava.com/segments/631196
http://app.strava.com/segments/706360

thebouldwhacker

seve65 wrote: »

heres one I intend to do with a few of the tough climbs around Ballyduff, Waterford:

ridewithgps.com/routes/884577
.

@Seve65: Have you cycled this yet? How did you get on?

ednwireland

glengesh challenge

https://www.facebook.com/events/314342575276458/

43 mile cycle from Killybegs to Killybegs via Glengesh Pass and further west.hardly a hill on it.Really hard people will survive this challenge and so will the extremely stupid.Optional breakfast in morning at Killybegs followed by the gruelling cycle followed by dinner-optional too,but it would be great to support the locals.local cyclists will hopefully join us on this Epic ride.Hope to set off around 11am and back whatever time we ALL get back.there will be loads of support and backup so everyone welcome.A donation to charity would be lovely but not compulsory

When Sunday, January 29, 2012

Where killybegs seafront 10am,leaving at 11am not so sharp.

Someone else

ROK ON wrote: »

Yep, I have been up it 5 times. Never again will I climb it. The road has deteriorated very significantly in the past year. Not that it was more than a potholed strewn boreen to begin with.

Tore ligaments the last time, before that I have
Vommited at the top,
Fainted at the top,
Wheelied half way up and cut my ass and back as the bike lost traction.

However a few people on this site (Blorg, Cantalch, Karlmyson, Phil2Me) have made it up in a pretty good speed.
In fact Blorg raced up it on his touring bike with full panniers as a guy on a fancier bike overtook him. He caught the guy btw.
http://app.strava.com/segments/631196
http://app.strava.com/segments/706360

LOL Rok on...

The guy last on the first segment broke his rear derailer at the bottom and was only 15mins behind the next worst after walking up.....

Anyway I did it in appaling weather in '08 and then again in '09 in slightly better weather and swore never again..... A climbers climb and not for the "bigger" cyclists....

On the subject of the Tour de Munster a new cycling club has started in Cork the "Ronde Van Cork" with current and former TdM cyclists.


1426mts in 67.4kms around Cork....
http://ridewithgps.com/trips/159473

Cantalch (I think) came up with the route....

seve65

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/884577

thebouldwhacker wrote: »

@Seve65: Have you cycled this yet? How did you get on?

no, going to save that until the weather is a bit drier and there is less debris around.

I did do this one below which is to the east of ballyduff (ride i have planned above is to the west).

http://app.strava.com/activities/1899774 (this is about the same amount of climbing as ronde van cork (but harder, at least it was for me, the kind of climbs that yell at you to get off the bike) in about 70k (as last 14 is flat).

If you dont mind roughing it (and I mean roads that disintegrate completely), these are just as bad killers too in the Musheraghs:
http://app.strava.com/activities/1305621
or this
http://app.strava.com/activities/1130167

Anyway, sportives these routes are not, so back on topic, here's the carrick sportive route with an alternative finish:
http://app.strava.com/activities/603976

thats it I have nothing more to offer !

ednwireland

Up for a Challenge – The Hills of Donegal
http://errigalcyclingclub.com/?p=400

Do you want a challenge around some of the toughest roads in the Northwest?…. or Do you want to take a leisure ride through some of the most scenic sights in Ireland?…Well Errigal Cycling Club has the answer – “Hills of Donegal” Sportive 2012 takes place on the 31st March.

Errigal Cycling Club has added another exciting event to their calendar. A challenging 185km non competitive sportive will await participants, this along with Donegal hospitality, quiet country roads, plenty of climbs varying in gradients, the steepest being 14%…this will make for a great day’s cycling.

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/71644624