ROK for a Novice - - Can I do it?

Seve OB

My pal has asked me to do the Ring Of Kerry with him this year....180k....I said yes, but.....will I be able?

I am not fit and not great at motivating myself, though I have started trying a little running (very little so far, as in 1k around the block half a dozen times!) and a bit of skipping. Problem is that it is January .... and it might last a few weeks then what....

I'm 35, 200lb and not done any real keep fit in 10 years. A few gym memberships where I went for a few months then forgot about it! I used to do a good bit of football etc when I was a kid. I never ever ever ran before (cept playing ball) but got roped into doing a 5k run before christmas which I did in 38.5mins (mostly ran, but walked prob just over 1k of it). I was in ribbons after and my knee was in a jock for weeks after.

I only got back up on a bike a few months ago and at a push in the better weather, as far as I have gone so far is into work 2 or 3 times a week, a 10k spin (25mins) each way. I mixed it up on the way home a few times and probably did a couple of 15k spins and maybe got up to 20k twice.

Last week I went mad, cycled 58.9k, out through Dundrum Stepaside Kilternan so a good few hills, and stopped for about an hour halfway. I found it pretty easy, but after my break was very tough coming back into town on the Merion Road, the wind didn't help, I hit the wall at 50k, with the usually easy enough inclined Phoenix Park ahead of me, and found it torture and struggled to go about an avg of 15kmph for the last 10k. This is what is making me wonder is 180k even on my radar!

I have set myself a halfway goal of running the great run 10k on 15th April in the Phoenix Park which is why I have started to run around the block a few nights a week. I hope to keep this going and maybe increase the distance a little each week.

I really want to give it a go, but am I being realistic? Can I do it? What kind of training would I need to do to complete the ROK? We had spoke about 8 hours cycling time being our goal, but my pal is a lot fitter than me, and he is only in Dublin during the week (with no bike) and his first baby is due any day so we can't even do a bit of training together. Ater my 60k spin, I think just completing it in one piece will be a miriacle.

After reading rich berrys post I am encouraged, but he did seem to be on the bike a lot more than me

BTW I have a decent bike, Felt Z6 Carbon frame and his is similar but not Carbon, both bought last Summer.

mel.b

I think you can do it, but you need to build up the time on the bike, build up the fitness etc. You probably did too much trying to do nearly 60km with very little other cycling. You need to make sure you enjoy cycling as well...no pont and you won't be motivated if ou aten't. As i said build up to it, do a few other sportives between now and then also. I'm in a similar boat to you - did a 50km sportive last year and am going to do the ROK this year. I haven't cycled more than 55km yet, but am starting to prepare now for the ROK as i'm still really unfit and overweight

If YOU want to do it, go for it, but start training now and build up gradually. There is a training plan on the ROK website that i think is a 4month plan so that will give you a guide on how to build up your training.

Good luck

Seve OB

mel.b wrote: »

You probably did too much trying to do nearly 60km with very little other cycling. You need to make sure you enjoy cycling as well...no pont and you won't be motivated if ou aten't.

No probably about it at all Mel, it was way to much. As far as enjoying it, I love it - - but I'm lazy, especially in bad weather. Having two babies in the house as well isn't that helpful for getting out.

Was thinking about a couple of laps around the Phoenix Park at weekends maybe to get me going a bit rather than that kind of torture again! I'll check out the training plan on ROK

Don't suppose anyone else who is setting off for the ROK this year fancies getting together for a few training spins? I'm in Castleknock.

mel.b

For me, cycling is meant to be fun, so i don't go out in bad weather either. Yes i probably need to HTFU but i don't see the fun (or point) in riding in the wind and rain for several hours! Maybe you could look at getting a turbo trainer so at least you can do something on those bad days.

Alos check out leisurecycling ireland (they have a fb page)...they organise beginning spins in Phoenix Park. I would go but live on the other side of the country

07Lapierre

YES YOU CAN!!!!. You've 6 months...plenty of time to train for it. Set yourself a weekly cycling routine for the next 4 weeks and stick to it. Then increase the milage for the next 4 weeks and so on. What kinda bike do you have? What about padded cycling shorts? Get a pair if you dont have them already.

youtheman

I took up cycling last year at the 'tender age' of 49. I was reasonably fit and had plenty of practice before I did the ROK. The first sportive I did was the 'Tour of the Burren', on a very windy day, mostly on my own ('cause I got dropped every time we came to a hill). The ROK, I did on a lovely day, cycling in a group. The ROK was longer but I managed to do it in approximately 1/2 hr faster than the Burren (average 28 km/hr for the ROK).

I must admit the stop at the top of the hill near Sneem (whatever it's called) to take on some water and apply the sun-screen was spectacular. What a view.

So I would say it is possible. Just get yourself someway fit, and get your undecarriage used to several hours on the saddle. And if you can cycle in an organised group then it's even easier, I'd say 160 K on your own is the same as 100 k in a group.

And the ROK has only two real climbs, the one from Kenmare to Killarney is quite easy.

And if the weather forecast is rotten you can always cancel. Go for it. You won't regret it.

mp2012

As mel.b says have a look at leisurecycling.ie, they are getting groups together with the goal of doing either the Wicklow 100 or 200, and are doing group training sessions for beginners and more experienced riders, including sessions in the Phoenix Park. The training will be good for any sportive and a lot of members will be doing the ROK as well.

I am only a bit further along than yourself, 200lbs and a lot to lose, been in training now since early December and have entered Kare Tour de Foothils, Tour de Connemara, Wicklow 200 and plan on doing the ROK as well, so you will be in good company on the roads.

smacl

For me, a great way to plan for these events is to work backwards. If you want be able to 180k comfortably at some point in the future, and can do say 40k comfortably now, divide the amount of time you have available (say 4 months) by the distance increase required (say 140k) and plan accordingly. So if you want to be able to go 140k further in 4 months, you want to be adding 35k a month, or 8k-9k extra a week, to the length of your spin. You could get away with less, in that if you've cycled 70%-80% of the distance, you can usually up your game that bit extra for the big day. You can also increase in percentages of your distance covered so far rather than fixed amounts, which makes it easier at the start of your program.

Visibility works for me, so if I have a plan, I print it off, stick it on the wall, and mark off what I've done in a big day glo (high vis??) marker. This also serves to make you feel suitably guilty when you miss out, to the extent you try to make up for lost effort.

Hoping to do the ROK myself for the first time this year, looks like great craic and I've loved all the cycling I've done to date in Kerry.

smacl

mel.b wrote: »

For me, cycling is meant to be fun, so i don't go out in bad weather either.

Yeah but, no but... Problem with this is that if you have your heart set on doing an event on a certain day, you've never ridden in bad conditions, and the weather on the day is crap beyond belief, you find yourself neatly wedged between a rock and a hard place. I'd guess training for something and then not taking part would be soul destroying. From experience, cycling in crap conditions can be great gas in a looney tunes, wtf am I doing this for kind of way. Last years WW200 would be a case in point for all of the above.

In any case, as you cycle longer distances in remote areas, crap weather is unavoidable.

Chris O Donoghue

You should definitely be able for it, you have enough time to train.

People talk about the hills on the ROK but in reality they're not bad; the last pull from Kenmare to Killareny over Molls Gap looks daunting but if you can get out to Wicklow a few time (Sally Gap, Wicklow Gap) you'll have no problems.

The major problem along the South west coast is headwind: theres always wind coming from somewhere, so to a large extent the ROK is a mental challenge as much as a physical one. Also despite the great scenery in the peninsula there are long boring bits, particularly along the norhtern side, but the atmosphere and camaraderie on the ROK is great, and will pull you along if you're flagging a bit. If you do it with a buddy you'll be grand.

alanrebelsw

Molls gap ain't on the ring....

Seve OB

took a look at leisurecycling.ie and it looks good. I might just join them

Pity I missed the Phoenix Park spin last week, that would have been good.

On another hand, they have theis own website, but when I click for info on the Enniskerry event it throws me to a Facebook log in page. I'm not on facebook, I've no interest in Facebook, I don't care for Facebook, I don't want to be on facebook and if Facebook internally combusted tomorrow, it couldn't happen soon enough as far as I'm concerned.

Why does everybody have to do things on facebox when they already have a website that can do the job a hell of a lot better?

I hate social media.

07Lapierre

alanrebelsw wrote: »

Molls gap ain't on the ring....

Really? where is it then?

Kav0777

alanrebelsw wrote: »

Molls gap ain't on the ring....

are you sure? any route maps seem to show the route going over molls gap

mp2012

stevieob,

The Enniskerry meet is on Sunday 12th February at 10:00am. The mapmyride
route is here: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/62720068. Exact meeting point etc. has still to be advised.

A lot of the information is facebook based, but I think the organisers will also be updating the website with the details for each event for those that don't want to use facebook.

shergar22

alanrebelsw wrote: »

Molls gap ain't on the ring....

Oh yes it is!!

unbeatable

alanrebelsw wrote: »

Molls gap ain't on the ring....

yea it is. the main road from kenmare to kilarney n71. look at google maps.

ROK ON

February 2007 I decided to do the Ring of Kerry not having done a proper cycle since I was a teenager.
At the time I weighed between 17s7lbs and 17st10.
I traded in my battered hybrid and bought a bike at the end of February.

My first cycle was Castleknock to Leixlip and back. I then progressed to maynooth and back. Cycling was hard and I was obese.

Months flew by and my training progressed. My longest cycle prior to the Ring was only 100km or so, and I had to phone the missus to coma and pick me up. I was stuck outside Monasterevin and shattered.

Nervous enough on the day. But I got through the event. It was unbelieveably well organised and really opened my eyes as to how fantastic cycling is. I think it took me about 9 hours on the bike.

I have been back each year for the past 4.

The Ring is a great introduction to cycling for anyone new to the sport. There are no real hard climbs to speak of (even though back then I was terrified of Coomakiste and Molls Gap).

It is a long day and the road is exposed to Atlantic wind at several points. I would say that if you can do 5 hours on your own on the bike by June then you will be able dor 8 or so hours in a group.

There is great official and unofficial support (for example a lady between Caherdaniel and Sneem serves sandwiches and water from her house every year).

If you dont fall in love with cycling the Ring of Kerry cycle then well at least you tried, but cycling is probably not for you.


Last year I started and finished early as I wanted to see the stage of the TDF on that day. About 5pm or so, I was leaving my house at the base of Molls Gap and driving up the road to the Gap. At that stage the road was still chock a block with cyclists (who had been out since about 8 that morning).
I saw a very heavy gent struggle up the climb and I smiled thinking that was me 4 years previously.
I saw a guy on a kids bmx that was way too small for him.

Unless you are really really fast you will have company all day. There is a real carnival athmosphere around the cycle. To be honest, the route the cycle takes is boring as hell for me - but its the people and the event that make this cycle not the route.

A truly great event.

Seve OB

ROK ON wrote: »

February 2007 I decided to do the Ring of Kerry not having done a proper cycle since I was a teenager.
At the time I weighed between 17s7lbs and 17st10.
I traded in my battered hybrid and bought a bike at the end of February.

My first cycle was Castleknock to Leixlip and back. I then progressed to maynooth and back. Cycling was hard and I was obese.

Months flew by and my training progressed. My longest cycle prior to the Ring was only 100km or so, and I had to phone the missus to coma and pick me up. I was stuck outside Monasterevin and shattered.

Nervous enough on the day. But I got through the event. It was unbelieveably well organised and really opened my eyes as to how fantastic cycling is. I think it took me about 9 hours on the bike.

I have been back each year for the past 4.

The Ring is a great introduction to cycling for anyone new to the sport. There are no real hard climbs to speak of (even though back then I was terrified of Coomakiste and Molls Gap).

It is a long day and the road is exposed to Atlantic wind at several points. I would say that if you can do 5 hours on your own on the bike by June then you will be able dor 8 or so hours in a group.

There is great official and unofficial support (for example a lady between Caherdaniel and Sneem serves sandwiches and water from her house every year).

If you dont fall in love with cycling the Ring of Kerry cycle then well at least you tried, but cycling is probably not for you.


Last year I started and finished early as I wanted to see the stage of the TDF on that day. About 5pm or so, I was leaving my house at the base of Molls Gap and driving up the road to the Gap. At that stage the road was still chock a block with cyclists (who had been out since about 8 that morning).
I saw a very heavy gent struggle up the climb and I smiled thinking that was me 4 years previously.
I saw a guy on a kids bmx that was way too small for him.

Unless you are really really fast you will have company all day. There is a real carnival athmosphere around the cycle. To be honest, the route the cycle takes is boring as hell for me - but its the people and the event that make this cycle not the route.

A truly great event.

It is posts like this one, and other similar ones I have read that are giving me encourgement, and also really a good impression of how good the day is likely to be.

Fair play to you ROK, and hopefully will see you in Kerry on July 7th this year. Though as I'm a Castleknocker myself, so if you are still round these parts, maybe we could go for a spin sometime?

petethedrummer

stevieob wrote: »

Though as I'm a Castleknocker myself, so if you are still round these parts, maybe we could go for a spin sometime?

If you're looking for cycling partners, you could start up the Saturday Spins again. http://www.boards.ie/search/?q=Saturday+spin

Just give a start time & place, a rough idea of the route and what ability you think it would suit. 15 people might show up one week and none might turn up the next.

ROK ON

stevieob wrote: »

Fair play to you ROK, and hopefully will see you in Kerry on July 7th this year. Though as I'm a Castleknocker myself, so if you are still round these parts, maybe we could go for a spin sometime?

Thanks.
I no longer live in Castleknock, or Dublin for that matter any longer. There are lots of cyclists in the area (half of Boards it would seem). Also the new club in the area should ensure that you are not stuck for company while out on a spin.
For anyone living in Dublin who has never done the Ring before and is worried about the climbs Then dont be.
If you want to get some Idea as to what Molls Gap is like, then cycle out to Tallaght or Saggart and cycle up the Embankment or Saggart Hill.
The height gained and gradient is very similar to Molls Gap from the Kenmare side.

Seve OB

petethedrummer wrote: »

If you're looking for cycling partners, you could start up the Saturday Spins again. http://www.boards.ie/search/?q=Saturday+spin

Just give a start time & place, a rough idea of the route and what ability you think it would suit. 15 people might show up one week and none might turn up the next.

nice one, i just did!

squeaky crank

fair play - I think you will be fine, - you just need to start training now and keep it steady. I was in your shoes a few years ago and used a couple of 100k sportifs in May and April (KARE Tour de Foothills is good) to give me the incentive to train, also you will get a taste of group riding which is a blast.
Also, you have an advantage in being close to great cycling training country - Sally Gap, Stocking Lane, Ticknock or laps of Howth - Ive 2 young kids too and sometimes can only afford 1 or 2 hours so I do a fast hilly lap which helps keep miles in the legs for the longer spins.
Good luck

funnights74

alanrebelsw wrote: »

Molls gap ain't on the ring....

Eh yeah it is, or else last july i and about 8,000 other people were imagining things.

Zen0

I took up road cycling just over a year ago, initially on an old (converted mountain bike) hybrid. Upgraded to a road bike which was a big help, but the thing which really helped me was reading Ed Pavelka's "The Complete Book of Long Distance Cycling: Build the Strength, Skills and Confidence to Ride as Far as You Want" (on Amazon at http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/search/ref=pd_lpo_ix_dp_am_us_uk_en_gl_book?keywords=long%20distance%20cycling%20pavelka&tag=lpo_ixdpamusukengl_book-21&index=blended).

It got me using a heart rate monitor to keep my pace below my aerobic threshold, and using nutrition wisely so I wasn't hitting a wall through glycogen depletion. The other thing to do is to increase distance steadily but in small increments (the physio recommended 10% increments and that worked for me). Did the Wicklow 100 and the Leinster Loop last summer, and on both I was able to shift up a gear and pick up the pace over the last 20km when a lot of participants were flagging . I reckon you can do it, but I would recommend reading up on the sports science bit.

cranks

smacl wrote: »

From experience, cycling in crap conditions can be great gas in a looney tunes, wtf am I doing this for kind of way. Last years WW200 would be a case in point for all of the above.

I second that.
In my experience, once you've ridden through the point of being sodden, settled into a groove and have accepted that you're likely to be hammered by a head-wind for the next few hours (no matter what direction you seem to go in) it all begins to seem absurd. Then it becomes enjoyable again in strange way.
Admittedly, heading out when it's chucking it down is hard and requires a real effort but getting caught up in a storm when you're 50k out isn't so bad (though I do pray that I don't puncture in such conditions - nothing worse that cooling down by the side of the road, trying to do a fix with cold hands).

All said, cycling in crap conditions is all part of the package. Not ideal, but not to be avoided if you're planning to do sportives etc.

PS. Your bike won't thank you for 4 or 5 hours of rain. Keep it sweet - be nice to the machine afterwards.

morann

stevieob wrote: »

took a look at leisurecycling.ie and it looks good. I might just join them

Pity I missed the Phoenix Park spin last week, that would have been good.

On another hand, they have theis own website, but when I click for info on the Enniskerry event it throws me to a Facebook log in page. I'm not on facebook, I've no interest in Facebook, I don't care for Facebook, I don't want to be on facebook and if Facebook internally combusted tomorrow, it couldn't happen soon enough as far as I'm concerned.

Why does everybody have to do things on facebox when they already have a website that can do the job a hell of a lot better?

I hate social media.

Hi, with regard the Leisure Cycling Ireland website .

We have a website but we use Facebook because of it's private groups which allow us to include discussions, blogs, events, photos and loads more all in one place. Adding this to the website would be cost prohibitive unless we used different systems that don't glue together well.

It also allows us to reach a lot of people that are interested in cycling.

If you email admin@leisurecycling.ie I can put you on our mailing list. We will be running Loop of the Park again soon.

Seve OB

morann wrote: »

Hi, with regard the Leisure Cycling Ireland website .

We have a website but we use Facebook because of it's private groups which allow us to include discussions, blogs, events, photos and loads more all in one place. Adding this to the website would be cost prohibitive unless we used different systems that don't glue together well.

It also allows us to reach a lot of people that are interested in cycling.

If you email admin@leisurecycling.ie I can put you on our mailing list. We will be running Loop of the Park again soon.

I have a facebook account, which i never used much but tried to log in one day and it wanted me to put in my mobile number to veriy me or i could go no further - - -- eh, no chance

tried it a few times since but got the same. now they have disabled it!!

I will drop you an email now shortly, thanks

MR_BAB

Im planning on doing the ROK myself this year. The longest one ive done so far is the Cork Rebel Challenge last year 160km, it was a brilliant cycle. I have been cycling about 2 years now, have a decent bike (well i think anyway).
I do about 300k a month mostly on my own though as i work shift and its very hard to get out with the clubs.
Im living in Lucan so if anyone fancies heading out for a spin during the week to prepare for it gimme a shout

funnights74

MR_BAB wrote: »

Im planning on doing the ROK myself this year. The longest one ive done so far is the Cork Rebel Challenge last year 160km, it was a brilliant cycle. I have been cycling about 2 years now, have a decent bike (well i think anyway).
I do about 300k a month mostly on my own though as i work shift and its very hard to get out with the clubs.
Im living in Lucan so if anyone fancies heading out for a spin during the week to prepare for it gimme a shout

You'll fly it, save something for the second half, from waterville, as the the 2 main climbs are waiting there for ya.

MR_BAB

I knda like hills..........not one after the other though. Im actually looking forward to it, i hear the scenery is stunning

funnights74

Ya the views are spectacular, weather permitting. Mostly rolling roads and there's mighty craic along the way, plenty of roadside cheering helps the cyclists along. 2 climbs Coolmaciste, after 80Km and just after kenmare molls gap, after 140 Km.
There's a great buzz in killarney at the end, all in all it's a not to be missed day.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/966567

Seve OB

I have upped my training this past weekend from a couple of 40 k spins over the last few weeks I headed for the Sally Gap. Was with a mate though who couldn't handle to go any further that the Car park at Cruagh, so we took a break, hung a left and headed down into kilternan.

Then he was ok for a bit more so we headed for Enniskerry, and from there up kilgarron hill and urned off for Johnny Foxes again. That corkscrew hill after the quarry was almost the death of me, I think the call it Devils elbow, had to stop a few times to get up it, but I managed in the end.

It was only a 40k spin I did in the end, but it was the hardest yet, bring on the ring!

Seve OB

MR_BAB wrote: »

Im planning on doing the ROK myself this year. The longest one ive done so far is the Cork Rebel Challenge last year 160km, it was a brilliant cycle. I have been cycling about 2 years now, have a decent bike (well i think anyway).
I do about 300k a month mostly on my own though as i work shift and its very hard to get out with the clubs.
Im living in Lucan so if anyone fancies heading out for a spin during the week to prepare for it gimme a shout

I'm in Castleknock, not up to big spins yet, mostly about 40k so far, but feel I can up the pace a bit now, might got for about 60k on Saturday or Sunday morning is the weather is ok.
Probably head out past Dunboyne, down into Klicock and back though Maynooth & Leixlip if you are game?

morann

We are doing a 75k through Sally Gap next week if you're interested in joining us.

http://www.leisurecycling.ie/events.html

Seve OB

morann wrote: »

We are doing a 75k through Sally Gap next week if you're interested in joining us.

http://www.leisurecycling.ie/events.html

would love to but am away that weekend

see you are going to phoenix park this sunday so might tag along for that