Lap of Laois 2012

Watchtours CC

The inaugural Lap of Laois sportive will take place on Sunday 25th March starting in Portlaoise, promoted by Watchtours cycling club. We have 2 routes, 100km & 60km, with the usual halfway food stop, mechanical backup and food at the finish. Full details are at www.facebook.com/lapoflaois.
All proceeds are going to The Make Believers, a locally based childrens charity. Come and experience the Sliabh Blooms and get a good early season spin in the legs.

thebouldwhacker

Perhaps I missed it but I could not see a route?

Watchtours CC

Routes are on the wall and also can be found by clicking on the links tab.

Donnelly117

Why no tri bars or TT bikes out of intrest? Or is this a common thing at any sportive event?

poolboy

Donnelly117 wrote: »

Why no tri bars or TT bikes out of intrest? Or is this a common thing at any sportive event?

Fairly common at these events to my knowledge for safety reasons

dirtybike

Might give this a try have a few 60k spins done a few more between now and then i might even try the 100k but that climb looks tough enough anyone know it

Daithi BC

Looks like a nice local season opener! If my map-reading skills are ok, the climb is The Cut from Clonaslee which is a long drag, but doesn't ever get too steep. There's a long winding descent the far side with a big dog at the bottom who always has a go at me when I pass.

dirtybike

Daithi BC wrote: »

Looks like a nice local season opener! If my map-reading skills are ok, the climb is The Cut from Clonaslee which is a long drag, but doesn't ever get too steep. There's a long winding descent the far side with a big dog at the bottom who always has a go at me when I pass.

Thanks sounds manageable i might try a spin up that direction for a look before then.

Watchtours CC

You're spot on there Daithi, the climb is The Cut. It's not as bad in real life as it looks on the profile and there is a nice 14km descent into Mountrath to recover. I've never had a problem with the dog though, maybe it's just you he doesn't like!:)

Daithi BC

Watchtours CC wrote: »

You're spot on there Daithi, the climb is The Cut. It's not as bad in real life as it looks on the profile and there is a nice 14km descent into Mountrath to recover. I've never had a problem with the dog though, maybe it's just you he doesn't like!:)

Must be! I'm usually heading the other way, so he has plenty of time to line me up!

monkeypants

Daithi BC wrote: »

There's a long winding descent the far side with a big dog at the bottom who always has a go at me when I pass.

Will they be arranging that for the day? Sounds like a lot of work for one dog.

alomolloy

dirtybike wrote: »

Might give this a try have a few 60k spins done a few more between now and then i might even try the 100k but that climb looks tough enough anyone know it

Hey dirtybike, this is a very nice climb, not too steep (well not really steep) but is about 7km long but remember its 7km long on the descent as well so its worth it

jaqian

Found the routes...
http://www.facebook.com/lapoflaois?sk=app_2309869772

Daithi BC

alomolloy wrote: »

Hey dirtybike, this is a very nice climb, not too steep (well not really steep) but is about 7km long but remember its 7km long on the descent as well so its worth it

Yes - it's really not that bad, unless there's a stiff headwind. To me, it's nowhere near as bad as some of the climbs in Wicklow. Take it at your own pace and you'll be fine.

alomolloy

Daithi BC wrote: »

alomolloy wrote: »

Hey dirtybike, this is a very nice climb, not too steep (well not really steep) but is about 7km long but remember its 7km long on the descent as well so its worth it

Yes - it's really not that bad, unless there's a stiff headwind. To me, it's nowhere near as bad as some of the climbs in Wicklow. Take it at your own pace and you'll be fine.

I agree it's the easiest climb in the Slieve Bloom anyway

dirtybike

Thanks alo and dathi reckon ill give it a go

Willow3340

Is there a goody bag or jersey on completion?

Watchtours CC

Willow3340 wrote: »

Is there a goody bag or jersey on completion?

No goody bag but there will be a T-shirt and hot food at the finish.

maloner

Watchtours CC wrote: »

No goody bag but there will be a T-shirt and hot food at the finish.

Cool. I'll be along all going well.

Seve OB

can you just rock on down on the morning and register there and then?

Watchtours CC

stevieob wrote: »

can you just rock on down on the morning and register there and then?

You sure can, from 8.30 on.

alexanderomahon

There should be a few people there from the leisure cycling ireland. First trip out in club gear.

poolboy

alexanderomahon wrote: »

There should be a few people there from the leisure cycling ireland. First trip out in club gear.

Good stuff all welcome

Watchtours CC

Just a final reminder that this is on next Sunday. Weather forecast is good so come along and enjoy a nice spin around Laois.

marathon50

Don't forget clocks go forward 1 hour Saturday. Easy to get caught out.

Daithi BC

Current Met Forecast from http://www.met.ie: "Friday, Saturday, Sunday and the early days of next week will stay largely dry apart from the odd light shower in the south or patch of drizzle in the west. All areas will get some decent spells of sunshine. Daytime temperatures will range from about 14 to 18 degrees with the highest values in the midlands and in Connacht."

Couldn't ask for better, really. I am a bit upset about losing an hour's sleep though.

maloner

Motivation:

http://app.strava.com/segments/1109573

The segment for the major climb of the day. Someones been getting in some training it seems

Seve OB

Daithi BC wrote: »

Couldn't ask for better, really. I am a bit upset about losing an hour's sleep though.

+1

but im looking forward to it anyway, it will be my first ever sportive

Watchtours CC

maloner wrote: »

Motivation:

http://app.strava.com/segments/1109573

The segment for the major climb of the day. Someones been getting in some training it seems

And doing it quite a bit quicker than I've ever managed!

alomolloy

maloner wrote: »

Motivation:

http://app.strava.com/segments/1109573

The segment for the major climb of the day. Someones been getting in some training it seems

Look at the time 22.37, are we aloud to use engines on the day as well

maloner

Watchtours CC wrote: »

And doing it quite a bit quicker than I've ever managed!

never been up it, but the stats look impressive alright.

maloner

met.ie:

THE WEEKEND: Dry and turning very mild by Sunday, with good sunny spells and just light easterly breezes.

That'd be just great.

poolboy

Well folks mt cranium over on weather forecasting dry sunny and highs of 14 to 17 degrees for Sunday. We can't do much more for ye

dirtybike

Looking forward to this now looks like I won't be using the weather as an excuse for a poor performance anyway

Daithi BC

Saw my first red "LL" markings with arrows on the road in Stradbally today.

alexanderomahon

Can you tell me at what point the food stop is on the 100k and what will be on offer? Thanks.

alexanderomahon

Can anybody tell me how the big climb here compares to the climb from laragh up to the Sally Gap? I'm not great at the old climbing and struggled on the climb up to the Sally Gap. I managed it but did not have a hell of a lot left in the tank.

Watchtours CC

alexanderomahon wrote: »

Can you tell me at what point the food stop is on the 100k and what will be on offer? Thanks.

Stop is at the 53km mark. We will have the usual, tea, coffee, sambos, biccies, cake......

Watchtours CC

alexanderomahon wrote: »

Can anybody tell me how the big climb here compares to the climb from laragh up to the Sally Gap? I'm not great at the old climbing and struggled on the climb up to the Sally Gap. I managed it but did not have a hell of a lot left in the tank.

I have never done that climb so can't say but it would be comparable to either of the climbs on the Ring of Kerry if you are familiar with them. It's 8 km long with an average gradient of 4.3%. There are no sharp ramps on it, pretty steady the whole way.

andy69

Watchtours CC wrote: »

...It's 8 km long with an average gradient of 4.3%...

With the descent off it...there's a Horse Riding Stables-thingy on the way down. I passed by a couple of weeks ago, and the road just there was covered with a thick layer of hay (all wet at the time), and a fair bit of horse 'exhaust' too from them crossing over and back.

Have yee been up there in the last couple of days? Just wondering if that's all still there or if the Stables owners might have cleared it by any chance?

Off out for me spin now, - shorts today methinks!!

Watchtours CC

andy69 wrote: »

With the descent off it...there's a Horse Riding Stables-thingy on the way down. I passed by a couple of weeks ago, and the road just there was covered with a thick layer of hay (all wet at the time), and a fair bit of horse 'exhaust' too from them crossing over and back.

Have yee been up there in the last couple of days? Just wondering if that's all still there or if the Stables owners might have cleared it by any chance?

Off out for me spin now, - shorts today methinks!!

Was up there yesterday marking the road and that section is a hell of a lot better than it usually is. Will be doing another run around with a yard brush before the off.

Seweryn

Is that the first event or was it on last year?
How many cyclists would you expect and would you recommend this event?

I just found the thread and am thinking about going for it, if I feel fresh.

marathon50

The road out of Clonaslee on the first 2km climb of the cut is in an absolute
terrible state, one section of about 500m is no better than a bad lane be
careful. LCC should be ashamed of them selves to have a road that is on a tourist trail in such a state
and it has been like this for the last 6 months just getting worse. Regular
climb for me steady the whole way up, get a nice gear and stay in the saddle
Enjoy it,

andy69

ignore this!

poolboy

Seweryn wrote: »

Is that the first event or was it on last year?
How many cyclists would you expect and would you recommend this event?

I just found the thread and am thinking about going for it, if I feel fresh.

This is the first year of the event and so we really dont know how many to expect but the predicted weather should push numbers up. Im a member of the club and obviously am going to recommend it, 2 good routes with a testing climb on the 100k and the lads have put a lot of work into the organisation so am expecting a good day. If thats not enough its in aid of The Make Believers a very worthy childrens charity.
|Dont forget the clocks going forward

alexanderomahon

Thanks for organising a great event today and well done on organising the weather!!

However, that climb up the cut was never ending, a real challenge.

Watchtours CC

A massive thank you to everyone who took part today, I hope you all had a good day out.

196 people signed on which far exceeded our expectations and was brilliant for a new event, particularly so early in the season.
If anyone has any feedback or suggestions please let us know as we want to make it bigger and better for next year. (obviously we have already put in our repeat order for the weather )

Keep the last Sunday in March 2013 free for the next instalment.

Watchtours CC

alexanderomahon wrote: »

Thanks for organising a great event today and well done on organising the weather!!

However, that climb up the cut was never ending, a real challenge.

Glad you enjoyed it. Just remember that the cut is the easiest of the three climbs in The Sliabh Blooms so we could have been a lot crueler if we wanted to;).

Daithi BC

Well done to the organisers - I thought it was a great day out (and the weather obviously helped as well). Nice route for the 100km and very well marshalled. Good food stop in the middle, and great to have warm showers and hot food at the end as well. A very good debut event, and I'll be back next year.

Special thanks to eh for super-domestique duties up the Cut and on the way back into Portlaoise!

alexanderomahon

watchtourscc did you get my pm?

Watchtours CC

alexanderomahon wrote: »

watchtourscc did you get my pm?

Reply sent