Tour de Conamara 2012

mountclare4

Don't forget to register before April 10th to secure your Tour de Conmara entry and wind / rain training jacket and chance to cycle with Bernard Hinault in his first Irish event.

Register online at www.celticseries2012.com

Enter the Facebook competition to win the 2012 Celtic series jersey and bib shorts - entries close on March 9th

DD Mikasa

Do we get the rain jacket on the day or do they get delivered beforehand?

hiDEhi

Participants who register before April 2nd will receive a Celtic Series Tour de Conamara wind / rain jacket. Jackets will be distributed in the weeks before the event.

Link: www.celticseries2012.com/tour-de-conamara/event-faq

mountclare4

Tour de Conamara is delighted to announce that due to generosity of key sponsors anyone that registers before MAY 1st will receive an event jacket.

Register on www.celticseries.ie

mountclare4

The final design for the event jacket is now posted on the Celtic Series Tour de Conamara website and facebook page

www.celticseries.ie

subscriber

Could anyone comment on the likely hood of a novice cyclist such as myself making the 140km route? I've cycled up to 70km before at a steady 25kph but felt I was maxed out after I finished. Ive done a hole heap more cycling since that and feel i could venture further again but I cant say for certain. Will there by any lunch break/ stop over on the 140km route?? Have any other novices attempted this before and how did they find it? Is there much gradient to tackle?

at1withmyself

subscriber wrote: »

Could anyone comment on the likely hood of a novice cyclist such as myself making the 140km route? I've cycled up to 70km before at a steady 25kph but felt I was maxed out after I finished. Ive done a hole heap more cycling since that and feel i could venture further again but I cant say for certain. Will there by any lunch break/ stop over on the 140km route?? Have any other novices attempted this before and how did they find it? Is there much gradient to tackle?

The route is farily flat with a few minor hills but nothing difficult or long. Is the 70km done by yourself or a group and are you eating/drinking properly? If you can do 70km by yourself then why not sign up for the Croi Corrib Cycle and thats 120km on the flat with loads of food and cake so if you can suceed in that then the 140km will be achievable.

The event had food stops with fruit and biscuits amongst other items last year and a nice spread at the finish line but as with all sportiffs be sure to bring some supplies yourself.

subscriber

Could anyone clarify for me what date the tour de connemera is on? There seems to be conflicting information on the internet. Also, is it a fundraiser event or is it a pay and go?? Also as i will prob only be able to get one day off work, im wondering if there is any collection of goodies, or registration the day before the event as I might not be able to attend if there is??
Many Thanks

mel.b

subscriber wrote: »

Could anyone clarify for me what date the tour de connemera is on? There seems to be conflicting information on the internet. Also, is it a fundraiser event or is it a pay and go?? Also as i will prob only be able to get one day off work, im wondering if there is any collection of goodies, or registration the day before the event as I might not be able to attend if there is??
Many Thanks

The registration email I have says 27th May.

Sign on available Sat and Sunday morning. See http://www.celticseries2012.com/tour-de-conamara/registration

It is E40 for the event - you dont need to fundraise.

alexanderomahon

mel.b wrote: »

The registration email I have says 27th May.

Sign on available Sat and Sunday morning. See http://www.celticseries2012.com/tour-de-conamara/registration

It is E40 for the event - you dont need to fundraise.

Mel are you still able for this after your accident?

mel.b

alexanderomahon wrote: »

Mel are you still able for this after your accident?

Not sure yet Alex - have appt with the specialist on Thurs so will know more then. Hoping I will be able though - it will be six weeks from the date and still give me six weeks on the road prep for the RoK.

midlands1

subscriber wrote: »

Could anyone clarify for me what date the tour de connemera is on? There seems to be conflicting information on the internet. Also, is it a fundraiser event or is it a pay and go?? Also as i will prob only be able to get one day off work, im wondering if there is any collection of goodies, or registration the day before the event as I might not be able to attend if there is??
Many Thanks

Its on May 27th Log onto www.celticseries2012.com for all the info. Good luck on the day.

mountclare4

Sign up online by May 1st to guarantee yourself an event jacket. It is definitely on Sunday 27th May. Conflicting dates online might be last years event information still popping up.

As for completing the routes if you can do 70km at the moment you will probably manage either. There are 3 stops on the 140km route that you can take a break at and also remember its not a race so no panic on time to complete. 80km route has two stops. Both routes are really great options with breathtaking scenery. There is a piece on the event website about the 80km route written by a guest of the event. Www.celticseries.ie

subscriber

mountclare4 wrote: »

Sign up online by May 1st to guarantee yourself an event jacket. It is definitely on Sunday 27th May. Conflicting dates online might be last years event information still popping up.

As for completing the routes if you can do 70km at the moment you will probably manage either. There are 3 stops on the 140km route that you can take a break at and also remember its not a race so no panic on time to complete. 80km route has two stops. Both routes are really great options with breathtaking scenery. There is a piece on the event website about the 80km route written by a guest of the event. Www.celticseries.ie

Cheers everyone, no backing out now, signed up for the 140km route, im sure ill make it with some encouragement, the most distance I have done is 70km and I did that alone so I should be fine for the 140 with a bit of company and a few stopovers.

Looking forward to the day now, my first sportif and all. Awwww

Prob a few more questions closer to the time about what gear to haul along and what to leave as well as nutrition but for now, its to concentrate on some long training spins...

Cheers
Subscriber

mountclare4

Tour of Pembrokeshire next up in Celtic Series. Remember May 1st is a just a week away to guarantee event jacket for yourself on registration.

Number of leading journalists from euro cycling mags confirmed and French TV coming over to film the event. You will see why the French love Connemara on the 80km and 140km routes.

ArraMusha

hiDEhi wrote: »

Participants who register before April 2nd will receive a Celtic Series Tour de Conamara wind / rain jacket. Jackets will be distributed in the weeks before the event.

Link: www.celticseries2012.com/tour-de-conamara/event-faq

will ya have to wait 3 months for it this year ???:rolleyes:

mountclare4

No, participants will receive them with their event pack. They are currently in production and will be here well in time for event.

Benbecul97

The jackets will not be distributed in the weeks before as has been mentioned here. This is in an email from the organisers today:

Event Jackets
The official event jacket will be supplied to participants when they register on the evening before or morning of the event. They will be supplied with your event number which you will have to display in order to receive refreshments at the various stops on both routes.

doozerie

An e-mail yesterday also mentioned that registration might not be available on the Sunday morning, depending on the numbers already registered by then. I presume that sign-on (for those already registered) is separate to registration and so will be available on the Sunday morning but if anyone can confirm that I'd be grateful.

mountclare4

Yes that refers to sign on - sign on can be done on Saturday evening (7-9pm) at the Station House Hotel in Clifden and on the morning of the event 7.30 - 9.00 am. Sign on is when jackets and numbers can be collected.

The option to register to participate for the event on the morning (or Saturday evening) will be dependent on numbers already signed and registration has been brisk already so really can't confirm that until week of the event.

the query on the start of the event - The 140km group will head off first and then followed a short while later by the 80km group.

mountclare4

Tuesday 1st May - guarantee yourself your event tour de Conamara jacket by signing up today - first day of summer!

mountclare4

Due to level of requests for Tour de Conamara event jacket we have ordered an extra quantity for participants. The next 200 registrations will be guaranteed an event jacket for collection on the morning of the event (or sign in on the Saturday evening before event)

Www.celticseries.ie to take a look at jacket design

mountclare4

There will be a limited number of the Celtic Series kit available to purchase on the Saturday evening and Sunday morning (if any left) - Participants can also sign on Saturday evening to accommodate the large numbers staying overnight in Clifden the night before the event. Register online before Wed 23rd www.celticseries.ie

mountclare4

Online registration closes tomorrow Wednesday evening at 8pm. Sign on and welcome Bernard Hinault to Ireland for his first spin www.celticseries.ie

ccull123

Its nearly upon us. counting the days and looks like the weather should be fantastic for it.

happytramp

Can't wait. I'm going full retro in honor of Sir Bernard Hinault.

Benbecul97

Whats the story with numbers - many registered? And whats the breakdown between the numbers doing the 80 and the 140?

alexanderomahon

Anybody done the 140 before? My Max to date is 100k. I did the tour of the foothills and lap of laois and just wondering how much tougher people expect this to be

mountclare4

You should be fine. There are no major climbs on the route just the odd long drag.

DD Mikasa

Anyone got the climbing profile for this on mapmyride?

One man's long drag is another man's Alp!

nilhg

DD Mikasa wrote: »

Anyone got the climbing profile for this on mapmyride?

One man's long drag is another man's Alp!

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1093111

I havn't done Clifden to Letterfrack but did do Kylemore to Maam Cross on a windy day, the pull out of Leenane is steepish but not too long and the hill between Maam and Maam X looks worse than it is.

It'd be worth a bit of suffering to do 140km around Connemara with the weather fine next weekend, I just wish I could go myself but alas it wasn't to be.

DD Mikasa

Cheers man

Benbecul97

nilhg wrote: »

DD Mikasa wrote: »

Anyone got the climbing profile for this on mapmyride?

One man's long drag is another man's Alp!

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1093111

I havn't done Clifden to Letterfrack but did do Kylemore to Maam Cross on a windy day, the pull out of Leenane is steepish but not too long and the hill between Maam and Maam X looks worse than it is.

It'd be worth a bit of suffering to do 140km around Connemara with the weather fine next weekend, I just wish I could go myself but alas it wasn't to be.

The route is the reverse of what you describe - its from maam x to maam so that's a downhill.

budgie001

Please let there be proper food and water stops this year unlike the poor efforts made last year.

ccull123

Just wondering how long before a sportif/cycle do you guys rest up. I have been clocking up a lot of miles over the last two weeks and last nite was the first time that my hamstrings felt sore if you apply pressure to them. I was thinking of doing one last cycle today(only 50km) but am wondering would I be better just to rest up??/

Any thoughts?

M Aurelius

ccull123 wrote: »

Just wondering how long before a sportif/cycle do you guys rest up. I have been clocking up a lot of miles over the last two weeks and last nite was the first time that my hamstrings felt sore if you apply pressure to them. I was thinking of doing one last cycle today(only 50km) but am wondering would I be better just to rest up??/

Any thoughts?

active recovery is the best, 50km is too long, just do gentle 1 hour rides and get a massage if you can, you will have good legs after that..

M Aurelius

budgie001 wrote: »

Please let there be proper food and water stops this year unlike the poor efforts made last year.

last year it was organised last minute, it was the first time as well, but a lot of planning and effort has gone into this years event.

budgie001

If you are sore just leave it for now and do plenty of stretching between now and sunday. Perhaps a 45mins leg stretcher twiddling low gears on Saturday but if you ae sore just give it a miss.. Hope that helps

ccull123

M Aurelius wrote: »

active recovery is the best, 50km is too long, just do gentle 1 hour rides and get a massage if you can, you will have good legs after that..

Thanks for the advice. When would you completely rest up before the cycle then??

yop

I signed up at the last minute! 7 months out with slipped disc but have got in around 400km in the last 5 weeks so this is going to test the hell out of me!
Hope I dont end up in that broom van!!!

Do we get a jacket/top even though I registered late?

Morgan

nilhg wrote: »

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1093111

Benbecul97 wrote: »

The route is the reverse of what you describe - its from maam x to maam so that's a downhill.

The route is going anticlockwise, based on the locations of the feed stops.

Benbecul97

Benbecul97 wrote: »

Whats the story with numbers - many registered? And whats the breakdown between the numbers doing the 80 and the 140?

Also, is there a maximum time allowed to complete each of the distances?

Esroh

Benbecul97 wrote: »

The route is the reverse of what you describe - its from maam x to maam so that's a downhill.

Benbecul I reckon if the Ras describe Tir na Cille on the road from Maam x to Maam as a Cat 3 that if you going the other way you still have to climb it. It is maybe not as steep but still a climb not all downhill;)

Benbecul97

Morgan wrote: »

The route is going anticlockwise, based on the locations of the feed stops.

yeah, like I said above, the direction of the 140 includes the section from maam x to maam - not the reverse.

nilhg above describes the reverse "the hill between Maam and Maam X looks worse than it is." so this hill is a downhill and not a climb.

mel.b

Benbecul97 wrote: »

Also, is there a maximum time allowed to complete each of the distances?

I don't know but it will only be my third cycle back after 5 weeks off the bike and i'm a fast cyclist by any stretch of the imagination! Thankfully i'm only do the 80km so i'm hoping there will be people doing the 140km still coming in that i can blend in with:p

Benbecul97

Esroh wrote: »

Benbecul I reckon if the Ras describe Tir na Cille on the road from Maam x to Maam as a Cat 3 that if you going the other way you still have to climb it. It is maybe not as steep but still a climb not all downhill;)

Im talking about the downhill from Tir na Cill after climbing it from maam x!

nilhg

nilhg wrote: »

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1093111

I havn't done Clifden to Letterfrack but did do Kylemore to Maam Cross on a windy day, the pull out of Leenane is steepish but not too long and the hill between Maam and Maam X looks worse than it is.

It'd be worth a bit of suffering to do 140km around Connemara with the weather fine next weekend, I just wish I could go myself but alas it wasn't to be.

Benbecul97 wrote: »

The route is the reverse of what you describe - its from maam x to maam so that's a downhill.

Morgan wrote: »

The route is going anticlockwise, based on the locations of the feed stops.

Esroh wrote: »

Benbecul I reckon if the Ras describe Tir na Cille on the road from Maam x to Maam as a Cat 3 that if you going the other way you still have to climb it. It is maybe not as steep but still a climb not all downhill;)

Benbecul97 wrote: »

yeah, like I said above, the direction of the 140 includes the section from maam x to maam - not the reverse.

nilhg above describes the reverse "the hill between Maam and Maam X looks worse than it is." so this hill is a downhill and not a climb.

Benbecul97 wrote: »

Im talking about the downhill from Tir na Cill after climbing it from maam x!

I just did a search when someone looked for a route profile and found the one I linked to. To my eye it looks tougher going anticlockwise though the total meters climbed will be the same but the hardest bits will be coming later in the day, up out of Leenane to the roadside church will be a bit of a pull and the same for up out of Letterfrack on to the hill out of Clifden, nice fast drop back into the town to finish though.


Still wish I could head down I'd be delighted to have the chance to do it either way round.

doozerie

Out of interest, who from here is taking part? I'll be doing the 140km route, might be useful to have a few boards names to shout for when I'm frantically looking for a friendly wheel to tow me home

budgie001

I'll be there

yop

Me too but with the fear of dying on the course I don't know if u want to be "stuck" with me! There will be a good few of our club members doing the 140km

Herc

Anseo - 140k