An Post Sligo 160

maloner

Most folks seem to be doing the Orwell event it seems. Which makes sense really (if your in Dublin less travelling, no over night, good rep...)

I'm doing the Sligo 160km this Sunday, anyone else ?

Dinging

Hi Maloner, yes I'm doing it. My wife is from Sligo hence the connection, if fact the route passes her familys home on the Strandhill road so might drop in fora cuppa . In hindsight I should have stuck with my original plan and did the Orwell as it starts right outside our house in Dublin which would have been handy. No plans to break any records on Sunday as I have not had much time on the bike except for the commute as I have had a dose of man flu to the common cold as some like to call it. Route looks OK, all we need is the weather.

QueensGael

I'm doing the Orwell Randonée and the Tour de Sligo. Stupid me

maloner

QueensGael wrote: »

I'm doing the Orwell Randonée and the Tour de Sligo. Stupid me

Impressive!

I had considered that after figuring I'd possibly prefer the orwell event, but then came to my senses. Best of luck!

Good that there appears to be some other folks doing it

Edit: I also figured that the extra KM's in the event will stand to me for the WW200.

Gipo3

Hopefully for the 4th year in a row it will be good sunshine.

Jawgap

Sligo for me - thought I'd try and do all the An Post series this year.

bal1000

Sligo 160 for me as well, hope this wind is well gone by then, 2nd year to do it.

ednwireland

only doing the 60 (been off the bike with back problems) this year done the 160 for the last.couple. soon enjoy , hope its less windy up to easky lough for your guys this year.

Gipo3

Late entries on this have been extended to thursday.

Dinging

Only nine hours to go and we are off :eek: Weather looks cool but dry with little or no wind. Registration went smoothly and jersey is great. Only downside is I have just been diagnosed with a bacterial throat infection. Got antibiotic and some painkillers this evening so tomorrow will be tough going but looking forward to it all the same. Best of luck to everyone tomorrow.

ednwireland

hope everyone enjoyed and is back safe, great day great weather

Roland Brice

Did the 60k on this earlier today - Im vey much a novice and this was my first time in an event like this - Enjoyed it hugely - Weather was perfect and organisation and traffic control at every road junction was super. Got round in 2 hours 20 which was happy with - Was targeting 2 and half. The route was a little shy of 60k and the climb 10k that the warned about wasn't as bad as i feared so had a little in the tank for the last 7k.

Edenwireland - there was a big group of Donegal lads/lasses in the 60k with the Glenties kit. We were chatting to a few of them, at the start line and on the way round

Jawgap

Did the 160 in 5:35 and enjoyed it immensely.

Great weather, super organisation, well marshalled and loads of food at the stops and at the end.

The jersey is quite nice too!

bal1000

Jawgap wrote: »

Did the 160 in 5:35 and enjoyed it immensely.

Great weather, super organisation, well marshalled and loads of food at the stops and at the end.

The jersey is quite nice too!

Took me 6 hours even....damm!

budgie001

Took part in the 100km today. So well organised and very upbeat participants makes a very good day. The weather makes life so much easier. Great fun

ednwireland

only did the 60km myself, i was in the four masters shorts, 2hrs 14m

bit depressed to not be doing the longer ones but my back is definitily saying enough

donegal baycc had quite a few in the 100km and 160km as far as i know no kit yet though)

but at least ive been in ebery one since it started (2009)

like i say great craic great weather (unlike the howling gale down lough easky last year )

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/175506591

at1withmyself

Had a good day and rode around in 5:43 which was much better time then last year but minus the wind so happy with that, even after having to get up before 5 for the 150 km drive.

Hit the wall with about 40 km to go so suffered for a while before getting in the back of a group who took me to about 10 km from home and from there cruised home as I knew I was close. No hard climbs but pretty undulating route so difficult enough and I have just over 1500 meters of climbing.

Sign on and marshalling was good but I thought the food spread was not very good and one of the worst I've seen since the Meath Tour a few years back IMO. To me this was disapointing as in previous years the issue was the food stop locations which was greatly improved this year. I was starving at the end which probably explains hitting wall so far from the end, never so happy to see a McDonalds while driving home! I used to always bring mor ethen enough food but in this instance didn't stock up so won't be making that mistake again (I hope).

For me I'd prefer the option of not selecting the Jersey and paying less but I can see the novalty for some.

Roll on the Burren.........

Rita1

Did the 160 in 5:35 and enjoyed it immensely.

Great weather, super organisation, well marshalled and loads of food at the stops and at the end.

The jersey is quite nice too!

I have to echo this quote, First time doing over 62 miles.

Finish in 5:40

http://app.strava.com/rides/8000620

friso59

+1 on a brilliant event. Great weather, scenary, marshalling and food. done the 100 and lost the top ring and middle ring half way but still managed to finish in a decnt time with just the granny. Great day

Iwernia

Great day out, nice flat 160, more food stops than enough loads of marshalls. The organisers should be very happy with themselves, great event well done to all involved.

maloner

Was a great trip. Tough section over lough easkey after the first food stop. The road surface was pants and I was dealing with the wind on my own but recovered after that and had some decent groups for about 40km. Had to grind out the last 20km but still managed to get in at 28.2 so happy out.

Plus I uploaded my strava stats quick smart so got a KOM on the first climb, Hungry Hill.

Hungry Rock Segment

Quickly by-passed by better folk, but I had my moment

maloner

Hats off as well to Greg Donaghy who had a stormer and racked up a raft of KOM's on the route and got in with the lead group.

hiDEhi

I done the 60k myself. Very well organised, well done to all. Was very happy with my times. Great turnout with cyclists from all over the country. Nice jersey too.

Roland Brice

Would be interested to hear from anyone that was at the slower end of the 100k on this.
as stated above im a novice to this and a few weeks ago went on a~(supposed) 25k fun cycle (in windy and hilly conditions)- only 20 odd people on it and I got dropped at the back early averaging 22km and came in last which was demoralising the whole way round. Everyone else averaged 25km + and the first home was 35km
For this reason I did the 60 in Sligo but found it failry comfortable and averaged just shy of 25k . I have ambitions to do 100k at a push but my main concern is getting dropped at back of field and fading. Assuming a more conservative pace say 23km where would that place me in a 100km ? would I be out of my league ?

budgie001

Hi Roland, if you can do 25kph by yourself there is no reason why you can't do 27 and stay with a group getting the odd breather.

Roland Brice

budgie001 wrote: »

Hi Roland, if you can do 25kph by yourself there is no reason why you can't do 27 and stay with a group getting the odd breather.

Thanks Budgie - I had a wing man (who would have carried me a bit) to make the 25 so that why I reckon a 23 pace might be more realistic without the charity and pacing myself for an extra 40k - so would still like to understand would 23k leave me well back ?

ednwireland

Roland Brice wrote: »

Would be interested to hear from anyone that was at the slower end of the 100k on this.
as stated above im a novice to this and a few weeks ago went on a~(supposed) 25k fun cycle (in windy and hilly conditions)- only 20 odd people on it and I got dropped at the back early averaging 22km and came in last which was demoralising the whole way round. Everyone else averaged 25km + and the first home was 35km
For this reason I did the 60 in Sligo but found it failry comfortable and averaged just shy of 25k . I have ambitions to do 100k at a push but my main concern is getting dropped at back of field and fading. Assuming a more conservative pace say 23km where would that place me in a 100km ? would I be out of my league ?

I find these bigger events tend to attract a wider range of rider levels, the good things about that is it means if you drop off the back there are usually riders around that you can hook up with and get out of the wind. I completed the 160 last year in just under 7 hours and wasnt the last in. on my club events last year I amp usually to be found at the back. I would say 23km/h average would not put you off the back but you may end up on your own in sections as I did on the 60km

just looking back i averaged 23.7km/h for last years 160km, i was near the back but cycling with groups for most it

did the 60km in 25.8km/h this year

budgie001

Roland Brice wrote: »

budgie001 wrote: »

Hi Roland, if you can do 25kph by yourself there is no reason why you can't do 27 and stay with a group getting the odd breather.

Thanks Budgie - I had a wing man (who would have carried me a bit) to make the 25 so that why I reckon a 23 pace might be more realistic without the charity and pacing myself for an extra 40k - so would still like to understand would 23k leave me well back ?

23k would leave you well back ok but still respectable, Bdw its not charity if you do your turns.

A personal thing but if you push yourself and stay with and contribute to groups it will bring you on a huge amount versus just pounding out a steady pace.

ispyvisuals

1st time doing 100kms; 76kms was most id done before. Managed it in 3hrs 27mins. averaged 29.2km. was with a real good group up until the last climb when my chain slipped and i lost them.

Amazed at difference in my speed on the day,my highest average in training over 50kms runs was 26.6km/hr.

Really enjoyed it and hoping to do tour of connemara 140km next and aiming for 160kms at an post waterford.

Herc

Roland Brice wrote: »

Thanks Budgie - I had a wing man (who would have carried me a bit) to make the 25 so that why I reckon a 23 pace might be more realistic without the charity and pacing myself for an extra 40k - so would still like to understand would 23k leave me well back ?

Check out the segments section of Strava, seems to be a good few people who have uploaded their spins from Sunday to it and a good range of kph's from 33 down to 14 for the 100k so 23 not that bad in the great scheme of things