Tour of Sligo 2013 ? Advice

EaSwe

I'm 16 and thinking of doing the 160k ox mountain challenge in the tour of Sligo in May. I've comfortably done 50k o (on a windy day), having gotten a bike for Christmas. Does anyone have any tips, advice or even essential pieces of kit (nothing too fancy) for me? I'm 20+km from my nearest cycling club so I'm not sure is it worth my while joining given how far it is away? Should I?

Thanks in advance,

shaka

You can train on your own but 20km ain't far to go for a cycling club, when your a bit fitter it could be used as part of your training to cycle to and from training.

Doing 50km on a bad day this time of year is a good start, how often are you out training and what distances are you covering ?

Cycling shoes,gloves,good pair of bib shorts,Warming winter jacket and a few base layers.

michael196

Best advice :

Join the club .

ednwireland

get yourself upto about 120km + (in around or under 5 hours) by april and you would probably ok i did it in 2010 and 2011 (only managed the 60 in 2012 due to a back injury).
finished in 7 and 6.5 hours.

Esroh

Youngman if you only have the bike since christmas and were comfortable doing 50 km just keep riding your bike.

Re the club join it. You will get all the advice you will need and there maybe members that are near you that you could get out with.

EaSwe

Sorry for having ignored all your really helpful replies until now. I think I'll join the club. How much of a difference do shoes (and the appropriate pedals) make? I haven't been out much since, only a few short rides but on Saturday went out and did a hilly 70k (3.5hrs) by Lough Easkey along some of the tour of Sligo route. Was tough,

Unrelated: Is it normal for a driver, on a road to narrow for them to safely overtake to; shout at you, beep and drive up your ass?

nilhg

EaSwe wrote: »

Sorry for having ignored all your really helpful replies until now. I think I'll join the club. How much of a difference do shoes (and the appropriate pedals) make? I haven't been out much since, only a few short rides but on Saturday went out and did a hilly 70k (3.5hrs) by Lough Easkey along some of the tour of Sligo route. Was tough,

Unrelated: Is it normal for a driver, on a road to narrow for them to safely overtake to; shout at you, beep and drive up your ass?

+1 for joining the club, the 20km may not always be a problem, it's possible that some of their spins will be heading out in your direction so it should be possible to meetup with them.

Re the driver, that's not normal or acceptable behavior, if you got his number go to the guards.

EaSwe

nilhg wrote: »

+1 for joining the club, the 20km may not always be a problem, it's possible that some of their spins will be heading out in your direction so it should be possible to meetup with them.

Re the driver, that's not normal or acceptable behavior, if you got his number go to the guards.

Haven't got round to joining just yet Thought I got the car's number but didn't match description, was taking a break around a mile up the road so not too bad, scary though all the same

joxerjohn

You need to watch out for those Ssshligo byes they don't take any prisioner I am told ! Completely unacceptable behaviour of course but don't let it put you off.

Re the shoes they will make a big difference and so they are well worth investigating.

If you join up with the club they will will most probably be planning to take part in the Tour of Sligo anyway and will be training for it. Depending on how you go with them you can decide if you are ready for the 160km or else do the 100 km on the day. There wouldn't be any point in trying to do the 160 if you hadn't put in the training required for it as a bad experience would only put off.

Best of luck with it.

EaSwe

Thanks all, climbed Ladies Brae on Sunday from the Skreen side. Was tough but do-able . Happy to have done it. On my way down the other side had a fall. Road has been recently resurfaced, was passing a car coming the other way on narrow bit and piles of gravel each side of the road. Cycled into gravel, and bike just went sideways. Lesson learned. Hopefully the road will be in better condition in May.

ednwireland

dont forget entries opened today !

http://www.tourofsligo.ie/how-to-enter/

Iwernia

Donegal Bay Cycling Club is hosting its first sportive event. There are three route options which have been chosen to accommodate a wide range of cycling abilities while allowing participants enjoy some of Donegal’s most impressive scenery. This event allows cyclists who intend to participate in the An Post Tour of Sligo on the May Bank Holiday weekend to test their fitness on routes which are just slightly shorter than those on the Sligo event.

http://www.donegalbaycyclingclub.com/donegal-bays-spring-classic-leisure-events/

EaSwe

ednwireland wrote: »

get yourself upto about 120km + (in around or under 5 hours) by april and you would probably ok i did it in 2010 and 2011 (only managed the 60 in 2012 due to a back injury).
finished in 7 and 6.5 hours.

Thanks for that, Cycled 90k on Saturday taking in Lough Easkey and Ladies Brae (from Skreen). Took 4 hours (avg 23kph) and was absolutely wrecked after. Bit apprehensive afterwards, is it still a realistic goal?

ednwireland

EaSwe wrote: »

Thanks for that, Cycled 90k on Saturday taking in Lough Easkey and Ladies Brae (from Skreen). Took 4 hours (avg 23kph) and was absolutely wrecked after. Bit apprehensive afterwards, is it still a realistic goal?

depends what you want to achieve (i.e how fast you want to ride), remember its still 2 and half months keep chipping away at the mileage try and get an evening in during the week once the evenings lengthen out,
are you doing that 90k on your own ? today was a tough day to be out with that wind. remember you wont ride round on your own either. every time I've ridden it i manage to tag along with whatever group comes past me. there's a lot of people doing it

obviously unless your planning to stay at the front and do it in under 5 hours!

edit: unless your old like me! it dont get any easier getting your fitness back i can tell you

EaSwe

ednwireland wrote: »

depends what you want to achieve (i.e how fast you want to ride), remember its still 2 and half months keep chipping away at the mileage try and get an evening in during the week once the evenings lengthen out,
are you doing that 90k on your own ? today was a tough day to be out with that wind. remember you wont ride round on your own either. every time I've ridden it i manage to tag along with whatever group comes past me. there's a lot of people doing it

obviously unless your planning to stay at the front and do it in under 5 hours!

edit: unless your old like me! it dont get any easier getting your fitness back i can tell you

Lol Definitley won't be finishing under 5 hours anyways! I did it with my dad (a fellow cycling noob) How far should I be aiming to do by April? I don't doing think doing 130k in practice will be an issue it's just the whole mountains/hills that are involved? Thanks again,

ford2600

You'll be grand, just keep getting out as much as you can.
Twice during week if you can with at least one decent weekend spin and you'll build up the mileage fine.
Bought a bike about 6 weeks before my first WIcklow 200 7 years ago, and managed away fine, and I'm very old compared to you!
Enjoy

ednwireland

EaSwe wrote: »

Lol Definitley won't be finishing under 5 hours anyways! I did it with my dad (a fellow cycling noob) How far should I be aiming to do by April? I don't doing think doing 130k in practice will be an issue it's just the whole mountains/hills that are involved? Thanks again,

to be honest its not that hilly

i've got 1598m in 2011 http://connect.garmin.com/activity/84376288

from what your saying you'll be grand

this is hilly
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/62457541

Gipo3

New route this year, ie more climbing. Two climbs of ladies brae plus mass hill at Lough Easkey and another new climb toward the end.

ednwireland

Gipo3 wrote: »

New route this year, ie more climbing. Two climbs of ladies brae plus mass hill at Lough Easkey and another new climb toward the end.

mapmyride only reckons 995m thats less than my garmin ! be interesting to see a proper height gain
http://www.tourofsligo.ie/the-routes/160km-ox-mountain-challenge/

mikesavo2003

Hi all just wondering is there a time limit to finish 100km tour of Sligo section? Went out and completed it last Sunday and time was near 5hrs. Had hoped to do it in 4 or under but wind was terrible debating on trying 160k but worried bout time limit normaly wud be averaging up on 27k - 30km per hr during summer months just haven't been out in week evenings yet but hopefully time change will sort dat

shaka

mikesavo2003 wrote: »

Hi all just wondering is there a time limit to finish 100km tour of Sligo section? Went out and completed it last Sunday and time was near 5hrs. Had hoped to do it in 4 or under but wind was terrible debating on trying 160k but worried bout time limit normaly wud be averaging up on 27k - 30km per hr during summer months just haven't been out in week evenings yet but hopefully time change will sort dat

There is sometimes cut offs on various cycles but if I was I wouldn't be too worried , it's been pretty windy as you say and you were on your own and hadn't been out during week . Couple of weeks cycling will get you sorted

talkabout

ednwireland wrote: »

mapmyride only reckons 995m thats less than my garmin ! be interesting to see a proper height gain
http://www.tourofsligo.ie/the-routes/160km-ox-mountain-challenge/

I've found mapmyride seriously underestimates elevation gain. Does anyone know the elevation gain for the 100km route this year?.

topcat291169

Just on the off chance would anyone have the current route for the 160k challenge for the tour of Sligo on garmin as I would like to download it but cannot find it anywhere please

detones

So anybody on here doing this or have any first hand knowledge of this years Routes. Signed up to do 100k. Had a look on the TOS website, I see there a climb called Ladies Brae at 250m! how tough is this Climb? Seems to come in early enough on the route which is good.

Looking forward to it anyway.

ednwireland

detones wrote: »

So anybody on here doing this or have any first hand knowledge of this years Routes. Signed up to do 100k. Had a look on the TOS website, I see there a climb called Ladies Brae at 250m! how tough is this Climb? Seems to come in early enough on the route which is good.

Looking forward to it anyway.

its not that bad, its not the alps (always amazes me how many people manage to walk up climbs) anyway the way they are doing the 100km is new this year so we might all be in for a suprise !

anyway see you on the 100k (i'll be one of the many donegal bay jerseys)

ispyvisuals

detones wrote: »

So anybody on here doing this or have any first hand knowledge of this years Routes. Signed up to do 100k. Had a look on the TOS website, I see there a climb called Ladies Brae at 250m! how tough is this Climb? Seems to come in early enough on the route which is good.

Looking forward to it anyway.

I did this climb today while taking in the ballisoadare-collooney section of the 100km route, have only been out 2/3 times this year and did no winter training.

Found it very tough, much tougher then last years hungry rock climb, although it does take the 100km through much more scenic countryside.

Its one of those annoying climbs where you think your over it but turn a corner and it just keeps on going up...very narrow road, grass in middle in parts and a cattle grate at one point.

As mentioned above the decent is fairly letal so take care..

Also after dromahair on the home stretch the route turns right as opposed to previous years where it follows the lake, apparently the hill here is again steeper but i havent been out this road yet.

detones

Thanks ispyvisual sounds an adventure! Lets hope It's dry on the day. Yeah that climb will make or break us could be some early walkers :-) the 160k is going up it twice.

The Noble Nudge

Thinking of doing this myself how long of a drive from Dublin? I'm guessing 3 hours......???

ednwireland

ispyvisuals wrote: »

Its one of those annoying climbs where you think your over it but turn a corner and it just keeps on going up...very narrow road, grass in middle in parts and a cattle grate at one point.

:cool:

reilig

The Noble Nudge wrote: »

Thinking of doing this myself how long of a drive from Dublin? I'm guessing 3 hours......???

About 3 hours.

However, entry closed on wednsday last!

drops

You can still enter until May 5th but its an extra €5 late charge, i regularly do the run to Dublin and it takes about 2:30 hrs unless you hit bad traffic.

Did the 100k route a few days ago, its not too bad, the hill out of Dromahaire towards the end is a sting in the tail and the decent of Ladys Brae is sketchy with lots of gravel in the center of the road and the road surface is bad.

shaka

Gutted I can't do this . Had planned to do all the an post cycles this year but have two bulging discs and a herniated one. Best of luck and enjoy

at1withmyself

Weather looking ok for tomorrow, although its looking like the wind will be against us going over Ladies Bray to make it tougher!!!

Many boardsie's doing it tomorrow?? Should be a nice spin.

Edit - Oh ya I'll be on the black CKT racer, more then likely wearing rain gear!!

ednwireland

I'll be there. bike cleaned and checked. tools pump in boot. I'll be in donegal bay gear. focus cayo with ksyrium sl wheels 100km

detones

at1withmyself wrote: »

Weather looking ok for tomorrow, although its looking like the wind will be against us going over Ladies Bray to make it tougher!!!

Many boardsie's doing it tomorrow?? Should be a nice spin.

Edit - Oh ya I'll be on the black CKT racer, more then likely wearing rain gear!!

Down here raring to go. Weather looking good ....... ish ;-) lots of hills around here on the way into Sligo. Once I get over that ladies yoke climb I'll be happy.

Gipo3

New route this year, 160km have to climb ladies brae twice on two different roads. Wind will also be against on those.

at1withmyself

What a bloody tough day in the saddle. Raining at the start while getting ready but nothing too bad, started well around the Strandhill loop and with such a mass start it was easy to shelter in with groups and move from group to group to keep a reasonable pace. Once it turned for the first ascent of Ladies Bray though the surface was very poor and with showers made the climb much tougher then expected. Descent was even worse, against the wind and rain on very poor surface but still managed to get some decent speed on the downhill to make up for the climbing.

Was on my own then from the descent for about 15 km until catching a Tyrone lad and we cycled together talking which made the journey to the Mass Hill climb more tolerable. Turned then with the wind for the Mass Hill climb and over Lough Esker (spelling??) which was much easier this year with the wind on the back. Big group but again very poor surface so I wasn't that comfortable and dropped out the back once over the climbs, still keeping an average of 40 km/hr so happy with that. First food stop was poorly stocked again this year as I have a sweet tooth and not a fan of sandwiches or mass produced pasta but thankfully I bought some food myself.

After that I went out on my own and back onto the N59 and off onto the coast road with a side /tail wind to the turn off for the second ascent of Ladies Bray, and again back against the wind but this time I thought the surface was much better on the way up still very hard as the legs were tired! Same complaints on the descent with the surface but drier this time, then off to Coolaney for a quick food stop and finally back to some reasonasble road surface for a nice fast spin to Dromhair to the final climb and that killed me, crawled up towards the end and legs haven't felt that pain in a while, once over had my final banana and the finish was fine and mostly downhill with a few small digs.

Overall I had a good day and was happy to go long sections on my own for the challenge but again I didn't eat enough so need to bring more food next time. The surface on the climbs was very poor and I can't understand bringing so many cyclist up the Ladies Bray so early but that's just my opinion as I thought it was potentially dangerous. Specially the groups of 2 mates who insist in taking up both sides of the road preventing people at speed to pass without having to brake and call out to pass even with the single file signs!

6 hr 3 min riding time over the 164km so happy with that and now going to spend the morning watching tv! Well done to all the volunteers and organisors though as the marshalling was excellent and event well organised.

at1withmyself

Oh and did anyone see the young man (about 16) on the mountain bike (very cheap and heavy one) with the backpack. I seen him at the start of the 160 km but was speaking to him at the end and he ended up doing the 100 km so fair play to him! Again proving its the engine and not the gear you have making me feel even worse!!!!

Gallant_JJ

Tough day in the saddle surely, I completed the 100k route in 3:21. It was my first ever sportif so happy enough. Very well organised, wasnt a junction without a marshal, lads in the club were saying though it is always that way and not to get lulled into a false sense, most sportifs aren't as well run.

Ladies Brae was tough going, it just kept going on and on, every time I though I had got to the top, I could see another head bobbing in the distance. Could get very little reward out of the decent either with the wind. It really fractured the whole spin though, ended up doing the remainder of the spin either solo or in twos and threes.

The last climb was tough, road surface was lovely though which did help. We were told before hand it was 8km, I only had a little over 7 done on the trip computer when I was told I had reached the top, it was fantastic, I had myself psyched for another km of misery. Pulled the throttle back at the sumit and glided back to Sligo, bar 1 or 2 small kicks. Very enjoyable day, pity I can't say the same about today, really suffering.

EaSwe

Did the 100k having dropped down since my original post here. Would agree with at1withmyself about Ladies Brae coming too soon and being potentially dangerous. On the 100k cycle if you met a slow cyclist in front of you you were screwed as there was very little space anywhere on the road. My biggest complaint is to the Red Cross idiots who got their ambulance stuck up the Ladies Brae ascent. They were already holding up traffic and when they tried to go around someone they drove into the mucky verge and got stuck on quite a steep part of the ascent. 5 or 6 people (if not more) just fell off from them having to stop unexpectedly.some people (cyclists) had to push the ambulance!

I'm no experienced cyclist or anything but would it not make sense to further split up cyclists on an ascent like this. 900 cyclists of varying degrees of fitness early on in a cycle going up that narrow road isn't very safe .


All in all though I had a great day. It was well organised and marshalled and was happy to be finished.
Next year 160k! (maybe)



EDIT: I apologise for ranting it wasn't that bad.

detones

EaSwe wrote: »

Did the 100k having dropped down since my original post here. Would agree with at1withmyself about Ladies Brae coming too soon and being potentially dangerous. On the 100k cycle if you met a slow cyclist in front of you you were screwed as there was very little space anywhere on the road. My biggest complaint is to the Red Cross idiots who got their ambulance stuck up the Ladies Brae ascent. They were already holding up traffic and when they tried to go around someone they drove into the mucky verge and got stuck on quite a steep part of the ascent. 5 or 6 people (if not more) just fell off from them having to stop unexpectedly.some people (cyclists) had to push the ambulance!

I'm no experienced cyclist or anything but would it not make sense to further split up cyclists on an ascent like this. 900 cyclists of varying degrees of fitness early on in a cycle going up that narrow road isn't very safe .

All in all though I had a great day. It was well organised and marshalled and was happy to be finished.
Next year 160k! (maybe)

I did this route yesterday and I liked getting that climb out if the way early. While the road was narrow and surface not great it just added to the challenge and I enjoyed the tough conditions. Sure it would be no fun if it was easy. Yeah there was some issues getting by people struggling and pushing bikes up but this has to be expected on such a large event. As for calling the Red Cross Idiots. They are unpaid volunteers sitting around in the cold and rain so we could enjoy ourselves. Bit harsh IMHO.

EaSwe

detones wrote: »

I did this route yesterday and I liked getting that climb out if the way early. While the road was narrow and surface not great it just added to the challenge and I enjoyed the tough conditions. Sure it would be no fun if it was easy. Yeah there was some issues getting by people struggling and pushing bikes up but this has to be expected on such a large event. As for calling the Red Cross Idiots. They are unpaid volunteers sitting around in the cold and rain so we could enjoy ourselves. Bit harsh IMHO.

I'll admit idiots was a bit harsh given they are volunteers but their decision to drive up a route already manned by Mountain Rescue at several points, and then to get stuck put the safety of cyclists at risk. One of the people I was with fell quite harshly on their shoulder and from talking to them was lucky not be injured. I'm a member of voluntary like RC so appreciate the voluntary work they do but the decision to drive up a road like that was not a smart decision IMHO as there was no immediate need given it was already manned.

ednwireland

great day out (didnt see the ambulance)

finished 100km in 4hrs

apart from nearly wiping out when someone thought turning in the road without looking to go back and see his mate who punctured was a good idea, felt like i missed him by inches (could have been a lot further mind) at about 40km/h. that could have ruined my day !

as usual no non meat food at the food stops (just fancied something a bit more solid than gels and bananas - complained every year (on the feedback) and it never changes)

anyway well done s ever to the organisers, marshall gardai and raft of other volunteers, it aint easy putting on these events

i was one of the slow guys up the ladies brae or at least it felt like it by the numbers overtaking me so sorry

DarrenJames

Did the 100km yesterday as well, had a great time. Does anyone know the details of the Ladies Brae climb or how I would compare it to climbs on other cycles such as the tour de burren? Not much experience in this area

detones

DarrenJames wrote: »

Did the 100km yesterday as well, had a great time. Does anyone know the details of the Ladies Brae climb or how I would compare it to climbs on other cycles such as the tour de burren? Not much experience in this area

Strava is your only man there is a segment showing it as Cat 3 climb 210m at 6.6%. I took it handy to make sure i gof up yestrrday and averaged 11.3km/hr I'm not much of a climber. Kom is 15.8km/hr so a tough climb. I was still in the top 40% or so of 130 cyclist. I think the full height of climb is 260 but it depends where you start your segment from.

reilig

ednwireland wrote: »

i was one of the slow guys up the ladies brae or at least it felt like it by the numbers overtaking me so sorry

By the time I got to ladies brae a lot of the slower people in the 100k were starting to climb. (I was in the last group to leave). It was a slow grind and people were going up in single file on the left with anyone who was able to pass going on the right side of the grass centre. At one stage a lady came up behind me and did a lot of audiable shouting that people were going too slow and should have went on the 60k. We passed her walking about 100m up the hill and she could be heard f'ing and blinding that the "slower" people took the momentum from her. There were several people willing to give her momentum with their cleats - no offence to any ladies on the cycle, but if a man had said this someone would have a right good go at him.

It was a tough climb and the downhill surface was extremely poor, but it was all part of the challenge. Notice that a lot of people punctured the whole way from Sligo to Collaney with at least 10 people fixing punctures on the downhill from ladies Brae. Didn't see anyone with a puncture after that.

The banter along the way great with everyone encouraging each other. Food was grand when you're used to buying food on a club spin. Lovely scenic cycle from Dromahair back into sligo and I was going slow enough to appreciate it

It's a great sport!

ednwireland

reilig wrote: »

We passed her walking about 100m up the hill and she could be heard f'ing and blinding that the "slower" people took the momentum from her.

i did manage to ride up without stopping (stubborn b*****d and low gears)

reilig wrote: »

It was a tough climb and the downhill surface was extremely poor, but it was all part of the challenge. Notice that a lot of people punctured the whole way from Sligo to Collaney with at least 10 people fixing punctures on the downhill from ladies Brae. Didn't see anyone with a puncture after that.

did you do the 160 about 3 years ago when the council tarred and chipped the surface a couple of weeks before, it was like riding down on marbles great fun the number i saw in the bog that day.

mind when you ride in donegal you get used to surfaces like that

reilig wrote: »

It's a great sport!

it is isnt it

derealbadger

Did the 160 which was actually 164 and that 4 very nearly was the straw that broke the camel back i was very close to turning back around in protest.As for the guy at the end of the last climb which was at exactly 150km saying 10 miles to go and it all down hill if I could kick him up a hill then down a hill to show him the difference.But on the serious side great event great day in the saddle found first climb of Lady's Brae very tough mentally to many bikes in very close proximity very nervy stuff at times i went up graves hill like a train had left a friend with a slow group he was finding the day tough i went hard on my own averaged over 50kmh from the summit of graves hill to the food stop the run along Lough Easkey with the wind to my back was mentaly fast.I skipped the second food stop as it was way to soon after the first one and i decided to stay going to the finish then 6 Hour 20 mins and one of the best days i have spent on a bike.Did a nice easy 30 km this evening with a few from the club just to free up the legs

dx22

ednwireland wrote: »

mapmyride only reckons 995m thats less than my garmin ! be interesting to see a proper height gain
http://www.tourofsligo.ie/the-routes/160km-ox-mountain-challenge/

I got 1968m on my Garmin (160k) so either mapmyride or the garmin or both are way off, however it felt like 1968m ascent to me!

talkabout

Did the 100km in my first major sportive. Very enjoyable day in what was a very well run event. Found Ladies Brae tough and the headwind and rain didn’t help but I managed to get up it in one go. The descent was just as tricky due to the poor road conditions. The last climb was a serious drag, but a good road surface made it a bit more bearable. Overall, very enjoyable event and I’m already looking forward to next year. Well done to the organizers and all those who participated. My Garmin recorded a Elevation Gain of 3684ft.

shaka

reilig wrote: »

. At one stage a lady came up behind me and did a lot of audiable shouting that people were going too slow and should have went on the 60k. We passed her walking about 100m up the hill and she could be heard f'ing and blinding that the "slower" people took the momentum from her. There were several people willing to give her momentum with their cleats - no offence to any ladies on the cycle, but if a man had said this someone would have a right good go at him.


It's a great sport!

I swear to god I met that one at rebel tour last year on 160, I was taking it handy on climb before reentrisk(cods head) knowing what was ahead , she sneered passing me out . I sneered with vat when I passed her on reentrisk when she was walking, woman in her forties with brown hair.

Gutted I missed it seemed like a good day out