Long distnace cycle advice

godtabh

I'm hoping to cycle from Dublin to Athlone tomorrow. The route will follow the old N4/N6. About 135km.

I'm planing on bring 2 spare tubes, a pump, 3/4 water bottles and the contents of a High5 Exclusive CRC Race Faster Pack and probably some cereal bars, money and phone.

Any other advice? I've done a few 90km & 100km before and no problem completing them (either solo or in a group).

Hoping to average 25km/h

The route would be as follows

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/173398578

Raam

That's a lot of High5 product. I wouldn't bother too much with that stuff for a casual jaunt in the country side. Stay fuelled with your cereal bars and some Ribena in your water bottles.

Actually, the two things I might use from that selection box is the energy drink and the zero tabs.

triggermortis

I would only take 2 bottles - one with water and one with energy drink. You'll be able to refill the water en-route if needed and just take extra tabs of energy drink if you need more.
Don't know the route, so can't offer advice on that, but enjoy and good luck.

07Lapierre

Ribena? Im a "MiWadi" man myself!!

godtabh

i was planning in stocking up the water bottles with a few zero tabs. two on the bike and one in the jersey

I'm looking forward to it. My wife reckons she'll be getting a phone call around Leixlip!

Wishbone Ash

Take some ID and let someone know where/what you're doing.

Agree with triggermortis - don't be slogging along with 3 or 4 water bottles.

godtabh

Raam wrote: »

That's a lot of High5 product.

It was €6 something when i bought it a couple of weeks ago. Cheaper than a pack of zero tabs!

Surveyor11

triggermortis wrote: »

I would only take 2 bottles - one with water and one with energy drink. You'll be able to refill the water en-route if needed and just take extra tabs of energy drink if you need more.
Don't know the route, so can't offer advice on that, but enjoy and good luck.

I did Dublin to Galway last October, 2 water bottles plenty - one with water, other with something sugary or an energy drink. Bring a few snacks and maybe jellies as well for the back pocket in your jersey.

As I was going solo, I packed a few tubes, repair kit and a spare foldable tyre. Had a few spare spokes as well but that's just me! Assume you have some sort if multi tool as well, oh yeah a spare master link would be belt and braces as well for a chain break.

godtabh

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Take some ID and let someone know where/what you're doing.

Agree with triggermortis - don't be slogging along with 3 or 4 water bottles.

I'll be bringing my wallet with my and I always leave id on the bike

fago

Having gone the opposite direction a good few times from Galway -> Tyrellspass my advice would be:
- 2 bottles just refill as you need to
- wouldn't bring too much stuff, banana/cereal bars and stop along the way for a sandwich if you want.

On the route I would always try to avoid those big N routes unless you just want to get there, head down.
Something like this is about the same distance but should be more interesting.
https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Lucan,+Ireland&daddr=53.32051,-7.10839+to:53.3380589,-7.4362556+to:53.3340158,-7.6498277+to:Athlone,+Ireland&hl=en&sll=53.368582,-7.207031&sspn=0.476065,1.649323&geocode=FZgqLgMdR5Wd_ynDgIyTaXNnSDHgqjGXqccACg%3BFT6bLQMd2oiT_yldXF9795pdSDEfqAQtpV8QLQ%3BFcrfLQMdIYiO_ylhkkN9NrtdSDFkDEKYqv4Drg%3BFf_PLQMd3UWL_yll_-PRELJdSDFPY4FrablNkg%3BFT0vLwMdrtWG_ymfjGQ-AUlcSDGA471GjRr52g&oq=athlo&dirflg=w&mra=dpe&mrsp=2&sz=10&via=1,2,3&t=m&z=10

godtabh

i have a multi tool in the saddle bag

godtabh

Only picking the former n routes as I would know the way

I have an edge 500 so maybe I'll just download the map onto that.

Do people bring bike locks for when they are refueling?

Raam

godtabh wrote: »

Do people bring bike locks for when they are refueling?

I don't. Stop in a place where you can see the bike from inside.

godtabh

Raam wrote: »

I don't. Stop in a place where you can see the bike from inside.

makes sense

mcgratheoin

godtabh wrote: »

I'm planing on bring 2 spare tubes, a pump, 3/4 water bottles and the contents of a High5 Exclusive CRC Race Faster Pack and probably some cereal bars, money and phone.

tubes - good idea
pump - good idea, although if you get a puncture you'll never get decent pressure back with a little pump
Take 1 or 2 water bottles and refill as necessary - most garages will have a tap that you can top up at.
Be wary of the energy foods if you're not used to them - they can be difficult to stomach
Wallet (including ID) & phone with ICE programmed into it

On my long cycles I bring a few cereal bars - (nutri-grain elevenses because I find them moist and easier to eat than most), a bag of jellies and then I'll stop somewhere for lunch - generally a roll/sandwich and a few bananas. I find that I get very tired very quickly of energy gels/bars and drinks, in particular drinks - I'd bring one bidon energy drink, one of water and if you want you can throw a sachet into your pocket and use it when you refill.

godtabh

What's ICE?

leeomurchu

godtabh wrote: »

What's ICE?

Incase of emergency. contact number

leeomurchu

looks like a nice spin you've got planned there and the weather seems to be working in your favour

godtabh

I've written contact numbers on the id in my saddle bag. Never heard of it called ICE before!

Consey

Did Dublin to Kilmore Quay yesterday 160km. Two bidons sufficient. Big bowl of porridge before leaving. Stopped in Rathvilly for bun and coffee in nice cafe where they let me bring bike inside. Got sandwich and tea in service station at Enniscorthy. Ate them just inside door with bike just outside.

Tucked spare sandwich in pocket for last 10k. Had two tubes, pump, etc. Cafe refilled water for me. Had a couple of cereal bars as an emergency option.

Missus was heading down with family so I had option of pick up in an emergency. Bring plenty of layers as was pleasant when sun was out but cold at other times.

Good luck and enjoy!

Sean02

Hi sent you a PM re Esker Riada route. In my opinioon the best way for a Dublin Galway ride.

godtabh

Sean02 wrote: »

Hi sent you a PM re Esker Riada route. In my opinioon the best way for a Dublin Galway ride.

Cheers. I just replied

Raam

Sean02, let us all know when you reply to the PM. Thanks

smacl

How are you navigating? When I take long solo spins, I tend to go for r-roads and l-roads where possible, and take a hour the day before in google streets / maps to have a look at the junctions. I'd also print off a route map, and even a couple of screen grabs of confusing junctions. I've been lost in the middle of nowhere a couple of times in the failing light, so also tend to bring a light regardless of when I think I'm going to arrive.

+1 on the bowl of porridge before you head off, worth two hours cycling food wise in my book, and I go about a flapjack and/or banana per hour after that.

Rain jacket as well, rule of thumb is assume you'll hit some rain regardless of the forecast.

t'bear

Bring a camera too, photo or proper yoke and post piccies on boards

seamus

smacl wrote: »

Rain jacket as well, rule of thumb is assume you'll hit some rain regardless of the forecast.

Just remember to remove it when it stops raining.

godtabh

I'm hoping to download the route on to my Edge 500 with the iphone as back up.

I'll be leaving the house around 7 as I want to be in athlone by 1. Have to go to a family thing at 5

hardCopy

I probably wouldn't bother with gels at all myself.

Sambos, baked goods, ice cream and fanta should be plenty unless your aiming to go non-stop.

godtabh

Going non stop had crossed my mind as I was unsure what to do with my bike

Raam

hardCopy wrote: »

Sambos, baked goods, ice cream and fanta should be plenty unless your aiming to go non-stop.

Ice-cream and Fanta? What is this, a picnic?

ford2600

Doing similar distance myself tomorrow solo.
Do 7-8 per year between 120km and 200km in distance.
Usually have a look at map night before but always wander off "planned" path.
Rarely go same route between same start and finish points.
My advice is bring less of everything. Eat normal food and enjoy the adventure of it.
IMHO think your looking for too many guarantees.
In any event enjoy

godtabh wrote: »

I'm hoping to download the route on to my Edge 500 with the iphone as back up.

I'll be leaving the house around 7 as I want to be in athlone by 1. Have to go to a family thing at 5

hardCopy

Raam wrote: »

Ice-cream and Fanta? What is this, a picnic?

I ate my weight in prosciutto and gelato cycling across Italy last year.

Om nom nom...

fullerand

OP, how are you going to get back to Dublin? Are you planning to take the bike on the train back?

Wishbone Ash

godtabh wrote: »

I've written contact numbers on the id in my saddle bag. Never heard of it called ICE before!

Paramedics/Gardai will check an unresponsive injured person's phone for an ICE number. There was a campaign out a few years ago about it.

It's not ideal to have a contact number in your saddlebag as you and the bike may become separated.

godtabh

My wife is heading down to day so will be driving home on sunday

godtabh

ford2600 wrote: »

IMHO think your looking for too many guarantees.

What do you mean by that? I'm looking for advice more than anything and to be prepared for what lies ahead.

I think I'll be sticking to the more direct n roads. For the first time doing a distance like this I'm going to stick with something familiar

CramCycle

If you have never covered that distance before, I would avoid the gels etc unless you start to bonk, pull in and have proper food, your stomach will be better prepared for it and you won't feel sick. Those gels can make you feel quite ill if you have alot of them. Google stops along the way, cake or sandwiches with a coffee will do wonders.

godtabh

I've done up to 100km but not more

CramCycle

godtabh wrote: »

I've done up to 100km but not more

What did you take with you on that and did you use up all your supplies? You are only adding on about 1.5 hours, the base supplies (tubes, pump etc,) will be the same, water bottles can be refilled, so food is the only difference.

I recommend sitting down for something decent but this will waste time, 2 bottles of lucozade in your jersey (pick up along the way if you need them) and a couple of cereal bars extra should cover you.

godtabh

CramCycle wrote: »

What did you take with you on that and did you use up all your supplies? You are only adding on about 1.5 hours, the base supplies (tubes, pump etc,) will be the same, water bottles can be refilled, so food is the only difference.

I recommend sitting down for something decent but this will waste time, 2 bottles of lucozade in your jersey (pick up along the way if you need them) and a couple of cereal bars extra should cover you.

Pretty much what you described there (less the lucozade) is normally what I would take so I'll just take more

ford2600

Wasn't being smart, just an observation.
Sure a lot of things could go wrong, and there is no guarantees you won't get lost, get tired, hungry have a mechanical etc.
You know your destination you really don't need gps, downloaded routes, smartphone backups etc.

In my experience the fun is in the unknown, trying/finding alternative routes.

From my farm in west Waterford to my home near Cork city there are 6 different routes. East/west/ or over mountain range being the main difference, followed by influence of river valleys and where to follow or cross etc.

Cycling in this manner gives a perspective rarely enjoyed when driving.

Just head west and you'll get there! Look to enjoy and don't worry about might go wrong. Off course you'll get there.

godtabh wrote: »

What do you mean by that? I'm looking for advice more than anything and to be prepared for what lies ahead.

I think I'll be sticking to the more direct n roads. For the first time doing a distance like this I'm going to stick with something familiar

Roadtoad

Every saddle bag should have a shrader-presta adaptor to top up using your friendly petrol station. About €2 and tiny.

wendell borton

smacl wrote: »

How are you navigating? When I take long solo spins, I tend to go for r-roads and l-roads where possible, and take a hour the day before in google streets / maps to have a look at the junctions. I'd also print off a route map, and even a couple of screen grabs of confusing junctions.Quote]

Bikeroutetoaster.com has a handy cue sheet feature that you can print off.

reilig

godtabh wrote: »

.

I think I'll be sticking to the more direct n roads. For the first time doing a distance like this I'm going to stick with something familiar

N Roads from Kinnegad to Athlone are pretty quiet since the M6 opened and they have a half deascent surface still with hard shoulder most of the way. Old N4 between Kinnegad and Enfield can be narrow in places with no hard shoulder and can be quite busy at times with a lot of lorries, but it might not be too bad on a saturday.

Loads of small towns and villages along the route with shops so i wouldn't be too worried about food or drink supplies.

Happy Cycling.

Hope its a nice trip!

Consey

+1 re proper food. Gives a nice boost to have a quick chat with someone, a sandwich or cake and a hot cuppa tea or coffee. You set off again rejuvenated. Plenty of places you can stop if you look out, especially down the country.

I chose a spot in Rathvilly yesterday as it looked off the road and I knew bike would be okay. As it happened it was very nice and they let me bring it inside.

My planned stop was Tullow at the halfway point but was starting to tire at Rathvilly which is 10k short but when I saw a suitable cafe I stopped. Had I continued to Tullow I wouldn't have found somewhere as suitable and would've been wrecked. So my advice would be to definitely stop for proper food and do do before you're completely empty i.e. just before you need to.

Go by how youre feeling, you cant plan for everything.

Consey

Coffee and cake at Rathvilly !

godtabh

The way I see it I can do a 55km spin with just one cereal bar before I leave and a bottle of water on route.

Using that as a barometer a decent breakfast (porridge, toast and a banana), should get me to at least halfway. Stop for lunch and do the second half.

I've no hard and fast rules and the only thing I'm really looking for is a safe journey and not to be late for this family thing tomorrow

Ole Rodrigo

A few bananas, a water bottle, maybe some packed sandwiches and a cafe stop along the way should be fine. No need to overplan - plenty of petrol stations along the way, but best to have proper food rather than sweets. I did it at night last year ( the other way round ) and was fine except for a few artics avoiding the motorway toll along some of the narrower stretches.

godtabh

It does sound like I am over complicating it but I would just say I'm being prepared

Ole Rodrigo

It's not a trip across the arctic - more like a flight to the states with leg room and fresh air

Check your bike for any obvious problems, your tyres for any embedded material, pump them fully, make sure the spare tube is ok.Whats the worst that can happen ? Theres a town every 20 KM or so. Thats really it, there are a few bike shops in Athlone anyway. Are you cycling back ?

Wishbone Ash

Roadtoad wrote: »

Every saddle bag should have a shrader-presta adaptor to top up using your friendly petrol station. About €2 and tiny.

Pointless when most filling station compressors don't inflate above 60psi.