Tour of Louth 2013

LeftBlank

Anyone else up for this one? Thinking of entering myself but not sure which group to go for. Last time I did it (in 2010 possibly), there was no platinum group so I went for the gold group and got spat out the back within the first km. Might go for the silver one this time around.

Bit overboard that it's 10 euro extra for non-CI members too.

lennymc

LeftBlank wrote: »

Bit overboard that it's 10 euro extra for non-CI members too.

Im not 100% certain but I think thats to cover the CI one day membership and ci insurance.

When is it on again? I might give it a lash for the crack. Chuculainn normally organise very good events. Its fairly flat apart from jenkinstown aswell iirc.

LeftBlank

lennymc wrote: »

Im not 100% certain but I think thats to cover the CI one day membership and ci insurance.

When is it on again? I might give it a lash for the crack. Chuculainn normally organise very good events. Its fairly flat apart from jenkinstown aswell iirc.

Sorry it's June 1st IIRC (Sunday of the bank holiday weekend).

Could have almost sworn that I read somewhere that the one day license fee for leisure events should only be 10% of the entry fee.

Edit: looks like it's been changed (again) and it is 10 euro for a day leisure license

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:SrUymf0INssJ:www.cyclingireland.ie/getattachment/f8a6fc67-860e-4d44-8c3b-19f2589a0d91/2013-Membership-Fees---EUR.aspx+&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ie

lennymc

maybe it was 10% and I got confused

If its 1st June I may or may not do it - there is a race on the 2nd.

LeftBlank

lennymc wrote: »

maybe it was 10% and I got confused

If its 1st June I may or may not do it - there is a race on the 2nd.

Doh, it is the 2nd June.

http://www.touroflouth.com/

lennymc

im not doing it so!

billyhead

Would like to do this but dont have a car and the trains on a Sunday don't start until around 9am. If anyone is travelling down the M1 past Lusk and has room for a bike would there be any chance of a lift. I could make my way home on the train after to where I live in the NCD area.

bcmf

@ Billyhead, I will more then likely be doing it. I will have the 4 bike rack on so you can book a spot with me up and back.

furiousox

Still optimistic about doing this even though I haven't turned a pedal since changing jobs 3 weeks ago.

MB Lacey

Me and the OH are doing this, haven't signed up yet, but the 105 would be a challenge to look forward to.

bcmf

MB Lacey wrote: »

Me and the OH are doing this, haven't signed up yet, but the 105 would be a challenge to look forward to.

The 105 isnt the challenge.
That big poxy mountain just after halfway is the challenge.

Zorba

First sportive of the year, looking fwd to it.

resdubwhite

Is there an online route? ho big is the big poxy mountain?

bcmf

resdubwhite wrote: »

Is there an online route? ho big is the big poxy mountain?

ITs Big and its poxy.
The best way I have heard it summed was by niceonetom (I think!!!) when he said something like 'The hill with a thousand false flats'

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/191633078

billyhead

bcmf wrote: »

@ Billyhead, I will more then likely be doing it. I will have the 4 bike rack on so you can book a spot with me up and back.

Thanks for the offer BCMF. My brother told me this evening that he will do it aswell so I will get a lift with him, Cheers anyway

Zorba

bcmf wrote: »

ITs Big and its poxy.
The best way I have heard it summed was by niceonetom (I think!!!) when he said something like 'The hill with a thousand false flats'

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/191633078

It's not too bad, just a minor inconvenience, downhill all the way to dundalk once u get to the top

bcmf

I made the fatal mistake 2 years ago and not changing the cassette. Tried to climb on a 39/21.
Wont make that mistake again.

Zorba

bcmf wrote: »

I made the fatal mistake 2 years ago and not changing the cassette. Tried to climb on a 39/21.
Wont make that mistake again.

Power training, I like your style

bcmf

Tiredness and stupitidy more like.
am so used to the climbs of NCD I thought I would be able to grind over them.

Inquitus

Zorba wrote: »

It's not too bad, just a minor inconvenience, downhill all the way to dundalk once u get to the top

Aye except when the wind blows into your face the whole way alongside the lough which while perhaps slightly downhill is also decidedly lumpy

check_six

I would recommend the Tour of Louth, although I made a bit of a mess of it last year. It was lashing rain the night before (it was June after all), and I was feeling unenthusiastic about the cycle. Eventually I decided to HTFU and go for it, but I ended up arriving at the start about 20-25 minutes after everyone else had left. I then proceeded to get lost after taking an "extra" turn and heading off at 90 degrees to the course. Rejoining meant retracing my steps over about 5-10km.

Even with all the stupidity on my part I was still going pretty good and started to catch people along the way. Problem was I couldn't really get in a group, so I was back to soloing it along. The climb was okay, but difficult to gauge due to the lack of other cyclists nearby (and the number of "false descents"!). The return journey began to drag a bit towards the end because I was getting blasted with wind and rain and I couldn't hide behind anyones wheel for relief.

I spotted a bunch of boardsies at the finish line, including one car-full of them that went to drive off with their helmets on the roof of the car.

In conclusion, do this cycle, but get in one of the groups at the beginning. First year I did this cycle I got some crazy high average speed with a good group. The organisation is good too.

detones

Plan on doing this looks a good route. Hill looks a beaut. Can't beat it for €15. Event has a good reputation too.

MB Lacey

6km of climbing?!

:eek:










:eek:

detones

MB Lacey wrote: »

6km of climbing?!

:eek:










:eek:

Think there is only 385m of climbing over the 100k according the the map my ride link attached which should be easily done. 6k of climbing would require a route over the Pyrenees!! Maybe thats the lenght of the Big climb?

MB Lacey

detones wrote: »

Think there is only 385m of climbing over the 100k according the the map my ride link attached which should be easily done. 6k of climbing would require a route over the Pyrenees!! Maybe thats the lenght of the Big climb?

I must have misunderstood, I thought from the map it was a climb of 182m in height over a distance of 6km?
(as soon as you turn off for Ravensdale? at 50.8km)

Thomasofmel

It seems to be a climb of 200 meters over a stretch of app. 6 km :cool:

ugsparky

It's a big hill and it's fairly relentless as I found out to my cost last year ... but now I'm 15 kg lighter and on a carbon frame with a compact setup - bit I'm still fearing it - might give it a trial run before the 2nd - not the full 105km - just the spin to Jenkinstown/Omeath/Carlingford/Home - going to plan for the 4 hour mark - anything else will be a bonus - the weather will play a big part - can be very windy as it's quite exposed ...

triggermortis

I did this one last year and was going quite well until I got a flat about 15Km from the end and took ages to get my super tight tyre off and back on again. Weather was rubbish, but that's usual in June.
Will probably do it again this year, now I know there are different groups aiming for different times (didn't realise this last year)

mcgratheoin

Just wondering does anybody know where the refreshments/food stop is?

I'll be in a small group of lads with wildly varying climbing abilities so if it's at the top of the hill then the best climber may be given domestique duties and told to fill a musette!


If it's on the flat then it's a case of carrying enough with us from the start...

bcmf

mcgratheoin wrote: »

Just wondering does anybody know where the refreshments/food stop is?

I'll be in a small group of lads with wildly varying climbing abilities so if it's at the top of the hill then the best climber may be given domestique duties and told to fill a musette!


If it's on the flat then it's a case of carrying enough with us from the start...

AFAIK the food stop is back at the start as you come through but could be mistaken.
Would be surprised if its at the top of the climb as it hasn't been there before

check_six

They had the stop at the side of the road on the way back into Dundalk last year. Given the nature of the cycle (Flat fast, flat fast, big hill argh, flat fast, flat straggle home) a lot of people tend to just do the full spin without stopping. You get to the food stop after about 90 minutes and it's before the hill, so you haven't really worked up an appetite at that point. Hang on for the grub at the end is my recommendation.

mcgratheoin

Tried to register but it takes my details as a guest and then asks me to log in as a member - anyone know what the story is?

LCD

Try entering the event as a non-member

mcgratheoin

LCD wrote: »

Try entering the event as a non-member

**edit** ok - got it to work now - cheers

I did - there are 2 links to click - I clicked the one that said "Guest Registration".

That brought me to a page asking for my email address which I filled in and boxes appeared then asking me for my details to "please register yourself as a guest to attend selected event"

The problem is that when I filled out all those boxes, it just directs me to a member login form.

helimachoptor

mcgratheoin wrote: »

Just wondering does anybody know where the refreshments/food stop is?

I'll be in a small group of lads with wildly varying climbing abilities so if it's at the top of the hill then the best climber may be given domestique duties and told to fill a musette!


If it's on the flat then it's a case of carrying enough with us from the start...

You're being very generous there!

as always i'll be bringing a range of snacks..

trek climber

check_six wrote: »

They had the stop at the side of the road on the way back into Dundalk last year. Given the nature of the cycle (Flat fast, flat fast, big hill argh, flat fast, flat straggle home) a lot of people tend to just do the full spin without stopping. You get to the food stop after about 90 minutes and it's before the hill, so you haven't really worked up an appetite at that point. Hang on for the grub at the end is my recommendation.

Another alternative especially if the weather is decent is to take a quick stop at the top of the mountain instead of stopping in Dundalk.

ugsparky

Excuse my naivety but how does the timing work on this ? I'll have my Cateye set to zero from the start - how do the Cuchulain CC award the medals ? I'm hoping for a 4 hour trip but depending on the wind/hill/lungs/legs if I'm ok after Jenkinstown I'll try to go as quick as I can into Dundalk - do we get chipped in the ear and followed using GPS technology or are we trusted to post our time at the finish ? Is it overall or just bike road time ?

cdaly_

There's somebody standing at the finish handing out medals as you come in. Once the platinum time expires, they put them away and start handing out gold. Once the gold time expires, they put them away and start handing out silver...

Also be aware that the start is not at the assembly area, the first couple of km of rollout is not counted. The actual start is somewhere on the old Dublin road.

check_six

ugsparky wrote: »

Excuse my naivety but how does the timing work on this ?

They start the clock when the Platinum group goes. This is important to remember as the other groups start at 2 or 3 minute intervals. The only clock is their clock, so overall time is what counts, not rolling time. My time last year was about half an hour quicker than the clock, but then I did start about half an hour late, so tough luck me!

I saw people miss out because they eased off when rolling into the finish because they didn't take the 2-3 minute gap in the groups into acccount from the beginnning. Don't be that guy!

triggermortis

The only food stop I remember last year was at the top of the uphill section at the long woman's grave in the Cooleys.
I plodded all the way up with Robfowl I seem to remember, then he shot off on the descent

Inquitus

Might give this a lash in my annual in vain attempt at getting a Platinum, if only I could get over that pesky hill in the front group! Weather was shíte last year, well under 10 people got platinum afair.

They have actually made it more attainable this year, they have acknowledged the fact its 105km not 100km and given an extra 10 mins.

I demand my 2011 Gold medal be uprated to platinum!

http://app.strava.com/activities/679216

helimachoptor

the more i look at the hill, the less pleasant i sense it will be :eek:

Generally my biggest issue is eating intelligently, so i'll need to eat something every 30 mins even on the flat

mcgratheoin

helimachoptor wrote: »

Generally my biggest issue is acting intelligently,

FYP

In terms of getting around, do most people start with the group up and try to hang on till the hill? e.g. does someone seeking a gold time head off with the platinum group and wheelsuck for the first 50k?

Inquitus

mcgratheoin wrote: »

FYP

In terms of getting around, do most people start with the group up and try to hang on till the hill? e.g. does someone seeking a gold time head off with the platinum group and wheelsuck for the first 50k?

I would go off with the Platinum's and if you get shelled on the flat you can pick up the Gold's etc etc. If you make it to the base of the hill with the Platinum's you'll have a good headstart on the Gold's on the climb and probably manage to tag onto the lead Gold group for the return leg. It is quite windy along the lake shore and can be on the way home, you defo want to share the load and not be stuck in a small group of on your own.

MB Lacey

On the website it says there is a Rolling start at 9.40am (sharp) through Blackrock with a 10 am start.

This will be my very first sportive, so apologies, but does this mean the 'fast ones' (with a hunger in their eyes for a particular medal) will start rolling out first from Fairways hotel, with us 'lucky if we even get a medal' ones following behind? and once we all get to a certain point in Blackrock round about the 10am mark - that's when the timing begins?

LeftBlank

MB Lacey wrote: »

On the website it says there is a Rolling start at 9.40am (sharp) through Blackrock with a 10 am start.

This will be my very first sportive, so apologies, but does this mean the 'fast ones' (with a hunger in their eyes for a particular medal) will start rolling out first from Fairways hotel, with us 'lucky if we even get a medal' ones following behind? and once we all get to a certain point in Blackrock round about the 10am mark - that's when the timing begins?

Everyone leaves the hotel in a big group. Once you get to the start point a bit out the road, the platinum group will be called to leave, then the gold, silver etc... Timing starts from there at 10am when the Platinum group leaves.

RobFowl

triggermortis wrote: »

The only food stop I remember last year was at the top of the uphill section at the long woman's grave in the Cooleys.
I plodded all the way up with Robfowl I seem to remember, then he shot off on the descent

I remeber that extremely well, very painful it was too....

Descents are my thing tbh (that and 150-200metre sprints) but other than that I've no discernible cycling talent whatsoever....

MB Lacey

LeftBlank wrote: »

Everyone leaves the hotel in a big group. Once you get to the start point a bit out the road, the platinum group will be called to leave, then the gold, silver etc... Timing starts from there at 10am when the Platinum group leaves.

Thanks.
Any idea how many did this last year, or expected numbers this year?

bcmf

RobFowl wrote: »

I remeber that extremely well, very painful it was too....

Descents are my thing tbh (that and 150-200metre sprints) but other than that I've no discernible cycling talent whatsoever....

Glad you said that and no-one else.


although I really shouldn't get into a slagging match in this thread given my history with this event.

RobFowl

bcmf wrote: »

Glad you said that and no-one else.


although I really shouldn't get into a slagging match in this thread given my history with this event.

You can have one of my Gold's if you like?

twinsen

Will there be some place there to park the car? Anyone knows?