An post rebel tour.

joehayes999

I have just registered for the 55k (yeah i know, i'm a wimp!). I have taken up cycling in the past year purely to get fit as middle age spread is taking its toll. I have done 50k recently, but I have never cycled in a group and feel I am too slow at climbing to join a club. I would like to join others in Cork/Coachford/Macroom who want to do 30 - 50 km spins at 20 kph or thereabouts.

shaka

joehayes999 wrote: »

I have just registered for the 55k (yeah i know, i'm a wimp!). I have taken up cycling in the past year purely to get fit as middle age spread is taking its toll. I have done 50k recently, but I have never cycled in a group and feel I am too slow at climbing to join a club. I would like to join others in Cork/Coachford/Macroom who want to do 30 - 50 km spins at 20 kph or thereabouts.

A lot of clubs have beginner/improver groups, don't be afraid to join club. Of top of my head there is coachford cc and valley Whelers cc . If memory searches me right valley wheelers are well spread out club and might suit you.

Muckers

Just entered for the 160k:D

andy69

BailMeOut wrote: »

Anyone know how many people did the 85km and 160km routes on last years Rebel Tour (2012)?

Just registered this evening for the 85k (and the wife is doing it also, and her friend) - making the weekend out of it. tis a great venue and the whole town got behind it last year with music sessions on the street and in the pubs. got to play a few tunes the evening after the spin with some local musicians, and just really enjoyed the whole weekend.

anyways...regarding numbers....wasn't near the amount you might see at Meath and Waterford, but I think there were a few hundred on the 85k event (at the start line, I was up at the front, so my view was blocked by the hedges back down to where the main space in the car park was, and to be honest I belted up the hill so there was only like 6 of us together at the front over the top so I couldn't be sure of the actual numbers behind). Was a lovely atmosphere though, and can't wait to get back down again now.

happy_73

joehayes999 wrote: »

I have just registered for the 55k (yeah i know, i'm a wimp!). I have taken up cycling in the past year purely to get fit as middle age spread is taking its toll. I have done 50k recently, but I have never cycled in a group and feel I am too slow at climbing to join a club. I would like to join others in Cork/Coachford/Macroom who want to do 30 - 50 km spins at 20 kph or thereabouts.

Take a look at Ballincollig crusaders on Facebook, they have beginners and intermediate spins that might suit you.

Tzarkahn

Just signed up for the 85k, should be fun.

Shedite27

Signed up for the 160k version. First official sportif (have done up to 120k solo). How do these things work? Do people generally get off their bikes and take a break at the food/drink stops? Presume there's all shapes and sizes yeah? Hoping to get the 160km done in sub 7hrs.

derealbadger

Shedite27 wrote: »

Signed up for the 160k version. First official sportif (have done up to 120k solo). How do these things work? Do people generally get off their bikes and take a break at the food/drink stops? Presume there's all shapes and sizes yeah? Hoping to get the 160km done in sub 7hrs.

There is to be no stopping it is a bit misleading calling them food stops what happens in reality is some old ones from the locality hold up ham sangwiges and you grab them as you go past if you are seen getting of your bike you will be disqualified. Hope this helps

Masala

Have signed up for this a while ago.... but just back from a a few weeks holidays and therefore off the bike for the past 2-3 weeks!!!

Now regretting this decision.... looks like I'll be walking up the last 100 metres of Healy Pass! Can't see how the ticker will keep going if I put it thru that last climb!! Better remember to bring my cleat covers for the walk!

kerry4sam

Shedite27 wrote: »

Signed up for the 160k version. First official sportif (have done up to 120k solo). How do these things work? Do people generally get off their bikes and take a break at the food/drink stops? Presume there's all shapes and sizes yeah? Hoping to get the 160km done in sub 7hrs.

Ah fantastic! You'll hopefully have a magic day! As for how these things work - all I do is turn up and just go with the flow. Whether you start with friends or not, it won't be long before you've made new friends and I like that. Seriously Enjoy Sportives for the friendliest people I always seem to encounter, whether words of encouragement on passing; or chats for some km; or even had one guy lastyear on my 100km in Waterford talking bout a 'Dear Diary' moment walking on a climb

As for Nourishment: I always bring what I need on my cycles, but stop the odd time too just for the banter and stretch the auld legs. Always a massive array of food & water at the stops. My most iconic was top of Healy Pass lastyear with bikes and people just strewn everywhere after the climb, still brings a smile to my face for some reason.

Ah their is just something special about sportives that I love. Everyone is just in massive form; Everyone encourages Everyone else; No-one leaves anyone struggling with any element be it a climb or a puncture - people are always assisting everyone around them.

Best of Luck with your Preparations & Just go with the flow on the day if that's easier for you.

I do hope you Enjoy your Day & your 1st Sportive,
kerry4sam

michael196

kerry4sam wrote: »

Ah their is just something special about sportives that I love. Everyone is just in massive form; Everyone encourages Everyone else; No-one leaves anyone struggling with any element be it a climb or a puncture - people are always assisting everyone around them.


I do hope you Enjoy your Day & your 1st Sportive,
kerry4sam

Absolutely correct Kerry4 sam. Sportives have a place in all clubs, whether serious racing clubs, touring club etc. Sportives serve many purposes, as training, as group riding training, as distance / endrance training, and a way to bring the whole club together for an event.


there are no rules, do as u like and as u see fit on the day. It is meant to be a fun day provided by the clubs.


Recently, and increasingly, there is a trend where see racing members participate in sportives. This was not always the case.

Sportives encourage the beginners, make the middle experienced, the leaders for the day, as the fastest groups take off into a separate group to match their desired pace.

SO truly something for everyone.

nilhg

Cork Sports partnership on Facebook are saying that they expect this years event to be booked out in the next few days, time to make up your mind if you are thinking of doing the Rebel Tour this year.

bellinter

How does this compare to the Sean Kelly 160?

derealbadger

bellinter wrote: »

How does this compare to the Sean Kelly 160?

Distance wise they are very similar
I tried to stop myself but was unable sorry

bellinter

well I did invite that response I suppose!

derealbadger

bellinter wrote: »

well I did invite that response I suppose!

On A serious note i have done the An Post ToSligo the Burren and Sean Kelly the SKT was the toughest but not by much so I would say the rebel will be not quite as bad but not a lot softer eaither

ford2600

bellinter wrote: »

well I did invite that response I suppose!

Have done skt every year and rebel last year. It's as tough.
As a Waterford man, while skt goes through some pretty country, this route in Beara is unrelentingly stunning. Best seen on a bike.
The section around tip of peninsula is my favourite part of Ireland.

bellinter

Thanks lads. Will more than likely give it a crack, will sign up once I can sort out getting there.

dogsears

bellinter wrote: »

Thanks lads. Will more than likely give it a crack, will sign up once I can sort out getting there.

Never mind with that more than likely business! Sign up as soon as you can. You won't regret it. Its tough alright but a fantastic course.

Sort out getting there when you know you have to get there.

Roger Hassenforder

bellinter wrote: »

Thanks lads. Will more than likely give it a crack, will sign up once I can sort out getting there.

Its god’s country; a privilege to cycle there!

davgtrek

Here is some of the route in this ring of Beara video.
This is a beautiful part of the world. Though the healy pass is not in this vid its spectacular !!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBVCm8prjr8

bellinter

Right you've convinced me, I'm in for the 160!

shaka

bellinter wrote: »

Right you've convinced me, I'm in for the 160!

You won't regret it

Masala

....160... brave man!! That's doing the Healy Pass - TWICE!

derealbadger

Masala wrote: »

....160... brave man!! That's doing the Healy Pass - TWICE!

Cant be as tough as Mahon Falls

nilhg

bellinter wrote: »

How does this compare to the Sean Kelly 160?

I did it last year and sat listening to a conversation at the last food stop (before Healy Pass the second time round) about how tough it was in comparison to other sportives, SKT, Antrim Glens , Kilkenny and the WW200 all get mentioned (I'd done none of them so couldn't comment), the consensus was that the Rebel is every bit as tough. I think alot depends on the weather on the day, last years RT was tough enough for me that day anyway.

Masala wrote: »

....160... brave man!! That's doing the Healy Pass - TWICE!

The problem isn't really the Healy Pass the second time, you know what it's like and can pace yourself up it a bit more sensibly this time, the hard part is the section from Castletown Bere to Eyries, up over Reentrusk is just unrelenting, hard to recover on.

derealbadger wrote: »

Cant be as tough as Mahon Falls

Come along and find out, you've done everything else worth doing this year, you're hardly going to miss out on this.....

shaka

Nilhg has hit nail on head here, Healy pass isn't even that bad on its own but the section from Castletown up caher more to allihies and from here up reentrisk (cods head ) onto eyeries is by far the hardest part of day.

I'm married into local family so know the roads, met some of my club mates from faster group at first feed stop after Healy pass no.1 and couple were tired from pushing too hard and they didn't believe me when I said climbing only got hard from Castletown, there was lots of cussing up reentrisk.

I got around last year as a semi fit 100kg fatty so if I can anyone can....

Haven't cycled yet this year bar a couple of short spins but will probably do 85 on my road to recovery

eoghan84

I did this last year and Im looking forward to it again. I didnt find the climbs tough as I thought the gradients were fine. The thing Im worried about is the descent of the Healy - in case there is gravel on the edges of the road around the bends, and having to be mindful twice, with people overtaking too. When I was descending Mahon Falls at the SKT this year it was cool because the guy ahead and the guys behind seemed to take a lot of notice and didn't push it at all, maybe all the signs warning slowed them down. The Healy descent is a good bit longer I think and hence those good/daring will catch up and overtake.

Max_Charger

There is a good bit of gravel on the first few bends on the Healy descent, but it's all over the road so it's impossible to miss/ignore it. After those few it's gravel free, at least it was when I was up there a few weeks ago.

funnights74

The caha pass has similar gravel patches, it goes from a very wide smooth surface to a narrow twisty road, with gravel patches quite quickly. although in fairness to the organizers it was well flagged.