an post tour de burren

awec

Anyone doing it this year? On the 87km one myself.

Keep hearing about this corkscrew hill, is it as bad as people make out?

phog

awec wrote: »

Anyone doing it this year? On the 87km one myself.

Keep hearing about this corkscrew hill, is it as bad as people make out?

I've never cycled it but it's an impressive hill to cycle up. If you have the inclination and time stop at viewing point and look back down towards Ballyvaughan.

I assume you're cycling up the hill?

ratracer

awec wrote: »

Anyone doing it this year? On the 87km one myself.

Keep hearing about this corkscrew hill, is it as bad as people make out?

You've got four or five switch backs, but it's not all that long of a climb. TBH the climb out of Doolin heading back for home, after the tea break will be more a ball breaker than Corkscrew Hill. Thats a long drag.

I'll be doing the 87km one too, it's a nice route, the early ~8km hill from Bell Harbour to Carron will string out the field nicely too.

bofinfan

Fantastic scenery - will be worth the effort on the Corkscrew Hill

Charlie69

hoping to do the 150k,are the climbs tough?is there a lot of climbing?

awec

phog wrote: »

I've never cycled it but it's an impressive hill to cycle up. If you have the inclination and time stop at viewing point and look back down towards Ballyvaughan.

I assume you're cycling up the hill?

yean we go up the hill. I thought it would be grand but people keep telling me otherwise!

greenmat

Doing the 150km route, 1st time doing this event so looking forward to it big time. Just hope the weather is Ok for us all.

killalanerr

is it going up castle hill this year i still have mares about going up it in the driving rain last year

awec

The tourdeburren.com site says corkscrew is cat 2, but the mapmyride route linked has it as a cat4. On Google maps, I don't see anything bad enough to suggest anywhere near cat2, but who is wrong here?

Dermot Illogical

awec wrote: »

The tourdeburren.com site says corkscrew is cat 2, but the mapmyride route linked has it as a cat4. On Google maps, I don't see anything bad enough to suggest anywhere near cat2, but who is wrong here?

tourdeburren site is wrong. The corkscrew is a doddle. It's a lovely little climb, with switchbacks to play with, but it hardly qualifies as a categorised climb.
I'm no climber, and I had built myself up into a panic about it on last year's tdb, but when I reached the top I was left thinking "Is that it?".

dastardly00

I'm planning on doing the 87km route, it'll be my first Tour de Burren

Pembily

Dermot Illogical wrote: »

tourdeburren site is wrong. The corkscrew is a doddle. It's a lovely little climb, with switchbacks to play with, but it hardly qualifies as a categorised climb.
I'm no climber, and I had built myself up into a panic about it on last year's tdb, but when I reached the top I was left thinking "Is that it?".

When I saw it was a category 2, I was a bit worried so thanks for the reassurance. If the rain holds off it will be a great cycle.

spiderman1885

Looking forward to this, dont think the weather will be too good! Relying on a slow pace and 'natural' fitness for the 155! - havent been on the bike too much recently!

greenmat

Registered on-line a few weeks back for this. Anyone receive anything in the post, or just an e-mail like myself.

nordicb

Will attempt 150k, 1st time this route as well.

Watching the weather closely - forecast changes every day, hoping for better

shaka

Few friends gave out about route last year, they said they felt route was throwing in hills for the sake of it. They would turn up a road do a short sharp climb then come back onto same road a few km up the road and continue along . I don't know how true this is a I didn't do it last year.

Had planned to do it this year regardless but injury forbids it

Corkscrew is tough but doable , stay to outside of bend on switchbacks and you will be grand.

funnights74

greenmat wrote: »

Registered on-line a few weeks back for this. Anyone receive anything in the post, or just an e-mail like myself.

Yes I received an e-mail today about registration times, feeding zones location and general info about the day. Ironically An Post don't seem to post letters any more.

mirv

+1 on Dermot Illogical.

The whole thing is only a hair over 1.5km, including the draggy prelude to the switchbacks and is a lovely little climb. Strava reckons it's only about 90m gain or so. The gradient is very gentle even on the switchbacks and the surface is pristine - I had a pretty constant pace over the entire 'segment' (in the mid teens and I'm not a great climber) - as long as you don't take the innermost line. You shouldn't need to cross over to the opposite side of the road unless you're really struggling. If you've done any climbing in south Dublin or Wicklow you'll stroll through it.

I have no clue how they're giving it Cat 2 rating as a climb. Sure it's got switchbacks and it rather lovely and precious in a mini-alps kind of way, but it would barely be a nipple on the route profile of a medium mountain stage.

8kvscdpglqnyr4

corkscrew is a great climb - one of the nicest in ireland. fantastic surface, nice switch backs and a lovely view.

i don't think it's as easy as people here are saying.

strava has the full climb at 4.7km @ 4.2% avg gradient.
http://app.strava.com/segments/1342678
for comparison, the wicklow gap is 7km @ 4.6% avg gradient.
http://app.strava.com/segments/2426557

there are 2km of switchbacks on the corkscrew that are steeper
http://app.strava.com/segments/666690
1.9km @ 6%

my guess is the CAT2 status comes from when the Ras goes over it. all climbs in the Ras are CAT1-3 ... and none are comparable to CAT1-3 in Le Tour de France

mirv

Hmm, when I rolled over it this Monday I only registered on this segment, not the two other segments you posted there. The start and finish lines happen to be painted on the ground so it's the only segment you'll notice as you roll over them.

Start/Finish line Corkscrew, 1.5km 6%, 98m gain.
http://app.strava.com/segments/3634361

Maybe the 2km segment at 6% is more accurate of what it feels like - the extra bits on the 4.7km segment don't really feel like part of the climb - the bit before is a ramp with a flat/downhill stretch, and the bit after the painted finish line is really a false flat and the gradient feels like it's pretty much over when you roll over it.

Either way, I think it's incomparable to the wicklow gap as it's got a steady gradient and isn't as rampy (the car park past the quarry), has a better surface and isn't as subject to winds. Also, climbs tend to feel exponentially longer anyway if you're flogging yourself to get up them!

Smith614

Did it last yr and it was my first sportive. Horrendous weather for a while but corkscrew hill was grand. I'll guarantee ye one thing and that is that I am no climber but found the corkscrew ok. Hope the weather is better than last yr tho, think I'll stick to the 87km cycle tho in prep for ROK.

awec

Called it quits early on this. Windy, rainy, cold and miserable, wasn't really enjoying it at all.

derealbadger

Tough day on the bike wind was hard going 162.4 km moveing time 6hrs 3 mins but happy overall

vektarman

derealbadger wrote: »

Tough day on the bike wind was hard going 162.4 km moveing time 6hrs 3 mins but happy overall

I did the 87K to-day and that was tough in the wind so kudos to the guys that did the long route,,,

daludo

awec wrote: »

Called it quits early on this. Windy, rainy, cold and miserable, wasn't really enjoying it at all.

didn't find the weather too bad in the afternoon,got one shower near liscannor and that was it,enjoyed the spin,cycled wit sean Kelly for short while and got pic at the end wit him,he a man of few words:)

thinks too much

Did the 87 km route...3 hrs 27 mins...wind was a bugger and lots of hills but very enjoyable...going along the coast road at the end was beautiful even in the rain..would do it again.

MrCreosote

Hard day in the wind but the weather wasn't the worst. Apart from a few showers it stayed mostly dry.The section from Corkscrew hill to the cliffs of moher was the worst. The final 30k around Black head into Ballyvaughan was pure joy though. Great part of the country, excellent organisation and a hoodie and ice cream at the finish!

at1withmyself

Last year I pulled out after 100km so was determined to make up for it this year and as the West Cork 200 was on the same day I decided to aim for 200km today as I wasn't going to get the West Cork done this year!

Left Galway shortly after 6:30 and very fast with the wind over to Oranmore and then against the wind pretty much all the way to Ballyvaughan so I knew what was coming for day, combined with some heavy showers I was wet at the official start and had 55km completed.

Once off then I struggled at the start and jumped between groups and riding solo and was not feeling in good form but once at Glan Hill I went out mainly by myself and was feeling better so continued on and rode mostly solo to the end covering 215km today with an average of 26.0 km/hr.

Positives:
The route, better and safer then last year I thought as climbs were not so early
The rain not been as bad as expected, dry for most of the afternoon
The Marshals
The fast finish from Fanore, enjoyed that and not sure where I got the energy from!!
The Ice Cream

Negatives:
The food stop, poorly organised compared to previous years and then before been asked to go back outside before you could decide if you needed more food as the food tent was too small
The wind
Not giving Hoodies at registration, wouldn't it make more sense instead of getting tired cyclist to queue again in wet gear

Overall though a good day and happy with the training for the Etape in 2 weeks time

kavanagh_h

Awh you got hoodies this year! That was a great idea!
Im even more sad i couldnt make it.:(

fed up sick and tired

Did the 155, my first ever sportive.

Despite the official route description, I thought the mini-corkscrew was tougher than the real one, and the drag before the second water/banana stop was tougher than Doonagore. Overall found it a hillier course than I'd expected. Thought I was going to vomit on Castle Hil, but made it without stoppingl.

Foodstops grand, especially the cheesecake, but nearly did the splits a few times on the dancefloor - very dangerous in cleats, potentially. Especially when you're fatigued, unaware, and making a beeline for food.

By the time I got to the coast road I was so shattered I wasn't really able to take advantage of the wind.

Thanked all the marshals as I passed them by, and the catering ladies.

Big shout to the three lads from Moycullen who were great and supportive when I bumped into them at the stops, and likewise the two Dubs from the B&B.

And after all that, can't wait to get out tomorrow for an easy shakedown spin.

nordicb

Did the 155 as well, though my computer said 167, 6.5 hours. Plenty of showers, the wind, but it got drier later on. The number attached to the seat got ripped apart by the weather. I've heard a lot of people turned back because of the weather.

I found the route a tad repetitive, coming to Doolin twice was a tad boring somewhat. Nearly missed the turn not spotting the sign at one place... The hilly loop towards Enistimon felt like it was done purposely to throw us at hills and increase the distance, but glad the chap at the foodstop there didn't spare water to replace this chlorine'ish water I've got at the stop before.

There were very few groups going, covered the distance pretty much solo wondering if I was going the right route.

Nice people on the route generally, pretty much all passing asked if I needed any help when I stopped to pack the rain coat, did same in return when seeing others.

Great event, with a better weather it could've been very very good.

Charlie69

did anyone see Sean Kelly going like a rocket behind the landrover just before the second food stop?Awesome! I've never seen a bicycle move so fast

nordicb

Wish I had a landrover in front of me :P

Mr Velo

161.5km under the belt (forgot to start the Garmin until we were a bit outside BallyV) - 6hrs 58m so got under the 7 hours at least.

Found the going very tough - a lot hillier than I thought. Felt like turning right at Doolin the first time around which would have left it at approx 100k, but glad i turned left (albeit into that b***h of a Castle Hill climb).

Food stops weren't as good as past years due to the tea/coffee being inside and the food out in a seperate tent (and having to queue in wet gear).

Hoodies and ice-cream at the finish - nice.

derealbadger

Charlie69 wrote: »

did anyone see Sean Kelly going like a rocket behind the landrover just before the second food stop?Awesome! I've never seen a bicycle move so fast

Ye saw him and his landrover got stuck behind them for a second then overtook the two of them going up castle hill

foreilly

Done the 165KM (not 155KM as it states) in 6 hr 15 mins on a tough day for the bike. rain coming into lisdoonvarna for the food was very bad & then the food hall. what happened to the pavilion from years past. much better orgainised for going in and out & lots of space. this thing of not allowing you back in for more tea after queueing for food was a joke. "Can't go back in this door" for 30 euros it was a savage event, great marshalling & i have to say i really enjoyed it. spin from fanore home was great. 45KM an hr on the way home. wonder where i got the energy to do that

rayr

Well run event as usual with great marshalling along the route. Fair play to them. First food stop didn't work great but was very quiet the second time around. We (Sportif Waterford CC) got a good group going like a train with a few Shannoside, Lakeside, Dolmen and a few others from Doolin around Black Head and in to finish.
Thought the route was good and if the weather had been a kinder it would have been very good, well better than last year. Hoodies and ice cream were nice reward at finish. Stats showed 162k in 6 hrs 5min with 1950m ascent.

awec

Pretty sure I got my photo snapped at this one, anyone any idea when the photos will be available?

greenmat

Some pics from Sat, more to follow.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.492857084123148.1073741911.169802333095293&type=1