Great Spin Out West August 10th 2013

CHIPPY1979

The 3rd annual Great Spin Out West takes place on Saturday the 10th August.

Entries are ONLY €25.00 + a small resisteration fee of approx €1.00 up until this Friday. Registerations will increase to €35.00 after Friday.

All funds raised go to Galway based charity Cancer Care West.

Log onto to www.greatspinoutwest.com for more details and also to register. All support much appreciated

Masala

Registerations will increase to €35.00 after Friday.

Chippy - can I ask a really 'stupid' question cos I have seen this before - but what is the logic in charging more closer to the date???

Are you Ryanair in disguise???

Not picking on you here Chippy.... just can't fathom how this encourages bookings??

CHIPPY1979

I'm not involved in the running of this event, although I do know the guys who are. I am only trying to promote the cycle and based on other events it is extremely good value at €25.00. Goodie bags, food stops are excellent. TBH, I have told them that they are charging too little but it is their event and good luck to them.

Unlike other sportifs, every cent that is raised goes to charity, namely, Cancer Care West so as I have said, any support is much appreciated.

at1withmyself

Enjoyed this spin last year but I hope they sort out the water situation at the end as charging for water at the finish was not nice, even though there was free burgers something to wash them down wouldn't have gone a miss.

I think 35 is too much and have registered at the 25 price, a lot of other events have medals / hoodies / jerseys etc for the same price. I'm not a fan of these items and would prefer a price in around 20 / 25 euro with the option of purchasing a jersey / hoodie etc.. With so many events on now I would imagine its better to keep competitive although that's just my opinion.

Swamp3

Cheers for that Chippy. Have been meaning to do this for the last couple of years but never did.
Great cause and if all the proceeds go to the charity then I'll happily buy my bottle of water at the finish.
I'm warming up for this with a crack at the Marmotte this day week...should set me up nicely for the Maam climb :-)

CHIPPY1979

Just a reminder that the Great Spin Out West is on Saturday week, August 10th. Enjoyable 125k spin in beautiful Connemara.

Log onto www.greatspinoutwest.com for more details and also to register.

CHIPPY1979

10th August. 125k cycle/sportif in beautiful Connemara. Only 3 days to go. Log onto www.greatspinoutwest.com if your interested. Registerations will be limited on the day so best you register on line to ensure your starting place.

VanhireBoys

This is a very nice spin with lovely scenery - Well worth doing !

Just checked the vintage bike over and she is ready to taxi .. Im ready to roll and cant wait !

It would be a poor show if I didnt appear seeing as I am pictured on the front page of the website sitting on a bench in the Peugeot gear !

I will be signing autographs if you really really want....:o

VanhireBoys

Had a fantastic run out.. Got dropped ouside Clifden but made up for it in Letterfrack.. Food was super - ham and cheese baps were yummy.

Well organised and executed with no major incidents - Seen a lad with a bit of road rash in teh ambulance.

Thansk a Million Chippy - Put me down for next year

Maciej_D

VanhireBoys wrote: »

Had a fantastic run out.. Got dropped ouside Clifden but made up for it in Letterfrack.. Food was super - ham and cheese baps were yummy.

Well organised and executed with no major incidents - Seen a lad with a bit of road rash in teh ambulance.

Thansk a Million Chippy - Put me down for next year

Done this for the very first time and enjoyed it a lot. Best decision was to follow the 4ppl breakaway at the beginning which has grown to 20+ within 30min or so.

Pity I didn't have the opportunity to tag along with a similar group after the food stop. Thx to the two lads in cavan cycling club jerseys, it was a good run for the second half of the spin.

Well pleased with 30km/hr average.

Sign me up for next year.

CHIPPY1979

Thanks for all the kind comments.

Although not involved in the organising of the event (I know the lads that are), I have to say year on year this event improves no end.

Food stop was excellent (last year was so/so), plenty of H2O, hot drinks, fruit, bars and once again the BBQ was a nice touch at the end.

The lads are always trying to improve things, so if you have any suggestions, be either positive or negative, please post here. Even if you haven't taken part in the GSOW, have done other sportifs and saw something you were impressed with let me know. They are anxious to get the numbers up. More numbers = more money for Cancer Care West.

Cheers Chippy

Foyler

I know one of the folks involved with CCW and have mentioned this to him but may as well add it here.

I've done the spin the last 2 years and as above its been very enjoyable and the food stop was waaaay better this year. Was never going to complain given the cause but the baps were much appreciated, they kindly allowed me to have 2!!

The main thing that struck me both years was that its a bit mental to run an event this size along one of the busiest tourist roads in the Country during the busiest few weeks of the year.
You could actually feel the levels of frustration and anger coming off the cars as they attempted to pass large groups spread over the road, sometimes 4 abreast.
I'd have been exactly the same if I was trying to get somewhere.
While its nice to have the upper hand for a a change with safety in numbers, I fear it will do nothing to improve the already strained relations between motorists and cyclists and there were a number of extremely dodgy overtakes by drivers who were clearly not used to spending long periods on the wrong side of the road.

Would the organiser's not consider a move to the last week in August when the traffic drops off or even September, once its a weekend it shouldn't matter to much for numbers.
Alternatively I'd look at moving it further West and availing of all the various penninsula's which would result in a more enjoyable spin for those taking part as you would spend less time on N59.
I'm sure most who took part would agree that the most enjoyable section apart from coming down Crochnaraw was the 'r' road part from Leenane to Maam cross. I spent most of the rest of the time trying to predict what Drivers were going to do next and waving them through when a clear stretch came which was not very often.

Not meaning to be overly negative about a well run event for a great cause but you did ask...