Etape Ras Mumhan 2014

lescol

The Etape Ras Mumhan for 2014 is open, new route:- http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/fullscreen/308912593/

Saturday 19 April, starts and finishes in Kenmare. Looks good with plenty climbing and a fast run into Kenmare along a nicely surfaced road.

The website for registration:- http://www.etaperasmumhan.com/

ROK ON

Keimanagh & Renanaree are ecellent additions to the route.

Looks great.

ford2600

lescol wrote: »

The Etape Ras Mumhan for 2014 is open, new route:- http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/fullscreen/308912593/

Saturday 19 April, starts and finishes in Kenmare. Looks good with plenty climbing and a fast run into Kenmare along a nicely surfaced road.

The website for registration:- http://www.etaperasmumhan.com/

Did this last year, super route then.
Better surface I'd imagine this year, but route doesn't look as nice this time.

No Caha Pass, no Borlin Valley, Healy only once...

lescol

The route does at least eliminate the problem of last year where the etape riders were meeting the Ras Mumhan riders head on.

ford2600

lescol wrote: »

The route does at least eliminate the problem of last year where the etape riders were meeting the Ras Mumhan riders head on.

I enjoyed that, very impressive sight as they flew along with a strong easterly tailwind

boydkev

I just saw this event, I was wondering how serious it is and would you need to be quite experienced. I have only really done 2 long rides, ROK and a 120km sportive.
How many entries would they be looking at, there only seemed to be about 120 last year.

at1withmyself

Just signed up, this will be my first event since doing the Etape in France last July so a bit of work now to get back to fitness as I haven't covered more then 50km in 1 spin since!

Looking forward to the new route as I haven't been East of Kenmare so the climbs there will be new to me. Hopefully it'll be a little warmer last year, anyone remember the ice in the Tunnel going over the Caha Pass in the morning!!

at1withmyself

boydkev wrote: »

I just saw this event, I was wondering how serious it is and would you need to be quite experienced. I have only really done 2 long rides, ROK and a 120km sportive.
How many entries would they be looking at, there only seemed to be about 120 last year.

There are 2 starting groups and the first go around at above 30 km/hr, I tried going with them last year but quickly fell out the back. The second group go along around 25 km/hr which I'll be starting with this year. Numbers wise it is a small event compared to the likes of the An Post series but still an enjoyable event all the same in a great part of the country for cycling.

Muckers

Did this event in 2012, and looking at doing it again this year. Route looks good too.

tamaskan

I heard somewhere that last year the average speed of the 25kph group was faster than the 30 kph due to the pace set at the front by a group from a cycling club. Is this true and if so have the organisers learnt their lesson?

ford2600

tamaskan wrote: »

I heard somewhere that last year the average speed of the 25kph group was faster than the 30 kph due to the pace set at the front by a group from a cycling club. Is this true and if so have the organisers learnt their lesson?

It's a sportive. Cycle at whatever speed you want?

ROK ON

ford2600 wrote: »

It's a sportive. Cycle at whatever speed you want?

It is a sportif but it is not a casual event.

It precedes a race where upwards of 180 of the best riders in the country will be on th same road a few hours later.

Now, in reality it means that you will see lead cars first and be ushered off the road. But if it's wet and cold like last year you may not want to be hanging around by the side if the road for up to 30 mins waiting for the cavalcade and peleton to pass you.

If you can't do the min speed of the second group over the distance on a hilly route then IMHO you should give this event a miss as you may not enjoy it.

If you like working hard so as to get in before the race then this event is for you.

First two years I got up the Conor Pass with 30 mins and 5 mins to spare on the race leaders.
Last year I got had a major mechanical and couldn't complete but as I was standing by the road waiting for the broom wagon the peleton came by.

ford2600

I'm a fairly Mickey Mouse cyclist and met the peleton going in opposite direction east of Adrigole last year. Just me and my brother, no group.
3hrs head start from memory.

edit, average speed of 26km/h, (just checked strava)so Mickey Mouse is pretty accurate!

Koobcam

ford2600 wrote: »

It's a sportive. Cycle at whatever speed you want?

I did this in 2012 (dingle peninsula route, finish at the top of the Conor Pass). It was a timed event, which kind of meant it was a race for the competitive types. I think if the numbers are high enough, it should be possible to find a group to suit your capabilities and go at a more relaxed pace. The problem in 2012 is there were only maybe 100 people doing the event and you ended up I think with lots of people getting isolated and riding on their own around a very windy route. I do think it's important that if the organisers advertise a slower group that it is enforced so that those who don't wish to race aren't forced to.

tamaskan

Thanks for that guys. I'm confident I can average 25kmh around the course, but anything above that on a 144k course might be pushing it. Hopefully I can find a group matching my abilities, though I'm sure that with all the testosterone flying about in the first 40k which are all uphill will no doubt wear a few people out unnecessarily. It's gonna be hard to try and pace yourself when everyone goes flying off at a high average speed. Thoughts?

Edit: All uphill bar 5k nice downhill coming into Lauragh just before Healy Pass.

at1withmyself

I'd have to disagree on this as there will always be a variable in peoples ability, in my opinion when you sign up to something like this you should be capable of completing the distance on your own. It is nice to be in with a group but you should never depend on one.

I done this for the first time last year and there was about 145 people I think entered and it started with going over the Caha Pass, after a short distance I lost the group but didn't find myself isolated that much although I enjoy been on my own as I don't like listening to 'hole' every 2 seconds but that's just me! But I did manage to chat away to a lot of people over the course of the day.

It was also a timed event last year but again that's up to you if you are concerned about your time, regardless of the time you get hot food at the end Stay away from the front and avoid getting caught up with the people who want to race and you'll be fine...

Koobcam wrote: »

I do think it's important that if the organisers advertise a slower group that it is enforced so that those who don't wish to race aren't forced to.

tamaskan

I was just looking at the times for the participants last year. Just wondering do the timing chips stop at the official watering holes or is it straight through start to finish? Thanks

G200

Usually straight through

tamaskan

G200 wrote: »

Usually straight through

Thanks. Better not be stopping then if I want to make it in under my target of 6 hours.

kingdomlad

Looking forward to this on Saturday week. Hope i'll be ok for it. Did a 75km sportif here around west kerry last saturday at an average speed of 32kph. And alot of that was on my own after being dropped by the fast boys!!!

tamaskan

kingdomlad wrote: »

Looking forward to this on Saturday week. Hope i'll be ok for it. Did a 75km sportif here around west kerry last saturday at an average speed of 32kph. And alot of that was on my own after being dropped by the fast boys!!!

Which group are u intending going around with this time, 25 or 30 kph?

kingdomlad

There will be 2 groups. One at 34kph and the other at 24kph. Think i'll go with the slower group. Dont think i'd handle 144km at 34kph over this course.

outfox

Do you think that two different groups at 24 and 34 km/h is kind of strange? That's a very large gap. Which group do you go with if you're typically doing 28 or 29 km/h?

tamaskan

outfox wrote: »

Do you think that two different groups at 24 and 34 km/h is kind of strange? That's a very large gap. Which group do you go with if you're typically doing 28 or 29 km/h?

Hey,
From what I hear the slow group will probably end up going 28 anyway.

kingdomlad

Hey Tamasken, i think you are right there. I was reading on the website that if you feel that you want to pass the lead car in the slower group, it isnt a problem, but you wont have mechanical assistance. Id be thinking they will find it very hard to keep the group at 24kph.
Id rather be with this group and head up the road if we are feeling good, than be with the 34kph group and get blown out the back early in the day.

tamaskan

kingdomlad wrote: »

Hey Tamasken, i think you are right there. I was reading on the website that if you feel that you want to pass the lead car in the slower group, it isnt a problem, but you wont have mechanical assistance. Id be thinking they will find it very hard to keep the group at 24kph.
Id rather be with this group and head up the road if we are feeling good, than be with the 34kph group and get blown out the back early in the day.

Hey Kingdomlad,
My plan is to stick with the slower group til the top of the Healy pass and after that its open season, see what happens. Just did the course recently and it's great. 25kph is probably a tad too slow as its a fast final 30k or so.

kingdomlad

I'll be on your wheel... Looking forward to it now. Doing the 90km Sportif in Listowel this Sunday as final preparation.

tamaskan

kingdomlad wrote: »

Id rather be with this group and head up the road if we are feeling good, than be with the 34kph group and get blown out the back early in the day.

This is why it's gonna be hard to stick to 24k as a lot of people will feel this way. Plus what happens at the stops? Some will stop, others will drive on. The timing chips of someone who averages 24kph moving will be more like 21 or 22kph when stops are taken into consideration. To finish with a 24kph average speed and take water stops u would probably need to average 26kph at least I'd say.

kingdomlad

I'll see how im feeling. If i feel good i might'nt make any stops..

tamaskan

Good luck in the Sportif tomorrow. Let me know how u get on?

outfox

Anybody know when the times will be available on the Etape website?
Great day. The weather made it.

jinkypolly

outfox wrote: »

Anybody know when the times will be available on the Etape website?
Great day. The weather made it.

Results have been up since Saturday just after the event.
http://www.sportsplits.com/Home/QuickResults?clientId=74&raceId=10225&raceName=Etape+Ras+Mumhan+2014