An Post Tour of Sligo

kildarecommuter

Missed this due to unforeseen circumstances just wondering has anyone a report on how the day went?..

Fr D Maugire

First time doing this and I did the 160km which is a bit above my distance at the moment. Top class marshalling and signage, definitely has the feel of a big event. I thought road surfaces on some parts were very poor though, especially in the heart of the mountains.

Was raining at the start which wasn't pleasant but cleared up and stayed dry for most of the way round apart from one shower I think.

The 160km split up into two main groups early but they later rejoined, don't know if it was the front group slowing or second group speeding up or a combination of both. I didn't find Lady's brae too bad, more the length than the gradient. Got up it fine.

Some nice scenery on the way as well and overall I was impressed with the organisation, if not all the roads.

rizzodun

I was hoping to do this too, but injured my hand in a fall off the bike last week and didn't want to risk it, a real pity seeing as the start is less than 5 minutes cycle from my house. Might try a few K's tomorrow and just do the route on my own in a few weeks. I could hear the loud hailer from my house, and a lot of people and bikes milling around the roads towards IT Sligo, great to see huge interest in it.

Hani Kosti

Great day out.
Good marshaling (all major junctions traffic stopped), plenty of signs (descents, bends etc), road in very good conditions
Great cycle for beginners/first sportive participants, very scenic route and truly friendly people taking part
There was a bit little food for my liking and especially the finish line had nothing else than sandwiches (all muffins and cakes gone which was pity for all those 160km lads coming after us)

Scarlet42

My first time doing this..I did the 100 and longest I've cycled in a long time, I really enjoyed it..weather at the start was a bit damp but great atmosphere once the cycle started, very social and really well organised...the hills after Dromahair broke my heart but the scenery from that Manorhamilton junction made up for it..and a few nice descents :-)
As said above, food at the finish line was disappointing...warm food would have been nice...some lady left a supply of home made brownies at our table which were the business!

ednwireland

preferred last years 100km route that coolanney loop just leaves me a bit meh
poor road surfaces mainly,much preferred the loop up the ladies bray last year

dont normally need the food stop but for some reason was wasted by coolanney

as ever food was a bit rubbish (started tucking into my alleged veggie pasta only to find a bit of chicken -might have been quorn but i doubt it) but actually got a sandwich at coolanney more than they had last year. although was through it pretty quickly

the food at the end is always like that so pretty used to it.

route as ever well marked, good crack on the ride, great marshalling

someone in a boards jersey ignored me when i said boardsie at the sign on :eek:


having done every one (at various distances) would think twice if thats the 100km next year. although love the bit back through dromahair, will just have to train up for the 160 !

also its getting expensive and they need to drop the price (and the jersey imo)

idlebones

kildarecommuter wrote: »

Missed this due to unforeseen circumstances just wondering has anyone a report on how the day went?..

Did the 100km tour, and loved it!
:Weather was atrocious at the start; so much rain at one point that when I bent my head to start my Garmin, a river of water spilled onto it from my helmet, and the An Post start line arch collapsed when the generator gave out! All added a bit of fun to atmosphere, especillay when the slightly tongue-tied announcer mentioned that the roads might be a bit greasy and "oh, theres some sheep on the road", making it sound like they'd actually put them there, perhaps with the kilometer markers stencilled on their backs. My first time on the Sligo Tour, but have done the Meath and Waterford 100km tours regularly, and this was the lumpiest of the three. Ox mountain was a short and steep, but the climb from Dromahair was the most satisfying, with its fantastic views, and long drag where you could get a good rhythm together. Even in the wet, the descents were fun and quick.
All in all, the organisation, marshalling, and facilities were all great, and I cant wait to do it again next year, although I will be trying to get over west to cycle some if this enjoyable route again soon later in the year. Agree with the point about the lack of food at the finish, as the only food available was upstairs and the queue was huge. Theres was a hot dog stand outside but they bacjed up long before I saw a lot of the 160k and 100k's come home.
Anyone know where there might be some photos of the event posted?

Grassey

idlebones wrote: »

.
Anyone know where there might be some photos of the event posted?

http://vimeo.com/rorysligo/tour2014 video of the day out

https://m.facebook.com/SligoSportandRecreationPartnership/albums/550293175079722/ pictures from the Sunday. Might be some more linked to on on their bookface page.

camroc76

Morning,

Anyone wanna to swap a medium sized jersey for a large ? Made the mistake of not trying the jersey's on first and picked the medium based on previous experience, its very very tight for a medium

Marshalling was excellent, queues for food were long (would have being troublesome if it had being raining) some of the cycling etiquette was terrible I found, 5 abreast , passing on the inside with no shout.

Other than that, was a good route and will defo do it again.:)

tartanarmy

Thought it was a great event, I did the 100km. Apart from the rain at the start & a wee shower during the weather was pretty decent. No wind so thats always a positive.

Last year on a hybrid I found the 2 main climbs a lot easier compared to the roadbike this year. Hoping it's just the different gearing as opposed to a lack of fitness.

Looking forward to the Lough Key Classic now on the 17th May.

rayr

First time in Sligo and didthe 160 and thought it was a very well run event. I stooped for food at the 75k and 105k and thought both were superbly organised with a fine selection of sambos, cakes, pasta, fruit and bars.

Marshalling was superb with traffic stopped to let cyclists through and were also well placed on the descents.

Weather was typical Irish with a bit of everything thrown in. A hot shower at then end would have been nice but that's the only gripe of an otherwise excellent event. If weather was better scenery would be brilliant.

Well done to organisers.

SucCes09

Did the 160 route - only 2 disappointments worth mentioning - first was cold shower at the end of the day - hot water was all gone (!!!). HTFU time.

Second was the misleading signage "Caution: Steep Descent" - bitterly disappointing the lack of steepness to these descents!



The signage was great otherwise - especially the ones at the bottom of the climbs to let us know what was in store, food was great (especially the pasta at 80km stop) and marshalling was great.



Definitely recommend it!

LennoxR

Did the 100 km to ease back into the sportive season (first of the year). Really excellent marshalling, especially the Garda who stopped traffic at junctions, a big thank you to you all. First time (almost) riding in Sligo and scenery was breathtaking, almost up to Wicklow standards

dunno what the beef is with the food. There was feck all queues at the first food stop (didn't bother with the second) and the grub was fine. Likewise at the end.

Not too hard a course, I imagine the 160 is much harder. Hungry Rock not a very hard climb and we didn't do Ladies Brae which apparently is much tougher. got into a good group (incl good cycling etiquette) and flew around the first half. Good times and thank you if you're one of the lads who was riding at the front.

Fr D Maugire

SucCes09 wrote: »

Did the 160 route - only 2 disappointments worth mentioning - first was cold shower at the end of the day - hot water was all gone (!!!). HTFU time.

Second was the misleading signage "Caution: Steep Descent" - bitterly disappointing the lack of steepness to these descents!



The signage was great otherwise - especially the ones at the bottom of the climbs to let us know what was in store, food was great (especially the pasta at 80km stop) and marshalling was great.



Definitely recommend it!

Haha, so true about the steep descent signs. After ladies brae, I was looking forward to a nice period of taking it easy on the pedals, instead it was rolling with shallow descents.

Iwernia

I also thought the food stop was fine with a great selection of sandwiches, bars & fruit. Also got a hot shower at the finish but agree the roads were in bad condition and would think twice about returning next year.

HappyNoel

Did the 100K, definitely one of the best marshalled events I've ever been on. Lashing at start and end but cleared up in the middle. Great event, will hope to do the 160K next year.

Tour de Burren here I come.

martin.mcevoy

Did the 160k and had a great day. A word of thanks to all the amazing marshalls who gave up their free time on what was not the nicest of days, and also the excellent work of the gardai on all major intersections. Food stops in Dromore West and Coolaney were great and the helpers there were so friendly and full of encouragement (as were all the marshalls along the route). I know there are a lot of gripes about the road surface but I reckon I'm used to them by now so I can't complain too much. If I had one complaint/comment it would be perhaps next year for some hot food at the finish? More sandwiches didn't quite cut it after almost 6 hours of cycling.
However it was a great day and thoroughly enjoyable. Next stop Tour de Conamara!!

Thekeencyclist

Done the 160km route, found it to be well marshalled and sign posted etc, agree that the roads were rough in places and maybe some hot food at the end would have been nice. Better selection of food at the foodstops on the route. Would have thought the general purpose hall would have been a better place on the day to do the food (temporary and just for the day) at the end and would have allowed for additional seating etc instead of upstairs which was fairly packed! Overall an excellent day with the exception of the couple of showers of rain.

Cervelo.S2

I did the 160 km event as part of my preparation for the Wicklow 200.I live in Meath so it was great to have an new course to cycle and had the weather been nicer a great bit of scenery to take in.I can't fault the food at the An Post events when you compare to the Baltinglass food stop in the Wicklow 200 which is a disaster of long queues, poor choice and no water (2012).I was a couple of minutes late for the start and just avoided the splattered rabbit on the road as i played catch up.I meet a lot of friendly people on the way and got in with a great group of lads for the final 55 km.The signage and marshalling was spot on and the course lumpy enough for a good workout.My only gripe was the group of blokes peeing all over the drive way outside of someones home in the mountains at around 45 km.I was cycling along with a lovely woman and it was embarrissing to see.They had'nt even dismounted there bikes.