Tour of Louth

LCD

On this Sunday (June 1st), 105km of Louth's finest scenery with the added joy of climbing Jenkinstown (Nissan Classic!!)

Once again coloured medals based on your finishing time. all the details at;

www.touroflouth.com

Pre-Reg €15
Day of €20

MB Lacey

They used Jenkinstown hill for the Leinster hill champs last year I think?
It's a killer.
I did this sportive last year, it was my first ever, it was good fun.
The road over the top of the Long woman's grave was headache inducing though (very bumpy).

Top tip: Iif you want a silver medal (less than 4 hours) make sure you start with the silver group.
I cycled the 105km in less than 4 hours, but because I went out with the bronze group our start was delayed by about 20 mins, and the medal is based on when the overall clock starts, not how fast you cycle the actual route, so I got a bronze medal.
Bitter? Me? Never. :rolleyes:

lennymc

I think its chip timing this year, so it should be easier to work out the time you finished in. LCD, can you confirm?

I plan on doing it anyway.

dots104

Can anyone tell me how the time works if you stop at the food station? Just the chip count ride time or actual time.

lennymc

dots104 wrote: »

Can anyone tell me how the time works if you stop at the food station? Just the chip count ride time or actual time.

time waits for no man. Just look at yesterday's giro

I would imagine that the time will keep ticking away for any and all stops.

The tax man

Don't stop.Food will only slow you down.:D
Plenty of grub afterwards.

dots104

Grand stuff. Pockets full of food so

lizzylad84

lennymc wrote: »

I think its chip timing this year, so it should be easier to work out the time you finished in. LCD, can you confirm?

I plan on doing it anyway.

Yes Lenny we're running it as a chipped timed event this year

jackstaff

This sounds like a good blast , but 105 sounds a bit much for me as I've only touched the 50km mark

Peterx

The C.I. site keeps redirecting me back to the members page. How do I sign on (pre register) using a one day licence option?

LennoxR

Perhaps fortunately I have to miss this one. Sounds like fun though.

BUT do people really not stop at the foodstop? I'm not sure that's a great idea. Several hundred riders going flat out without a break could lead to some very dodgy riding in the second half of the 'race'.

lennymc

LennoxR wrote: »

Perhaps fortunately I have to miss this one. Sounds like fun though.

BUT do people really not stop at the foodstop? I'm not sure that's a great idea. Several hundred riders going flat out without a break could lead to some very dodgy riding in the second half of the 'race'.

some people will, some people wont. I personally wont as I will bring enough food and drink for 100k. I always find if I stop I get cold and it takes ages to get warm again. If people are hanging on in the platinum group after 50k (about 35k avg), I would imagine they would have a pretty reasonable idea of what they are doing.

velo.2010

Well, I signed up anyway. First event of any sort in quite a while - and first Tour of Louth - so I hope I'm fit enough!

Weather looking decent for Sunday.

easygoing39

velo.2010 wrote: »

Well, I signed up anyway. First event of any sort in quite a while - and first Tour of Louth - so I hope I'm fit enough!

Weather looking decent for Sunday.

weather looks dull and damp for Sunday on yr, not exactly shorts, short sleeved jersey, mitts and sunglass's!I'll be on the winter hack bike for this one.

velo.2010

easygoing39 wrote: »

weather looks dull and damp for Sunday on yr, not exactly shorts, short sleeved jersey, mitts and sunglass's!I'll be on the winter hack bike for this one.

Yeah, the forecast has changed a little. Thought we might avoid the rain given the early enough start.

easygoing39

Can a day license be purchased on the morning of this cycle at the Fairways?? A mate of mine followed the link to buy a day license on line,but its sending him around in circle's with no way of just paying the €2 fee.

sorchap

I've gone ahead and signed up anyhow but I'm just wondering what sort of range of experience there will be amongst those taking part. Wondering if there will be people of similar ability to me (4 to 4.5 hours) or will I be tailing in last?

How many will be taking part does anyone know?

sullzz

sorchap wrote: »

I've gone ahead and signed up anyhow but I'm just wondering what sort of range of experience there will be amongst those taking part. Wondering if there will be people of similar ability to me (4 to 4.5 hours) or will I be tailing in last?

How many will be taking part does anyone know?

I'd say there will be plenty of people arriving in well after that time

lizzylad84

easygoing39 wrote: »

Can a day license be purchased on the morning of this cycle at the Fairways?? A mate of mine followed the link to buy a day license on line,but its sending him around in circle's with no way of just paying the €2 fee.

yes one day licences are available in the morning.

padjo5

Attempted to sign-up there, on the CI site I selected my name and clicked 'confirm' or whatever it was, didn't get any confirmation or message to say it was complete! This sound correct?

lizzylad84

on-line registration closed yesterday evening at 6pm. you can register in the morning in Fairways hotel
were expecting some people to wait til morning to sign on to sign on tomorrow,

lennymc

Lovely spin. No rain, no messing. Few boardsies. Well done cuchulainn.

The tax man

Everything hurts but delighted with my time. Faster than I did a pan flat 100k TT on a TT rig. Got in a good group after coming down off Jenkinstown hill and everyone put the effort in to keep the speed up.
Big thanks to Cuchulainn for a perfect day.

http://www.strava.com/activities/148107807

lennymc

nice to catch up with you again Tax man. really like the felt.

Keep_Her_Lit

The tax man wrote: »

http://www.strava.com/activities/148107807

36km/h average. Not hangin' about!

velo.2010

Man that was fast on the way out. 42kph for nearly an hour until we hit Dundalk again and the traffic lights. Went backwards on the climb as expected with cramping thighs.

Got in a good group of lads on the journey home that included a couple of boardies I had never met before - the wise Eamonnater and detones? from Swords. Came home in 2hr 57, so happy with that after a few short spins to get some fitness back. Met a couple more forum regulars afterwards though the names escape at the moment.

Will definitely come back next year. Very well organised and a well behaved bunch with no problems considering the speed at times. Only gripe is a lack of some hot food/pasta or something but that's a minor issue.

A bit tired now!:)

bcmf

velo.2010 wrote: »

Met a couple more forum regulars afterwards though the names escape at the moment.

At the food table at the end was myself (boards cap) detones on my left hand side. lenny beside him.
On my right hand side wilkbmc and then padjo.

Eamonnator

That was deadly.
I started with the Platinum group, was able to stay with them until "The Hill". Got dropped on the climb.
A group formed after the descent, about 12 or 15 of us, some very strong guys there, and we stayed together to the end.
I finished in 2 hours 57 minutes, so got the Platinum.
It was great to see so many Boardsies out today, and lovely to put faces to the names.
Well done velo, you were flyin'.
I was at that table as well bcmf.

All in all, a great day, and well done to Cuchullain for putting on such a great event.

All set now for the W200, next weekend.

furiousox

I casually breezed in about an hour after all of you.....:D

lizzylad84

Many thanks to all boardsies for feedback so far. I seen Lenny with his race face on at the start but never got over to say hello because I was on broom wagon duties.

As we had over 400 competitors in this years event, were glad everyone seemed to enjoy their day out.
If anyone has any more feedback please let me know and we'll take it on board for next year.

lennymc

lizzylad84 wrote: »

Many thanks to all boardsies for feedback so far. I seen Lenny with his race face on at the start but never got over to say hello because I was on broom wagon duties.

As we had over 400 competitors in this years event, were glad everyone seemed to enjoy their day out.
If anyone has any more feedback please let me know and we'll take it on board for next year.

haha. You should have waved!! My race face is exactly the same as my grumpy face. 480 people according to timer guy.

lizzylad84

Ha, I was getting out if the van at the start and seen you going passed, cracking bike you had today. Kudos

bcmf

Eamonnator wrote: »

That was deadly.
I started with the Platinum group, was able to stay with them until "The Hill". Got dropped on the climb.
A group formed after the descent, about 12 or 15 of us, some very strong guys there, and we stayed together to the end.
I finished in 2 hours 57 minutes, so got the Platinum.
It was great to see so many Boardsies out today, and lovely to put faces to the names.
Well done velo, you were flyin'.
I was at that table as well bcmf.

All in all, a great day, and well done to Cuchullain for putting on such a great event.

All set now for the W200, next weekend.

Doh! Sorry. I have a feeling you were in the same group as me coming down the descent and into Carlingford. I wasn't there after Carlingford as the legs started to go and had to find the 'sweet gear' to loosen them up.

WilkBMC

Savage introduction into sportives managed to get around in about 2hr50mins

http://www.strava.com/activities/148128480

dragratchet

mangled after that, in at about 3:20 overall. first 50k done at a 40kph av with a strong small group, was goosed by the hill but got back into a nice large group for the decent and final 30-40 k. spotted an accident on way in. hope everyone emerged reasonably unscathed.

PeadarCo

Good event well organised. First time doing it. Only one issue the turnoff for Long Womans Grave on the main road wasn't marshaled when the group I was in went by. Relied on someone in the group who knew the route to point it out. I'd say we were the 3rd big group on the road.

Other than that very well organised and well marshaled overall. Good route suits the idea of the medals and what the events is looking to do Definitely do it again.

lennymc

lizzylad84 wrote: »

Ha, I was getting out if the van at the start and seen you going passed, cracking bike you had today. Kudos

Thanks. It's a really nice bike to ride. Every bit of effort is transferred into making you go forward.

detones

velo.2010 wrote: »

Got in a good group of lads on the journey home that included a couple of boardies I had never met before - the wise Eamonnater and detones? from Swords. Came home in 2hr 57, so happy with that after a few short spins to get some fitness back. Met a couple more forum regulars afterwards though the names escape at the moment.



A bit tired now!:)

Yeah was probably me alright, I really struggled and had bad leg cramp for the last 20k, think it was just the pace today and not having enough food, did a few turns through carlingford but was spent and I just managed to hang on. Real mental challenge to just suffer and get through it and find a cadence to manage the pain. Thank god for the strong lads at the front!!

The tax man

lennymc wrote: »

nice to catch up with you again Tax man. really like the felt.

Likewise man. Thanks, I must say my inner petrol head still lusts after that BMC of yours.

Keep_Her_Lit wrote: »

36km/h average. Not hangin' about!

I did a lot of hangin' on today. Really had to dig deep to stick with some of the fast groups today.

padjo5

Shattered! Havent done much lately, so was prepared to suffer all day!
Punctured first time thru Dundalk, having been with lead group till then (flying it), managed to change tube and get back on in time for the next bunch that came by, got dropped on Jenkinstown, hooked up with a couple of guys after the descent (Ardee and CAarickmacross) and hung on for dear life, doing my turns till the end.
Came over the line to be told I was the very last guy to qualify for the Platinum. Was happy to have got around in one piece considering the preparation! Thanks to organisers. Only thing that you could try improve would be as mentioned above a few more lads at major junctions for directions. Hope it was a success for yee.

dazmund156

Anyone know where the official timings are going to be online? Tried the tour site and the club's but nothing yet.

easygoing39

Spent the 1st 12km chasing the lead car/group at 44km average,just couldn't overcome the benefit of being dragged along by the lead car.So our group rode really well together,fair play to the mtb road captain that had us all organised for the remaining 90km,lost a few up Jenkintown Hill,came together on the desent,and got dragged/shouted at,presuaded to ride in the group for the run back to the Fairways.2.59 ist too shabby.

lizzylad84

dazmund156 wrote: »

Anyone know where the official timings are going to be online? Tried the tour site and the club's but nothing yet.

We're going through times at the minute, but quite a few people didn't write their chip number on sign on form and a couple of people didn't roll across start mat to activate timing chip.

sullzz

dragratchet wrote: »

mangled after that, in at about 3:20 overall. first 50k done at a 40kph av with a strong small group, was goosed by the hill but got back into a nice large group for the decent and final 30-40 k. spotted an accident on way in. hope everyone emerged reasonably unscathed.

Was that accident about 20km from the finish , if so it was probably one of my mates , he said 2 lads went down in front of him bringing him down causing 12 stitches and a broken frame .

dragratchet

sullzz wrote: »

Was that accident about 20km from the finish , if so it was probably one of my mates , he said 2 lads went down in front of him bringing him down causing 12 stitches and a broken frame .

yeah thats the one, two lads sitting on the side of the road around 20k to go as i was passing, they looked like they were being well attended too at least.

sullzz

dragratchet wrote: »

yeah thats the one, two lads sitting on the side of the road around 20k to go as i was passing, they looked like they were being well attended too at least.

I suppose a good thing to come out of it is that he gets to go bike shopping now

dragratchet

sullzz wrote: »

I suppose a good thing to come out of it is that he gets to go bike shopping now

jammy git

Eamonnator

Are the times for ToL available anyplace?.

bcmf

Eamonnator wrote: »

Are the times for ToL available anyplace?.

+1
The actual time on my Garmin compared to the time when I uploaded to Strava are miles out.
Time on Garmin is outside Platinum time but on Strava well inside!
So wouldnt mind seeing the chip time

Eamonnator

I don't do Strava, but my Garmin time was well inside Platinum.
I really wanted to compare my time to "fastest time".
Being a competitive hoor, I also wanted to see, how I compared to others.

bcmf

Eamonnator wrote: »

I don't do Strava, but my Garmin time was well inside Platinum.
I really wanted to compare my time to "fastest time".
Being a competitive hoor, I also wanted to see, how I compared to others.

Well I can tell ya that you didnt win :pac: (but either did padjo or the semi bearded one so its ok)