Nicholas Roche Classic route

H.E. Pennypacker

Hi,

Does anyone know the exact route that the Nicholas Roche Classic 90km will follow? The website just lists locations but I can't get them to link together in Google Maps in something that looks like a route. Tara for example doesn't seem to fit in.

mruser2014

H.E. Pennypacker wrote: »

Hi,

Does anyone know the exact route that the Nicholas Roche Classic 90km will follow? The website just lists locations but I can't get them to link together in Google Maps in something that looks like a route. Tara for example doesn't seem to fit in.

I would also like to know if anyone knows the route. The webiste is very poor with also no metion of when and where the food stop is.

07Lapierre

http://www.strava.com/activities/89985705

mruser2014

07Lapierre wrote: »

http://www.strava.com/activities/89985705

Thanks but that is last years route. I did it myselft too but they have changed the start point this year.

07Lapierre

mruser2014 wrote: »

Thanks but that is last years route. I did it myselft too but they have changed the start point this year.

Oh right..sorry, I'm not doing it this year, so i haven't even looked at their website.

ragazzo

H.E. Pennypacker wrote: »

Hi,

Does anyone know the exact route that the Nicholas Roche Classic 90km will follow? The website just lists locations but I can't get them to link together in Google Maps in something that looks like a route. Tara for example doesn't seem to fit in.

I thought Fairyhouse was the starting point this year but an article on Stickybottle states that the classic will be in Midleton on Sunday next. Maybe there are two events this year!

From the article:
Roche will be in Ireland next Sunday for the Nicolas Roche Classic sportive in Midleton, where he said everyone was welcome and where he was looking forward to meeting many of the Irish people who have supported him this year.

“It’s very different, those events; just pedalling and enjoying the ride and talking to people rather than racing. I think at this stage I’ve had enough of putting a number on my bike and I want to pedal to relax so I’m really looking forward to spending that time in Midleton and relaxing with Irish cyclists and fans.”

mruser2014

ragazzo wrote: »

I thought Fairyhouse was the starting point this year but an article on Stickybottle states that the classic will be in Midleton on Sunday next. Maybe there are two events this year!

From the article:
Roche will be in Ireland next Sunday for the Nicolas Roche Classic sportive in Midleton, where he said everyone was welcome and where he was looking forward to meeting many of the Irish people who have supported him this year.

“It’s very different, those events; just pedalling and enjoying the ride and talking to people rather than racing. I think at this stage I’ve had enough of putting a number on my bike and I want to pedal to relax so I’m really looking forward to spending that time in Midleton and relaxing with Irish cyclists and fans.”

Same as last year. He does one in Cork and Meath. One on the Saturday and the other on a Sunday.

Rambling Man

I see they have updated the registration information on the event's facebook page. https://facebook.com/NicolasRocheClassic

ragazzo

mruser2014 wrote: »

Same as last year. He does one in Cork and Meath. One on the Saturday and the other on a Sunday.

I thought the Midleton event was Dine and Ride with Nico or something to that effect.
There is only one Nicolas Roche Classic as far as I know.
Very confusing!

Cormo87

Any promo codes going around for this?

Rambling Man

Cormo87 wrote: »

Any promo codes going around for this?

For a Barnardos charity event?

Cormo87

Rambling Man wrote: »

For a Barnardos charity event?

The website has a section to enter a promo code I thought it was for a goodie bag or something like that

Rambling Man

Cormo87 wrote: »

The website has a section to enter a promo code I thought it was for a goodie bag or something like that

Ah right. I'd say the booking form is a generic type thing and not specific to this event. Still would love to see a Strava / MMR of the route.

mruser2014

I have to say I am looking forward to this but the lack of a route map is weird.

Lets hope it is organised ok.

velo.2010

Oh dear!

wirelessdude01

velo.2010 wrote: »

Oh dear!

Do tell.

julio_iglayzis

mruser2014 wrote: »

Lets hope it is organised ok.

It wasn't.
It really, really wasn't.

Paul Kiernan

I thought it was very well organised! Some of the road marking was missing, e.g. around Dunshaughlin, which almost led to me being squished by a maniac in a silver megane but otherwise pretty clear. Food stop was good, plenty of sambos and lashings of hot coffee and tea. If you wanted cake though you were out of luck.

velo.2010

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Do tell.

We literally went round in circles! Nobody had any idea of the route - it would be interesting to see the GPS of the supposed route and the route we actually took today. There were little or no 'marshals'* for the front group, no outriders and while there were some markings, we obviously went wrong somewhere and quickly ended up back at Skreen for the second time. After a brief stop to speak to one of the few 'marshals' on duty, we decided to call it quits and rode back to Fairyhouse. For an advertised 90km spin..... we did 71km.

Maybe, we were at fault. Perhaps we took off too quick after Nico turned off to go back meet the other groups and the 'marshals' weren't in place by the time we got to some of the junctions. The markings were clear to begin with but became harder to decipher as the route was obviously a figure of eight of some sort, so many junctions at the core had two markings. Frustration grew as we went round, making for what was supposed to be an enjoyable spin in brisk but sunny conditions turning into a bit of a trudge. Soon, riders grew tired of the constant change in direction and second loop of Skreen. We didn't fancy a third loop so headed home.

Not a great day altogether and wearing my winter jacket in warming conditions left me with a headache. Tea and food at the end might have made up for some of it, I don't know.

*What I do know is the marshals on the day were all employees from Standard Life who were sponsoring the event. They were out of their depth on those roads! It was not their fault and they take no blame for the organisation. None had any experience marshalling and were simply called up midweek to fill the void that there was no cover..... no moto outriders, no lead car and perhaps crucially no club or C.I. involvement. It didn't help that they simply stood in the road with no idea were we should be going and no idea of how they might warn us or motorists of what was ahead - We effectively marshalled ourselves and what was supposed to be an organised event simply became a club training spin albeit with no direction!

H.E. Pennypacker

It was the same for those behind the lead group. Some junctions had up to six NCR yellow road markings and some had none at all. We regularly met lost groups along the way.

It was a shambles, plain and simple. I agree that it wasn't the fault of the volunteer marshals. They had as little information as the rest of us. Next time, perhaps it could be organised by a local cycling club who could cycle and map the route beforehand and mark the route consistently.

At the very, very least, it needs a map of the route to be made available before the event.

Eamonnator

How many took part?

Paul Kiernan

Eamonnator wrote: »

How many took part?

We registered this morning and got numbers 283 and 284 so it probably wasn't a lot more than that.

velo.2010

Oh, by the way..... I have all the gossip on Oleg!!!;)

wirelessdude01

Thank flip I kept my money in my pocket and just went for the club spin this morning. Did it last year and found the marshalling excellent.

gordongekko

velo.2010 wrote: »

Oh, by the way..... I have all the gossip on Oleg!!!;)

Ah come on tell us all.

velo.2010

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Thank flip I kept my money in my pocket and just went for the club spin this morning. Did it last year and found the marshalling excellent.

Did we see you guys somewhere in Meath today. Looked like the Sportive group stopped at the side of the road?

gordongekko wrote: »

Ah come on tell us all.

No, not on here!

wirelessdude01

velo.2010 wrote: »

Did we see you guys somewhere in Meath today. Looked like the Sportive group stopped at the side of the road?




No, not on here!

We went to Blessington.

Send us a PM with the goss!!!

furiousox

Just in case you fancy another spin around Skryne....

Rambling Man

There were some missing markings alright, I mean they had the paint and the stencils but just didn't cover all the course. However most of the time you knew where you were going. I'm no homing pigeon but I didn't get lost. I appreciate that others had different experiences. I enjoyed it because it was a nice spin on a sunny October morning with 20 of the 30 quid going to Barnardos. I didn't mind seeing beautiful Skryne on several occasions.

I met Roche and he was very personable although he's not a natural at this kind of meet and greet thing. He wore the Tinkov gear!

Thought there was plenty to eat and drink and free gels. I'd say about 300 participants.

wav1

Can I ask who actually was the organiser.In previous editions I think it was [well] run by those associated with the NRPT?Seems to be a lot of negative comments and its interesting,as a topic of discussion at Leinster AGM this week,was about badly run sportives getting the sport generally a bad name with the general public and motorists.More so even than racing it appears.

Inquitus

wav1 wrote: »

Can I ask who actually was the organiser.In previous editions I think it was [well] run by those associated with the NRPT?Seems to be a lot of negative comments and its interesting,as a topic of discussion at Leinster AGM this week,was about badly run sportives getting the sport generally a bad name with the general public and motorists.More so even than racing it appears.

Do you need CI's blessing to run a "charity cycle" / Sportive? or can any local GAA club, school or whatever get the necessary insurance to run one? and is any consultation with the local council, Gards etc required?

wav1

Inquitus wrote: »

Do you need CI's blessing to run a "charity cycle" / Sportive? or can any local GAA club, school or whatever get the necessary insurance to run one? and is any consultation with the local council, Gards etc required?

Very grey area.In short no you don't,but you do if you require their insurance cover

H.E. Pennypacker

wav1 wrote: »

Can I ask who actually was the organiser.In previous editions I think it was [well] run by those associated with the NRPT?Seems to be a lot of negative comments and its interesting,as a topic of discussion at Leinster AGM this week,was about badly run sportives getting the sport generally a bad name with the general public and motorists.More so even than racing it appears.

I'm not sure who actually did the organisation. The only real problem today was confusion about the route. Numbers were low so there was no issue with traffic, participants were reminded not to race beforehand and everyone was well behaved and stayed to the left. Registration/check in seemed straightforward, the food stop was well stocked and there was plenty of coffee and muffins afterwards.

Rambling Man

Laurence Roche seemed to be the main organiser on the ground. A simple Strava route in advance might have averted the confusion.

Z_a_x

I think there was some mix up between the 50km route signs and the 90km signs too, I personally had an extended trip of 110km which I suppose was good value for money but if the weather had been bad an extra 20+km wouldn't have been appreciated.
I know several disappointed/pee'd off 90km riders who arrived back after 73(ish) km.
Other than the route issues, plenty of bananas & gels at the two food stops and lots of muffins, coffee and sambos at the end. Photo ops with the man himself and the podium girls also good.
Pleased enough overall but the weather was the best thing by far.

Scrumdog

I didn't do it this year because of the same problems last year. Looks like a good decision.

AmberGold

Didn't notice any issues last year tbh and have been on lots of sportives to compare to.

Borderfox

Cycled to the event and back home, had no problems with signage or road markings but I can see how some people might have had trouble after Kilmessan.

As said above a strava route or even a map would have avoided any problems, I thought the marshals on the junctions were excellent. I was chasing onto a group coming down off Tara on the old Ross road and I have never had a clear run to Skryne but did today

http://www.strava.com/activities/203268101/overview
I went up Tara to meet the girlfriend for a coffee

sullzz

AmberGold wrote: »

Didn't notice any issues last year tbh and have been on lots of sportives to compare to.

Last year I had similar issues with marshaling problems , I did 110 km last year instead of the 90km I was supposed to do due to the marshals directing us the wrong way , I also remember marshals standing at a corner which was covered in gravel and the never called it or even made an attempt to clear it . I didn't bother doing it this year because of them issues . There is an old thread year on here with others stating similar complaints .

trh

I didn't do today, but a pity to hear about those problems. Did last year & it was a good day out.

boege

Inquitus wrote: »

Do you need CI's blessing to run a "charity cycle" / Sportive? or can any local GAA club, school or whatever get the necessary insurance to run one? and is any consultation with the local council, Gards etc required?

Apparently guards complaining lots about badly orgnaised events and aiming some of their ire at CI.

I may not have this entirely right but story goes organisers will need an event permit from guards next year and CI insurance only provided for 'permit'ed events.

adoks2008

Hi to all. Sportive in Duleek, Co. Meath in the morning 5/10/14. 80kms, 45kms and 16kms. Starting at Duleek GAA pitch, Navan Road Duleek. at 10am. €20 entry. Will be well stewarded, maps, directions, support vehicles, lead vehicles etc. Refreshments afterwards and feed stops on 80 and 45 spins. Organised by Duleek Parish Committee under Cycling Ireland regulations thanks to excellent support of Drogheda Wheelers. Facebook Page - Duleek Parish Sponsored Cycle. All welcome. Any late queries 086 8281813.

The Davestator

I enjoyed it but agree that the lack of road markings was shocking. The group I was in had to sto and discuss which way three times. Each time the group split as everyone thought they were right. Did 97 k so wasn't too bad, but it's so avoidable.
Lovely morning for it though and glad I did it