An Post Meath Heritage Cycle Tour

siochain

How ya folks,
Any one know it there are changing facilities for before and after the race?
Cheers j

jon1981

siochain wrote: »

How ya folks,
Any one know it there are changing facilities for before and after the race?
Cheers j

Doing this tomorrow myself. I'm pretty sure it was mentioned in the faq they sent out by email that you can use some leisure centre nearby. Its probably on the website somewhere.

siochain

Checked the site and email I got yesterday and didn't see an FAQ probably looking right at a it, can anyone confirm?
Cheers

jamesd

Hope we don't get too wet of weather tomorrow.

siochain

jamesd wrote: »

Hope we don't get too wet of weather tomorrow.

Yeah see there's a yellow warning for rain in the area from tonight till 3pm tomorrow

Eamonnator

We'll be grand.

jon1981

Going to register in the morning, what are the queues normally like? Decided to just do the 100km.

jamesd

Queues were not bad last year, was well organised.

Eamonnator

Enjoy.
Weather not hectic.
We'll be grand.
If I say it often, maybe, I'll start believing it.

jamesd

Eamonnator wrote: »

Enjoy.
Weather not hectic.
We'll be grand.
If I say it often, maybe, I'll start believing it.

I don't mind it raining in a cycle as bad but I hate starting a cycle in the rain.

Zyzz

Doing this as well (100k), I'll be on a matte black Felt Z6, by all means say hello

jon1981

Ah lads...haven't looked outside the window yet but the weather sounds nasty!

Eamonnator

Just in the door. Did the 160Kms.
Horrible weather.
Horrible head wind for last 40K, or was that just me.
Food stop great.
Marshals great.
Some terrible roads.
Some nasty climbs, particularly that one just before food stop.
My longest spin of the year, so far.
Kinda enjoyed it.

Seanie_H

Felt like the headwind was in every direction! Jaysus, it'll be a long time before there's as bad weather on a July day.

Food stop and the end was smashing. Cake selection was amazing. I may be heavier at the end of today than I was before that cycle. Some brutal roads. Punctured twice.

Got picked up by a group in the last 40km of the 160km and we'd a lovely spin in to finish it.

If anybody is interested in switching my brand new XL shirt for a large, PM me.

wheelo01

Eamonnator wrote: »

Just in the door. Did the 160Kms.
My longest spin of the year, so far.
Kinda enjoyed it.

There's a sadist in all of us cyclists, isn't there

Eamonnator

wheelo01 wrote: »

There's a sadist in all of us cyclists, isn't there

I'm just a badass.

See rule 9

http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/#29

wheelo01

You sure are Eamonnator !!! lol

sullivlo

Got around the 100 at 22kph. Happy with that a few little nasty hills within the rolling roads! But happy with my ride. Good stop ran out of sambos though!

jon1981

Did the 100km. Weather was nasty, which was a shame because they had a nice setup in Trim at the end but due to weather we didn't hang around. The dj was good craic cheering ppl on as they came in.
The food stop at the 50km point could have been better, wasnt clear what the queue was for, turns out it was for tea/coffee but nobody was directing people and no signs, there were multiple queues feeding into the tea area which made it all a little chaotic, the sandwiches were thinly filled, ran out of coffee also. I think I'll avoid the food stop next year and sort myself out.

The Jersey was nice, which was a big plus!

P.S. I think those doing the 160 had a different food stop so maybe the experience was different?

Eamonnator

Yes, different food stop, for 160.
We had choice of two cold pasta dishes, huge choice of sarneys.
It was really good

jamesd

Did the 100km, tough day for it. Food stop was fine and got sandwiches and had an option to have pasta/beans and loads of water.

Taught marshalls were missing in a few places that needed them.

NeedMoreGears

Found the 160 swim tough enough. Wet through for most of the day but the so called waterproof kept out the wind. Organisation was excellent. Loads of marshals and excellent signage. Food stop was very good. The noodles brought me back to life. I was wrecked between 80 and 95km and fixing a puncture in the pi$$ing rain took a lot of energy out of me.

Got in a great group organised by Bohermeen for about 35km and thanks to the guys I finished the last 50 with. Our little informal group worked really well together.

The massage at the end really helped.

Met Zindacsomething from this parish.

Happy to have done it but wrecked now. A few glasses of wine should help the recovery.

Did the 100, tough day in the saddle with the weather.

Very enjoyable and nice jersey.

jon1981

I think doing the ring of Kerry cycle as my first event has set my expectations too high for other events ... Time to reset them! Will definitely do it again.

macadam

Done the 160k today my longest spin since 2012, very well organised event those marshalls need a big thank you from us all they were excellent as was the food stops plenty of everything. Pity about the rain, seen a few bikes with badly buckled wheels and broken spokes puddles can be potholes lads. Any word on the guy who came off at approx 80k, hope he is alright and back on the road soon.
Seen a green BOARDS.IE jersey at the start line.

Inspector Coptoor

Did the 157.7km Royal Tour.
Quite annoyed it wasn't 160km tbh
1080m climbing
6 hours 13 mins
25.8km/hr avg

Took 13 mins off last year's time which isn't bad considering the weather was so awful.
Couldn't gun the descents & braking distances were huge.

Plenty of food.
Great marshaling

Rule 5 applied on one occasion when the option to do the 100km was considered fleetingly!

PukkaStukka

Did the 100km myself in 4hrs . 25km/h average and happy with my performance. Conditions were bad but liveable. Food stop at 50km was haphazard with the tea station being swamped. In fairness there was plenty of goodies and the people running that stop were very nice! Marshalling too was very good and was well organised. There was one short but very nasty climb a few km after Garlow Cross which had most around me wheezing, effing and blinding at the experience! As previous poster has said, braking distances, slippery surfaces, tricky descents and general wariness of the conditions mitigated against faster times.

All in all, this is one event I hope to do again, preferably without that sort of weather!

zindicato

macadam wrote: »

Done the 160k today my longest spin since 2012, very well organised event those marshalls need a big thank you from us all they were excellent as was the food stops plenty of everything. Pity about the rain, seen a few bikes with badly buckled wheels and broken spokes puddles can be potholes lads. Any word on the guy who came off at approx 80k, hope he is alright and back on the road soon.
Seen a green BOARDS.IE jersey at the start line.

was it the lil guy with the glasses? specialized bike, could be my mate he is in vincents A&E now , precautionary check as he went over his bars and landed head first.... his helmets cracked in half , bruises and scrapes on elbows and hands but he is ok so far.... just shows you helmet's really saves lives

Unknown Soldier

Did the 100 and got DRENCHED.

Good day out on the bike, regardless. Pretty well organized too. Managed it in 4 hours too which was cool.

Did keep an eye out for the matte black Felt Z6 but no joy

Well done to all the marshals etc. Can't have been nice standing out there all day in that weather.

comete

Inspector Coptoor wrote: »

Did the 157.7km Royal Tour.
Quite annoyed it wasn't 160km tbh

Seriously?

Inspector Coptoor

Yup

sullivlo

The 100 was only 99.6 but I was too cold to rectify that

Great day. They ran out of sambos at the 100km food stop though unfortunately so it was noodles spooned into me and a few bananas.

Domane

Did the 50km with a mate but in my defence I cycled to and from Trim from my home in Kildare so my total today was 130km. The food stop on top of the hill of Tara was very exposed with wind and rain making things fairly miserable so I decided to skip it as I'd brought enough bars and gels with me.

Was in good nick when I got home but boy did I enjoy that hot shower. Then it was off to clean my bike that was covered in grime. Have to look after her as she didn't let me down. Saw more guys punctured today than I thought possible. Another few had obviously come off as there were cuts and gashes on quite a few riders.

PukkaStukka

As my buddy who cycled with me today just quipped on the phone, it doesn't matter how long or how hard today was because cleaning the bike will take longer and be tougher than the cycle was....:eek: :pac:

comete

Inspector Coptoor wrote: »

Yup

You should ask for your money back

kerry4sam

Only one of the Sean Kelly An Post Series left for me to do and that will be An Post Tour of Sligo 2016!

Many Thanks to Trim and Everyone I met for their Wonderful Hospitatlity towards me.
Signed up for the 50km as tbh I've never visited DublinZoo before & wanted to visit as I was after driving so close and I did - something else & new ticked off

Elements were tough but in saying that I crossed the finish line kinda annoyed with myself for only cycling 50km. Even my 1st ever Sportive was 70km like but I never stopped today from the moment I started to the moment I crossed the finish-line, all the way to my hotel and off to DublinZoo with me! So I cannot comment on the water-stops or the food-stop, never even stopped to catch my breath or stretch my legs as I just kept the head-down & peddled on. Tbh the last 3-years I've cycled the RingOfKerry I cycled from Killarney to Caherciveen before I first stopped, every year. That's just over 60km so completing this 50km today without stopping is what I am used to. Apologies for those who in the Great Work at the Stops this year. Next-year I'll stop & say Hello

Finished just over the 2hr mark. Hill of Tara was the only place I have issues. I never stopped. People were stopped dead in the middle of the road ; walking up the middle of the road ; seriously like that's just dangerous. The road was narrow. To find people not staying to the left when walking or even stopping annoyed me and others going by the voices around me toward those walking. Please keep left next-year, for the Safety of Everyone around you!

Everyone I met was Lovely ; the guy who I peddled the last 20km with was a pure gent! Thank You for the Company in the wind & rain! The 'Lead-Car' kept us company toward the end also; the Safety Personnel all around ; Just Amazing Volunteer Work. Speaking of Volunteers -> Trim Tidy Town Volunteers out as I was just eating my breakfast and in around the start point collecting any rubbish dropped by anyone (of which was very very few btw). Great To See this Commitment. Beautiful Townlands in this area. Lovely Route.
I will be back in 2016 but will be taking on the 100km. Should be in no rush next-year!

The Marshals were out-standing. I said Thanks & Good Morning to all & they said it back; eventhough there they were standing in the rain pouring down on them

I've photos attached from the Saturday. I took in a tour of Trim Castle to educate myself a lickle and the photos are of the 11km Family Spin getting ready to commence. Seemed like a Great Turnout. I was just finished my Castle Tour & on the roof so apologies for the distance in the photos by me. People were still cycling up for this as I was walking back to my hotel. Fantastic Idea encouraging this! Photo also of the start-line for me today and of feeding-time in DublinZoo. I'd a Great week-end for myself!

From my hotel & Being able to leave my car there securely as I cycled to the start-point and the ease of access en return ; everything just went smoothly!

Many Thanks,
kerry4sam







&
Look At These Guys

jon1981

Anyone know when the photos get posted?

siochain

though some of the roads on the 160 route were dodgy other than that very well organised and really good people helping out.

DirkVoodoo

Credit to all the volunteers who gave up their Sunday to be out in that weather. The road markings and encouragement were excellent, although a few major junctions didn't have any marshals on them, it wasn't dangerous just a little surprising.

I thought the route was fairly typical for Meath roads: fairly good as a training route but it's not going to match the spectacle of the Burren or Mt.Leinster and so it probably suffers in the beauty stakes. Still, what it lacked in looks it made up for in experience: the level of detail over marking out dangerous pot holes, putting down encouraging markers, etc. was excellent.

I'm still not a fan of An Post Series' insistence on a mass start. It leads to a lot of danger in the opening kilometres as the "breakaway contenders" try to go up the road. I was quite happy to sit in for 30km until a couple of hairy braking moments forced me to get out and ride on my own.

And I only saw one guy toss a gel wrapper! Must be a new record. Resisted the urge to have words with him or toss a bidon full of urine over his head.

jon1981

+1 on the massive group start, it was uncomfortable for the first 1-2km going at a snails pace with 1 foot clipped in. Though, it makes for great photo opportunities for the organisers to show case how popular it is by showing so many cyclists at the start so can see why they do it.

First 1.6km @ 14kph :eek:

PukkaStukka

jon1981 wrote: »

Anyone know when the photos get posted?

And where too?

jon1981

PukkaStukka wrote: »

And where too?

I'm assuming here : http://www.meathsports.ie/cycle-tour/photo-gallery/

Only 2014 pics up at the moment.

Daithi2004

I did the 100km in 4hr 39 mins at 21.6km avg... My strava recorded 100.7km so pleased that. Food stop not bad but did not know where to queue up so missed out on the coffee but got plenty of food. Marshells and Gardai were great. A few juctions could have been managed by marshells because of heavy traffic but route well marked out. Some of the roads were in pretty bad state and you were avoiding puddles in case there was a pot hole. Mind you, I actually enjoyed it. The craic was good at the end.

locha

Thought it was well organised, but a few things could have made it better. I did the 100k, thought the food stop at 50k was not great.

The sambo was good but the layout was terrible. Would have been 20 minutes queuing for a coffee... I can only contrast this to the W100 which I did and how easy it was when everyone could get in and out of a hall. from cycling along I could see there were quite a few GAA pitches with big facilites, maybe next year they could use one of these.

Also, the lack of a guard on the old N3 turn of was not great, there were lots of officials at various other points, I thought this road had the most traffic and the potential to the the most dangerous.

Also the mass start was not a good idea, the first 10k was quite hairy..

Still though, the highlight of the day was talking to Trevor Giles on the hill of Tara..

PukkaStukka

locha wrote: »

Thought it was well organised, but a few things could have made it better. I did the 100k, thought the food stop at 50k was not great.

The sambo was good but the layout was terrible. Would have been 20 minutes queuing for a coffee... I can only contrast this to the W100 which I did and how easy it was when everyone could get in and out of a hall. from cycling along I could see there were quite a few GAA pitches with big facilites, maybe next year they could use one of these.

I agree with this, but to be fair, the biggest delay was an issue with the water for the boilers, so the tea and coffee had to be made in pots. Yes it slowed everything down but under the circumstances they did ok given that. I got the feeling that they would've run all of that foodstop outdoors in the yard but the weather obviously put paid to that.

jon1981

A steward or a aul sign saying "coffee/tea over there ===> and Food here ==>" would have helped an awful lot, people thought they were queuing for sandwiches when in fact it was the tea/coffee queue. The area was too small for the volume, to echo another poster, loads of GAA halls that could have been used for this.

Daithi2004

Here is a video someone put on yesterdays event. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdYHHmWp4EQ

jon1981

Update from the organisers regarding the food stop

Dear cyclist,

Many thanks for your participation on the 100km route yesterday in what was probably one of the worst days weather wise to come along all summer. The fact that so many of you turned out to do the 100km on such an awful day is a true testament to your determination and resolve. Fair play!

For those of you who have completed the 100k in past years, you will have noticed that the food stop was swapped with the water stop (in past years water stop would have been Ryan`s pub in Gormanlough; with the food stop in Bohermeen). Feedback from the majority of cyclist on the 100km for the past two years has been to change around both those stops. This year we did just that and it didn`t work for us. There are a number of reasons it didn`t and this may have led to some annoyance amongst the cyclists who have become accustomed to expecting a higher level in service delivery from ourselves. The reasons we feel it didn`t work as it should have include:



· Over 200 cyclists dropped down on the morning of the event from the 160k route to the 100k route – this put additional demands on this food stop which had not been anticipated. This is turn meant that this particular stop, which was adequately stocked for the expected number of cyclists from the 100k route was now struggling to meet the increased demand.

· Ryans of Gormanlough generally erect a marquee to cater properly for the cyclists. On Saturday 24th last they attempted to erect the marquee, but ground conditions under foot were poor and wouldn`t support the marquee. Because this was only discovered on Sat (day before event), it was too late to identify and locate another food stop along the route.

· Aside from the increased numbers attending this stop, the fact that the day was so cold and wet, meant everyone wanted comfort food (sandwiches and tea/coffee); this meant that those coming near the rear of the group only received cold noodles/bean salad.


On behalf of the committee of the An Post Meath Heritage Cycle tour, I would like to apologise to you if you were left without hot tea/coffee, sandwiches or discommoded in any way. I hope that you availed of the food back in Trim.

We hold our hands up, we made a change it didn`t work, it won`t happen again.

Thanking you in advance for your understanding. I do appreciate that most of you (despite the rain) did have a positive experience yesterday and I hope that you will return again next year. Date 23rd & 24th July 2016!!!

Regards



Mary Murphy | Sports Coordinator | Meath Local Sports Partnership | Enterprise Centre | Trim Rd | Navan | Co. Meath

046 9067337| 9067338 | 9067339

PukkaStukka

jon1981 wrote: »

A steward or a aul sign saying "coffee/tea over there ===> and Food here ==>" would have helped an awful lot, people thought they were queuing for sandwiches when in fact it was the tea/coffee queue. The area was too small for the volume, to echo another poster, loads of GAA halls that could have been used for this.

Just got this in email from the organisers. The evnts on the day obviously did conspire against them despite their best efforts

Meath Local Sports wrote:

Dear cyclist,

Many thanks for your participation on the 100km route yesterday in what was probably one of the worst days weather wise to come along all summer. The fact that so many of you turned out to do the 100km on such an awful day is a true testament to your determination and resolve. Fair play!

For those of you who have completed the 100k in past years, you will have noticed that the food stop was swapped with the water stop (in past years water stop would have been Ryan`s pub in Gormanlough; with the food stop in Bohermeen). Feedback from the majority of cyclist on the 100km for the past two years has been to change around both those stops. This year we did just that and it didn`t work for us. There are a number of reasons it didn`t and this may have led to some annoyance amongst the cyclists who have become accustomed to expecting a higher level in service delivery from ourselves. The reasons we feel it didn`t work as it should have include:

· Over 200 cyclists dropped down on the morning of the event from the 160k route to the 100k route – this put additional demands on this food stop which had not been anticipated. This is turn meant that this particular stop, which was adequately stocked for the expected number of cyclists from the 100k route was now struggling to meet the increased demand.

· Ryans of Gormanlough generally erect a marquee to cater properly for the cyclists. On Saturday 24th last they attempted to erect the marquee, but ground conditions under foot were poor and wouldn`t support the marquee. Because this was only discovered on Sat (day before event), it was too late to identify and locate another food stop along the route.

· Aside from the increased numbers attending this stop, the fact that the day was so cold and wet, meant everyone wanted comfort food (sandwiches and tea/coffee); this meant that those coming near the rear of the group only received cold noodles/bean salad.


On behalf of the committee of the An Post Meath Heritage Cycle tour, I would like to apologise to you if you were left without hot tea/coffee, sandwiches or discommoded in any way. I hope that you availed of the food back in Trim.

We hold our hands up, we made a change it didn`t work, it won`t happen again.

Thanking you in advance for your understanding. From speaking to you on your return to Trim, I do appreciate that most of you (despite the rain) did have a positive experience yesterday and I hope that you will return again next year. Date 23rd & 24th July 2016!!!

sullivlo

That, and some cyclists were eating 2 and 3 sandwiches, so that's cutting the amount left for everyone else.

PukkaStukka

sullivlo wrote: »

That, and some cyclists were eating 2 and 3 sandwiches, so that's cutting the amount left for everyone else.

Agree, but I've seen that happen quite a lot on events like this when there's free food in the offing! But you are right, it didn't help.