Lough Cutra 2016

Kurt_Godel

Entries are open at discounted prices here, races are Half, Oly, super-sprints, and kids races. Currently €56 (plus €3 booking) for the Oly.

One of the best-organised day of racing in Ireland IMO.

mossym

Je$u$ kurt you're eager

Kurt_Godel

mossym wrote: »

Je$u$ kurt you're eager

A few reasons;
1. Draw a line under 2015 and look forward,
2. People targeting IM plan months ahead and I don't see why shorter races should be any different,
3. Lower price may interest young turks licking their wounds from 2015 Cutra

Claude Burgundy

Kurt_Godel wrote: »

Entries are open at discounted prices here, races are Half, Oly, super-sprints, and kids races. Currently €56 (plus €3 booking) for the Oly.

One of the best-organised day of racing in Ireland IMO.

When does the early bird finish ?

RegisteredMice

According to their twtter page it could be tonight ...
https://twitter.com/CastleTriathlon

Message says:
Remember to book before midnight TONIGHT to get the best possible prices on ALL 2016 Races!
Sign up NOW at: http://www.castletriathlonseries.co.uk/

Steroo

Goes up 15% tomorrow - just signed up to the half, caravan booked in, time to get the finger out again

sconhome

In case anyone has any questions there is a Q&A session this evening on Twitter -

https://twitter.com/LoughCutraTri/status/719959612456374273

Steroo

What did we learn at q&a I missed it ;( is the bike route hilly?

peter kern

neither flat nor hilly i seem to rember 2 medium lenght climbs ( like 6 min or so ? ) the rest more undulating and some longer flat streches quite a bit of bone shaking surface but overall a lovely course me thinks.

sconhome

Steroo wrote: »

What did we learn at q&a I missed it ;( is the bike route hilly?

Which race are you doing Steroo?

peter kern

Steroo wrote: »

Goes up 15% tomorrow - just signed up to the half, caravan booked in, time to get the finger out again

half

sconhome

peter kern wrote: »

half

Haha thanks Peter, missed that.

Steroo as Peter says the course is grand, a couple of dinky hills in it but nothing too long drawn out. Biggest issue is probably the road surface in the Burren being an unsealed surface.

mossym

be careful on the run loop for the half.it can get confusing. all the runs go out the same first bit, then the shorter races turn first while the oly and half go on a bit further, then the oly breaks off, but there is, or was in other years, an extra small bit for the half. 500m or so, which with the two loops makes up the extra km for the half.

anyway, jsut bring it up as if you are following people in front of you it could happen you miss the extra bit by accident. they usually have a guy out there shouting at everyone oly left half right anyway but best to keep your wits about you

TheBazman

mossym wrote: »

be careful on the run loop for the half.it can get confusing. all the runs go out the same first bit, then the shorter races turn first while the oly and half go on a bit further, then the oly breaks off, but there is, or was in other years, an extra small bit for the half. 500m or so, which with the two loops makes up the extra km for the half.

anyway, jsut bring it up as if you are following people in front of you it could happen you miss the extra bit by accident. they usually have a guy out there shouting at everyone oly left half right anyway but best to keep your wits about you

I know a girl that was DQ'd last year for this reason. Ended up confused and taking the wrong run route.

As an aside is it much hassle waiting until that morning to arrive, or is an overnighter recommended?

jnk883

Did anyone do the training day? With all the talk of the bad roads for Challenge Galway I'm wondering what the roads will be like for the Gauntlet? And how cold the water really was/

sconhome

jnk883 wrote: »

Did anyone do the training day? With all the talk of the bad roads for Challenge Galway I'm wondering what the roads will be like for the Gauntlet? And how cold the water really was/

The roads for Challenge are fine, it is the surface which is an open chip surface for a long stretch of it which is the problem (it won't be changed - that's the Burren surface) They are not fast roads. If it was my choice I'd be on a road bike rather than TT.

Water in Lough Cutra was cold on Saturday ~10 degrees. The beauty of that as a location is with a week of fine weather the temp will go up several degrees in no time. The seas around here will be cold until June / July when the NAD starts kicking in.

tunney

sconhome wrote: »

The roads for Challenge are fine, it is the surface which is an open chip surface for a long stretch of it which is the problem (it won't be changed - that's the Burren surface) They are not fast roads. If it was my choice I'd be on a road bike rather than TT.

Water in Lough Cutra was cold on Saturday ~10 degrees. The beauty of that as a location is with a week of fine weather the temp will go up several degrees in no time. The seas around here will be cold until June / July when the NAD starts kicking in.

Are the roads closed?
{serious question}

sconhome

tunney wrote: »

Are the roads closed?
{serious question}

I believe partial closure. Yet to hear the traffic management plan.

Biggest issue in N18 as it's main Galway to Limerick road. Coming through Burren unclear. Understand one side closed as buses etc have to get South to Cliffs of Moher, Ballyvaughan etc.

Not gospel, that's as much as I know through feedback locally as no other info available.

catweazle

http://www.challenge-galway.eu/traffic-information/

mossym

catweazle wrote: »

http://www.challenge-galway.eu/traffic-information/

they might both be in galway but i don't think the challenge traffic info will hold true for cutra..:)

sconhome

mossym wrote: »

they might both be in galway but i don't think the challenge traffic info will hold true for cutra..:)

100% right of course, I misread the question and thought Tunney meant the Challenge route.

Cutra is a similar surface and shares some of the route.

mossym

not 100% sure on the gauntlet, but i don't believe any of the roads were closed for it last year.

for the other distances, it is all on open roads, with the exception of the road that goes along the length of the lake on the east side. that was closed except to residents of the road. it's a pretty poor surface with one stretch of a downhill into a tight turn where they put bales of hay to protect people, that alone should be enough to tell people you should take it easy there. not doing it this year but in the last two years that bit was fine for the first lap as the roads were quiet, but on the second lap for the oly distance the later waves and sprint distances were also on the course and that bit was awful.

viperlogic

I see they are charging entry fee for spectators now!!

BTH

viperlogic wrote: »

I see they are charging entry fee for spectators now!!

Really??? We never noticed :rolleyes:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057596620

viperlogic

Ops, not sure how I missed that thread in my feed

mossym

have moved the discussion about the additional fees into the thread linked above, please keep all chat about it to that thread

Steroo

Is there anywhere to lock up the bikes on the Sat night does anyone know? or will we have to squeeze them into the caravan?

Also is there a gathering afterwards ? local pub? etc

Thanks

Kurt_Godel

Steroo wrote: »

Is there anywhere to lock up the bikes on the Sat night does anyone know? or will we have to squeeze them into the caravan?

Also is there a gathering afterwards ? local pub? etc

Thanks

I'll be bringing the caravan too Steroo (weather dependent!). Kids in the tent, bikes in the caravan. At least, thats my plan!

I'd say your bikes will be safe enough at your pitch, its just triathletes that will be camping/caravanning there. I've never stayed a second night previous, but I think the Lady Gregory will have a lot staying over on race night too, bound to be a few pints sunk there (food is decent).

Kurt_Godel

Water temps are 14˚C today, and with a warm few days in store the swim should be a nice one.

Dilbert75

Kurt_Godel wrote: »

Water temps are 14˚C today, and with a warm few days in store the swim should be a nice one.

Wonder is it really? Last year they said 13.5°C but there was talk round here that that was a bit optimistic.

Kurt_Godel

Fog on the lake, visibility very poor, can't see the bouys. Race start pushed back to 8:45 at least (with knock on for later events)

Kurt_Godel

Back to a 9am start at least... very foggy here!

Kurt_Godel

Kurt_Godel wrote: »

Back to a 9am start at least... very foggy here!

Back to 9:30 start, no improvement. If it hadn't improved by 10 am the swim will be cancelled, 7km run to start instend.

Kurt_Godel

Fog clearing, 9:30 start announced.

Kurt_Godel

Everyone sent back, swim cancelled, Duathlon for the half.

Bambaata

any tracking anywhere?

rodneyr1981

Fog lifted swim back on for Olympic and sprint races

iAcesHigh

what's the atmosphere?

tunney

iAcesHigh wrote: »

what's the atmosphere?

Think you have to pay extra for that

Kurt_Godel

iAcesHigh wrote: »

what's the atmosphere?

Very good buzz around here, can't fault them for that. Very family friendly.

Swim was awesome when the fog lifted, a real shame it didn't go ahead for the half. Cutra people were pushing for it but TI made the call. Safety first.

TheBazman

Did my first Olympic... Great event. Swim was lovely. Run was tough.. tired legs and some dodgy underfoot conditions in parts

Steroo

Poxy mist

Kurt_Godel

Results

Kurt_Godel

Steroo wrote: »

Poxy mist

Its a pity they didn't wait until 10am, it was clearing at that stage. A lot of disappointed Half people. You'd have loved that swim Steroo, if you are staying tonight maybe try a sneaki dip tomorrow morning.

Mr Tango

Anyone know is there a rule on bear chest in transition after the race. I.e. Your race is over and u are getting your bike back.

Ref dq'd someone for not putting his top on when asked. Lots of others with no tops but not everyone was getting red cards.

gavkm27

Mr Tango wrote: »

Anyone know is there a rule on bear chest in transition after the race. I.e. Your race is over and u are getting your bike back.

Ref dq'd someone for not putting his top on when asked. Lots of others with no tops but not everyone was getting red cards.

That was my first triathlon ,half way around the 2nd lap I pulled down the top of my tri suit I was boiling! Another competitor told me I could get DQ'd so I swiftly pulled it on again! But as soon as it was over and I was out on the grass I was as naked as possible,loved that summer weather ,great day in the end,I'm hooked

mossym

wasn't racing but we took the kids up to this for the day, some friends of ours came along as well. even not racing was a great day out, in fairness the weather made it, but getting to sit back without the focus of racing lets you see what a well oiled machine the castle series is.

bryangiggsy

mossym wrote: »

wasn't racing but we took the kids up to this for the day, some friends of ours came along as well. even not racing was a great day out, in fairness the weather made it, but getting to sit back without the focus of racing lets you see what a well oiled machine the castle series is.

Have to agree Mossey. I thought the castle series people were fantastic. Talk about professional and very fair and friendly. I could see the disappointment on the race directors face when the refs called off the swim.
Half iron duathlon just does not have the same ring to it but what can you do.
That being said I wont be back however. And only because of one reason....the run course....terrible....rocks.....muck trails and running on steep side angles for large parts of it. Perfect run course for an adventure race. Bring back Tri an Mhi Half!

sconhome

Mr Tango wrote: »

Anyone know is there a rule on bear chest in transition after the race. I.e. Your race is over and u are getting your bike back.

Ref dq'd someone for not putting his top on when asked. Lots of others with no tops but not everyone was getting red cards.

Yes you are not allowed bare chest in transition. Take your wetsuit off and no top. DQ.

Was uproar a few years back in Westport about the same thing. Was even on Joe Duffy show!!

Kurt_Godel

sconhome wrote: »

Yes you are not allowed bare chest in transition. Take your wetsuit off and no top. DQ.

Was uproar a few years back in Westport about the same thing. Was even on Joe Duffy show!!

Its a bit power-mad to extend this already stupid rule to after the race has finished though, no?

hf4z6sqo7vjngi

I think TI officials and Race Director wanted the swim to proceed, it was my understanding that the IWS head marshall called it off. In fairness you could not see much of the lake from the side.

I actually witnessed one of our club mates get the red card for that "topless situation" after his race was finished. The ref was nothing short of a power tripping loon. He had great delight in telling one of his colleagues.