Audax Wild Atlantic Way 2016

daviddenis

Audax WAW website has been launched

http://waw-audax.com/

2100 KMs in 175hrs

Fian

Too tough for me, at least this year, but I can only imagine how great it feels to finish that.

Would you not at least have traveled from north to south to go down instead of up the map?

Good luck to all who do it and enjoy the feeling after you have finished it!

Wishbone Ash

Fian wrote: »

....Would you not at least have traveled from north to south to go down instead of up the map?....

Jesus, it'll be tough enough without dealing with a prevailing headwind also! It's generally easier to travel north.

ford2600

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Jesus, it'll be tough enough without dealing with a prevailing headwind also! It's generally easier to travel north.

Generally speaking yes. I've done Mizen to Malin and a Fleche from Cork to Mullingar with northern breeze both times.

I'd imagine this will fill quickly, only 50 spaces.

There will be wind and rain aplenty! I'm in and according to site so are a good few more.

daviddenis

I emailed Eamonn (Organiser) signing up.
Although have never done an Audax event. Hope to do this one. On my bucket list for ages. Maxed cycled 330km in two days. But plan to get alot in b4 June.

Wishbone Ash

daviddenis wrote: »

I emailed Edward (Organiser) signing up.
Although have never done an Audax event....

:eek: Fair play to you

I've done plenty of Audax and quite a few 300+ rides but would baulk at doing this!

ford2600

@daviddenis fair play and best of luck.

While there is no guarantee any rider will finish I wouldn't be building it up as impossible either.

If smart with time management and disciplined with stops, controls, sleep and general d1cking around, there is a lot of low hanging fruit that is nothing to do with cycling. Other than getting as strong as possible on bike before June there is simple stuff that can help
* a reliable bike
* plan where your stopping, stop eat, toilet back on bike
* At sleeping controls eat shower and sleep get back on bike
* A dynamo light system will mean your back up lights probably won't need to be charged, less time wasted
* know route, if on limit a wrong turn can break your heart, learn how to read route sheet, work garmin whatever
* Figure out what food works best for you for 15hr days
* have gear/clothing you know and trust
* Do and couple of long days back to back to see that you can handle little sleep, fatigue etc


On bike
* stay out of the red as much as possible
* be as comfortable as possible on bike
* learn to handle headwinds solo, head north today for 100km and see how you do! Being comfortable in drops helps
* get mentally tougher; there is a bit in this but best advice in relation to 300km rides I got was "you will have a bad patch but you can ride through them, that is the key"
* look up 2016 calendar and ride as many routes as you can while keep training clever
* Ride a 200 or 2 solo

Talk to some of the experienced guys in Audax Ireland. Organiser of last Audax ride of year is planning to do WAW so do his audax spin on first weekend in December and talk to Marc

OleRodrigo

A new site is up and the organizers are setting off this morning on a test ride. You can track them at

http://www.wawaudax.com/news

Good luck chaps!

ford2600

OleRodrigo wrote: »

A new site is up and the organizers are setting off this morning on a test ride. You can track them at

http://www.wawaudax.com/news

Good luck chaps!

3 lads still battling away up in wilds of Mayo.

They have been unlucky enough with wind but I suppose you can't complain when the weather which cut the landscape turns up when you cycle it☺

CramCycle

I see the trial riders are in motion around Mayo at the minute for anyone who is interested:
http://maps.opentracking.co.uk/wildatlanticwayaudax.cfm

CramCycle

MOD VOICE: Merged threads

OleRodrigo

ford2600 wrote: »

3 lads still battling away up in wilds of Mayo.

They have been unlucky enough with wind but I suppose you can't complain when the weather which cut the landscape turns up when you cycle it☺

True. Two of them are well used to it though and the third is just loosening his legs for June and is impervious to any adverse weather conditions

Two have also dropped out. One had a crash, which although wasn't too serious, but thought it was best to heal up for the main event. The other had a bad stomach after day one and is doing the same.

Planet X

Hats off......to the three finishers last night.
Seriously great achievement. 2100k in 7 days. Up and down stuff.
Very heroic.

OleRodrigo

Tracking is now up and ready for the main event, next Friday. Good luck to flywheel, thebouldwhacker and ford2600 ! (and all the other riders)

http://www.wawaudax.com/news/live-tracking-is-now-ready

MadDog1999

I'd love to cycle the Wild Atlantic Way when I finish school and college and everything. I will most likely be joining my college cycling club so that will help with the preparation for it. It will need both very good mental and physical health I would definitely imagine.

Planet X

Good luck to all participants who set off about two and a half hours ago.
Sunny weather was a help.
Bravo to 4 women who are competing.

ted1

22% gradients Mamore Gap!!!

daragh_

Best of luck folks.

cdaly_

Impressive stuff so far. Leader has 640km done in under 33 hours while our own ford2600 has 600km done in 33hrs.

And they haven't even left Kerry yet!...

Inquitus

I see some guy is doing it on an ElliptiGO, you know the bike you run on?

OleRodrigo

Looks like the guys at the front will be skipping rest at the 600km mark and going straight for the Tarbert ferry (last one at 9:30 pm)

A bold move so early in the ride, but it will give them a time advantage. Will they be able to hang on to it ?

Hager

A bold move so early in the ride, but it will give them a time advantage. Will they be able to hang on to it ?[/QUOTE]

Some seriously impressive cycling on display alright but knowing the man that is out front at the minute I wouldn't have any worries that he can.

OleRodrigo

Hager wrote: »

Some seriously impressive cycling on display alright but knowing the man that is out front at the minute I wouldn't have any worries that he can

Definitely. He's very strong.

Inquitus

Hager wrote: »

Some seriously impressive cycling on display alright but knowing the man that is out front at the minute I wouldn't have any worries that he can.

Personally I think riding the remaining 1700kms in a 2 man break may tell on them eventually, they'll want at least 10s per 10km coming into the final.

OleRodrigo

Really it comes down to sleep deprivation - who can go with least amount of rest whilst keeping moving.

Most will be riding ' full value ', but those that are looking to make their mark make it very exciting.

Edit. He's just crossed into Clare. The others seem to be staying at the control, too risky to try and make it before 9:30.

Hager

I know that it goes against the audax ethos slightly but you can't help but admire someone who can do a quick time.

OleRodrigo

Nothing wrong with a bit of friendly competition.

Wishbone Ash

OleRodrigo wrote: »

..Edit. He's just crossed into Clare. The others seem to be staying at the control, too risky to try and make it before 9:30.

He reached the control at 21.22. Resting now I presume as he hasn't moved for a few hours. Good man B!

The Ging and I

Great to see the majority are sticking to the plan and probably each other. Great to have people to share the road/experiance/event with.

OleRodrigo

Looks to have roughly a 3-hour advantage. There'll be one or two sheltering in the main group waiting to reel him in. Gotta admire the mental fortitude on display here.

Thebouldwhacker and ford2600 are inching ahead, flywheel is steady in the main bunch.

PeggyO2016

>Looks to have roughly a 3-hour advantage. There'll be one or two sheltering in the main group waiting to reel him in. Gotta admire the mental fortitude on display here.

You make it sound like a race - Audax is not racing. What other riders are doing is irrelevant and if you're looking to 'beat' other riders, you haven't grasped the concept of Audax. Each finisher is treated the same once they finish within the allotted time. In fact, the slower riders are often treated with more respect as they tend to suffer more through sleep deprivation as they can't afford to stop and rest for as long as the faster guys.

The only time 'advantage' he has is over the closing time of the control and in that situation he has well over 24 hours in hand. .

OleRodrigo

PeggyO2016 wrote: »

You make it sound like a race - Audax is not racing. What other riders are doing is irrelevant and if you're looking to 'beat' other riders, you haven't grasped the concept of Audax. Each finisher is treated the same once they finish within the allotted time. In fact, the slower riders are often treated with more respect as they tend to suffer more through sleep deprivation as they can't afford to stop and rest for as long as the faster guys.

The only time 'advantage' he has is over the closing time of the control and in that situation he has well over 24 hours in hand. .

Thanks for the pep talk.

Just a bit of fun. Some of those guys are friends and club mates. Is that OK with you?

OleRodrigo

Wind and rain making things tough going this afternoon, when they were hoping for some respite after the hills of Kerry.

PeggyO2016

OleRodrigo wrote: »

Thanks for the pep talk.

Just a bit of fun. Some of those guys are friends and club mates. Is that OK with you?

It wasn't a pep talk, just clarification on the non-competitive nature of Audax.

Most of the riders are friends and/or club mates of mine too and I can guarantee that the vast majority of them are just thinking about their own ride and what they need to do to get to the next control with the minimum of hassle. Some are probably helping others who are suffering get through their rough patches too, which is probably the best thing about Audax riding - the camaraderie amongst riders.

When they hear how well Bill and other faster riders are doing, they'll probably be voicing admiration and perhaps wishing they were as strong/fast as the front runners, but I sincerely doubt many, if any of them are planning an attack to chase down those ahead of them.

cjonesy1

PeggyO2016 wrote: »

It wasn't a pep talk, just clarification on the non-competitive nature of Audax.

Most of the riders are friends and/or club mates of mine too and I can guarantee that the vast majority of them are just thinking about their own ride and what they need to do to get to the next control with the minimum of hassle. Some are probably helping others who are suffering get through their rough patches too, which is probably the best thing about Audax riding - the camaraderie amongst riders.

When they hear how well Bill and other faster riders are doing, they'll probably be voicing admiration and perhaps wishing they were as strong/fast as the front runners, but I sincerely doubt many, if any of them are planning an attack to chase down those ahead of them.

Fair play to your mates. The poster's friends are approaching it in a slightly different way. Not sure why you're getting so worked up about it.

OleRodrigo

PeggyO2016 wrote: »

It wasn't a pep talk, just clarification on the non-competitive nature of Audax.

Most of the riders are friends and/or club mates of mine too and I can guarantee that the vast majority of them are just thinking about their own ride and what they need to do to get to the next control with the minimum of hassle. Some are probably helping others who are suffering get through their rough patches too, which is probably the best thing about Audax riding - the camaraderie amongst riders.

When they hear how well Bill and other faster riders are doing, they'll probably be voicing admiration and perhaps wishing they were as strong/fast as the front runners, but I sincerely doubt many, if any of them are planning an attack to chase down those ahead of them.

You are right in the Audax ethos - no need to explain, I'm well aware. Like I said, a bit of friendly competition amongst peers off the radar is no harm at all. And you probably already know it's part of every long ride, although a small part. As I write, one is making his move, like he said he would before the start.

Now, keep your hand off the pernickety outrage button and let's all be friends

TGD

A lot of the comments make it sound like a race.
Audax in non-competitive in ethos and isn't a race.
I know, I'm getting "worked up", and producing "persnickety outrage" etc etc ....

ford2600

We are having a ball. Organisation is top class, controls are out of this world. Great food and friendly faces.

Best of luck to Bill and everyone else. Mentally his one really tough cookie. I couldn't do it.

Slower riders have a much tougher event.

Special mention to the two Irish ladies, one previous audax ride between and flying. Still smiling and still driving it on.

The Bouldwhacker passed me 2km from Oranmore, faster than I could do a 10km TT!!

Inquitus

ford2600 wrote: »

We are having a ball. Organisation is top class, controls are out of this world. Great food and friendly faces.

Best of luck to Bill and everyone else. Mentally his one really tough cookie. I couldn't do it.

Slower riders have a much tougher event.

Special mention to the two Irish ladies, one previous audax ride between and flying. Still smiling and still driving it on.

The Bouldwhacker passed me 2km from Oranmore, faster than I could do a 10km TT!!

How's the weather behaving out Weshst?

andy69

Inquitus wrote: »

How's the weather behaving out Weshst?

We're staying in Ballyvaughan for the weekend and I saw a few of the riders passing this evening.....the weather is ****e here. The rainfall radar shows clear since this afternoon but it hasn't stopped raining since the foodstop on the Burren tour yesterday afternoon! I've so much respect for these guys - this is some incredible event.

nilhg

Inquitus wrote: »

How's the weather behaving out Weshst?

andy69 wrote: »

We're staying in Ballyvaughan for the weekend and I saw a few of the riders passing this evening.....the weather is ****e here. The rainfall radar shows clear since this afternoon but it hasn't stopped raining since the foodstop on the Burren tour yesterday afternoon! I've so much respect for these guys - this is some incredible event.

Yeah, was in Clifden/Connemara on gaeltacht visitation duty this weekend and at best it could be called soft day weather, mist/fog and mild but for a large part of this morning it lashed and the wind blew hard, definitely would make for a long day on the bike.

Wishbone Ash

nilhg wrote: »

....on gaeltacht visitation duty this weekend ....

I have to do the same next weekend. My 14 yr old daughter has reported Arranmore Island as the coldest place on earth!

Wishbone Ash

OA - the pride of McNally Swords CC nearing Ballyvaughan tonight. keep her lit OA!

at1withmyself

So whos winning today ;-)


I went for a small spin this morning and was lucky to see a lot of the cyclist heading out towards Spiddal. I tried waving and giving them the thumbs up and most of them had big smiles on there face which was great to see as its a tough westerly wind this morning that they'd be working against today. Hats off to all the men and women doing it, made my 40km spin seem like a stroll in the park!

Neady83

ford2600 wrote: »

We are having a ball. Organisation is top class, controls are out of this world. Great food and friendly faces.

Best of luck to Bill and everyone else. Mentally his one really tough cookie. I couldn't do it.

Slower riders have a much tougher event.

Special mention to the two Irish ladies, one previous audax ride between and flying. Still smiling and still driving it on.

The Bouldwhacker passed me 2km from Oranmore, faster than I could do a 10km TT!!

Well done ford2600, I have complete and utter admiration for you and all of the others completing this mammoth adventure. The mental and physical toughness it is taking to keep going in the weather, over all the hills, the tough sleeping conditions and to keep ploughing on through sleep depravation - nothing short of heroic.

I was with the two girls for a bit yesterday in West Clare - that cross wind and rain in Kilbaha and Loop Head was unreal and every cyclist we met still had a smile on their face. Unbelievable going from the two girls but they're tough nuts and work extremely well as a team.

Keep it up everyone, yer more than half way there

Solobally8

Amazing stuff! I've been tracking all weekend and I don't even know anybody taking part. I've definitely been inspired to try my first Audax event this summer.

No37 seems to be heading off in completely the wrong direction. Can anything be done to tell him to turn back?

Neady83

Solobally8 wrote: »

Amazing stuff! I've been tracking all weekend and I don't even know anybody taking part. I've definitely been inspired to try my first Audax event this summer.

No37 seems to be heading off in completely the wrong direction. Can anything be done to tell him to turn back?

I can't watch. I'm sure the organisers are trying to get in touch with him. His GPS must be dead but he has a route card too so he'll figure it out when he checks it. He'll have to go back to Kilrush and hit for Loop head

Wishbone Ash

Bill F forging ahead - almost at the Mayo control.

Solobally8 wrote: »

...No37 seems to be heading off in completely the wrong direction. Can anything be done to tell him to turn back?

I suspect he's heading for a bike shop in Ennis. Mechanical trouble?

Wishbone Ash

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Bill F forging ahead - almost at the Mayo control.

He's just reached it.

oconnpad

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

He's just reached it.

See he's left there now and doing his lap of Achill.

Would the plan be to do the lap of that and get back to Mayo Control for sleep and do the leg to Ballina tomorrow?

Mefistofelino

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Bill F forging ahead - almost at the Mayo control.

I suspect he's heading for a bike shop in Ennis. Mechanical trouble?

At Registration last week, there were a few riders who were planning to ride the route, but not within the the time allowed. Some of them have been falling further behind each day, so I suspect this is just to get back on track and maybe get to Galway tonight?