The Reservoir Dog returns on 04-Sept - and it still bites!

loinnsigh

Reservoir Cogs Cycling club is proud to present for a second year the Reservoir Dog - a sportive for those of you with plenty of summer km in your legs!

The Reservoir Dog is a tough 125km climbing challenge in the Wicklow/Dublin mountains, taking in 3 of the area s reservoirs (hence the name).
WARNING: Beware of this dog it bites! Not for the faint-hearted.

The starting / finishing point is the spectacular Russborough House, just outside Blessington Co. Wicklow. This setting will ensure a very unique sportive experience.

There is also a 50km route the Reservoir Pup (naturally), taking in the Blessington Lakes and surrounding hills.

This event is being organised by the Reservoir Cogs Cycle Club, and all proceeds go to a very worthwhile local charity Blessington Tidy Towns.

Full details on the website at www.thereservoirdogsportive.ie. Registration will soon open on Eventmaster - 30 for the Dog and 25 for the Pup.

We are working hard to ensure this will be a very memorable and enjoyable sportive. We had such great feedback from you all last year, hopefully we will see some of you this year for round two!

Euro Fred

Missed this last year and was raging, I know you have loads to organise but you lads have an awesome club jersey and if you were to do a limited run of jerseys similar to the club one (for a fee of course) it would be an extra push to sign up.

Either way I will try and go, great route

rollingscone

Paid for this last year but had a mechanical on the way down.

Will have a 2nd bike on standby this year!

siochain

Excellent event last year, will be back

Wishbone Ash

Really enjoyed this one last year - one of the best sportives out there.

Wishbone Ash

Damn - just realised it's earlier this year and I think I'm out of the country!

It was on the day of the All Ireland football final last year.

Unknown Soldier

This year... It's the only sportive I want to do tbh, having missed out last year.


I was the pr1ck with a camera at the top of one of the toughest (of many) climbs, coming out of the Tallaght reservoirs.

https://flic.kr/s/aHskkcR4vp

Some good suffer faces there tbh.

oconnpad

Whats the total climbing in 125KM route?

Daroxtar

oconnpad wrote: »

Whats the total climbing in 125KM route?

Lots!!
I think I clocked about 1900m.

This is the one I've been looking forward to since last year. Great route and organisation. Will definitely be there.

Corker1

Daroxtar wrote: »

Lots!!
I think I clocked about 1900m.

This is the one I've been looking forward to since last year. Great route and organisation. Will definitely be there.

According to MapmyRide the 125km route comes in at just over 2000m of climbing (2000.1m to be exact). We kept putting in hills until we got it over the 2K ;-). Here is the link to the route; http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/587890316

saccades

Looks like I ll be sticking this into the calendar, I ve done the Sally Gap from Glendalough loop a few times but the rest is completely new to me.

What are the first two climbs like, the one up to glencree looks like there s no respite on the elevation map, similar to shay elliot or steeper like the corrabut climb does anyone know?

At the start of the event which is always good.

Wishbone Ash

saccades wrote: »

...What are the first two climbs like, the one up to glencree ..

The one up Glassamucky or Cunard or whatever it's called is by far the toughest especially the last 1k. It brings you out on the Military Road. The rest are fine.

https://www.strava.com/segments/1329636?filter=overall

omri

I did the Pup last year just to keep the things on the safe side but decided to cycle from Dun Laoghaire to Blessington and did 130km in total that day. Got myself bike rack week ago so now I can drive and maybe try the Dog this time.

Few days ago I did a climb to Conor Pass coming from Dingle (started at the turn around sign for big trucks and coaches). My garmin shows it as Caherciveen Cycling if it means anything to anyone. It was 3.86km at 7% took me just over 19min with 12kph average speed. This was probably my first and only climb of this magnitude and the last 500m was brutal (im 6'4" and 95kg). I have compact chainset with 11-28 cassette and I felt I could use more gears while climbing. So if I keep up with the spins around dalkey throughout the summer do I stand a chance to complete the 125km route with some dignity or should I aim at Pup again this year?

rollingscone

omri wrote: »

I did the Pup last year just to keep the things on the safe side but decided to cycle from Dun Laoghaire to Blessington and did 130km in total that day. Got myself bike rack week ago so now I can drive and maybe try the Dog this time.

Few days ago I did a climb to Conor Pass coming from Dingle (started at the turn around sign for big trucks and coaches). My garmin shows it as Caherciveen Cycling if it means anything to anyone. It was 3.86km at 7% took me just over 19min with 12kph average speed. This was probably my first and only climb of this magnitude and the last 500m was brutal (im 6'4" and 95kg). I have compact chainset with 11-28 cassette and I felt I could use more gears while climbing. So if I keep up with the spins around dalkey throughout the summer do I stand a chance to complete the 125km route with some dignity or should I aim at Pup again this year?

From talking to some of the guys marshalling last year the people who completed it ranged from beast men to guys doing their first century not a lot of climbing.

Pretty much all of them finished alright...just varying levels of hurt.

Brian?

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

The one up Glassamucky or Cunard or whatever it's called is by far the toughest especially the last 1k. It brings you out on the Military Road. The rest are fine.

https://www.strava.com/segments/1329636?filter=overall

An unmitigated bastard of a climb. The section after the 90degree left hand turn is seriously tough. It actually doesn't look too bad from the bottom so if you don't know it you set out too quick, to hit a wall towards the end.

Daroxtar

Funny enough, I find the first 500m to be torture and I usually get my second wind for the top section. Definitely a tough hoor of a climb though.

Brian?

Daroxtar wrote: »

Funny enough, I find the first 500m to be torture and I usually get my second wind for the top section. Definitely a tough hoor of a climb though.

The first part is hard as well, but you're usually fresh hitting it. I can't pretend I'm Alberto Contador and dance up a couple of hundred meters. Then I'm bolloxed because I am 3 x the weight of Alberto.

oconnpad

Corker1 wrote: »

According to MapmyRide the 125km route comes in at just over 2000m of climbing (2000.1m to be exact). We kept putting in hills until we got it over the 2K ;-). Here is the link to the route; http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/587890316

Great, i don't get outta bed for any less than 2k climbing :D:D

Carawaystick

saccades wrote: »

Looks like I ll be sticking this into the calendar, I ve done the Sally Gap from Glendalough loop a few times but the rest is completely new to me.

What are the first two climbs like, the one up to glencree looks like there s no respite on the elevation map, similar to shay elliot or steeper like the corrabut climb does anyone know?

At the start of the event which is always good.

First Climb 70m
https://www.strava.com/segments/4664729

second Climb 160m
https://www.strava.com/segments/705316

Then once you're warmed up 270m
https://www.strava.com/segments/1329636

Bloggsie

Brian? wrote: »

An unmitigated bastard of a climb. The section after the 90degree left hand turn is seriously tough. It actually doesn't look too bad from the bottom so if you don't know it you set out too quick, to hit a wall towards the end.

cheers Brian, your words of "encouragement" are inspiring!

Bloggsie

oconnpad wrote: »

Great, i don't get outta bed for any less than 2k climbing :D:D

oconnpad, are you knucking futs?

oconnpad

Bloggsie wrote: »

oconnpad, are you knucking futs?

ha ha, only joking, sure i live in flatlands of meath. But i'll certainly mark the calender for this as i'd like to do this.

Bloggsie

oconnpad wrote: »

ha ha, only joking, sure i live in flatlands of meath. But i'll certainly mark the calender for this as i'd like to do this.

here's your brother in live in county flat (Kildare) the only hills I have found are the ramps over the train tracks & canal!

Corker1

....Full details on the website at www.thereservoirdogsportive.ie. Registration will soon open on Eventmaster - 30 for the Dog and 25 for the Pup.

We are working hard to ensure this will be a very memorable and enjoyable sportive. We had such great feedback from you all last year, hopefully we will see some of you this year for round two![/QUOTE]
For anyone who wants to bag a place there is a live link to registration available through this Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/994609290634624/

Brian?

Bloggsie wrote: »

cheers Brian, your words of "encouragement" are inspiring!

It was meant as encouragement. It's a challenge not impossible. You'll be grand.

Unknown Soldier

Daroxtar wrote: »

Lots!!
I think I clocked about 1900m.

This is the one I've been looking forward to since last year. Great route and organisation. Will definitely be there.

Phone or cycling computer with Altimeter?

Brian? wrote: »

It was meant as encouragement. It's a challenge not impossible. You'll be grand.

To Quote an Audax'er, plus generally really savage and stronger rider that I follow on Strava, who has been naming rides in a motivational format...

"Don't limit your Challenges!
Challenge your limits!"

If he comes up with 360 more or so, I may Crowd source a motivational Desk Calendar based on them.
Great yokes!

saccades

omri wrote: »

I did the Pup last year just to keep the things on the safe side but decided to cycle from Dun Laoghaire to Blessington and did 130km in total that day. Got myself bike rack week ago so now I can drive and maybe try the Dog this time.

Few days ago I did a climb to Conor Pass coming from Dingle (started at the turn around sign for big trucks and coaches). My garmin shows it as Caherciveen Cycling if it means anything to anyone. It was 3.86km at 7% took me just over 19min with 12kph average speed. This was probably my first and only climb of this magnitude and the last 500m was brutal (im 6'4" and 95kg). I have compact chainset with 11-28 cassette and I felt I could use more gears while climbing. So if I keep up with the spins around dalkey throughout the summer do I stand a chance to complete the 125km route with some dignity or should I aim at Pup again this year?

Go for it and stick a 36T on the back instead so you can spin - It's what I use as ~100kg lump and have managed to grind up everything this year (inc corrabut climb) quite happily, 12kph is 5kph faster than I get up stuff (a lot of new climbs for me this year so I really pace myself to make sure I'm going to do it).

saccades

Just looked on the calender - it was there already 2 minutes later and...

Dear Saccades

Thank you for registering for The Reservoir Dog Sportive 2016
This event will take place on 04th Sep 2016 and start at 09:00
Your order ID is 3431-354321621 (please use this for any correspondence).
Please print off the attachment with this mail and bring it with you to the event.

All funds raised by the event are in aid of the Blessington Youth Project. All details of the event are available on the reservoir dog.
Any major changes to our event will be notified by further email.

Best regards,
Reservoir Dog Sportive Cycle Team

Please note : This transaction will appear on your statement as Smart Eventmaster

DanDublin1982

If id had more money in my bank account last weekend I would have booked flights out of the country to to a match in England. Firmly knocked on the head now as I missed out on this last year for a similar reason. Just need to wait til pay day now to sign up.

Wishbone Ash

loinnsigh wrote: »

....and all proceeds go to a very worthwhile local charity Blessington Tidy Towns.....

saccades wrote: »

......All funds raised by the event are in aid of the Blessington Youth Project....

So which is it?

Corker1

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

So which is it?

Yes I noticed that too Wishbone Ash. Just To clarify that all funds raised go to Blessington Tidy Towns. The Blessington Youth Project were the beneficiaries of last years event. Eventmaster who operate the booking portal were made aware of this change earlier this week but have not updated the info. An email has been sent to eventmaster this evening! Reservoir Cogs made the decision to support local charities with the funds raised from the Reservoir Dog. Every cent raised, once overheads are met, goes to the charity. The other sportive that Reservoir Cogs hosts, the 'Lap de Gaps' raises funds for a national charity - Down Syndrome Ireland. This year almost €18,000 was donated to DSI thanks to riders entrance fees and the generosity of sponsors. All good stuff!

Corker1

In fairness to Eventmaster they do have Blessington Tidy Towns on the booking info. It's just the booking confirmation that mentions Blessington Youth Project.

man_no_plan

I'm in for the big one this year, really enjoyed it last year. Ill drive to blessington this year though.

Corker1

Hi Folks, A new feature to the Reservoir Dog Sportive this year is the introduction of a high quality finishers medal. We have just approved the attached design and we hope you will agree it looks prettty niiice, as Larry David might say. To qualify for the Medal riders must have registered online and completed the course.

Unknown Soldier

Corker1 wrote: »

Hi Folks, A new feature to the Reservoir Dog Sportive this year is the introduction of a high quality finishers medal. We have just approved the attached design and we hope you will agree it looks prettty niiice, as Larry David might say. To qualify for the Medal riders must have registered online and completed the course.

Looks great.

I have one job, and it's this.

Corker1

Ok folks, Only five and a half weeks before the Reservoir Dog Sportive takes to hills and valleys of Wicklow (and a corner of South Dublin). We are running a competition for 'Early Bird' online entrants (forgive the pun as you read on). Keep an eye on our event page over the coming weeks where we will be running competitions to encourage online entry. We love it when riders register online as it helps with planning for foodstops etc.
COMPETITION TIME; Russborough House, the host venue for The Reservoir Dog Sportive is a major tourist attraction in County Wicklow and is ranked # 1 on Trip advisor of things to do in Wicklow. A fabulous recent addition to the visitor attractions here is the National Bird of Prey Centre where the public can meet Hawks, Falcons, Eagles, Owls and Vultures from around the world and see flying displays. Register for the Reservoir Dog Sportive online before 8th August to be in with a chance of winning one of four family passes (2Adults + 2Children) value €25 for the National Pird of Prey Center at Russborough. Something to inspire you to soar like and eagle up those climbs and swoop like a falcon down the descents.

http://www.thereservoirdogsportive.ie/register.html

rollingscone

Signed up today.... just need to get all the up into my legs between now and then.

smacl

rollingscone wrote: »

Signed up today.... just need to get all the up into my legs between now and then.

Same, wasn't planning on doing any more sportives this year, but given my youngest's two big loves are dogs and bling, no way can I let a medal like this slip past. Bags I lanterne rouge!

Corker1

rollingscone wrote: »

Signed up today.... just need to get all the up into my legs between now and then.

That's great thanks. Just get a few hilly cycles in the legs between now and then and you'll be grand. Yes the medal is 'blingtastic' and will appeal to riders and non-riders of all ages. We will post a picture of the medal when it becomes available!

Corker1

Some good news for the finishers of the Reservoir Dog and Pup is that we have partnered with a local craft brewery in the area to provide post event refreshments. The Manor Brewing Company, which appropriately enough is the highest brewery in Ireland and is based at Manor Kilbride which both routes pass through. They have a special brew underway to be launched at the Reservoir Dog which can be sampled on completion of our sportive. A well earned thirst indeed! There will also be a prize draw announced for on-line entrants to the Reservoir Dog Sportive including prizes of Mont craft lager and merchandise including t-shirts. Keep an eye on our event FB page for details.
The organisers of the Reservoir Dog Sportive encourage responsible drinking and ask that event participants never drink and drive.
https://www.facebook.com/events/994609290634624/

saccades

I'll have to sweet talk the missus into a day at Russborough House with the kids...

Crocked

Sounds like I'll have to deploy the team car on the day

rollingscone

Anyone got the lowdown on this Cunard climb?

How it compares to other well known climbs etc.

smacl

rollingscone wrote: »

Anyone got the lowdown on this Cunard climb?

How it compares to other well known climbs etc.

You've a couple of ways up Cunard coming from the line, the first which I assume we're going up is steep but short enough, similar to the upper wall. You can also take a slightly longer route taking the next left turn which is slightly less steep. Both lead you to Glassamucky which is steep enough in spots too and a bit longer. Very doable, but they have me sucking in air pretty hard to get to the top. Not nearly as tough as Kilmashogue IMO and actually quite a nice climb in a bizarre kind of way.

Crocked

Save something for the last couple of hundred metres as it kicks up again at the 90deg turn that takes you up to the military road.

This is the segment on Strava

http://www.strava.com/segments/1329636

Koobcam

rollingscone wrote: »

Anyone got the lowdown on this Cunard climb?

How it compares to other well known climbs etc.

Absolute hoor of a climb, very steep at the start and then when that bit is over, you get blasted by the wind on the exposed section as you come towards the road to Sally Gap. I'd say it must be one of the hardest approaches to Sally Gap.

oconnpad

Koobcam wrote: »

Absolute hoor of a climb, very steep at the start and then when that bit is over, you get blasted by the wind on the exposed section as you come towards the road to Sally Gap. I'd say it must be one of the hardest approaches to Sally Gap.

How would it be versus something like kippure barrier to mast?

I've done that a few times so know the pain, but this seems similiar in distance with a bit for elevation.

Koobcam

oconnpad wrote: »

How would it be versus something like kippure barrier to mast?

I've done that a few times so know the pain, but this seems similiar in distance with a bit for elevation.

I'd say it's a bit harder, because it's steep at the start and the end, whereas the mast is just steep in the last km or so. Though having said that, on a windy day, the mast is very hard. Definitely the hardest climb on the reservior dog route I think , though there is one before that which is also not easy...actually, that's just generally a tough route.

rollingscone

Sounds like I'd better give this a go before the event...

P_1

rollingscone wrote: »

Anyone got the lowdown on this Cunard climb?

How it compares to other well known climbs etc.

It's tough! The surface is fine but it's a lung buster. You also need to keep your eye out for sheep :eek:

siochain

If I remember right between 20km and 35km are the hard parts the rest is very manageable if you have have the miles in the legs