Tour de Burren

fryup

So who's doing it this weekend??

this will be my first time whats it like? and what if its raining on saturday what will the conditions be like on those twisty country roads??

http://tourdeburren.com/

dastardly00

I'll be missing it this weekend unfortunately. I did the 160km last year, and the 96km the year before that.

What's it like.... great sportive. Fantastic scenery, some tough challenging climbs, tasty food stops and a great atmosphere.

And if it's raining..... it's horrific :eek: :pac:

kayaksurfbum

Whats the road surface like on the 160?

Carbon rims friendly?

dastardly00

kayaksurfbum wrote: »

Whats the road surface like on the 160?

Carbon rims friendly?

Some of the 2016 route has changed from the last few years, but a common section to both is around Boston. And the road surface was shíte there last year.

I don't have carbon rims so I don't know if it'd be risky using them

andy69

I'm doing it too....few of us heading down and staying the weekend. Weather looks like it's going to be nice (yr, met eireann, and of course the weather gurus here on boards) so really looking forward to it. Missed last year due to injury but have done it every year since 2010 I think....stunning part of the world and if the sun shines, that road up the coast looking out over to Inis Oirr is incredible. Even if it rains the burren is still beautiful - and sure it'd be nice warm rain :-) ha!

iwillhtfu

kayaksurfbum wrote: »

Whats the road surface like on the 160?

Carbon rims friendly?

I did it on carbon rims last year and they survived although if I were doing it again I'd much rather have an aluminium braking surface. It was absolutely torrential last year and braking was a bit hit and miss.

There's not a whole load of climbing but there are a number of drags all manageable.

Very enjoyable event. If it is wet take it easy on the bends. The food stop is a feast

jamesd

Doing the 100km this year, did the 56km for the last 2 years so want to move up a bit.

boredatwork82

I have signed up for the 156km one. I normally only do the ROK, but this year decided to do something different. Struggling with some pain in my knee. But hopefully that doesn't stop me. My mate who was going to do it pulled out , ( had a bad crash, broke arm) so doing it on my own. I am really looking forward to it, although I will probably be the last person over the line at the end of the day
Bisto!

Exiled1

OP you will enjoy it even if it rains. The biggest enemy is the wind, closely followed by tourist traffic.
A great day with stunning scenery, top notch food and good craic all along the roads. One of the very best sportivs.

Exiled1

Tour de Burren much more enjoyable this year, thanks to the weather. The rain mercifully held off until almost 1.00 which served to cool us down on the run for home. Well over 2000 in total for the three distances.
Yes the roads are really bad around Boston, but we met a few horrors elsewhere too. Gravel was the worst problem.

jamesd

Great day out - did the 100km and found it tough but got it done. Loved the Dutch corner.

fryup

my first one, but not the last...very well run, well done to all involved in organising it

nice sweater too

liquoriceall

Did the 104km for my first ever long cycle, oh my god!! It was hard going, but people were so nice ☺
Only thing was the tourist car that tried to kill me, on a continuous white line facing a bend, went to overtake and realised it wouldn't make it so pulled in on top of me! It actually brushed off my leg but kept going!
Love my new hoody 😆😆😆

stampydmonkey

Did the 104k. Weather was great. Dutch corner was hilarious. Went out early so was on my own going through.... absolute madness...fog horns and all. Was smiling the whole way around. Lovely hoody too. Thanks to Clare Burren Partnership...always put on a great event.

andy69

The wife got some footage today of the Dutch Corner - what a great idea to have this on a sportive....was absolutely brilliant!

(don't know how to embed....here's the link: https://youtu.be/0ZtgYNs5_IM )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZtgYNs5_IM

boredatwork82

So I did this yesterday. I did the 156km. It was tough, but I think that's because I did it on my own. I am not sure whether I will do it again or not.
The first food stop wasn't sign posted, thankfully I was going so slow I didn't miss it, but a lot of people over shot it.
Then for the next section everyone I seemed to get chatting too was wrecked or struggling and giving out about it . And contemplating cutting the distance short. This was just negative energy. Is it normal for sportives to advertise routes to cut the distance short? I found this tough to take, as I was intent on doing the full 156, even though I was struggling, trying to stay positive and motivated to do it all.
Then at the second food stop in Lisdoonvarna I had a good feed, had some cheesecake. I don't know what the hype about it was, the base was so thin you couldn't even pick it up with out it falling apart. But it was still nice, I ate it whilst chatting to a guy who was going to cut his cycle short, or try get a lift back. Anyway from Lisdoonvarna to ballyvaughan it got cold and wet. But the improved road surface and nice climb over the cliffs of moher, and the spectacular views on the finishing stretch really made the last segment easy. I felt like this was my fastest stage.

Anyways, overall good day, good organisation, but really disappointed with people. Maybe it's normal that at the tall end of these sportives are people who should not have done it. I was probably the last of the 156km people back , crossing the line at 4:20, but that doesn't bother me. Even on the finish about 14 km to go, I got chatting to a girl doing the 100k who was contemplating putting the bike in trailer and getting a lift back, I just kept jabbering away to her for a few km till the van and trailer passed us. But it was this general attitude of cutting distance short, and taking the easy way out, that really annoyed me, I was struggling and people who were contemplating taking the easy way out were all passing me out! Just seemed odd.

PS the people in ballyvaughan have been fantastic.

Pss saw a guy on the ground outside fr Ted's house, and ambulance passed by out to him. Not nice to see, hopefully he is OK and it's nothing serious.

jamesd

Had the same - my buddy found the start of the 100km so though that at 24km in he said he was going to cut it short and do the 70km shortcut back, talked him out of it though but we had 2 of our group take the shortcut back.

fryup

i think getting back for the match on time played on a lot of people's minds

JK.BMC

boredatwork82 wrote: »

So I did this yesterday. I did the 156km. It was tough, but I think that's because I did it on my own. I am not sure whether I will do it again or not.
The first food stop wasn't sign posted, thankfully I was going so slow I didn't miss it, but a lot of people over shot it.
Then for the next section everyone I seemed to get chatting too was wrecked or struggling and giving out about it . And contemplating cutting the distance short. This was just negative energy. Is it normal for sportives to advertise routes to cut the distance short? I found this tough to take, as I was intent on doing the full 156, even though I was struggling, trying to stay positive and motivated to do it all.
Then at the second food stop in Lisdoonvarna I had a good feed, had some cheesecake. I don't know what the hype about it was, the base was so thin you couldn't even pick it up with out it falling apart. But it was still nice, I ate it whilst chatting to a guy who was going to cut his cycle short, or try get a lift back. Anyway from Lisdoonvarna to ballyvaughan it got cold and wet. But the improved road surface and nice climb over the cliffs of moher, and the spectacular views on the finishing stretch really made the last segment easy. I felt like this was my fastest stage.

Anyways, overall good day, good organisation, but really disappointed with people. Maybe it's normal that at the tall end of these sportives are people who should not have done it. I was probably the last of the 156km people back , crossing the line at 4:20, but that doesn't bother me. Even on the finish about 14 km to go, I got chatting to a girl doing the 100k who was contemplating putting the bike in trailer and getting a lift back, I just kept jabbering away to her for a few km till the van and trailer passed us. But it was this general attitude of cutting distance short, and taking the easy way out, that really annoyed me, I was struggling and people who were contemplating taking the easy way out were all passing me out! Just seemed odd.

PS the people in ballyvaughan have been fantastic.

Pss saw a guy on the ground outside fr Ted's house, and ambulance passed by out to him. Not nice to see, hopefully he is OK and it's nothing serious.

I hope you recover from above trauma.
How about just enjoying the ride? I love County Clare myself.
Just sayin' ......

iwillhtfu

Sounds like you were making the best effort to ruin your own day.

Who cares what others do is a cycle they paid for and can choose how they would like to enjoy it. Some people will be doing it for the first time and realise quite quickly that they shouldve entered a shorter distance.

If you're going to enter a supportive solo you'd want to be mentally stronger than needing the positive vibes of others to get you through.

Unknown Soldier

Isn't there some bylaw that you have to have a good moan when on a tough Sportive?

E.G.
That last hill was a right see you next Tuesday!
I'm taking up golf!
I hate littering pr1cks
Why did I go for the long route?
Is this Hill EVER going to end?
This drag is a b1tch!
Me arse is killing me!
Ah here... I'm fecked!
etc.

The banter/moaning is most of the craic and makes the time go quicker!

stampydmonkey

Unknown Soldier wrote: »

Isn't there some bylaw that you have to have a good moan when on a tough Sportive?

E.G.
That last hill was a right see you next Tuesday!
I'm taking up golf!
I hate littering pr1cks
Why did I go for the long route?
Is this Hill EVER going to end?
This drag is a b1tch!
Me arse is killing me!
Ah here... I'm fecked!
etc.

The banter/moaning is most of the craic and makes the time go quicker!

I prefer 99s to fake magnums. : (

boredatwork82

Trauma, what trauma are you speaking about?
I pushed myself, enjoyed the ride, the last stage was spectacular as stated. Don't see how I did my best to ruin the day, or not enjoy the cycle. I understand there is a lot of banter moaning. There is a big difference from moaning that makes you want to slit your wrists. I either pushed on or dropped back so I didn't have to listen to them.

iwillhtfu

boredatwork82 wrote: »

Trauma, what trauma are you speaking about?
I pushed myself, enjoyed the ride, the last stage was spectacular as stated. Don't see how I did my best to ruin the day, or not enjoy the cycle. I understand there is a lot of banter moaning. There is a big difference from moaning that makes you want to slit your wrists. I either pushed on or dropped back so I didn't have to listen to them.

If it's recognition you are after you finished the cycle in 4:20 so you were averaging about 33-35kp/h. I doubt you were last home either way congratulations.

I would imagine a lot of people were glad to see you pass/drop back if you were voicing similar opinions on during the cycle.

It was a sportive by all means push on yourself don't expect others to work as you out front riders.

Plenty of pricks on sportives either end of the scale. Try find a happy middle ground.

Deagol

iwillhtfu wrote: »

If it's recognition you are after you finished the cycle in 4:20 so you were averaging about 33-35kp/h. I doubt you were last home either way congratulations.

I would imagine a lot of people were glad to see you pass/drop back if you were voicing similar opinions on during the cycle.

It was a sportive by all means push on yourself don't expect others to work as you out front riders.

Plenty of pricks on sportives either end of the scale. Try find a happy middle ground.

I think it may have meant it finished at 16:20..... username any type of clue to general attitude in life maybe? :P

One thing I did find strange was there was no food at the end (or if there was I never found it), I was starving coming in and looking forward to a hang sangidge and some fruit cake and all I got was a poxy ice cream

boredatwork82

iwillhtfu wrote:

If it's recognition you are after you finished the cycle in 4:20 so you were averaging about 33-35kp/h. I doubt you were last home either way congratulations.

Haha haha I crossed the finish line at twenty past four, after leaving at 8.45 ! I sure as hell wasn't averaging that speed !

Not looking for any recognition. It's just me on my own personal journey!

boredatwork82

iwillhtfu wrote:

I would imagine a lot of people were glad to see you pass/drop back if you were voicing similar opinions on during the cycle.

No negative opinions, words or actions were cited it done out of me on the cycle. No one needs negativity when you are pushing yourself. I was positive , having a bit of banter with lots of people.

iwillhtfu

boredatwork82 wrote: »

No negative opinions, words or actions were cited it done out of me on the cycle. No one needs negativity when you are pushing yourself. I was positive , having a bit of banter with lots of people.

You'll find all sorts on a cycle when you're breezing along and having a bit of craic with someone in the hurt locker don't be surprised if you get the "would you ever feck off conversation"

Similar may happen to yourself by another rider finding the going grand when you're struggling.

Some lads hate the fast lads
Some lads hate the slow lads
Some lads hate cyclists
and some lads hate everything.

Try be happy in your own little bubble and enjoy your journey.

boredatwork82

iwillhtfu wrote:

Try be happy in your own little bubble and enjoy your journey.

That's it.

thesimpsons

first time doing this one. enjoyed it but found it tough at times. road surface was so bad at times. did it with a group but we split up at various times so got chatting to lots of random people along the way which to me is what makes an event great. I can spin with the club any week but having a chat with others makes it different. well organised, loved dutch corner but would have perferred another on along cliffs of moher to keep me going a bit better on this stretch. saw very little litter on the roads - must be a first. lovely hoodie and well welcomed at the stage I got in, very wet and starting to get cold - didn't realise we were getting anything. scenery everything that was promised.

JK.BMC

boredatwork82 wrote: »

No negative opinions, words or actions were cited it done out of me on the cycle. No one needs negativity when you are pushing yourself. I was positive , having a bit of banter with lots of people.

Except for the cheesecake... . Now that was a pure disgrace. Tut Tut.

boege

Went down on my own to TDB this year, not having done it for a few years now. One thing I have found is that the Burren terrain wears you down and really exposes poor training. Ask me how I know!

I was the opposite this year. I have a good km in the legs and I managed to get in with a nice bunch of riders clipping along at just the right pace (28-30kmph). Everyone seemed of a similar standard so the group of about 20 riders made great time and we breezed past the first stop which I thought was a bit early. However, we all stopped for a picture at Farther Ted's house and that was a good laugh. Group broke up after that but I
joined other groups throughout the day. I have learned to let a group go if the pace is above my comfort zone, or move on, if a bit too slow.

Loved the madness of dutch corner, missed out on cheescake as it was all gone but generally had a really good day.

Tailwind home was a joy and was really tempted to stop in pub in Fanore to watch soccer match over a pint (there must have been a good 50 bikes outside one pub) but feared for my lack of self control.

Funniest part was when early on met some lads from Dungarvan CC. Often meet them on sportives. Whilst chatting I thanked them for all the times they dragged me home on various sportives. Never saw them again all day but 15km from home guess who rolls by with the comment 'time for your pick up'. Jumped on the train and rolled home at savage pace to finish the 155km in 5 hours 38 minutes rolling time, a record for me.

Loved the hoody, dutch corner was new to me and a great wacky idea, would have preferred proper ice cream at finish but can see why they have to streamline the event. Signage and marshaling were top class.

Probably my most enjoyable 160km of cycling I have ever finished and I put that down to being prepared.

Will look forward to SKT and Rebel tours now.

thesimpsons

agree with boege about being prepared and having the training in. wouldn't be the strongest in the club or on any sportive but I do have plenty of training and alot of miles in this year and while I found the road surface pulled me back I was able to plough my way up hill after hill and the dreaded (to me) Cliffs of Moher wasn't at all as bad I had been led to believe. I found that I was passing the same people all the time on the hills who would then pass me on the downhills and I finished the last 20km strong enough.

fryup

boege wrote: »

Tailwind home was a joy and was really tempted to stop in pub in Fanore to watch soccer match over a pint (there must have been a good 50 bikes

tailwind

felt like a headwind to me esp from fanore to ballyvaughan, my speed dropped considerably

kayaksurfbum

Did the big one, 149kms! Left at the oficial start, pushed hard for the first hour and ended up on my own for the whole day! The roads on the first half were really shocking, rattled the ****e out of me. 4 hours 50 mins on the bike.

Loads of people walking around at the end looking for food and a cup of tea. It didnt bother me but a good few people was really giving out about it.

I would not do it again as the surface was so crap and no groups to ride with.

BUT, my wife did it also and loved it. Loads of ladies on the road to cycle with.

boredatwork82

kayaksurfbum wrote:

Did the big one, 149kms! Left at the oficial start, pushed hard for the first hour and ended up on my own for the whole day! The roads on the first half were really shocking, rattled the ****e out of me. 4 hours 50 mins on the bike.

That's pretty good. I was in the saddle for about 7 and a half hours!

lismore7

My 3rd TDB and 1st time on the 150 (AKA 160).

Great event as always and I'll hopefully be back agian next year...but I did have a few little gripes on this year's event....
Firstly....Wasn't mad about the 1st half of the new route...some roads we were directed onto were dodgey to say the least and at least 1 section was only a car width wide. On that section we had 3 encounters with tractors and trailers taking up the entire road, so we had to dismount to get by....1 tractor roared down the road and nearly took us all out on a bend as he took up the whole road and we had nowhere to go!! not the safest road for the strongest/fastest catagory...
2nd gripe....Danergerous corners with gravel...they could have been swept, especially as all 3 levels (160, 100 & 62ks were using them and so you have a large number of lesser experienced riders taking a sharp downhill corner in a group in the wet and over gravel...not good......
Sadly my wife was 1 of those and paid the price....she had a bad fall shortly after the main food stop on such a corner on gravel...ended up with bad road rash on both knees, fingers and injured shoulder.
On such dangerous corners maybe a bit more advance warning and sweep the gravel (not a big job) especially when all 3 levels were using it..

By the way..twas mentiond earlier about a guy who crashed at Father Teds...it happened 2 bikes behind me...loads of riders braked when the shout came up..."it's Father Teds house" and as everyone braked that poor sole hit the wheel of the guy behind me. He hit the deck hard and lay where he fell until ambulance arrived...aound 25 mins later...looked like shoulder injury..
Anyways I'll be back next yeat god willing and maybe they might alter the route of the 160 onto wider better roads...and sweep de gravel on those bad corners please......did miss Cork Screw Hill this year.... but loved Dutch Corner...

fryup

why was cork screw hill left out?? too tough?

trek climber

lismore7 wrote: »

My 3rd TDB and 1st time on the 150 (AKA 160).

Great event as always and I'll hopefully be back agian next year...but I did have a few little gripes on this year's event....
Firstly....Wasn't mad about the 1st half of the new route...some roads we were directed onto were dodgey to say the least and at least 1 section was only a car width wide. On that section we had 3 encounters with tractors and trailers taking up the entire road, so we had to dismount to get by....1 tractor roared down the road and nearly took us all out on a bend as he took up the whole road and we had nowhere to go!! not the safest road for the strongest/fastest catagory...
2nd gripe....Danergerous corners with gravel...they could have been swept, especially as all 3 levels (160, 100 & 62ks were using them and so you have a large number of lesser experienced riders taking a sharp downhill corner in a group in the wet and over gravel...not good......
Sadly my wife was 1 of those and paid the price....she had a bad fall shortly after the main food stop on such a corner on gravel...ended up with bad road rash on both knees, fingers and injured shoulder.
On such dangerous corners maybe a bit more advance warning and sweep the gravel (not a big job) especially when all 3 levels were using it..

By the way..twas mentiond earlier about a guy who crashed at Father Teds...it happened 2 bikes behind me...loads of riders braked when the shout came up..."it's Father Teds house" and as everyone braked that poor sole hit the wheel of the guy behind me. He hit the deck hard and lay where he fell until ambulance arrived...aound 25 mins later...looked like shoulder injury..
Anyways I'll be back next yeat god willing and maybe they might alter the route of the 160 onto wider better roads...and sweep de gravel on those bad corners please......did miss Cork Screw Hill this year.... but loved Dutch Corner...

I was the poor soul who hit the deck at Fr.Ted's house, took my eye of the road when someone shouted about the house and in a split second I had hit the ground. Would like to thank the cyclists who stayed with me until the ambulance arrived - really appreciate what they did for me. Ended up in Ennis General where an xray confirmed that I had a broken collarbone and some nasty road rash. Got back to Ballyvaughan later in day so could have been worse, the bike seems ok and looks like I will only have to replace a helmet. Cannot praise the organisers enough for how everything was handled from looking after my bike, to keeping in contact with my wife and checking in with me later to see if that I was ok (I also got a hoody ). I know that this is their job but it meant a lot to me.

wuzziwig

I pulled right back this year and did the 62km route. I absolutely loved it. Weather was fab. Scenery was stunning and after doing so many long rides it was a pleasure to pull back and really enjoy the cycle and the scenery. We got off at so many different scenic spots to take photographs. I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was more like a day out than a sportive.

I went off earlier than the official 62km start time as I was under pressure to get home. Loved Dutch corner and the good shove they gave me up the hill as I passed by!!! I didn't mind Corkscrew being taken out of it as I cycle it regularly. The foodstop was really quite when we got there. I didn't have the cheesecake so can't comment on it but the egg sandwiches were lovely. The road going into Kilfenora was ****e with shovels of tar lumped all over the road to fill the potholes but other than that I found it fine. I'm used to the roads in the Burren so maybe I don't take as much notice of them as others do. The tourist buses are dangerous on the route but there isn't a whole lot you can do about them. There normally is sandwiches at the end. I didn't miss them as I wasn't hungry but I think there should have been something at the end for the longer routes. Love my hoody. It's really warm and fits nicely. I'll be back next year and will probably take on the 160.

wuzziwig

Ouch trek climber, a broken collar bone is a sore injury. Glad you had good care and hope you managed a few sociables in Ballyvaughan to ease the pain.

wuzziwig

Photos from Dutch Corner here: https://www.facebook.com/BurrenEyePhotography/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1021410567913262

Moflojo

Really enjoyed the Tour de Burren on Saturday. First time doing it and would highly recommend it. The organisation and marshalling were excellent.

The most notable thing for me was the atmosphere; it was very relaxed compared to some other sportives I've done. There was no aggression, no racing, and no large club groups whizzing past at high speed or shouting the odds at less experienced riders. Everyone was happy to say hello and have a chat, groups formed and unformed with ease. Even the mass start was very relaxed and civilised, there was no jockeying for position, everyone just eased along with the large group until the first climb started to break things up naturally.

Delighted with the hoodie at the end too - didn't realise we were getting anything!

fryup

one teeny weeny gripe.....

no paper plates and plastic forks for the cheesecake...or did i miss them?

Deagol

fryup wrote: »

why was cork screw hill left out?? too tough?

I think they were trying to move the volume of riders off the main tourist road and corkscrew is part of that road.

TBH, I was happy not see it, I'm sick of doing it every cycle ever organized in the Burren.

And to answer the last part of your question, NOPE, it's not that tough at all. I think 200mt ascent in 4km or so.

jamesd

fryup wrote: »

one teeny weeny gripe.....

no paper plates and plastic forks for the cheesecake...or did i miss them?

They had napkins and small spoons.

Tifosi

No complaints for me on the TDB, very enjoyable, the climb up Ballyallaban was good, Dutch Corner was a surprise and great Craic. Everyone on the way was pleasant and polite, public support was great.

Food stop was grand, plenty of food, no silver service but then most wouldn't know which fork to use anyway.

Roads were fine, cycle on far worse every week, you need to remember this is rural Ireland not South County Dublin.

Scenery is great especially around Black Head.

One memory I will take with me, at the main food stop minding mine own business head down three guys pull up near me place their bikes. One says, "look at everyone looking at my bike" I look up and low and behold two fellows are looking this way, of which I look at ye mans bike totally unimpressed and turn back.

It beats last year when two fellows are discussing whether or not to wear shoe covers, and decided not as it looked better without them.