SKODA Granfondo Hibernia

mountclare4

New sportive taking place in Clare on the August Bank Holiday Sunday, 31st July. The SKODA Granfondo Hibernia offers a choice of 150km and 100km routes starting and finishing in Ennis. Two great routes that start along the Shannon Estuary, out onto Loop Head Peninsula and the Wild Atlantic Way. Tour de Burren gives you the best of the North of the County, The Granfondo Hibernia gives you the best of the south of County Clare. This is the second event in new SKODA Celtic Cycling Series.

Full details are on www.granfondo.ie

You can follow it on Facebook on www.facebook.com/granfondohibernia

bazermc

Cool. A bit like the etape hibernia that took place a couple of years ago.

But is that the same weekend as the SKT in Waterford?

Buzwaldo

bazermc wrote: »

But is that the same weekend as the SKT in Waterford?

No. But it is on the day after the Tour de Kilkenny.
Sean Kelly is on August 21st.

TGD

It looks good, but is it a regular sportive as opposed to a Gran Fondo - it doesn't seem to have any of the normal features of a Gran Fondo or am I missing something?

bazermc

What makes a grand fondo a grand fondo?

TGD

bazermc wrote: »

What makes a grand fondo a grand fondo?

That's the question!

I suppose a strict interpretation would be along it's origins in the Italian tradition.

Wikipedia defines it as: "The Gran Fondo is a type of long-distance road bicycle race, in which riders are individually chip timed and have the right of way at all intersections." But that's Wikipedia.

The UCI Gran Fondo World Series, is very much in line with this - timing chips, closed roads, results and prizes

Obviously the use of the term is getting diluted, like a lot of terminology - there seems to be no difference now in many cases between 'tour', 'etape', 'sportive', gran fondo', etc.

In fairness, this event doesn't carry the price tag of the traditional gran fondos either!

Carawaystick

bazermc wrote: »

What makes a grand fondo a grand fondo?

Some Big Cheese

Boscoirl

Just signed up for the 150km, need something to keep me motivated for the next few weeks, have gotten lazy

dastardly00

I would like to do this but I'll be doing the Tour de Kilkenny the day before

greenspurs

Anybody doing this one? Good route, and good swag in your 'event pack'

http://granfondo.ie/

Beasty

Threads merged

thesimpsons

question the wisdom of this on what is probably the busiest bank holiday weekend of the year in a heavy tourist area. i've said it to lots of cyclists who aren't aware of the event and to local businesses and they don't know much about it either. its not like the ROK where for years everyone on the ROK route knows to avoid journeys

Captain Scarlet

greenspurs wrote: »

Anybody doing this one? Good route, and good swag in your 'event pack'

http://granfondo.ie/

I'm doing it. Did W200 a few weeks ago, and HOTW in West Clare last Saturday. West Clare is lovely cycling country.

liquoriceall

I didn't think it looked like a great event goodie bag??

greenspurs

liquoriceall wrote: »

I didn't think it looked like a great event goodie bag??

If you register online before 15th July, you get a cap and vest....
And a mug at the finish.... (never did understand medals , unles you are in the Top3)
Not too bad for €40 ! Better than the usual bottle of water and a few leaflets and a biro ......

Captain Scarlet

greenspurs wrote: »

If you register online before 15th July, you get a cap and vest....
And a mug at the finish.... (never did understand medals , unles you are in the Top3)
Not too bad for €40 ! Better than the usual bottle of water and a few leaflets and a biro ......

I'd like party-poppers, a pack of Tayto, dracula-teeth, a bag of Haribos, and a party-blower (the kind that make a noise and unfurl as you blow them).

P_1

Looking very tempting. Is there anyone heading down to this from Dublin?

greenspurs

Captain Scarlet wrote: »

I'd like party-poppers, a pack of Tayto, dracula-teeth, a bag of Haribos, and a party-blower (the kind that make a noise and unfurl as you blow them).

Do your parents know that your on the internet ?

Captain Scarlet

greenspurs wrote: »

Do your parents know that your on the internet ?

No. And I've hidden my tricycle so they can't confiscate it before the Gran Fondo.

Boscoirl

I think the profile for the 150km route on their website is backwards, pretty sure that big climb is at the end and not the beginning.

Here is the strava route https://www.strava.com/clubs/199567/group_events/106300

smacl

bazermc wrote: »

Cool. A bit like the etape hibernia that took place a couple of years ago.

But is that the same weekend as the SKT in Waterford?

Goes the other way and was closed roads. Really enjoyed the etape hibernia if a bit pricey. That said, love cycling in Clare and may try to get to this one.

mountclare4

the map is being edited as we speak - the climb (The Hand) features towards the end of the route so reverse the profile map to get the idea.

harringtonp

mountclare4 wrote: »

the map is being edited as we speak - the climb (The Hand) features towards the end of the route so reverse the profile map to get the idea.

Cycled from Milltown to ennis this morning and road from the hand to ennis is a mess due to the wind farm construction and infrastructure that goes with it

Not complaining, it's still well rideable but has seen much better days.

mountclare4

We were cycling on it last Sunday and it was in good condition plus they had added new surfaces to parts of it so wouldn't have any worries about the surface.

Captain Scarlet

Captain Scarlet wrote: »

I'd like party-poppers, a pack of Tayto, dracula-teeth, a bag of Haribos, and a party-blower (the kind that make a noise and unfurl as you blow them).

I got a pair of sunglasses from Wiggle today, and there's a pack of Haribos in the box!

sullivlo

A question for anyone who has cycled this route before (or even cycled over that lump at the end) - how bad is it?

This would be my greatest elevation gain in a cycle - previous was ~1300 over 100km. I'm more of a slow and steady / grind it out, than sprinting up hills. Are there any climbs that would be comparable? I have done Sally Gap (from Manor Kilbride), Wicklow Gap (from Laragh), Hollywood (from Wicklow Gap) and Howth (from Sutton).

Distance wise I should be okay. Have a few 200's under my belt, but on mainly flat roads. Maybe 400m gain over the 200.

It looks to be doable - it seems to be an easy enough gradient for a good few k, but the top bit looks a bit scary. Is it a constant 13km slog, or are there breaks in it at all?

I'm going to do the event anyway, but may settle for the 100km.

greenspurs

sullivlo wrote: »

A question for anyone who has cycled this route before (or even cycled over that lump at the end) - how bad is it?

Its 210m elevation over 13km ......
Gradient wouldn't be too bad, going by their strava course, 7 or 8% max, and around 4 or 5 % average.
You will feel it at that stage of the day, but I wouldn't be too scared
( FAMOUS last words !!)

p.s I haven't cycled it before, so I could be Tooootally wrong !! :P

harringtonp

Its a doddle of a climb compared to Wicklow or Sally gap.
If there is a good westerly you will fly up it.
Its ramped with short flat/downhill stretches in between.

Captain Scarlet

harringtonp wrote: »

Its a doddle of a climb compared to Wicklow or Sally gap.

Seconded.

G1032

greenspurs wrote: »

Its 210m elevation over 13km ......
Gradient wouldn't be too bad, going by their strava course, 7 or 8% max, and around 4 or 5 % average.
You will feel it at that stage of the day, but I wouldn't be too scared
( FAMOUS last words !!)

p.s I haven't cycled it before, so I could be Tooootally wrong !! :P

210 gain over 13km would be about 1.6% or so average gradient I think (or thereabouts)
Sure you'd hardly notice it I'd imagine?

dunworth1

signed up for the 150km