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

sullivlo

harringtonp wrote: »

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.

Cool, thanks. Will give it a bash.

harringtonp

dunworth1 wrote: »

signed up for the 150km

Just signed up myself too and looking forward to it.

Actually being a local event our club offered to refund 20E to each fully paid up member who completes the cycle, needless to say there has been a good take up.

Even though the biggest climb on the 150 is by far the Hand, we often refer to the road out by the estuary as the hilliest flat road in the county. Strava won't show much on it but it always feels either up or down.

On the other hand if you have the normal prevailing wind expect to fly along the section from Kilkee to the bottom of the hand once you get over the wee hill just outside Kilkee.

Boscoirl

Have cycled the estuary road as far as the Ferry, and its lumpy alright

dunworth1

Boscoirl wrote: »

Have cycled the estuary road as far as the Ferry, and its lumpy alright

ah its not too bad :pac:

harringtonp

At least you'll be fresh then.

Just wondering at Skoda events does the front of the field usually take a stop (as is usually the case in the Tour De Burren) or ride through (as was the case in the 2 years the Etape Hibernia ran) ?

And if riding through are there any roadside water stops in this event ?

seanin4711

hows is it in comparison to Gran fondo Belfast?
quare lumpy that wan!

Esroh

harringtonp wrote: »

At least you'll be fresh then.

Just wondering at Skoda events does the front of the field usually take a stop (as is usually the case in the Tour De Burren) or ride through (as was the case in the 2 years the Etape Hibernia ran) ?

And if riding through are there any roadside water stops in this event ?

If thats the Sky Etape Hibernia was it not on closed roads and run in the way the GF Giro is in the north with prizes etc. All about the clock !!

harringtonp

Esroh wrote: »

If thats the Sky Etape Hibernia was it not on closed roads and run in the way the GF Giro is in the north with prizes etc. All about the clock !!

It was, closed roads and timings, don't think there were prizes. Bit shorter too at a little over 130k

greenspurs

Looking forward to this on Sunday.
Weather is looking good also !!

diarmaidol

Roll on indeed, however... having been in west clare all last week, the weather on the forecast and reality haven't exactly been matching very well. Will be my first time doing 150km.

MLC61

Entered this thinking that it would be reasonably flat. Completed the Tour de Conamara reasonably handily, however the Strava profile of the route looks very undulating with lots of short sharp hills. The total metres climbed is similar to Conamara with no real hills which is a bit of a concern. Has anyone any experience of the route?

diarmaidol

I've not cycled it but have driven all the roads. It's defiantly rolling but I think strava has the gradients wrong. No way it's a 1% average ride. I've done a few 1% gradient rides in North Clare and theres always a couple of kickers in there. I just stuck a quick version of the route into bikemap.net and it came back with about 900m which I would think is a more accurate gradient over the ride.

MLC61

Thanks - sounds more manageable. Am now looking for accommodation for the Sat night if anyone knows of a B&B or hotel? Arrangements have fallen through.

greenspurs

MLC61 wrote: »

Thanks - sounds more manageable. Am now looking for accommodation for the Sat night if anyone knows of a B&B or hotel? Arrangements have fallen through.

Would be the same for me !!
Ennis area is fairly full !

Anyone know what kind of numbers they have??

seanin4711

What time the 150km roll out?

diarmaidol

Event Timings

The 150km and 100km events will both start at 9.30am from Treacys West County Hotel.

Event sign on

There are two sign on events. Al Hayes SKODA Garage on the Gort Road, Ennis will host a Pasta Party and sign on event on Saturday from 4pm to 7pm. On the morning of the event you can sign on at Treacys West County Hotel from 7.30am and 9.15am.

Car Parking

The parking for the event is at Clarecastle GAA grounds. There will be no access for cars to the hotel grounds on the morning of the event.

mountclare4

Late registrations at Al Hayes Garage on Saturday between 2-6pm and West County at 7.30am onwards

Whats happening

Looks like from their email this morning both routes have 8km added to avoid busy roads, so assuming all in the 1st half.

Coolcappa

Does anyone know if you can set off early... before the official 9.30 start time.

Boscoirl

Did the 100km+in the end. Didn't have enough Km in the legs over the last few weeks. Was starting to struggle just before kilrush.

The little hills were relentless. The only flat piece of road was in Ennis I think.

Overall it was a good day. It could have been organised better. The marshals on the route were great, had good banter with most of them.

Thanks to guy from portumna cc for the company for the last 20km or so. I struggled to get in a group I could hang onto and spent lot of the day by myself.