What's a good elevation gain to consider when looking for a hilly race?

RowanHarley

Want to find a race that'll suit me and my climbing skills. What's a good elevation gain to consider and if anyone knows some races near the Midlands with a hill-top finish or if it's part of a lap, please throw it in. I know a few ones like the markievicz cup and the cycleways cup.

daragh_

Des Hanlon Memorial might be the one for you so. Or the Shay Elliott?

You can come and do our race in september - I'm sure you'll be out of A4 by then.

dahat

Only one place to go.. De Ronde race late in year, nasty race!!!

Glass Prison 1214

Lacey Cup (Kerry), Newbridge GP (Kildare), Stamullen GP (Meath), Nenagh Classic (Tipperary), Des Hanlon (Carlow), Laragh Classic (Wicklow), Eddie Tobin (Wexford), Bob Crilly (Somewhere up north), Deenside (Carlow, I think), and the Shay Elliot (Wicklow), are all the hilly races that I know of.

If there are more than 100 metres elevation gain per 10km I would consider it a hilly race for Ireland. Assuming the courses for these races are the same as last year, only the Bob Crilly and Eddie Tobin are hilltop finishes.

nilhg

Glass Prison 1214 wrote: »

Lacey Cup (Kerry), Newbridge GP (Kildare), Stamullen GP (Meath), Nenagh Classic (Tipperary), Des Hanlon (Carlow), Laragh Classic (Wicklow), Eddie Tobin (Wexford), Bob Crilly (Somewhere up north), Deenside (Carlow, I think), and the Shay Elliot (Wicklow), are all the hilly races that I know of.

If there are more than 100 metres elevation gain per 10km I would consider it a hilly race for Ireland. Assuming the courses for these races are the same as last year, only the Bob Crilly and Eddie Tobin are hilltop finishes.

No Newbridge GP this year it seems

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1786072201423044&id=193903540639926

RowanHarley

Glass Prison 1214 wrote: »

Lacey Cup (Kerry), Newbridge GP (Kildare), Stamullen GP (Meath), Nenagh Classic (Tipperary), Des Hanlon (Carlow), Laragh Classic (Wicklow), Eddie Tobin (Wexford), Bob Crilly (Somewhere up north), Deenside (Carlow, I think), and the Shay Elliot (Wicklow), are all the hilly races that I know of.

If there are more than 100 metres elevation gain per 10km I would consider it a hilly race for Ireland. Assuming the courses for these races are the same as last year, only the Bob Crilly and Eddie Tobin are hilltop finishes.

Ok Jesus thanks for that list. That's handy! Does the Shay Eliot race go through the Wicklow mountains?

Glass Prison 1214

RowanHarley wrote: »

Ok Jesus thanks for that list. That's handy! Does the Shay Eliot race go through the Wicklow mountains?

I don't know if the route has been announced for this year, but it definitely goes over the Shay Elliot climb every year. This is last years A1/A2 route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/19873137

RowanHarley

Looking at the Des Hanlon memorial, the race seems like more of a race for the sprinters. The winner last year came through at 75km/h!

Edit: Nvm his gps readings were just off. He finished on a max of 56km/h I think

Harrybelafonte

Des Hanlon not a sprinter's race. Honestly

JK.BMC

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

Des Hanlon not a sprinter's race. Honestly

Route is different to before; yes it still is hard but nothing like 5 years ago, or the 1980s when they went over Mt Leinster; the last 15km are downhill.

The A4 Des Hanlon will have a bunch sprint finish this year. I would put at least half my pocket money on that prediction.

RowanHarley

JK.BMC wrote: »

Route is different to before; yes it still is hard but nothing like 5 years ago, or the 1980s when they went over Mt Leinster; the last 15km are downhill.

The A4 Des Hanlon will have a bunch sprint finish this year. I would put at least half my pocket money on that prediction.

Ya, especially with the fact that A4 riders apparently chase down anyone looking to get away, according to my club mates. Although if you can get away on the last hill, there might be a small chance of pushing it on the descent and trying to hold them off. With a good long descent, if you've got the legs, you might manage it.

JK.BMC

RowanHarley wrote: »

Ya, especially with the fact that A4 riders apparently chase down anyone looking to get away, according to my club mates. Although if you can get away on the last hill, there might be a small chance of pushing it on the descent and trying to hold them off. With a good long descent, if you've got the legs, you might manage it.

And if you can spin the 52x14 junior gears fast enough on the downhill then yes, one might manage to stay away from the senior A4s pushing 53x11 at about 65kmh through Killeshin.

When you get a chance, google the cadence/leg speed needed to ride that fast on junior gears. Not sure what it is myself. I assume you have the proper junior gearing? Max gear is 52x14. You won't be able to race without it.

Harrybelafonte

JK.BMC wrote: »

Route is different to before; yes it still is hard but nothing like 5 years ago, or the 1980s when they went over Mt Leinster; the last 15km are downhill.

The A4 Des Hanlon will have a bunch sprint finish this year. I would put at least half my pocket money on that prediction.

Apologies. Didn't realise it had changed

RowanHarley

JK.BMC wrote: »

And if you can spin the 52x14 junior gears fast enough on the downhill then yes, one might manage to stay away from the senior A4s pushing 53x11 at about 65kmh through Killeshin.

When you get a chance, google the cadence/leg speed needed to ride that fast on junior gears. Not sure what it is myself. I assume you have the proper junior gearing? Max gear is 52x14. You won't be able to race without it.

Ya, my new bike came with the junior gearing on it.

Also, looking at the cadence there, if they held 100 rpm, I'd match their speed at 130 rpm.