Evil 2019

irishrover99

Date: Saturday 8th June 2019(TBC)
Time: 7.15 AM (TBC)
Where: Luas Bridge Dundrum

So its that time of year again to start thinking about the hardest sportive in Ireland.
This year i'll put up two routes from the start and again we can conduct a poll to see which one we will do.
Route 1:
https://www.strava.com/routes/16068255

As usual, it will start in Dundrum on the same weekend as the Wicklow 200 and go up Sandyford road and then up Slate cabin lane out to the Blue Light. From there we will go towards Cruagh road and do a few of the climbs around Bohernabreena.
This year will have a new climb in that area which is only short at about 500m long but it will be a good test of the legs that early on.
https://www.strava.com/segments/7768934.

Then its up Ballinascorney and the over the Wicklow gap via the gap road so some extra climbing and it cuts out a part of Lake Drive.
https://www.strava.com/segments/688873

Then its down to Laragh and we do the usual loop of climbs around Shay Elliot but this year, the climb from the church in Avoca is back.
https://www.strava.com/segments/1305765


Route 2:
https://www.strava.com/routes/15985795

The start is pretty much the same until we get to gap road where we can do a loop of that climb and then come back up the Sally Gap past Kippure house and over Luggala.
This can allows us to do a loop around Devils Glen which is a nice route and it has another nasty climb in it.
https://www.strava.com/segments/1234763
Then it will be around Shay Elliot and Avoca as with route 1.


Both routes have different finishes in them with one going from the Sally Gap straight up the Featherbeds and the other needing to go up Liam Horner.

Both routes finish at the Blue Light but this can be changed to the Merry Ploughboy and it also allows you to get over the 5000m mark if you are short.

I know it might be a bit early for this thread but i'm off the bike nearly a month and bored so thought i'd get the ball rolling.
All recommendations and changes welcome.

irishrover99

Weepsie wrote: »

Permissions issue with Route 1. Can't access it. I'll say I'm in, and inevitably not do it.

Should be ok now

daragh_

Any of the above. I'm in.

devonp

prefer(the lesser of 2 evils:P) route 2 , anything to avoid Lake drive !, if i can make it

irishrover99

devonp wrote: »

prefer(the lesser of 2 evils:P) route 2 , anything to avoid Lake drive !, if i can make it

I’ve no problem with that. It would probably be my preferred route as it also gives an easier route home, up the featherbeds from sally gap.

Wishbone Ash

devonp wrote: »

... anything to avoid Lake drive...

Hear, hear!

Wishbone Ash

irishrover99 wrote: »

out to the Blue Light.....

.......Both routes finish at the Blue Light ...

OK, this is probably going to be embarrassing for me but I'm intrigued by this 'Blue Light'.

I'd consider myself fairly well travelled in Dublin/Wicklow and have often heard of it on Boards.ie but have no recollection of ever passing it. I had to 'Google' it to learn that it is a pub yet I have never heard of it been mentioned outside of the Boards Cycling Forum.

irishrover99

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

OK, this is probably going to be embarrassing for me but I'm intrigued by this 'Blue Light'.

I'd consider myself fairly well travelled in Dublin/Wicklow and have often heard of it on Boards.ie but have no recollection of ever passing it. I had to 'Google' it to learn that it is a pub yet I have never heard of it been mentioned outside of the Boards Cycling Forum.

If you’ve never been than you’ll be plesently surprised when you see it.
It has the best views of Dublin that any pub can offer. Just imagine Cruagh road viewpoint been a pub, but the blue light is better.
If you know lamb Doyle’s pub which is not far from ticknock, then you’ll easily find it.
It’s well worth a visit.

godtabh

Never been in the Blue Light but stopped plenty of times for the view. Is it a biker pub?

I’m in

irishrover99

godtabh wrote: »

Never been in the Blue Light but stopped plenty of times for the view. Is it a biker pub?

I’m in

A lot of bikers do stop there but I don’t think you could just call it that as it’s full of all sorts.
Hope you can make it.

wanderer 22

On an extended enforced absence from the bike right now but I hope to be there..this year's Evil was my best/worst/hardest/most satisfying spin yet!

Plastik

Smashing little pub, The Blue Light. Great place to stop on a summers evening for a pint on the way home.

christy02

Is this open to everyone? Be very interested if so. Either route. Doing la Marmotte in July so this would be a good way of proving that I'm not ready for It!!!!
Sure I'll talk a few of my travelling companions in if it's more the merrier?

irishrover99

christy02 wrote: »

Is this open to everyone? Be very interested if so. Either route. Doing la Marmotte in July so this would be a good way of proving that I'm not ready for It!!!!
Sure I'll talk a few of my travelling companions in if it's more the merrier?

Anyone is welcome and yes the more the merrier.
It’s free and while we usually try stay together, in the end it’s every man for himself if you get my drift, obviously any accidents would be different.

If you can do this then the marmotte will be handy for you.

christy02

Nice 1. Count me in so if it goes ahead.

Gerry

I'm interested but I wonder if it's a bit much for me. I did the mb200 in just under 9 hours. I am fitter now but not sure how much. Anyone got a Strava link to evil 2018 so I can see the pace?

wanderer 22

Gerry wrote: »

I'm interested but I wonder if it's a bit much for me. I did the mb200 in just under 9 hours. I am fitter now but not sure how much. Anyone got a Strava link to evil 2018 so I can see the pace?

We split into at least 2 groups last year...I was in the slowest one https://www.strava.com/activities/1627880548

irishrover99

Gerry wrote: »

I'm interested but I wonder if it's a bit much for me. I did the mb200 in just under 9 hours. I am fitter now but not sure how much. Anyone got a Strava link to evil 2018 so I can see the pace?

It’s a lot harder than the MB but don’t worry about the pace.
I think one guy took 14 hours last year.
The pace does be slow because if you go out too fast, you’ll pay in the end.

daragh_

We've been doing these since 2012 which is pretty cool. :cool:

Alek

And there is no shame in bailing out earlier if needs be. Been there, done that

irishrover99

Alek wrote: »

And there is no shame in bailing out earlier if needs be. Been there, done that

Bailing out early still leaves you with long day in the legs.
Last year was the first time i finished the full course but the 3 previous years i still had over 210 km when i finished, after bailing early.

Alek

Bailing out early still leaves you with long day in the legs.

Depends how early My last one was a bit over 160k https://www.strava.com/activities/1627260739



Definitely an improvement over the previous go https://www.strava.com/activities/1052258635

irishrover99

daragh_ wrote: »

We've been doing these since 2012 which is pretty cool. :cool:

Its added a few meters since then Daragh.

AstraMonti

It's nice to see you are continuing this madness With my current fitness levels, I can probably make it to the meeting point and back home without dying

daragh_

Alek wrote: »

Depends how early My last one was a bit over 160k https://www.strava.com/activities/1627260739



Definitely an improvement over the previous go https://www.strava.com/activities/1052258635

Insanity

Gerry

Fair play folks, I think excuses have been removed. Challenge accepted

Wishbone Ash

I still have business to finish from 2016! Going to make that one of my goals for 2019.

https://www.strava.com/activities/672812717

terrydel

Thats my birthday, I'll be 41! If I'm not doing the Wicklow 200, I'll join you all on this

irishrover99

terrydel wrote: »

Thats my birthday, I'll be 41! If I'm not doing the Wicklow 200, I'll join you all on this

My goal for next year is to do both, since my hopes of a cycling holiday next summer seem to have been dashed already.

Sunsets On Tuesday

I'd love to do it again -
But (unpopular opinion) I dislike Blessington and West Wicklow for long spins. Nice areas, but don't add much to a spin concentrating on climbing, other than irritating distance.

I thought the route last year was faultless, and thoroughly enjoyable .

I'll probably do any route but perhaps I've cycled around Blessington too much in the winter rain to appreciate it!
Is it against the rules to do the reverse route of last year (perhaps)?

irishrover99

Sunsets On Tuesday wrote: »

I'd love to do it again -
But (unpopular opinion) I dislike Blessington and West Wicklow for long spins. Nice areas, but don't add much to a spin concentrating on climbing, other than irritating distance.

I thought the route last year was faultless, and thoroughly enjoyable .

I'll probably do any route but perhaps I've cycled around Blessington too much in the winter rain to appreciate it!
Is it against the rules to do the reverse route of last year (perhaps)?

Arron, is west Wicklow the Wicklow Gap?

We, by the looks of it (if we use route 2) are only using a small section of lake drive and then going over Gap road and from what i can see on Strava, not many boards members have gone over, including myself.

And that is the same for a couple of the climbs i've put on it.

The reason i changed the route again is because it has changed every year since 2012.
If anyone else would like to do the same route as last year, let me know and ill put it in the poll.

The reason i've only done the Wicklow 200 once, is because the route hasn't really changed apart from the start/finish location but the main climbs have stayed the same.

irishrover99

Sunsets On Tuesday wrote: »

Is it against the rules to do the reverse route of last year (perhaps)?

Last years route, reversed
You would be going down the Wall, Cunard road so it would be easier.
https://www.strava.com/routes/16411507

This year we will be doing a much harder loop around Laragh.
Not only is the climb out of Avoca in it but we will also be doing the Shay Elliot, Slieve Mann combo at the end of that loop instead of at the start as we did last year.
It makes a big difference.

The Noble Nudge

Strava links not working for me....What climbing are in both versions?
Interested but have to work out my 2019 calendar as of yet...

Sunsets On Tuesday

irishrover99 wrote: »

Last years route, reversed
You would be going down the Wall, Cunard road so it would be easier.
https://www.strava.com/routes/16411507

This year we will be doing a much harder loop around Laragh.
Not only is the climb out of Avoca in it but we will also be doing the Shay Elliot, Slieve Mann combo at the end of that loop instead of at the start as we did last year.
It makes a big difference.

That reversed loop looks nice. But yeah perhaps I just saw lake drive and overreacted, I don't really mind which route is done! I understand the attraction of changing it every year too :-)

irishrover99

The Noble Nudge wrote: »

Strava links not working for me....What climbing are in both versions?
Interested but have to work out my 2019 calendar as of yet...

Links are working fine for me and i'm not even signed into Strava so i'm not sure whats wrong as they are not on private.

Both routes about 230 km with just over 5100 meters.
Its really the most you can cram into Wicklow in that many km's without repeating the same roads.

Dipsomaniac

I'll put my name down. Hopefully winter wont be as bad as last year and I get out more.

LollipopJimmy

This could clash with a Ring of Kerry with work but if it doesn't I'm all over this like a cheap suit

irishrover99

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

This could clash with a Ring of Kerry with work but if it doesn't I'm all over this like a cheap suit

Ring of Kerry is in July.
The evil is in June so plenty of time to recover .

godtabh

irishrover99 wrote: »

Ring of Kerry is in July.
The evil is in June so plenty of time to recover .

I asusme he meant he is doing the route with work as opposed with doing the actual event.

irishrover99

godtabh wrote: »

I asusme he meant he is doing the route with work as opposed with doing the actual event.

Yeah i got that after i replied.
Sure then he's even more spare time to rearrange the Kerry trip;).

LollipopJimmy

irishrover99 wrote: »

Ring of Kerry is in July.
The evil is in June so plenty of time to recover .

Not 'the' ROK but 'a' ROK, few of us from work are doing it

Not worried about recovery tbh, all this fight training at the moment I reckon I could cycle through a concrete wall :pac:

LollipopJimmy

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

Not 'the' ROK but 'a' ROK, few of us from work are doing it

Not worried about recovery tbh, all this fight training at the moment I reckon I could cycle through a concrete wall :pac:

Ah **** it... I just checked, this clashes with Metallica in Slane

magicbastarder

well, you'll just have to pick one. Sad but true, i know.

LollipopJimmy

magicbastarder wrote: »

well, you'll just have to pick one. Sad but true, i know.

Get your coat

But yes, I'll be at Metallica

irishrover99

I suppose it’s about time to give the thread a bump so as people not forget.
Anyone confirmed for been in or out.

LollipopJimmy

No chance of moving this so it doesn't clash with Metallica? The 29th would suit me actually :pac:

irishrover99

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

No chance of moving this so it doesn't clash with Metallica? The 29th would suit me actually :pac:

Sorry. I don’t have the authority to make that decision😀.
It’s always been on the same weekend so as the Wicklow 200 so that’s why I have picked the same weekend again.

wanderer 22

I'll start it anyway, no promises beyond that..

Alek

Like the above, just shortened to

no promises

Sunsets On Tuesday

I hope to do it, although I expect you, Irishrover, to provide;
food,
insurance,
closed roads,
trophies for finishing,
bouncy castles,
gps timing;
and to ensure that pedestrians don't get in our way.

Failure to do any of the above should lead to the cancelling of the "event."

(!)

Alek

A bouncy castle at the far end of a dangerous downhill turn is actually quite a tempting idea