Donegal Bay Spring Sportive 2019 April 13th

DonegalBay

Back for another edition of the Donegal Bay Spring Sportive, the event will take place on Saturday April 13th this year. Once again, we will be offering 3 routes 140/100/50k taking in the roads of South Donegal. You will be guaranteed stunning scenery, challenging routes, superb Donegal hospitality, fantastic food and great value for money.

Online entry is now open for the 140/100k routes and due to the increased popularity of the event in recent years, places are capped and likely to sell out so be sure to get registered asap. Follow the line below.

https://eventmaster.ie/event/BEWF23c8j


The Routes

140k: https://www.strava.com/routes/7526382

100k: https://www.strava.com/routes/7533437

50k: https://www.strava.com/routes/7533456

Wishbone Ash

Booked

(Do you realise that there is an utterly pointless 'option' in your booking form where one is asked to tick a box if they wish to be informed of similar events, I declined this option but was informed that I must tick it to proceed, What's the point of giving an 'option' that one can't decline?)

AxleAddict

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

(Do you realise that there is an utterly pointless 'option' in your booking form where one is asked to tick a box if they wish to be informed of similar events, I declined this option but was informed that I must tick it to proceed, What's the point of giving an 'option' that one can't decline?)

I noticed this also - I was going to say its likely something that EventMaster add to all events by default but having checked a few other event registrations its either not present or present (but not mandatory).

Regardless, I've signed up again - the Donegal Bay Spring Sportive is a great early season event - some great scenery (we've been lucky with the weather the past few years, a bit windy in places but dry) and a few wee hills thrown in too. Looking forward to it!

ednwireland

AxleAddict wrote: »

I noticed this also - I was going to say its likely something that EventMaster add to all events by default but having checked a few other event registrations its either not present or present (but not mandatory).

Regardless, I've signed up again - the Donegal Bay Spring Sportive is a great early season event - some great scenery (we've been lucky with the weather the past few years, a bit windy in places but dry) and a few wee hills thrown in too. Looking forward to it!

thanks it was raised to me in a meeting last night, ive turned off that as a mandatory field (hopefully !)

at1withmyself

Booked, this will be my 6th Attempt.

fat bloke

Fantastic event. Very sorry I'm not around for it this year

monkeyslayer

Great event last year. Top notch organisation. Spent a whole two hours telling myself I wouldn't do the 140 and opt out at the junction, got to the junction and did the 140, some hill. Enjoyed every minute of it.

velo.2010

What's the drive like up to Donegal from Dublin? How would it compare with Killarney for example?

Wishbone Ash

velo.2010 wrote: »

What's the drive like up to Donegal from Dublin? How would it compare with Killarney for example?

Wouldn't be as far as Kilarney. Probably an hour quicker.

magicbastarder

it's about 3 hours, from the M50 to donegal town. lovely scenery on the way along lough erne too.

DonegalBay

We know everyone doesn't do the oul facebook page, so here is a link to the event website.

https://donegalbayspringsportive2019.wordpress.com/

Gives all details, plus a written account of the 140/100km routes, few photos as well.


On getting from Dublin to Donegal Town, I agree with others. About 3 hours to Donegal Town.

Motorway M3 all the way to outside Virginia, Cavan and road is then good to Enniskillen. Anyone coming that direction, watch out for speed vans through all of Cavan. Roads are wide and fast, it is easy to find yourself over the limit.

AxleAddict

I had this fella for company a few years ago :eek: This was an image from my rear camera, so thankfully was cycling away from him rather than about to run him over

ednwireland

just in case you want some more encouragement !

https://www.facebook.com/donegaltowncyclingclub/videos/2139251059494610/

DonegalBay

Only one week until online registration for the Donegal Bay Spring Sportive closes so if you havent signed up yet, do it asap as places are limited.

https://eventmaster.ie/event/BEWF23c8j

velo.2010

Booked.
Did the Ring of Kerry at that time last year. So, now I've cycling around both ends of the country ticked off!

retalivity

Trying to signup for the 100k but website throwing an error? Reloading the page doesnt help...

ednwireland

retalivity wrote: »

Trying to signup for the 100k but website throwing an error? Reloading the page doesnt help...

can you PM me the error ?

thanks

ed

retalivity

Seems to have fixed itself now, i am in!

ednwireland

look forward to seeing you there !

velo.2010

Hmm, weather not looking great. Threat of rain and strong gusty winds likely. Not looking forward to riding into a headwind on the way back to Donegal town. Will wait till tomorrow and decide if its worth driving up.

Wishbone Ash

velo.2010 wrote: »

Hmm, weather not looking great. Threat of rain and strong gusty winds likely. Not looking forward to riding into a headwind on the way back to Donegal town. Will wait till tomorrow and decide if its worth driving up.

Weather looking ok for tomorrow. Dry, between 6 and 10 degrees with a fresh south easterly. I'll take that over rain any day.

retalivity

Sunny, clear, but very very windy in NW donegal, southerly by the looks of it. On the way to donegal town now...

Cee-Jay-Cee

Very stormy here today, wouldn't relish having to do that cycle today but good luck to all that did though!!

retalivity

That was crazy......took me nearly 3hrs to do the 45k from the foodstop back to donegal (plus detours!) - wind was mental

Wishbone Ash

That was a bit of a slog alright!

velo.2010

Well, the food was great!

Seriously though, that was dangerous at times today. I heard folk were getting lifts back to the finish as it was too much for some. It wasn't nice leaning the bike over in that wind and I think a few will have been out off doing an event like that again if there is any chance of strong winds.

Anyway, I don't feel too fatigued after the drive back to Kildare. Lets see if they get any of that wind tomorrow at Roubaix.

Wishbone Ash

velo.2010 wrote: »

Well, the food was great!

Seriously though, that was dangerous at times today. I heard folk were getting lifts back to the finish as it was too much for some. It wasn't nice leaning the bike over in that wind and I think a few will have been out off doing an event like that again if there is any chance of strong winds.

Anyway, I don't feel too fatigued after the drive back to Kildare. Lets see if they get any of that wind tomorrow at Roubaix.

First time I've seen riders walking down descents as they were so afraid of getting blown off the road. I had several squeaky bum moments! I'm a bit stiff now after the drive back to Dublin.

(Another first for me today - sportive stopped by marshals to allow a funeral cortege to exit a side road).

Wishbone Ash

velo.2010 wrote: »

..... I heard folk were getting lifts back to the finish as it was too much for some....

From their FB page:

At times it felt like 'the evacuation of Dunkirk' we were ferrying so many people back home with whatever means available due to the conditions.

gambeta_fc

Well, that was brutal.

I thought I was well used to wind but never had a day on the bike like it.

Got plenty use out of the small ring, so many times going for for one more shift only to find already in easiest gear ... and that was on the downhills.

Not sure of accuracy but heard it was 40kmh with 70kmh gusts, sure felt like it when being thrown across the road like a rag doll. Unfortunately seen a couple of falls and many more having to walk, as mentioned this was even on flat or downhill and due to cyclists feeling unsafe with head or side winds.

Well done to anyone who took part. Organisation was top class as always.

meercat

Tough day on the bike with those winds alright. Needed all my concentration to stay upright on ascents and descents too. Pushed to edge of road a few times.
Great organisation by marshals and enjoyed it.
Felt sorry for the lad who drove under the goalposts taking off his bike and roof rack at the car park. Hopefully not too much damage.
Met wishbone ash at the food stop and always good to put a face to a name.

DonegalBay

Thanks to everyone who came and well done to anyone who finished. Unfortunately it turned into a brutal day with the wind. Naturally enough, as organisers we had been keeping an eye on the weather all week and whilst it was giving it to be windy, we did not expect it to be that bad. Clearly most other people didn't either as over 400 still showed up. I think even on the morning, it wasn't that bad and their was a tailwind on the westerly journey so it was deceptive, only when people turned, were they hit with the full extent of the wind. Some of the roads back are also very exposed which didn't help.

When the 50k riders were returning, they were saying it was dangerous over the final climb on the main road with all the traffic cones and wind. Unfortunately there are limited routes back to Donegal Town town and so we made a decision to re-route the 100k finish on a road which was more sheltered but added 5km and a tougher finish. Some did go around, but most people were so ****ed by the time they got to the turn-off point, they just wanted to go straight back the main road through the traffic cones as did most of the 140k riders as well.

A few did come off, but nobody was seriously hurt and the 2 ambulances were not called into action. We got as many people out in vehicles to help get cyclists back who couldn't continue or felt unsafe to continue. Everyone who wanted to stop was brought back to the finish. Don't know how many, but think it was around 50. We did consider stopping it at one point, but getting over 400 people back to the finish is not that simple and cyclist's being cyclists, most wanted to finish and a few were not too happy when asked about stopping.

It really spoiled it for everyone, but most people still seemed happy enough. I had 3 who stopped, back in the car with me and they were all set to come back again to do it next year. Just the nature of cycling, that the elements can play havoc with an event, especially where we are based. In 7 editions, this is the first really bad day we have had weather wise.

I suppose on the flip side, there will be plenty of epic stories of the day in the crazy wind in Donegal. Thanks again to everyone who came and we can only apologise for the conditions.

DonegalBay

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Weather looking ok for tomorrow. Dry, between 6 and 10 degrees with a fresh south easterly. I'll take that over rain any day.

That's what we were thinking Friday evening as well.

velo.2010

DonegalBay wrote: »

.
Thanks again to everyone who came and we can only apologise for the conditions.

No need to apologise for the conditions - completely out of your control. You did everything right with regard to the organisation and marshalling, and everybody who wanted to get a lift back, got one.

For 20 euro, it was the best spread of food I've found at any sportive I've done previously and that includes some events who rate themselves highly on what they provide for riders.

Wishbone Ash

DonegalBay wrote: »

....It really spoiled it for everyone....

While it made for a very tough day, it certainly didn't spoil it. We need these type of challenges to harden us up. At least it was dry. Can you imagine the chaos you would have had if those winds were accompanied by rain? :eek:

It was nowhere near as tough as the conditions on the Orwell 200 a few weeks ago.

(I though it was funny hearing riders talking about the wind on the VCB Sportive this morning. It was practically dead calm compared to south west Donegal yesterday. )

AxleAddict

DonegalBay wrote: »

Thanks to everyone who came and well done to anyone who finished. <snip>

This post pretty much sums up the day for me. This was my fourth crack at it and the toughest by quite some margin. I've cycled in strong winds before, but not for hours on end - being on my own for most of the return leg didn't help either. I was so very very close to calling it a day, pedalling downhill in order to just keep moving was so demoralising (they're my hard-fought reward for all the climbing), but just managed to cross the line under my own steam - and in many ways that was all the more satisfying than having an 'easy' day on the bike.

It certainly hasn't put me off - the DBSS is one of my favourite sportives - a challenging, but beautiful route (you guys on the west coast don't know how lucky you are - or maybe you do!). I was probably somewhere near the tail-end of the pack, but the marshalls were great and it was reassuring to see support vehicles passing up and down the road on a regular basis, keeping an eye on everyone and if I couldn't stick it any longer, a cosy, wind-free trip back to HQ. Once again, thanks to everyone involved - your effort is very much appreciated.

Definitely one I'll remember for some time to come

Saw someone come past me in boards jersey at one point too....

Wishbone Ash

Well done for sticking with it AxleAddict.

It was probably myself who passed you in Boards gear.

AxleAddict

meercat wrote: »

Felt sorry for the lad who drove under the goalposts taking off his bike and roof rack at the car park.

I did wonder myself what had happened there - I heard the crunching sound and saw a fella kicking his roof rack in total disgust afterwards. If nothing else, it saved him several hours of cycling into the wind (the bike might've ended bp being thrown into a ditch somewhere out along the route instead!)

AxleAddict

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

(Another first for me today - sportive stopped by marshals to allow a funeral cortege to exit a side road).

Had something similar happen at the Sean Kelly Tour of the Midlands last year - the only problem being that in order to get everyone stopped quickly we needed to call out the hazard to those behind us - but once stopped, it was all very respectful.

Wishbone Ash

AxleAddict wrote: »

I did wonder myself what had happened there - I heard the crunching sound and saw a fella kicking his roof rack in total disgust afterwards. If nothing else, it saved him several hours of cycling into the wind (the bike might've ended bp being thrown into a ditch somewhere out along the route instead!)

I was parked very close to that incident and heard the clatter. I think the bikes were ok and he was able to ride it. The bike rack detached from the car and took the brunt of the damage.

(Next year, a net on the goals or a few ribbons across it will hopefully prevent a similar incident).