Mick Byrne 2019

CramCycle

Looks like entries are open once more for one of Sorrentos and Audaxes finest days out on the Calendar.

http://www.sorrentocyclingclub.com/uncategorized/3801/

Usually fills up pretty fast so get in quick. One of my favourite 200s. As someone once said to me, despite being well signposted you can never get lost. At every junction, look around and whichever turn goes up, is the correct turn to take.

Gerry

I'm signed up a while, by far the best sportive that I've done.

plodder

I notice the routes from the link in the OP are not shared/visible.

CramCycle

plodder wrote: »

I notice the routes from the link in the OP are not shared/visible.

I see that, the 200 is there but the 160 and 100 are not, I'll email the organiser and see is it the same as last year for them.

200 here: https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/1997558861
2018 160 here: https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/1997260709
2015 100 here: https://www.strava.com/activities/315544768

Macy0161

Im away this year, or else I would definitely be back. Really enjoyed last year, despite 3 punctures before Shankill! Will be back for the Dying Cow though.

The Noble Nudge

Just to ask as I'm not confirmed on Ring of Beara just yet...
Does MB qualify for the nice Audax medal? and is there the option to you pay extra at registration for it?
A nice bit of bling that has ecaped me.. (Orwell 200 has had two years with weather issues didn't try this year but snowed out last year on several occasions)..

Alek

Yes, and its a Very Nice Looking medal on top of it, at least the 2017 edition

Its extra fiver AFAIK, you can ask for one on the day.

The Noble Nudge

Alek wrote: »

Yes, and its a Very Nice Looking medal on top of it, at least the 2017 edition

Its extra fiver AFAIK, you can ask for one on the day.

Cool just to decide what event to do now..decisions decisions..

Alek

The Noble Nudge wrote: »

Cool just to decide what event to do now..decisions decisions..

I'll be most likely doing the MB this year, my fifth in a row after the last year's break. You can use this to make up your mind whether to join or avoid me

Wishbone Ash

Alek wrote: »

....my fifth in a row after the last year's break.....

The Noble Nudge

Alek wrote: »

I'll be most likely doing the MB this year, my fifth in a row after the last year's break. You can use this to make up your mind whether to join or avoid me

No worries I’ll let you know Alek...
Dont take my decision personally mind
MB can be done any weekend and Ring of Beara would be a lot safer as a sportive...
Logistics and accom are the big issues on Beara spin...

Alek

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Jaysis, I am also confused with what I've posted!

What I really wanted to say was that last years could have been my 5th in a row, but Ive skipped it, so this year will be my 5th without the row, inshallah.



Noblenudge: you can do MB any day alright, but you'll miss the whole spirit! And it is really a big part of this event.

The Noble Nudge

Alek wrote: »

Jaysis, I am also confused with what I've posted!

What I really wanted to say was that last years could have been my 5th in a row, but Ive skipped it, so this year will be my 5th without the row, inshallah.



Noblenudge: you can do MB any day alright, but you'll miss the whole spirit! And it is really a big part of this event.

I hear you dude...
Nothing but good reports about MB over the years date just never clicked for me for some strange reason..

Mercian Pro

The Noble Nudge wrote: »

MB can be done any weekend and Ring of Beara would be a lot safer as a sportive...

How safer? and you won't get a creamed rice cone any weekend on the MB.

Have done both three times and, while the scenery out around Allihies is hard to beat, the MB is a far friendlier event.

Alek

and you won't get a creamed rice cone any weekend on the MB.

Or have the WA's one extra, as he plainly hates them.

Wishbone Ash

Mercian Pro wrote: »

....and you won't get a creamed rice cone any weekend on the MB.....

Don't go there - my stomach is heaving! :eek:

Macy0161

The Noble Nudge wrote: »

MB can be done any weekend and Ring of Beara would be a lot safer as a sportive...

Fairly limited experience of audax (just keeps not working out to do more) but the MB is about as supported as your going to get as an Audax would be my take on it. Being run alongside the sportive, and iirc all controls manned (with food), there's more support than usual.

The Noble Nudge

Just to clarify my “safer” comment...
It was in relation to the Ring of Beara...
After cycling around parts of Beara last year I thought some of the road sections where a bit dodgy...cars speeding etc narrow roads I wouod feel more comfortable doing the event as a sportive than solo..

Back on topic
MB free food you say

Alek

More than you can sensibly handle.

Daroxtar

Only for those delicious creamed rice cones I'd never have made it up Sleive Mann!!!

macken04

Just signed up. Have ride dingle and the Orwell Randonee as my prep. If anyone wants to hold up the back with me be great to get a few together

Luxman

Daroxtar wrote: »

Only for those delicious creamed rice cones I'd never have made it up Sleive Mann!!!

When I get to the second food stop I tend to Eat just about anything I can find. I know what lies ahead. Signed up today.

Alek

Signed up too

Mercian Pro

I'm in. You'd think I'd know better by now!

Wishbone Ash

In.

terrydel

macken04 wrote: »

Just signed up. Have ride dingle and the Orwell Randonee as my prep. If anyone wants to hold up the back with me be great to get a few together

Ive signed up for it, have done no more than 65km this year so far so I'm not sure I will do the 200 or not.
Have done the 160 before and enjoyed it tho it was tough. Last two years I've signed up for the 200 and both years was well prepared but for various reasons didnt end up doing it, so would love to give it a try this year.
And I'd be happy to cycle along with you btw. The climbing is not the issue for me, it'll be the distance because I just dont have it in the legs at the moment.

Daroxtar

You have loads of time to get a few long spins in and you climb like a spider up a wall so you have fk all to worry about. I haven't anywhere near enough climbing done yet thus far but the Orwell is coming soon and it's usually a good indicator for me.
I signed up for the 200 last year but knew I wouldn't have the legs as I was coming back from injury so when I reached the turn for the 160 I baled. Honestly, it was one of the best decisions I made on the bike. Really enjoyed not killing myself over the extra 40km and nearly 1000m climbing and getting back to the start relatively fresh

wowy

In for the 160. Will be just back from 2 weeks holidays so who knows how the legs will be.

terrydel

Daroxtar wrote: »

You have loads of time to get a few long spins in and you climb like a spider up a wall so you have fk all to worry about. I haven't anywhere near enough climbing done yet thus far but the Orwell is coming soon and it's usually a good indicator for me.
I signed up for the 200 last year but knew I wouldn't have the legs as I was coming back from injury so when I reached the turn for the 160 I baled. Honestly, it was one of the best decisions I made on the bike. Really enjoyed not killing myself over the extra 40km and nearly 1000m climbing and getting back to the start relatively fresh

I did the Orwell last year, its a very good challenge.
Plan is to do near 100 this weekend and the dingle one end of the month. Orwell too would be nice.

Wishbone Ash

Daroxtar wrote: »

...I signed up for the 200 last year but knew I wouldn't have the legs as I was coming back from injury so when I reached the turn for the 160 I baled....

Was it last year that I took that turn with you? We went 6 or 7 kms when you asked me why I was doing the 160k. Dopey here had to retrace my steps to get back on the 200k route - as if it wasn't long enough!

terrydel wrote: »

I did the Orwell last year, its a very good challenge....

MB is paced a bit better than the OR. None of those enthusiastic whippets hammering along at a ridiculous pace only to die a slow death half way through

Daroxtar

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Was it last year that I took that turn with you? We went 6 or 7 kms when you asked me why I was doing the 160k. Dopey here had to retrace my steps to get back on the 200k route - as if it wasn't long enough!

MB is paced a bit better than the OR. None of those enthusiastic whippets hammering along at a ridiculous pace only to die a slow death half way through

Ya, I figured you were probably going to cycle the 160 and then do another 100 on the scenic route back home.
Don't worry, this year I'm doing the 200 so I won't be leading you astray
Orwell definitely a quicker pace alright. I found it tougher than MB the first year I did it although the rotten headwind all the way back up the Sally Gap probably made it feel even worse.

Edit; when I reached Avoca and had an unofficial coffee stop after that, another lad pulled in beside me.
"You on the MB? “ says I.
" Yeah, tough going" he said "I need a refill"
"So you decided to do the 160 too? “ I said

Blank stare from him for a few seconds
"What?? No, I'm on the 200“

He'd done an extra 40 km and 800m climbing in the same time it took me to get there.

Wishbone Ash

Daroxtar wrote: »

...Don't worry, this year I'm doing the 200 so I won't be leading you astray ...

...and I may be doing the 160 for strategic reasons. Although I'll add unofficial kms to it on the day.

The Noble Nudge

Moment of madness Im in...
Beara at that entry price and the travelling can wait....
45km to 200km in a few weeks....lets hope my current form improves....

Colm18 over to you Sir....:D

The Noble Nudge

Anyone know if the roads will be marked? notice a few very old MB yellow sprayed ones around Glencree recently..
Havent been on some of the route before so dont fancy getting lost...
The beauty of Audax I suppose....

Wishbone Ash

The Noble Nudge wrote: »

Anyone know if the roads will be marked? notice a few very old MB yellow sprayed ones around Glencree recently..
Havent been on some of the route before so dont fancy getting lost...
The beauty of Audax I suppose....

As far as I can recall it is marked (which is unusual for an audax). There was a bit of controversy a few years ago when multiple truck manoeuvres up to a wind farm on the very south of the route wore away the markings and a few got lost.

(I usually get lost at the very end coming back into Dalkey. I'd get lost at the start too but there's usually a bunch for the first few kms).

andy69

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

...

(I usually get lost at the very end coming back into Dalkey....).

Ha! So it's not just me then every time I get to that T-Junction near the end I can never remember whether I went left or right the year before. Had to wait til someone came by!

MediaMan

Best sportive of the year in my view. Gutted to be missing it this year after doing it every year since my first attempt in 2013. If anyone is on the fence, just do it!

The Noble Nudge

Got 100k under the belt yesterday (only my 2nd century of the year) and 66k on Saturday....now to add them together and find another 34k with a couple of thousand metres climbing for Sunday.
just to find that compact crank now....

Calling Colm18 and you can bring Nico with you as well...

wanderer 22

The Noble Nudge wrote: »

Got 100k under the belt yesterday (only my 2nd century of the year) and 66k on Saturday....now to add them together and find another 34k with a couple of thousand metres climbing for Sunday.
just to find that compact crank now....

Calling Colm18 and you can bring Nico with you as well...

I might see yous out on the road..

Luxman

I missed last year and therefore dont know what the new start is like for showering facilities etc. Anyone?

The run up to this is like a “cycling Christmas”😜

Wishbone Ash

Luxman wrote: »

I missed last year and therefore dont know what the new start is like for showering facilities etc. Anyone?

The run up to this is like a “cycling Christmas”��

I have a vague recollection that the school gym (beside the start point) was available for showering but perhaps someone else can confirm.

Daroxtar

Yeah, think it was on the right hand side as you signed on

secman

The Noble Nudge wrote: »

Got 100k under the belt yesterday (only my 2nd century of the year) and 66k on Saturday....now to add them together and find another 34k with a couple of thousand metres climbing for Sunday.
just to find that compact crank now....

Calling Colm18 and you can bring Nico with you as well...

And the first one was way back in Jan, Nudge and full of punctures on a Wicklow route, on an extremely windy day

terrydel

Signed up for the 200, have done 1 100km + cycle this year, in fact one since September last year I reckon. I haven't a fecking chance of finishing it.

wanderer 22

I'm in , thanks to Daroxtar. See yous Sunday.

The Noble Nudge

secman wrote: »

And the first one was way back in Jan, Nudge and full of punctures on a Wicklow route, on an extremely windy day

Was it that far back Secman!!! :eek:

The Noble Nudge

terrydel wrote: »

Signed up for the 200, have done 1 100km + cycle this year, in fact one since September last year I reckon. I haven't a fecking chance of finishing it.

Looks like a group of boardsies is forming...
Youll have to look at a few David Goggins vids on you tube Terry Saturday night
Mind over matter...Head down keep peddling....

About time Colm18..

Alek

Head down keep peddling

Wrong sportive Nudge! You'll see when you get there

The Noble Nudge

Alek wrote: »

Wrong sportive Nudge! You'll see when you get there

Im trying to make lads feel better

terrydel

The Noble Nudge wrote: »

Looks like a group of boardsies is forming...
Youll have to look at a few David Goggins vids on you tube Terry Saturday night
Mind over matter...Head down keep peddling....

About time Colm18..

The mind is fine, the matter is anything but!
I'd be delighted to get thru the 160.

Mercian Pro

terrydel wrote: »

I'd be delighted to get thru the 160.

The last few years I keep remembering that the MB160 is the perfect sportif. Terrific route with just the right amount of distance and climbing. So remind me please, why I have signed up for the 200 again?