Sportives 2022

RobFowl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118476871#Comment_118476871

Stuff is for using and I do a bit on sand reasonably often. Good hose down after usually enough.

fat bloke

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118486442#Comment_118486442

That's fair enough, I respect that. But I'll be be there with a camera to take any pics of any nice size 56 bikes I might unwittingly buy in a couple of years time 😜

Daroxtar

I signed up for the WW200. Definitely not impressed by the entry fee but I've never done it before so I bit the bullet. Looking forward now to seeing a few familiar faces at it

MyDarkArts

I've always felt the value in the Sportives isn't so much in the contents of the goodie bag or the quality of the sandwiches at the food stop, but rather the fact that they set a specific goal to aim towards in the weeks and months leading up to the event.

Plus the fact that, for a day at least, you're part of a larger group that has a unified purpose.

Anyway that's preamble to say that I'll be doing the Ring Of Clare this year and found the price reasonable.

Richard Hillman

I have signed up for the Wicklow 200 (I'm doing 100). It's convenient to me as I live close enough to the start/finish and I don't drive.

Would love to find something that is on/near a Trainline.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118490806#Comment_118490806

the Westsportif is a great one to do, and the Carlingford Loop Sportive

https://www.westportif.ie/

https://www.loopsportive.com/

JMcL

Singed up for the WW200 as well, despite reservations about price and "refund" policy. I need something to get me off me arse and get back up that cliff my fitness has fallen off in the last 18 months (or more precisely push well beyond that or I'll be a blubbering heap half way up the Wicklow Gap never mind the Shay Elliot 😬)

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118490806#Comment_118490806

I forgot the Ring of Beara...........

got the train to Killarney, cycled over Molls Gap to Kenmare ,2 punctures on the way, overnighted in Kenmare, after the spin the next day, had a quick pint of Bulmers, and cycled back to Killarney via Kilgarvan, and got the late, nearly deserted ,train back to Dublin. Very enjoyable, and very doable trip

billyhead

The Ring of Beara is sold out. I was going to do it myself until I checked the site.

beggars_bush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118490806#Comment_118490806

Lough Key Classic starting in Boyle.

Tour of the Lakes, Mullingar

Tour of Kilkenny

AxleAddict

Westportif (Early Bird) registration now open (€45 + €2.70 booking fee + €10 CI One Day License if you don't have an annual CI license)

Having taken part in this 3 times over the years I have to say its a lovely route and a beautiful part of the country (you lucky ducks!) - the route was reversed and altered a bit last year and I would have done it then too - I travelled over to the event only to discover my rear wheel had a couple of broken/cracked spoke nipples on the morning of the event and it was just too risky to ride that sort of route with a dodgy back wheel - I was gutted but spent the day driving around the route and taking in the scenery and capturing some photos instead. The route overlaps a bit with the Tour de Conamara and frankly I'm surprised it doesn't attract the same sort of numbers but I guess the extra climbing might put some off. Highly recommended.

The Davestator

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118503611#Comment_118503611

Registered for it - first one of the year. Great to hear its recommended

beggars_bush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118503611#Comment_118503611

yeah. I'm debating whether to do this or Donegal Bay Spring Sportive, on the same day

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118503611#Comment_118503611

Did it last year, and have to say the new route is more enjoyable, no big climb at the end, but the road into Westport seems to take forever. It was a lovely day last year, but signed up for Dingle instead.

AxleAddict

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118504118#Comment_118504118

Yeah - I'm a big fan of the Donegal Bay Spring Sportive too - decisions decisions - the brutal and sustained headwinds we experienced on the return leg of the Donegal Bay sportive in 2019 were some of the worst (if not 'the' worst) I've ever experienced on a bike - I was so chuffed to make it back to HQ under my own steam, that felt like an achievement in itself - the broom wagon(s) had a busy day that's for sure! I know they have their date on the CI leisure event calendar, but I don't think I've seen any official confirmation of it on social media etc - isn't there a boardsie on here from the club who might know more - @ednwireland or @DonegalBay maybe?

For those who are thinking about giving it a go for the first time, here's a video which gives a good flavour of what you can expect:

Donegal Bay Cycling Club 2018 Promotional Video - YouTube

DonegalBay

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118505394#Comment_118505394

Yes, Donegal Bay Spring Sportive is set for April 23rd this year. More info coming soon and aim to have registration open soon as well.

Hoping we don't get the weather we had last time out in 2019. Was a very tough day.

It seems odd that the Great Dublin Bike Ride is on the same day as the Dublin Fire Brigade "stay in the saddle" cycle, both use the same route through Clontarf.

GandhiwasfromBallyfermot

Bring back the Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford says I

AxleAddict

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118505490#Comment_118505490

Yeah - such a shame it's not running any more - I managed to do it in 2016 - although the route had to be adjusted slightly due to bad weather on the day (I think they had to cut out 'Mahon Falls' or something like that) - very misty/foggy on one of the climbs and descents but a great day out on the bike otherwise. I really wanted to go back and do it again 😪

mr spuckler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118505490#Comment_118505490

Yep, that was a favourite of mine too!

wijam

Have signed up to Tour de Conamara, May (C), Wicklow 200, June (L), Ring of Clare, July (M) and waiting to sign up for Inishowen 100, August (U)

Nice spacing between the events and one event in each province if all goes well (and for some god unknown reason I've also signed up for a half marathon 6 weeks before the first event and then 2 weeks after the last event) so should be a good year 😀🚴

AxleAddict

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118505716#Comment_118505716

I did the Inishowen 100 for the first time last year (one of the few sportives that actually managed to go ahead) - mainly because I wanted to compare the climb up Mamore Gap from the south side versus the north side (which another sportive run by the North Pole CC called the Tour of Inishowen uses). In my opinion, the climb up the south side is 'easier' (or shorter at least) since technically you're not starting from sea-level like you would if tackling the climb from the North side (Note: I said 'easier' not 'easy' 😂). The climb up the south side is almost one continuous climb, whilst the climb from the north side is longer and I think a little steeper right at the end, but it does level out in a few places so you can catch your breath a bit. I was huffing and puffing by the time I finished the climb up the south side (I'm around 95kg, so no spring chicken) but was surprised how good I felt by the time I reached the top. That said, I think I enjoy climbing the North side more and descending straight down the south side - rather than being slowed down by the tightish switchbacks (I enjoy fast, clean descents). Really enjoyed the Inishowen 100 although the last stretch along the main roads back to HQ can be a bit monotonous (and tiring if you're cycling on your own, as I was)

For reference, the following image shows the profile of Mamore Gap, in this instance (from left to right) going up the South face and down the North face.

Tigerandahalf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118505467#Comment_118505467

Is there any facebook page for that event?

Looked earlier and could only find the main Donegal CC page.

Thanks

JMcL

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118506191#Comment_118506191

I have memories of the seventies of my father driving down the north side and the mother being scared witless that we were going to pitch off a cliff or something 😁 That said, the brakes in a mk1/mk2 Escort probably wouldn't really inspire confidence these days

JMcL

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118505511#Comment_118505511

The last two years they ran it ('16 and '17 if memory serves) were foul weather wise - pretty much constant rain for the duration. Mahon Falls was cancelled for safety reasons the first year, and they altered the route for the 160 the final year which while still tough didn't really have the allure of the more classic ones. They also changed the route for the 100km to head via Tallow from Lismore around a very meh main road. The route changes combined with what was an atrocious week of weather leading into the event with well flagged foul weather on the day meaning no last minute sign-ups saw the events only around 50-60% capacity if memory serves, and was the final nail in the coffin.

AxleAddict

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118507024#Comment_118507024

😂😂😂

Mercian Pro

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118507060#Comment_118507060

Looking back on photos from the Sean Kelly, 2016 wasn't too bad although one of our group came off on the very last roundabout before the finish! The loop up to Mahon Falls was closed off although some ignored the barriers.

2017 was pretty miserable alright and the new route kept well away from Mahon. I think the withdrawl of sponsorship by An Post was the main reason for its demise although the Tour de Beara has revived the old An Post Rebel Tour so there may be hope for a new Sean Kelly.

AxleAddict

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118507998#Comment_118507998

Sam Bennett Tour of Waterford maybe 😁

Yeah - 2016 wasn't a complete washout - it was damp in a few places but I don't recall it being dreadfully wet - but there was extremely limited visibility on one of the climbs - I remember some of the photos taken by their event photographer up there and you could barely see a thing. Definitely required a bit of care and attention on the descent, especially as there were a couple of wet, slippery cattle-grids to negotiate and there's always that one lunatic that comes whizzing past you from behind, always wanting to go faster than everyone else, regardless of the conditions 😮

Update: I went back and had a quick look at my GoPro footage - plenty of wet roads for sure (wetter than I remember anyway) but not a huge amount of rain.

Below is a slightly blurry framegrab from my GoPro - not sure exactly which climb this was though...

DonegalBay

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118506412#Comment_118506412

We should have something up in the next few days. We usually don't open registration until February, but I guess after 2 years people are very keen to get back doing events.

Officer Giggles

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118503611#Comment_118503611

Would you know what the total ascent is for the longer route?