Great Dublin Bike Ride 2022

Roberto_gas

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119665602#Comment_119665602

a 500ml water bottle/€20 cycle superstore voucher/RSA wrist band/medal

Not worth the price

py

This was my third time doing GDBR 100Km, having done 2017 & 2018 on different routes. I've always enjoyed it as getting to cycle through some of the areas with marshal/garda assistance to get through junctions makes it a fun experience. Yesterday was no different.

The first few hundred metres out of DCU was a little tight so it was slow going until we hit Collins Avenue and made our way towards the coast. The pace picked up immediately and groups settled in to their own pace. I found myself in the 2nd group from the front which was about 40-50 riders deep. We got out to the coast and paced continue to be high. We got to the turn off for Baldoyle and every single person in the group, except myself, went straight on for Howth. It was a combination of Garda/Marshall not paying attention, directional signage being poor and people not knowing the route. I trudged on for about 1-2Km until the group scooped me back up. The group I was on caught up with the front group which had Nico Roche and Eve McCrystal in it. The surface through ballyboughal was shocking compared to the rest of the route. This group stuck together until the first hill at about 37Km.

With the hilly section under way, I dropped off the back straight away and didn't push through the hills over the next few Kms. I've not done a lot of hills on the bike recently so I didn't want to burn any matches too early. The hills lasted about 10Km with the last descent being where the rider went down. There was a sign at the top of the descent to say "descent ahead" which was fine but there nothing throughout the descent to say there's a sharp turn at the very bottom. This needs to be improved. Throughout the hills, I caught up with others who had got spewed out the back of the lead group and a few of us started to work together to make the miles tick over a bit easier. This lasted up until the feed station at about 60Km, were I opted to continue going solo. Had a few riders catch up with me and we worked together for a few Km, when those that had stopped caught up and that was the group that stayed together until the finish. The headwind between 50-70Km was a pain so taking turns out front on this stretch made it easier until we turned for home.

From 70Km until the finish, time flew by. There was a solid group who mostly worked together. I took very very brief stints on the front. At one point I went to the back and almost got dropped but made the effort to get back on. About halfway through this section, a few got spit out the back. We met the 60Km riders during this stretch and admittedly, they were much better on the road than prior years when some would be weaving or pulling out without checking what is coming behind. With about 15Km to go, traffic started to get a little bit heavy. There were also a few junctions were we had to full on stop as they were just too busy for the marshal/garda to let us go on. One small roundabout towards the end had no marshall/garda on it and there was almost a crash. Thankfully not though. Got to the finish. The start/finish area was easier to navigate this time around. Got around comfortably in under 3hr30. Needed a few moments at the end to gather myself. Got my medal and "goodie" bag and started to make my way to the food.

The bike storage area was well put together but too far away from the food. There was plenty of space along the promenade or further up past the food area for it to be put there. It is a minor quibble (of many) but last thing I wanted to do was walk a few hundred metres in sweaty cycling gear in the chilly air. Food at the end was tasty and plentiful. Tea/Coffee on offer too. The sitting area was well put together and I got speaking with a few people as I was munching on the pasta. Went back to get my bike and whilst there was a number sticker on my bike and helmet, security never checked that they matched on the way out. This had the potential for disaster so hopefully no bikes went missing.

It was mentioned for a few years running on this event that the detour in by the sports campus was a waste of time so near the end. Delighted that they got rid of it as it was chaos in there with people weaving around trying to get fuel/water. The directional signage was piss poor. They were too small and not enough of them. This needs to be improved upon significantly. Mentioned in this thread already that the goodie bag has been deteriorating at every iteration. It went from a jersey to a cap to what we got this year which was a Cycling Ireland bottle and a CSS voucher. Piss poor though with costs rising for everything, I guess it was hard to see anything else going in there. I also didn't frequent the food stop but when you stop on a ride when it is chilly/windy, the last thing you want is water and a banana. Tea/Coffee with a sandwich/cake would have gone a long way.

A few people have mentioned the cost and I think for what you get in the capital, there's not much they're going to be able to squeeze out for what it is. There would need to be a significant increase in entry fee and entrants to get something along the lines of the Prudential Ride London with fully closed roads etc. I'm also not sure the ambition is there from CI. The Dublin marathon gets around 20k entries so they're on a different scale to GDBR which I think had around 1,500 entries. There should have been a P&P option for the number collection as there is with most large scale running events. I've no idea why this wasn't available, other than to get people in to CSS premises.

In prior years, they had used the rider number was used for the event photos. Does anyone know how we can get hold of these? There were plenty of photographers out but I haven't seen anything on their social media feeds with details on the photos.

Has anyone heard about the rider who went down? I'd passed shortly after the incident and the marshals were looking after him. Get well soon.

token56

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119665602#Comment_119665602

The only real freebie to speak of was a 20 euro voucher for cycle superstore which can be used when your spend is over 50 and to be used by end of December, which I'm not sure is even legal any more. So no I wouldn't say it was particularly good value for money from that point of view.

Seth Brundle

A few people have mentioned the cost and I think for what you get in the capital, there's not much they're going to be able to squeeze out for what it is.

In two weeks I'm doing the Dublin Fire Brigade CC spin and it's half the price. Last year I got a decent goodie bag which included a mug that is my WFH coffee mug. It is a much better route which with a higher percentage in Dublin when compared to the GDBR! It also had an escort out along the Clontarf Rd and through Howth.

I'm just unable to see how the GDBR can be charged at €65 especially when you look at the sponsors behind it

https://eventmaster.ie/event/nr7qUplH0v

magicbastarder

they're going to the racecourse in bellewstown uphill. that'll be fun.

i wonder why they're detouring off and then back on to griffith avenue?

Seth Brundle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119665729#Comment_119665729

That bit just before the racecourse came as a bit of an unexpected surprise last year. (This year's route is the same as last years)

Smokeyskelton

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119665602#Comment_119665602

Freebies were not great. A Cycling Ireland waterbottle in a dull dark green, a cheap reflective armband from RSA, a €20 off voucher on a €50 spend in Cyclesuperstore and a surprisingly substantial finisher's medal.

Having to go to the opposite side of the city to collect the ticket was pretty crazy. Encouraging riders to leave their bikes in an unsecure area to have their post-ride pasta/tea/coffe in a separate fairly distant location was not ideal. Also, I was looking at their facebook page, and they didn't appear to be good at replying to queries.

Overall I certainly enjoyed it and was impressed by the marshalls, and the organisation was very good in general. However, I haven't done many similar events, so I can't really compare in relation to cost/value. Maybe others have more experience of other events.

Wildly Boaring

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119665769#Comment_119665769

Much better route for the Meath end anyway

would love to know the numbers that did it yesterday

accoriding to Stickybottle, 6.748 did it in 2008, and then declined

https://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/great-dublin-bike-ride-sister-event-planned-despite-fall-in-entries-this-year/

I think it was treated as a "cash cow" by cycling Ireland, and nothing more.

I still have the jersey for a couple of the early ones, and a nice tee shirt I run in,

Weepsie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119665980#Comment_119665980

I'm not surprised there was a big drop after 2018. That was the year they for some barmy decision brought it around the back of Blanchardstown, up the ongar road and around the strawberry beds etc but didn't have a any bit of marshalling or traffic management once you got anywhere near clonsilla.

Sending several thousand people down tinkers hill while mixing with Sunday traffic isn't smart. The fielrst half of it though was enjoyable, and it was actually nearly entirely in Dublin that year.

Tombo2001

The amount of marshalls was incredible - must be as many marshalls nearly as people completing the event.

Roberto_gas

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119665848#Comment_119665848

Did ROK/Wicklow 100 and few others this year ! I can assure food/route planning(esp for stops)/comms way better ! Now may be i did not enjoy this due to being in cold climate but doubt it really !

retalivity

The Tour of Kildare was €20 back in August, €30 if your not a CI member. The foodstop was great and the route was grand, flattish roads at the start to keep the pace up, a couple of hills at the end. There was apparently free pizza as well at the end, but I missed that.

€65 for a plastic bottle, a medal, a packed foodstop and an unappealing route is a rip off.

Mundo7976

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119665682#Comment_119665682

Im interested in maybe doing this (50km) but have never taken part in any events. Is there a defined pace or would it be suitable for the more leisurely riders?

Also which way does the route go, is it towards coolock or fairview to begin with?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119667436#Comment_119667436

I did it last year, and would recomend it,

it went down the Malahide Road, through Clontarf, over the hill of Howth from Sutton, onto Portmarnock, Malalhide and then turned back at Swords.

the 50km went at a fair pace,

Seth Brundle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119667436#Comment_119667436

The 50km DFB sportive uses this route travelling anti-clockwise as @Coleman Swift Yard said via Clontarf, Howth (and so on). There is only one climb and that is Howth going up past the graveyard and down through the village. If my non-cycling sister can do that climb on a mountain bike with a rusty chain then anyone can!

I'm not sure how used to doing 50kms you are but it shouldn't be too demanding and there will be others there doing whatever pace you're doing. If in doubt though, get a mate to do it with you and keep each other company.

Mundo7976

Ah sound, cheers for the replies. I'd be well capable alright was more concerned with a speedy pace or going up from howth village. If the calendar allows I'll sign up. 👍🏻

vintcerf

have to say, massive shout out to the guards and the marshals. I might do the 50 too

Darrener

Any news on the guy who fell on the sharp bend yesterday? I thought the Marshalls were mostly excellent yesterday and the pasta at the end was very tasty.

py

A selection of photos went up on their facebook page yesterday. I didn't appear in a single one. Hopefully some more are shared.

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119667377#Comment_119667377

When the Wicklow is being called way better it must have been shcoking at this.

Not sure what the Audax rate for an event is at the minute but Mick Byrne has always had phenomenal food stops, no goodies, and a decent donation to charity for 20yoyos the last time I done it.

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119671439#Comment_119671439

Just to be clear, two very different style events. Audaxes typically have no marshalling or assistance. Aimed at very different cyclists as well. The cost of marsahls and Garda assistance is huge.

spudpicker2022

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119667377#Comment_119667377

it amazes me that the more expensive events can be very poor in terms of foodstops. there are so many sportives that aren't promoted to the level GDBR is and they are far far better in every aspect (route, scenery, food and registration processes, etc.)

dc2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119665527#Comment_119665527

The event had its issues but to be fair the correct GPX route was on the website - I followed it all the way and it matched the sign posted route. There was only one stop at 60k which is the perfect distance for a stop on 100km ride. I'm not sure what other stops this contributor found? For a more sociable stop food with a sambo and cup of tea like some other events would be nice. That said for a 100km spin a banana and a bar should be enough to jeep you going.

Weepsie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119673398#Comment_119673398

At the price theyre paying and with the sponsor backing, a banana and a bar isn't great though.

And for a lot of people this is the longest cycle they'd do. Other people regularly doing 100s might no longer be interested. There's better cheaper sportives. Reservoir Dog, DFB, Blanch Wheelies, Swords CCs one etc.

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119673398#Comment_119673398

this caught me out too; if you google 'great dublin bike ride route', you get directed to

greatdublinbikeride.ie/routes/ - and this is the 2021 route

if you go directly to greatdublinbikeride.ie; you get redirected to greatirelandbikeride.ie and clicking on the routes link brings you to

thegreatirelandbikeride.ie/routes/ - and this is the 2022 route

i.e. they've left the old site up and this caught me out too. i completely changed my cycle on sunday as i mistakenly thought the route i had planned was following a significant portion of the GDBR.

py

Feedback survey has gone out. I've rehashed what I mentioned above. Unsure if anything will change. This was likely the last time I'll do it.

Roberto_gas

Anyone not using their Cycle superstore voucher? Happy to take them....Just for info they can be stacked up so anyone who did Wicklow 100 can get €40 off using both. Cheers.