Great Dublin Bike Ride 2023

PaddyofNine

That was my first sportive type event. Weather was grim, but manageable.

Anyone else do it? How does it compare to other similar events, route wise and organization wise?

retalivity

Did it 6 or 7 years ago when it started in smithfield, was a bit of a shambles with lack of food/water at the first stop and a 2nd stop 8k from the end. The route was a biy meh as well, so I vowed not to do it again. Have heard mixed reports of years since, theres definitely far better bang for your buck events out there.

vintcerf

I did it last year and again this year. It's not that great ;) - they removed the 140km option which loads had signed up for, there was no parking information for those that'd paid for it until a day before (people were frustrated on their fb page). Some participants did not have their numbers which were meant to be posted out. Last year the food stop just had water and bananas (at least when I got there) but this year there were bars too - which was cool.

The route isn't tough or scenic (compared to the likes of ww200, dogs)

I hate to moan but this event is a bit of a mess - but I'll still do it again next year.

Love the guards at the intersections treating us like royalty 👸 🫅 and the volunteers too. It was great seeing so many people on the road despite the inclement weather.

Seth Brundle

It was my first sportive back in 2019 and while I look on it fondly for that reason, I'd not do it again. It's overpriced and too heavily subscribed for my liking. There are so many charity sportives that are less than half the price of the GDBR with as good marshaling and food.

easygoing39

I was just on the GDBR Facebook page and find it strange that the last post was on the Saturday!! No pictures off the start or anything!!

brownian

The good:

guards at every junction make you feel like a third world dictator, as you swish through.

route has some nice roads that Wicklow-focused south-siders might not know (Portmarnock, for example)

the finish was well organised, the coffee was welcome, I've had worse pasta at the end of events.

The not so good

food station was a bit pathetic. Banana and water and a bar? No hot drinks of any sort. No shelter. Any GAA-club-organised local sportif can manage a community hall and a Burco Boiler.

start was a mess. Long wait in the rain in some puddly boreen. No briefing of any sort, no fanfare, no sense of 'event'.

strict cut-off about 40k in. Why not tell riders "if you stop for this banana, you're going to miss the cut-off"? This was really frustrating on the day; our group averaged 21 kmph (not FAST, but not CRAWLING), but ended up being cut off for being 15 mins after the cut-off time. If we hadn't stopped for a banana, we'd have done the 100. Yes, I know it's in the small print when you sign up, but if we'd not sat in the mud for half an hour waiting to start...

jethrothe2nd

I've done it twice over the last few years but both times came away feeling underwhelmed. Last time I did it (can't remember the year), it got really messy toward the end, with large volumes of cyclists mixing with traffic. Wasn't a pleasant experience. Sounds like the route might have changed since then, but I think they should up their game , take a leaf out of Ride Londons book and do a full closed road event.

Did the Maynooth CC Dave Mulready memorial cycle on the same day this year - nice route, well organised, savage burger and chips at the end, all for a princely sum of €25. I know where I'd rather spend my dosh.

heftyroadman

Was my first time doing the gdbr, and i am on the fence if I would do it again, the communcation from the organisers was terrible the whole lead up and the route itself was meh, Dublin is full of great scenery yet we cycled through country back roads 70% of the time,

The postives for me was the roads been closed and the garda traffic control was excellent.

I done the king of the hill last month in swords castle, which in my opinion was much better organised from start(reg packs & briefing) to finish (food & entertainment).