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Did the Tour of Meath 100km today. I had registered for the 160 but my buddy said he wasn't up to it and we decided to do the 100 instead. Got a text from him this morning at 7:50 to say he'd arrived early and changed his mind so off he went on the 160. Coward that he is, he knew I'd put the pain on him!!! 😂
So I rocked up to the 100 where met another man from This Parish and after a leisurely first few km I decided it was time to go. A gang of about 15-20 broke off and we set a good pace till the foodstop. I was happy with my banana in the pocket so I ploughed on with a couple of others. Now I don't mind taking my turn but myself and a chap from Cavan did the whole of the last 50 with absolutely no help from the others. Every time we pulled in to roll over they sat up and dropped back to single file.
Eventually one of them shot past at a Junction and I sucked his wheel for about 2 minutes before he started looking around. We hit the start of a small climb and myself and the Cavan man put in a sneaky dig and that was the end of that. The two of us rolled on home together and while I initially thought there was another guy up the road, after looking at the Flybys it seems he ended up behind us at the foodstop so I'm claiming victory in the 2017 tour
97km in 3:11@30.5 average speed
https://www.strava.com/activities/1108604729
I was one of them. I was riding a green propel with deep carbon rims. I was riding solo on my first sportive and got caught up thinking I was superman at those speeds hanging with the big guys in the breakaway. Thanks for the help and sorry for overly leaching
Check out my ride on Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/1108693051/shareable_images/map_based?hl=en-US&v=15014270660 -
Paul_Mc1988 wrote: »I was one of them. I was riding a green propel with deep carbon rims. I was riding solo on my first sportive and got caught up thinking I was superman at those speeds hanging with the big guys in the breakaway. Thanks for the help and sorry for overly leaching
Check out my ride on Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/1108693051/shareable_images/map_based?hl=en-US&v=1501427066
Nah, first half was grand and the bunch was big enough for all involved to cover but after the foodstop there was a smaller bunch ( no one on a Propel ) and I was left donkeying out front with one other fella.
TBH I was intent on pushing on at my own pace so if I got help then great and when I didn't I just put it down to riders not being used to riding in a group.
You didn't do to shabbily at all for someone at their first run at it. Three years ago it was my first sportive and I was in bits at the end of it 0 -
Nah, first half was grand and the bunch was big enough for all involved to cover but after the foodstop there was a smaller bunch ( no one on a Propel ) and I was left donkeying out front with one other fella.
TBH I was intent on pushing on at my own pace so if I got help then great and when I didn't I just put it down to riders not being used to riding in a group.
You didn't do to shabbily at all for someone at their first run at it. Three years ago it was my first sportive and I was in bits at the end of it
Thanks for the compliment and congrats on being first over the line, a great ride and well deserved for your effort
PS flyby says i only drafted for the first 50K after that yous left me for dust. But hey there's always next year 0 -
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Well not an actual one:o
But I did just do a epic ride in my mind after spending a few seconds open mouth :eek: flying over Mont Ventoux on a flight to Nice France.
From the forest slopes up along the exposed rock road snaking to the summit tower.
Was so caught up in my imaginary spin i did not take a photo ..but this looks like the view from the reverse angle.
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Sun was shining here in Buncrana when I finished a frustrating days' work, so decided to go and see the legendary Mamore Gap on a whim, or as the Google Navigation voice over lady kept saying the "Mamo-Ray" Gap. Quickly jumping on the bike like that meant it was half way up the road before I realised I had no water, or pump with me. Ah sure, an (mis)adventure it is then, at least it's not too far for herself to come and pick me up anyway.
Within few kms outside Buncrana, I was already on the slowest gear. As is, as a new overweight middle-aged blob, I am well used to being in the bottom 10% of most strava segments, and that's on a good day. Usually bottom 5% even on the slightest elevation. So riding up Mamore Gap is a laughable idea for me, but I just wanted to see it from a distance, that's all. But getting there itself was proving harder than I had imagined. Anyway, beautiful countryside and view of Lough Swilly kept me reasonably distracted and I got there in glacial pace. First sight of Mamore Gap though was enough to put the fear in me! I was certain I will fall backwards and roll all the way down, like falling down a flight of stairs!!
Got closer and tried riding up - straight away it was like molasses, moving forward 7-6-5-4 kmph if that... Not made easy by those darn judgmental sheep smirking at me. First half of the climb has been resurfaced and the second half is more rougher. I kept at it - and this might be a good time to mention that I have only been biking for a few months, and I haven't stood up on pedals in 20 odd years (last time would have been on a borrowed Hercules high nelly type single-speed bike somewhere in India). I wasn't going to do that in this vertical climb either. Got half way up the second half and I had to stop when the front started lifting off in response to my attempts to moving forward. Honestly it was the fear of falling backwards that kept me from going at it.
Walked up a minute or so, and then managed to get back on the bike and pedaled up last couple of hundred meters (walking would have been quicker though). Anyway, made it to the top, that's all matters!
It's amazing to think top of the gap is taller than the top of the windmills at the other side.
I found coming down was actually harder than going up. Hard on brakes, kept it around 30 kmph for the first rough patch. When I hit the smoother surface half way down, I let go of the brakes and bike freewheeled to over 70kmph! Crazy! I am well used 140+ but usually on a motorbike covered head to toe in protective gear. Doing 70 on bike felt crazy to be honest, can't imagine how pro riders do it! Ride back to Buncrana was uneventful and quick as it was net downhill.
Over all, less than 2 hours, 35k, 600 meters climb and jaw dropping scenery. I don't think Inishowen gets enough credit for how beautiful it is compared to Kerry etc. Absolutely stunning part of the world!0 -
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I suffered like a dog on that a few years ago. Maybe I was having a bad but I thought it would never end. The KM markers towards the end seemed like they were 5km apart. By a long way my toughest day in the saddle.Col de l'Iseran.
Tis mighty.
It's a brute of a climb - I haven't managed to get up it without doing the walk of shame for a bit. Must try it again soon as it's been a few years.magicbastarder wrote: »drove over the mamore gap about two years ago, the thought of cycling up it was making my eyes water.0 -
The wind was behind me, the sun was out. I was thoroughly enjoying my commute home. But then I felt something, under my watch I felt a feint sting; I pushed the face of my g-shock into my wrist in an attempt to itch whatever had caused it. Only to see a monster wasp pop out from under. I yelped like a little girl! I was stopped by a traffic light shortly after, tuck off the watch as fast as I could but he was gone and the damage done. My first ever wasp sting in almost 29 years of life.
:(:(:(:mad::o:o 0 -
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We had a cracking second half of the day here in Buncrana yesterday - sun splitting stones, not too windy etc. Ideal conditions for the bike! I wasn't planning on riding far, but I didn't want to waste the opportunity so set out to explore around Buncrana - picked an easy target - the windmills I can see from the house.
Headed out in the general direction keeping windmills right ahead - Out of Buncrana taking Cockhill road, left at St Marys Church, another left at the next petrol station and then it was all uphill until you see the service road for the windmill farm on your right. This service road was just all stones and boulders - the CX part of the bike was put to excellent use yesterday for the very first time.
At around 300 meters elevation is the Drumlough windmill farm, 15 MW, powering approximately 7400 houses! Windmills gently spinning making that relaxing swishing sound, dozens of red/blue painted sheep grazing peacefully, it was as if you are in that PS3 game "flow". If this is how we are going to reduce our dependency on MiddleEast's Dino juice and Wahhabism, what's not to like?
I have to say I loved riding thru the trails that's only fit for mountain bikes / quad bikes or 4x4. It wasn't all about speed, it was about staying up, negotiating the channels cut by streams, tyre marks all the while startling sheep that they take off and crash into each other. All the while taking in the majestic landscape around you all the way to Lough Swilly on one side and some other valley and mountains on the other side. In comparison, cycling on road is ridiculously monotonous and boring, not to mention negotiating traffic and pollution. I would highly recommend everyone get grab a CX or mountain bike and to ride away from the roads, at least once!
The other side of the wind farm turned out to be my new enemy - le Mamore Gap!
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You can't see it and not climb it, so I went for it again. And for the second time in a week, it had my a*se kicked and had me do the walk of shame.
Once on top of the gap, I met a older gentleman who was walking up from the north-side - his words were "I need the wind behind me to walk up the gap these days". Turns out he used to cycle up here often years ago. He also told me about the little water source (holy well / stream), perfectly drinkable water (peat filtered, like scotch whiskey ).
I decided to go down the north side - which is a loong way down - and headed out towards Clonmany without particular plan in mind. Ended up with a quick side tour to Glenevin waterfall outside Clonmany. Another hidden gem, and absolutely delightfully beautiful km long walk to it over the many small bridges, and at the end perfect postcard perfect waterfall. It's like the most amazing screensaver in real-life.
After quick refuel at Clonmany, made a poor decision to head back up Mamore Gap. Getting there was again fantastic - could be mistaken for some other part of the world.
Going up Mamore Gap North to South though - is unmistakably painful. F*CK! I ended up walking most of it. Savage. There were three club riders making their way up inch by inch - fair play to them - serious commitment!! Made my way back to Buncrana eventually, once again, delighted to be able to experience the amazing beauty of this land, and equally humbled by the challenge that is Mamore Gap and by the grit of those guys who conquer it.0 -
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Great post Positron! Looks like an exceptional spin!
At 8am this morning on my way out along Clontarf and into Howth I met a man wearing a red Gabba top on a BMC SLR who was clearly extremely late for his group ride. He put the boot down (!!) and we did some up-and-overs until we got into Howth where my legs were on fire and he disappeared. Needless to say the hill wasn't that fun the first time around. Then I did 3 more times around, out to Malahide and into Fairview. 90km 0 -
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