Does anyone know if there is any sportive in 2022 that are open for sign up now
Donegal Bay one is properly awesome and hard! A must see/do.
It's 4 or 5 years since I did it and I'm going to miss it again this year unfortunately. :(. Donegal town also isn't as long a drive from Dublin as I thought. Easier than Westport in fact. The day we did it, a mate of mine and I drove up in the morning for the 9am departure and were back home in Dublin that evening after it.
Thanks
I remember 2016 well myself and I agree that I don't remember much rainfall at all, just a lot of surface water from the night before and fog and mist. I was one of those in a group who ignored the barriers and went up Mahon anyway! Only because we are from the area and knew the climb and descent well, even still it was a dodgy thing to do on wet roads with carbon rim brake wheels that didn't stop when you pulled a handful of brake 😂 A good few of us from Waterford & Dungarvan went up that day, couple from Kells Angels & Kilkenny too if I remember.
Actually now that you say it, you're right about 2016. It's coloured in my memory from the fact it was mainly fog/drizzle (I did the 100km which went around Ring thus near the coast). Being a specs wearer this is my absolute least favourite weather conditions (within reason anyway) as the lenses are constantly fogged over. I remember taking them off for a while at one point which was grand in terms of visibility - except I'm blind as a bat without them 😬
I'd say that's up around Powers the Pot. I think this one was too.
is cycle against suicide going ahead this year?
I was thinking of doing one of the granfindos in Italy or maybe just heading across one of the weekends where they close the sellaronda or the stelvio to cars for the day.
Failing that I'll do kilkenny, reservoir dog, leinster loop if it's on, and maybe another one or two, I had thought about the ww200 but the price of that would have me standing in Italy on a random Thursday in the summer!
Cliffs of Moher, here I come
Any word on the Barrow Wheelers sportive this year? Usually the first event of the year down the south east and held in February. Always an absolute bruiser to start out the season on but a great day out.
I was going to reply that accommodation would be crazy around the time of those events but actually I'm in Bormio (at the base of Stelvio) this summer and prices are a lot higher than I would have paid in previous years...so maybe holidays this summer are just going to be expensive regardless.
Orwell Wheelers Randonnee registration is open.
Done. Pity the Mick Byrne 200 isnt the usual few weeks later, this was the perfect prep.
is the mb200 on this year?
Link: https://www.orwellwheelers.org/events/randonnee/1375-pinergy-orwell-wheelers-randonnee-2022
It's on the CI calendar on the 10th September but nothing on the Sorrento website or FB page yet.
Donegal Bay Spring Sportive now open for registration
Cost: €25 and one day licence if needed.
Signed up for the Randonee and the big one in July, the Daddy, Le Marmotte.
It's great to have it in the diary and keep the focus for the next 5 months.
Any sign of the Boards Evil 2022 making an appearance?
On the CI calendar for April 10th; https://teamup.com/event/show/id/Dkzo8dwcfKv3qXfF1817mVvbJbYSgK
anyone sign up for cycle against suicide in may??
€103.50 for the Ring of Kerry. Don’t all rush -booking doesn't open till Monday!
Ffs
Skip it and book 3 B&Bs along it and enjoy 3 days of cycling instead
Did exactly that a couple of years ago - did the Ring of Beara, Ring of Kerry and a cycle around the Dingle Peninsula over three consecutive days - was very lucky weather-wise too. I added in a little detour across to Valentia Island when I was doing the ring of Kerry route - little did I realise I was going to have to tackle Coomanaspic just after I left Portmagee 😛. Only downside of the trip was that one of my cleats partially broke as I neared the top of Conor Pass on the third day but my cycle was almost over at that point and it was all downhill back to Dingle at that stage (phew!). All in all, three great days of cycling.
Mental prices on the bigger events this year & frankly anyone paying is absolutely nuts.
I've never done a sportive in Ireland. The only ones I ever did were two Etape de Tours in in the nearly noughties. Had considered doing one or two here this year as I have got back into cycling in the last few years. Not at those prices though.! What do you actually get for that money? I assume none of the roads are closed? Living in Kerry I can do the ring for free anytime I want.
In fairness to the ROK it’s not really like other sportives. For many doing it, it’s their first big cycle - they might not be regular cyclists as we here understand, but get into cycling through doing the event.
The route is boring compared to many sportives 180 odd km with just 2 climbs, albeit some nice scenery. It’s the easiest 180 you’ll do.
The atmosphere on the day is brilliant, and food stops are well managed with great local volunteer effort . The cost is a bit higher alright, but it’s a major local charity funder, and that’s reflected in the willingness and helpfulness of the volunteers.
Also, as per above I believe it is on closed roads.
I think it’s an event everybody should do once, as I did in my early cycling days, but not since (and maybe it’s changed) Having said that, maybe I’m a bit rose tinted as I really enjoyed it, but since then I’ve favoured more local and challenging / interesting routes for events.
TL/DR It’s over 100 euro but it’s a different ‘event’ and worth it for that.
Velo Club Balrothery (VCB) are having their second sportive on April 2.
€20 on the day with One day licences available
2 routes
50K (actually 54k but lets not argue) with 461 mtrs elevation.
100k (actually 97k but you will be glad there isnt 3 more k) with 1170 mtrs of elevation.
This is gonna be a great leg loosner for the hard sportives ahead.
If doing any of these I highly recommend downloading the route to your head unit. We will have marshalls everywhere but will do no harm to have it on your head unit.
Once we details re payment I will post them.
And it's actually only 170km ish! At least that's what I clocked up on the two times I did it.
Sorry Guys , I didnt realise that my Stava was locked to followers only. Have changed the settings now so hopefully viewable to all!
Not 180km, and only certain sections closed roads the time I did it. Notwithstanding the farce of non-refundable ballot entry, and the current cost, I think I'd struggle to recommend it. Plenty of just as scenic, better value events.
