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Wicklow 200 2011

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  • #392
    Harrybelafonte
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,450 ✭✭✭Harrybelafonte


    pprendeville wrote: »

    Question: What’s the 410 about on SE?
    http://connect.garmin.com/activity/92153559


    I think someone on this thread said it's part of the forum URL.
    cautiouskate wrote: »
    64 year old husband and son did the 100 yesterday. Son said his Dad was 'flying it'. Congratulations to them and all who took part and to the organisers who keep this up year after year. Everything well organised and to hell with the whingers who went ill-dressed and ill-prepared!!!

    Plenty of us who were well prepared are whinging too, nothing can save you from that kind of wind and rain. As for organisation, many valid points in this thread.


  • #393
    Bikerbhoy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,093 ✭✭✭Bikerbhoy


    cautiouskate wrote: »
    to hell with the whingers who went ill-dressed and ill-prepared!!!

    Hey hey no need for remarks like that nobody was whinging as you put it ,any referances were merely individual stories and reports of the day.... maybe if more tried the 200 they would actually see infact how well prepared we actually were for such an outing.


  • #394
    Cookie_Monster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,625 ✭✭✭✭Cookie_Monster


    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=72744153&postcount=36

    full report from my log, lots more detail than earlier post in here


  • #395
    oconnpad
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 231 ✭✭oconnpad


    Have you found yourself in the photos yet?
    Face to the name for oconnpad
    http://www.wicklow200.ie/gallery/2011wicklow200/IMG_0834


  • #396
    ROK ON
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,831 ✭✭✭ROK ON


    I know that I gave a few moans in earlier posts on this thread.

    Can I say a big congratulations to those folks who the WW200 (or 100) was your big goal this year. The training logs of Cookie, gOg etc etc were well written. It seems from that and the WW200 training thread that a helluva a lot of effort was put in. You can feel justifiably proud of yourselves.

    The WW200 was my major goal two years back. Its a big achievement in normal conditions. The weather yesterday just added to the sense of occasion that ye can look back upon.

    Onwards and upwards.
    Well done.


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  • #397
    Cookie_Monster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,625 ✭✭✭✭Cookie_Monster


    ROK ON wrote: »
    I know that I gave a few moans in earlier posts on this thread.

    Can I say a big congratulations to those folks who the WW200 (or 100) was your big goal this year. The training logs of Cookie, gOg etc etc were well written. It seems from that and the WW200 training thread that a helluva a lot of effort was put in. You can feel justifiably proud of yourselves.

    The WW200 was my major goal two years back. Its a big achievement in normal conditions. The weather yesterday just added to the sense of occasion that ye can look back upon.

    Onwards and upwards.
    Well done.

    cheers
    th_thumbs_up_smiley.jpg


  • #398
    stas
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 227 ✭✭stas


    oconnpad wrote: »
    Have you found yourself in the photos yet?

    http://www.wicklow200.ie/gallery/2011wicklow200/IMG_0729

    Still no idea what's ahead of me, doing it first time, but already assuming the bewildered look.

    Also particularly ill-dressed and ill-prepared as per above comments, but I will only have found out about it a little later :p


  • #399
    Harrybelafonte
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,450 ✭✭✭Harrybelafonte


    A little OT, but does anyone know who owned the Klein, was at the finish around 5pm. Lush bike.

    Oh, and best photo of the day: IMG_0874.jpg

    Anyone got links to more photos?


  • #400
    Actual Paramedic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 132 ✭✭Actual Paramedic


    Harrybelafonte wrote: »
    Can anyone confirm the condition of those who crashed? I've heard reports of somebody bleeding from the head atbottom of SG and Glenmalure. A couple of us would like to know if they're ok.


    Having a little inside knowledge the SG crash, one of the people injured badly but not serious or life threatening.

    The SM crash, was right behind them and seen it happen, broken collar bone and head injury. All is well I believe.


    As for marshalling, think they should have an ambulance stationed at Glenmalure as last year there was a bad accident there.


  • #401
    Inquitus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,778 ✭✭✭✭Inquitus


    My log of the day is in my blog here for those who might be interested.

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=72745973&postcount=53


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  • #402
    Statler
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 896 ✭✭✭Statler


    Harrybelafonte wrote: »
    Can anyone confirm the condition of those who crashed? I've heard reports of somebody bleeding from the head atbottom of SG and Glenmalure. A couple of us would like to know if they're ok.

    I'm fairly sure the honour of the first to crash at the bridge coming down from Sally Gap falls to me (no pun intended). My fault entirely, I know the road well but was too busy enjoying the thrill of the descent and checking my max speed to notice that the bridge that I knew was there was rapidly approaching, not to mention the permanent sharp 'S' bend sign, 'Single Lane Bridge Ahead' sign and last but definitely not least the WW200 'Brake Now' sign. There was no Marshal there when I crashed (special thanks to the others who stopped and took up marshalling duties until a marshal did arrive).

    Saw the bridge and sharp turn with maybe 50m to go, tried to brake and slow down (anyone else find Dura Ace brake blocks absolutely ****e in the wet?!), tried to take the bend, failed miserably and wound up planting myself down on my right hand side. 13 stitches in my arse, lots of road rash and bruising and a badly cut up right arm that can't be stitched because there's a bit of skin missing but will heal with time I'm told. It could have been a lot worse. I lost count after 15 others lost it at the same spot, a few of them seemed to be in a bad way. The award for most spectacular crash goes to the poor guy who went straight on at the bend on did a full somersault whilst still attached to the bike. Seemed in a bad way afterwards though so hope he was ok. Award for most surprised look goes to the woman who skidded coming into the bend, almost lost it, seemd to skid again but then corrected her line and kept going. 10/10 for style and the look on her face as she came out of the bends realising she had stayed up was priceless!

    Could have been worse for me, the bike seems fine and I'll soon heal. Special thanks to the Civil Defense volunteers who tended to the wounded, and fair bloody play to those who almost lost it on the bend but kept it together and stayed upright.


  • #403
    JS08
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10 ✭JS08


    think it may have been me with the klein, borrowed it from a mate as i crashed my canyon carbon into a road barrier coming down ballinascorney hill last week. frame destroyed but i was v lucky to walk away with few scratches.

    My 1st time doing ww200, about 9.5 hours on the road, spent a bit too long at rathdrum food stop. hard day but well done to all that completed and get well soon to all who crashed out.

    roll on ww200 2012:)


  • #404
    trek climber
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 555 ✭✭✭trek climber


    What a day,completed the 200 in just over nine hours. 3 punctures over the course of the day,the first one was outside Kilbride and hands were so cold I had to wait for another cyclst to help me take of the tyre as my hands were frozen. Then had an incident after the Donard stop when a young deer jumped out of a ditch right in front of me,ended up in the ditch but luckily enough no major damage apart from a bruised hip.
    Found Slieve Mann very tough but Shay Elliot was ok found the last 30 k to Greystones torturous as the legs were gone at that stage.


  • #405
    Harrybelafonte
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,450 ✭✭✭Harrybelafonte


    Statler wrote: »
    I'm fairly sure the honour of the first to crash at the bridge coming down from Sally Gap falls to me (no pun intended).

    Get well soon.
    JS08 wrote: »
    think it may have been me with the klein,

    Work of art, those kleins.


  • #406
    seamus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,190 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    Statler wrote: »
    anyone else find Dura Ace brake blocks absolutely ****e in the wet?!
    Yep. First need to do any kind of braking was on the Kilbride descent, pulled on the brakes, nothing. Fuckfuckfuckfuck. Kept pulling and eventually after about 15 seconds I heard the sound of the blocks crunching on the rims and I got a little bit of braking power.

    Get well soon. I'm sure it's not nice coming out with a whole day's riding planned and having it cut short in such a painful way.


  • #407
    iregk
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,235 ✭✭✭iregk


    Yup dura ace blocks took an age to bite in the wet. Exactly as seamus said, nothing then the sound of rubber on metal and the stopping power kicked in. Enough to give you a heart attack a few times over.


  • #408
    big mce
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 428 ✭✭big mce


    iregk wrote: »
    Yup dura ace blocks took an age to bite in the wet. Exactly as seamus said, nothing then the sound of rubber on metal and the stopping power kicked in. Enough to give you a heart attack a few times over.

    Found the same with ultegra, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, check canopy, then suddenly whiplash!!


  • #409
    Leroy42
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,088 ✭✭✭✭Leroy42


    Slighty OT, but on the issue of Dura Ace brake blocks, I have to say that I find them fine. Of course they are not as effective in the wet as in the dry (in the dry in my opinion they are some of the best you can get).

    Due to the build up of water on the rim, any blocks will need a bit of help on wet days. I usually apply them very slightly nearly all the time on tricky descents (basically those parts were I haven't much visibility of whats coming or know braking will soon be needed). This clears the film of wet & dirt from the rim and allows the blocks to do their job.

    Of course you lose some momentum, but practice will mean that it not much as the blocks are only just touching.

    The fact that you are saying that it took a while for them to work, but once working they were alright, leads me to think that this may be the issue. This is just my experience, nit saying that anybody else is right/wrong.


  • #410
    NeedMoreGears
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,419 ✭✭✭NeedMoreGears


    Got up yesterday to sunshine but had decided not to cycle to work. Probably a good idea as I found the stairs a little challenging.

    Very hungry all day Monday and ate all round me. Surprisingly stiff for most of the day(for some reason I don't get stiff the day after cycling like I do when I am running - just tired). My face was still red from wind/rain burn. Felt good when I got home so cleaned up the bike. Slept like a dead man

    Tuesday - what a lovely day. Cycled into work (22k) and feel good. No wind, rain or stiffness. Hopefully will be the same on the way home.


  • #411
    Phil2me
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 70 ✭✭Phil2me


    Cookie_Monster wrote: »
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=72744153&postcount=36

    full report from my log, lots more detail than earlier post in here
    QUOTE=Cookie_Monster;72744153]Week 23 contd

    Achievements
    Wicklow 200
    another week over 300km

    Weekly Dist: 315km
    Total Dist: 3,588.4km


    Commuting: 20km
    Monday: above
    Thursday: above

    Sunday: 195.1km

    Wicklow 200
    http://connect.garmin.com/activity/91920139


    Great read well written, looked at your Garmin log yours has over 12,000ft of climbing, mine read 5,900ft or so, figure that one out.
    http://connect.garmin.com/activity/91967892

    Apolgies for Imperial measurements, I get a lot of heat over from fellow cyclist....
    Rule 24 http://www.velominati.com/blog/the-rules/


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  • #412
    neris
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,110 ✭✭✭✭neris


    Can anyone confirm the following : 2 dudes on a tandem and only one finished ?[/QUOTE]

    It looked like a tandem mountain bike. Saw the bike twice both times with what looked like chain problems. First time there was 2 of them and the second coming out of rathdrum was just the one guy and the bike lying on the ground


  • #413
    ROK ON
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,831 ✭✭✭ROK ON


    neris wrote: »
    Can anyone confirm the following : 2 dudes on a tandem and only one finished ?

    It looked like a tandem mountain bike. Saw the bike twice both times with what looked like chain problems. First time there was 2 of them and the second coming out of rathdrum was just the one guy and the bike lying on the ground[/QUOTE]


    I passed them on the bridge at the first bit of Shay Elliott. The guys in the Cycleways top and bandanas?

    One of them was dismounting and looked in a lot of pain. There was a few guys helping them so I ploughed (plodded) on.


  • #414
    Cookie_Monster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,625 ✭✭✭✭Cookie_Monster


    Phil2me wrote: »

    Great read well written, looked at your Garmin log yours has over 12,000ft of climbing, mine read 5,900ft or so, figure that one out.
    http://connect.garmin.com/activity/91967892

    looks like you didn't come down off SE from the graph :D so missed all climbs after that, plus your SM is not as high as mine. I have the altitude correction turned on, not sure how much difference that would make rightly or wrongly though.


  • #415
    ROK ON
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,831 ✭✭✭ROK ON


    Cookie_Monster wrote: »
    looks like you didn't come down off SE from the graph :D so missed all climbs after that, plus your SM is not as high as mine. I have the altitude correction turned on, not sure how much difference that would make rightly or wrongly though.


    The same thing happened to my Garmin after Donard.
    According to the device I was descending SM as I was climbing it.

    Also the speed recorder as 99km coming down SG which I would be well proud of but didnt come anywhere near achieving.

    Could be the athmosperic conditions or the build up of rain.


  • #416
    Phil2me
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 70 ✭✭Phil2me


    Cookie_Monster wrote: »
    looks like you didn't come down off SE from the graph :D so missed all climbs after that, plus your SM is not as high as mine. I have the altitude correction turned on, not sure how much difference that would make rightly or wrongly though.

    Strange alright, also remember after Barrindarrig where we turned left just before N11, between there and drop towards Rathnew, my Garmin was giving &age ascent of 80 -90%,I could hardly turn pedals at this point till I eventually realised I had a flat back tyre.


  • #417
    Phil2me
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 70 ✭✭Phil2me


    I would also like to thank this gentleman on the right who fixed a puncture for me with about 25K or so to go, I was so cold , there was no way I'd have got tyre off the wheel.


    Puncture repair.jpg


  • #418
    cython
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,825 ✭✭✭cython


    Phil2me wrote: »
    I would also like to thank this gentleman on the right who fixed a puncture for me with about 25K or so to go, I was so cold , there was no way I'd have got tyre off the wheel.


    Puncture repair.jpg
    The gent on the right is exactly who I was talking about in the below. Sounds like the lads had their work cut out for them, but I'm sure anyone they happened upon was very glad to be found.
    cython wrote: »
    ....
    It was all downhill from there though, the cold set in, I lost energy (probably left it too long between eats), and basically from Redcross home was just outright painful. I couldn't feel my feet, nor much of my hands (I feel your pain, fletch!), and then about 2km before Kilcoole I punctured :mad: The only saving grace here was that no sooner had I the bike upside down to take off the wheel than the base2race van pulled up, and suddenly I had a track pump - you, sir, are a legend, and you have no idea how much I appreciated that! Got back into Greystones about 12:45 instead of the 12:30 that I was on target for (track pump or no, changing a tyre with frozen sausages for fingers is slow going, as I'm sure anyone who has done it will attest to).
    ...


  • #419
    FrankGrimes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,033 ✭✭✭FrankGrimes


    Yeh my Garmin Edge 705 was acting up all day - gradient readings were totally wrong and the screen that usually shows the gradient of the course up ahead was totally off. I was assuming that was due to upgrading to the latest firmware the day before but if others were having the same type of problems, could it have been the atmospherics affecting the barometric altimeter?

    That's terrible that 15 or more people crashed on that bridge on the Sally Gap descent, glad to hear that Statler is ok, but crashing due to checking out your max speed? You're lucky to get away with that once so hope the lesson serves you well in future.

    I used to be a nervous descender but then I learned how to do it properly (thanks to some tips on here and some advice from an old English lad in the Alps). Now I feel safer descending at a natural speed than I do going slower. I prefer to have noone in front of me so I can clearly see the road and the line through the corners: I'm probably one of those some posters here have described as a kamikaze descender but from my perspective, I had no problem seeing through my glasses and overtaking people on the straights and then braking heavily before the corner and gliding through it. That feels safer to me and I get to choose my own line cos I'm in front. I saw a good few people taking corners with their inside pedal down (they were going slowly but that's still a bad move) and arse not nearly pushed back as far as it should be on a descent.

    Before I went to the Alps 2 years ago, I changed my FSA Gossamer brakes to steel Ultegra ones as I have more confidence in their solidity and I also use Swisstop brake pads now and find them extremely good. I also use an adjustable hand strengthener to support heavy braking (needed for 40km descents in the alps). I'd highly recommend that people invest in those Swisstop brake pads at least and use the early part of any cycle in the wet to test the braking distance: even the Swisstop performance was delayed on Sunday but having tested it out before the major descents, I had a much better feel for how early I needed to brake on descents. Just sharing this perspective as given the high number of crashes there may be a few nuggets that might help people - I do feel that people that say 'I hate descending' tend to look tense and less in control on descents and I'm not sure that actually makes them any safer, particularly if they're worrying about it the whole way down. I'm not talking about being reckless, just letting it flow a bit more, but keeping it within control.


  • #420
    Statler
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 896 ✭✭✭Statler


    FrankGrimes wrote: »

    That's terrible that 15 or more people crashed on that bridge on the Sally Gap descent, glad to hear that Statler is ok, but crashing due to checking out your max speed? You're lucky to get away with that once so hope the lesson serves you well in future.

    QUOTE]

    In hindsight I wouldn't really say that checking my speed was the reason, it was more a case that I thought the bridge was another 1 or 2 km down the road. If it was a descent I wasn't familiar with I would have taken it much handier, but I (foolishly) reckoned I knew the road, had checked ahead about 1km back and saw no cars coming up the road so reckoned I could let rip. The bridge is hidden from view until you're almost on top of it. I knew the turn would be tricky in the conditions and would need to be taken with care. I did check the speed a couple of times, probably would have been better off checking for road signs saying 'Brake Now' and warning of single lane bridges!

    Will check out the Swisstop pads, cheers for the heads up, just think the Dura Ace ones are useless in the wet, nothing to do with technique, they're just not up to the job. Strangely enough I have Ultegra brake pads on another bike and have found them to be ok in the wet, would have thought they'd be more or less the same compound but obviously not...


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  • #421
    Phil2me
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 70 ✭✭Phil2me


    Phil2me wrote: »
    Strange alright, also remember after Barrindarrig where we turned left just before N11, between there and drop towards Rathnew, my Garmin was giving &age ascent of 80 -90%,I could hardly turn pedals at this point till I eventually realised I had a flat back tyre.

    Just corrected that using elevation correction button, closer to your total now....

    http://connect.garmin.com/activity/91967892

    still confused though as i thought there was alot more climbing in Carrick Wheelers Spin previous week, but not according to Garmin

    http://connect.garmin.com/activity/90752895


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