Ring of Kerry

nilsonmickey · 20-05-2014 5:27pm #1

Hi there,

I signed up for the ring of kerry cycle in July. I bought a bicycle a few weeks ago with the intention of getting stuck into some training. I had to go to India for a number of weeks and only really got started this week.

I did 70km on Sunday and 35km yesterday. The legs are tired today so I decided to give it a miss. Is it still possible to acheive this in 5 weeks or am I wasting my time?

caadmium · 20-05-2014 5:31pm

Wasting your time. You'll never make it. I'll take your registration off your hands.

nilsonmickey · 20-05-2014 5:33pm

Yes was thinking that. Having said that I might try and do a few more days and see if I can reach the 100k mark before bowing out.

caadmium · 20-05-2014 5:42pm

Just kidding nilson. If you did 70km on Sunday and were able to get back on your bike yesterday you can definitely make it. How spent were you after doing 70? Could you have done a little bit more?

I count 6 weekends between now and the ROK. If you think you can increase your distance in steps each week to get you to about 140/150km the weekend before the Ring then you'll have no bother. If you add 15km each week you'll be at 160k the weekend before. You don't need to have the full distance done before taking on the event itself. Plan on getting out on two shorter spins during the week and you'll be flying come July 5th.

If, on the other hand, you do change your mind...I'll gladly take your registration off your hands!

nilsonmickey · 20-05-2014 6:14pm

OK great. I wasn't too bad after the 70km considering I only quit smoking and have never biked more than a few km as a kid.

So is that the best way to train? Add 15km each week? How many km should I do on the other 2 days a week?

caadmium · 20-05-2014 9:14pm

On the mid week spins do whatever you can manage. Your mid week spins will be shorter so maybe you can go a bit harder, at least in places. Find some local hills and take them on. Include some short flat-out efforts in each of your spins whether they be hill climbs or flat sprints. They'll all make you better.

That would be my 2c. Others on here may have other advice.

specialised · 21-05-2014 5:22pm

Is there any problem doing the ring of kerry if you havent reg

carthoris · 21-05-2014 5:39pm

Normally there isn't but if you mean on the day of the charity day out you may not be allowed on closed sections of the road.

I have not registered; can I still cycle the Ring on the day?
There will be checkpoints on the closed sections and you will not be able to pass through these while those sections are closed.

From here: http://www.ringofkerrycycle.ie/the-cycle/faqs/

lismuse · 21-05-2014 9:09pm

So if there are these "certain closed sections" then I guess they are closed to all traffic ? Is that the case ?

carthoris · 21-05-2014 9:47pm

lismuse wrote: »

So if there are these "certain closed sections" then I guess they are closed to all traffic ? Is that the case ?

From the FAQ (http://www.ringofkerrycycle.ie/the-cycle/faqs/):

Are the roads closed on the day?
Certain sections of the road will be closed and certain sections will be open. This is done in order to MINIMISE traffic and will NOT eliminate all traffic. You need to think of the roads as open, expect traffic and obey the Rules of the Road accordingly.

You can probably expect local traffic - people who live on the close sections who need to go somewhere will be on the roads. So I would expect that there may be some traffic but vastly reduced.

nilsonmickey · 25-05-2014 10:06am

But can't you just pay on arrival?

Eamonnator · 25-05-2014 10:32am

nilsonmickey wrote: »

But can't you just pay on arrival?

No.

nilsonmickey · 25-05-2014 2:02pm

I would say you can. Shouldnt be any bother paying on the day.

bazzer86 · 25-05-2014 3:36pm

nilsonmickey wrote: »

I would say you can. Shouldnt be any bother paying on the day.

It is completely sold out. You won't be able to pay on the day

Amprodude · 26-05-2014 1:08am

carthoris wrote: »

Normally there isn't but if you mean on the day of the charity day out you may not be allowed on closed sections of the road.

From here: http://www.ringofkerrycycle.ie/the-cycle/faqs/

Checkpoints last year were a joke because they couldn't stop all the bikes coming through so some unregistered people got through. Some also took back roads to get out behind the checkpoints. The checkpoints weren't very effective in stopping all unregistered people.

iwillhtfu · 26-05-2014 8:15am

nilsonmickey wrote: »

I would say you can. Shouldnt be any bother paying on the day.

I'd agree with this as no doubt there'll be a number of no shows particularly if the weather is typically Irish.

However there will probably be a number of people thinking the same so it's a bit of a gamble but either way you're down that direction may aswell join in.

Put on your best american accent at the check points and pretend you didn't know where they were all cycling to so just joined in

jinkypolly · 26-05-2014 8:38am

iwillhtfu wrote: »

I'd agree with this as no doubt there'll be a number of no shows particularly if the weather is typically Irish.

However there will probably be a number of people thinking the same so it's a bit of a gamble but either way you're down that direction may aswell join in.

Put on your best american accent at the check points and pretend you didn't know where they were all cycling to so just joined in

Or don't be an asshole and just cycle it on a different day.

iwillhtfu · 26-05-2014 8:45am

jinkypolly wrote: »

Or don't be an asshole and just cycle it on a different day.

Ah I love how accepting cycling really is.. There was I thinking ye were a jolly auld bunch.

I'm sure there'll be more than one person not registered cycling down there if it's a nice day.

Are they all A holes as you so eloquently put it. Nobody owns the rights to the route and I'm sure the majority would be happy to be self sufficient.

If the organisers put out a donation bucket I'm sure a lot of those who missed out on registration would happily throw a few quid in.

jinkypolly · 26-05-2014 9:04am

iwillhtfu wrote: »

Ah I love how accepting cycling really is.. There was I thinking ye were a jolly auld bunch.

I'm sure there'll be more than one person not registered cycling down there if it's a nice day.

Are they all A holes as you so eloquently put it. Nobody owns the rights to the route and I'm sure the majority would be happy to be self sufficient.

If the organisers put out a donation bucket I'm sure a lot of those who missed out on registration would happily throw a few quid in.

Jeez, you've not really thought this through have you? Why do you think registration is closed? The numbers on the road is the limiting factor here and you want the organisers to put out buckets inviting anyone to turn up on the day because you're 'sure' they'll throw a 'few' quid in. They do have the rights, as you put it, to the closed sections of the route to use for the event.

iwillhtfu · 26-05-2014 9:10am

jinkypolly wrote: »

Jeez, you've not really thought this through have you? Why do you think registration is closed? The numbers on the road is the limiting factor here and you want the organisers to put out buckets inviting anyone to turn up on the day because you're 'sure' they'll throw a 'few' quid in. They do have the rights, as you put it, to the closed sections of the route to use for the event.

What's to think through if somebody wants to cycle around the ring of kerry on any given day they're welcome to do so.

They may have rights to closing private roads or if the gardai have rolling road closures that's fair enough.

I have no intention of cycling it but were I down that direction on holidays or similar I wouldn't be put off cycling it or by the attitude of some cyclists.

ford2600 · 26-05-2014 9:25am

iwillhtfu wrote: »

What's to think through if somebody wants to cycle around the ring of kerry on any given day they're welcome to do so.

They may have rights to closing private roads or if the gardai have rolling road closures that's fair enough.

I have no intention of cycling it but were I down that direction on holidays or similar I wouldn't be put off cycling it or by the attitude of some cyclists.

I don't do ROK either but as regards closure, it may not be just a Garda matter.

Have a read of relevant section of Road Act 1993.

I don't know if organiser are applying this and going through all the proper procedures but from my non expert reading of it the laws are probably there for them.

BailMeOut · 26-05-2014 10:47am

Street closures are applied for and granted for all sorts of events all the time where the organizer has sole use of the road. Thinking that you can just turn up and cycle on the day would be no different to thinking you could could have also cycled alongside the Giro when it was here or doing your usual run during a city marathon or driving your car up O'Connell street during a St. Patrick's day parade.

ZiabR · 26-05-2014 11:54am

Guys, you are going completely off topic here.

OP - Yes you will be fine, if you managed 70k on one of your first rides you are going to be fine for the RoK. I take it you will be stopping for breaks etc on the day and even for lunch around the halfway mark. If you can two 2 x 90km cycles or even 3x60km cycles you will complete it no problem.

I am looking to do mine this year in 2x90km cycles with a break for lunch.

DaithiMC · 26-05-2014 12:55pm

jinkypolly wrote: »

Or don't be an asshole and just cycle it on a different day.

How very "Orangeman" of you - I would have no problem with others using the Public roads on any day. If I paid for the event I would only have a problem with people trying to get food and water from the foodstops which were paid for by the registered.

Personally I would avoid the ROK on that particular day given there would be the possibility of 8,999 other cyclists spread out around the place which would not be my ideal way of experiencing the solitude and beauty of the surroundings!

chooks11 · 08-11-2015 3:50pm

Can anyone tell me when registration for the ring of kerry opens for 2016

Wishbone Ash · 08-11-2015 6:03pm

chooks11 wrote: »

Can anyone tell me when registration for the ring of kerry opens for 2016

Usually around the end of March AFAIK.

Eamonnator · 08-11-2015 6:47pm

Remember, it's not a race.
Entry is very expensive.
Accommodation is pricey.
Can cyclists, who haven't registered, take part?

jon1981 · 08-11-2015 8:44pm

Eamonnator wrote: »

Remember, it's not a race.
Entry is very expensive.
Accommodation is pricey.
Can cyclists, who haven't registered, take part?

There is a long long longgggggg thread on this event. Search for it. Short answer and for many reasons no they can't take part if not registered. Fundamentally this is a charity event, it should be respected by those who had no interest in registering or contributing to the charities. Those ppl are free to cycle it the other 364 days of the year.

Eamonnator · 08-11-2015 8:59pm

Will there be road closures in effect?

iwillhtfu · 08-11-2015 9:08pm

How fast is the average pace?

Will I be last?

I'm gonna set off before the official Starr and I don't care what the organisers say.

Those cycling clubs and all their bully boy shouting tsk...

The queues oh my god the queues...

Yadda Yadda Yadda can we leave this till the official thread it's hard enough reading then

Eamonnator · 08-11-2015 9:12pm

I think that covers everything.
See you next year.

Ring of Kerry

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