mizen to malin 2018

cavan4sam · 22-10-2017 10:38pm #1

Myself and a friend are "thinking" of doing mizen to malin next year

Looking to do it over probably 4-5 days cycling up to 150km a day

Would be open to doing it with a charity or group for support

Any help and tips with the route are extremely welcome

Wishbone Ash · 22-10-2017 11:24pm

cavan4sam wrote: »

..Any help and tips with the route are extremely welcome

Start on a Monday (if its not a Bank Holiday). Makes accommodation matters a little easier. Whatever you do, don't begin on the Friday of a Bank Holiday weekend unless you're pitching a tent each night.

4 days is handy enough - if I was doing it again I'd probably do it in 3 days (or even 2). No climbing as such, a few drags but generally flat.

Enduro · 23-10-2017 12:03am

I ran it this year. Used as much routing software as I could get my hands on and found that good old google maps did the best job of finding the optimal route. My route was mainly minor roads, and had more climb than some other routes, but was the shortest I could plot (about 550km). I can send you GPX if you like.

Wishbone Ash · 23-10-2017 11:54am

Enduro wrote: »

I ran it this year. ..

:eek: Serious respect! That's about 13 marathons! How long did it take you?

Enduro · 23-10-2017 12:40pm

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

:eek: Serious respect! That's about 13 marathons! How long did it take you?

3 days, 3 hours, 47 minutes or thereabouts!

marvin80 · 23-10-2017 1:02pm

Unbelievable stuff, well done

secman · 23-10-2017 1:27pm

Enduro wrote: »

I ran it this year. Used as much routing software as I could get my hands on and found that good old google maps did the best job of finding the optimal route. My route was mainly minor roads, and had more climb than some other routes, but was the shortest I could plot (about 550km). I can send you GPX if you like.

Very apt username... well done

exaisle · 23-10-2017 1:34pm

There are a few charities who do this, but be sure to do it from Mizen to Malin (and not the other way around to avoid the prevailing south-west headwinds!).

nilhg · 23-10-2017 2:01pm

cavan4sam wrote: »

Myself and a friend are "thinking" of doing mizen to malin next year

Looking to do it over probably 4-5 days cycling up to 150km a day

Would be open to doing it with a charity or group for support

Any help and tips with the route are extremely welcome

My main tip would be to take your time and take the more scenic route if possible, the straight up the middle option is fine if you're in a hurry, doing a one or two day bashfest but doesn't really compare to staying closer to the west coast. The one road I'd positively encourage avoiding is the A5 from Strabane to Derry, it was just horrible the day we were on it.

Enduro wrote: »

3 days, 3 hours, 47 minutes or thereabouts!

massive kudos, it took us 25 hours on bikes and that was plenty for me, don't know how you kept going running for that lenght.

Boardnashea · 23-10-2017 2:57pm

We went Limerick, Athlone, Manorhamilton in 2015 over 5 1/2 days but would push for 3 or 4 days if doing it again. Late start on the first day didn't help.

Route was great and seemed to have wind behind us most of the way.

ED E · 23-10-2017 3:50pm

The boards office is watching

https://twitter.com/boards/status/922473436282200064

youtheman · 23-10-2017 3:54pm

We did it in 4 days, Tralee, Galway, Donegal Town and Malin Head. You can make the first day very interesting (Caha Pass, Molls' Gap, Black Valley), second day likewise (through the Burren and past Father Ted's House). Third day is rather boring (just clocking up the miles for the sake of it). Fourth day is good also. Hotel's in Galway can be quite expensive if you are stopping there. Let me know if you want the routes and I can send them to you via PM.

Takca · 23-10-2017 3:56pm

ED E wrote: »

The boards office is watching
https://twitter.com/boards/status/922473436282200064

there is no backing out now :eek::eek::eek:

youtheman · 23-10-2017 4:00pm

Found the routes we followed:D
Day 1 https://ridewithgps.com/routes/12055533

Day 2 https://ridewithgps.com/routes/11777960

Day 3 https://ridewithgps.com/routes/11777545

Day 4 https://ridewithgps.com/routes/11777776

duffer247 · 23-10-2017 4:06pm

My Friend and I did it a couple of years ago, just the two of us. As previous poster we took the scenic route and tried to catch some coastline too. think we averaged just over 100k a day. We went from Malin to Mizen and stayed in Schull for a couple of nights afterwards.
Malin to Donegal town;
Donegal to Enniscrone
Ennicrone to Louisburgh
Louisburgh to Galway
Galway to Lahinch
Lahinch to Killarney
Killarney to Mizen

We found some guy that runs a business of carrying baggage for hill-walkers etc. He collected our stuff from B&B each morning and it was waiting for us when we got to the next one.

Great week, we still talk about it. We did it in August, 1 rain shower 0 punctures

terrydel · 23-10-2017 4:33pm

duffer247 wrote: »

My Friend and I did it a couple of years ago, just the two of us. As previous poster we took the scenic route and tried to catch some coastline too. think we averaged just over 100k a day. We went from Malin to Mizen and stayed in Schull for a couple of nights afterwards.
Malin to Donegal town;
Donegal to Enniscrone
Ennicrone to Louisburgh
Louisburgh to Galway
Galway to Lahinch
Lahinch to Killarney
Killarney to Mizen

We found some guy that runs a business of carrying baggage for hill-walkers etc. He collected our stuff from B&B each morning and it was waiting for us when we got to the next one.

Great week, we still talk about it. We did it in August, 1 rain shower 0 punctures

Who was the guy running that baggage business if you dont mind me asking?
Seems a great route btw, I personally couldnt be doing that without getting some scenary in, going up thru the midlands would be grim imho.

cavan4sam · 23-10-2017 10:40pm

Well that escalated quickly !!!!

Thanks a million for all the feedback kind of scared and excited at the thought ..

rom · 24-10-2017 12:29pm

Guy I know did it in 4 days this year. Can put you in contact if you want. He had dreadful weather for it in late Aug. PM if you want more info.

duffer247 · 24-10-2017 5:50pm

terrydel wrote: »

Who was the guy running that baggage business if you dont mind me asking?
Seems a great route btw, I personally couldnt be doing that without getting some scenary in, going up thru the midlands would be grim imho.

http://thepathwayporter.co.uk/

If I remember correctly it was about €200-€250, split between the 2 of us. Seems like a lot but it was money well spent to have your clothes and bits waiting for you at your destination at end of day. Also meant you only carried what you needed for the day.

ustazjoseph · 24-10-2017 6:50pm

myself and my then 15 yr old did it two yrs ago. lunch time start mizen to Macroom. macroom - limerick . limerick ballinasloe. balinasloe roscommon - short day , stayed with family. roscommon eniskillen. eniskillen letterkenney (family ) letterkenney malin ( trip included a ferry ) mostly back roads with google maps. stayed in hostels and with family. great trip. like to do it again via coast .

Cee-Jay-Cee · 24-10-2017 9:13pm

Myself and a gang of others done it in 2014 over 5 days.

Day 1 Mizen to Tralee (via Caha pass/Molls gap)
Day 2 Tralee to lisdoonvarna (ferry crossing at Tarbert)
Day 3 Lisdoonvarna to Claremorris
Day 4 Claremorris to Donegal Town
Day 5 Donegal Town to Malin Head.

Think it was 665km in total.

We done it second week in September and had absolutely brilliant weather. Tail wind, clear bright sunny days from start to finish.

ford2600 · 05-11-2017 8:59pm

Enduro wrote: »

3 days, 3 hours, 47 minutes or thereabouts!

https://www.google.ie/amp/www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/irish-endurance-cyclist-joe-barr/amp/

Your brother in Arms.

Some run. Some ride

Wishbone Ash · 06-11-2017 12:56am

ford2600 wrote: »

..Some run. Some ride

Indeed but was 'Tow Bar' being extra hard on himself? Strange time of the year to try that and particularly cold over the past two nights.

nilhg · 06-11-2017 4:45pm

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Indeed but was 'Tow Bar' being extra hard on himself? Strange time of the year to try that and particularly cold over the past two nights.

He tried earlier on this year and something went wrong, presumably he felt good and decided to have another go.

Some tough man.

delynet · 09-11-2017 12:58pm

Planning to do it next year. Maybe a group of 4-6. Aiming for end of June for a sub 24hour

4 guys in my club did it 20 years ago (1998) in 23 hrs 46min so we thought it would be a good challenge for the anniversary

nilhg · 09-11-2017 1:48pm

delynet wrote: »

Planning to do it next year. Maybe a group of 4-6. Aiming for end of June for a sub 24hour

4 guys in my club did it 20 years ago (1998) in 23 hrs 46min so we thought it would be a good challenge for the anniversary

Any of the 4 going to be involved?

delynet · 09-11-2017 2:14pm

4-6 cyclists plus another 2 support crew in vans\cars

Depending on logistics we may have another group doing it over 2 days but won't worry about that yet as there is enough to organize with the 1 day challenge

N.96 · 02-12-2017 12:11am

cavan4sam wrote: »

Would be open to doing it with a charity or group for support

https://guidedogs.ie/events/mizen2malin-2018/

delynet · 09-06-2018 6:10pm

Completed this last week in 23hrs 23mins. some info here on planning and preparation

http://www.dely.net/cycling-blog/mizen-to-malin-in-less-than-24-hours/

mizen to malin 2018

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