Ride Dingle....

Igotadose · 27-04-2019 6:41pm

Supposedly 2000 cyclists out there tomorrow. Weather should be fine, fair number of cyclists around today, gonna be busy on the bothar.

fryup · 28-04-2019 9:51pm

well...........any good?

terrydel · 29-04-2019 8:47am

fryup wrote: »

well...........any good?

Yeah, enjoyed the ruote, as someone mentioned above, the Slea Head route is the best part, its really scenic and beautiful.
I hadnt done over a 100k since last September so was unsure how I'd cope but was ok in the end, flew the first 55km loop, avg over 31kmph, finished with avg of 28kmph in 4h18min. First time doing Conor Pass, found it ok, its a nice climb at a consistent gradient so you can egt into a rhythm. I stopped at the food stop before, would probably have been quicker up it without that! Still managed a good time on it, but I reckon with a few goes I'd be able to lash up it.
The numbers seemed way down unfortunately, I'd guess at maybe 500-600 tops.
Overall a good event I'd do again, tho its a bloody long trip down and back over two days, so not sure I'd be doing that again.

Igotadose · 29-04-2019 8:51am

Agreed, living out here have seen a lot of big cycle races, this one wasn't that big, could get around no problem driving/walking

Weltsmertz · 29-04-2019 12:39pm

Know a few people that ended up doing their own cycle round Dingle on the Saturday and gave the official Sunday cycle a miss. Heard as well that numbers were low.

EDit · 29-04-2019 1:12pm

Really enjoyed it, had fun in Dingle Saturday night and then had a leasurely cycle around the hills on Sunday. Crowd was small, but I prefer that anyways (who wants to queue for 10 mins for a coffee?) and everyone we met was friendly and up for a good time. Can’t fault the organization. Will probably do it again if they do it next year as We were in the clouds up on Conor Pass, so didn’t get to fully experience the amazing views

PhilOssophy · 29-04-2019 2:41pm

Genuine question - what is the advantage of doing an organised cycle? What exactly are you paying for? I do quite a bit of recreational cycling, I've never done an organised cycle but what do you get for your money?

marvin80 · 29-04-2019 3:20pm

PhilOssophy wrote: »

Genuine question - what is the advantage of doing an organised cycle? What exactly are you paying for? I do quite a bit of recreational cycling, I've never done an organised cycle but what do you get for your money?

For local cycles I like supporting the local charity.
For cycles further afield they usually have the best/most scenic route in the area. Nice doing it in a group, I love shooting the breeze with strangers as we're tipping around.
The food stops are usually decent as well.

terrydel · 29-04-2019 3:23pm

PhilOssophy wrote: »

Genuine question - what is the advantage of doing an organised cycle? What exactly are you paying for? I do quite a bit of recreational cycling, I've never done an organised cycle but what do you get for your money?

You generally get a decent number of people doing them, a bit of banter and craic along the way, the benefit of a bit of group riding (you will nearly always go quicker on a sportive in my experience) food stops where you dont have to pay and can generally have as much or as litle as you like.
They are not for everyone and plenty are overly expensive, but there are benefits, for me its mostly the bit of benter and craic of doing a tough challenge with others.

fat bloke · 29-04-2019 4:29pm

(1) overtaking as many as you can

(2) drafting behind those you can't

29-04-2019 4:39pm

PhilOssophy wrote: »

Genuine question - what is the advantage of doing an organised cycle? What exactly are you paying for? I do quite a bit of recreational cycling, I've never done an organised cycle but what do you get for your money?

An excuse to get away for the day, and maybe even the weekend, with a couple of buddies, have a few pints, and maybe even do a cycle

fryup · 29-04-2019 5:55pm

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

and may i add....

*social side of it - meeting new people
*helps gets you fit - exercise
*contributing to worthy causes - charity
*getting to see parts of the country you may never have visited before - scenery

.....and of course cheesecake

ED E · 29-04-2019 5:59pm

Cheesecake?

G'way with ya. Carrot Cake.

Wishbone Ash · 29-04-2019 7:09pm

brocbrocach wrote: »

The route goes over the highest road pass in Ireland...

I see that mentioned here from time to time but it must be a case of Co Kerry thinking 'big'.

There are at least two other mountain passes (on public roads) which are higher - The 'Featherbeds' on the Dublin/Wicklow border and The Wicklow Gap.

two wheels good · 29-04-2019 9:46pm

terrydel wrote: »

I've no issue at all with the move to Sunday, was a sensible decision with a lot of good reasons behind it.
Drove down last night, arriving in dingle at 7.30, in the middle of the worst winds and in no way was it reckless. So long as you drove with care it was a bit nasty but nothing too crazy.
Drove all of slea head today and about half the other loop, didn't see a single tree down Again, I've no issue with the organisers decision, feel for those left out of pocket and I think they should be compensated some way.
Lots of cyclists out today in pretty nice conditions.

Early afternoon Saturday, I was surprised to see the long route completely clear of any storm debris. No trees down. Not so many trees on Dingle penninsula I realise - or the weak one's don't survive long.
Some locals told me the storm had blown itself out by 10pm Friday. Stark contrast to Cork, even Sat. morning.
In hindsight, yes, it seems the event could have taken place on Saturday. Good to see many cyclists on the route on Saturday.

PhilOssophy · 30-04-2019 9:03am

Hindsight = 20/20. If there was a few electricity poles down on the route, it might have seemed like a bad idea....

The Noble Nudge · 30-04-2019 12:03pm

EDit wrote: »

Really enjoyed it, had fun in Dingle Saturday night and then had a leasurely cycle around the hills on Sunday. Crowd was small, but I prefer that anyways (who wants to queue for 10 mins for a coffee?) and everyone we met was friendly and up for a good time. Can’t fault the organization. Will probably do it again if they do it next year as We were in the clouds up on Conor Pass, so didn’t get to fully experience the amazing views

Ive been down to do Conor Pass a few times never once seen the views from the bike...

brocbrocach · 30-04-2019 12:43pm

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I see that mentioned here from time to time but it must be a case of Co Kerry thinking 'big'.

There are at least two other mountain passes (on public roads) which are higher - The 'Featherbeds' on the Dublin/Wicklow border and The Wicklow Gap.

They're local mountain passes for local mountain people...

Weepsie · 30-04-2019 12:50pm

Sure it's not even the heighest in Munster. Priest's leap is higher by all accounts

magicbastarder · 03-05-2019 4:13pm

mod note - i've deleted a bunch of off-topic posts which were dragging the thread away from what it should have been discussing. perhaps that debate is for a different thread or different forum.

Weltsmertz · 08-08-2019 7:46am

Similar incident today. Major music festival cancelled. Tens of thousands of people inconvenienced. All because a bit of wind was forecast.

This weather paranoia has turned us into a generation of terrified snowflakes.

https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/angry-fans-react-after-boardmasters-festival-cancelled-due-to-weather-warnings-38382230.html

PhilOssophy · 08-08-2019 8:26am

Weltsmertz wrote: »

Similar incident today. Major music festival cancelled. Tens of thousands of people inconvenienced. All because a bit of wind was forecast.

This weather paranoia has turned us into a generation of terrified snowflakes.

https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/angry-fans-react-after-boardmasters-festival-cancelled-due-to-weather-warnings-38382230.html

You think the organisers should have ignored a weather warning? A bit of wind in a concert venue, with every sort of temporary structure in place, is more than "a bit of wind".

Wishbone Ash · 08-08-2019 9:43am

Weltsmertz wrote: »

....This weather paranoia has turned us into a generation of terrified snowflakes.....

Nothing to do with 'snowflakes'. The compensation culture is the cause.

08-08-2019 12:03pm

now open for 2020, early bird €60 for the 120km

https://ridedingle.com/

Ride Dingle....

Comments