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Tour de Kilkenny 2010
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Join Date:Posts: 10917
From this weeks Kilkenny people, here's the photo that went with the article. Don't let the look of the guys in the middle and on the right put ye off coming downKilkenny People wrote:Cyclists in a spin over Tour de Kilkenny
Published Date: 28 July 2010
WHILE most of the cycling world is engrossed in the Tour de France, the local equivalent is back for its second spin this weekend.
Following a successful maiden voyage, the Tour de Kilkenny returns to local roads this Saturday. Cyclists from all over the country have been invited to ride in the event, which has a charitable aim at its core - to raise as much money as possible for sick children.
Organisers of the Tour are the Marble City Cyclers (MCC). The Kilkenny club have linked up with their main charity, the Barretstown children's camp, and will donate all funds raised from the tour to the centre, which is located in the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains.
In preparation for the Tour, a number of cyclists from the Marble City Cyclers club cycled to Barretstown in Kildare, partly to get some miles in their legs and also to see the specially-designed facility that helps children with serious illnesses, primarily cancer and serious blood diseases.
The camp provides a programme of adventure, activities and fun which helps children with serious illness regain their confidence and self-esteem and has become internationally recognised as having a positive impact on their lives.
Barretstown has grown from serving 124 children in a marquee in 1994 to over 12,000 children and their families from 23 European countries. The site has grown to offer a first-class facility for seriously ill children with an excellent medical centre and a unique therapeutic programme backed by the medical community.
All of the children and families have come to Barretstown free of charge. Everything - from accommodation and food to medical assistance and round-trip airfares - are provided. Barretstown has to raise over €4.5 million each year to fund its programmes; 96% of this money comes from companies and individual donations from Ireland and abroad.
Scenery, terrain
"The Tour de Kilkenny is primarily a fun event where cyclists from all over the country come to experience the fabulous scenery and terrain of Kilkenny," explained Patrick Tobin, chairman of the Marble City Cyclers. "However the event is also a very important fund-raising opportunity and all of the money raised goes to Barretstown.
"We wanted to be able to see Barretstown for ourselves and get an insight into how the facility helps children with serious illness," he added. "Last year's Tour raised over €5,000 for Barretstown - this year we are hoping to beat that figure."
Participants in the Tour de Kilkenny are offered a choice of three routes on the day - course distances are 40km and 100km, as well as a 160km route. Each of the courses has been designed to offer different levels of challenge. All routes will give participants a chance to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Co Kilkenny while having a good healthy workout.
The 40km circuit goes out to Kells before turning east for Callan, then returning back through Sevenhouses and Danesfort. The route is relatively flat but has a few gentle hills and short climbs to offer a challenge to beginner or leisure cyclists. All routes start and finish at Kilkenny Rugby Club.
Fitness, stamina
The 100km route will test medium distance riders and is ideal for those with good bike fitness and stamina. There are a number of challenging climbs on this route, the most notable being Coppenagh and Woodstock. There are also plenty of tough drags thrown in so it deserves it reputation as one of Ireland's toughest 100km tracks.
The 160km course will rebuke the theory that Kilkenny is a flat county. None of the climbs are excessive, but there are plenty - Woodstock, Kilmoganny and Kilmanagh are the most memorable. A high standard of bike fitness and stamina is required for this course, while a good climbing ability will help.
The starting point for the Tour de Kilkenny's 100km and 160km events will be Foulkstown, the home of Kilkenny Rugby Club on the Waterford Road. The cycle starts at 9am on Saturday, with registration open until 8.30am. The 40km participants have a start time of 11am, with registration open until 10.30am.
Further information on the tour, as well as registration details, is available from www.marblecitycyclers.com
https://ormondelanguagetours.com
Walking Tours of Kilkenny in English, French or German.
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AstraMonti wrote: »MarbleCityCycle can you do something with the weather please?
I've asked met Éireann if they could move any rain to Sunday and they said they'll see what they can do but they were unsure about organising a heat-wave though.https://ormondelanguagetours.com
Walking Tours of Kilkenny in English, French or German.
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Join Date:Posts: 26389
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Join Date:Posts: 10917
After over an hour my dad came with tools. Got chain fixed, snapped again after half way. In broomwagon with unionman
https://ormondelanguagetours.com
Walking Tours of Kilkenny in English, French or German.
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Join Date:Posts: 26389
Captain Havoc wrote: »After over an hour my dad came with tools. Got chain fixed, snapped again after half way. In broomwagon with unionman
Not your day eh
Thats annoying as hell, twice in one day...0 -
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Captain Havoc wrote: »After over an hour my dad came with tools. Got chain fixed, snapped again after half way. In broomwagon with unionman
If you are using Ultegra chains, have a read of http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2010/02/shimano-ultegra-chain-failure.html0 -
Just arrived back after doing the "real " Tour de Kilkenny . Arrived back at the rugby club last year in record time (for me) after doing the 160K . Wondered reading the posts here after about this killer hill near the end???
Well due to much better road markings than last year ( the ONLY small criticism I hasten to add) I found that turn for Kilmanagh , jaysus you Kilkenny lads are inhuman putting that climb at the end. Who's suggestion was that ? Brian Cody's ( the torture merchant) ??
Anyway congrats to you all , well run and excellent food , no surprises there, (excellent last year too) and one I will put into my calendar again for next year .Only thing I would have liked in the goody bag would be a couple of All Ireland tickets Sure yez won't need 'em , will ye ? 0 -
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Captain Havoc wrote: »After over an hour my dad came with tools. Got chain fixed, snapped again after half way. In broomwagon with unionman
Had a major mechanical in Kilmanagh, which involved trying (unsuccessfully) to get a tube (two tubes acutaully, both burst) into a Dura Ace, 2 way fit wheel, and a Hutchinson Road Fusion tubless tyre. You'd need to have bionic thumbs, or access to an advance pitstop. Had to phone my good lady wife to come and collect me. 91.67 miles done in 5 Hrs 17 mins. Pi$$ed off I didn't get to finish :mad: Needless to say, both Hutch's now going in the bin.0 -
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Join Date:Posts: 10917
If you are using Ultegra chains, have a read of http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2010/02/shimano-ultegra-chain-failure.html
I put a new Ultegra chain on the bike Thursday evening, this was it's first spin. Rightly p1ssed off. There's no point in writting any report, except to say it was nice to finally meet Beasty, kennyb and Daragh, also it was good to meet Astramonti and Unionman again. I was raging on the side of the road when a couple of lads from Naas were talking "serves him right for wearing a yellow jersey", "some balls, I wouldn't wear one", I was going to murder them as they were taking the p1ss whilst cycling away, didn't really think it was funny as I was there with a snapped chain waiting for the Broomwagon to come and end my day. It would have been funny though if they had the balls to say it to my face but very unsportsman like behaviour. Speaking of unsportsman like behaviour, shouldn't you be protecting the leader Beasty Gadret?
When I had the chain back on, I had images of a valiant effort from myself, overtaking the stragglers, suffering going up the hills and coming on here this evening to describe the lengths I went to, to finish. I was taking the corners at full pace using the full road, I got behind a tractor for a period. When I got to the foodstop, this image got more realistic as there were still people there, on the way I stopped and gave a guy a tube, so I was no longer la lanterne rouge. A few kilometers after the foodstop the chain snapped again, I knew there was no point in continuing, even though he had my toolbox, how more links could I remove? Anyway, there's a French song that comes to my mind for the next moment. Into the Broomwagon we go, kind of happy to see a familiar face, although disapointed that Unionman didn't get to finish. Luckily the Broomwagon was changing over and we got a lift more or less directly to Kilkenny and didn't have to go all the way around. When we got to Kilkenny we were greeted with words of comfort from Daragh_ :rolleyes:
Went home showered, had dinner. Got on my mountain bike to go back to the finish to help clean up and what happened? My chain twisted, feckin raging I am as it keeps jumping. Well that was only supposed to be one or two sentences but I rambled on a bit, as I do.
Fairplay to Toblerone again for organising a fantastic show adn The Doc Man you can blame for the difficult course, I didn't do much on the organising front TBH.https://ormondelanguagetours.com
Walking Tours of Kilkenny in English, French or German.
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Had very good fun! The plan was to do the 160k, but it changed mid-course as I needed to be early home in Dublin so I went for the 100(110 :mad:), and I am quite glad I did, it would have been painful 50kms.
It was really great meeting Beasty, kennyb3, darragh and a couple more (apologies I can't remember the nicks now) and ofc Captain Havoc and Unionman. Unfortunately I lost them early, probably due to chain incident, sorry to hear it man! At the first climb I was with a group from Carlow and we flew up the hill, if anyone reads it well done! I remember from last year the climb out to Inistioge and as it started I was kinda laughing at the people who were going mad at the start trying to sprint it up. I switched to the small ring from the start, and by the end I 've passed like 30 people that have been blown off by it. After that another 4k climb came and then was the food stop. We ate pretty much everything with kennyb3 and headed off for the last 35kms with him and Beasty. Had a beautiful chat along the way which made things easier.
On a side note, I changed my stem to a 120mm (10mm shorter) and flipped it around at 0 degrees. I was so surprised what a difference this made to the handling of the bike, I was flying going downhill!
I will be back next year as well, the lads are doing great job to keep it fun 0 -
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Moi? I was busy trying to reign in kennyb3, and didn't realise we'd managed to drop you;)Captain Havoc wrote: »Speaking of unsportsman like behaviour, shouldn't you be protecting the leader Beasty Gadret?
I waited a while at the water stop, but guessed you'd probably started chatting with one of the lady cyclists out today, and I didn't want to cramp your style. Hence I gave the guys a lead-out to the bottom of the hills then let them loose - I guessed they would burn themselves out and wouldn't leave anything for the final sprint back to the rugby club, and this turned out to be true
Sorry to hear about your woes - get me the details of those Naas guys, and I'll start to plot some revenge for you. Anyway you can now formally retire that (very becoming) yellow jersey. The offer still stands if you could sign it and get it to me at some stage. I would have waited around for you, but then thought nah, he's got his feet up in the broomwagon, and I may as well get home and do the same, while watching some cricket.0 -
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