Orwell Sportive 2010 August 15th

buffalo

Leroy42 wrote: »

Edit: can't seem to get the picture to appear in the message, any helpers??

PS use the http://lh3.ggpht.com/_S-w3OhLoCSw/TGg7WspYS6I/AAAAAAAAIZY/00mhCVJYS4Y/s912/20100815_OrwellRandonee%20076.jpg for your image.

neris

it looked fairly impressive from the back at the start everyone rolling out can just imagine it with 2000 bikes. say there would be some fairly pi**ed off motorists at that

Leroy42

Buffalo,

Agree about the problems with the W200 due to the bigger numbers, was merely a nice part of the day. Perhaps W200 could either set up rolling groups or maybe Orwell should (hopefully if the event grows) limit it to manageable numbers rather than lose this aspect.

fergalos

Folks

The following are some additional photo's from yesterday.

http://picasaweb.google.com/osullivan.fergal/OrwellRandonnee#

Ghosty669

fergalos wrote: »

Folks

The following are some additional photo's from yesterday.

http://picasaweb.google.com/osullivan.fergal/OrwellRandonnee#

Glad to see that with your and John H's help I made it into the pic of the organising team! Knew I shouldn't have stood at the back!

Straatvark

fergalos wrote: »

Folks

The following are some additional photo's from yesterday.

http://picasaweb.google.com/osullivan.fergal/OrwellRandonnee#

Now this is a bit of flesh I would prefer not to hang out

brayblue24

Ghosty,

Being as honest as I am (and because they're pixellated when I try to set them as wallpaper) are those snaps for sale either in hard copy or by email?

There's a couple of me I would like (and a couple more I wouldn't!) and it might make an extra few bob for your club.

Just a thought

Straatvark

brayblue24 wrote: »

Ghosty,

Being as honest as I am (and because they're pixellated when I try to set them as wallpaper) are those snaps for sale either in hard copy or by email?

There's a couple of me I would like (and a couple more I wouldn't!) and it might make an extra few bob for your club.

Just a thought

Hi BrayBlue

I can only comment on mine - the upload quality is reduced because of the volume of pics. If someone let me know via private message (identified by the correct URL) what pics they want, I will email it to him/her.

Ghosty669

brayblue24 wrote: »

Ghosty,

Being as honest as I am (and because they're pixellated when I try to set them as wallpaper) are those snaps for sale either in hard copy or by email?

There's a couple of me I would like (and a couple more I wouldn't!) and it might make an extra few bob for your club.

Just a thought

Thanks for the suggestion brayblue24. We'd prefer not to charge for the photos as we feel that you've already paid for these as part of your entry fee.
If you want a set of pics, then contact either myself, fergalos or straatvark and we'll get something organised for you.

doozerie

If I remember correctly this dog was near the top of the wall ahead of all of us and looking fresh as a daisy. Hats off to him/her, that's impressive riding!

Ghosty669

More pics available here : http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntw/sets/72157624619557015/

FrankGrimes

Just received the high-res version of my photos from Straatvark - great quality pics and another nice touch to add to the list of positive things about this event, thanks folks.

brayblue24

Got mine today from Ghosty. Agree with above-another nice touch

Edit: Just got the rest from Gert in doubvle quick time. Very impressive folks

Cadex

15/08/2010 Orwell Randonée - '...be careful what you wish for...'
A great day out, excellent marshalling, good grub, fab weather and very nice route – though it’s fair to say it appeared to turn uphill at every opportunity and hills I never knew about. Big thanks to all involved.

I have to be honest, I have been pretty lazy since doing the Land’s End to John o’Groats trip in July and only started back cycling when I started my new job (yay!) two weeks ago I stared commuting and then went for a short spin at the weekend up around Malahide and Howth etc. then a nice spin around Howth with Mrs. Cadex on Saturday. I’d emailed the guys I did the LEtJoG with and mentioned that it was nice to be back on the bike and that I was looking forward to getting into the mountains again. I saw the post for the Orwell Randonée on the web and though that might be just the thing….

Flew over to the sign-on (I thought I was late) where I met fellow Boardsies NiceOneTom, Caroline, TheTaxMan, PlanetX, DirkVoodoo and a few new faces. The start was well managed and it was great to have the police escort and the control car as far as Stepaside. We nearly lost a few from the front right coming into Enniskerry with a bus coming too fast and far around the corner as we went down the hill. The field was then blown open by the right turn up towards Glencree (‘the wall’?). I think everyone was scrambling for gears at this point and I heard a couple of groans about having left the racing block on. Not me, I was still having to work hard even with loads of low gears to choose from (how fickle fitness is, it is lost so easily). Anyway, there was some level of re-grouping and the peloton headed on to that nice descent towards Long Hill. Just at the bottom, where the road suddenly goes up, two lads in front of me ‘Schlecked’ their chains (including Lumen). I knew this hill was a bit nasty and worked my way along it, wondering where the route would bring us. As I thought, it went up the steep ‘shortcut’ towards Djouce which was fine but only if you were either full of beans or patient. I went for patient they’re nasty climbs but thankfully, short.

Djouce split the group up further (as least from my view at the back) and I got talking to PlaneteX for a bit. The climb up to Luggala is not my favourite when I’m fit, so it was not a bundle of laughs on the day. I love it there though and any time I’m back there it reminds me of the time I brought my Mam up before she died. The scenery is beautiful on a day like we had and it’s what makes me want to cycle forever. On then to Sally Gap and along to Laragh. This went well and we had a crossing tail-wind that drove us along. The bit around Glenmacnas and the waterfall was beautiful and I saw the photographer climbing up for a good shot (I saw them since and they are stunning). A nice fast descent into Laragh and up the Shay Elliott on a side I’ve only ever descended so it was a nice change. This was a bit of an effort but there was the prospect of a cuppa tea ahead to keep us going. Thankfully, the marshall at the bottom warned us about the gravel and bend – that could have been nasty! A nice cuppa at the Kirikee hall in Greenane before heading out to Rathdrum on what seemed to be a constant drag. After that the return trip through Roundwood, back over Djouce was fine and we met Caroline_ie and chatted for a bit. On the way over Djouce, we were separated again and he waved me to go which I did this time. The rest of the way through Enniskerry, Stepaside etc. went fine and I think I passed a few more on the way but it was hard to tell – they could just have been others out for a spin. I got back at 14:40 and chatted with Owen for a bit then PlanetX arrived just behind me. I went inside to see what was going and found the very hot curry, got some more water etc. I heard that NiceOneTom was first home – nice one! After chatting with the lads for a bit, I headed home on the bike. Feeling pretty good knowing I’d had a decent day in the hills in good company.

Stats for the day (total):
Distance:174.5k, Max: 71.1k/h, Ave: 27k/h, elapsed: 07:45 – 16:00 (09:00 – 14:40 for 135k of the event), Cycle: 6:31:54, I believe the climb was about 2000m

Me (Swords gear) and PlanetX on 'the Wall'
http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc356/Kilroy8282/20100815_OrwellRandonee087.jpg

Planet X

Good report. I cannot write as good as that. Well done. Enjoyed your company on the route.
For those who don't know Cadex, here he is leading me.........and Team Sky (behind) up The Wall,

buffalo

Cadex wrote: »

We nearly lost a few from the front right coming into Enniskerry with a bus coming too fast and far around the corner as we went down the hill.

I'd forgotten about that - I'd say a few lives flashed before people's eyes!