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Last week before Ring of Kerry 2011 cycle & whos taking part thread

13

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 619 ✭✭✭vistafinder


    Great day yesterday. Unreal crowd on the roads some sight to see that many cyclists. Done it in 5.50 6 hrs altogether. Looking forward to next year already. Didnt see any bordsies jerseys.


  • Registered Users Posts: 65 ✭✭Hu Deman


    My first ever R.O.K. the most i had ever ridden before was 91km on the flat. amazing views, lovely people, well marshalled. was definitely worth the pain.rolling time was 7hr 41mins was very happy. can't wait for next year


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 88 ✭✭bikenut


    Made it around but only just. Was with my wife on her first sportive - her longest spin prior to that was 40k on the flat 2yrs ago - fair play to her for keeping it going especially on the way up Moll's Gap.

    Amazing weather, spectacular scenery and great organisation and food made for a great day out though. Will definitely be back next year - think we have a potential cycling convert in our midst!!

    On way to Connemara now for a weeks cycling - hopefully get some more of that weather!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 582 ✭✭✭Dr.Millah


    CheGuedara wrote: »

    Passed a few boardsies en route, tried to give a wave and a hey boardsie and attempted to give one a bit of a lead out on the Coomachiste descent

    That may have been myself actually, I was on a black felt, were you in club gear? Remember getting a "Hey boardsie!" on the way down alright.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,795 ✭✭✭CptMackey


    What a day out. Enjoyed it like I always do. Food stops were top notch as always. Only problems I had were 3 punctures. The last one finished my day at torc waterfall. Was gutted. Side wall of the tire was ruined. Glass how I hate glass. Was on course for around 7:30 hours rolling. Met one boardsie Irish motorist.

    Thanks to the man in the van outside of cahersiven. Life saver.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,505 ✭✭✭macnab


    I was on the bike for 6 hours 45 minutes, great day.18 of us were wearing black and red jerseys with heart, lungs etc depicted. The athmosphere was electric.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 895 ✭✭✭Dubba


    As was said, it was great day out, there weather was spot on and the route fantastic. Will definitely be back next year!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,907 ✭✭✭kala85


    macnab wrote: »
    I was on the bike for 6 hours 45 minutes, great day.18 of us were wearing black and red jerseys with heart, lungs etc depicted. The athmosphere was electric.

    Where did u get those jerseys with the lungs on them . I thought they were class


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,505 ✭✭✭macnab


    kala85 wrote: »
    macnab wrote: »
    I was on the bike for 6 hours 45 minutes, great day.18 of us were wearing black and red jerseys with heart, lungs etc depicted. The athmosphere was electric.

    Where did u get those jerseys with the lungs on them . I thought they were class
    They are Northwave, i think wiggle do them. I will ask the girl that bought them for the team.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 648 ✭✭✭lescol


    Kerry comes up trumps again:D a great cycle followed by winning the Munster Championship.

    Enjoyed the ROK hugely. Met ROK_ON at the start, moving nicely with Midleton CC until I got boxed in around Glenbeigh, took up with Clonmel CC (I think) until Caherciveen. Enda was being interviewed as I went down to the school.

    Mostly solo to Sneem where I stopped for water and met Brian from Killarney, he is 5 years old and was waiting for his dad, a real character.

    In a small group to Kenmare where I ate some feed, I was famished. Met a few lads from home so we finished together. Climbing Molls Gap was hot but a real carnival atmosphere at the top, first time I've stopped there in 10 ROKs.

    Said hello to boardsie Donal, thanks for posting the picture of my ar*e!

    Incredible numbers on the road. My wife tells me the first back was around 11am and she saw a huge group leave Killarney around the same time.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,684 ✭✭✭macadam


    Brilliant day, my first ROK and I cannot wait to get back next year, hopefully I will be injury free for the next one, 6hrs 27 rolling time.
    The brack was much appreciated in Kenmare as was the 4 hands leg massage.
    Molls gap was something else and what a descent about 12 of us in a single file for about 6klms before we came up behind a vehicle, would love to get a run at that again.
    Thanks to the organisers and the people of Kerry for a great weekend.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,508 ✭✭✭Esroh


    Back home in Mayo after a brillant weekend.
    I know the weather makes a big differece but the Atmosphere over the weekend was great. Big Thanks to everyone involved and the People of Killarney in general.
    And I think anyone who approched Killarney by car as the day went on does deserve a mention as cyclists were No.1.
    We started at 7.05 during that shower and I was praying it was not a sign of things to come. Thankfully not.
    We were commenting on the fact we never called a 'Pothole' once :D
    The friendliness on the road and especially the first feedstop where everyone just calmly joined a big que makes this event especial.

    The descent off Molls with a good surface made my day as I was actually able to relax and enjoy it(not being the bravest).A Thanks to 3 MCC guys for the perfect lines and the pull home.
    Delighted with 6h9min moving time. Legs are finally coming back.

    22 members rode andall are intending to return our only question being why it took alot of us so long to ride it in the first place.


  • Registered Users Posts: 555 ✭✭✭trek climber


    Great day out and a great weekend. 6hr30 rolling for me, huge credit to the organisers for the massive work that goes into running an event involving about 7000 cyclists. Great stops, great atmosphere, well signed and proper marshalling at dangerour junctions. The Wicklow 200 organisers could learn a lot from this event.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,032 ✭✭✭FrankGrimes


    Powerful day and an outstanding event, what more could ya want? Kerry on a day like yesterday is a truly beautiful place to be and the amount of different shades of green I saw left me in no doubt as to why they call it the Emerald Isle.

    Really well organised - I loved the cars and vans going around with speakers drumming up a bit of buzz, top notch marshalling systems with flag and whistle systems applied to great effect in dangerous areas or where traffic management was needed (W200 would do well to copy). The spread just seems to get better with the addition of abundant supplies of chocolates, buns, scones etc. Everybody, participants and organisers seemed to be in a good mood and on a day like that you could hardly not be.

    8 of us went down and had a good buzz last night too and I was well happy to get round in 5:23 rolling. Have it pencilled in for next year already.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,268 ✭✭✭irishmotorist


    Started at about 7:00 and rode most of it on my own, jumping between groups. I met (I think) CptMackey on the way into Cahersiveen. I thought he introduced himself as a Murphy of some description, but the name fits the bill - sorry :o

    I met Signal Rabbit at the Kenmare food stop and he was talking about steak and beer. Good for the spirit that :D

    I had been cramping in my calves a few times along the way. Molls Gap was the worst though - right calf and both quads cramping. When I got off the bike for a quick rest at the top of Molls Gap I had to do a kind of duck walk across the road cos of quads cramping, I couldn't walk properly :o:o:o

    Anyway, died a death for the remainder and was delighted to see 6:35 rolling at the end of it. Slower than last year, but I'm in much worse shape. All I could think of from about 1/2 way was a bed but I just kept on riding the pain wave. I could really see the difference in my fitness this year though. The last couple of years, I was doing most of the overtaking on the 2 climbs. This year I was overtaken a lot.

    Hats off to the organisers and volunteers as always. Great food and marshalling (where relevant) and everything along the way. It was the usual great day out. Most posts so far here reflect good cycling but, for the first time, I saw a lot of reckless cycling this year. I saw a few near misses, particularly on the Molls Gap descent where people (who, in club jerseys, should know better) descending around corners on the wrong side of the road and having to get out of an oncoming cars way ASAP. A lot of middle-of-the-road cyclists too, which I never noticed before. Anyway, in the general scheme of things, these are small criticisms and it's still the event of the year for me.

    I'd love to get there next year, but there's an Irishmotorist beag due in September so I can imagine that my training will take a bit of a knock next winter/spring/summer. Maybe I will be able to stick a little trailer on the back of the bike :p


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,361 ✭✭✭mgmt


    I saw a few near misses, particularly on the Molls Gap descent where people (who, in club jerseys, should know better) descending around corners on the wrong side of the road and having to get out of an oncoming cars way ASAP.

    +1


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,907 ✭✭✭kala85


    macnab wrote: »
    I was on the bike for 6 hours 45 minutes, great day.18 of us were wearing black and red jerseys with heart, lungs etc depicted. The athmosphere was electric.
    I saw those jersies where could I get one as I thought they were class.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 82 ✭✭thehangtenguy


    Savage day, Sun, scenery, Friendly crowd, set off at 6.20am and had a rolling time of 6.18. only negative was i started to suffer saddlesore from the around the half way mark which was a first for me. Wasnt in a good place when i rolled over the line.:mad:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,048 ✭✭✭thehamo


    mgmt wrote: »
    I saw a few near misses, particularly on the Molls Gap descent where people (who, in club jerseys, should know better) descending around corners on the wrong side of the road and having to get out of an oncoming cars way ASAP.

    +1[/Quote

    I saw two lads on Molls gap decent on mountainbikes goin down with reckless behaviour. Got stuck behind a long line of traffic goin down so had to coast the breaks most of the way down but these lads round bends on the wrong side of the road full tilt etc etc.

    Anyways, had a superb day. Didn't have a clock but think I was about 10 hours out food included ( a few long stints in the jacks) and stopped to help a lad with a banjaxed bike. Had my last bag of ride shots before I went up Molls gap but they didn't kick in until the last 10km or so. Felt like a new man was tearing past everyone felt good! :D Definitely need more hill training and get my f'n hole used to the saddle!!! could hardly sit for the last 30km


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,525 ✭✭✭daymobrew


    Dónal wrote: »
    IMG_0926_thumb.jpg
    That's me on the left of the frame. Were you photographing me or the car?
    I will upload some photos in the next few days, though no identifiable people in them.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,268 ✭✭✭irishmotorist


    I forgot to mention that I saw my typical anecdotal person in jeans doing it and then, a short while later, I saw a dude on a BMX with a official number plate on it. I'm not sure if there's a back story to it, but that's gotta hurt!!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,684 ✭✭✭macadam


    Spotted a guy on a red giant road bike smoking while cycling up Coomachiste.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 586 ✭✭✭devotional1993


    610 no stops-afraid to lock up tbh..
    Amazing to see a few oul geezers on mtbs with runners on ahead of me at 70miles when im averaging over 17mph ..Think there is a lot of people who live on the course and do a bit of it only.
    Fantastic event and will be back..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,048 ✭✭✭thehamo


    I forgot to mention that I saw my typical anecdotal person in jeans doing it and then, a short while later, I saw a dude on a BMX with a official number plate on it. I'm not sure if there's a back story to it, but that's gotta hurt!!!
    Saw that bloke on the bmx. Finished a short while after me. His words were something along the lines of thank funk that's over!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,315 ✭✭✭chakattack


    I saw a few near misses, particularly on the Molls Gap descent where people (who, in club jerseys, should know better) descending around corners on the wrong side of the road and having to get out of an oncoming cars way ASAP.

    It depends on your perception of risk and near miss - I was descending as fast as I could (in a club jersey) and this meant passing on the outside through corners but only when I could see a clear gap and no on coming traffic or a safe distance to an oncoming car before tucking back into the left. Always cautious not to startle anyway by swinging in right in front of them too as I know some of the shakier cyclists find this unnerving.

    I'm sure some guys thought this was reckless but if you're used to descending and cycling in numbers it's fine.

    Saw someone do it on a fixie - kudos


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  • Registered Users Posts: 144 ✭✭karlmyson


    Superb day, wonderful conditions and great as always to see huge crowds out. Did it in 5:32 cycle time, taking 5 minutes from last year's time. Total stops were 1:30. This year was the better achievement tho, as there were two of us only (6 last year). Nobody seemed to be riding our pace, so we just motored on all day. Luckily we didn't blow and managed to keep a push on all the way to the line. Met ROK_ON and saw another few boardies jerseys too. I rode in ESB CC gear, my compadre in Tour de Munster kit.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,268 ✭✭✭irishmotorist


    chakattack wrote: »
    It depends on your perception of risk and near miss...

    What I'm referring to is people approaching a blind corner (e.g. shortly after the Molls Gap descent starts) and having to evade a suddenly oncoming car. I saw 2 instances of somebody nearly ending up in the windscreen of an oncoming car because of their own recklessness. I can understand being a good descender in the midst of all these "irregular cyclists" and wanting to have a good fast descent yourself, but Jesus - at least consider some golden rules!


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,034 ✭✭✭Arequipa


    Hey! Really enjoyed Ring of Kerry. Think I clocked 174kms & 6hours 10-15mins on the bike, but I did stop in Cahirciveen & Kenmare for a good feed of bananas, brack, sandwiches & tea: I thought the event was fab; really well organised, marshalled & a great atmosphere!
    Rode with a cousin of mine & his mate; lost them for half the cycle & cycled with Dungarvan, Burren & Wicklow clubs:

    At one point I cycled in a train/ group of club cyclists: was brill; felt like we were rocketing along!
    Oh yea gr8 weather & beautiful scenery too!
    Next time I'll remember the suntan lotion:have a few burn/tan lines!!

    Arequipa


  • Registered Users Posts: 125 ✭✭oicherider


    Fantastic day!!

    Averaged 21kph - taking into account that I nearly died after 4 miles 10 weeks ago I reckon i didnt do too bad!! (My 1st ROK in 14 years!)

    I spotted that lad on the BMX outside Cahersiveen.. He had to be off his head!!.. And as regards the aul lads on the MTBs.. I was talking to one of them the last time i done it (14 years ago) and he was for real - complete with hip replacements!!.. It really took the wind out of my sails at the time!

    Lads im back on the bike and wont miss it for the world next year!!

    Molls Gap nearly killed me but it made crossing the line all the sweeter in the finish!!

    Great day and delighted that i managed it - See ye all next year!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,103 ✭✭✭2 Wheels Good


    Great day out, 1st rok. Only saw 1 boardsie. 8 hrs on the bike, took our time at the stops to soak up the atmosphere. Surprised to find it an easy day, credit to the new bike me thinks. Credit to my friend who did 30k "training" Tuesday, legend!
    Saw a guy in jeans near the start and the bmxer further along, some credit to both!
    Also the family just before Sneem that set up an unofficial stop were great, makes the day what it is!
    Credit to the organisers, brilliantly run. Thanks too to Blarney CC for the tow in to Kenmare :)


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  • Registered Users Posts: 167 ✭✭Timmyboy


    Also the family just before Sneem that set up an unofficial stop were great, makes the day what it is!
    Credit to the organisers, brilliantly run.

    Yes indeed.
    Thanks to that family with the house on the(left hand) side of the road on the way into Sneem. I'd a good finish because of them. Much obliged to ye!

    And also to all of the organizers, from registration and sign-in all the way through it was essentially seamless. Great stuff lads. My appreciation to ye!

    Until I recognized I had sunburn on my legs!:(


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,525 ✭✭✭daymobrew


    Also the family just before Sneem that set up an unofficial stop were great, makes the day what it is!
    4 years ago that place was a middle aged woman and her mother dispensing water from their well - it was the nicest water. They've obviously expanded, though I didn't stop this time.
    What I'm referring to is people approaching a blind corner (e.g. shortly after the Molls Gap descent starts) and having to evade a suddenly oncoming car.
    While this has the potential to result in a serious injury, throughout the day I saw cyclists on the wrong side of the road while a car was oncoming.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,831 ✭✭✭ROK ON


    One of the things that I regret is that by starting & finishing in Kenmare as I do, you miss the craic at Molls Gap later in the day - it seemed that Molls Gap had more of a finishline atmosphere than Killarney.
    Next year I will finish on the Gap I think.

    That family outside Sneem with the water stop plus the unofficial stops elsewhere (glenbeigh, Waterville, black shop, Sneem) epitomise the Ring for me.

    All the food and water is donated. It really is fantastic the effort that goes in.

    I saw the bmx guy outside Caherciveen at say 945.

    Pretty sure I saw him after 5pm when I was driving away.
    Terribly long time to be on that tiny bike. Must have been part of the gig for his charity collection.

    Regarding crossing White line - for most of the first half I was in a group of about 30 to Caherciveen. The group had to cross the centre l e to pass individuals and slower groups.

    In fairness the road is straight and those at the head of group called that we were moving out/moving in. Car on etc.

    I saw far less craziness this year.
    I was in small groups from Caherdaniel to Kenmare and so no reckless behaviour.

    The only danger was the guy in the large yellow NI reg bus determined to force his way up Coomakiste thru hundred of cyclists.

    Eventually I along with a Chain Gang guy cycled in front of him to prevent him clipping around us. There were cars descending that had right of way, yet this fat red faced amadan felt he could drive in the middle of the road and try to push cyclists into the ditch.

    For one morning a year buses should be banned on the route until say 2pm - like a rolling road closure. It cannot be much fun for the tourists on the bus either.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,103 ✭✭✭2 Wheels Good


    One bad thing I saw, while we were having breakfast at the b&b, a guy we were chatting to left just before us. Next thing he was back in. While he was putting on his shoes someone took his bike from the door of the b&b. They had cctv so fingers crossed he got it back!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,146 ✭✭✭Morrisseeee


    I think there should be a seperate thread, the things I witnessed on the ROK :D
    Yep, heard guys saying they saw the 'BMX guy' near Kenmare, hardcore :cool:
    Did anyone see an old woman (tourist I think) trying to cross the road (to take photos) on a descent before Waterville. She was inching her way accross the road and cyclists doing amazing maneuvers to avoid her, she was determined to get accross tho :eek:
    That accident near Templenoe looked bad, the car had a dent in the front, cyclist panned out on the ground (helmet in bits).:confused:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 232 ✭✭G2ECE


    Cycled with my Cycle 4 Sick Children buddies, went over Molls Gap together, amazing experience! 6hrs 42mins rolling. lots of stops! :)

    Had one bad experience in Waterville, we stopped at Peters Place for a coffee, but because of the water stop a couple of hundred metres away, there were lots of bottles discarded to the side of the road, this infuriated him and he took it out on us. Called us "Dirty Filthy Bastards" he then threw a bottle at a passer by that told him to relax that it was a charity event. Then he ejected all of my buddies from the coffe shop and verbally abused his own staff member, who to be fair was a lovely girl, i felt really sorry for her. I cant believe the way he reacted, If he had used his noggin, he could have made a small fortune on teas and coffee as the queue for tea/coffee at caherciveen was huge. Waterville is a beautiful place but that guy in Peters Place let the community down.

    Sorry if that turned into a bit of a rant!!! :)
    I really enjoyed my Maiden ROK other than that. The Flesk caravan park was top notch too!!!

    Cant wait for next year.


  • Registered Users Posts: 682 ✭✭✭Signal_ rabbit


    G2ECE wrote: »
    Cycled with my Cycle 4 Sick Children buddies, went over Molls Gap together, amazing experience! 6hrs 42mins rolling. lots of stops! :)

    Had one bad experience in Waterville, we stopped at Peters Place for a coffee, but because of the water stop a couple of hundred metres away, there were lots of bottles discarded to the side of the road, this infuriated him and he took it out on us. Called us "Dirty Filthy Bastards" he then threw a bottle at a passer by that told him to relax that it was a charity event. Then he ejected all of my buddies from the coffe shop and verbally abused his own staff member, who to be fair was a lovely girl, i felt really sorry for her. I cant believe the way he reacted, If he had used his noggin, he could have made a small fortune on teas and coffee as the queue for tea/coffee at caherciveen was huge. Waterville is a beautiful place but that guy in Peters Place let the community down.

    Sorry if that turned into a bit of a rant!!! :)
    I really enjoyed my Maiden ROK other than that. The Flesk caravan park was top notch too!!!

    Cant wait for next year.

    It would appear you aren't the only one as people have posted on his facebook page


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 232 ✭✭G2ECE


    It would appear you aren't the only one as people have posted on his facebook page

    I posted a comment on that page last night myself, and afaik most, if not all the other negative comments are from guys that were in our group. The guy totally had a meltdown! not very nice at all. we continued on up the road until we found this place http://www.wavecrestcamping.com/ where we had the opposite experience, the lady there could not have done any more to make us feel welcome, A real lady who knows how to run a business. I'm actually going to bring my family down there in the next few weeks for a camping weekend.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 765 ✭✭✭oflahero


    macadam wrote: »
    Spotted a guy on a red giant road bike smoking while cycling up Coomachiste.

    Probably Italian. Are you sure the bike was red?

    Cippo+smoking.jpg
    It would appear you aren't the only one as people have posted on his facebook page

    His riposte to Graham Tuohy's comment makes him look like Jack Nicholson at his typewriter in The Shining.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 232 ✭✭G2ECE


    oflahero wrote: »
    His riposte to Graham Tuohy's comment makes him look like Jack Nicholson at his typewriter in The Shining.


    Thats me he is replying to. It would seem he hasnt the intelligence to put up a decent argument either! :)


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 423 ✭✭madrabui


    It was a great day. It seemed to be even better organised than last year. A big thanks to all the official and unofficial stops.

    Also saw the accident at Templenoe. Yer man must be made out of steel. He left a big dent in the car. I hope he's alright.

    Also, I had a mini-meltdown over a not very nice encounter with a motorist last year, and I saw him at Torc waterfall. I was very tempted to slow down and see if he was going to try and get cyclists off the road that day!


  • Posts: 16,720 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    daymobrew wrote: »
    That's me on the left of the frame. Were you photographing me or the car?
    I will upload some photos in the next few days, though no identifiable people in them.

    I was stopped there waiting to be let go ahead by the Garda, so I decided to take photos. When I saw a Boards jersey I tried to take a quick one of that but I missed most of ya!

    ROK ON, I saw that bus too, was crazy. At one point a motorbike marshall went ahead and tried to direct them on the wrong side of the road, except that once the motorbike went ahead a few cyclists crossed over to the wrong side of the road without looking back. Also, at some point a few guys were drafting right behind the bus too which I thought was even crazier.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,684 ✭✭✭macadam


    @ ROK ON, that bus was owned by Chambers bus company from NI, shortly after that passed I seen the guy with the Cigarette, cycling and puffing away.
    Also on the journey from Kenmare to Moll's gap there was a local gent on an old bike with a gallon can on the rear rack, every cyclist that passed him he would shout KEEEEP OUT, I called back to him in jest KEEP UP.
    What a fun day.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,034 ✭✭✭Arequipa


    I found the buses and random ( often Uk or NI reg cars) a pain, particularly on the decent from Molls Gap & just before Killarney: I had to grip the brakes hard just to stop ploughing into them.

    Maybe they could divert/stop all traffic on the R of K for some of the day: would make it much more relaxed!

    There was a really annoying German Reg Bus earlier in the day: was a bit mad, some club cyclists were overtaking him on the inside & outside & slower cyclists were trying to avoid the carnage!
    At one point a guy in front of me slammed his brakes I had to do the same, couldn't get out of clips and fell over, against a guy on a Harley Davidson; thankfully he held me upright & just smiled!!

    Arequipa


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 88 ✭✭bikenut


    The plastic bottles and banana skins thrown into this person's garden was madness - I think once you pick up a plastic bottle and get back on the bike you have to be thinking hmm where am I going to get rid of this - maybe I should just drink it now or pour it into my bidon and leave the bottle in the black sack next to the table? It was fairly unlikely to have rubbish bins every few hundred metres.

    I think the organisers should have had a lot more black plastic bags and rubbish facilities in general everywhere- Sneem was covered with litter by 18:00 (yes we were slow) and absolutely nowhere for anyone to put anything.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 394 ✭✭MichealD


    One of the marshalls giving out water on the waterstop on the Mount Leinster Challenge was telling me thats why they stopped using 500ml bottles of water but instead filled bidons from the 5l kegs of water for each rider individually. Spent a few hours picking up bottles from the mountainside in previous years. That said its easier do with 300 riders rather than 3000!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 648 ✭✭✭lescol


    bikenut wrote: »
    The plastic bottles and banana skins thrown into this person's garden was madness - I think once you pick up a plastic bottle and get back on the bike you have to be thinking hmm where am I going to get rid of this - maybe I should just drink it now or pour it into my bidon and leave the bottle in the black sack next to the table? It was fairly unlikely to have rubbish bins every few hundred metres.

    I think the organisers should have had a lot more black plastic bags and rubbish facilities in general everywhere- Sneem was covered with litter by 18:00 (yes we were slow) and absolutely nowhere for anyone to put anything.

    A little further up the road two lads threw bottles over the wall, they received a rollicking from riders following. Two puce faces when I passed them, hopefully through embarrassment.

    There were black plastic bags in Sneem, a marshal was giving out about the dirty feckers not using them, as he said he was there to hand out drinks and bananas not to pick up the rubbish.

    It doesn't take much effort to put rubbish in bags and gel/bar wrappers in the back pocket until the next stop.

    I remember passing a guy cycling wearing crocs, he received a "fair play t'ye" as each rider passed.

    I'm always puzzled by those who partake and carry huge panniers and back packs, what's in them? And those who manage to cycle the whole thing in a huge flapping fluorescent rain jacket or "Be safe Be seen" vest


  • Registered Users Posts: 249 ✭✭longshank


    G2ECE wrote: »
    Cycled with my Cycle 4 Sick Children buddies, went over Molls Gap together, amazing experience! 6hrs 42mins rolling. lots of stops! :)

    Had one bad experience in Waterville, we stopped at Peters Place for a coffee, but because of the water stop a couple of hundred metres away, there were lots of bottles discarded to the side of the road, this infuriated him and he took it out on us. Called us "Dirty Filthy Bastards" he then threw a bottle at a passer by that told him to relax that it was a charity event. Then he ejected all of my buddies from the coffe shop and verbally abused his own staff member, who to be fair was a lovely girl, i felt really sorry for her. I cant believe the way he reacted, If he had used his noggin, he could have made a small fortune on teas and coffee as the queue for tea/coffee at caherciveen was huge. Waterville is a beautiful place but that guy in Peters Place let the community down.

    Sorry if that turned into a bit of a rant!!! :)
    I really enjoyed my Maiden ROK other than that. The Flesk caravan park was top notch too!!!

    Cant wait for next year.

    stopped there last year while out for a sunday spin with a few other cyclists, guy gave us the most unwelcome feeling and we moved on fairly quickly, he obviously just doesn't like cyclists/people making ROK his idea of hell !!!! why open a cafe if you are that type of person?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 232 ✭✭G2ECE


    longshank wrote: »
    stopped there last year while out for a sunday spin with a few other cyclists, guy gave us the most unwelcome feeling and we moved on fairly quickly, he obviously just doesn't like cyclists/people making ROK his idea of hell !!!! why open a cafe if you are that type of person?


    The way he spoke to the young girl behind the counter was disgraceful.
    I have to say that it was a blip in what was otherwise the best day I've ever spent on the bike. Well done Kerry! (and Mother Nature)


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  • Registered Users Posts: 167 ✭✭Timmyboy


    longshank wrote: »
    why open a cafe if you are that type of person?

    Perhaps he's not actually that type of person.

    Like how many of us actually are in the perfect careers for our type of person? What's the chances of having either the self awareness or ability to find ones right position in this life?

    He'd probably be better of as something else but this is what he's at.


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