Wicklow 200 2015

Unknown Soldier

black and amber wrote: »

By the way anyone know what happened to the guy who came off near the end of the decent off Shay Elliot? He looked very bad. Hope he's okay. Looked like a young fella too.

He was fine(ish) I met him near the toilets at the end. I'm nearly sure it was him. Young skinny fella

I commented "fupp and I think I have had a rough day?!?"

He had a lot of scapes, "Tis but a scratch" stuff.

Wishbone Ash

Well done D on your tough ride today. No bother to you after this.

Unknown Soldier wrote: »

...Special thanks to all the marshalls etc. You did a great job and I tried to tell you that as I passed...

Hope you didn't forget bcmf at the southern-most junction!

Unknown Soldier wrote:

Extra special thanks to all the Nordies who were on the Spin. You have great cycling etiquette by calling out what was going on, and when you were passing on the right etc.

Agree.

And a big thanks to SCC (Armagh) who sheltered me down the N81. By the time my turn came to go in front we had turned off and broken up!

bbolger

Super day out today, cracking weather and the marshalling and food stops were great.

Did the 200, 7hrs rolling time, chuffed with that.

Headwind up Wicklow Gap but hung on with a fast group from Rathmines/Thinkbike. Some guy shouted "Jaysus lads where's the fire!?" as we hammered along :-)

I know I know it's not a race...

Spent the last 80-90km doing up & overs with a guy from Fingal Tri, suffering in tandem.

Got to Greystones leisure centre and the Garmin read 197km as I stupidly forgot to restart it on the Shay descent. Had to spin down to the village and back to get to the 200km mark - so technically I finished twice to the applauding crowd at the end :-)

Wishbone Ash

bbolger wrote: »

....Got to Greystones leisure centre and the Garmin read 197km as I stupidly forgot to restart it on the Shay descent. Had to spin down to the village and back to get to the 200km mark - so technically I finished twice to the applauding crowd at the end :-)

And you still managed to do it in just a few minutes over 7 hours! :eek: Savage!

bbolger

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

And you still managed to do it in just a few minutes over 7 hours! :eek: Savage!

The Shay descent is prob 50km avg so may have done myself out of a sub 7 hour time... Tut tut, always next year.

ckeego

RayM wrote: »

I was going to post this in the other thread, but it's locked. Driving between Greystones and Kilcoole this afternoon, I saw quite a few near misses - and none of them were the fault of cyclists. A lot of car drivers seem to think it's ok to overtake cyclists at the brow of a hill, ignoring continuous white lines, trying to squeeze past (very tired and wobbly) cyclists with inches to spare, and forcing oncoming cars to take evasive action. On a Sunday afternoon, you'd think people would be a bit more patient. Could have done with some Gardai patrolling the area.

Believe me, as a local rider, it is the same every day of the week.

Greystones/Delgany and on into Kilcoole is a very dangerous road. Bizarre as it sounds, the N11 to Ashford is the safer option.

Pigeon Reaper

Thanks to the marshal who told my wife to sit and have a muesli bar while he fixed her puncture after a tube blew as she passed him. She said she was suffering at that point and being able to sit and eat instead of replacing the tube was a big help to her.

laraghrider

Well that was glorious. Didn't really avail of much of the food stops as our club had fantastic support for us and had more than enough food, gels etc... I did get a cup of tea and a rather delicious caramel slice in Rathdrum. That was such a tonic.

Got some lovely groups but got very isolated from the top of Wicklow Gap until just before Glen of Imal turn off. As we came through Baltinglass a good group with about 4 or 5 Lucan riders at the front were leaving so we blended in. Thanks Lucan you took us all the way to the base of SM. Myself and a fellow Reservoir Cog worked with you at the front but to be fair the yellow and blue did most of the pulling. Good groups very hard to come by from the mountains until after Redcross. I'd given up hope of a group again as I was passing tired broken lone riders one after another until this absolute train came over me and they were hammering it. Jumped on and I don't think my garmin read less than 40kph (save for the horrible drags) all the way home. We motored. There was a girl at the front of it, no idea who she was but jesus she was a train. Just kept pulling and we blew past group after group. It was like a proper race train. Brilliant.

All in all 7:20 and just north of 27 avg.

EDIT: Saw a great argument at the top of SM. Some lad in club gear lying in the ditch: "lads, i'm f**ked" "get up will ya you're embarassing yourself" "no seriously I'm done, i've nothing" "ah get up for f**k sake" "would you ever f..." and on it went. It was great

yop

Great day and the sunburn to prove it! Went around with brother in law and my mate, his mate went on the beer on Saturday so suffered no end!! Meet a few boardsies (I was in the jersey with the green writing) and a few names mentioned but for the life of me I can't remember them!!!
Scenery was fantastic and the marshals and foodstops and people at the reg and finish were extremely friendly and helpful and all had a smile on their face.
Next year I will sign up for the 200, I'm still 2nd on "Cresen hlll" or something, thats what happens when someone shouts "race" at the foot of it!
And that mental decent... class, clicked up my max 71kmph speed that, some crack!

Well done to all, especially the 200 lads/gals, savage achievement

yop

laraghrider wrote: »

EDIT: Saw a great argument at the top of SM. Some lad in club gear lying in the ditch: "lads, i'm f**ked" "get up will ya you're embarassing yourself" "no seriously I'm done, i've nothing" "ah get up for f**k sake" "would you ever f..." and on it went. It was great

ha ha, the same thing was going on behind me, passed a group of girls who was just troddling up one of the climbs after Rathdrum and some lads behind them shouting *Will ye shut up fkn talking and ride the fkn bike*, it got a laugh anyway!

carltonleon

bcmf wrote: »

Cant say you werent warned!

Thank God you reminded me. Just enough to change gears, I reckon I would have stopped and fallen over.

neilthefunkeone

What a great day yesterday.. Went out with a buddy and we plodded along.. Food stops and marshal's were great, very well organised!

Relatively slow compared to others as we came in just shy of 9 hours for the 200! I was in a world of hurt from 160-180.. Could barely move!!

arse_jackeen

What a fantastic day. My first w200. I also want to thank the organisers and marshalls for their excellent work and support. Feeling sore today but delighted I completed my first 200.

Steroo

Hats off to all involved in this... my first cycling only event & I did the 100. did it with my father in law who loved it too. Great climbs & descents. I thought the organisation, marshaling & food were great. Super weather & atmosphere. Meet some great people on the way around. 200 next year for sure.

zindicato

Unknown Soldier wrote: »

Did I tell you to take your rubbish home with you per chance, when you were sucking on a gel? You were in a boards.ie top? I mentioned the top to you earlier in the spin I think it might have been you! I didn't mean any offence! Litter was really p1ssing me off.
ds of people, I'd chat to a sheep on the side of the road tbh :

could have been me hadthe long sleeved boards kit and the boards bib shorts two people actually said they like the long sleeved defender jersey :)was minding a mate of mine his first big day out so could only go in spurts then slow down or stop to wait for him to make sure he's ok, loads of motivation and distraction got him going , got shouted at boardsie so many time's...... bcmf gave the loudest one of em all '' well done boardsie keep it going '':D

fillup

I'd like to know what sadistic mentalist decided to put the food stop in Rathdrum on top of that steep hill?

Just when you think you're getting read for a few mins of down time BAMMMMM!!! lets throw in a wee hill for the craic

I guess that's the Wicklow Way!

Wishbone Ash

laraghrider wrote: »

.... until this absolute train came over me and they were hammering it. Jumped on and I don't think my garmin read less than 40kph (save for the horrible drags) all the way home. We motored. There was a girl at the front of it, no idea who she was but jesus she was a train. Just kept pulling and we blew past group after group. It was like a proper race train. Brilliant....

She was in command of that express train as it passed me around Newcastle I think. Fresh as a daisy and carrying on a conversation as she passed at 40km/h. :cool:

J Madone

What's the story with people wearing headphones?
Apart from being extremely dangerous riding in groups, sad that they couldn't chat to one of the 2500 that entered. Stay home on the turbo next year

carltonleon

Great Day all in all. The weather, food and marshalling was brilliant.

Thanks to Wishbone Ash who gave me the training spin route last week, really helped. I finished it in 8hrs 5mins ride time and although slightly disappointed that I didn't break 8hrs, I just had nothing in the legs when the trains were passing me with 20kms to go I just couldn't hang on to them.

Some great craic though. Just turning at BCMF's hill after I managed to get into the small ring in time, one of the lads didn't and his anguished shout of "Ah for ****s sake, Are there no ****ing flat roads in Wicklow at all ?" brought great laughter as we turned to see him almost fall off his bike.

The train along the N81 (I think that was the road) was brilliant. Myself and my mate caught it early and we were about 6th in line. I was in the An Post gear. We trundled along and my mate asked me was there many behind. I turned and looked and about another 70 people had joined. It was brilliant snaking around all the corners in such a big group.

Finally, I was talking to my mate as he started to take a gel, He finished the gel and proceeded to launch the wrapper into ther nearest bush. Stunned, I turned to him and said "Where the **** do you think you are, the Tour De France ? Do you think someone is going to run over and collect it ? Don't do that again" Scalded he turned to me and just "Sorry". That was the last wrapper he threw yesterday and I would say any day.

07Lapierre

carltonleon wrote: »

Great Day all in all. The weather, food and marshalling was brilliant.

Thanks to Wishbone Ash who gave me the training spin route last week, really helped. I finished it in 8hrs 5mins ride time and although slightly disappointed that I didn't break 8hrs, I just had nothing in the legs when the trains were passing me with 20kms to go I just couldn't hang on to them.

Some great craic though. Just turning at BCMF's hill after I managed to get into the small ring in time, one of the lads didn't and his anguished shout of "Ah for ****s sake, Are there no ****ing flat roads in Wicklow at all ?" brought great laughter as we turned to see him almost fall off his bike.

The train along the N81 (I think that was the road) was brilliant. Myself and my mate caught it early and we were about 6th in line. I was in the An Post gear. We trundled along and my mate asked me was there many behind. I turned and looked and about another 70 people had joined. It was brilliant snaking around all the corners in such a big group.

Finally, I was talking to my mate as he started to take a gel, He finished the gel and proceeded to launch the wrapper into ther nearest bush. Stunned, I turned to him and said "Where the **** do you think you are, the Tour De France ? Do you think someone is going to run over and collect it ? Don't do that again" Scalded he turned to me and just "Sorry". That was the last wrapper he threw yesterday and I would say any day.

Fair play to you for saying something! I was in a race yesterday and a guy did the same. I tapped him on the shoulder and told him I was reporting him to the race official! Really pisses me off when I see people littering the country! :mad:

opentux

laraghrider wrote: »

Good groups very hard to come by from the mountains until after Redcross. I'd given up hope of a group again as I was passing tired broken lone riders one after another until this absolute train came over me and they were hammering it. Jumped on and I don't think my garmin read less than 40kph (save for the horrible drags) all the way home. We motored. There was a girl at the front of it, no idea who she was but jesus she was a train. Just kept pulling and we blew past group after group. It was like a proper race train. Brilliant.

That girl would be Ciara Kinch. She's super strong. I was in that train and couldn't match her on the climbs. Ciara peeled off to wait for friends with 15k to go and the pace went up again.
[www].strava.com/activities/320412659/overview

terrydel

carltonleon wrote: »

Some great craic though. Just turning at BCMF's hill after I managed to get into the small ring in time, one of the lads didn't and his anguished shout of "Ah for ****s sake, Are there no ****ing flat roads in Wicklow at all ?" brought great laughter as we turned to see him almost fall off his bike.

I love this kinda stuff, its what makes it for me! You are saying this kinda stuff to yourself and thinking you are the only one saying it and suffering, and then you realise the vast majority of us are in the same boat, fairly average people pushing ourselves really hard to achieve something.
T'is why we do it I think.
And boy is Wicklow not short of hills!

TripleMinor

Long shot here - I see that there are a few posters who were marshalling (thanks, by the way for keeping us safe out there).

I lost a rainjacket somewhere before Shay Elliot and was wondering if there is anyone I could contact on the off chance that someone turned it in.

Unknown Soldier

If anyone was short a KM or so you might have taken a right at this point?

https://www.google.com/maps/@52.902115,-6.490426,3a,75y,56.01h,80.62t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sqNGICE7dzV4Sx980qF2drw!2e0?hl=en

It was actually straight ahead with a sharp right at the end but there was an old W200 on the road (from last year, or so I was told)

I was having a pit stop there with my buddy and we stopped a few people taking that turn.

While there a boke in an old LWB Jeep passed us by ranting about road tax etc He was upset but not aggressive, if that makes sense. My mate remarked that by the time he got to Knockananna he'd be hoarse with the amount of cyclist he'd have to ranting too

Now that I have some blood back in my brain. Special thanks to Seamus, the next Marshal after bcmf's Hill Corner of Death at the turn before that lovely 4km descent.

I took a little pit stop there and he was thoroughly sound, him with his knitting and all! I told him what nearly happened to me at that corner and he'd never seen electric gearing before. I gave him a go and he was fascinated. Really nice chap.

terrydel

Unknown Soldier wrote: »

If anyone was short a KM or so you might have taken a right at this point?

https://www.google.com/maps/@52.902115,-6.490426,3a,75y,56.01h,80.62t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sqNGICE7dzV4Sx980qF2drw!2e0?hl=en

It was actually straight ahead with a sharp right at the end but there was an old W200 on the road (from last year, or so I was told)

I was having a pit stop there with my buddy and we stopped a few people taking that turn.

While there a boke in an old LWB Jeep passed us by ranting about road tax etc He was upset but not aggressive, if that makes sense. My mate remarked that by the time he got to Knockananna he'd be hoarse with the amount of cyclist he'd have to ranting too

Now that I have some blood back in my brain. Special thanks to Seamus, the next Marshal after bcmf's Hill Corner of Death at the turn before that lovely 4km descent.

I took a little pit stop there and he was thoroughly sound, him with his knitting and all! I told him what nearly happened to me at that corner and he'd never seen electric gearing before. I gave him a go and he was fascinated. Really nice chap.

I lost 3k ish at the start of the Gap, but because my never failed once before cateye stopped working!
Was heartbroken over it, meant I had to start doing some maths with the climb markers I had on my top tube, not good after 6 hours in the saddle when body and mind are starting to wain!

Crocked

Firstly, hats off to the IVCA and all the volunteers, really well run event. In fact the best I've ever been on (well it was my first!). I had prepared myself to avoid the Baltinglass stop and just get some water after reading of the delays that can be there but it was perfect along with the rest of the organisation.

I arrived at about 6.10 and the carpark was already full, hoped to start with Unknown Soldier but I got registered about 6.40 and with so many people around I just decided to get on the road and hopefully see him during the day.

Only got into 2 or 3 big groups during the day but I've never ridden in a group before so was happy enough with that and to sit at the back when I did as it was probably safer for all concerned. Found them really mentally tiring, constantly watching those in front of you and trying to keep an even gap. Don't know how ye do it, with all the shouts and pointing at obstacles whilst fantastic it'd just drain me.

It was very cold at the top of the Gap and on the descents during the day but really can't have asked for better weather.

From reading threads from previous years I knew that the15k or so Avoca/Redcross section would be tough and about half way up I thought, is this it!! my legs then went and I started feeling really tired. It was only just before that tight left and short steep climb that I felt ok again. As I approached it all I heard was a shout of slow, car. I was just focused on avoiding the car as I turned and never heard the calls about gearing or hill. I cursed a lot and mashed many levers trying to get as low as fast as I could and just managed it.

Rode the last 25k pretty much solo, I was with 3 other guys pretty much for the whole Redcross section but at that stage I reckoned I'm nearly home and I can suffer for that long so put the foot down. Small group from over the hill cc came through, who'd pissed me off earlier in the day, as I neared Kilcoole so jumped on with them for the last 5km or so which I thought balanced things out.

All in 9.20, with 8.22 rolling. A lot faster then I'd planned on, think the extra water and food I took on board during the day was the difference. Also the fantastic weather.

lukegjpotter

I enjoyed it, I fell apart on Sleive Mann.

Thanks to the Marshals, especially the guy who was saying "Steep hill around the corner put it in an easy gear." and the other guy saying "4km Descent now lads".

The Chicken & Stuffing Sandwich was fantastic.

The only bit I didn't like was after the descent of the Shay Elliott, the road surface was really bad. I wasn't wearing gloves and I got some serious hand and finger chaffing there as the handle bars vibrated everywhere.

Kav0777

yop wrote: »

Great day and the sunburn to prove it! Went around with brother in law and my mate, his mate went on the beer on Saturday so suffered no end!! Meet a few boardsies (I was in the jersey with the green writing) and a few names mentioned but for the life of me I can't remember them!!!
Scenery was fantastic and the marshals and foodstops and people at the reg and finish were extremely friendly and helpful and all had a smile on their face.
Next year I will sign up for the 200, I'm still 2nd on "Cresen hlll" or something, thats what happens when someone shouts "race" at the foot of it!
And that mental decent... class, clicked up my max 71kmph speed that, some crack!

Well done to all, especially the 200 lads/gals, savage achievement

I met you briefly after the short sharp climb around ballinacor and you told me about them. Had to laugh when I asked were they still with you, "ah no, sure they're back there somewhere."

AdpRo

yop wrote: »

Great day and the sunburn to prove it! Went around with brother in law and my mate, his mate went on the beer on Saturday so suffered no end!! Meet a few boardsies (I was in the jersey with the green writing) and a few names mentioned but for the life of me I can't remember them!!!
Scenery was fantastic and the marshals and foodstops and people at the reg and finish were extremely friendly and helpful and all had a smile on their face.
Next year I will sign up for the 200, I'm still 2nd on "Cresen hlll" or something, thats what happens when someone shouts "race" at the foot of it!
And that mental decent... class, clicked up my max 71kmph speed that, some crack!

Well done to all, especially the 200 lads/gals, savage achievement

Loved that decent, hit 69kph on it which is the fastest I've ever done on a bike!

Great day out, my first ever cycling event and managed to finish the 100 in fairly ok shape! Found the 20km's after Avoca pretty tough, some nasty little climbs especially that one where the guy from here was shouting to get off the big ring, just about managed it in time!

Alek

I think it should be renamed "BMCF hill" officially.

Euro Fred

bcmf wrote: »

Many did.....
Me: SMALL RING
Them: WHAT?
Me: Too late
Them:Aw Foooooook

Fair play , I got your warning just in time, I'd say all you heard all day was chains and gears shifting like 90

Kav0777

bcmf wrote: »

Many did.....
Me: SMALL RING
Them: WHAT?
Me: Too late
Them:Aw Foooooook

I knew it was coming and dropped into the small ring, heard your shout, tried to go into an easier gear on the cassette, panicked and hit the wrong lever and instead I went into a harder gear.... so if you heard a " AAHH BALDRICKS (or words to that effect), Wrong f'ing Way" as I mashed up there crisscrossing the road... t'was me pleased to meet you...

The Davestator

Euro Fred wrote: »

Fair play , I got your warning just in time, I'd say all you heard all day was chains and gears shifting like 90

Absolute carnage when I went around it! Nobody got into the small gear on time and there was a 'coming together' of about 10 people. No crashes and all good banter and funny! Tough to get going once you were on that hill.

Wishbone Ash

TripleMinor wrote: »

Long shot here - I see that there are a few posters who were marshalling (thanks, by the way for keeping us safe out there).

I lost a rainjacket somewhere before Shay Elliot and was wondering if there is anyone I could contact on the off chance that someone turned it in.

There was a rain jacket lying on the ground at the water stop on the summit of Shay Elliott - just where I said hi to you for the second time. There was also a rain jacket on the ground beside the bike racks at the finish.

Euro Fred

Great day out, very friendly guys all round.

If you seen the guy sending clouds of vapor out through the day , that was me!

Wishbone Ash

MugMugs wrote: »

If you didn't see us you probably heard us from cuchulainn....

Possibly it was yourself in the CCC gear I was talking to a few km before Slieve Mann? I had no idea of the route and spotted that you had a list on your bars (you were operating in miles so I had to do the conversions!). We also discussed the Tour of Louth last week and you asked me what was the story with the Boards.ie jerseys.

iwillhtfu

opentux wrote: »

www.strava.com/activities/320412659/overview

Well holy foook.. :eek:

I think UCI should be checking your bike for a motor. Savage stuff altogether.

bcmf

Alek wrote:

I think it should be renamed "BMCF hill" officially.

A hill named after me.....Oh such irony.

Wishbone Ash

bcmf wrote: »

A hill named after me.....Oh such irony.

Were you marshalling at two different places yesterday? I only recall seeing you down south.

There was a marshal warning people to get into the small ring at that corner before that surprise 18 percenter at around the 170k mark but it wasn't you. Just wondering are people confusing the two?

Alek

I got intrigued - which hill is it exactly ?

DS2013

Did the 100 yesterday, it was my first proper event. I thought the whole thing was excellent, good organisation at the start, well marshalled and met some very nice people on the way around. Didn't get into many groups and ended up doing about 40k completely on my own but still really enjoyed it. Looking for suggestions for similar events over the rest of the summer.

iwillhtfu

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

There was a marshal warning people to get into the small ring at that corner before that surprise 18 percenter at around the 170k mark but it wasn't you. Just wondering are people confusing the two?

I saw one guy wrap his rear derailleur around his cassette on that nasty little climb.

terrydel

DS2013 wrote: »

Did the 100 yesterday, it was my first proper event. I thought the whole thing was excellent, good organisation at the start, well marshalled and met some very nice people on the way around. Didn't get into many groups and ended up doing about 40k completely on my own but still really enjoyed it. Looking for suggestions for similar events over the rest of the summer.

Sean Kelly Tour has a 100k event I believe, its late August. Theres a 160 also but its a serious step up from the Wicklow 100.

Red Belly

Had a great day. Lots of brief friendly chats with fellow cyclists before eventually being dropped by all of them! Very well-organised event and good food stops. Got round in about 8 and a half hours moving time, a full two hours quicker than MB200 the previous week. Got into a few decent groups during the flatter parts of the first half, but they were probably a bit too fast for me in the end as I really struggled with the climbs in the last 50k. I'm always a "slow and steady" type climber but EVERYONE was flying past me on those climbs! Earlier in the day I really enjoyed S Mann, Shay Elliot and the Wicklow Gap.

MB200 and this are both decent confidence boosters ahead of the Marmotte. I would have liked to do yesterday in 8 hours or less, but my only goal in France is to finish, and as my hotel is on top of Alpe D'Huez I'm not even that bothered by the cut-off as I'll have to finish one way or the other!

Rb

Alek

Got round in about 8 and a half hours moving time, a full two hours quicker than MB200 the previous week.

Huge difference! Was it the weather? OR is W200 that much easier? Only done MB200 (twice) myself.

D9Male

I did my first bit of leading a train, and I think I paid for it later.

A group of Blanch Wheelies caught us on the descent of Wicklow Gap, and we managed to hitch a ride all the way to Baltinglass. I tucked in for the first 10km or so, but then I started to feel a bit guilty for not pulling my weight. Did a few big (for me) turns on the front and really enjoyed it. Not really sure what the protocol is for moving back and forth when there is two lines but pretty sure I made a bo!!ocks of it but I enjoyed it.

Thanks to those who did way more work than me. I was the chap in the lime green Scott gear.

It is really great craic. We did the bit from Hollywood to Baltinglass at nearly 35 km/h, it would usually be 10km/h less than that.

Red Belly

Huge difference! Was it the weather? OR is W200 that much easier? Only done MB200 (twice) myself.

1. Weather: for the MB it was windy.
2. Groups: only 300 riders split across 3 distances at the MB so very few opportunities to get towed along.
3. Conservative: I was deliberately conservative on the MB. My first 200 and I knew I had Wicklow this week-I did the MB entirely in zones 1-3.
4. Elevation: Almost a full extra 1,000m of climbing in the MB.

Rb

bcmf

Wishbone Ash wrote:

Were you marshalling at two different places yesterday? I only recall seeing you down south.

Wishbone Ash wrote:

There was a marshal warning people to get into the small ring at that corner before that surprise 18 percenter at around the 170k mark but it wasn't you. Just wondering are people confusing the two?

I am good but not that good. If you did the 100 you wouldnt have come across me. I was at the 102km point just South of Hacketstown

D9Male

Crocked wrote: »

Firstly, hats off to the IVCA and all the volunteers, really well run event. In fact the best I've ever been on (well it was my first!). I had prepared myself to avoid the Baltinglass stop and just get some water after reading of the delays that can be there but it was perfect along with the rest of the organisation.

I arrived at about 6.10 and the carpark was already full, hoped to start with Unknown Soldier but I got registered about 6.40 and with so many people around I just decided to get on the road and hopefully see him during the day.

Only got into 2 or 3 big groups during the day but I've never ridden in a group before so was happy enough with that and to sit at the back when I did as it was probably safer for all concerned. Found them really mentally tiring, constantly watching those in front of you and trying to keep an even gap. Don't know how ye do it, with all the shouts and pointing at obstacles whilst fantastic it'd just drain me.

It was very cold at the top of the Gap and on the descents during the day but really can't have asked for better weather.

From reading threads from previous years I knew that the15k or so Avoca/Redcross section would be tough and about half way up I thought, is this it!! my legs then went and I started feeling really tired. It was only just before that tight left and short steep climb that I felt ok again. As I approached it all I heard was a shout of slow, car. I was just focused on avoiding the car as I turned and never heard the calls about gearing or hill. I cursed a lot and mashed many levers trying to get as low as fast as I could and just managed it.

Rode the last 25k pretty much solo, I was with 3 other guys pretty much for the whole Redcross section but at that stage I reckoned I'm nearly home and I can suffer for that long so put the foot down. Small group from over the hill cc came through, who'd pissed me off earlier in the day, as I neared Kilcoole so jumped on with them for the last 5km or so which I thought balanced things out.

All in 9.20, with 8.22 rolling. A lot faster then I'd planned on, think the extra water and food I took on board during the day was the difference. Also the fantastic weather.

Think I was near you at the time, Crocked. I was the man with the lime green Scott jersey with an ashen face at that stage. At the Redcross hill that is.

Alek

I was at the 102km point just South of Hacketstown

At the bottom of this segment? I need to give it a try the next time I'm around. Are you standing there often BMCF?