gran fondo giro ditalian

ILIKEFOOD

anyone heading up to this in a couple of weeks?

I'm feeling a bit nervous. Signed up to the 173km with 2400m of climbing route - the longest route with climbs that Ive done.

Did a solo 140k route with about 1600m around cork/kerry end of feb

Lap de Gaps last weekend - 100k, 1300m in around 4hours

Plus club spins 100K approx every weekend between - mostly flat

Longest to date was a flat 200k audax last year as well as the miserable 160k Meath Heritage in lashing rain.

I really don't know if I'm ready, body feels grand and probably stronger than I've ever been before.

There's not a huge amount of info on the site

Is it a race?

Are there food stops?

Is there a cut off time point??

If the weather is rotten I may just wuss out and do the shorter one, but it's almost a bit too short.

What can I do between now and then?

Cheers

Carawaystick

ILIKEFOOD wrote: »

anyone heading up to this in a couple of weeks?

I'm feeling a bit nervous. Signed up to the 173km with 2400m of climbing route - the longest route with climbs that Ive done.

Did a solo 140k route with about 1600m around cork/kerry end of feb

Lap de Gaps last weekend - 100k, 1300m in around 4hours

Plus club spins 100K approx every weekend between - mostly flat

Longest to date was a flat 200k audax last year as well as the miserable 160k Meath Heritage in lashing rain.

I really don't know if I'm ready, body feels grand and probably stronger than I've ever been before.

There's not a huge amount of info on the site

I did this last year, it was 50k further than I'd been before.
It was excellent - closed roads and enthusiastic people living on the route.
If you've done an Audax, you'll be fine.
There's 3 main climbs, and lots of rolling hills The last climb up Sliabh Croob has 4-5 false tops, it's a bit of a heartbreaker, as you're expecting to top out and you see more hill around a bend.

ILIKEFOOD wrote: »

Is it a race?

It is as there's a prize for the first person home- most people won't be racing.

ILIKEFOOD wrote: »

Are there food stops?

There were water stops and "food" stops last year where food=gels and unripe bananas.
Supposedly there'll be real food at the food stops this year. There was a big feed of pasta at the end and 4 pints of lager / some smaller measures of wine in the price

ILIKEFOOD wrote: »

Is there a cut off time point??

The roads open in Belfast at 4pm, and back on the course earlier.

ILIKEFOOD wrote: »

If the weather is rotten I may just wuss out and do the shorter one, but it's almost a bit too short.

What can I do between now and then?

Cheers

A few hillclimbs

Sinbad_NI

Lots and lots of people doing this. Certainly last year there were large groups all the way to the end so plenty of help to get dragged around.

Mugser

Anybody any suggestions for motorhome parking for this on the Saturday night?

RobFowl

Mugser wrote: »

Anybody any suggestions for motorhome parking for this on the Saturday night?

There is a road between Short strand and the Lower Newtownards road.
It's an ideal spot to camp overnight.
Remember to put a few flags out and you'll even get a few locals over to say hello

Curveball

Hi guys.

Unfortunately due to a knee ligament tear I wont be able to partake in the Grand Fondo this year.

I have a registration for the 175k and a reservation prebooked for the Saturday and Sunday night in the Park Inn by Radisson if anybody is looking for either.

Let me know.

RobFowl

Velo Club Balrothery have a team of 2 entered (by team I mean 2 of us are heading up but team sounds better). Not racing it in any way but there are prizes and it is a timed event and race or sorts. Loved the closed roads and atmosphere last year.
First sportif of the year for me (though did a few races) so little aprehensive of the distance and route, the last climb is a soul destroying killer.....

johnnyquack

Hi Curveball.. I'd be interested in taking the registration off your hands. Have been trying to figure out if the event is fully booked?

Eamonnator

RobFowl wrote: »

Velo Club Balrothery have a team of 2 entered (by team I mean 2 of us are heading up but team sounds better). Not racing it in any way but there are prizes and it is a timed event and race or sorts. Loved the closed roads and atmosphere last year.
First sportif of the year for me (though did a few races) so little aprehensive of the distance and route, the last climb is a soul destroying killer.....

Thank you for those words of encouragement.
It will be my longest spin, by far, this year.
Not looking forward to the hills, at all.

Darkglasses

Curveball wrote: »

Hi guys.

Unfortunately due to a knee ligament tear I wont be able to partake in the Grand Fondo this year.

I have a registration for the 175k and a reservation prebooked for the Saturday and Sunday night in the Park Inn by Radisson if anybody is looking for either.

Let me know.

johnnyquack wrote: »

Hi Curveball.. I'd be interested in taking the registration off your hands. Have been trying to figure out if the event is fully booked?

Ye can discuss the sale in the adverts forum here - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057604189

Carawaystick

johnnyquack wrote: »

Hi Curveball.. I'd be interested in taking the registration off your hands. Have been trying to figure out if the event is fully booked?

They checked for id last year at registration

The hills aren't too bad, really, its just the last one has several (4-5) false tops

07Lapierre

RobFowl wrote: »

Velo Club Balrothery have a team of 2 entered (by team I mean 2 of us are heading up but team sounds better). Not racing it in any way but there are prizes and it is a timed event and race or sorts. Loved the closed roads and atmosphere last year.
First sportif of the year for me (though did a few races) so little aprehensive of the distance and route, the last climb is a soul destroying killer.....

Best of Luck Rob! You've unfinished business with this event. I hope you enjoy it this year.

ILIKEFOOD

made up a top tube card of the climbs etc if anyone wants pm me your email ad

seanin4711

4 members heading up to do this.
I enjoyed it last year, yes could have been better (food stops, afterparty more family friendly etc).
Lets hope they have ironed out these issues and have a great event.
closed roads and a "garda" escort into Belfast for the last 5km was awesome!
See you there!!!
Johnny

Eamonnator

I panicked, just a bit, when I read this, then I realised It was Sticky Bottle, that I was reading.


http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/4000-cyclists-take-to-the-road-for-gran-fondo-giro-northern-ireland/

seanin4711

Thanks to ilikefood for TT card.
Seven springs cc ,we will be there in red blank and white gear.
Look forward to seeing you all.

seanin4711

So many people hitting the first hill at 45km, Dree,narrow road.feels like a real event.
Get your granny gears ready as it a balancing act to get up it.
Difficult hill made slightly more difficult with volume of riders.
Once your over that and splega dam your all good.

Sinbad_NI

Good luck to all tomorrow. Don't for the factor 10.

Gofaster

Great event, sore today!

Eamonnator

I did this yesterday.
Great event. Really well organised.
Registration was smooth and efficient.
Start was great, even if we were delayed 10 minutes.
Road closures were just wonderful. It was such a pleasure, crossing major roads and not having to stop and being able to take "the racing line"
There were police and marshals at every junction, just amazing.
There were Police moto riders and an abundance of other moto marshals (most of whom seemed to be the marshals that do the Ras.
Food stops were grand, sandwiches, fruit energy bars, water,.
Food at finish was food, choice of chicken and mash, veg. and pasta. Free beer or wine.
There was a great atmosphere at the finish. My name was announced as I crossed the finish line and that seemed to be the same for everybody.
Even with the number of participants, all appeared safe to me. I think, this was down to the fact, that the fastest riders started first, so there was no problem with riders overtaking the slow riders.
The course was quite tough, with lots of climbs. Spelga was a hoor, but I found the short climbs towards the end to be the worst part, very hard to get a rhythm going.
And perhaps the best part, I saw the full Velo Team Balrothery at different points, looking resplendent, as always, in their red and black(The correct colour for team kit)
And thanks to ILIKEFOOD for the top tube card, I found it a great help, particularly in the latter part, where there were hills, that I might otherwise have been unprepared for.

Sinbad_NI

Chatted to a couple of guys from Limerick at the first food stop. They had black kit on and one had Tyrone roots.

Anyone from here,?

Sinbad_NI

Great event again this year BTW.
Closed roads. Tough route. Glorious sunshine. Superb atmosphere. Lots of people out.
Nothing bad to say.

Even the event Jersey is first class.

wowy

Nothing much to add really to the above posts. I had done the shorter route last year, so was glad to see that all issues (food mainly) seemed to have been sorted out. Overall very well organised, and a great route (perfect final spin before WW200 next weekend).

The sun came out just as I hit Dree Hill; I'd have certainly preferred if it had waited 10 minutes or so, but that's a nice complaint to have! The bank holiday today meant I got to make a long weekend in NI, and the weather certainly played its part in making this a very enjoyable weekend.

Timings are here: http://www.chiptiming.co.uk/results/?sport=2&year=2016&event=2644&race=4468&sort=position

2135 finishers in the Mourne Route, and I came in an almost-perfectly average 1003rd. That 3 places is going to annoy me. Going to have to go back next year and rectify that....

Eamonnator

I was the 7th fastest M60.
I wonder how many over 60s took part.

seanin4711

I will be back to make it three in a row

gambeta_fc

Eamonnator wrote: »

I was the 7th fastest M60.

Fair play, that's a fine bit of pedalling!

Eamonnator wrote: »

I wonder how many over 60s took part.

Advanced search lets you break it down by category, 172kmM60=50 and 172kmF60=4.

Gofaster

What gearing did you guys get around with?

Eamonnator

gambeta_fc wrote: »

Fair play, that's a fine bit of pedalling!


Advanced search lets you break it down by category, 172kmM60=50 and 172kmF60=4.

Happy with that.

Eamonnator

Gofaster wrote: »

What gearing did you guys get around with?

I used a compact chainring, with 34-50 rings and an 11-28 cassette.
If I'm honest, I could have done with a 30 on the back.

harringtonp

Eamonnator wrote: »

I did this yesterday.
Even with the number of participants, all appeared safe to me. I think, this was down to the fact, that the fastest riders started first, so there was no problem with riders overtaking the slow riders.

How is it decided how fast somebody is ?

And was it a mass rolling start or did riders go off in groups with small time gaps in between (as in the Etape Hibernia when it ran some years back) ?

Eamonnator

We were put into corrals, according to ability. There were three groups. 1st group was 20mph plus, 2nd group was 15-20 mph, 3rd group was <15mph. Then a few minutes before the start, each group was called up to the start line, fastest first.
It was up to each rider to decide, which corral, they started with.
Then there was a countdown from 10 seconds and away we went. It probably took me about 90 seconds to cross the start line. It was all very orderly.