The Reservoir Dog Sportive 2017

The Noble Nudge

Enjoyed the spin first time to take part didnt look much on paper but it was tough and felt a lot tougher than tour of Waterford two weeks ago.
Chapeau to Reservoir cogs and all involved couldn't fault it...Thanks for giving up your time
Beer and burger at end made it all worthwhile..
Where be the pictures to see my suffering!

gmacww

Thanks to every for supporting this event. Corker1 is the one who usually posts up here but as also someone involved with it it makes such a difference to everyone in the club to see the support that we get for events like this. Feedback has been brilliant and spirits out on the road, even in the early damp, were amazingly high. Well done to all who finished be it the dog or the pup. Either way it was a hard day in the saddle.

There are some pictures from the finish up here:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/blessingtontidytowns/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1399214323510073

Also club member Derek was the on road photographer and his will follow soon.

From this parish I didn't get to talk to Wishbone Ash but had a chat with him at the start of this 2 years ago I think. Was chatting for a bit to (i think) Merican Pro (swords kit?) at the finish as well.

terrydel

Great event, again for me the best sportive I've done in Ireland this year.
Its great value for money for a start, a nice bit of food before and a lovely burger and beer afterwards in a really nice setting and a really good food stop perfectly located at about half way covers all the bases in that regard.
I'd say the signs at the start of climbs is a great idea, but its so blindly obvious and yet I cant think of a sportive doing it other than this! It adds a bit of the continental feel to it, and psychologially I love them. so hats off for adding that this year!
Weather was very poor til Roundwood, I was cycling right at the front til Cunard and then was just a bit slower than those lads around me so struggled up that on my own and found it tough all the way to the military road, and lonely :P
Was alone then til just before the gap when a bray wheeler went past me, I caught back onto his wheel on some of the hills on Luggala and we cycled all the way to the finish together after that.
I felt much better in the second half and got up Glenmacnass very well, and as I live in Valleymount, lakeshore drive doesnt fill me with the dread it does others! But its one hell of a tough day, for me its tougher than the W200 given the makeup of the course, time of year etc.
Enjoyed it immensely and finished in 4.44, so happy with that. 20 mins faster than last year in worse conditions, cant complain.
It was a tough day descending especially off Luggala so glad to not have seen any reports of falls.
Hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did.
Hats off to the club, you have a brilliant sportive and its a credit to you.

terrydel

The Noble Nudge wrote: »

Enjoyed the spin first time to take part didnt look much on paper but it was tough and felt a lot tougher than tour of Waterford two weeks ago.
Chapeau to Reservoir cogs and all involved couldn't fault it...Thanks for giving up your time
Beer and burger at end made it all worthwhile..
Where be the pictures to see my suffering!

Did you have the paper upside down?!!

The Noble Nudge

terrydel wrote: »

Did you have the paper upside down?!!

I wont make the same mistake next year!:eek:

Was under 5 myself so wasnt too far from you Terrydel

terrydel

The Noble Nudge wrote: »

I wont make the same mistake next year!:eek:

Was under 5 myself so wasnt too far from you Terrydel

Good man yourself. Averaging 25kmph or above on that course and in that weather is great going imho.
For me the struggle up cunard after the first km or so and onto the military round is where I really lost time. Ah well!

The Noble Nudge

Front half i was going well....
I was blowing feathers after Ballysmutton bridge.......

terrydel

The Noble Nudge wrote: »

Front half i was going well....
I was blowing feathers after Ballysmutton bridge.......

Im the opposite, tend to always get stronger in the second half of these things. Something to work on I guess!

The Noble Nudge

Ah its not like me at all I usually finish strong but Ive started a new strength and conditioning program during the week so I think that took its toll.
Ecoli scare in Sandycove the weekend so I didnt get to have my ice bath either.

oh and the DOG ate my homework!;)

Daroxtar

We must've all been near each other. Managed it in 4:53 moving time, 5:03 total. Took me over 6:01 in 2015 so well chuffed. I nearly feel like a proper cyclist now!!

Borderfox

https://www.strava.com/activities/1166331979/shareable_images/map_based?hl=en-US&v=1504457348

Great but hard day out, nothing like those hills in Meath. Stuck to my plan of riding below my ftp and that worked out very well

Scenery when you could see it was beautiful

Finished in 5:39 so for a 46 year old 88kg asthmatic it's not too bad ;-)

Burger and beer was so good at the end, well done to the cogs

Mercian Pro

gmacww wrote: »

From this parish I didn't get to talk to Wishbone Ash but had a chat with him at the start of this 2 years ago I think. Was chatting for a bit to (i think) Merican Pro (swords kit?) at the finish as well.

WA headed home (not on the bike!!) to see the match straight after the finish but I enjoyed the chat, burger and beer and still saw the second half. Looking forward to seeing more photos and to the 2018 Dog of course.

gmacww

Mercian Pro wrote: »

WA headed home (not on the bike!!) to see the match straight after the finish but I enjoyed the chat, burger and beer and still saw the second half. Looking forward to seeing more photos and to the 2018 Dog of course.

Ah very good. That's me in the jeans and stripey t-shirt.

ILIKEFOOD

had signed up to the 125, but wussed out with the prospect of rain and having had a few weeks off

did the 65 with my dad, the furthest he had done so all good in the end..and the medal, which is awesome!

The Noble Nudge

Daroxtar wrote: »

We must've all been near each other. Managed it in 4:53 moving time, 5:03 total. Took me over 6:01 in 2015 so well chuffed. I nearly feel like a proper cyclist now!!

I must of been chatting to you Daroxtar...Finished the lakes with 3 other lads (2 caught up with myself and the other lad).

Daroxtar

The Noble Nudge wrote: »

I must of been chatting to you Daroxtar...Finished the lakes with 3 other lads (2 caught up with myself and the other lad).

Possibly, I was in the green and red Clonard kit.

mgbgt0_0

Some pictures.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/133249831@N04/albums
Full res image on request

Borderfox

Great pictures Derek, much appreciated

Macy0161

mgbgt0_0 wrote: »

Some pictures.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/133249831@N04/albums
Full res image on request

Loving the ones from the top of glenmacnass, so will be on looking for the higher res this evening when I'm not trying to sneak a look at work!

Mercian Pro

Macy0161 wrote: »

Loving the ones from the top of glenmacnass, so will be on looking for the higher res this evening when I'm not trying to sneak a look at work!

Great photos as always Derek. The conditions on Sunday can't have made it easy.

Downloading the photos from Flickr in the original resolution should be possible when you click on the download symbol (or maybe that's because I have a Flickr account??)

Corker1

Well Folks, what can I say. Fair play to all of you who came out to support this years Reservoir Dog Sportive. It really was an act of faith after the storm on Saturday into Sunday morning. Luckily the worst of the bad weather had passes through by roll out time, but I hear conditions were still a bit dodgy up in the mountains. It's a hard enough route in good conditions - so major Kudos. Nice to meet and chat with some of you. And great to see a few 'regulars'. It was a pleasure to host such a sound group of cyclists. And thanks on behalf of the Reservoir Cogs for all of the positive comments and feedback on this forum. It makes it all worthwhile to know you guys had such an 'enjoyable' day. Here are a few more shots taken around Russborough by my 15 year old son. https://www.flickr.com/photos/158847597@N06/albums

mgbgt0_0

Mercian Pro wrote: »

Great photos as always Derek. The conditions on Sunday can't have made it easy.

Downloading the photos from Flickr in the original resolution should be possible when you click on the download symbol (or maybe that's because I have a Flickr account??)

Pictures on Flickr are reduced in size
Full size on request

Euro Fred

Great photo's and thanks Derek.

You caught my saddle ornament/light/b*ll bag lovely at the the of Glenmacnass

Fair play to the Cogs, really good event