Wicklow 200 2007

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hey, doing the wicklow 200 in a months time now for the first time. This will be my first long trek, any advice for a newbee like meself? wat should i expect? i heard its fairly though goin'.

cheers

I'm doing it for the first time too, but I've seen some good advice on the wicklow200.ie website. Limerickman on this forum had some good info as well, if you do a search of his messages you'll see some references, for example http://www.cyclingforums.com/t135091.html

My main worry is food and drink, making sure I have enough and of the right type. When I bonk I lose it completely. i've followed John Hughes' 200 K training plan but have missed out the long rides each week due to family commitments, i.e. I haven't done more than 100K in any one ride, but I've averaged 300K per week, all hills, so I'm hopeful. Best of luck on the day...hope d'arse holds up...

G'Man/Cod : yeah I'm doing the Wicklow again this year.
I've done this event since 1997 :

Advice?

Make sure that you get as many miles in as possible between now and the week before the 10th June.
There is still plenty of time to add mileage in to your bank of endurance.

Make sure that you eat well before the event - preferably get some carbs like pasta in to your system and make sure that you bring plenty of food and liquid with you on the day.

The course is a tough one but it's not insurmountable.
The climbing starts from Enniskerry up to Glencree.
Glencree down to Laragh is downhill.
Climbing from Laragh up Wicklow Gap is for me the hardest part of the day.
I never liked that climb and it's a 5 mile climb : the gradient tends to change
and that upsets my tempo.

Get to the top of Wicklow Gap and it's downhill to Hollywood.
Hollywood to Donard is rolling hills - which I prefer.
Donard to Baltinglass is more rolling terrain and then it's in to Rathdangan for food.
Climb out of Rathdangan to Slieve Mann : Slieve Mann is a steady long climb and some find it very hard going.
I prefer Slieve Mann to Wicklow Gap - that's because Slieve Mann is steadier
(for me).
Top of Slieve Mann to Rathdrum is rolling stuff again : couple of little drags and you'll feel them because tiredness will be setting in by that stage.
Important to eat and drink at Rathdrum.
The Djouce climb is next - this isn't too bad, I think.
Then it's back to Enniskerry and then on to UCD.

If you have doubts about your climbing - make sure that your bike has a triple.

And remember it's an event - not a race.
Go at your own pace - don't get carried away with the numbers doing it.
That's the biggest mistake - trying to ride at someone elses pace.

Best of luck to the both of you!
If you need more detail - let me know.

Thanks for all the info Limerickman. I had plans to go up that way for a weekend to get the lie of the land but I kept waiting on others to come along and never made it, I should have just gone ahead on my own.

4 of us are off to the Pyrennes next week so hopefully the legs will be that bit more oak-like when I get back. Have a great day in wicklow:)

Thanks for all the info Limerickman. I had plans to go up that way for a weekend to get the lie of the land but I kept waiting on others to come along and never made it, I should have just gone ahead on my own.

4 of us are off to the Pyrennes next week so hopefully the legs will be that bit more oak-like when I get back. Have a great day in wicklow:)

No problem, Cod.

If you can handle Pyrennees, I reckon you should be able to handle the Wicklow
Mountains.

Enjoy your trip and have a good Wicklow too!

cool thats good advise, the one thing i dont want to happen is to get the shits half way through so i better cut down on the fibre a day or two before!

but seriously, im only 18, getting a new racer next week (trek 1500) so its a great chance to put it and myself to the test, in the middle of college of exams at the moment now so going to have to get in good shape quickly!

cool thats good advise, the one thing i dont want to happen is to get the shits half way through so i better cut down on the fibre a day or two before!

but seriously, im only 18, getting a new racer next week (trek 1500) so its a great chance to put it and myself to the test, in the middle of college of exams at the moment now so going to have to get in good shape quickly!

You're 18?
200kms is a step up at 18 years of age - no disrespect intended.

Make sure that when you do get your new bike that your position on the bike is totally relaxed.
If your position is not correct - and you do do the 200 on this new bike - you could end up in a lot of pain (backpain) during the event.

I would be wary of using a bike that I wasn't used to - to do the 200.
Has the bike shop taken your measurements?
If they haven't - and your new bike arrives I strongly suggest that you ask them to measure you before taking ownership of the bike.

You're 18?
200kms is a step up at 18 years of age - no disrespect intended.

Make sure that when you do get your new bike that your position on the bike is totally relaxed.
If your position is not correct - and you do do the 200 on this new bike - you could end up in a lot of pain (backpain) during the event.

I would be wary of using a bike that I wasn't used to - to do the 200.
Has the bike shop taken your measurements?
If they haven't - and your new bike arrives I strongly suggest that you ask them to measure you before taking ownership of the bike.
ah none taken sure, all i can do is prepare, get as many miles into me as possible before the 10th. just hope it will be enough. Infact, any advise how many kms i should be getting in on a regular basis at this stage? on a good day id get about 60 in no problem and avery other day 35 at least

ah none taken sure, all i can do is prepare, get as many miles into me as possible before the 10th. just hope it will be enough. Infact, any advise how many kms i should be getting in on a regular basis at this stage? on a good day id get about 60 in and avery other day 35 at least

I suggest that you need to try to get one long spin in before 10th June.
I'd say you need a 150km spin in.
Reason being - you don't know how you're going to cope if you haven't done the full distance (or mileage close to the full distance).
Nothing wrong 60 - 100 kms on regular training sessions : but I would suggest that you need to get a really large spin in.

I suggest that you need to try to get one long spin in before 10th June.
I'd say you need a 150km spin in.
Reason being - you don't know how you're going to cope if you haven't done the full distance (or mileage close to the full distance).
Nothing wrong 60 - 100 kms on regular training sessions : but I would suggest that you need to get a really large spin in.
Sound man,
cheers for the advise.

Gerard

Your advice is much appreciatd Limerickman..
So far I've done all my training spins on hills, as I was geting in shape to go to the Pyrenee cols next week. I've been hammering the hills around here since last October. The Wicklow 200 then became a possibility as I felt my fitness made it achievable. My longest spin had been 100K, but I did a 160K spin in Thursday last, on a flattish route and it was no bother at all. The mixture of distance and hills on the Wicklow 200 is diffent of course but I'm much more confident about it now. Looks like the Pyrenees trip is off, the others have pulled out as the drive to and from Roscoff/Lourdes is too long. The ferry is booked, I have the time off and fitness so I'm tempted to go it alone but it might be a bit too much to tackle. :confused: I'll still do the Wicklow 200 though!

Glad to be of help.

150 kms on the flat is good going - if you can do that then the 200 is very achieveable.
The problem is that only doing say, 100km, doesn't give you any insight as to how your body will cope when it has to do 200km.
150km distance at least gives you some insight as to how you're feeling and how well your system is coping.

Long distance events like these are a wearing down process : so in order to minimise that wearing down process, you need to get long distances in.
From 150kms onwards, tiredness does set in (it could set in earlier depending on your fitness level).
So no matter how many miles you have in your legs, you're going to feel tired
in the last part of the route.
If you can minimise that level of tiredness - that is the secret of how to complete it.

Eating regularly and drinking regularly during long distance rides is very important.
You need to keep drinking and eating - if you start to feel thirsty that means that it is too late to effect a recovery during the ride.
So eat and drink little and often.

How did you guys get on yesterday at the Wicklow 200?
Did you do the 100 or 200 route?

Me?
I did the 200km but not without some problems toward the end of the route.
Started at 7.00pm and was going well - climbed well out of Enniskerry and got to Laragh.
The group that I was with split - some decided to do the 100 route instead of the 200 route (despite their saying beforehand that they were going to do the 200 route).
Did Wicklow Gap and got in to Donard.
Out of Donard and on to Slieve Mann was ok - going well at that stage.
Got to the feedstation at Rathdrum at around 2.00pm stayed there for 15 mins.
Checked my computer - temperature read 28 celsius (and it felt pretty warm too).
Climbed out of Rathdrum and started to feel a little bit weaker.
I'd started to sweat a lot more than usual - and given the heat - I think this lead to my cramping badly on Douce Mountain.
Thighs were pretty sore at that point.
I dropped down to the lightest gear that I could pedal and just rolled along.
With 20k's to go, I knew I'd make it back but the cramping was bad.
It's years since I experienced cramping like that.

I got back to UCD for 4.10 which I was pleased with.

A very enjoyable day - but if they could have turned the heat down a degree or two it would have been even better.
Nice medal.

Well done Lim

I also got in around the same time.
I trained a lot this year in the hills and was hoping to finish earlier but I really suffered with the heat on Slieve Maan and the flat section around Moneystown despite drinking 6 bottles of fluid. I had no enegy and a headache. I was ready to throw away my helmet. Cooled down on the decent from Djouce and was fine from there on in. My much lighter buddy was very suspicious of my remarkable recovery. I think he thought I was malingering. Am a bit worried now as we have booked to cycle in the Alps at the end of July and I presume it will be even hotter.
Have you any advice for cycling in the heat?
thanks
Mick
How did you guys get on yesterday at the Wicklow 200?
Did you do the 100 or 200 route?

Me?
I did the 200km but not without some problems toward the end of the route.
Started at 7.00pm and was going well - climbed well out of Enniskerry and got to Laragh.
The group that I was with split - some decided to do the 100 route instead of the 200 route (despite their saying beforehand that they were going to do the 200 route).
Did Wicklow Gap and got in to Donard.
Out of Donard and on to Slieve Mann was ok - going well at that stage.
Got to the feedstation at Rathdrum at around 2.00pm stayed there for 15 mins.
Checked my computer - temperature read 28 celsius (and it felt pretty warm too).
Climbed out of Rathdrum and started to feel a little bit weaker.
I'd started to sweat a lot more than usual - and given the heat - I think this lead to my cramping badly on Douce Mountain.
Thighs were pretty sore at that point.
I dropped down to the lightest gear that I could pedal and just rolled along.
With 20k's to go, I knew I'd make it back but the cramping was bad.
It's years since I experienced cramping like that.

I got back to UCD for 4.10 which I was pleased with.

A very enjoyable day - but if they could have turned the heat down a degree or two it would have been even better.
Nice medal.

Well done Lim

I also got in around the same time.
I trained a lot this year in the hills and was hoping to finish earlier but I really suffered with the heat on Slieve Maan and the flat section around Moneystown despite drinking 6 bottles of fluid. I had no enegy and a headache. I was ready to throw away my helmet. Cooled down on the decent from Djouce and was fine from there on in. My much lighter buddy was very suspicious of my remarkable recovery. I think he thought I was malingering. Am a bit worried now as we have booked to cycle in the Alps at the end of July and I presume it will be even hotter.
Have you any advice for cycling in the heat?
thanks
Mick

Well done, Mick.
Slieve Mann was hot for me too - except I found Ragdrum/Djouce hotter.

I can't give you any real advice about cycling in really hot weather in the Alps in July.
Except to say keep taking on fluid even if you're not thirsty.
Make a rule to drink every thirty minutes or so - and stick to it regardless of how you feel.
Once you feel thirsty that's a sign that dehydration has already set in.

Best of luck in the Alps : if you survived yesterday, i think you'll be fine in July.

How did you guys get on yesterday at the Wicklow 200?
Did you do the 100 or 200 route?

Me?
I did the 200km but not without some problems toward the end of the route.
Started at 7.00pm and was going well - climbed well out of Enniskerry and got to Laragh.
The group that I was with split - some decided to do the 100 route instead of the 200 route (despite their saying beforehand that they were going to do the 200 route).
Did Wicklow Gap and got in to Donard.
Out of Donard and on to Slieve Mann was ok - going well at that stage.
Got to the feedstation at Rathdrum at around 2.00pm stayed there for 15 mins.
Checked my computer - temperature read 28 celsius (and it felt pretty warm too).
Climbed out of Rathdrum and started to feel a little bit weaker.
I'd started to sweat a lot more than usual - and given the heat - I think this lead to my cramping badly on Douce Mountain.
Thighs were pretty sore at that point.
I dropped down to the lightest gear that I could pedal and just rolled along.
With 20k's to go, I knew I'd make it back but the cramping was bad.
It's years since I experienced cramping like that.

I got back to UCD for 4.10 which I was pleased with.

A very enjoyable day - but if they could have turned the heat down a degree or two it would have been even better.
Nice medal.





It was my first time doing the wicklow 200, and my first real cycling event overall though, it went great.

I decided to do the 200km route and completed it in 9.5 hours which i was really happy with. The decent from the wicklow gap was great, the road was smooth and easy. Slieve man went well, climbed it in one go and nearly got killed on the decent by some gobshite motorcyclist. After about 160km i started to feel sick, could barely breath proprly without coughing, but made it back to ucd just before five. Felt like puking for an hour or so after, but felt grand after a shower and some food.

One thing i noticed about the w200 was there wasn't too many young people, i hardly saw anyone around my age.

Great day and atmosphere, got badely sunburnt though haha

Did anyone see a red haired woman on a mountain bike with mud-guards and carrier, wearing a pair of runners. I kept seeing her at various stages through the day. I last passed her just befoe Djouce so I presume she got in sometime after 4. My deepest respect to that woman. Puts everyone on a fancy cf job to shame.

Those are good times Limerickman, I took an hour more.

I did the 200, but gave myself a bit of work: I travelled up on Saturday night in my camper, but I was doubtful about parking it in UCD so I ended up in the Camac Camping Park. This meant I had to cycle 18 KM each way to UCD, so I ended up doing 236K!

I left the campsite at 5:30, left UCD at 6:30, went very strong until Donard, the Sally Gap and Wicklow gap were tough but enjoyable as the heat had not kicked in yet. The climb before Slieve Maam was unexpected, and Slieve Maam itself a killer. I met some great guys during the early part of the day, but people closed down a bit after the tough time on the Slieve Maam climb. To be honest the last 60K are a bit of a blur, not knowing the geography was a pain as I couldn't gauge what I needed to hold back to get home. I also got a bit bored for the last 2 hours, I'm used to cycling on my own but this was a bit too long, and I had no earphones as I didn't want to appear anti-social!

But overall I had a great day, I met some real friendly people; it was great to be part of a huge crowd all doing the same thing, on a beautiful day instead of cycling around North Cork on my own in the rain I couldn't believe the spped at which some of the older guys were going up those hills, it's encouraging to see. The camaraderie was an eyeopener too, anytime I pulled over to eat or catch my breath there were 1 or 2 guys asking if everything was OK.
I'm looking forward to next year, but I'll have to knock off a stone to make it more comfortable, I got back to UCD at 4:30, I was happy enough with that but I'd hope to do it quicker next year.

What's next for you Limerickman?

Those are good times Limerickman, I took an hour more.

I did the 200, but gave myself a bit of work: I travelled up on Saturday night in my camper, but I was doubtful about parking it in UCD so I ended up in the Camac Camping Park. This meant I had to cycle 18 KM each way to UCD, so I ended up doing 236K!

I left the campsite at 5:30, left UCD at 6:30, went very strong until Donard, the Sally Gap and Wicklow gap were tough but enjoyable as the heat had not kicked in yet. The climb before Slieve Maam was unexpected, and Slieve Maam itself a killer. I met some great guys during the early part of the day, but people closed down a bit after the tough time on the Slieve Maam climb. To be honest the last 60K are a bit of a blur, not knowing the geography was a pain as I couldn't gauge what I needed to hold back to get home. I also got a bit bored for the last 2 hours, I'm used to cycling on my own but this was a bit too long, and I had no earphones as I didn't want to appear anti-social!

But overall I had a great day, I met some real friendly people; it was great to be part of a huge crowd all doing the same thing, on a beautiful day instead of cycling around North Cork on my own in the rain I couldn't believe the spped at which some of the older guys were going up those hills, it's encouraging to see. The camaraderie was an eyeopener too, anytime I pulled over to eat or catch my breath there were 1 or 2 guys asking if everything was OK.
I'm looking forward to next year, but I'll have to knock off a stone to make it more comfortable, I got back to UCD at 4:30, I was happy enough with that but I'd hope to do it quicker next year.

What's next for you Limerickman?


Cod - super stuff well done to you.
It is a tough event and to do it in the time you did it is a great achievement.
It's doubly difficult when you have no sense of how far you have left to go - especially when you're tired so to come through the last 60km is a great achievement.

The camraderie of that event is special (that's why I do it).
The old custom of asking someone by the side of the road if they're ok is important and it's great to see that it is alive and well.

And your point about the older guys is interesting.
I'm 40.
My old coach - the legendary Se O'Hanlon who is 68 - passed me as I was climbing out of Enniskerry.
Se dominated the RAS in the 1960's/70's and was good enough to go professional if he's chosen to do so.
He gave me his usual salute.
It's superb to see guys like that still on the road and putting younger people like me to the blade.

Don't know what's next.
I've a friend in Killorglin who's trying to persuade me to do the Ring of Kerry in a few weeks time.
have to get clearance from Mrs Limerickman for that - she's fed up being a cycling widow!
Have you anything planned, Cod?

It was my first time doing the wicklow 200, and my first real cycling event overall though, it went great.

I decided to do the 200km route and completed it in 9.5 hours which i was really happy with. The decent from the wicklow gap was great, the road was smooth and easy. Slieve man went well, climbed it in one go and nearly got killed on the decent by some gobshite motorcyclist. After about 160km i started to feel sick, could barely breath proprly without coughing, but made it back to ucd just before five. Felt like puking for an hour or so after, but felt grand after a shower and some food.

One thing i noticed about the w200 was there wasn't too many young people, i hardly saw anyone around my age.

Great day and atmosphere, got badely sunburnt though haha

Great stuff - 9.5hrs is very impressive for a man who's only new to this type of event.
Did you use your new bike?