Charity Cycle Ride - Ireland

Hi all,
Have just signed up to this forum and was wondering if some of you could help me out. I am in the process of
organising a Charity cycle ride from the most Southerly part in Ireland to the most Northerly part.
This all in all is about 320miles depending on which route you wish to take.
Heres the tricky part and hopefully where you guys help me out. At the moment I am starting from point zero, have
a few friends on board, all fairly fit, marathon runners, trekking, football etc but not a mile completed between us on 2 wheels!
What I was hoping to get here is a guide on training to reach a standard whereby we could complete this challenge in 4 days
and any other logistical or general hints on how to prepare for it.
We plan to do this in June 2010!
Your opinions will be very much appreciated.

Sounds like a grand adventure.

Being an Old Fart, I recommend using or buying a bike with a triple crank, to save your knees. I hear Ireland is hilly.

Find a local bike shop (experienced *local* people), and have them check the fit of your bike and tune it up (check and adjust brakes, lubricate cables and chain, etc).

Pick their brains for good local training routes and local people to ride with who will be kind to you as you learn.

Good luck and have fun.

Good luck with this, Belfast.

320 miles in 4 days is a pretty ambitious target.

I would suggest that you start the cycle travelling south to north.
The reason being that in this country, the prevailing wind direction throughout the year is southwesterly.

I've done enough Limerick - Dublin spins to know that it is far easier to pedal from Limerick, than to Limerick, with Dublin as the destination.
I've done Limerick-Dublin in 6 hours.
It has taken me on occasion up to 10 hours to do Dublin-Limerick.
(I'm originally from Dublin)


Second tip that I have is that Dublin Cork dual carriageway has opened for the most part.
Which means that the old Dublin-Cork main road is not used by traffic as much - and the raod surface is excellent.
It might be an idea to plot some or part of your route to coincide with this good cycling surface.

Third tip : you guys sound like you're pretty fit fellas.
Make sure to get the hours in on the bike though.
Cycling endurance is different to other types of sports endurance.
To cover 80 miles per day, each day, is a tough challenge.
get the miles in to be sure of completion.

Fourth tip : once you select the route : contact the local radio stations along the route selected and tell them about your event.
They may be able to refer you to local business/media who will give your event coverage and hopefully help you to fund raise.
Here is a list of stations
Local Radio Stations licensed by the BCI

Let me know if you need any extra info.

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

Hello, I am wondering if anyone out there can also help me. I am new to this forum but am looking for assistance as I want to plan a South to Northern Ireland bike ride. Starting at the bottom of Southern Ireland and finishing in Belfast. The reason I want to do this is for my girlfriend Michelle Clarke. Michelle was the victim of sudden adult death syndrome which accounts for a vast number of deaths in young people. Michelle went to sleep in the morning of the 25th September and never woke up, she was 34. This awful distressing and sudden death syndrome needs to be brought to the publics attention and with this bike ride I am hoping to do just that. There is screening processes in place for the public but they needto be made aware in the hope that lives can be saved. More info can be found at www.c-r-y.org.uk.

Michelle was a beautiful Northern Irish woman with a personality to match her fantastic accent. I wonder if anyone out there can help me with recognise routes, estimated mileage, starting points etc. I want to finish in Belfast Michelles home town.

All help and advice would be greatly apprciated.

Many Thanks.
Paul Wood.

Paul.

First of all condolences on your loss.

Sudden adult death syndrome has received a lot of coverage in our country with the passing of high profile young sportsmen like Conor McNallen.
It is a terrible loss when anyone passes – but it is especially so when young adults pass away suddenly and without apparent cause.

With regard to the route for your cycle, I can offer some advice.
As I stated earlier the prevail wind direction in this country is south westerly : so ideally you should try to select a route which favours this wind direction.

In terms of the route, it is important to avail of whatever good roads there are.

The old Dublin/Cork road has been effectively by-passed by a new dual carriageway connecting this two cities and the old main road surface is great for pedalling and it has little or no traffic these days.
There is about 15 miles of that route which was not by-passed between Cullahill and Portlaoise : but the remaining 150 miles are bypassed.

Alternatively you could select a route from Kerry, through Limerick, North Tipperary, Portlaoise : and then on to Dublin.
Roads on that route from Kerry to Portlaoise are not as good as the Dublin Cork route : but you would get a huge benefit from the prevailing wind direction.

As a final option – and this would be my least favoured route, you could try either cycling up through the middle of the country and/or do a western route along the atlantic coast.

Having thought about it, I think the Cork/Dublin route is best.
From Dublin you can cycle the old Dublin/Belfast road : again a new dual carriage way linking Dublin and Belfast means that the old Dublin/Belfast road is not used and again the road surface is great.

In addition taking the old Dublin/Cork and old Dublin/Belfast roads ensures that you will be able to stop off in towns and facilities to eat/rest/sleep.


I hope that this is of help to you.

As I suggest to another poster contact the local radio stations along the route, the will publicise your ride and it may help to bring in sponsorship.
I attached a listing of stations in an earlier reply on this thread.

The other suggestion is to try to select a time when you have some hope of getting some good weather.
September is always guaranteed to be good in this country.
May has been good for the last couple of years as well.
July/August has not been goods for the past few years.

If you need more info, please feel free to ask me.

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

Mileage from cork to Dublin = 180 miles.

Mileage from Dublin to Belfast = 120 miles.

Total mileage is 300 miles approx.

Urlingford (Co Kilkenny) is the midway point between Dublin and Cork using the old Dublin/Cork road.

The route from Cork will involve a lot of climbing : more draglike than steep but dragging on nonethless.
Cork is built is a basin, surrounded by hills/mountains : so to get out you need to climb.
You will be climbing for about 10 - 15 miles in total : but they're effectively drags.
The only real difficulty being the wind.

Cycling through northe county cork is pictureesque and hilly in some spots : short sharp clims prevail with short sharp descents.
Mallow/Fermoy/Mitchelstown are between 25 - 40 miles out of Cork
and are close to the county Tipperary border.
It is important for you, in my view when leaving Cork City to cycle Watergrasshill/Mitchelstown/Fermoy route to county Tipperary.
Leaving Cork you will come in to South Tipperary : effectively this will be the end of the steeper climbs on the entire Dublin/Cork route.
You're probably better trying to get to Cashel and avoid going to Cahir.
The reason being that the route from county cork to cahir involves going over the Vee : which is very scenic but it does involve a lot of climbing.
Personally I like climbing the Vee but everyone to their own.
From Cahir take the road to cashel.
From cashel to dublin is effectively flat : granted there are a few drags but nothing like the route out of cork city.
Unfortunately because there are no mountains as such from cashel to Dublin, you will find this part of the route windswept.
And if the wind is against you, believe me you will know about it.
Prevailing south westerly winds will work in your favour.
Cashel to Dublin is 103 miles.
There are plenty of places to stop off along the cashel/dublin route : Urlingford, Durrow, Portlaoise, Monastrevin, Kildare, Newbridge, Nass.
Each town is within 10 - 15 miles of the next : and there are plenty of shops/hotels etc.

Dublin/belfast is essentially flat also : again thee are towns all along that route: Swords, balbriggan, Juleianstown, Drogheda, Dundalk, Newry, belfast.

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

I thank you so very much. I so desperately want to do this for Michelle and all other young people that have been a victim to this awful syndrome. I have read that it has accounted for the death of fit young sportmen and woman and Conors death is typical of this silent killer. I was aware from the c-r-y website that there has been some screening made available and I see that they are fully booked which is a really good thing. Michelle's brother Paul is also having screening. I thank you so much for your advice. I have the list of Radio Stations and will plan to contatct them also when I have arranged an appropriate date. April/May would be preferable and the sooner the better.

Thank you once again.

Paul.

No problem : feel free to ask me for any other info which you might require.
You can also send me a private message if you wish.

I think that it is a very worthy cause that you're supporting
If there is anything that I can do to help, I will.

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

if you kept the local radio stations informed as limerick man said people from that locality could ride a few miles with you for support im sure they would be loads of interest ...keep the forom informed etc...

Hod - you'd be a man who might be able to offer a view of how best to cycle out of Cork City, going northwards.

Any advice/suggestions?

cheers

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

the best route is the dublin road from cork city past the village of glanmire and on to watergrass hill which is another small village bout 9 miles from glanmire its all up hill mostly but nothing strenious by any means have done it numerous times ,from watergrass hill its on to rathcomac village bout 5 miles this is mostly flat and down hill which gives a nice break from climbing from rathcormac on to fermoy town 8miles or so all flat ...... from fermoy to mitchel town 12 miles a drag up hill a small decent into mitcheltown there is great views of the galty mountains here which should raise the spirits,the next town is cahir bout 25 miles lovely ride galty mts on your left ,next town is cashel bout 20 miles [ this route from cork old dublin road before the new moterway came on stream surface is fine and traffic light ] you probally have another 100 miles or so to dublin from here you should check out a northern route before you hit the suburbs of dublin as dont think you are allowed cycle on the m50 [ring road round dublin] hope this is usefull .... gramer not the best

cheers Hod : this is very useful directions : I am familiar enough with Dublin to Cashel/Cahir : after that I was a bit ropey with regard to the best route from Cork City going to Cashel and/or Cahir.

But you've answered the question!

Gratzi

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.