Anyone doing the Wicklow 100 or 200?

[Martin]

Would be great day out for the club? sure loads could do the 100 and those who have spare road bike could lend to others?


any thoughts?

[Fergal]

here's a thought

go trailbuilding instead - this is an MTB club after all...

[Martin]

thats far too much fun Fergal couldn't handle that!


there is mountains in the wicklow 100 too?

[ollietrex]

Yep, Already entered for the Wicklow 200, my guess is that there is probably a few other people (Morgan, Ryan etc..) who have already entered for the 200. I know a fair few people who do the 100 & 200 on commuter and mountain bikes.


In a tie at the moment for Km's per week and currently the mountain bike is just ahead of my road bike.

[Fergal]

that's it you slim-wheeled sissies, I'm heading up the Hellfire club to find a crochetty dirty oul crone of a gypsy to put a curse upon ye...

[Sean]

Now now Fergal, don't be afraid of what you don't understand.....

[Oisin]

"In a tie at the moment for Km's per week and currently the mountain bike is just ahead of my road bike."


I reckon off-road km's are worth more than road - think of the extra skill, difficult terrain, added upper body work you put in.

[Richie]

When is the 100/200 happening? And is the km's or miles? Don't wanna make the same mistake Morgan did at Christmas....

[Sean]

"I reckon off-road km's are worth more than road - think of the extra skill, difficult terrain, added upper body work you put in."


You might think so, but the road bike is where the bulk of high-quality training for most pro MTBers takes place.

Refer to Jenny Copnall (http://www.britishnps.co.uk/racerprofile/copnalljenny.htm) and MTBR (http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=380863) for instance. Our very own Ryan (http://ryansherlock.blogspot.com/2008/01/2007-trainingracing-totals.html) can provide some figures too....


Sean

[Oisin]

Well yeah for XC racing definitely. I was meaning in terms of difficulty and achievement per km/mile though. Its a lot easier to cycle 100k on a road bike than 100k off-road.


I usually cycle more distance on road than off road per week just commuting (which is all the road biking I do but its a long commute so I treat it as training), but in terms of effort the shorter distance off-road biking is way higher effort overall.

[BenF]

Wicklow 100 (KMs) is pretty easy and relatively flat. I've done it a few times. The 200 is a different matter - Sallys Gap etc - if you haven't really been training already it would be very nasty. It's been a very long time since I did the 200. But if you sign up for the 200 you can change to the 100 on the day.


You don't really need a road bike for the 100 - itt's not a race - but obviously slicks and bar ends help. Having as many different hand positions as possible makes life easier. If the weather's good it's a really nice day's cycling.

[Barrydanzig]

was thinking about doing the 200, but it might not be a realistic goal for me right now, so maybe the 100 would be a better challenge.

[Morgan]

I did the W100 with Mr. Mick O'Dowd a couple of years ago - we were home by 11am. Planning on doing the 200 this year as preparation for l'Etape.


By the way - did my first road race up near Drogheda yesterday. Didn't win.

[Sean]

I remember those days when young Mick O'Dowd would head out for a leisurely 120km jaunt of a Saturday morning, after a hard night of linedancing. I hear he's taken to a more Bollywood style these days, what with the Indian influence all around him in work and what not...

Was also the time I used to try keep up on road spins with knobblies. That was thoroughly unpleasant, as Morgan will testify...

[jackieo]

Yep I will prob give this a go. Probably only do the 100 though....and on a skinny bike. Reckon the road miles will add more to my fitness than the MTB miles would add to my stamina! Also don't see the point in killing myself midseason. Still have to get to the end of September in one piece!

[mel]

Jackie, I'd say you could easily do the 200 - I did it the last 2 years on a mountain bike and I was definitely less fit last year than you currently are - I basically had no training on me whatsoever. And as they stress, it's NOT a race, so you can just go as fast or as slow as you like. The reason why I am suggesting to do the 200km is that it seems a lot more interesting and goes through nicer scenery, whereas the 100km is a bit more an out and back type loop at the side of the mountains.


There's also 2 places where you get tea/coffee and a snack. And the time flies by with so many people around you cycling the same way (I think total entry for both distances together is capped at about 1300 people), all different speeds and sizes (sure, I've seen people doing it on shopping bikes!). It's a great event and great achievement. Go do it!

[jackieo]

erm, OK, with a convincing mail like that maybe I should consider it! After all might be worth it for the extra food break! ;)

[ryan]

I would also say to go for the 200k... If you have enough fitness to go out and ride for 4-5 hours on an MTB spin you'll get through the 8-11 it will probably take you easily. The 100k is a ride on normal enough roads - flat, not very pretty, the 200 goes through much nicer areas. It is also a great achievement! Equals my longest road spin ;) Some weeks, I do 3-4 100k+ rides - it is very seldom I would touch 200.


Just read up on what people say about it - drink lots of energy drink, eat food and sit in behind people while your riding...


You'll be grand :)

[Oisin]

Just entered the 200. I've no idea what to expect. The longest I've cycled on the road is only about 50k. But its tarmac - compared to mountainbiking how hard can it be? (...may regret saying this)

[PeterPolish]

So does it mean that you are allowed to do it on MTB?

I have just fitted me bike with semi-slick tyres so maybe I'd go for it as well...

Maximum distance per day was 301 km on road, 200 km off-road, but it was long time ago when I was younger and more fit... now I wonder if to sign in for 200...

But as it is not a race... hmmm, I do not know if to go for it...


Whats the cost?

[Richie]

The 200 is €42. http://www.wicklow200.ie/

I signed up last week, trying to figure out how long it will take, but difficult if you don't know the route.

[ollietrex]

Just enter the Wicklow 200... I have done quite a few 100+ road cycles through Wicklow without much of a problem so the 100 for most in the club would be a morning warm up.


If any one does happen to have a road bike and thinks they are about the same speed as me, I am planning on heading out a few evenings and Saturdays for long spins (120+km) before the Wicklow 200 if they want to join me.

[NigelS]

"I remember those days when young Mick O'Dowd would head out for a leisurely 120km jaunt of a Saturday morning, after a hard night of linedancing. I hear he's taken to a more Bollywood style these days, what with the Indian influence all around him in work and what not..."


Check out our very own MickO in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbvP7dT3Dx0


goalie mar

goalie mar mar mar


KILLER KILLER

[Morgan]

If anyone is doing the 200 then the 150km Mount Leinster Challenge on May 18th would be a good preparation.


http://www.slaneycyclingclub.com/?page_id=33