Skoda Tour De Conamara 140km Event Review

From L-R: Áine, Sinead, Me, Charles and Steffan.

Introduction

I had lived in Galway for twenty-two years, I had not ventured far west of Galway city. Sinead was talking about the Tour De Conamara, so I signed up. Charles signed up too. Myself and Charles had crashed in the build-up to the ride. Charles had left his bike into the shop have it's front derailleur indexed, so he hadn't been riding in the three weeks before the Tour. I had crashed at a race and had cuts on my knee, hip and elbow.

View the ride on Strava: Tour De Conamara 140km... If only I could get more than my wheel sucked :P.

Pre-event

Pre-sign on

I drove down from Dublin on the friday afternoon. I went straight to Monaghan's garage to sign on. I got a goodie bag, the main item was a Gillet. The Gillets were decent on the back, but had room for a beer belly on the front. I gave it to my mother, as she wanted it for walking. The goodie bag also contained some Power Bar items too.

Drive down

I had a stressful past week, and I wanted nothing more than a military precision two hour drive over to Cliften. My mother had made me ham and cheese sandwiches the night before. I had told Charles that I'd be leaving my house at 07:00, be at his house at 07:40 and in Cliften for 09:00. I had left my house ten minutes earlier than estimated. I got to Charles' at 07:20. I went in and had a chat and loosened up by stretching. When Charles was finished his porridge it was 07:50, we were ten minutes late!

I'd have to make up time somewhere. I had a serious feeling that there would be speed vans on the drive out. The Garda need money, and the speed vans are a serious money maker for them. I also got caught out at the lights in Moycullen, which added 200 seconds onto my time. I put the boot down after that, on the narrow roads where they could not safely place a speed van. Then I happened across some asshole in a Prius. Doing 80km/h on a 100km/h road, this diver also had two bikes on the back of the car. So they were going my way, but not booting it. Charles went very quiet after I started losing it. I eventually overtook this fucking asshole. I was consuming some of my mother's sandwiches, to keep myself full.

Parking

The parking was a nightmare, there wasn't a nice field to park in. The An Post tours have this. I parked in the mart, where everyone else was parked. I was asked to move because the owner wanted to move a lorry out of the mart. I was unhappy at this. I found parking across the road. But still, I should not have had to do this. There should be plenty of designated parking.

After parking, Charles went down to sign on for the 80km. His build up to the event was hampered by injury and bike repairs. I put two sandwiches in my mouth and cycled over to the start of the 140km.

Event

I met some Orwell lads, but they were planning on riding slower than I was. I knew Sinead and the others would be up the road. I lit it up from the gun. On the other side of the road passing hundreds of cyclists. I seen loads of people getting punctures. The scenery was terrible at the start. It was heavy mist, with about ten meters visibility on the side. It looked like a horror movie. The lads further up the road, wearing their yellow Gillets were like those Chinese Lanterns.

I was pushing hard, and I needed a rest. I got in with a group. I looked at my group mates. I seen the Orwell logo through Sinead's jacket. I said "Hola mis amigos". I rode with these guys for the rest of the event, except for a stint riding with Grainne between the food stops.

I wasn't put off, or affected by the weather. I am used to this kind of mist. When you grow up on a farm, you can't pick and choose when you'll go out and work. You work regardless of what the atmospheric conditions.

Route

The route was pretty flat for ages. It made it really easy to keep a group together. All the climbs were at the end. I felt very strong for the last 20km, after struggling after the food stop.

Foodstops

The foodstops were very well done. The sponge cake with the icing on top was my favourite. The portaloos at the first stop were good.

Post Event

We hung around for a while, then I went to my car. I got changed. Charles had to avoid glaring when I was "free balling". We ate our remaining food and exchanged stories about day. Good times.