Tour de Beast is back!

Short notice, but a bunch of us are planning to do the Tour de Beast route on next Sun 28th Aug. For those who don't know what that is, here's the route link:
www.strava.com/routes/14651325

This will be an orange paced spin, starting at 8am from Dundrum, and all going well, home by 5pm. It's 160 km, with 3100 m of climbing. It's a self-supported spin with two food stops at Laragh and Glenmalure. To take this on, you would have to have completed the Wicklow 200 or similar and felt that there wasn't quite enough climbing in it.

If you'd like to join us, please WhatsApp (preferred) or text the number below, with your name, to let us know you're coming.


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Start point is the old Dundrum Shopping Centre car part, where the Winter Training Spins usually start.

The final In-Forum-al spin of the year is the Tour de Beast.
It's to celebrate the end of the Summer. In years prior, we used to have a group dinner to celebrate, hence what the WhatsApp Group is for. So if anyone wants to organise that, that'd be nice.

Date: Sat 19th Aug, or Sunday 20th Aug (19th preferred, depending on Weather and availability).
Time: 08:00
Location: Old Dundrum Shopping Centre.

WhatsApp Group: 
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Route: RwGPS /  Strava / VeloViewer .
MyWindSock: Saturday / Sunday .
On MyWindSock, just edit the Default Rider to have your target Wattage and Weight.

Whilst the full 100 mile spin is preferred for Orange riders, slower riders can pick and choose the segments that they want to do (It's 114km, if you chop off the Shay Elliot and triangle section), or start 30 mins earlier.

Please take extra care on Brown Mountain, the surface is really poor.

We had a vote on the WhatsApp Group (linked above) and Saturday the 19th of August was the winner.
So most people intend to ride it that day.
See you at 08:00 under the Luas Bridge.

I plan to do the 114km route (not doing the Shay, Slieve, Brown, Shay loop) at a handy Yellow Pace.

Tour de Beast Shorter
114km with 1,959m elevation.
Strava  /  VeloViewer  /  MyWindSock .

But you can also ride it the Sunday, join the WhatsApp Group and post that you intend to do it Sunday, if you would like.

A very windy Saturday seen seven riders complete The Beast.
Congrats to Dan, Donal, Ian, Victor, Hugh, Paul and Martijn.
Two others, Diarmuid and Paul, completed a slightly safer route, less exposed, only 20kms and a Luggala less.

Sunday, we set out to do a shorter route, and it's was still windy. Hugh doubled up with a very long weekend. Four people were led astray by the Siren Song of Timbertrove Gingerbread Men.

In-Forum-al Spins will resume next year, with some TKAS (or similar) planning and Good Friday Monster on March 29th.

The final In-Forum-al spin of the year is the Tour de Beast.

We had a decent crowd out for the Good Friday Monster. Alas, there was no interest in the 12 Peaks in late-June. 

420 years ago, St. Garabaldi jogged up 69 peaks, and returned with the Strava Route on Stone Tablets.
Every year, we ride The Beast to reflect upon his guidance.

The Tour de Beast is to celebrate the end of the Summer. In years prior, we used to have a group dinner to celebrate, hence what the WhatsApp Group (linked below) is for. So if anyone wants to organise that, that'd be nice.

Date: Sat 17th Aug. (or maybe Sunday 18th Aug depending on Weather).
Time: 08:00
Location: Old Dundrum Shopping Centre.

WhatsApp Group: 
Part of the message is hidden for the guests. Please log in or register to see it.


Route: RwGPS /  Strava / VeloViewer . 160km w/3200m
MyWindSock: Saturday / Sunday .
On MyWindSock, just edit the Default Rider to have your target Wattage and Weight. The best graphs are the "Weather Overview" (displays temperature and rain) and "Wind Speed" (displays Wind Speed).

Modular Route
Whilst the full 100 mile spin is preferred for Orange riders, more-sensible riders can pick and choose the segments that they want to do.
It's 114km, if you chop off the Shay Elliot and triangle section.
80km, if you turn right at the Sally Gap crossroads after Luggala.

Please take extra care on Brown Mountain, ride in single file, the surface is mega pot-holley on the uphill.

Almost thirty prize ponies took on the burden of The Beast today.

The weather was pleasant, maybe a little too much wind for my risky arm-warmer-less apparel strategy.
We currently have one lad boarding in Lydams, making a two day out of it. We had another lad suffer a mechanical, wait 90 mins in a bike shop, and then ride the route.

In-Forum-al spins will return next Spring with the Good Friday Monster on April 18th.

P.S. Feel free to suggest a date for The 12 Peaks, that works for you, if you're planning a European Sportive or Raid next Summer.