Mick Byrne 200 For Beginners

The weekly leisure mail advised that “the MB200 is a tough tough day”. Repeating the word tough should have been a clue, but in a rush of early season enthusiasm I signed up anyway. As the day approached I checked the forum to see who else was taking part. Names I might recongise from the ‘off white/soft yellow’ Winter spins were noticeably absent. Time for a reality check.

I got to Dalkey early on Sunday, signed on, and decided to leave ahead of the official start. I reckoned that if I tried to stay with an Orwell group up Dalkey Hill, and then up Killiney Hill, then I probably would be exhausted before I crossed the N11. Better to get going, warm up, and try to latch onto groups for a while as they passed me.

I made good time to Enniskerry where the first of the fast bunch caught up. Had a chat with Stephen as some Orwells went by, and set my own PR on the Old Long Hill Climb. I managed to stay with various groups through Roundwood and as far as the Devils Glen climb. When I got to the first checkpoint before Avoca there was a good crowd there so I felt reassured that I wasn’t at the back. A feed of cake, top up the water and keep going, feeling good. (No need to invoke Plan-B which was to switch to the 160km route and take the main road to Aughrim).

Stayed on the MB200, right turn after Woodenbridge, onto unknown roads. There is a section here called White Heaps on Strava, its not particularly steep, but it goes on foreveeeer. I don’t know why, but I found this to be the toughest climb of the day. I was with a couple of guys from Bohermeen CC and it was sweat and expletives that got us to the top.

I stopped at Aughrim for a 99 and a can of full sugar coke (guilt free), then up past Macreddin village as the sky darkened. A thunderstorm looked likely but fortunately never happened. More food and water just before Aghavannagh then over Slieve Mann. The sun was shining again as I passed the Glenmalure Lodge where showing great restraint I surpressed the urge to rehydrate.

The profile of the day

Sandwiches made to order at the Laragh, more fruitcake and back out onto the familiar Glenmacnass road. Late afternoon, warm sunshine, and bit of a breeze to keep me cool as I passed the waterfall. What could be nicer? Over the next crest and the breeze was no longer my friend. A stiff headwind sucked the energy from tired legs. It was a long slog until Kippure mast finally came into view, then one last push and its downhill nearly all the way home. With the end in sight I hardly noticed Bono hill. The route meanders a bit at the end to get to 200km where Sorrento CC had a great spread of food. Job done. Many thanks to Paul O'Donoghue/Sorrento CC for a well organised and enjoyable event.

Highs: Rolling in a bunch after Roundwood, an ice-cream cone filled with Ambrosia creamed rice at checkpoint 2, early evening sun approaching Kippure.

Lows: Headwind across Sally Gap, the ‘scenic’ tour around the potholed backstreets of Dalkey from 197 to 199km.

Verdict: A great day out ! The "tough tough" description was good advice for someone like me who had never done this much climbing in a day. I had a reasonable idea what to expect, after that it was just a matter of pedalling.

Would I do it next year? Why not!