Bangor Coastal Challenge 2009 - any NI commuters attending?

2»

Comments

  • wrighty165
    wrighty165 Posts: 1
    I gave it a go last year with only 50 commuting miles per week under my belt and got round OK. Was a good day out even if the weather was lousy. Looking forward to it again this year on a proper road bike this time though.
  • coffeecup
    coffeecup Posts: 128
    Not gonna make it girv. I've got the miles, but ain't got the time unfortunately to go.

    Good luck and I hope you enjoy the day

    I'm off to Spain. Arreeba arreeba, underlay underlay
    Time you've enjoyed wasting, hasn't been wasted

    Bianchi L'Una, Bianchi 928 C2C 105, Dahon MU SL
  • Im Sparticus
    Im Sparticus Posts: 1
    Hi all

    Im up for it, have paid my entry fee, hope its a dry run this year. Have got drenched for the past 3 years. A good run normally and one of the best T-shirts you can get for finishing. I normally use the Bangor run as a test of my legs for the Bordertrek (into the east its now called) a two day 200km boys weekend. So the Bangor Challange is my first sportif of the year. :shock:
  • girv73
    girv73 Posts: 842
    I was out for a Sunday run there with a few guys and they said they were going to just show up on the day and cycle the route without actually entering the official event. I didn't know you could have done that, but it's not for me anyway - I want the t-shirt :)
    Today is a good day to ride
  • IceWeaselcp
    IceWeaselcp Posts: 21
    girv you can just turn up on the day and do the event as it's on open public roads and no one can stop you from doing that. However I've said in the past that's like turning up at a party without a carryout drinking all the host's beer.
  • girv73
    girv73 Posts: 842
    IceWeaselcp wrote:
    girv you can just turn up on the day and do the event as it's on open public roads and no one can stop you from doing that.

    For some reason, that never even occurred to me :lol: But then, I wouldn't show up at your party without bringing some beers ;)
    Today is a good day to ride
  • fury21
    fury21 Posts: 71
    girv73 wrote:
    I was out for a Sunday run there with a few guys and they said they were going to just show up on the day and cycle the route without actually entering the official event. I didn't know you could have done that, but it's not for me anyway - I want the t-shirt :)
    I know someone who did the BCC last year and having taken it fairly easy, he arrived at the lunch stop to find that the 'also rans' had helped finish off the lunches already. He was not pleased :lol:
    itsnotarace.org - SCR Rules & FCN Calculator
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,395
    Good luck tomorrow/today.


    I wouldn't be there due to circumstances beyond my control, but look forward to photos etc.
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • girv73
    girv73 Posts: 842
    Spent the day fettling the bike and preparing. Mrs. G wasn't too pleased (something about fixing the shower?!) but you gotta have your priorities straight ;)

    All set. See you on the other side...
    Today is a good day to ride
  • girv73
    girv73 Posts: 842
    Wet, but we survived. I finished in just under four hours, which was OK but I could have gone faster. The other guys came in around 3h30m (PB for one) and one brave man on a hybrid finished 4h15m or so. Tough in places, but generally OK.

    Some photos:
    http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/girv73/Ba ... llenge2009

    I'll have more words on Rain Miles this week, probably ;)
    Today is a good day to ride
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,395
    girv73 wrote:
    I'll have more words on Rain Miles this week, probably ;)


    Splitter
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • girv73
    girv73 Posts: 842
    Don't worry, they'll be here too. Just too busy today :(
    Today is a good day to ride
  • girv73
    girv73 Posts: 842
    We arrived at registration at around 8:30am and set off about 9:45, just before the mass start. It was raining quite heavily and there was a stiff breeze coming in off the Irish Sea, but we were making good time all the same and overtaking quite a few slower groups who had set off ahead of us. After a while I realised a couple of our group were missing and dropped back to wait, one eventually appeared with instructions from the other guy (on a hybrid) to go on ahead as he couldnt match the pace.

    I stopped for a bit at my mum & dads caravan in Ballyhalbert (just to say hi) then headed on up to the lunch stop. This bit was hard going as the headwind had really picked up and I wasnt sheltering in a group. A bit of motivation from another rider kept me going though and I made it to lunch ... just in time to wolf it down and set off again with my group who had been waiting for a bit and were getting cold. Great.

    I suffered for the next while digesting lunch and battling cramps (it was COLD) and got dropped by my group (boo!), but when the odometer clicked over to 52 miles (10 to go) energy returned and I stuck with another fast group all the way from Kircubbin to Newtownards. Pleased with that :)

    Moving through Newtownards town, we came to the largest hill of the whole route, but there was a lot of glass on the road and the PF paid quite a few visits on that stretch. I stopped again to help a young chap who was struggling with some crappy tyre levers vs. very tight tyres before tearing on to the finish line and the BBQ burgers.

    Awesome day, first time I'd done such a big event! Definitelty do it again next year and try to beat my 3h57m time :)

    Anyone else there?

    More:
    http://www.rainmiles.com/archives/bango ... eport.html
    http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/girv73/Ba ... llenge2009
    Today is a good day to ride

Categories