***This page has not been updated for 2012. Some details may change***
Organiser: Eoghan Barry
Address: 14 Waterloo Road, Apt. 4, Dublin 4
Entry Fee: €10 (download Event Entry Form). CI license required.
Closing Date for Entries: 17th September 2011
Start Point: Bray Wheelers Clubhouse, Bray, Co Wicklow
Start Time: 6am (Dying Sow), 8am (Dying Cow) Saturday 24th September 2011
Facilities: Parking available at start. Most controls manned, with water and some food available. Showers available at finish line. CI one day license available at start.
The Dying Cow is a a solid 200, not flat certainly, but nowhere near as unrelentingly brutal as the Mick Byrne 200. Starting with a fast run down the coast road from Bray, the route turns inland before Rathnew over the first undulations to Laragh, then over the hills to Greenane, through Ballinaclash and on to Aughrim. Following the river road to Aughavanna Bridge, the hills start increasing in size as you push west to Hackettstown and the control at the community centre. Then comes the first serious challenge of the day – the viciously steep climb by the eponymous dying cow pub. If you can make it up this without resorting to your granny gear, you are a grimpeur indeed. You have the opportunity to recover on the next stretch through Shillelagh and on to Coolboy before tackling the ascent to the old Wicklow Gap. The remainder of the ride offers few challenges, passing through Arklow, Rathdrum and Rathnew on the way back up to Bray with the Windgates as a sting in the tail for the weary.
The Dying Sow is a markedly tougher ride, departing from the Dying Cow route around Shillelagh and pushing westward into Carlow, with a stop in Leighlinbridge before the seemingly endless climb to the Nine Stones on Mount Leinster – although this approach is not as steep as the Corrobutt Gap, there is no respite until the top and with two hundred kilometers in your legs already, it’s not to be sneezed at. There are more hills to follow between Bunclody and Carnew before you rejoin the Dying Cow route at Coolboy. Probably the hardest 300 in the audax calendar.
I have just begun long distance riding completing 3 160km events this year including the Sean Kelly Tour.
Is this tour much differnt and would its difficulty be too much
John
Hi John, I would say that the 200 is a little easier than the Sean Kelly tour and the 300 is probably harder pound for pound. If you felt yourself very stretched by the SKT, I’d go for the 200 but if you were comfortable on it, then you can certainly think about the 300. The main differences between these rides and others you may have done are that the route is not marked on the roads (you will receive a route sheet with turn-by-turn directions instead) and although there will be some food at the controls, it won’t be on the scale provided by larger events and you should plan to feed yourself to some extent. If you have any further questions, please email me (click on my name at the top of the page).
Hi – the event is marked in the CI calendar for Sunday 25th Sept, different to the above date. Which one is right?
Hi Theresa, the 24th is the correct date…not sure how the error crept in on the CI website as the date is correct in the CI handbook.
Theresa’s right dates wrong on cycle Ireland calender. But real reason I’m on is to ask 1. Is there many doing the 300 ? 2.At easy pace ? 3.. Much harder then Ring of Kerry ? Stop before Mount Leinster a meal/cafe stop ?
Just anxious to start first Audax excited being trying all year to get to one nervous stupidly I now plus will want to talk about training & Welsh 600 costs etc..
Selling Dolan carbon TT bike if anyones interested on Donedeal brings next question of recommended bikes for Audax riding ?
Think that’s all the questions for now teachers feel like school kid starting this new adventure !
Eoghan,
Thanks for a super day out in The Dying Cow cycle . Super route, feed stops and scenery.
Jacqui Howard
Hi Folks,
I just wanted to say thank you to Eoghan and crew for organising the
events on Saturday. It was my first Audax experience and I thoroughly
enjoyed it, the weather did help I have to say! I thought the
organisation and welcome were second to none so thank you to all
involved. I hope to see you at the Dying Light.
Stuart