Date: Saturday 10th August 2024

Difficulty/Climbing (from * to *****)   **

Closing Date for Entries: 6th August 2024

Start: Whitehall Church Car Park, 6.00am

Organiser: Paul O’Donoghue

Address: 12 Tinna Park, Kilpeddar, Co. Wicklow

Email: podluna@gmail.com

Phone: 087 7850890

Entry Fee: €5 on Eventmaster, plus fees.

€7 each for optional ACP and/or Audax Ireland Medals if required.

All entries must be made on Eventmaster only.  Cycling Ireland Licence is required.  One-day Licence is available for €20 if required, this will be charged automatically on Eventmaster if you do not provide a valid current Cycling Ireland Licence Number.

Entry on Eventmaster: https://eventmaster.ie/event/ydABtP0SVy

Please ensure that you have High Viz clothing, good Lights, and back-up Lights in case of problems.  Briefing and Safety Check at 5:50am.

If you haven’t already done so, it is a good idea to have an ICE (In Case of Emergency) Contact in your phone.

Route: Starting from Whitehall Church car park at 6am, passing thru Phoenix Park, Lucan, Celbridge, Prosperous, Kilmeague, Kildare Town, Nurney and Athy (Control). Heading towards Abbeyleix, Rathdowney, Templemore, Borrisoleigh into Silvermines (Control) to the most southerly point, then up to Nenagh, Portumna, Moylough and Glenamaddy (Control), and on to Carrick-on-Shannon (Control) at 366k. Riders should make their own rest arrangements, there is a Hostel, 2 hotels and numerous B & B’s in Carrick which may be a good stopping point. Some people will prefer to keep moving and there are also B & B’s in Mohill and Ballinamore further on. We then head for Ballyconnell, Ballybay (Control), Shercock and Kells, and then Southeast towards Kilmessan (Control), Dunshaughlin and Ratoath (or bypass with option 2), where there are loads of shops to get you thru the last leg to the Finish.

Total climbing is approximately 3800m, and the route is easily navigable. We will be on some main roads, but on  Saturday and Sunday, traffic should be light. I have cycled this route midweek and it wasn’t bad. There is little climbing, the road to Dolla from Borrisoleigh is a nice middle ring climb, good surface and great views, so worth the effort !

Map, Part 1: Dublin to Carrick-on-Shannon

Map, Part 2: Carrick-on-Shannon to Dublin

Map, Part 2, Option 2 see note below

Just had a scan through the route and decided to offer an alternative on part 2 which will take you onto the Dunboyne road to bypass Ratoath and avoid the Ashbourne/Swords road, rejoining original route before Kilbride.  Change will not be on routesheet.  3 maps will also present a greater test for your Garmin which may alleviate some concerns for LEL.

Controls: Athy 80km; Silvermines 183km; Glenamaddy 307km; Carrick-on-Shannon 366km; Ballybay 468km; Kilmessan 563km.

Regards, Paul and Aidan