Back in the middle of winter, some brave or crazy people from the It’s Not a Race Saturday group decided to target a three day cycling sportive in Kerry over the June weekend. This was The Kingdom Alliance Sportive (TKAS) organised by Tralee CC, comprising 160km or 80km each day, and passing through the highest mountain range in Ireland. Eleven Orwell members signed up for this ambitious undertaking, most of whom had never cycled a multi-day event previously.

As June approached, the participants built up the kilometres cycled and the kilometres climbed. They set out for Tralee on the Friday before the event with no small degree of trepidation. Over the next three days, they cycled up to 480km over the length and breadth of Kerry, each person overcoming challenges and beating their already ambitious expectations.

During that time, they learned much about the locality, the people, and how to tackle a multi-day sportive. Here is the accumulated wisdom of the Orwell TKAS participants, having on average cycled for 21 hours and climbed more than 5,000 meters over the three days.

What we learned at the TKAS Sportive

The location and the people:

  1. Kerry is a great place, and Kerry people are alright too.
  2. When Kerry people say something will start at 10 o'clock, they don't really mean it.
  3. Just 'cause someone looks like they’re out to herd the cows, it doesn't mean they can't cycle 480km.
  4. If someone's misbehaving on the road, we have people who will sort them out.
  5. The broom wagon guy is a patient man.
  6. The Conor Pass and Slea Head are probably the most scenic places in the country.
  7. People in Kerry are really encouraging, especially climbing up the Conor Pass... "Go on girl, you’re nearly there" and thumbs up out of car windows.

The cycling:

  1. The Orwell train (or was it Luas?) is awesome.
  2. It's better to keep both wheels on the road and stay away from the walls (one of the group had an unfortunate collision with a wall on Day 1).
  3. When the marshals tell you there's 30km/miles/cubits/whatever left to cycle, it's not true, it's way more than that.
  4. When someone you’re chatting with on the cycle says they "like to do a bit of running" and later you find out they are a champion ultrarunner, you feel a bit of an eejit.
  5. (Some) triathletes are fairly normal people, and some of them can whop your ass on the road.
  6. Cows and cyclists are not a good mix.
  7. It's not a good idea to get the navigation wrong and start sprinting up the Conor Pass about 5km before the actual start of it.
  8. Go at your own pace and stop for photos. Lift your head and enjoy the scenery. Even if the broom wagon is chasing you.
  9. A radio is great entertainment but it's not good to have one blasting dancy techno tunes from a road bike in the middle of the Kerry scenery!
  10. When you're out of energy and ready to call it a day, but the finish line is a long way off, singing a song or two might help. Some people will sing along, although some may feel like putting duct tape over your mouth.
  11. It's not a good idea to start singing "Fat Bottomed Girls" on a mixed-gender ride.

The itsnotarace group:

  1. Go to the event with an AWESOME group! Find like minded people and stick with them!
  2. It's great to push yourself and end up doing more than you thought you could. Everyone did that over the weekend, whether doing more distance or climbs or getting back on the bike after a fall.
  3. People found they were lot stronger than they thought –cycled three days in a row having never done that before.
  4. The itsnotarace group, and the teamwork and support within it, is a great strength.
  5. When you feel terrible, you can rely on the Orwell team to get you home.
  6. It's OK to struggle. Tell the others and they will help you.

Body and bike repairs:

  1. Sometimes it takes 5 people to fix a puncture.
  2. It might be a good idea to bring a set of spare wheels to a multi day event.
  3. Foam rolling is good for preventing back pain on the bike.
  4. Never leave home without Dioralyte. It’s magic dust. But it doesn’t cure road rash.

Food:

  1. It’s not a good idea to rely on there being food available later in the ride. Especially when there isn‘t any.
  2. When they do get food in front of them, some people can actually eat their own weight in cake.
  3. Chicken burgers taste amazing after 145kms!
  4. Whether you eat out over the weekend, or you plan out menus and cook all your own food, make sure to eat plenty!
  5. Caffeine helps you get through the day. Too much caffeine keeps you going for too long and makes you miss out on sleep. Not good for a multi day event!

Planning:

  1. Pack and bring clothes for every type of weather. It’s Ireland after all and the weather will change!
  2. Plan ahead – food, bike, accommodation, clothes, chamois cream!
  3. Pick events that interest you. Go somewhere different with new challenges and enjoy what it has to offer.
  4. Tell others about your achievement. People actually are interested and maybe inspired by it!

And Diarmuid and Nicole have some photos available at Dropbox for your viewing pleasure.


The Orwell Luas!
Standing (L-R): Sinéad Kennedy, Celeste Marin, Louise Nicholls, Sarah Buckley, Nicole Bork, Kathryn Keogh, Diane Crean
Seated (L-R): David Maher, Gertrude Fitzpatrick, Siobhan Moloney, Diarmuid Donnelly
(courtesy of Diarmuid Donnelly)