This was my first time on this ride. It was a busy event - probably the most riders I've seen on an Audax Ireland ride but the support provided by the organisers was excellent. A perfect ride for the many attempting their first 200km and pretty perfect for me too.

Three breakfasts and a medal

I headed down on the early bus and arrived central Dublin 05:40.  I probably could have caught the later bus but that would have meant tearing out to Bray.  Some pretty heavy rain on the way out but I was expecting this.

I arrived Bray around 7 – just as a café was opening.  It seemed rude not to stop for coffee and a Danish.

Tony passed as I was leaving and I road to the clubhouse with him where yet more food and coffee was awaiting.  As an added bonus, Paul had found the SR medal he had definitely posted to me.

Bray clubhouse brought back some memories of the Red Lane but I’m trying not to let post traumatic stress disorder ruin my day.

Let the rain begin

I left in the lead group bang on eight and chatted a bit with Olivier and Helen about our Fleche plans.  The pace was fast with some club riders on the front.  Just short of Arkclow I punctured and kissed goodbye to my fast tow for the day.

As I changed the tube it began to rain so I kept my plastic gloves on and donned my rain jacket. 

I continued on to the first control, joined by (Mick?) who had also had puncture issues.  With no guards he looked to be having a miserable time in the heavy rain – but he seemed happy enough. 

Control was manned, well manned, with cakes.

As I was leaving, Dave, Eddie and Aiden pulled in so I waited for them giving me a chance to talk to Dave about our Fleche route and Eddie about our French BRM.

Lunch brightens the day.

 

Towards Ardattin Eddie took us up the bonus hill, and it was worth it.

The weather brightened and we took in soup and sandwiches at the Ardattin Inn. 

A gentle afternoon

The afternoon stayed dry and we made gentle progress, stopping for ice creams at a garage.  Last control soon arrived as did the clubhouse where yet more food was on offer.

Long way back to Dublin

 

On the way out I'd planned a route but on the way back I just banged my destination into the Garmin and followed it. Mistake. Added in an extra 10km and found 300m of climbing and managed to miss the 9:30 bus.

 

Lessons

Don’t trust Garmin routing.