RRTY stands for Randoneur Round The Year – doing a 200 km audax (calendar or permanent) approved ride for 12 successive calendar months. In December 2014 5 Audax Ireland riders, including me completed this task.
On 2’nd of Jan 2015 one of them laid down the gauntlet by riding the Mick Byrne 200 as a permanent – so I signed up for a second year.
January
I wasn’t really sure what I was going to do as I was otherwise engaged for the only calendar event of the month the Angel of Mons.
But, as luck would have it, the Angel of Mons was postponed into Feb because of Ice but Paul and Aiden ran the Kings Mountain as a permanent on the Sunday.
After a chat with Olivier we decided to do it fixed. I was going great until about 140km when on a simple right then left across a main road my front wheel just went from under me and I took the rider out next to me. One broken spoke and some bruising. After a bit of sitting around I carried on but the last few hours were painful.
February
So the AOM was rescheduled and I rode the nice shiny new route with John and Ronnie for company.
March
Inaugural running of the Titanic Torr.
April
I was supposed to be riding a 300 in France but air traffic control strike prevented my bike from getting there. Fleche was a bit of a disaster as only I finished but it was deemed acceptable for RRTY.
May
North to the South – another bright idea of mine. About the toughest 400km I’ve ever done. Bloody great weather though.
June
Would have been nice to do the Celtic Knot - but 100km to substitute for my missing 300 for PBP qualification might have been a bit of a risk. So I did the night of the swans a pleasant 300 starting in the evening and ended the next morning. The weather was fine and, I have to say, I took it in my stride.
Then came the national 600. Not the most interesting of rides as the route was mainly big roads and I spent much of it on my own. Still, meant I was qualified for PBP.
July
The Brown stuff – a tough one although we we sensibly diverted in the night due to very heavy (yellow warning) rain.
Mount Leinster – IMO – toughest climb in Ireland.
August
The big one!
Which you can read all about here
September
Viriginia 300 – which no longer goes to Virginia, which despite a shed load of hills was a fast 300 for me as there was a big group of club riders who had no routesheet or GPS between them so gave me and my Garmin 800 protected status.
October
Second Antrim 300, still just as hilly. Was nice to have a few local riders on board.
November
First permanent of the year – the Titanic Torr (again)with snow over Carnlabach on the way out. Nice to be joined by a local rider who seems to be getting the madness.
December
Rounded the year out with the delayed winter 200. Bit eventful as my (handlebar) stem broke – but luckily I was able to get a replacement thanks to a cole of local randonneurs.