I enjoyed it, but the lack of an "organised" beer stop mid race was a bit of a downer.
2007 in Avemore was ten time better IMHO
circa £550 return to Cape Town for next year anyone?
Bike Forum
SSWC 2011 how was it for you?
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Posted 9 months ago #
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Great event, bit disjointed but fantastic effort made by the local community met some great people who ill keep in touch with, overall very glad I went been a great year so far for the ss, clown wheel brigade, I am finding more and more that these events hold the true spirit of cycling
Posted 9 months ago # -
two loops with a bar at the start finish line = mid point beer stop.
I thought the course was harder than last year but brilliant all the same
Posted 9 months ago # -
I only went to see some 29er wheels explode and all I saw was attentionwhore with a shonky 650b wheel failure
But I did manage to have an amazing time meeting up with friends old and new, the trails put most of the UK trail centres to shame.
Anyone know what my entry fee was spent on ?
Most of the locals were super friendlyPosted 9 months ago # -
No pockets in fancy dress = no money taken = no beer.
For the high price of the event shouldn't a couple of tinnies each mid loop have been handed out?
Posted 9 months ago # -
My mate Jeff said it was a bit pricey and the goody bag was a bit poor
Posted 9 months ago # -
Most of the locals were super friendly
That's true enough but the people i was forced to share a house with were a right bunch of *****.
Posted 9 months ago # -
haha i could say the same of my lot
Posted 9 months ago # -
I believe there was some licensing issue with beer stops.. i was generously.given.some at the top of the second lap. entirely coincidentaly i came off and cut me arm open shortly after.. as to the cost, anything on that scale costs a shitload and i'd be surprised if they broke even personally.
Posted 9 months ago # -
in all fairness the goody bag was poor but i believe it was made up for in other ways, for example on the friday night by about 1.30 id run out of cash, 4 local lads kept buying me beer after beer the locals were some of the most pleasant people ive ever met also got to ride a 36er woohoo
Posted 9 months ago # -
No wonder the locals were so friendly there off to Barbados on our €€€€€
We had a few beer stops on the way round
Had my first Kebab in over ten years
Partied till 4.30 ish Saturday/Sunday morning
Rode the superb Brown and White trail about 65k door to door Sunday
Realised even more how ace my mates are old and new
Didn't explode any 29er wheels
Shame the camping was so bad for all my friends who endured itI think next time we should just find a beer festival near some trails and spend the money on beer !
Posted 9 months ago # -
That's true enough but the people i was forced to share a house with were a right bunch of *****.
Tell me about it!!
Don't normally diss an event but all I can see is that they charged an entry fee and spent it on a tee shirt and a pair of socks, the rest must have gone towards the trails?? However it gave us a focal point for all of us to meet up and enjoy the fantastic local atmosphere and stunning trails.
Cheers!
Posted 9 months ago # -
Good to hear the positive feed-back, didn't get to it, sounds great though. I wasn't sure if an event like this would get pulled off properly in Ireland!
Posted 9 months ago # -
really enjoyed the course.....
people were great and so was the general atmos...
goody bag was crap and entry fee was excessive...
12 hours travel each way was extreme...
best bit was having a ride on a jeff jones contraption.....thanks John
Posted 9 months ago # -
yup,pit pricey,but the people made it.great atmosphere in and around the pub,nice to see friends old and new,very disappointed with the lack of exploding 29er wheels,thought there may of been a nuclear holocaust when the 36er rolled up,but no,not even a small fart.
Posted 9 months ago # -
Tollah.
Come on mate show everyone the picture of your exploded 650b wheel.
Posted 9 months ago # -
[img]
DSC_0228.NEF by matt hampshire, on Flickr[/img]
Posted 9 months ago # -
Met one of 'your lot' up in Galway riding Derourra earlier in the week, was a bit out of way.
Posted 9 months ago # -
The cost of the event appeared high for what we got as the trails were already there - a contribution to future maintenance per rider could have been expected. Very enjoyable being in a town and mixing with the locals.
Did the 'White' all on my own on Monday. My pics are here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12617230@N03/sets/72157627436942959/
Posted 9 months ago # -
Thought the Derourra trail was really good, ended up doing it three times that week as we where staying at Mama Cross for a while before moving down to the event ~ Guess it might have been me
SSWC event, was good as always, only going to repeat whateverbody has said already, Excellent course and good people
Posted 9 months ago # -
is that a chubbier than usual frontage on the tollah?
Posted 9 months ago # -
I had a fantastic time and meeting some of you guys was a dream come true for me.
I liked it so much that i think i might have to go back there to ride those trails again. I'll try and book a week at Seamus's place as i hear it's the best place in town.Posted 9 months ago # -
For the record.. I have been to quite a few of these since SSWCY2K+1.
The much acclaimed "Official Beer Stop" in 2007 Aviemore, wasn't official.... it was Myself and Rapid Descent who bought the beer, packed as much as we could carry into 3 messenger bags and rode it up the trails to a "secret location" hid the beer and dished it out during the race. The beer ran out quickly and complaints were made...!
SSWC 2011 Ireland.
I am not going to sugar coat it, but before I release a barrage of whinges... I want it clear that I had a great time.The Good:
Trails
Friends
Guinness
LocalsThe Bad:
Expensive 50 euro for a pair of useless socks and an Orange T-shirt!
Campsite was shunned by many and riddled with wasps.
No showers at the campsite.
No Cars allowed on the campsite.
Start Numbers were not collectables, and most fell apart on the trail.
Decider for next years event held on Thursday, BEFORE the event.
Enormous lack of information and presence of organisers.
No clear information about what time or where the prizegiving was.
Beer token in the goodie bag could not be used anywhere.
Room for prizegiving, which we found by accident was too small about 100-150 people couldn't get in.
Start marshalls were not aware of the traditional bike hiding/moving/piling activities before the start.
Commentator at the start announced a Monte Carlo Start would be held!In summary, I might consider flying back over there for the trails. Thats it.
I got the impression that the organisers knew little about SSWC traditions, or maybe got steam rollered by the Irish Tourist Board/local council etc.
It gave the impression that it was a business venture and money spinner in my opinion and I will give serious consideration before attending another SSWC unless I "know" about who is running it....SSEC2010 Pretty Much Set the standard for how to organise and run a SS event.... Jaquie Phelan mentioned that she may have to compile a Handbook for future organisers.
Sorry about the whinge, it's just my opinion. I still had a great time.
Just not sure if "I got lucky in Ireland"!
Hammer.
Posted 9 months ago # -
OK so Jaquie Phelan couldn't lead her Friday 6.30pm ride for literary reasons.
Surely someone else, possibly a local could have lead a ride the evening before the event.
Posted 9 months ago # -
well this was only my second world champs the other being wales in 2k+1
still have the t shirt,, not sure i'll be keeping the latest one that long,but the people were great the town came out in force to welcome us,,no idea when or where the prize giving was
but the course was great it was all ridable each bit of single track had it's own style i even enjoyed all those fun wooden bits
on the whole a little dissorganized made up for with great people and course
stop moaning about the price you should enter a few triathlons to see expensive events
Posted 9 months ago # -
Here is my account of the proceedings for those of you who didnt make it.
What do you want for the price of an event? Is it a T-Shirt or freebies? What makes an entry worth while? I have no idea how this compares to other years as it was my first event but we pay £35 for events with only a buff head scarf in the goodie bag.
I didnt even think of the money side of it as the craic was that good. Do you question how much you spend on drink after a night out? I think getting anything at all was a bonus.
Glad you all had a good time regardless of the issues you had. BTW I am nothing to do with the event just glad us Irish can show the world a bit of honest hospitality.
Posted 9 months ago # -
Good job i did not make it as I would probably be joining the rest of you whinging cockbags!!!
Posted 9 months ago # -
Good job i did not make it as I would probably be joining the rest of you whinging cockbags!!!
being as tight as you are Rich, you would have been chief moaner.
Posted 9 months ago # -
I did enter but GAVE!!!! my entry away
Posted 9 months ago # -
Generally at a SS event a beer or two and a BBQ at the finish line would be the minimum requirement !
As already stated the fact that the organisers had no idea about bike piles etc would indicate that organising this kind of thing is beat left to those (whining cockbags) who do understand how to do it
Anyways it's all done now and I had a good time :-))
Posted 9 months ago # -
Big up to Postie who did indeed GIVE me his entry !
cheers Rich,it won't be forgotten.
As already mentioned,I enjoyed it and am soooo glad I managed to do it after major faffage.
Posted 9 months ago # -
Ace Trails!
Cheers Jeff!
4 Euro!
Shoe horn for the presentation!
Ace trails
Wheels intact
Going back to see SeamusPosted 9 months ago # -
Hey hey hey, It's me the whining cockbag again...
To be fair the entry fee was only a small amount of the cost, airfare, two days off work, ferries, accomodation, rental cars and fuel usually outweigh the entry fee when travelling from overseas.
I did try to redeem the beer coupon at Copenhagen airport during our stopover.. they wouldn't accept it there either!
Perhaps we have been spoiled by previous organisers and sponsors..
Cockbag
Posted 9 months ago # -
BTW..... Great Video Session88
My work mates here in Sweden are now really confused as to what I do with my spare time.... he he...
Thanks for sharing.
Hammer (aka the guy who started the race.)
ps... sort of forgot that.. They asked ME if I would MIND drinking a beer and starting the race. An honour that can never be repeated.... (so I guess I got my free beer after all).
:-) Posted 9 months ago # -
I did enter but GAVE!!!! my entry away
I know you did Rich, but as paying customer people have a right to give positive and negative feedback on an event as they see fit.
I think most people that went had a great time , but came away with a few negative thoughts tooPosted 9 months ago #
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