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The Sheeps Head Raid will now be around 75% off road and partly on some mind blowing tracks that form part of the Sheeps Head Way these sections will only be open to riders once a year for this event.
The total course will be in excess of 50km and will start and finish in the village of Kilcrohane our course design scout has reported that it is compares favourably with anything he has ridden which includes a lot of Europe! This means we will be basing the event at Kilcrohane which has a well deserved reputation for great craic, great people & great pubs. There is some room for camping and there are my B&B‘s a Hostel and a lot of self catering accomodation see www.thesheepsheadway.ie.
We will also have some deals on this web site.
We also have a deal with the West Lodge Hotel of €195 2 nights B&B 1 evening meal and full use of the Leisure Facilites (based on 2 people sharing) the price also includes full weekend event entry!
Entry Forms will be available this week.
We are very close to having the Sheeps Head Raid Mountain Bike Marathon sorted and it looks great. The overall length will be about 52km and 1500 metres of ascent, in one big lap, which is very similar to the figures for the brillant Carlingford marathon.
So completion times would range from 3 to 6 hours. which is what a mountain bike marathon should be. There is one bit that needs a bit of building on it which we will sort out early next week. There are very short sections of hike a bike but these really are short and in no way disrupt the journey. So we are very close, all we need now is a lot of signs and a good few marshals, nice weather (its always sunny down here) and bobs your uncle, we will have a quality mountain bike experience in West Cork.
The course may not have the pure single track (although large sections are surprisingly very good)of the man made small forest type XC tracks but it more than makes up for that with a true mountain feeling, a raw sense of nature, varied types of riding and unbeatable scenery which means that one is always entertained, interested and motivated to press on and see what lies beyond. I would sugest that riders are prepared for all types of weather and be self sufficient so that they can manage a variety of unforeseen situations. All the usual spares, plenty food and drink(we will have a feed point) a survival blanket, sense of humour and spirit of adventure!
This is also the first one which is always a bit special. And don’t forget the Downhilling Xc race (a little up too!) the day before, the great atmosphere, super food, local camping, family riding, reasonable price and magic of the area and we have the making’s of an excellent weekend’s craic.
See you there (:
Donncha.