MTB Off road Audax Routes and info June 30th 2019
Western Lakes CC have stepped into the world of Audax events for the 2nd year running where athletes test themselves over a route by completing it inside a time limit.
The Mayo Western Lakes Audax MTB, has 2 event distances 100k and super tough 200k held on Sunday 30th June 2019.
Both routes are steeped in history and geography, starting in the old garrison town of Ballinrobe, following the Monk's trail to Moorehall woods along the banks of Lough Carra and onto Ballintubber Abbey. Chance to refuel at Corleys bar, a trek through the boglands of Killawalla to the hidden and deserted villages of Srah, the watering hole at O Toole's bar (Foodstop), Tourmakeady waterfall and the old escape routes through to the Black valley of Glensaul. High up in the Partry mountains over looking Lough Mask, drinking water out of Glacier lakes and hidden waterfalls. To the Murderous Maam Trasna pass, the Irish quarter of Finney to the end off the leg of the Mask, over the hill of the CO-OP and descend out onto Lough Corrib via the longest land peninsula of Europe. Climb Heart attack hill and the old Sean Bothar from Cornamona, travel back in time in the Joyce country Geo park and through the majestic woodlands of Cong and Ashford castle, through lane ways and Turloughs over the hill of Cairn and along Ballinrobe Inishmaine Trail: Takes in a variety of archaeological and historical points of Interest including a Souterrain, Caves, a Ringfort, a Cornmill, an Abbey, a Sweathouse and a Hillfort, the final few kms are along the river Robe on the Bowers riverside walk.
Entry fee €6 for the 100k and €11 for the 200k
Audax Ireland Medal €7
ACP (Audax club parisien) €7
MTB, Gravel or cyclo cross bikes suitable (Make sure to bring plenty of spares if using a Gravel or cyclo cross bikes)
Potential food stops
Only one of the above have a deli that is Ballintubber stores, all the pubs do teas and sandwiches.
For now we want people to try out the different sections of the route, we have recce more or less it all now, starts off on by roads, with occasional off road section, from Section 2 on alot more fire track and bog sections, end of section 2 gets hilly, section 3 is savage, section 4 and 5 are tough, section 6 is all off road and section 7 is a ramble through the lanes....coming via the Bowers river side walk, the finish line is back at the Western Lakes cycling centre on the Kilmaine road.
What to get of the road and onto the beaten track for a few weeks ?
Both routes were designed and recce for the Audax event that the club is organizing on June 30th 2018
Audax don't allow short, they don't encourage racing, the only challenge participants to try and finish a set out route inside a certain time limit.
Each route is broken into sections, a normal club spin could do one or maybe 2 sections at a time, as each section is about 30k return, depending where you start from.
if you want to see the route clearly download the free version of ridewithgps onto your Garmin, phone or Wahoo device.
200k
The 200k route starting at the Cycling Centre section one finishes once you complete the lap in Moorehall, Section 2 finishes at Ballintubber Abbey, section 3 finishes in Tourmakeady (hilly), Section 4 finishes in Finny (The hardest section) section 5 finishes in Cornamona, and section 6 finishes in Cong and Section 7 takes a looping way home to Ballinrobe taking in the sites.
When out on these routes ideally go with a buddy in case of mishap and bring the usual breakdown stuff and your phone.