If the number of people who have registered online already is any indicator then this years event is looking like we will have a very big turnout and are tooled up and ready for it having been somewhat overwhelmed and amazed last year by the numbers that turned out for the inaugral TdeKK. Lessons were learnt folks and we have spent a lot of time planning the registration process so that it will be very fast and slick this year.

Register Online Or On The Day
Online Entry is strongly recommended and you can do this by clicking on the link on the right hand side of the website. It is also possible to register on Friday evening or Saturday morning.

For more detailed information on the event click on the “Tour de Kilkenny” tab at the top right of the website.

National Bike Week is from 13^th to 20^th June and Marble City Cyclers are inviting cyclists of all abilities to join us on our Monday evening spin on 14^th June.  After the cycle, refreshments will be provided in St. Patrick’s Parish Centre in Loughboy to celebrate National Bike Week and gives people the opportunity to ask any questions they have about cycling and of course, give people the opportunity to join Marble City Cyclers.

Marble City Cyclers will also be making a presentation on the night to the winners and runner-ups of their inaugural Time Trial league, which was kindly sponsored by Pete and Andy in Kilkenny Cycles, Michael Street.  The Kilkenny Cycles TT league involved both flat and hilly routes in various locations around the county and the format allowed MCC members of all abilities an equal chance of winning.

Please Note: As with most Audax events, the participants need to be self-sufficient and be confident of doing this sort of distance as support on the day will be minimal.

The route for the Marble City 200 has significantly changed from that used in 2009.  As expected, the route will go through Kilkenny but parts of the route will also delve into the counties of Carlow and Wexford and a significant part will also go through Tipperary county.

Brief route description

After leaving Kilkenny, the first town that the route will take you through is Bagnelstown and from there we will proceed to Borris.  It’s then a scenic route from Borris to New Ross (please feel free to interpret the word “scenic” for “draggy”!).  The end of this road runs along side the River Barrow for a few miles before New Ross.  When we come to the N.30 junction, we will be taking a right – as this is a busy road and we are taking a right, extra care is needed.  We won’t be staying on the N.30 for very long as we will be taking the first right off it, to cross over the ‘Ferrybank Bridge’.  We will be having our first control point shortly after this point.

From the first control point, we will proceed to the picturesque town of Inistiogue and then to Thomastown.  From Thomastown, we take the road to Waterford until we come to a ‘T junction’, whereby cyclists will take a right to Knocktopher.  From Knocktopher we will proceed to Kilmaganny and then to the home of the brilliant Seán Kelly, Carrick on Suir.  Please be careful coming into Carrick as there is a railway track to negotiate as you approach the town.  Then from Carrick-on-Suir towards Clonmel, where we will have our second control point at “Ikes and Mikes” pub, which is 6km outside Carrick.  For those who have paid the additional €6 charge, they will be able to enjoy the tea, coffee and sandwiches at this establishment.

From this control point, we will continue to Kilsheehan, turn off the main road for Fethard (careful as the railway track runs through here).  From Fethard we will be going through the Tipperary towns of Killenaule and Ballingarry; our third control point is at the old Ballingarry creamery, which is about a kilometre before Ballingarry village.  Then we will be crossing back into the Kilkenny boundaries again and heading back to the city, via Kilmanagh.

All in all, this is an ideal route for someone who wants to travel the 200km distance without doing any major climbs.  Although it still would be wrong to call it a flat route!

Click here for a PDF file of the 2010 MC200 Routesheet

Directions to IWA Buildings

Most locals might not know where the IWA Building is, so if you get stuck we suggest that you ask for directions to St Kieran’s College, which they will!  Across the road from this famous hurling nursery is the entrance to the laneway for the IWA Building.  IWA (Irish Wheelchair Association), there is a sign at the entrance of this lane.

Coming from Dublin, Wateford, New Ross direction

• When you arrive on the ring road from Dublin or Waterford, please take the first exit.
• The last roundabout on the Ring Road should be the “Callan Road Roundabout”. At this roundabout, take the second exit to drive towards city centre.
• Take the second exit at the next roundabout.
• Approx. 500m from this roundabout, the laneway for the IWA Building is on the right hand side.

You can also see the location of the IWA Building by clicking here.

Route Map for Marble City 200

At Marble City Cyclers, we are organising spins on Monday evenings for people just starting to cycle or who may have a bit done but want to join a cycling group.

This is ideal for you if:

• Your thinking of doing a Charity Cycle to raise money for that much needed charity but have no experience – this is for you.
• You want a new healthy and enjoyable past time – this is for you.
• Always fancied to do a bit of cycling but was afraid you couldn’t keep up with the group – this is for you also!

Basically this is for anyone who interested in doing a bit of cycling!!

Monday Evening Spins are ideal for those who are just starting out in the sport of cycling or those who want to get used to riding in groups. Riding in groups is also a lot more fun than going solo too. These spins are about 25 to 30 miles – but don’t worry if that is too long for you, as you can always join us for the first few miles . But we must warn you that you could be surprised at how quickly you can build up your fitness to do this distance!!

For anyone starting out, we suggest that they give themselves the heads up on the safety of cycling by clicking here

So where, when and what time do we meet?

We meet up at the main gate of Kilkenny Castle at 6.50pm every Monday evening and our routes are then determined. We do this as we like to have the wind on our back on the way home! Most of our spins will be between 90mins and 2 hours long and are done at a gentle pace.

Here is a sample of some of our spins:

• Castle gate – Freshford – Ballyragget – Castle gate: Distance 47km [Google map]
• Castle gate – Gowran – Thomastown – Castle gate: Distance 44km [Google map]
• Castle gate –Thomastown – Knocktopher – Castle gate: Distance 46.5km [Google map]
• Castle gate – Callan – Kells – Castle gate: Distance 40.5km [Google map]
• Castle gate – Paulstown – Gowran – Castle gate [Google map]

What do I bring?

I know it’s stating the obvious but please bring a bike!! A helmet and enthusiasm are also compulsory and essential – there are no exceptions. We also strongly suggest that you bring liquid with you (water and sports drink are the most popular choices) and some food, perhaps bananas and nutri-grain bars. It’s also important that in the unfortunate event of a puncture that you have a spare tube with you. And don’t worry if this happens (it happens to the best of us), we will help get you back up on your bike in no time. We don’t leave anyone behind!

I have done a couple of these spins and I want to take it to the next level

Excellent, that is what we love to hear. We do have Club spins on Saturday and Sundays, where we meet at the Castle gate at 9am. The pace of these cycles are faster than the Monday evening spins and tend to be longer (80 to 100km) so it would be very much worth your while to do a bit more than the Monday evening spin before joining this group, perhaps on Wednesday and Thursday evening.

It would also be worth your while to have a goal for the year. Once you have a goal, you have an objective to work towards. We suggest that you make your goal known to other cyclists, family, friends, work-colleagues or as some of our members have done, to an entire pub! This will increase your determination of reaching that goal!!

For beginners, doing a cycling sportive before the summer is a great objective. Cycling sportives are non-competitive cycles that are taking place most weekends during the summer and distances tend to range from 50km to 200km. The most popular ones are the Wicklow 200 in June, the Sean Kelly cycle at the end of August and of course our own prize winning cycle*, Tour de Kilkenny, at the August Bank Holiday.

* Okay, we never actually won a prize for it, bit we did win many fans for this being a fantastic day out.

So does the Club do anything else?

Our list of events for 2010 are listed here. However to do some of these, you do need to be a member. Want to join? Click here!

Disclaimer

In participating on our spins, cyclists must understand and accept that, because of the risk of accidents and mishaps at speed, there exists a possibility of serious physical injury and damage to property. Each participating cyclist must undertake to indemnify Marble City Cyclers, its committee, members, servants and agents from liability for personal injury, loss and damage which they may cause or sustain, howsoever occurring. Joining the Club or participating in its events will be deemed to be automatic acceptance of these conditions.

The club has weekend spins on a Saturday and Sunday morning leaving the Castle Gates in Kilkenny at 10am sharp on both mornings.

Non members are welcome to come along and join us on these spins before deciding if they would like to become a club member.

The club has a number of exciting events planned for this season (see our “Events Proposed for 2010″ section) so now is the time to kick start your 2010 training.