What a Day!! Best day of the year! I wouldn’t miss it for the world – it's a truly amazing experience. It's a mighty challenge but a day you’ll remember forever – the views and the scenery are well worth it – friendship, comradery, craic, and the odd odd ball or two. – You won’t regret it, you are doing it for a very worthy cause.....and the sense of achievement when you finish!
What to Expect?
Weather wise, over the years I’ve had everything from hail, rain (and I mean bucketing down), to glorious sunshine, and everything in between. In general, there has been more good days than bad. I got a copy of the video from my first ROK back in the last century, sounds a long time ago. Board Failte, would be only biting at the bit to use it to showcase Ireland and Kerry to the world, blue skies, mountains, the sea, you couldn’t get better. So make sure that as you tootle your way round, you take stock of the beauty that is our County. Don’t forget your camera.
The road and the journey, the first 60 Km to Caherciveen, there isn’t much to say it’s handy enough, but don’t get carried away and head off to fast, if the Ferraris and the Lamborghini’s want to fly past, let them. Stick to what your used to or a bit slower, it’s a long day yet and your only starting, muscles need to warm up, before you pick up pace. Into Killorglin, and the first hill of the day up the street off the bridge, gets a bit steep after the junction and the gap narrows but it’s very short, from here on a layer or two might becoming off as you and the day warm up.Glenbeigh to Kells is stunning overlooking Dingle bay, and before you know it Caherciveen is in sight, but you’ll have to go through the town as the food is at the other end. Rest and refuelling and a chance to stretch the legs if you haven’t done so already, and there is nothing wrong with that if needed.
Heading out again all talk is of Waterville and the hill that awaits “Coomakista”. Trust me, its bark and reputation is worse than its bite. Drop down to a gear that’s comfortable, and keep pedalling, it’s not the steepness of the hill just the length of it, feel free to get off a walk, if you have too.There’s always the sweeper, to take you and your bike to the top if you’re desperate. If you have the training in you will be sitting pretty in your saddle all the way up. If past years are to go by a carnival awaits you at the top, music, water, and Bananas, and of course Bathrooms (well portaloos anyway).
Next is coasting down through Caherdaniel and Castlecove, overlooking Kenmare bay, and now you’re hitting the half way mark and you should be well settled into a good rhythm and you’re at your own pace talking to strangers along the way as you pass them or they pass you. If the weather is good to us, you’ll be stopping to put on more sunscreen. The knees and what bit of the thighs that are exposed are facing the sun and it’s at it’s hottest now, and you’re out for quite a bit of the day. Don’t forget the arms and lowers legs too and the back of the neck. Let the mind wander to whatever thoughts it may – the scenery – the cyclists – Enable, and why we’re doing it, and how much they deserve our support. The road now gets deceiving and undulates a bit use your gears and you’ll soon be inSneem, but before that the auld legs will be feeling the pinch but if you need to, take a few minutes in Sneem in between the traffic jams.
Sneem to Kenmare is sneaky, there’s a long, ever so slight pull out of Sneem and Blackwater bridge has a nice hump to get over but Kenmare is getting closer all the time and a nice cup of well-earned “Tay” and another “hang sanger” or two. Enjoy the break you’re just 40Km from the finish, prepare yourself for Molls Gap. Yes you’ll probably be tired, but this is what you’ve been looking forward to all day, right? Find a gear that suits you some go low and “spin” away, some go high in the gears and slog away slowly, but it’s just whatever suits “you”, go at your own pace - if you’re in a group expect to separate, you should arrange to meet up again at the top. Just go at whats comfortable to you even if that’s walking. Before you go through the Gap make sure to look behind you see the valley below you, nature at it’s best.
I’d like to say that it’s all downhill from here but there is a couple of Km to Ladies view, and it rises and falls but nothing too long and nothing steep, then it’s take care on the downhill to Muckross, while you take in the sight of the lakes of Killarney, the bends are tight and the hill is steep. Ignore the speedsters passing you out, go at a speed you feel comfortable at. I’ve been there and done that, many times before, you’re brakes can take it a hundred times over. Back to two way traffic again and flat into Killarney and the finish line, light refreshments , joy, adulation, and the Killarney Camera Club snapping away like mad at all the smiling faces, oh and don’t forget your certificate – you’ve earned it.
Follow the marshal’s instructions and keep to your own side of the road, it’s only closed one way there will be oncoming vehicles. Take your time enjoy the day, the scenery, and the fellowship of other cyclists, it’s not a race, start and finish at your own pace.
When I first did the ROK, I hadn’t been on a bike in years. I did 10 Km on my first evening's training and couldn’t get up on the bike for two weeks after! I made it round......... so will you.
