The Annual Barrow Wheelers Blackstairs 150K will take place on Sunday June 6th at 9am from th Geraldines GAA Club. Now in its 25th year Its evolved from the days of the Randonneurs when it was a tough 200km Good training for the 600km we used to do..... Not forgetting Paddy Somers many 1200km Randonneur's including Paris Brest Paris....

To get to the start take the ring road around New Ross and if coming from a northern direction follow the N30 up hill until you get to A Topaz Filling station on your left and take an immediate left turn. The start is on your right hand side. If coming from a southern direction again Take the N30 and go through a set of traffic lights and when you see a Topaz garage on your right take the turn off before the junction to the start. There is ample parking and showers as well as refreshments provided before and after the event.

There will be secure parking at the venue
Showers and changing facilities are also provided as well as a t-shirt at the end
Sign on €20
Low gears essential
Please wear a helmet.

The route as illustrated below  goes to Graiguenamangh on towards Goresbridge and to the Royal Oak just outside Bagenalstown. On then towards Garrhill where you will be using quiet roads towards the Corrabut climb where we will have a mobile stop before continuing on to the nine stones. Watch those Cattle grids on the way down. The surface is good this year.  Don't take any chances. You can easily bunny hop the grids at 80km/hr.... Not for the faint hearted. Take your time!!!
Once over the mountain its on towards Borris, turning left at the graveyard and on towards Clashganny and back to Graiguenamanagh again for the second stop after 100km completed. Before you go over the bridge take a left. follow to the end of the road. Its the Greageumanagh Boat Club building. Lovely setting.

 The Food stop is after approx 100km. Its just left anlong the river before the bridge in Graiguenamanagh,

Its on towards Thomastown over Coppenagh, a 6km steady climb and down to Thomastown coming in at the top of the town on the Dublin road. After crossing the River Nore, on the Waterford Road, turn left on to quiet roads again. This road brings you up a series of undulating roads until you get up past what's locally called the "Three Friars" (3 stones on your left hand side in a field approx 133km done). Its nearly all down hill from here looking right at The Barrow Valley leading back to the main New Ross Waterford road and 5km to go. Showers and  refreshments await back at the Gaa club after the last climb up through the town.

 

A more detailed view of the map can be seen in the following link: http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/ireland/-new-ross/667125171713773547