Joe Barr – Ireland N-S-N – July 3-5, 2020
Congratulations to Joe Barr who set 3 concurrent records this weekend in the Male 60-69 age-group record a standard bike:
Ireland Crossing: North-South: 368 miles in 22 hours 20 minutes for an average speed of 16.48 mph
Ireland Crossing: South-North: 370 miles in 21 hours 55 minutes for an average speed of 16.88 mph
Ireland Crossing: North-South-North: 738 miles in 44 hours 15 minutes for an average speed of 16.68 mph
He not only set the new 60-69 marks but also eclipsed all current Male 18-59 marks!!
Here is Joe’s account of his adventure:
Rider’s Narrative Summary
Record Attempt
Point to point record from the most northerly point in Ireland, Malin Head, to the most southerly point in Ireland, Mizen Head and back again.
The total route distance, on our chosen route, was 738 miles.
This record attempt encompasses three distinct record attempts:
North – South
South – North
North – South – North
Name of Rider
Joe Barr
Start date and exact start time to the nearest minute
July 3rd, 4PM GMT
Exact start location described so that someone else could find the same spot
The most northerly point in Ireland, Malin Head is a distinct and iconic location on the Inishowen Penninsula, County Donegal.
Let me put it like this – you stand on a quintessential Irish cliff edge. Black rock, crashing waves and wind await most people. You are lucky indeed if you get sun and calm water.
There is a watchtower built in 1805 during the Napoleonic Wars and a signal station (built in 1902) used by the Marconi Company situated on the Head.
What were the conditions like?
I have started this record 4 times now at this location and the conditions didn’t disappoint – driving rain, 15-20mph wind gusts and a temperature of around 16 degrees.
I started in full winter cycling gear. Welcome to Ireland in July!
Weather is only one part of the start conditions though.
My inner condition was excellent. I was well trained, well rested, well nourished with a rock solid mind-set. I am no stranger to creating a peak performance under pressure.
The condition of my team was similar. After our team meeting we entered that unwavering and steadfast place of ride-crew unit. We were all for one and one for all from start to finish.
Why did you want to do a record?
I have been on this point-to-point (N-S-N) WUCA record 4 times now – 2015, twice in 2017 (with one DNF) and now 2020.
It is a course that has captivated me since 2015 when I first broke the standing record.
This particular route brings weather, varied road conditions and types and significant climbing on both ends. It is of a distance and time where it’s possible to ride with no sleep and very few stops. It’s a route that is hard to understand from a rider’s perspective – how the sections flow, what the ‘ask’ is of each section, where to gain time and where to give time.
I felt strongly that it was possible to break the current record (48hrs 38mins) and put the new record under 48 hours. I felt 46 hours was possible in fair conditions.
What equipment did you use?
I rode one bike the complete distance – a Spiegel Diablo built with Campagnolo super record.
Front gearing was 53-39 with 11-25 in the rear.
I used XeNTis Mark 3 Monocoque carbon wheels in the front and rear with a Vittoria piste velodrome tyre on the front and 23mm Vittoria CX Evo on the rear
What did you eat and drink?
Jillian, my partner and performance nutritionist runs my race nutrition.
We aim for a specific hourly calorie intake that is a combination of complex and simple carbohydrate and short to medium chain fats.
We have used the same bottle mix since 2012, BRL Sports Nutrition’s TRIFUEL.
Our solid foods consist of home made bars, home made blended soups (with medium chain triglycerides from coconut milk) and oatmeal.
Oatmeal with honey and cinnamon, sometimes with nut butter, is the most significant complex carbohydrate we use on the bike. Easy to digest and easy to eat on the bike.
What was the best part?
We used a GPS tracker for the first time so people could follow the dot and come out on course if they felt inspired.
I was amazed at the hundreds upon hundreds of people that came out to clap as I went past. They came out in the wind and the rain, day and night. It was especially pleasing to see so many parents and kids on course. It was a hugely motivating and humbling experience.
What was the hardest part?
Starting in such wind and rain can be demoralizing. Within 1-2 hours I was soaked wet and I knew that this wouldn’t change for close to 18 hours. Because my body fat is so low I am very susceptible to a debilitating drop in core temperature under wet and windy conditions.
Luckily the outside temperature remained steady at around 16 degrees.
I also had specialized clothing made by Powerhouse Sport, a rubberized exterior that worked like a charm in terms of heat conservation while minimizing condensation.
I have come to understand that extreme weather is just part of this particular course for me.
It was disappointing to have such good weather on the previous weekend but that’s racing, you have to take the rough with the smooth.
Did anything particularly unusual happen?
Once in a blue moon you get a race where everything aligns to create a peak performance – this was such a race for me.
My mind-set, nutrition, training, preparation all collided in a great way under challenging circumstances. We had to adjust team members and vehicles in the days leading up to the race, which was challenging at the time but turns out created a winning combination.
This was a special performance by all.
Exact finish location so that someone else can find the same spot.
Malin Head – back at the start again. See above.
Exact finish time
July 5th, 12:15PM GMT
