Event FAQ

Registration will be held at Glen Swilly GAA, not far from Letterkenny from 15.00 - 22.00 on Friday 22nd June.

You will then leave your bike at the Transition area along Lough Gartan.

A map for the transition area & Registration can be found here.

Pricing options for GFN 2012

Option A: Early Bird Price: GFN €80 / GFN Sprint €65 (excl booking fee of €3) available until 30/04/2012 (€85/€75 thereafter)- This option includes bus transfers to the start line from Bunbeg. Bunbeg is where the finish line for Gaelforce North is located. If you are staying in Bunbeg or the surrounding area this is the best option for you.

Option B: Early Bird Price GFN €70/ GFN Sprint €55  (excl booking fee of €3) available until 30/04/2012 (€75/ €65 thereafter): This option excludes bus transfers to the start line. PLEASE NOTE: If choosing this option you must make your own way to the start line. You will need to be dropped off by someone as it is  not possible to park anywhere near the start line of GFN, it is a drop of area only. You will also need to organise transport back to your accommodation after the race if you are not staying in Bunbeg. This option will suit those of you staying in Letterkenny and surrounds but remember you must have someone who can drop you to the start line as there is no parking there.

Choosing Your Wave

The below are the times the buses will be leaving Bunbeg and the times the waves will be starting Gaelforce North.

Please note that your wave will start the race 1.5hrs after the bus leave Bunbeg. If you are making your own way to the start line, i.e. have chose pricing option B, you MUST be there at the start line at least a half an hour before your start time.

Remember that if you wish to compete for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd place within your prize category you must race within the ELites category. This is to make it fair to everyone involved as this means you will not have had a time out at the kayaks.We recommend that you look at times from last years events (CAC & GFW) to see if you think you may have a chance of competing for the category title. Please do not enter the elites unless you think you have a chance of being placed in your category. Check what age category you are in and then look at last year’s times under the results pages to see if you think you may be placed.

If you are unsure on anything call our office on 095-42006 or email gaelforcenorth@gaelforceevents.com

To make it fair to everyone involved we have made the decision that you can only win your category if you are in the Elites wave. This means to win any category you will not have had a time out at the kayaks.
 
We recommend that you look at times from GFW to see if you think you may have a chance of competing for the category title. Please do not enter the elites unless you think you have a chance of being placed in your category. Check what age category you are in and then look at last year’s times under the results page to see if you think you may be placed.
 
This next bit is important - Even if you beat a winning time by a lot, if you are not in the elites you will not be placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd in this category. For example if you are in the runner wave and have a faster time than your category winner who raced in the elite wave, you will not win the category.  The elite racer would still be placed ahead of you due to the fact that they did not have a time out option at the kayak transition.
 

 The below are the times the buses will be leaving Bunbeg and the times the waves will be starting Gaelforce North.

Please note that your wave will start the race 1.5hrs after the bus leave Bunbeg. If you are making your own way to the start line, you MUST be there at the start line at least a half an hour before your start time. 

To enter the new sprint course, tick the Gaelforce North box as normal and choose the sprint course after you have entered your personal details. This will also bring the cost down to the correct amount.

We know bike choice can be hard, especially with on and off road sections. It is up to you to choose but we sent one of our team out on the route and here is their advice:

There are 3 options:

 Pros:  Better handling on rough ground and of road
            Much less chance of a puncture

Cons:   Slower on the road and quite heavy to cycle up hills.

 Pros:    Fast on the road sections.
              Lighter so therefore easier to cycle up a hill
 Cons:   Not designed to go off road so will probably have to carry at certain stages.
              Because they are designed for off road use there is a higher chance of damage, puncunture, breakage of bike.
 

Pros:    Good mid level bike, not as fast as road bike but a lot faster than mountain bike.
              Strudier than road bike and less likely to purchase   
Cons:    Expensive bikes to buy and more a jack of all trades.
 
In conclusion:  I did the course recently and it is possible to do it on a road bike but you will have to carry it at certain stages and cycle over rough/gravelly road.  Like most of our events there is quite a long section on road mixed in with smaller sections of off road.   I did it on a cross country bike with Specialized Armadillos and the grip wasnt the best on the off road parts but it is a lot faster on the road parts.  In the end it is going to come down to which bike you have in the garage and then what your budget is in terms of buying either a new bike or  upgrading an exisiting one.   

Make sure that you know how to change a tyre and have a bike repair kit and spare tubes with you.

Ask questions and share your knowledge on our forum here.

Gaelforce North 2010 -

Entry fee includes;

• Bus transfer from Bunbeg to start line - If choosing pricing option A only.
• Race prizes
• Event t-shirt or Buff
• Marshals
• Power boat safety cover on water
• Map with pre-marked transition areas
• Course design & Build
• Use of electronic timing devices
• Event based facilities including car parking, toilets
• Post event food
• Race  safety cover provided by civil defence and Mountain Rescue
• Permissions and risk assessments to allow access to some wonderful countryside
• Water at transition points

When paying for your entry to the Gaelforce North it is stipulated that this is a non-refundable payment. As soon as a competitor enters we incur costs such as admin etc. It is also not possible to transfer entries to any other Gaelforce Events, next year’s event, or a different competitor.

When entering the race you will choose which category and bus time you will be taking on the day of the event. The times shown on the registration form are the times the buses will be leaving Bunbeg, your wave will leave the start line, 1.5hrs after this time. For example if you are in the 7am Runner wave you will be starting the race at 8.30am.

Your category/wave CANNOT be changed once you have entered. If you are entering with a group of friends please make sure you all enter the same time slot and enter early so as not to be disappointed.

Littering is a central concern not only to race organisers, but also those who live in and utilise the countryside, mountains, beaches etc. We are confident in the environmental ethos of all of our competitors, but to minimize the chance of any temptation to litter, we have introduced a strict littering policy.

- Each competitor is required to dispose of their waste, including human waste, properly. We ask all competitors to please take their own rubbish home with them.

- If a competitor is found to be littering they will be disqualified from the race. We encourage everyone to report any littering by other competitors/teams.

- We also ask that you use a reuseable bottle for your liquids so as to cut down on plastic waste.

- If you have to dispose of any waste during the event we ask that you use our recycle bins properly, which will be located at each transition area.

Remember just because something is animal, vegetable, or mineral, doesn't mean it belongs in the wild. A banana or orange peel can take longer to decompose to than a piece of paper!

Due to insurance reasons we cannot accept anyone under the age of 18 into any of our events. All participants must be 18 years old on the date of the event.

The breakdown of discipline distances within the event is as follows -  

The detailed breakdown, nature and sequence of activity is as follows:

We provide kayaks and all safety equipment for this as part of your entry fee. You will need your own bike. Gaelforce North will not rent bikes or have a bike rental partner for 2011.  You will also need some more mandatory kit, check the list here. Please note that the mandatory kit is for your and fellow competitors safety!!!

No is the simple answer here. You personally will choose your wave when you enter Gaelforce North. It is not possible under any circumstances to change waves at any time. There are around 1,000 people taking part in this event, we cannot deal with each individual’s entries.

We do not have a bike hire partner for GFN 2011.

Our office is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm. You can call us on 095 42006 or email info@gaelforceevents.com

Most of the cycling in GFN is on sealed country roads. However, there will be a small section in the event which will be on Coillte off-road/ rough track. This short section is approximately 6km long and is during the last cycle back to the beach. Good tyre choice and high tyre pressures will cope with this fine. Alternatively a mountain bike could be used, but the same bike must be used throughout the event. Gaelforce North does not rent bikes, should competitors need to rent bikes they must organise to do so themselves. If you want to talk more about bikes post a comment on our forum and chat to other gaelforcers.

While navigation skills are not a requirement, do not travel faster than your route knowledge. You will be issued with an OSI overview map, read it carefully. The route will be described and marked with signs/arrows, but no permanent Marshalls. This is an unsupported adventure challenge, not a Triathlon.

Ask questions and share your knowledge on our forum here.

The kayaks, paddles and buoyancy aids will be provided by the organisers. These are double ‘sit-on-top‘ kayaks and must be paddled with a crew of 2.

The event fleet will number some 100 boats of the same design. Your ‘crew member‘ can be a mate who you are racing alongside or a fellow competitor who gets to the boats at the same time as you. It’s all part of the Gaelforce camaraderie!  When you arrive at the kayak transition area, you will receive instructions from the marshals there and be directed to the boats.

Remember, you are TIMED OUT here and if you do end up waiting for a boat, it won’t matter for your race time. Whatever happens, you will not wait for long as our logistics will be designed to cope with 500 + competitors and the tiered start system will ensure you don’t all end up there together!

Elites: If you are in the Elite Category you will not get a time out at this section

For safety reasons, you are not allowed to use an ipod/MP3 etc. while competing.

Your bikes must be left at the first bike transition here, before midnight on Friday 3rd of June. All competitors will be wearing a race number for the 2011 event and will be issued a race number on their bike, to be displayed facing forward. This will help you and us at the transitions. Race numbers will be issued at race registration with your pack and your electronic timing “dibber.” For the 3 bike transitions within the event, the bikes will be safe and secure. You will need to pick up your bike from the final transition area at the finish line within 30mins of finishing the race.

There is no rope-work or surprise activity in the GFN. The adventure is in the course!

You can leave your repair kit, some food and drink, cycle helmet, bike shoes(if using) with your bike when you leave it in the transition area. This must all be securely tied to your bike and you cannot leave anything behind when you leave the bike transition area.

YOU MUST BRING ALL OTHER MANDATORY KIT WITH YOU FROM THE START LINE! This is for your safety and the safety of other competitors!

Your progress through the course (and results) is measured with the use of SPORTIdent electronic timing equipment, part of which requires the wearing of a small device on your wrist – the “dibber”. See www.sportident.co.uk for full info on this system. Lost dibbers must be paid for and will set you back around €30 – they aren’t cheap! Look after them.

No. Gaelforce North is an event for individuals only. It is not possible to enter a team.

Each competitor must complete the whole course and there is no relay option.

If you are a group of friends who wish to race together you can do this by ensuring you all enter the same category/wave. It is important that all members of your group know before registering which category/wave they should enter as it is not possible to change this once they have registered.

No, you do not need to organise a partner before the event for the kayak section.

This is a race for individuals. When you arrive into the kayak transition area you will take a bouncy aid and a paddle. Then you will walk to get a kayak, your kayaking partner will be the next person waiting for a kayak also.

If you arrive with a friend to the kayak transition it is no problem to take a kayak together.

The only time out is just as you reach the Kayak section as there maybe a short wait time for Kayaks.

ELITES - if you are in the elites category you WITH NOT get a time out or have a choice of a time out at the kayak section.

For 2011 Gaelforce Events have decided not to have a chosen charity for each event. We do, however, want to encourage everyone who is competing to raise money for a charity whether it be their own local charity or an international charity. To help build the profile of each charity, let us know who you are raising money for and we will add it to the list on each events charity page with a link to their website. If you can send us a logo for the charity we can also add this to the page.

If you work for/volunteer or would like a certain charity added to the 2011 list, please email us at info@gaelforceevents.com or call 095 42006.