TAPER · 2 WEEKS OUT

RING OF BEARA CYCLE — 2 WEEKS OUT

Sharpness is banked. Now shed fatigue. Built around the 140km / 2,200m profile of the Ring of Beara in Ireland.

140 km·2,200 m climbing·5-8 hours·May

THE FOCUS RIGHT NOW

SHED FATIGUE.

Two weeks out you're in taper territory. Fitness plateaus or nudges up — you don't lose meaningful fitness in two weeks, but fatigue disappears fast. Short sharp efforts to keep legs awake. Everything else is volume reduction.

THIS WEEK'S ANCHOR SESSION

RACE-PACE OPENERS

60min ride with 3x3min at race pace + 3x1min at VO2. Not training — priming. The efforts remind your legs what fast feels like. Nothing more.

THE WEEK

A TYPICAL WEEK, 2 WEEKS OUT

Monday

REST

Rest is the session.

Tuesday

OPENERS (60MIN)

Short sharp race-pace primers.

Wednesday

45MIN Z1

Coffee spin.

Thursday

60MIN Z2 WITH 2X5MIN AT THRESHOLD

Final sharpening effort.

Friday

REST

Full rest.

Saturday

90MIN Z2 WITH OPENERS

Short, easy, prep the pre-event day.

Sunday

60MIN Z1 OR REST

Total reset.

DON'T DO THIS

The taper-anxiety mistake: riding harder in taper because your legs feel fresh. Fresh legs aren't a problem — they're the whole point. Hold the line.

EVENT INTEL

WHAT THE RING OF BEARA ACTUALLY DEMANDS

Ring of Beara is the coastal Kerry sportive — 140km around the wildest peninsula in Ireland, with the Caha Mountains and Healy Pass as the defining climbs. Smaller field than Wicklow 200, steeper climbs.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

✓Healy Pass — the signature climb, 8% average, switchbacks
✓Exposed coastal sections with unpredictable crosswinds
✓140km is shorter than Wicklow but the terrain is punchier
✓Early May means the road is often wet
✓Small villages for feed zones — plan your stops carefully

COMMON MISTAKES

✕Treating Healy Pass like an easy climb because it's 'only' 9km
✕Packing like it's July when it's May on the Atlantic
✕Cranking the gearing too hard — long compact gearing saves the day

PACING

The first 80km are rolling with two controllable climbs. The Healy Pass at km 100 is the ride. If you arrive at the base feeling fresh you'll finish strong. If you're already ragged you'll crack on the steep section. Pace for Healy, not the flats.

FUELLING

Shorter than Wicklow but more climbing per km. 70-90g carbs/hour. Refill at Kenmare or Glengarriff depending on the route. The Healy Pass has no feed zone — come to it with a full bottle and a gel.

KIT

Gilet and armwarmers even in May. Compact crankset with 11-32 cassette. The descent off Healy is technical — check brake pads before you start.

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FAQ

COMMON QUESTIONS AT 2 WEEKS OUT

Is 2 weeks enough to train for the Ring of Beara Cycle?+

2 weeks out your training can't meaningfully change your fitness — you're in taper. Focus on recovery, hydration, familiarisation with your kit + fuelling, and event-day logistics. Don't try to add fitness this close to the event.

What's the hardest part of the Ring of Beara Cycle?+

Healy Pass — the signature climb, 8% average, switchbacks. treating Healy Pass like an easy climb because it's 'only' 9km — so pacing discipline is the single biggest lever most amateurs miss. The first 80km are rolling with two controllable climbs.

How many hours a week should I train at 2 weeks out from the Ring of Beara Cycle?+

Drop to 6-8 hours with minimal intensity. The taper protects the fitness you've built rather than growing more. Short, sharp openers to keep legs awake. Nothing aerobically challenging.

Do I need a coach to train for the Ring of Beara Cycle?+

You don't need a coach to finish. You do need structure. If you're new to sportives, have a target finish time, have a plateau you can't break, or have a history of peaking wrong, a coached plan pays for itself. Inside Not Done Yet the plan is built backwards from your event date — base, build, peak, taper timed to the week the Ring of Beara Cycle runs. 7-day free trial, $195/mo.

What gearing should I run for the Ring of Beara Cycle?+

Gilet and armwarmers even in May. Compact crankset with 11-32 cassette. The descent off Healy is technical — check brake pads before you start.

OTHER PHASES FOR THE RING OF BEARA

Earlier phase ← 4 weeks out

PEAK PHASE

Later phase → 1 weeks out

RACE WEEK

Read the full Ring of Bearaguide →