Conor has ridden some brutal races at the top level of cycling in his career. But no bike race he’s completed is anything like the one he’s about to attempt – a 555km ride around one of Ireland’s most remote counties. To top it off, he’s not riding the pro level, top of the range bike he’s used to, but will that hold him back?

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Music – licensed by Epidemic Sound:
ESNervous Rabbit.mp3
ES_Mass Hysteria.mp3
ES_Data Love.mp3
ES_You Want Dark Tunes – Ave Air.mp3
ES_Breathe One’s Last – Jakob Ahlbom.mp3
ES_Can’t Dampen My Spirit – Adriel Fair.mp3
ES_Leeway – Voodulce.mp3
ES_Long Roads – John and the Land of Plenty.mp3
ES_Make It Count – VELDA.mp3
ES_Mt. Fuji – Ooyy.mp3
ES_No Burden – Nebulae .mp3
ES_Nothing Counts but You – Magnus Ringblom.mp3
ES_Off to Battle – Walt Adams.mp3
ES_Pushing through the Lush Green Grass – Chaxti.mp3
ES_Rise to Be Your Hero – Hampus Naeselius.mp3
ES_So So (Instrumental Version) – Roof.mp3
ES_Sumerian Paradise – Dew Of Light.mp3
ES_We’re Gonna Be Okay (Instrumental Version) – Cody Francis.mp3
ES_When Fealty Fails – Jon Bjork.mp3

Photos: © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Bettiniphoto / http://www.bettiniphoto.net/

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35 Comments

  1. not finishing doesn’t mean this was not a success conner. i ride a tiagra equipped bianchi and this video really resonates with me for this reason. riders only limits are themselves, but we spend so much time obsessing over gear

  2. Tiagra of today is better than Dura-Ace of just a few years ago and there were plenty of epic rides being completed at that time.. Having to have the best of the best is just a status symbol, at this point… I've beaten guys with "higher end" components and I've lost to guys with "lower end" components.. At the end of the day, the rider still has to mash the cranks… Excellent effort, Connor!

  3. Amazing effort Conor! I know when you want something so bad and you try everything you can and you have people around you, you feel like you have to be sorry for failing. But you cycled 450k in one go. That's pretty incredible to start with.

    But look at it from anyone else's perspective: What did we at home – or even the people in your support team – get to see? We didn't get to see the same old story: Someone tries something hard. There's some nice expectation, then it gets hard, then they think about quitting, find their strength, finish the thing, go home tired but happy. That would have been alright – I've nothing against that!

    Instead we saw you try something you couldn't do, and give it everything you have. We got to see you fight and fight and fight in the darkness and the rain until you almost couldn't even stand anymore. We saw you absolutely shaking, pale, and falling asleep in the warmth of a Prius. And still, still get up and keep trying even though we knew you were already beyond exhausted. And then we saw you go to the absolute limit, only giving up when you were too tired to keep your head off your own handlebars.

    What's more interesting, or inspiring, or awesome than that?

  4. Conor, you are an absolute legend even attempting this race and should be commended for getting as far as you did. What an amazing effort. Another fantastic film from the GCN crew, inspiring.

  5. Still my favourite video on all of YouTube. The 555 is a monster task. I could do it but it’d take me a week and with a camping overnight setup on my bike!!

  6. just found this ! this is where we go on holiday and to visit family. even driving on those bendy roads in a car is a challenge. mad weather all year round and windy! such an interesting watch. Connor really does engage the viewers and he did so well. it's lovely that he shares his family too. thank you!

  7. super epic. This goes to show how unfair some endurance events can be, I think Connor was okay physically but the lack of sleep and rest takes its toll. It's nice to see that GCN staff are human after all. Hope he tries the same challenge once again sometime in the future

  8. Well done Connor, I have driven the route a number of times and can testify just how steep the climbs are in the flesh. Mamore Gap is a challenge for a car let alone a bike. As ever the photography is wonderful and does the beautiful scenery justice.

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