Registration
When will registration open for 2023?
Registrations will open on Wednesday 1st of March. Places will be restricted to 8,000 participants.
How do I register?
The link to register will be available on www.ringofkerrycycle.ie/register-2023/
How much to register?
The registration fee for 2023 is €100.00 plus a 3.5% service fee.
Is registration secure?
Yes, the Ring of Kerry Cycle registration system is completely secure and is SSL Grade A certified and PCI compliant.
How many places are open for registration?
There will be 8,000 spaces available through the online registration system.
When will the online registration end?
Registration will close when all spaces have been allocated. If you are unsuccessful in registering, you will be put on a waiting list and contacted if a space becomes available.
Should I go to a charity to secure a place?
Charities will not be registering participants directly for the 2023 charity cycle. All registrations must use the online booking system.
What information do I need to register?
Once you have selected your charity, you must input personal information (including names, address, date of birth, contact number), emergency contact details (including name, contact number), event preferences i.e. wave times & number of times you have participated. Credit cards details to process booking
Is there an age restriction to register?
Yes, all participants must be over the age of 18. Anyone born after the 1st of July 2004, will not be eligible to register.
What are Wave Times?
Wave times are in place to reduce the congestion at the start line as well as the official stops along the cycle. They also ensure that every participant gets to enjoy the fantastic scenery of the Ring of Kerry.
Will there be a Waiting List?
Once all places have been booked, there will be no more positions made available online. There will be a waiting list facility. You can complete a short form to be added to the waiting list – you will need to provide the following information – first name; last name; date of birth; gender, email and contact number.
If there are any cancellations from the event, the available places will be offered to the next on the waiting list.
Can I make a group booking at the same time or must each person individually go through the booking process?
The booking system does not currently facilitate group bookings, only one booking is allowed per registration.
What other terms should I be aware of?
The full Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle terms & conditions can be viewed on the website.
I registered online, what do I do next?
You will receive a confirmation email outlining next steps. If you do not receive this, please email office@rokcc.ie
I have not registered; can I still cycle the route on the day?
There will be checkpoints on the closed sections and you will not be able to pass through these while those sections are closed.
Why have you capped the numbers?
We have facilities to look after 8,000 cyclists in a safe and responsible manner. If we allow more cyclists on the road it would impact on our ability to look after everybody.
Transfers?
Should you wish to transfer your entry to another cyclist you will be able to do this yourself by following instructions on the registration page. All financial payments will be face value or less and private. ROKCC does not manage or assist with transfers.
Fundraising
Can I raise funds for a charity outside of the 5 main beneficiary charities?
Each year the Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle selects official main beneficiary charities. There are 5 selected for 2023 listed here >>
As part of the registration process, participants can opt in to select one of these charities to represent on the cycle and if they wish, raise additional funds. The Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle carefully selects charities annually and does not wish for participants to fundraise for charities outside of the official charities. Any voluntary donations can be made through sponsorship cards or via an online iDonate fundraising page and will go 100% to the cyclist’s chosen charity. The registration fee, after administrative expenses, will be distributed across all charities.
Additionally, there are another 30 charities (Tier 2 and Tier 3) who are also allocated funds from the registration proceeds.
Please note you can only fundraise for one of the 5 main beneficiaries, fundraising for any other charity is strictly prohibited and will invalidate your registration.
How can I fundraise for my chosen charity?
As part of registration you will have the option of fundraising for your chosen charity by
Setting up an online iDonate fundraising page and:
- You can make an additional voluntary donation to the charity of your choice as part of the registration process (plus 3.5% handling fee). Again, any voluntary donations made are non-refundable.
Will sponsorship cards be available this year?
In the interest of transparency and security we will not be using sponsorship cards.
The Cycle
When is the cycle?
The Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle is always on the first Saturday in July. In 2023 this is the 1st of July.
What time is the official start?
The official start is at 7.30am; however, you will find people starting as early as 6.00am and as late as 8.30 am. We would recommend that you look at our timetable for the day and abide by the timings on this schedule.
What happens if I start before 6.00am or after 8.30am?
You will not have the benefit of back-up services or traffic restrictions.
Is there a time limit for the cycle?
All our event support systems stand down at 20.00 (8 pm) so if you are later than this you will not have the benefit of back-up services or traffic restrictions. Please see our event timetable for closure times of the various food stations.
If I cannot finish the cycle within the given time what happens?
You will be expected to avail of the service of our sweeps who will transport you and your bike back to Killarney. (The planners have allowed you 14 hours to complete the cycle)
Can I start somewhere else other than Killarney?
It is strongly advised that you start in Killarney. If you decide to start somewhere else you may not have back-up services available to you at certain times. Our services are planned to cater for cyclists starting from and finishing in Killarney. The official start and finish is in Killarney.
Bike Tags & Wristbands
2023
We will update all details regarding bike tags as our system of physical registration may change in 2023 in line with health and safety. Please keep an eye on Social Media and emails.
Volunteering
The Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle could not happen without our amazing team of positive and energetic volunteers. The charity cycle raises valuable funds for chosen charities each year. If you or your club/organisation would like to join the amazing team of more than 1200 volunteers who get involved every year, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us by email office@rokcc.ie
Food and Medical Stations
Where are the food stations?
There are 3 official food stations along the cycle. These are located at Caherciveen (72 kms); Kenmare (136 kms) and Killarney (finish). However, there will be plenty of facilities to stock up on water, bananas etc. along the route.
Will I have the option of Gluten free food?
Yes.
Do I need to bring food and water with me?
You should bring at least one full water bottle which you can top up on the way around. It is advisable to bring some snack bars and eat a little but often rather than having one or two huge feeds. There will be plenty of opportunity to stop along the way – don’t worry you won’t starve!!
Where are the Medical stations?
There will be 3 Fixed Medical centres:
- In Killarney at the Start/Finish Points
- In Caherciveen (72Kms)
- In Kenmare (136Kms)
There will be numerous Fixed First Aid stations manned by qualified personnel along the route. These will be signposted 100mts in advance of their position. We will have a fleet of mobile ambulances with doctors on board and manned by members of the Civil Defence, Order of Malta and Red Cross.
What do I do if I encounter a medical emergency?
Phone the Medical Helpline number which is on your bike tag. Give clear and precise information on the nature of the injury and where the casualty is located and give your contact number.
Will there be a Physiotherapist station?
Yes, this will be located at the finish point.
Bike Repairs
What do I do if I have a problem with my bike?
Everybody is expected to bring the basics with them on the day i.e. Puncture repair kit, spare tube, pump and bike levers.
It is strongly advised that you know how to fix a simple puncture as this could save you a lot of waiting time on the day.
If you encounter a problem that you are unable to sort yourself, please phone the mechanical helpline number which will be printed on your bike tag. Please give clear and precise information on the nature of the problem, where you are located and give your contact number. The coordinator will then advise you what to do.
It is strongly advised that you have a full service carried out on your bike before the event.
Will there be mechanical backup?
Yes. There will be 11 Fixed Bike Stations and some mobile units looking after bike problems.
What happens if my bike has to be transported back to Killarney?
There will be a dedicated depot in Killarney where you will be reunited with your bike.
Merchandise
How can I get an official ROKCC jersey?
As part of the registration system, you can pre-order your official 2023 ROKCC jersey for €40 plus P&P and processing fee with dispatch commencing during May 2023. The jersey can also be purchased through the e-shop from May until June 22nd 2023 or as long as stocks last. Thank you to Irish Pilgrimage Trust who are the Charity partners who handle the ROKCC jersey and neck buffs.
Neckbuffs will also be available to purchase for 2023. These can be purchased as part of registration also.
General Questions
Where can I park?
Important information on parking will be posted before the cycle.
Where does the event start?
The event starts on Mission Road in Killarney, cycle on by the Cathedral towards the Killorglin on off we go.
Will there be a lost and found section?
Yes. This will be located near the finish line in Killarney.
Are the roads closed on the day?
Certain sections of the road will be closed and certain sections will be open. This is done in order to MINIMISE traffic and will NOT eliminate all traffic. You need to think of the roads as open, expect traffic and obey the Rules of the Road accordingly.
Will there be somebody to bring my gear around the Ring?
No. You will need to bring your own rain jacket etc.
What is the fastest time that the event has been done in?
The event is not a race. It should be looked on as a day out to be enjoyed in the presence of 8,000 friends.