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I did a course write up last year, I'll try to dig that up. You basically have a series of short climbs mixed with flats for the first 8-9 miles, during which you gain 500 ft of elevation. Then your rewarded with a series of descents mixed with flats to South Glastonbury ~mile 15. Then it's rolling back to transition. The big caution area this year is the turn off Thompson to Toll Gate. Winter was not kind to Toll Gate and your carrying a lot of momentum after a long down hill on Thompson. Be prepared to take the turn wide to avoid pot holes and broken pavement.

Evan - there is also the lollipop up Oakwood to the cul-a-sac by the school bus depot which brings the course to just under 18.5 miles. They haven't been consistent about including that loop in the 3 years I've done the race.

Here's a copy of my Shamrock Bike Loop Summary

Here's a course description as I see it. Breaking the course into three sections. Have fun and remember, no matter how you finish there is beer at the finish line Be careful and stay alert. These are back country roads, sticks, sand, glass, and potholes are on the course. Not everyone is looking for bikers that early in the day and if it is wet, there are manhole covers on most course. Hope this helps.

Part 1, the Climb:

Leave IAC (Irish American Club), slight up over the bridge and then down around the corner to Oak Street. RIght on Oakwood to a cul-da-sac and back down. A nice short downhill grade to get you legs going and carry some momentum onto Hebron at the bottom. This course has a lot of climbing in the first 8 miles so pace yourself. There is bit of a flat before the first hill, which is broken up into two steep sections with a slight uphill incline break in the middle to catch your breath. At the top there is a slight downhill and flat sections that gradually becomes uphill. Beginning at Keeney St there is a big uphill section with a nice wide shoulder (to cry on) for approx 0.7 miles. Where the uphill grade eases up a bit before you hit Rt 83 and then you get a little bit more uphill grade with a very short Exclamation point after turning right onto Weir Street. Now you hit for first Break since leaving IAC. A downhill/flat leading to a downhill, followed all too quickly by a steep climb to the stop sign, turning Right to continue onto Weir Street. After the turn it is still uphill and this portion is Chip-sealed. I usually feel like I have a flat tire, because my legs are full of lactic acid at this point, the road surface is rough, and Im feel like Im inching along. About 80 yard up this road the gradient starts to ease up a bit becoming a slight downhill as you hit a sharp left hand turn in the road at Shoddy Mill Rd. Say hi to my family and neighbors as you pass this point by shouting Bushwackers!. From here there is a slight uphill grade to the turn on Forest Lane. Careful on the Left Turn here, you are blind to the traffic from the left and they cant see the volunteer very well either, luckily very little traffic here. A quick Right onto Thompson and the climb continues. After Eastbury Hill Road there is a short downhill and then quickly back up. Your almost at the top. There are two short rises from here before the recovery begins.

Part 2, the Recovery

After Cresting the hill you get a short flat/sight downhill grade before hitting the first big Downhill on the course. Enjoy. Be careful of the drain grates, there are some big bumps around them so stay clear. Near the bottom of the hill you will see a sign warning of a stop ahead. Take this opportunity to downshift. There is a quick S turn and a Hard Right onto Tollgate Rd.
Warning! Tollgate Rd had a bad winter and the pavement has some big cracks. Be prepared to take the turn wide and slow.
Toll gate is a downhill grade so you can quickly regain speed. You continue down hill as you cross over Route 2 and then a Left onto Country Club Rd. Country Club starts with a steep decent and the road is in very poor shape. Stay away from the right hand side of the road. Middle of the lane to the yellow lines are your clearest paths. However stay very alert and be prepared to hit a bump or two. Carry the momentum into the flat followed by a 60 yd climb to the right turn onto Coldbrook Road. Coldbrook starts out with a nice Downhill followed by the longest flattest portion of the course. Caution note: the first Mile of Coldbrook has some very uneven pavement with some good size pavement cracks, big enough to swallow your tire. Be very alert! At the end of Coldbrook there is a short uphill and then a short climb after you hit Hopewell Rd to Sunset. Followed by more downhills and flats. There is one climb between Grange Pool and St Augustine Cemetery followed by the last big Downhill. Again there is a sharp Right Turn at the bottom of the hill onto Main Street. About Mile 14.

Part 3, going Home:

The Main Street stretch consists of rolling hills starting out with a uphill from the Hopewell Turn. Turning Right onto Buttonball you will be greeted with a slight downhill followed by a uphill grade. Just after cresting the hill you turn right onto Old Stage Road. This is easy to miss if there is not a volunteer at this intersection so pay attention. Old Stage is mostly flat with two short climbs. At the end of Old Stage you turn Left onto New London Turnpike. Some years they have the Left shoulder blocked off with cones to ease the crossing traffic at this sometimes busy road. Follow the Volunteer instructions, you are blind to the traffic. New London is flat and downhill grade. Take a right onto Oak Street. Slight uphill to a Right on Commerce to T2

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