Tell us about your cycle Yesterday.

61Km today via Cruagh Rd, Featherbeds, Sally Gap, Manor Kilbride home via N81.
Blissful sunshine all the way up to the gap, however it disappeared when needed most on the descent to Manor Kilbride.
Its great to get weather like today in mid October.

61km, 24.8kph and 805m climbed.
http://www.strava.com/activities/206436575

Nipped out at 5.30 on the button for 33k out the coast road to Killiney Hill and back to Ranelagh. Stiff enough headwind on the way out which was more than repaid on the way back with my first top 20 segment on Strava :-D. Got a PB on Killiney Hill too so a worthwhile evening to get out despite the bit of rain!

http://www.strava.com/activities/207309564/

Managed to knock out 37.4 ish KM today commuting. Work and messing around with cars curtailed my cycling/commuting of late.

It was dark, wet and miserable this morning. I sort of enjoy that though! I'm probably in the minority.

The long summer spins were great but commuting or cycling in horrendous conditions just has "something"

It's an enjoyable challenge, in it's own way.

Soon it will not be about the speed, the PR's or distance but pulling back the curtains in the morning and deciding.... fuk it, I'll give it a lash.

On a side note, if anyone is considering ordering winter gear from foreign lands, order in your normal size. Summer kit, size up.

usually commute to work and back - 45 km.

On the way home, came up to this guy on a road bike and office attire who decided that he wanted to race me into the city. Was traveling from Foxrock church to RTE - me on the cycle lane and him on the road.

I was not having any of it. So I stayed a few metres behind him and cycled at my own pace. He kept looking over his shoulder.
Eventually I had enough and decided that I would pass him out at RTE. As I speeded up to pass him out, he decided to speed up as well. The two of us cycling side by side. The moron would not allow me to pass. I looked over at him and the big stupid grin on him. So fu(king dangerous. I pulled by brakes, pulled in behind him and allowed him to put a bit of distance between us. He still kept looking over his shoulder.

Came behind him again at Donnybrook church. As soon as the lights turned green, I just went for it. Never looked over my shoulder.

Dragged my ass out this evening despite the downpours. I have really enjoyed cycling this Summer and all the easy opportunities to get out, so I really want to keep going thru the sh1te weather. So Donabate R132, Nags Head, Ballyboughal, Swords, Portrane & Home. 45k 25kpm. Soaked, covered in muck, rain gear not rainproof, shoes squelching. Loved it.

Rambling Man wrote: »

Totally - I didn't even realise how wet the gear was because there was no chill. no qualms about going out again in that weather.

I really enjoyed the 30 I did last night, the rain was refreshing heading up Cruagh!

I tried Kilmashogue for the second time ever today. The first time, back in August, I put my foot down twice to compose myself. Today I remembered what was around the next corner, paced myself accordingly, and made it all the way up without stopping. An improvement, but definitely no prizes for speed A sheep stopped chawing and stood watching me on the final ramp, probably thinking humans are strange creatures.

The road was damp from the drizzle, with plant matter in places, so I took it handy on the way down. Passed a guy on his way up, just before I reached the Wicklow Way. I tried to be encouraging and told him he was nearly there, but looking at the map now, he'd a fair bit to go From there I went up Cruagh and down Stocking. Reasonably dry today, just the odd sporadic drizzle.

BenEadir wrote: »

Would you mind posting the co-ordinates at the very top? I can't see from Google Maps which road represents the climb you refer to and I'd like to give it a go as I'm based in Stillorgan but new to road cycling.

Sure, here it is on Strava and Google. Have fun

RobertFoster wrote: »

Sure, here it is on Strava and Google. Have fun

So bearing in mind I'm on a road bike not a MTB is this #1 the route to take

or is this #2 the route to take?

Waiting to turn left this morning at red traffic lights. There was a left turning car behind me, so I was paying attention to move off swiftly when the lights changed.

As the lights changed and I moved off, glancing over my sholder, imagine my surprise as another cyclist pi$$ed past me, also turning left, and clipped my front wheel and knocking me out into the traffic. He didn't bat an eye lid when I politely asked him would he take more care when moving past other cyclists. Don't know why I bothered, he just didn't give a damn.

Didn't see much of him as he just sailed through every red light.

It must be great to be so invulnerable.

Took a spin out to Swords , felt uphill all the eay due to the headwind , but carried on out to Portmarnock and then back to Balbriggan. Just shy of 60k but a very slow 23kph.

cjt156 wrote: »

It's number 1, unless you're a trout as number 2 is a river

Close by are Ticknock (to the mast at 3-Rock) and Cruagh which are enough to test the legs before you tackle the hell of Kilmashogue!

Oops, thanks for the clarification. Appreciate it.

crosstownk wrote: »

Jesus the wind. It's been a few months since I've been out in wind that strong. I struggled most of the spin and just put it down to the wind. I had to work hard to keep up with my buddy - even on downhills with the wind behind us. Usually we keep together quite easily.

When I got home and was wheeling the bike indoors, I noticed the rear wheel was buckled and the rim was dragging the brake so much that the rear wheel locked and skidded. On closer inspection I discovered a broken spoke :mad: But at least it explains the struggle! How I didn't cop this earlier is beyond me.

Anyway, 74km @ 23.7km/h, 550m.

I've never broken a spoke before - how common is it?

shocking wind today and i broke 2 spokes and noticed a loose one