Evening rides up the mountains

blorg

The weather is really looking top-notch- anyone up for this? I will be heading up each evening this week at around 6pm from Sandyford. Decent lights and warm clothing obviously essential! There are a number of possible routes- shortest being Glencullen - Pine Forest - Viewpoint - Rathfarnham that I have been doing last week but a few possible longer ones either:

- Glencullen - Pine Forest - Viewpoint - Rathfarnham
- Enniskerry - Glencree - Military Road - Viewpoint - Rathfarnham
- Enniskerry - Glencree - Sally Gap - Military Base - Bohernabreena
- Enniskerry - Djouce - Lugalla - Sally Gap - Military Road - Viewpoint - Rathfarnham

Any takers?

TinyExplosions

blorg wrote: »

The weather is really looking top-notch- anyone up for this? I will be heading up each evening this week at around 6pm from Sandyford. Decent lights and warm clothing obviously essential! There are a number of possible routes- shortest being Glencullen - Pine Forest - Viewpoint - Rathfarnham that I have been doing last week but a few possible longer ones either:

- Glencullen - Pine Forest - Viewpoint - Rathfarnham
- Enniskerry - Glencree - Military Road - Viewpoint - Rathfarnham
- Enniskerry - Glencree - Sally Gap - Military Base - Bohernabreena
- Enniskerry - Djouce - Lugalla - Sally Gap - Military Road - Viewpoint - Rathfarnham

Any takers?

Busy tonight and tomorrow, but Wed I'd be up for it

Caroline_ie

Yo - When I get lights, I'd like to try that at least once.
How many sets of these mad lights do you have?

Chips Lovell

Myself and Barrabus were talking about going to Howth together on Weds evening, provided we can both get out of work at a decent hour.

TinyExplosions

el tonto wrote: »

Myself and Barrabus were talking about going to Howth together on Weds evening, provided we can both get out of work at a decent hour.

Screw Howth -Sally Gap's where all the cool kids go

Raam

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Screw Howth -Sally Gap's where all the cool kids go

Howth is the new Sally Gap

Gavin

Stuff appenin this week, but I'd be on for it next week. I can even arrange to stay at home for the day for convenient cycling access!

My stupid new torch will melt eyeballs.

TinyExplosions

Raam wrote: »

Howth is the new Sally Gap

You mean Sally Gap's the new Galibier

Raam

TinyExplosions wrote: »

You mean Sally Gap's the new Galibier

Côtes du Howth

blorg

Howth is pretty pointless, besides anything else it is not DARK enough!

Wednesday sounds good, lets plan for that.

blorg

@Verb- I'd be interested how you get on with that torch- am thinking of a "900 lumen" DX special myself, something floody to complement the TK11 which is throwy. However I did read somewhere that using a floody 900 lumens close to the bike is likely to desensitize your eyes to the 230 lumens being thrown 100m up the road (of course for off road where it's all up close this might well be perfect.)

Raam

blorg wrote: »

Howth is pretty pointless, besides anything else it is not DARK enough!

He's insulting your manliness, El_Tonto. Pistols at dawn.

blorg

Seriously though, I think visibility is actually improved when it is all dark around you. You actually stand out more. Under street lighting there are other things competing if that makes any sense and you blend in more. On my trips up the mountains (and on Saturday out to Trim on back roads in the dark) I have found cars really notice me (indeed was even flashed if I didn't dip my light fast enough )

Also the roads are much more pleasant and MUCH less traffic; otherwise you are just cycling through the suburbs, what's the point in that.

Raam

blorg wrote: »

otherwise you are just cycling through the suburbs, what's the point in that.

HE'S STILL DOING IT!!!!1111

Sorry, I'm just kidding around.

Chips Lovell

If I want to ride hard in the evening, I'll go northside. Much more chance to open up the gas nearer the city centre. Also Howth is nearer for hill repeats, at least from my point of view. I don't mind Edmondstown Road either for hill repeats, but most days Howth suits me better.

hobojojo

blorg wrote: »

- Enniskerry - Glencree - Sally Gap - Military Base - Bohernabreena

iv been looking to do this route for a good while, when you go up the sally gap from glencrea and you come to that cross roads you take the right yeah? iv cycled the 3 other roads at the juntion but never cycled the one on the right, think you can get to blessington that way also.

can someone map out the sally gap - military base - bohernabreena bit of the above route as i am unfamilar with it. this would be much appreciated. also, where does it bring you to when you come back into dublin, around firhouse or somewhere like that?

probaby gonna do this thursday morning for a change from the glencullen - viewpoint - glencrea - enniskerry route im haunting at the moment

blorg

hobojojo wrote: »

can someone map out the sally gap - military base - bohernabreena bit of the above route as i am unfamilar with it. this would be much appreciated. also, where does it bring you to when you come back into dublin, around firhouse or somewhere like that?

Yes, Firhouse is exactly where you come out. Map here

The road that goes through "Brittas" on that map (I don't think it actually does though?) is by the military base- it is quite a climb by itself, going up to 490m or so (only a few metres shy of Sally Gap itself.)

rob1891

Is it not a bit sketchy at night in that area. A lot joyriders & burnt out cars? Met the odd unsavoury type in daylight on those roads, wouldn't like to think what comes out after dark ... ?

hobojojo

blorg wrote: »

Yes, Firhouse is exactly where you come out. Map here

The road that goes through "Brittas" on that map (I don't think it actually does though?) is by the military base- it is quite a climb by itself, going up to 490m or so (only a few metres shy of Sally Gap itself.)

cheers for that, gonna give it a try then, looks like a quality route

barrabus

Blorg,
I assume this front light won't cut it.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=29538

blorg

@Rob, I know what you mean but so far I have found it OK. Traffic is generally pretty light. Bit of fog at the viewpoint today.

@barrabus- probably not ideal, you really want to be able to see the road, might be OK if you were in a group but descending might be a bit hairy for you.

72hundred

blorg wrote: »

@Rob, I know what you mean but so far I have found it OK. Traffic is generally pretty light. Bit of fog at the viewpoint today.

@barrabus- probably not ideal, you really want to be able to see the road, might be OK if you were in a group but descending might be a bit hairy for you.

That's some amazing lighting! I can't believe how much the Fenix TK11 throws out the light, that's the "turbo" setting?

Also I really like the ideal of multiple red lights in the back to make the rider look "wider" hence cars will pass wider.

fletch

Wow...you'd swear that was a car's lights!...amazing!

zzzzzzzz

blorg wrote: »

@Rob, I know what you mean but so far I have found it OK. Traffic is generally pretty light. Bit of fog at the viewpoint today.

@barrabus- probably not ideal, you really want to be able to see the road, might be OK if you were in a group but descending might be a bit hairy for you.

That's some hardcore lighting!

Chips Lovell

UFO sightings in the Dublin Mountains will be up 1,000% this winter.

zzzzzzzz

rob1891 wrote: »

Is it not a bit sketchy at night in that area. A lot joyriders & burnt out cars? Met the odd unsavoury type in daylight on those roads, wouldn't like to think what comes out after dark ... ?

I drove up there once at night a couple of months back - got pulled over by a squad car and they searched the car quickly (assumedly for a petrol can) and took my details.

Anyway, it seemed to me like there was a fairly big garda presence up there (at least that night anyway) - aside from the car that pulled me over, I saw another car and a jeep.

blorg

@72hundred- yes, they are all on turbo. They are mostly quite long exposures, 2-4 seconds, so the amount of light is emphasised in the photos and it probably doesn't look quite so dramatic in reality; but having said that I am finding it perfectly sufficient for even fast-ish descents (up to 60-65km/h, as I am on my fixie.) Considering a cheaper DX light to complement it, more just for luxury of more light (it's a bit addictive) than any real need.

The light has very good throw; you can see the narrow central beam in some of the photos, camera was positioned right beside the light on top of my GPS to try to keep it steady for the exposure length. It also has a decent spill though and the net effect is you can point it quite far down the road and get quite even illumination as a result (the bright central spot is diluted by the distance, but the spill close to you is still about as bright as it is nearer.)

On the back I have 4 Smart 1/2 watt LEDs- one on constant, two on "superflash" and the fourth on strobe.

Turbulent Bill

blorg wrote: »

The light has very good throw; you can see the narrow central beam in some of the photos, camera was positioned right beside the light on top of my GPS to try to keep it steady for the exposure length. It also has a decent spill though and the net effect is you can point it quite far down the road and get quite even illumination as a result (the bright central spot is diluted by the distance, but the spill close to you is still about as bright as it is nearer.)

Do you think the TK11 would make a good commuting light? I have one of the Ultrafire torches from DX, but it's hard to find a compromise mounting position that gives decent focussed light for distance and enough spill to see what's happening immediately ahead of you. I was thinking of getting another Ultrafire (or maybe a Fenix L2D) so I can cover both angles, but maybe a TK11 could do both.

I'm using it for going through the Phoenix (Fenix?) Park at night, so you have a combination of pitch-black and fairly frequent headlights - your eyes have to adjust often.

blorg

Turbulent Bill wrote: »

Do you think the TK11 would make a good commuting light? I have one of the Ultrafire torches from DX, but it's hard to find a compromise mounting position that gives decent focussed light for distance and enough spill to see what's happening immediately ahead of you. I was thinking of getting another Ultrafire (or maybe a Fenix L2D) so I can cover both angles, but maybe a TK11 could do both.

I'm using it for going through the Phoenix (Fenix?) Park at night, so you have a combination of pitch-black and fairly frequent headlights - your eyes have to adjust often.

To be honest I would think it is generally overkill for commuting, certainly overkill on any lit roads. Regarding the Park, you couldn't really have it on turbo going through the Park if cycling down the middle road, you would be blinding oncoming drivers. Maybe on the cycle lane (and there are problems with peds on that) or if you were on some of the quieter roads, but you would still really have to dip for oncoming traffic. Which Ultrafire torch do you have out of interest?

Turbulent Bill

blorg wrote: »

To be honest I would think it is generally overkill for commuting, certainly overkill on any lit roads. Regarding the Park, you couldn't really have it on turbo going through the Park if cycling down the middle road, you would be blinding oncoming drivers. Maybe on the cycle lane (and there are problems with peds on that) or if you were on some of the quieter roads, but you would still really have to dip for oncoming traffic. Which Ultrafire torch do you have out of interest?

I got this one, think it was recommended by someone else here. It's very good considering the price and size, and seems to be pretty easy on batteries, but I underestimated how difficult it is to see manhole covers, drains etc. when there's lots of oncoming lights.

My route through the Park takes me from the Chapelizod Gate through to Castleknock, so a fair distance is unlit or poorly-lit. I might be able to use a TK11 on normal mode for most of the spin, and just use the turbo when needed.

72hundred

Turbulent Bill wrote: »

I got this one, think it was recommended by someone else here. It's very good considering the price and size, and seems to be pretty easy on batteries, but I underestimated how difficult it is to see manhole covers, drains etc. when there's lots of oncoming lights.

My route through the Park takes me from the Chapelizod Gate through to Castleknock, so a fair distance is unlit or poorly-lit. I might be able to use a TK11 on normal mode for most of the spin, and just use the turbo when needed.

Funny I'm the exact same! I'm on that route too and though about getting this lamp for the same reason.

blorg wrote: »

(and there are problems with peds on that)

Yes indeed. More than once I've not seen a ped with dark clothes till the very last second (blinding from cars is also a major contributor to this problem)

mikemac

Turbulent Bill wrote: »

My route through the Park takes me from the Chapelizod Gate through to Castleknock, so a fair distance is unlit or poorly-lit. I might be able to use a TK11 on normal mode for most of the spin, and just use the turbo when needed.

I know it well.
And it's pitch black, no lighting at all
I know this from trying to jog it once at night, not a good idea

Lumen

Received my TrustFire SSC P7 C-BIN 900-Lumen 5-Mode LED Flashlight yesterday, along with the Fenix Flashlight Bike Mount, charger and batteries, from DealExtreme. I placed the order on Oct 15, and it shipped on Oct 28, direct from China apparently.

The centre spot of the Trustfire is about the same brightness on "low" as my Exposure Joystick on "high" (which is going back to Wiggle today due to other faults), plus there is a wide flood area. The unit seems very sturdy.

On "high", this torch is very bright indeed, and seems to throw well. I need to mask the top part of the front cover to make it more traffic friendly before it gets any serious use (I picked this model partly because it has a large head, which should make this process easier).

For €75 all in (including mount, charger and two batteries), this seems a better approach than the €200 Exposure Joystick. It's not as compact or "shiny", but wins on an performance, modularity, and value.

Unfortunately the Fenix bike mount doesn't fit on my oversized bars - aargh! Dammit, that's a whole $8.40 down the drain. Will probably get a velcro mount or accessory bar.

blorg

@Lumen- I have a Twofish LockBlock and it works very well on oversized bars, can even clamp it over bar tape if you like.

https://www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?products_id=273

Note they do a three-pack for $15.99

Caroline_ie

I got me a light + mount ... I will prob get at the end of next week ... so i might attempt one of your evening spins at some stage ... Stupid Impulse buys!!!!!!

amjon

blorg wrote: »

The weather is really looking top-notch- anyone up for this? I will be heading up each evening this week at around 6pm from Sandyford. Decent lights and warm clothing obviously essential! There are a number of possible routes- shortest being Glencullen - Pine Forest - Viewpoint - Rathfarnham that I have been doing last week but a few possible longer ones either:

- Glencullen - Pine Forest - Viewpoint - Rathfarnham
- Enniskerry - Glencree - Military Road - Viewpoint - Rathfarnham
- Enniskerry - Glencree - Sally Gap - Military Base - Bohernabreena
- Enniskerry - Djouce - Lugalla - Sally Gap - Military Road - Viewpoint - Rathfarnham

Any takers?

Do you not realise half the coked up filth bags from Tallaght will be rallying around these roads at night and if they do hit you they certainly won't be stoping to see if you need an ambulance ect...

Chips Lovell

amjon wrote: »

Do you not realise half the coked up filth bags from Tallaght will be rallying around these roads at night and if they do hit you they certainly won't be stoping to see if you need an ambulance ect...

There's coked up filth bags in all parts of the city.

amjon

el tonto wrote: »

There's coked up filth bags in all parts of the city.

Ok I just think its ridiculously dangerous and the benfit over a couple hours on the turbo is minimal at best.

Gavin

amjon wrote: »

Ok I just think its ridiculously dangerous and the benfit over a couple hours on the turbo is minimal at best.

Do you actually have any facts to back that up, or is it just your general perception ?

Raam

amjon wrote: »

Ok I just think its ridiculously dangerous and the benfit over a couple hours on the turbo is minimal at best.

It's training for an audax event which requires night riding.

zzzzzzzz

amjon wrote: »

Ok I just think its ridiculously dangerous and the benfit over a couple hours on the turbo is minimal at best.

Jaysus - a couple of hours on the turbo - i think i'd rather take a cheese grater to the town halls.

blorg

Good spin tonight although I got a puncture on the road up to Johnny Foxes. Sandyford - Glencullen - Devil's Elbow - Glencree - Military Road - Viewpoint - Stocking Lane. No one was killed

Raam

blorg wrote: »

Good spin tonight although I got a puncture on the road up to Johnny Foxes. Sandyford - Glencullen - Devil's Elbow - Glencree - Military Road - Viewpoint - Stocking Lane. No one was killed

Tiny looks weird at night
Love that last pic.

ollietrex

Will keep an eye out for the next time you do one of these, 3 laps of the park in the dark with night lights tonight and I was going dizzy.

TinyExplosions

Raam wrote: »

Tiny looks weird at night
Love that last pic.

I always look weird, the night just brings out my swirly side

unionman

Raam wrote: »

Tiny looks weird at night
Love that last pic.

Great pics blorg. You guys really have the cahones, fair play.

barrabus

i want to join these intrepid night time adventures but need to get a set of suitable lights, is the TrustFire SSC P7 C-BIN 900-Lumen 5-Mode LED Flashlight that Lumen got the best one to go with?

Lumen

barrabus wrote: »

i want to join these intrepid night time adventures but need to get a set of suitable lights, is the TrustFire SSC P7 C-BIN 900-Lumen 5-Mode LED Flashlight that Lumen got the best one to go with?

Dunno, we need a grouptest!

Unfortunately I can't get out before 9.30pm on weekday nights (looking after the kids).

It's quite big on the handlebars, maybe a smaller head would have been better. The DealExtreme site has beam patterns on each torch; all the "900" lumen lights use the same 4-element LED. I'd go for the one with the smallest centre spot/greatest throw, as I'm not sure the flood is very useful.

My fears about blinding traffic seem unwarranted. I found a way to fit it to my bars tonight, and aligned it with my dipped car headlights, down a few degrees from the horizontal. Because the centre spot is small and the flood relatively dim, the amount of spill that goes "up" into oncoming traffic is quite limited if it's aligned properly.

Pay attention to the number of modes, and whether they seem useful or not. Mine has high/med/low "on", a flashing, and a strobe. The strobe is probably only useful if you end up some remote ditch and need to signal a helicopter.

Gavin

barrabus wrote: »

i want to join these intrepid night time adventures but need to get a set of suitable lights, is the TrustFire SSC P7 C-BIN 900-Lumen 5-Mode LED Flashlight that Lumen got the best one to go with?

For those sorts of night cycles, I'd be inclined to get what Blorg got, a TK11 or a L2D if you want to use AAs, and then an additional light from dealextreme. The P7 or MC-E type lights are very bright. MC-E are more throw than the floody P7. MTE are a decent enough brand.

The dealextreme stuff can be hit or miss, my 8 mode MTE MC-E is good quality but I've heard of people having some trouble with them, so it's a good idea to have a high quality, reliable light as well. The Fenix ones are seriously good quality and won't fail on you, so best to have at least one. I'll probably use the MTE on my bars and the Fenix L2D on the helmet.

I'd like to head out next week as well alright, wednesday evening would probably be good. If it was all the way to sally gap and back, yee might have to dawdle a bit for me though..

How do the TK11 and L2D compare actually, Blorg & Tiny ?

TinyExplosions

Verb wrote: »

I'd like to head out next week as well alright, wednesday evening would probably be good. If it was all the way to sally gap and back, yee might have to dawdle a bit for me though..

How do the TK11 and L2D compare actually, Blorg & Tiny ?

Blorg was waiting for me yesterday (still sore after various spills!)

In terms of lights, I had one L2D on my handlebars providing all illumination for me, and Blorg had an TK11 (and a cateye of some sort) lighting his way.

Both setups were more than sufficient for safe riding up in the Dublin mountains (ie, where there was no light), and for the descent down Stocking Lane (at, if my computer is to be believed, at a top speed of 117.5kph :eek:), but we came to the following conclusions:

1: A helmet mounted light would be incredibly useful, to light where you're looking
2: The TK11 has a better throw than the L2D, meaning that it was possibly a little safer and better for the descents (not that the L2D on it's own is in any way dangerous)

Moral of the story, I'll be buying an TK11 soon to mount on the handlebars for night spins, and will use the L2D helmet mounted to point where I'm looking -and that's what I'll be using on L-E-L

Caroline_ie

I ordered my Fenix L2D off the US website and the price are the same as the UK site ... Bha. My order was shipped right away though. Won't get a TK11 just yet, but I will prob get it off the UK site next time whenever I decide to order it...

I think I will start the Cyclist Appeal Fund - Please sponsor a cyclist and donate money each month - the well being of the cyclist will be your reward!

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