Saturday Spin, 07/02/09

TinyExplosions

I'm out, but anyone mad enough to be in?

ROK ON

I am hoping to head out for a spin tomorrow, say 10.30 ish.
Was thinking of leaving Phoenix Park and heading thru Kildare to either do a loop of the Curragh or else head to Blessington & the lakes (via Eadstown and/orKilcullen).
However it depends on road conditions.
From the AA Website
Updated: 06/02/2009 11:25:11*Although road temreatures around the country are rising, ice is lingering and motorists are urged to continue to reduce your speed dramatically and keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. *LEINSTER* *WICKLOW* Gardai are advising extreme care on all routes throughout the county due to exceptionally icy conditions. The N11 northbound approaching Arklow is extremely hazardous. Care is also advised on the Old N11 and Church Hill and Green Hill Rd in Wicklow Town is impassable. * Black ice is widespread around Blessington and roads in Lacken are Impassable. Avoid driving over high ground especially the Wicklow Gap and Sally Gap and also through Roundwood and Glencree.

Anyone got any other suggestions for a rwasonable route in this weather?

zzzzzzzz

ROK ON wrote: »

I am hoping to head out for a spin tomorrow, say 10.30 ish.
Was thinking of leaving Phoenix Park and heading thru Kildare to either do a loop of the Curragh or else head to Blessington & the lakes (via Eadstown and/orKilcullen).
However it depends on road conditions.
From the AA Website
Updated: 06/02/2009 11:25:11*Although road temreatures around the country are rising, ice is lingering and motorists are urged to continue to reduce your speed dramatically and keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. *LEINSTER* *WICKLOW* Gardai are advising extreme care on all routes throughout the county due to exceptionally icy conditions. The N11 northbound approaching Arklow is extremely hazardous. Care is also advised on the Old N11 and Church Hill and Green Hill Rd in Wicklow Town is impassable. * Black ice is widespread around Blessington and roads in Lacken are Impassable. Avoid driving over high ground especially the Wicklow Gap and Sally Gap and also through Roundwood and Glencree.

Anyone got any other suggestions for a rwasonable route in this weather?

Ah jaysus - was hoping it would have picked up by the weekend.

Anyone got a spare set of rollers they're not using that they want to lend me for a few days? There's a nice Rioja in it for you.

niceonetom

TinyExplosions wrote: »

I'm out, but anyone mad enough to be in?

hell no.

Chips Lovell

I'm away for a stag this weekend. Looks like its the right weekend to be off the bike.

Caroline_ie

Not sure if any route is safe tbh. I'd love to head out for a proper spin but I will only decide in the morning ... but 95% chance I will snooze.

I wouldn't mind watching the Rugby as well tomorrow... Allez les Bleus!!

TinyExplosions

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Not sure if any route is safe tbh. I'd love to head out for a proper spin but I will only decide in the morning ... but 95% chance I will snooze.

I wouldn't mind watching the Rugby as well tomorrow... Allez les BleusVerts!!

Fixed for you

Caroline_ie

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Fixed for you

Whatever dude ... que le meilleur gagne.

Raam

I'm going for a hike in the snow instead.

DirkVoodoo

Slight tangent, but has anyone heard when this snow is likely to stop and spring will commence? I haven't touched my bike in weeks.

TinyExplosions

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Whatever dude ... que le meilleur gagne.

que si l'homme est irlandais

Caroline_ie

Well ... i am no Joe Bastardi but ,,,, the sun is out, the snow is going to thaw, making the roads wet, yet it's very cold --> icy roads ...

Spring ... eeer ... maybe in june?

zzzzzzzz

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Well ... i am no Joe Bastardi but ,,,, the sun is out, the snow is going to thaw, making the roads wet, yet it's very cold --> icy roads ...

Spring ... eeer ... maybe in june?

According to our good friend Mr. Bastardi - it should get warmer on Wednesday

Caroline_ie

TinyExplosions wrote: »

que si l'homme est irlandais

MMM let me see ...

2008 - Not Ireland ... Wales
2007 - Not Ireland ... France
2006 - Not Ireland ... France
2005 - Not Ireland ... Wales
2004 - Not Ireland ... France
2003 - Not Ireland ... England
2002 - Not Ireland ... France

ROK ON

Caroline_ie wrote: »

MMM let me see ...

2008 - Not Ireland ... Wales
2007 - Not Ireland ... France
2006 - Not Ireland ... France
2005 - Not Ireland ... Wales
2004 - Not Ireland ... France
2003 - Not Ireland ... England
2002 - Not Ireland ... France

Its for this reason that I support Munster, not Ireland.:D

penexpers

I wouldn't go anywhere near Kildare - ice was really bad down here this morning.

jeffontour

aidan.offbeat wrote: »

Anyone got a spare set of rollers they're not using that they want to lend me for a few days? There's a nice Rioja in it for you.

I've a set that will be sitting idle in D6W. If they'll be any use to you let me know.

TinyExplosions

Caroline_ie wrote: »

MMM let me see ...

2008 - Not Ireland ... Wales
2007 - Not Ireland ... France
2006 - Not Ireland ... France
2005 - Not Ireland ... Wales
2004 - Not Ireland ... France
2003 - Not Ireland ... England
2002 - Not Ireland ... France

2009 - Ireland

yeah, right... Allez les poireaux!

zzzzzzzz

jeffontour wrote: »

I've a set that will be sitting idle in D6W. If they'll be any use to you let me know.

You're a legend - PM sent

petethedrummer

aidan.offbeat wrote: »

There's a nice Rioja in it for you.

I'd love a nice Rioja but unfortunately I don't own rollers.

AstraMonti

I want to go out tomorrow!! Feck the weather! Towards which location would be good to go? Howth and back?

Caroline_ie

Home = Breakfast in bed = Good

scottreynolds

AstraMonti wrote: »

I want to go out tomorrow!! Feck the weather! Towards which location would be good to go? Howth and back?

Start in Howth -- Head East towards Wales and Back. no Ice but an aqua bike required.

In all seriousness I'm thinking of heading up the coast from Portmarnock - Malahide - Rush but its really going to depend on overnight conditions. The road are still a little icy on the fringes (where we cycle) so if it freezes tonight there's no real point going out cause the roads will be icy and you will spend hours looking for the next ice patch.

blorg

I'm tempted to head out on the MTB tomorrow- anyone else?

rob1891

Check out the military road (from today I guess):

http://ryansherlock.blogspot.com/2009/02/few-more-winter-pictures.html

Might be best off taking a mountain bike on a road spin into Wicklow!

NeilMcEoigheann

my mtb still hasn't come nd i have not fixed the front brake on my brothers, however i will prob be going for an adventure on foot on sunday,,,
(sick isn't it)
the mind says yes the roads say NO.

ROK ON

AA saying that Kildare roads are now fine (more or less).
That being the case, am going to try and head around Kildare in the morning. Either Curragh or Blessington (although still supposed to be bad).
Leave Phoenix Park say 11, back in time for the rugby.
Any takers.

Gavin

blorg wrote: »

I'm tempted to head out on the MTB tomorrow- anyone else?

Could be fun to go for a wee spin on the mtb, see how far we can get into wicklow

Chips Lovell

Not surprisingly, I just got a message to say that all of my club's spins are cancelled this weekend.

blorg

Gavin wrote: »

Could be fun to go for a wee spin on the mtb, see how far we can get into wicklow

I would be on for this- what time start? 11am Joe Dalys say? Anyone else? Any cyclocross nutcases?

Gavin

Yeah 11 sounds good. I may even whack on my quick release carrier and bring the slr for if we make it to some serious snow

blorg

Gavin wrote: »

Yeah 11 sounds good. I may even whack on my quick release carrier and bring the slr for if we make it to some serious snow

Sounds good, I'll see you then. Anyone else welcome but cyclocross at a minimum I reckon and even that could be dodgy (unless of course you have ice-specific tyres.) Reckon I'll do the same with mine and bring a bar bag or wicker basket.

cgf

From the weather forum

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055481784&page=4

"
Mountain rescue units are gonna be busy tomorrow.
If you are heading for the mountains please be aware that high up there are massive snow drifts and you could easily get stuck. A fun trip can in seconds beome a fear trip.

Wair warm clothes and if its hard going up the road...turn back..dont keep going its only going to be worse higher up!!

Please do not head up the mountains without adequate clothing and food supplies, conditions are severe higher up.

I'm genuinely worried this evening, the weekend walkers are about to descend on the hills and they have no idea how bad things really are up there

Glendalough has a lovely safe walk in the mountains with huge snow...please go there for your snow fix..you'll be back afterwards to tell the tale!!"

uberwolf

folks - stay safe.

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

Sounds good, I'll see you then. Anyone else welcome but cyclocross at a minimum I reckon and even that could be dodgy (unless of course you have ice-specific tyres.) Reckon I'll do the same with mine and bring a bar bag or wicker basket.

I'm in with the studs and a cross bike.

Do I need gears, or will the fixie/ss do it? If I need gears, I'll need to swap tyres between bikes.

eta: put the studs on the geared cross bike, so I'm all set!

colblimp

Everyone riding tomorrow please just be safe...

zzzzzzzz

Did anyone head out on the roads today?

Did two hours on the rollers this morning (thanks again to jeffontour for the loan of them)

Took a bit to get the hang of them (and a couple of close calls) but I definitely prefer them to turbo trainers!

blorg

Had one of the best spins ever, Gavin, Lumen and myself. Out over Djouce, past Ballinastoe, and right at the end up to the top of Lugalla. When they say Sally Gap is impassible, they mean it, the snow on the road up Lugalla was up OVER the wall, 4 or 5 feet deep. You couldn't really see where the road ended

RobFowl

Went out on the road bike about 0910 but had to turn back after 30 mins very ropey in Nth Co Dublin, Did a bit of MTBing this afternoon much more fun

blorg

Gavin

Argh, Beaten by Blorg. Brillant spin, really great crack, although I was flagging by the end. Totally surreal. I was running at around 5 psi in both tyres by the time we got to the top. Worked though.

There is actually a lot of snow in Balinastoe



We also encountered other snow tourists





Most disgusting part was when myself and Blorg were crawling up the hill, wary of ice and Lumen rockets past on his studded tyres. Despicable.

Rest of photos

emty

Super photo's guys,well done!! am mad jealous!

blorg

Gavin

Good photos Blorg ! The snowplough and Danger signs are very good. No word from Lumen, I hope he made it home !

blorg

I texted him 15 mins ago or so, no word yet though. Note to to others: Lumen headed back by the Roundwood road which was ice free, he didn't head up Lugalla with us. (We did not abandon Lumen in the middle of a snow drift.)

BUACHAILL

great pics Blorg , savage day in fairness

Gavin

blorg wrote: »

I texted him 15 mins ago or so, no word yet though.

He was last logged in at 18:13, so he must be alive

tomc

Stunning photos guys, mad jealous. Dont have the cahounas to venture up in that. Well done all.

TomC

DirkVoodoo

Yeah the photos are top notch, I can't believe that is the wicklow mountains, it could be Les Deux Alpes or a scene from cliffhanger.

Apparently I am going out tmw, hopefully the guys I'm heading with are completely mad.

scottreynolds

Awesome guys. Thats a great ride. where the ice tyres on the cross bike?

blorg

Let me know the details Dirk, I would be on for that- Three Rock is quite local.