Sat spin 14/02/09

NeilMcEoigheann

tpedoussaut wrote: »

Hi all,

after many discussion here and at other places, we will unveil a ghost bike at Harolds Cross Bridge Sat 14th at 10:30AM, exactly 1 month after the accident that cost the life of Paul. Just pop in if you want to pay your respect, not for a political agenda.

we should start from here, also the late start will let some ice clear from the higher roads.

emty

Yes, it would be a nice gesture.

barrabus

So who is in?
Will we chance wicklow or will we had towards meath / kildare?
I am easy as long as there is a decent place for food and coffee at lunch ....

Gavin

Ás Serbhís this weekend I'm afraid.

Chips Lovell

barrabus wrote: »

So who is in?

Bit late of a start for me. Will probably head out earlier.

barrabus wrote: »

Will we chance wicklow or will we had towards meath / kildare?
I am easy as long as there is a decent place for food and coffee at lunch ....

Forecast looks promising, for a change

The weather will remain settled and quite over the weekend and into the early days of next week, with most of the nights staying frost-free. If frost does occur any night then it will be much less severe than it has been. Over the weekend it will still be rather cloudy but the days next week should be much brighter, with a hint of early Spring about them. Tomorrow night will be mostly dry and cloudy. On Saturday some light rain may affect the northern half of the country but southern areas will remain fairly dry. Sunday will again be practically dry everywhere, with the gloomy cloud cover starting to break up during the day. There will hardly be any rain over the early days of next week but the skies should be much brighter and sunnier.

emty

Decide when we meet at harolds cross? Don't mind the route but am anxious to get my legs going again.

Gavin

I'd imagine that there will still be snow/ice up in the mountains..

DirkVoodoo

Should be there, but tempted to just head out to Howth for a bit, haven't been on the bike in a while now.

blorg

There is still snow/ice up the mountains (I was up Three Rock at lunch) but it is residual and the main roads appear to be generally clear. I don't necessarily think there is less of a risk in Meath, they get plenty of that sort of thing there too (further inland etc.)

ROK ON

blorg wrote: »

There is still snow/ice up the mountains (I was up Three Rock at lunch) but it is residual and the main roads appear to be generally clear.)

So it is ok to cycle up to the Gap then you reckon?

blorg

ROK ON wrote: »

So it is ok to cycle up to the Gap then you reckon?

Er... unlikely But through roads are probably mostly clear. Certainly the main road to Roundwood/Laragh would be, maybe even up by Djouce.

Chips Lovell

blorg wrote: »

Er... unlikely But through roads are probably mostly clear. Certainly the main road to Roundwood/Laragh would be, maybe even up by Djouce.

Gah, would have thought it would have thawed by now. It's the constant looking out for ice that bothers me. Meath might be a better bet, much lower ground.

Caroline_ie

In, but going nowhere near ice.

If that Ghost bike thing is at 10:30 that'd be a very late spin start.

I am for an Earlier-sh start ... Tonto, what time were you thinking?

Chips Lovell

Caroline_ie wrote: »

In, but going nowhere near ice.

If that Ghost bike thing is at 10:30 that'd be a very late spin start.

I am for an Earlier-sh start ... Tonto, what time were you thinking?

I'm thinking of a nine o'clock start. We could hook up at the pope's cross?

parko202

was up bohernabreena yesterday and certainly can't get up to the featherbeds that way, not on a road bike anyway

Chips Lovell

parko202 wrote: »

was up bohernabreena yesterday and certainly can't get up to the featherbeds that way, not on a road bike anyway

OK. That's made my mind up. Northside/flat land it is this weekend.

Caroline_ie

el tonto wrote: »

I'm thinking of a nine o'clock start. We could hook up at the pope's cross?

Yeah I am deffo up for that.
9:00 at Pope's cross

blorg

el tonto wrote: »

Gah, would have thought it would have thawed by now. It's the constant looking out for ice that bothers me. Meath might be a better bet, much lower ground.

I don't think there is ice on the roads that are clear. The snow is old at this point, it is on the roads (and trails etc) that have not been cleared. There is a fair amount of melting but it is all liquid.

Chips Lovell

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Yeah I am deffo up for that.
9:00 at Pope's cross

Right so. I'll see if can persuade The Claw to take his bike north of the Liffey. It's something he's steadfastly refused to date.

AstraMonti

Pope's cross is in the middle of Phoenix Park? I ll be there if work doesnt hold me back

Húrin

I'm up for joining the 10.30 gang. Sounds like the northside/Meath would be safer. I can see from Rathmines village that there is quite a lot of snow on the mountains to the south.

ROK ON

If anyone is interested in headin up the mountains, then I am heading up with a work colleague. Leaving Dundrum at 10/Phoenix pk at 9ish.
I will drop by the Popes Cross to say hi to the Meath spin crowd.

niceonetom

another one for the pope's cross at 9 here.

joe the bastard says :

Partly Sunny w/ Showers
Periods of clouds and sunshine with a couple of showers in the afternoon. Winds from the WSW at 20 km/h.

High 10°C
RealFeel®: 6°C

good enough for me.

sy

All roads in Meath clear. Just watch out for potholes and a few mad dogs! Sorry can't join you but I'm off to Morocco Sat . Enjoy your spin

Raam

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Should be there, but tempted to just head out to Howth for a bit, haven't been on the bike in a while now.

I can report that Coté d'Howth is clear of snow and passable.

kenmc

I'm out for the next 3 weekends. Belfast this one to help the recession along, then snowboarding the next 2. Woohoo!

barrabus

is anyone heading from the ghost bike unveiling in harolds cross at 10.30 or is 9am at il papa's cross the only boards spin?

Blorg / Emty what are ur plans?
If wicklow has NO ice I am happy to go there.
Will relucantly haul my ass outta bed early and risk DNS for 9 if needs be...

dave.obrien

forgive my naivety, but is there are boards team? i'd probably be up for a spin to-mro, rok on, you said dundrum at 10? i've gone out a couple of times with a club, but sunday's suit me less then a saturday would, especially this week! what kind of distance is normal for people here? how long and what speed do you guys go at? if i'm only gonna hold people in serious training back, i might stick to the club spins with the intermediate group...

Chips Lovell

dave.obrien wrote: »

forgive my naivety, but is there are boards team? i'd probably be up for a spin to-mro, rok on, you said dundrum at 10? i've gone out a couple of times with a club, but sunday's suit me less then a saturday would, especially this week! what kind of distance is normal for people here? how long and what speed do you guys go at? if i'm only gonna hold people in serious training back, i might stick to the club spins with the intermediate group...

There isn't a team, rather an informal group who head out for training spins.

Distances can vary depending on the weather and what people want to do on the day. Usually 70km to 100km.

Speeds are reasonable. 25kph perhaps, much like a club intermediate group.

ROK ON

dave.obrien wrote: »

forgive my naivety, but is there are boards team? i'd probably be up for a spin to-mro, rok on, you said dundrum at 10? i've gone out a couple of times with a club, but sunday's suit me less then a saturday would, especially this week! what kind of distance is normal for people here? how long and what speed do you guys go at? if i'm only gonna hold people in serious training back, i might stick to the club spins with the intermediate group...

Hi. I am hoping to do following route:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Dundrum,+Main+St,+Stillorgan,+County+Dun+Laoghaire,+Republic+of+Ireland&daddr=Enniskerry+to:Kippure+to:Kippure+to:Kilbride+to:Gap+Rd+to:LAcken+to:Blessington+to:Kilbride+to:Unknown+road+to:Saggart,+County+South+Dublin,+Republic+of+Ireland+to:53.289026,-6.425629+to:Unknown+road+to:Lucan+to:ParkgateStreet,+Dublin,+Ireland+(Phoenix+Park)&hl=en&geocode=%3B%3B%3B%3B%3BFTDeKgMd_GGd_w%3B%3B%3B%3BFU_kLAMdmZWd_w%3B%3B%3BFbl6LQMde_Wd_w%3B%3BFcgpLgMdnq6f_yEEReaAqzYPUQ&mra=dpe&mrcr=8&mrsp=11&sz=11&via=5,9,11,12&dirflg=ht&sll=53.253175,-6.35227&sspn=0.246893,0.593262&ie=UTF8&z=11

Depends on how far I get with weather. etc.
Pace will not be hectic, I am a slow climber to be honest. You are very welcome to come along. There are many areas to turn back along the way. Not a club, more of a ersonal training spin for me.

Ghost Rider

I might come along to one of these. Need to get some KMs in.

blorg

ROK ON wrote: »

Hi. I am hoping to do following route:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Dundrum,+Main+St,+Stillorgan,+County+Dun+Laoghaire,+Republic+of+Ireland&daddr=Enniskerry+to:Kippure+to:Kippure+to:Kilbride+to:Gap+Rd+to:LAcken+to:Blessington+to:Kilbride+to:Unknown+road+to:Saggart,+County+South+Dublin,+Republic+of+Ireland+to:53.289026,-6.425629+to:Unknown+road+to:Lucan+to:ParkgateStreet,+Dublin,+Ireland+(Phoenix+Park)&hl=en&geocode=%3B%3B%3B%3B%3BFTDeKgMd_GGd_w%3B%3B%3B%3BFU_kLAMdmZWd_w%3B%3B%3BFbl6LQMde_Wd_w%3B%3BFcgpLgMdnq6f_yEEReaAqzYPUQ&mra=dpe&mrcr=8&mrsp=11&sz=11&via=5,9,11,12&dirflg=ht&sll=53.253175,-6.35227&sspn=0.246893,0.593262&ie=UTF8&z=11

Depends on how far I get with weather. etc.
Pace will not be hectic, I am a slow climber to be honest. You are very welcome to come along. There are many areas to turn back along the way. Not a club, more of a ersonal training spin for me.

I am not so sure that Sally Gap is clear, there is still a fair amount of snow up the mountains.

ROK ON

blorg wrote: »

I am not so sure that Sally Gap is clear, there is still a fair amount of snow up the mountains.

Thanks for that.
I will enedvour to get as far as I can safely and then turn back if I have to.
Simply have to get more climbing into the legs, and have only so many weekends before thw W200.
I may head to Laragh via Long Hill and Roundwood if I can't go over the gap.

Anyway, I am presuming that the roads are fine all the way past Enniskerry to either Long Hill or Crone Wood/Glencree?

AA Roadwatch

http://www.aaroadwatch.ie/traffic/story.asp?id=99385

May just head out on Meath/Kildare spin tomorrow instead
Would anyone be up for a lap of Blessington lakes?

Raam

ROK ON wrote: »

Thanks for that.
I will enedvour to get as far as I can safely and then turn back if I have to.
Simply have to get more climbing into the legs, and have only so many weekends before thw W200.
I may head to Laragh via Long Hill and Roundwood if I can't go over the gap.

Anyway, I am presuming that the roads are fine all the way past Enniskerry to either Long Hill or Crone Wood/Glencree?

AA Roadwatch

http://www.aaroadwatch.ie/traffic/story.asp?id=99385

May just head out on Meath/Kildare spin tomorrow instead
Would anyone be up for a lap of Blessington lakes?

There's plenty of time left for doing climbing, so don't worry

ROK ON

Raam wrote: »

There's plenty of time left for doing climbing, so don't worry

Thats easier said when you weight/height ratio i below 2, mine is above 3:)

emty

Well, I thought there would be more interest in the thing at harolds cross and so that would have been a logical place to meet but since the op hasn't followed up and if no-one else is going to turn up....
Not sure where I am going with this but I would like to go out for a spin and as always it would be nice to have company soooo....
I guess I could turn up at the popes x at 9am but I have to be honest and say that I find that too early.

Chips Lovell

emty wrote: »

Well, I thought there would be more interest in the thing at harolds cross and so that would have been a logical place to meet but since the op hasn't followed up and if no-one else is going to turn up....
Not sure where I am going with this but I would like to go out for a spin and as always it would be nice to have company soooo....
I guess I could turn up at the popes x at 9am but I have to be honest and say that I find that too early.

I think Barrabus wants the half ten start too.

dave.obrien

ok, rok on, i'm in. i live in cabinteely, so can meet you at dundrum/sandyford kind of area, and go from there. time and place? i'll pm you my phone number, if you can contact me after seven or so, that'd be great.

jlang

Papal Cross will be busy tomorrow - there's a 10k foot race starting at 10am. Probably fine at 9, but you might be better off picking a park gate. http://www.cupidsdash.ie

ROK ON

emty wrote: »

I guess I could turn up at the popes x at 9am but I have to be honest and say that I find that too early.

For any with a wish to see some snow, I am leaving Dundrum at 10.

blorg

I am keen on the 10/10:30 idea- can the 10 and 10:30 people not come together on that one? Preference would be Wicklow I think, maybe keeping it low if necessary (e.g. main road or Djouce to Laragh.)

ROK ON

blorg wrote: »

I am keen on the 10/10:30 idea- can the 10 and 10:30 people not come together on that one? Preference would be Wicklow I think, maybe keeping it low if necessary (e.g. main road or Djouce to Laragh.)

I have sent a pm to Supercell (Mod on weather site) He has a weather station in Annamoe. Hopefully waiting to hear that roads out that direction are ok for travel.

Suggest 10.15?

barrabus

10.15 or what ever suits me . I want to hear what super cell has to say before going to wicklow. Wouldnt mind not going by Loch Dan if we do go to wicklow.

blorg

The lower roads in Wicklow (e.g. main road to Roundwood/Laragh) will be fine, it was completely clear the day Lumen, Gavin and myself headed out when the road up Lugalla was under 4 feet of snow. Temperatures are now way up so I wouldn't expect ice on the road, the snow/blockages are residual from what fell early in the week/last week.

blorg

OK, are we agreed on 10:15 under the LUAS Bridge in Dundrum then?

tomc

FYI

The road from Kilakee car park to Glencree is closed as impassable, was there at 5pm today. That should give you an idea of what to expect !!
The climb out of Kilakee is from 380 mts to just 500 mts, looks like is closes around the 450 mts mark and given the Sally Gap is approx 500mts.......

Best o Luck, make sure you get some pics!!!!

TomC

Caroline_ie

Will be at the cross in the morning, I will be on the fixie ( a la blorg ) - Plz people bear with me I am just back from 2 broken bones and I also have a bit of 'man flu'.
@Tonto - will text if I chicken out when I see the rain.

Chips Lovell

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Will be at the cross in the morning, I will be on the fixie ( a la blorg ) - Plz people bear with me I am just back from 2 broken bones and I also have a bit of 'man flu'.
@Tonto - will text if I chicken out when I see the rain.

See you there. The Claw should be joining us too.

Ghost Rider

Yep - see you at 10.15. Whereabouts under the bridge? Just past Joe Daly's?

blorg wrote: »

OK, are we agreed on 10:15 under the LUAS Bridge in Dundrum then?

Caroline_ie

Will stay home. Been coughing all night and it hurts when I breathe... I feel crap...

ROK ON

Accuweather has good weather out in Laragh direction but cold (Real Feel -1degrees).

http://www.accuweather.com/ukie/forecast.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=0&postalcode=EUR;IE;EI026;LARAGH;&metric=1

AA Roadwatch
http://www.aaroadwatch.ie/traffic/story.asp?id=98582

First time in over 2 weeks that Sally Gap is not down as impassable.