Advice Needed

canonfodder

I want to start cycling to work, I've a round trip of just over 30KM. I'm horribly unfit and I know I will only be able to do this once or twice a week initially but you have to start somewhere, right? I have a couple of questions I'm hoping you fine people will be able to help me with.

My most direct route takes me down the N81 and over the M50. Is there a predestrian/cycle path around here I can use? I drive this way every day and rarely if ever have I seen a cyclist on this roundabout (or the next one at the Spawell) so I'm hoping/guessing there is but I've never spotted it.

I live in an apartment and have nowhere to store my bike. I do have a balcony and I could carry the bike thru and keep it there, so, Do I need to get some sort of cover to protect the bike from the weather? or Can anyone suggest an alternate storage method?

I'm a complete novice so any general advice is very welcome. For example is it wise for a complete novice to start cycling to work during the winter (i'm thinking of it being dark more than the weather)? I have to admit that maybe I'm just looking for excuses not to cycle to work.

thebouldwhacker

Welcome...

30km is a perfect distance to start off with. You'll feel it in your fingers, you'll feel it in your bones......
Any aches or pains is just your body telling you that what your doing is working:p

Lidl sell car boot covers for about €3 and they are perfect bike covers

If your new to cycling, take your time to get used to cycling in traffic, keep it up and by spring time you'll be posting up asking for help to buy a summer road bike and enquiring about the wicklow 200:D

seamus

There is a cycle path (or least has been) at the N81 roundabout - leave the road at the pedestrian lights before this roundabout and you should see it. This track will take you under the roundabout (over the M50) and bring you all the way down to the Spawell roundabout. I've never used it though, so I can't vouch for whether it's any good. Any time I've gone down that route, I've just used the roundabout.

When you get to spawell, you will have to cross the road, but the cycle track continues all the way down to the junction with Templeogue bridge. Again, never used it so can't vouch for it.

There is a similar track on the far side of the road for your trip home.

Storing your bike outside isn't ideal, but I have to do it too. Buy a good cover:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Topeak_Rain_Cover/5360006680/
and make an effort to give the bike a once over at least once a week. You'd be shocked how quickly components can rust when left out in the elements.

It's not unwise to be a novice cycing to work in the winter, but you will need more willpower to drag yourself out of bed when the wind is beating the windows, it's dark and overcast and lower then 5 degrees. Doing it 5 days in a row requires dedication.

canonfodder

Thanks lads. I'm getting my bike thru a cycle to work scheme I'll have it in 4 weeks time. So I'll do the cycle for the first time Saturday 4 weeks!

morninwood

i wouldn't recommend using the cycle path under the m50 roundabout. you have to negotiate a few corners with bad visibility which is especially hazardous when commuting in the dark. going through the roundabout is quicker and safer IMO.

Highway_To_Hell

canonfodder wrote: »

My most direct route takes me down the N81 and over the M50. Is there a predestrian/cycle path around here I can use? I drive this way every day and rarely if ever have I seen a cyclist on this roundabout (or the next one at the Spawell) so I'm hoping/guessing there is but I've never spotted it.

The cycle way under the M50 is currently a temp one and when going towards the city you have to cross the N81 at the ped lights to get on to it. I regularly cycle along the N81 and have never used the Cycle way and just approch the roundabouts with caution, there are traffic lights on one overt the M50 which you can get onto it with little difficulty, the Spawell one is OK as well.