Was anyone out for any long rides today?

IM0

I did a nice round the block as we call it, home - ashford - laragh - home via calary. Was fine christmas ride.

Captain Havoc

Far too ill for that, tomorrow I will be ill also. I did see a couple out today and was jealous and felt really bad, one was in Wexford Wheelers gear near Wexford town so I suppose he's a serious cyclist anyway.

jwshooter

roads to bad about enniscorthy, traction control coming on, on the landrover would be a good indication to leave well enough alone.

IM0

all along the ride the side roads (off where I was cycling) were iced over and you could play curling on them, and edges of roads were frosted alot too but the roads themselves we possible....for me, on normal road tyres 28's btw and normal road bike. saw a few others going round the roads on mtb's though. whichever makes you feel safe I guess, were all different.

jwshooter

dont fancie turkey in hospital , more heavy frost to nite so its get fat time .

i done 7 hours the bike weekend before last ,not on it scene.
just going to chill for a few days now , a fall would be bad better missing a few weeks than chance it.
there is always the grand canaries.

what about a boards week there .

IM0

dont fancy turkey. period
the christmas ham is what its all about mmmmmm.

Chips Lovell

45km here. Snow gone but I'm just getting over a chest infection. Real Irish weather today in Spain, high winds and rain.

Home:Ballyhoura

Cycled on the MTB to nearest trails, Cratloe, on trecharous roads. Lucky to get away with just the one fall, went down like a Moto GP rider...sliding on my ass/hip for 10-20m with the bike spinning along in front of me. Great fun, bit of road rash but thats it thank god! No damaged clothes or bike afterwards was a bonus. I went on to do another 2hrs, 2.5hrs in total. -3°C when I left and -2°C when I got back. Add in wind chill cycling at around 20km/h and you are heading towards -10°C. :eek: First time using clipless MTB shoes & pedals, happy enough with them. Happy that my clothing did the job, except for my expensive Gore Cross gloves which aren't up to my expectations...waterproof certainly but windproofing is a bit suspect. My eyebrows were frozen over when I got home, and even my bottle and Camelback platypus (backpack water resevoir) had frozen up...I never thought I would have to invest in a thermal control kit for it! Thats how cold it was.

The lake had completely frozen over. Got talking to a family who have been there for years and never saw that happening before, they even saw people ice skating on it yesterday. Wow, thats something else. Their two little nutters of children decided to take a stroll across the lake while I was there. I decided to take a couple of pictures of my bike to disguise trying to capture the action! Very enjoyable day...happy Christmas everybody, have a good one! Cheers

Please excuse crappy camera phone pics, wish I had brought a better camera

blorg

Christ, first time I've heard of a lake being frozen in this place!

Was all very novel for me when I went east... by the way, you can cause significant wounds through stabbing someone with an icicle, they are quite sharp and don't just melt or break.

blorg

You weren't tempted?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB4sb-yTReM

Home:Ballyhoura

blorg wrote: »

You weren't tempted?

The same people actually said I should try doing just that, to cycle across it! Haha, I quickly decided against it for some reason.

IM0

Home:Ballyhoura wrote: »

I quickly decided against it for some reason.

yeah probably cause the cold hadnt eaten its way through your brain anywhere near as much as theirs!

cunavalos

Was anyone out for any long rides today?

Was out for 6 hours today in glorious sunshine in tenerife today. 125km around puerto de la cruz over round by santiago del teide and back. The only problem is there is no such thing as a flat road in tenerife. It took me almost an hour to get out of the town and that was taking in streets that make patricks hill in cork look like a bump in the road and the bike rental company wont have a compact equipped bike until next tuesday so all cycling is being done with a bottom gear of 39-25.
I am still trying to build up the courage to have a go at the mount teide summit in the next couple of days
http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=El-Teide&qryMountainID=9146
Essentially 50kms of climbing with only a small respite after 30km.
Currently 8pm the weather is a positively unbelievable 20C with a light breeze and the locals are complaining about the cold and i am sweating just walking to the shops. Weather is expected to improve tomorrow (About 28C)
Happy xmas everyone.:D:D

IM0

cunavalos wrote: »

I am still trying to build up the courage to have a go at the mount teide summit in the next couple of days
http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=El-Teide&qryMountainID=9146
Essentially 50kms of climbing with only a small respite after 30km..:D:D

did the south side a few times before, its a nice climb especially for winter legs not in condition yet, steady 7% avg and didnt stray too far from that. very nice climb from 0-2350m, though after 2110m its a kind of plateau for 13km. the scenery is cracking up there though well worth the effort. to me.

jwshooter

cunavalos wrote: »

Was out for 6 hours today in glorious sunshine in tenerife today. 125km around puerto de la cruz over round by santiago del teide and back. The only problem is there is no such thing as a flat road in tenerife. It took me almost an hour to get out of the town and that was taking in streets that make patricks hill in cork look like a bump in the road and the bike rental company wont have a compact equipped bike until next tuesday so all cycling is being done with a bottom gear of 39-25.
I am still trying to build up the courage to have a go at the mount teide summit in the next couple of days
http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=El-Teide&qryMountainID=9146
Essentially 50kms of climbing with only a small respite after 30km.
Currently 8pm the weather is a positively unbelievable 20C with a light breeze and the locals are complaining about the cold and i am sweating just walking to the shops. Weather is expected to improve tomorrow (About 28C)
Happy xmas everyone.:D:D

lucky B ,was in teneriff this time last year sorry i did not do the same again .

theo4130

was out along coast road today, no ice, bit wet in places, greystones, mahermor, ashford, home. +-45km,

IM0

theo4130 wrote: »

was out along coast road today, no ice, bit wet in place

thats the good thing about the coast this time of year, 0 possibility of ice pretty much . As I got closer to calary from roundwood the frost and ice disappeared, its within 5km of coast there depending where you are such a difference it makes, different story around glenealy and rathdrum laragh.

irishmotorist

me@ucd wrote: »

thats the good thing about the coast this time of year, 0 possibility of ice pretty much

Sorry - I have to disagree on this as a general statement. My job is about 20m from the coast in Dun Laoghaire and 2 days this week (in the car) the coast roads I drove on were the worst I'd experienced this week. Complete ice rinks. The temperature in that area was just lower than home (Lucan) - particular to the weather front that was in place at that time.

coolbeans

No way. Not after I fell off on Sunday. It's like Ice Road Truckers around here, seriously. Back roads completely cover in ice. I slid right across a junction in my car. I just ventured gingerly into town (Clonmel) on my mountain bike and did some last minute shopping. Snow is managable on the bike over short distances, just about.

cunavalos

cunavalos wrote: »

Was out for 6 hours today in glorious sunshine in tenerife today. 125km around puerto de la cruz over round by santiago del teide and back. The only problem is there is no such thing as a flat road in tenerife. It took me almost an hour to get out of the town and that was taking in streets that make patricks hill in cork look like a bump in the road and the bike rental company wont have a compact equipped bike until next tuesday so all cycling is being done with a bottom gear of 39-25.
I am still trying to build up the courage to have a go at the mount teide summit in the next couple of days
http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=El-Teide&qryMountainID=9146
Essentially 50kms of climbing with only a small respite after 30km.
Currently 8pm the weather is a positively unbelievable 20C with a light breeze and the locals are complaining about the cold and i am sweating just walking to the shops. Weather is expected to improve tomorrow (About 28C)
Happy xmas everyone.:D:D

The karma police visited with a vengeance today for what may have been considered gloating above. Was out on the bike for 8hrs today and managed to cycle a total of 50miles.
Summary of events - double puncture received when i cycled over what appeared to be the remains of a nail driven into the tarmac with a hilti-gun ,the washer around the head of the nail was like a razor and sliced the sidewall of the front tyre , the back wheel was only a routine puncture so luckily was carrying two spare tubes so replaced both tubes, fashioned a tyre boot out of a gel wrapper and disgarded both punctured tubes over the side of the nearest cliff(big mistake). 10 miles and what seemed like minutes later a horrible hissing from the front wheel, tyre boot has slipped and tube has punctured through the torn sidewall. The hole in the tube appears repairable and i quickly fit a glueless patch over the hole and all appears grand the tyre stays inflated, i decide it best to cut my losses and head back to the hotel, tyre last all of one mile before its flat again cue repair number two, this lasts two miles. This episode continues for about the next five miles until i exhaust my supply of glueless patches resulting in the longest ten mile hike to the nearest town where a bus can be got back to the hotel(F**k all traffic on christmas day). Now taking on and off a tyre countless times leaves a considerable amount of grime on one´s hands and the stress of the situation leads to several heand in hands moment but it was not until i arrived back at the hotel that i realised that my face resembled that of a coal miner much to the amusement of the driver and passengers on the bus.

But on a serious note the road surfaces are quite good in general but a lot of the roads are very exposed and the wind can really make the bike feel twitchy and there are massive drops down steep ravines on most bends, i think i actually developed a bit of vertigo in places. It may have only been 50 miles but that still equated to a total of 1800 garmin metres including 1.5km of 15-20% gradient through la guancha.

Sorry for the long post but should have some photos to demonstrate what i mean if i can sort out some technical gremlins.
Weather today: Max 28C Gusts of 50MPH
Euro Tan : Improving

blorg

Cycled out to Meath yesterday and back today. Exceedingly icy after Dunshaughlin on the back roads, literally like a skating rink. It had rained and then frozen over so it was just like a sheet. Fell off after 3km of ice rink and got a lift the rest of the way. Thankfully just a bit of a bruise, it was so slippery I went sliding across the road without ripping anything or getting any road rash

Planet X

Thought I was supposed to be nuts?
:D

mloc123

was out around Meath today, roads are better but still alot of slush out that way.

jwshooter

lucky you did not slide under a truck.

velo.2010

So even the mighty have fallen!

I'm still trying to shake off my injuries from the start of the month when I fell on black ice. Damn cold weather sure isn't helping.

Ryaner

Some roads around Malahide estuary that are similar. Had a few jeeps doing less than 20km/h overtaking me!

Glad your ok though. Talk to a few people who fell and broke bones while walking over the past days. Luckly the ice is over.

Anyone know if Wicklow has cleared yet?

Planet X

Ryaner wrote: »

Some roads around Malahide estuary that are similar. Had a few jeeps doing less than 20km/h overtaking me!

Glad your ok though. Talk to a few people who fell and broke bones while walking over the past days. Luckly the ice is over.

Anyone know if Wicklow has cleared yet?

I don't think "the ice is over" by a long shot! If you're following various weather forums / sites, it's going to pick up again very shortly, as in the next few days. Enjoy the "ever so slight" lull.
Wicklow is still frozen. We were on the N11 this morning and the margins and road sides are frozen.
Ain't over by a long shot.

(ps., apologies for using "by a long shot" twice, lol)

rottenhat

velo.2010 wrote: »

So even the mighty have fallen!

Let's be honest, he spends more time off the bike than on it at this point.

Headed out through Lucan, Newcastle, Celbridge and most of the way to Clane this morning, mostly on biggish regional roads - all of them completely clear, but the local roads off them were icy enough. A good option while traffic is light over the holidays.

Planet X

Outlook

Very cold overnight Sunday night with a severe frost, icy roads and some patches of freezing fog. Lowest temperatures zero to -5 C. Moderate to fresh west to northwest winds will ease off, and the scattered rain and hail showers will die out. The weather will continue to be cold on Monday with easterly winds increasing through the day. Dry and bright in many areas with some weak winter sunshine developing and with frost, fog and ice clearing gradually. But the frost and fog may never clear from much of Ulster. Also, cloud will stream into Munster and south Leinster from the south, and rain will develop there in the afternoon. Monday night and Tuesday will be bitterly cold and windy in all areas with a stiff easterly wind, which will be especially strong and blustery over Munster and Leinster, with some spells of quite heavy rain, which fall as sleet or even snow on hills and Mountains. Over Ulster and Connacht, the weather should stay largely dry, with a hard frost Monday night, and some bright spells on Tuesday. There will be further heavy rain and sleet on Tuesday night over parts of the south and east, but it should be cold and largely dry elsewhere with a hard frost and icy roads. At this stage, it looks as if that rain and sleet, will slide away into Wales and the south of England early on Wednesday, so that it will be a cold, and still a breezy day countrywide, with a fresh and gusty northeast breeze. Most places dry with sunny spells, but a few wintry showers are likely along the east and possibly also on parts of the north and northwest coasts. Thursday, New Year's Eve, and Friday, New Years Day will both be very cold and frosty with icy roads and pavements in many places. Scattered wintry showers in coastal areas also.

Planet X

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055777808

These are the boys in the know.




.....by a long shot!

Ryaner

Thanks. I had only looked a few days ahead but after hitting near on 3km of solid ice yesterday, I've given up all hope of getting back to Wicklow this week.

shaungil

I did 4 hours yesterday from Wicklow to Courtown on the cost road the whole way and then back. It was pretty sunny so most ice was melted though had to keep to the centre of the road (which was pretty quiet to be fair).

Was supposed to cycle home to Skerries today (family to follow later) but when I bought little one for a walk saw too much ice on the roads (not as sunny?) so am waiting for hungover brother in law to surface so I can set up turbo and watch Full Metal Jacket on his DVD in his room.

Let the sweat-fest begin.

poochiem

did about 11 mins before landing on me hole today. country roads with a convex camber are no good for keeping 23m tyres upright on ice. OW!

this cycling craic is getting expensive...now i want a turbo. I blame you people.

ednwireland

can't even get out of drive ! the road to town has 4 inch of ice on it

ROK ON

poochiem wrote: »

did about 11 mins before landing on me hole today. country roads with a convex camber are no good for keeping 23m tyres upright on ice. OW!

this cycling craic is getting expensive...now i want a turbo. I blame you people.

I found out this yesterday. Now my neck is banjaxed, cant turn to the right. But I would rather never cycle again than get a turbo.

sy

ROK ON wrote: »

.... But I would rather never cycle again than get a turbo.

"By the end of January, after 5 weeks of record arctic conditions in Ireland, ROK ON succumbs and buys a turbo!"
Hope the neck is ok

Beasty

ROK ON wrote: »

I found out this yesterday. Now my neck is banjaxed, cant turn to the right. But I would rather never cycle again than get a turbo.

You'll have to find a left-handed, non-icy circular route to get out on then

Seriously though, I would get to a physio with that neck if it does not clear up quickly. I have had neck (as well as lower back) problems over the years, and it can be difficult to shake this type of injury off (anti-inflammatory painkillers, such as ibuprofen, should help)

Blowfish

hmm, this site shows it being about 5 degrees for the next few days, but very, very wet. Worth a shot getting out tomorrow or Wed.

buffalo

Did a short run today, including Glencree-military road-Stocking Lane. Traces of sitting snow as I came into Glencree, and navigable on the military road at first. Then a veritable blizzard blew up, on that long exposed stretch. Snow was stinging the side of my face, and the wind was blowing my bike over, even when I was walking beside it. Snow petered out once the road hit the forest, but I was chilled to the bone at that stage. I'd hold off for another few days before risking mountain runs.

zzzzzzzz

Sorry to hear about your crash, hope you're back on the bike soon... I can't resist though:

ROK ON wrote: »

cant turn to the right

Lumen

sy wrote: »

"By the end of January, after 5 weeks of record arctic conditions in Ireland, ROK ON succumbs and buys a turbo!"
Hope the neck is ok

What would Rocky Balboa do?

cunavalos

Just a quick update from tenerife( i hope to create a proper post with pictures, details, etc. when i get back next weekend)

Have now completed 3 of the four ascents of mt teide (2300m top of road pass and all routes start from close to sea level). It is the first time i have climbed any longer than 16kms and i have to admit while being far from easy it is not too difficult. Basically when faced with 40km of climbing i have learnt to stick in the 39 x 25 and just spin away, so far on most of the routes the climb is an even gradient averaging about 6% on the occasional flatter parts you can change up a bit and give yourself a bit of a workout and change back down when it ramps up again. Climbing while not being easy has not been the problem, the heat and the descents have been major issues. I have lathered on enough sun lotion (factor 30 expensive waterproof stuff designed for sport) to complete a trans saharan odyssey but know the bottom half of both legs are covered in water blisters (no real burnt skin just loads of soft blisters). There is no real pain but a bit of an itch when off the bike and the temperatures have not been that high ( Averaging about 24 C never lower than 20 and nothing above 27/28).

The make up of the island means that most of the roads hug the cliffs along the coast and this makes descending really tricky, with little gusts of wind really making me feel nervous when descending because there is no safety net if you go over the edge thats it, 300ft+ drops into ravines and there are are memorials along the roadside every so often to remind you where someone (car, bike, motorbike or horse) has gone over. For this reason i have been having scrub an awful lot of speed coming down the descents, rarely in the aero position and dabbing both breaks. The roads are quite narrow and most bends are blind so you dont have the option of taking a wide line through the bends. Road surfaces in the most part are good but a lot of cracked tarmac and falling debris from the cliffs.

Today was by far the toughest day 165km in about 9 hours and never going above 1250metres but absolute hell twisting hairpins narrow roads and to cap it all met Jani Brajkovic in full radioshack kit.He is over training with a fellow slovenian pro-continental rider around tenerife. He passed me about 2km from the top of the Masca climb and i caught up with him at the top as he waited for his mate. Very nice guy with excellent english and was telling me that will be going to do early season races in italy and the pyrenees and decide then about the rest of the season. For a time trial specialist he is tiny and can really fly up the hills . It was a genuine relief when he informed me that it was in his opinion the toughest climb on the island even though it is nowhere near as long as the ascents of teide from any of the four directions. Tomorrow may well be a rest day but only 5 days left.

The local clubs are a bit strange, twice now i have met the same club and all they do on a sunday morning for about 2 hours is do laps of an industrial park about 2km in length. I suppose when the only other option is lots of climbing, this is as close as it gets to a flat route.

[font=&quot]Will upload photos ASAP[/font]