Tell us about your new improved government regulations compliant cycle part II

selwyn froggitt

A really enjoyable off road spin yesterday morning on a combination of wind farm gravel tracks, Coillte forest dirt tracks and a smattering of tarmac in the north Cork Boggeragh Mountains. And taking in such delights as the Eagles nest and the slopes of Musheramore.

An extremely cold 8 am start from a small car park near Ummera (South of Nad). A flurry of snow and 2°C as the five of us set off.
A couple of navigational hiccups, a small bit of bike carrying and a good few gates and fences to scramble over all added to the fun.

I really love this kind of cycling, and it makes a pleasant change from our normal road spins. We have all invested in Cross/Gravel bikes over the last couple of years and it has brought a whole new dimension to our Sundays.

50km, a thousand meters of ascent in three and a half hours makes for a decent mornings training and plenty of laughs.

triggermortis

Rode into work early today as I needed the work van to do a job. Lovely morning for it, bright, clear and no wind. Shame I had other stuff to be doing...

not yet

Clonee to Thomas st at 7am this morning. Mother of sweet jesus it was cold.

Justwinginit

First spin since getting bike fit today. Bike felt a lot smoother, and 'tighter' full gloves for the first ten mins. Leggings a must. Twas a bit nippy.... No pains in the knee after, yay:-)

Mercian Pro

selwyn froggitt wrote: »

I really love this kind of cycling, and it makes a pleasant change from our normal road spins. We have all invested in Cross/Gravel bikes over the last couple of years and it has brought a whole new dimension to our Sundays.

Oh no! After a few years of tranquility, I feel an N+1 or S-1 moment coming on.

selwyn froggitt

Mercian Pro wrote: »

Oh no! After a few years of tranquility, I feel an N+1 or S-1 moment coming on.

You know it makes sense

smacl

Mercian Pro wrote: »

Oh no! After a few years of tranquility, I feel an N+1 or S-1 moment coming on.

Go for it, just back from a mucky, snowy lunch time spin. For me, having an off road or mixed option gives you loads of opportunities for a bit of extra craic, particularly in the crap weather.

Wishbone Ash

Fairly miserable out there this morning in the icy cold rain. Garmin was showing minus 2 degrees at times. I rarely suffer from cold feet but they were cold this morning. Even our road captain lost heart and curtailed the ride a bit. (We ended up having a lovely breakfast in the Court Yard Hotel in Leixlip).

Alanstrainor

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Fairly miserable out there this morning in the icy cold rain. Garmin was showing minus 2 degrees at times. I rarely suffer from cold feet but they were cold this morning. Even our road captain lost heart and curtailed the ride a bit. (We ended up having a lovely breakfast in the Court Yard Hotel in Leixlip).

You must have been out early! My Garmin was showing 3 degrees at 830, but the freezing rain wasn't pretty. It wasn't too bad at the same time, I think the rain was mostly done when I was out, I wasn't too wet when I made it into the city.

Wishbone Ash

Alanstrainor wrote: »

You must have been out early! My Garmin was showing 3 degrees at 830...

It was showing 2 degrees in Swords but dropped gradually as we headed inland via Co Meath to Kildare.

devonp

got blasted by the gritter in Palmerstown on the commute home, fairly decent wind chill out there too heading west :eek:

rushfan

43km around NCD with a full face balaclava for the first time in ages. Bracing!!

Justwinginit

Ripping home last night and a puncture. Luckily only 7/8 min drive from home. Got herself to pick me up. It was freezing and I wasn't changing a tube in the cold/dark. I had brought my rain jacket just in case. I was glad when I had to wait for a few mins that I had packed it, stopped me freezing up...The road out of Ballinasloe heading east is terrible, and seems to be getting worse...time to change routes

Justwinginit

Georgeous sunny day yesterday. Got me a couple of Bontranger AW1's and put them on yesterday. Took a bit of persuasion, but eventually got them on, breaking a couple of tyre levers while doing so. Went with the fingerless gloves and just a long sleeved base layer with short sleeved jersey and leggings. It was perfect for the day that was in it. Any more layers would have been too much. 28.4km, avg 26.9 and 2 pr's. Bike fit made a big difference now when pumping uphill:-)

Eamonnator

Justwinginit wrote: »

Georgeous sunny day yesterday. Got me a couple of Bontranger AW1's and put them on yesterday. Took a bit of persuasion, but eventually got them on, breaking a couple of tyre levers while doing so. Went with the fingerless gloves and just a long sleeved base layer with short sleeved jersey and leggings. It was perfect for the day that was in it. Any more layers would have been too much. 28.4km, avg 26.9 and 2 pr's. Bike fit made a big difference now when pumping uphill:-)

You're some man for one man. I'm wearing two long sleeve base layers under a long sleeve Gabba and good winter gloves these days.
I have a set of these tyre levers, they're plastic coated steel. I've had them years, they're great, strong, hard wearing and don't damage rims.

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/topeak-shuttle-tyre-levers-1-2/rp-prod28714

Mercian Pro

Justwinginit wrote: »

Georgeous sunny day yesterday. Went with the fingerless gloves and just a long sleeved base layer with short sleeved jersey and leggings. It was perfect for the day that was in it. Any more layers would have been too much.

Not sure what part of the country you were in but around NCD it never got above 3 degrees in the afternoon and had dropped to zero by the time I got home. A few dangerous icy spots too, mainly on shaded corners around Kilbride.

Base layer, arm warmers, jersey, Mistral jacket and tights kept the core warm but even ski gloves with merino liners struggled to keep feeling in my fingers.

Either there were great climatic variations across the country or, more likely, we have significantly different metabolisms.

Justwinginit

Mercian Pro wrote: »

Not sure what part of the country you were in

Athlone/Ballinasloe, it was around 1 or 2 degrees when I headed out I think:D

rodneyTrotter.

64k today from Swords to Hollystown, Ratoath, Roganstown, malahide estuary and Portmarnock . Beautiful out there particularly the run into Portmarnock . Sea looked amazing in the sun . Roads were fine as I left after 11am . Castelli Alpha jacket and a neck warmer thing helped to keep me warm . Averaged just under 31kmh which helped keep me from freezing !

Was out running a few errands this evening on the bike , heard a large vehicle coming from behind not in a hurry but give me a light beep. Road gritter warning me he was coming and giving me the chance to pull in a little ways up ahead. I've been lashed out of it by them in the past so it was much appreciated

rushfan

44km today, fairly blustery too any time I was heading south/east. Hope to be out the next few days too, lighter winds forecast.

secman

Yesterday a very gingerly outward spin to just beyond Blessington and back , all via main roads as side roads were far too dangerous. A spin of 2halves, spin home was perfect road coneditions. 50km avg 25.6 kph

Today: rode into Gorey to meet the touring group, out to Camolin, Ferns and just beyond Enniscorthy and back to Gorey. 88.5 km Avg 28.5 kph.
An 11.5km cool down spin home. All in a ton today.

Chartsengrafs

At the in-laws in Kilkenny overnight so went for a late solo spin this morning once things thawed a bit.

Part 1: Kilkenny City to Paulstown. I usually take a while to warm up but felt brilliant this morning. I haven’t raced before but thinking I could do the Ras this year, maybe even win a few stages. Better buy some new wheels I’m thinking. I deserve them and they’ll keep me motivated.

Part 2: Paulstown, Gowran, Thomastown, Ballyhale. I’ve changed direction and there’s a slight wind in my face. I’m working a lot harder -why am I going so slow? My front mudguard might be rubbing. Or perhaps it’s something to do with bearings? A4 is going to be a real leap for me. Longing for the comfort of the club spin.

Part 3: Ballyhale,Knocktopher, back to Kilkenny. I wonder what the shortest race in the inter club league is? Maybe around 30km? Make mental note to check when I get back to Dublin.

66km @ 28.1km/h

smacl

Mercian Pro wrote: »

Not sure what part of the country you were in but around NCD it never got above 3 degrees in the afternoon and had dropped to zero by the time I got home. A few dangerous icy spots too, mainly on shaded corners around Kilbride.

Base layer, arm warmers, jersey, Mistral jacket and tights kept the core warm but even ski gloves with merino liners struggled to keep feeling in my fingers.

Either there were great climatic variations across the country or, more likely, we have significantly different metabolisms.

Did a bit of a bike and hike effort on Saturday and also had all the layers on. The end section of Cruagh lane to Masseys was sheet ice where the car tracks had been with a narrow rideable bit given MTB tyres at the edges. Was quite glad to get off and walk when the time came, with lovely crisp snow up Kilakee mountain and not many people around. Coming back down on the bike was bitter even though there had been a thaw over the day and had my first mug of Bovril in years. Amazing the number of MTB tracks in the snow above Cruagh wood.

Unknown Soldier

Decided to tackle Bohernabreena hill this morning after a failed attempt yesterday, due to the sun being directly in my eyes, and more importantly in the eyes of vehicle drivers. I really didn't want my back broken, so I turned on my heal half way up.

So I went up it this morning, and then continued on up the piperstown climb, to the featherbeds. I can be quite stupid like that.

Luckily, I had my snow and ice tyres on, but the side winds from the right were horrendous and made it impossible to cycle the whole way. Plus me being off the bike for 6+ months didn't help :pac:

I had to walk the bike for parts, the side winds were unreal, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

My ass is still breaking itself in, again, but this time as a non 40+ a day smoker.

Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/2120849304

IG: https://www.instagram.com/stories/david_taking_photos/?hl=en (yeah, I like cats)

I'm back, back and blessed to be so

dahat

Insta story looked epic, mad going up and I'm sure going down was fun in places.

Miklos

Standard four hours steady around west Dublin, Meath and Kildare yesterday. A few sprinklings of rain but no ice so it was grand.

silverharp

barely needed the lights this morning, fully bright by the time I hit Rathmines which is about my halfway point. Spring is coming!

Justwinginit

Just shy of 69km solo yesterday, brought light jacket just in case. Was nice starting out, but had a fierce headwind for the last about 20km. Glad I brought jacket as it started raining last 10km to go. Found last 20 hard on the arse, (lack of distance lately) but persevered. Glad it was over at the end:-) 68.77km, 2:44:10, avg 25.1kph. Can't wait for the long evenings again, and the (slightly) warmer weather...

triggermortis

Decided to try and get the Feb fondo done with the better weather. Headed for Howth, then Naul, Stamillen and back to Skerries. Garmin was reading 98.6 when I got to the house so had to ride 700m up the road and come back to get the full 100km.
Not a bad day for it, and even managed a PR up Howth hill!

rushfan

Stayed up a bit later than usual last night to watch a bit of the Super Bowl. Headed off this morning at 10am, lovely morning too. Back just after 12 with 50km done. All good. Shoved all the gear in the washing machine including Mrs Rushfan's set of house & car keys. She can never say that I don't keep things clean at least!!!