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

Mercian Pro

Having tackled the Dublin County border before as two half circuits, today I decided to take on the full clockwise circuit. It was cool enough so the base layer and leg warmers were added to the summer gear and the rain jacket was handy on some of the descents and later on. At 238km plus about 5km more to get to my start point on the East Wall Road, it was my longest cycle since I was a teenaged cycle-tourist and the legs certainly did plenty of talking. Between cramp in Skerries and a lack of power from Howth home, I think I may have reached my limit.

The lack of anywhere suitable for lunch until the Seamus Ennis Centre in the Naul at 140km didn't help although I was able to get a coffee and bun in the carpark of the Blue Gardenia in Brittas. The two stops were handy as well for recharging the Garmin from a power-pack as following a route certainly uses a lot more battery power than just recording one. As often seems to happen on long spins, somehow I managed to pause the Garmin for 11km so my longest recorded ride should be even longer. The route is at https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/35007851 and the Relive video is at https://www.relive.cc/view/v36AeXgJmZ6

Wishbone Ash

Mercian Pro wrote: »

... I was able to get a coffee and bun in the carpark of the Blue Gardenia in Brittas....

She seems to be a bit hit and miss. She was closed on the two previous occasions that I passed through making the Leixlip-Kilternan (and vice versa) section very long without any refreshments.

NamelessPhil

positron wrote: »

I didn't cycle today but I watched Conor Dunne's latest GCN video - of him attempting Donegal 555. Amazing and well worth a watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30ATJwJXSN4

The route looks brutal, and that Innishowen loop in itself is very challenging and that's only a quarter of the overall distance. And to think folks finish that in 17-20 hours.. unreal!!

What I would really love to see on GCN would be an ultra ride with Conor and our own NamelessPhil. Now THAT would be epic!!

He'd eat me for breakfast! The height difference would be comical given that I'm 164cm on a good day.

That's the beauty of cycling, it doesn't matter if you're small and stocky or tall and lanky, you can still cycle the same route under the same conditions.

magicbastarder

back in long sleeves today for the first time since about march i think. still, a lovely day for it, but windier than expected. 75km around NCD.

magicbastarder

magicbastarder wrote: »

back in long sleeves today for the first time since about march i think. still, a lovely day for it, but windier than expected. 75km around NCD.

Same as, touch of grass frost when I left this morning just before 7 too.

secman

Solo into Gorey to meet the club, out to Camolin, Ferns, taking the new road into Enniscorthy . Out towards Oulart and a right turn to Ballaghdreen. Left onto main road to Ballyedmund and into Ballycanew where i turned for home. 85 km (22 solo) avg 29.6kph 686 meters.
First time in a long time with long sleeved body armour, gillet and overshoes but persisted with bib shorts.

rolling boh

Definitely time to add the layers a bit nice dry day out around Dunboyne but a drop in temperature for sure .

Tony EH

Dublin city centre to Slade Valley and back. I do this run often as a quickie. Today was about 14 degrees out and the cycle was fine. I didn't feel cold on the bike. It was quite comfortable.

But...I experienced something I have never experienced ever before.

After finishing the cycle, my temp was up. I wasn't really sweating, but I was hot when I got back home. I drank some cold water to try and bring down my temp a bit. However, my temperature kept going down until I was shivering, like it was freezing. I put on the radiators, and the wife made me a hot water bottle too and I jumped under the bed covers.

For the next two hours, I shivered in the bed, despite the fact that the house was like a sauna.

My temperature is back up now and I feel fine. But for a while there the missus thought I had Covid. :pac:

Anyone here had something like that before? Because I hadn't a clue what was happening.

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

Same as, touch of grass frost when I left this morning just before 7 too.

I'm heading out at 7am tomorrow. Did you need overshoes or leggings? I'm in two minds as to what to wear.

Wildly Boaring

I had a lovely spin today.

Last few weekends I've gone hill hunting
Today I just headed off on a meander of smaller roads in what id class mid Meath.
Took the worst route possible through this lot
Colpe, Duleek, Yellow Furze, Garlow, Bective, Moynalvey, Dunsany, Tara, Skryne

3 hours tipping along in the sun.

Yep there's a chill about.
No need ovrshoes or toe covers.

Long thermal under jersey. Brought gillet but never used.
Knee warmers on for the first 2 hours.

I was cold and hungry when I stopped though.
Shower and a coffee sorted me.
And I am a very warm blooded individual

triggermortis

I didn't ride to work today as I got up too late (05.00 start is killing me!!) but went out afterwards to make up for it. Sun was shining but was a bit windy in places.
Felt good to be on the good bike instead of the commuter...

https://www.strava.com/activities/4115223292

Seth Brundle

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I'm heading out at 7am tomorrow. Did you need overshoes or leggings? I'm in two minds as to what to wear.

I'd recommend overshoes or toe warmers. I went out at 9am today and after a while my toes were freezing to the point of being numb. After about 70km I had to get the group to stop so I could walk around a bit.
I was wearing shorts and whilst my knees felt it a bit it wasn't too bad. I'm reluctant to wear leggings just yet.
The other area I really felt the cold was my head. I had a neck warmer on (Liberté multi scarf thrown free into a recent order from Galibier) and after five minutes out I moved it up onto my head. Was fine after that.

Seth Brundle

Seth Brundle wrote: »

I'd recommend overshoes or toe warmers. I went out at 9am today and after a while my toes were freezing to the point of being numb. After about 70km I had to get the group to stop so I could walk around a bit.
I was wearing shorts and whilst my knees felt it a bit it wasn't too bad. I'm reluctant to wear leggings just yet.
The other area I really felt the cold was my head. I had a neck warmer on (Liberté multi scarf thrown free into a recent order from Galibier) and after five minutes out I moved it up onto my head. Was fine after that.

Thanks. Yeah, was out early last Sunday and my feet got cold and it's significantly colder now. Might go with the unusual combination of overshoes and shorts. Can't bring myself to wear leggings just yet, and if tomorrow is anything like today it'll be warm by the time I get home.

Wishbone Ash

Deleted User wrote: »

Thanks. Yeah, was out early last Sunday and my feet got cold and it's significantly colder now. Might go with the unusual combination of overshoes and shorts. Can't bring myself to wear leggings just yet, and if tomorrow is anything like today it'll be warm by the time I get home.

I suppose we're all different but I'd be in gloves and arm warmers long before I'd need over shoes or leggings. As you say, it will warm up, so if you can manage without the overshoes for an hour or two, i'd leave them out.

Thats it we're all different, I was grand in the short bibs, base and long sleeve but I did have the light jacket on starting out but that was too much for me and ended up in my pocket after 10km. I do tend to run hotter than most but still I was glad my arms were covered. Legs and feet I'd be the same as WA on the covers and leggings

Tomorrow looks to be more or less the same.

magicbastarder

i go from shorts to leggings at around 8 or 10C (depends on length of ride, wind etc) but i have a decent tolerance for cold.
today wasn't bad - i had a light long sleeved top on, but it was 13C so not exactly baltic. reasonably stiff northerly breeze.

Seth Brundle

magicbastarder wrote: »

i go from shorts to leggings at around 8 or 10C (depends on length of ride, wind etc) but i have a decent tolerance for cold.
today wasn't bad - i had a light long sleeved top on, but it was 13C so not exactly baltic. reasonably stiff northerly breeze.

It was 2C when I left home. There was frost on our cars and her windscreen was frozen over.
The lack of a sea breeze makes a difference possibly

Got out at first light for a solo 85k at 29kph with 1000 climbing. Heavy frost and 1 degree when leaving. Went with overshoes, shorts, gloves, base layer and long sleeve jersey and got it just about right. Absolutely stunning morning for a spin.

Passed a guy heading out the road early into cycle and was travelling a few k faster than him. Gave a big wave and a 'good morning' and got nothing back. Realised then he had latched on to my back wheel, and weirdly, he hung in without saying as much as a word for a few k. I put the boot down after a while and dropped him as punishment for being so odd.

magicbastarder

Just a short 38km this morning. Beautiful morning, had already climbed to 10C by the time I left. I don't think I've seen so many cyclists on the road in years, the Seamus Ennis centre was packed as I passed by.

magicbastarder

magicbastarder wrote: »

Just a short 38km this morning. Beautiful morning, had already climbed to 10C by the time I left. I don't think I've seen so many cyclists on the road in years, the Seamus Ennis centre was packed as I passed by.

I've never seen as many cyclists out on the road as the last few Sundays. Combination of the TDF being on and the beautiful weather I would imagine. I've also seen lots of newcomers to cycling on the roads which is fantastic.

magicbastarder

Yep, definitely a lot of people new to cycling. Quite a few over 60s and over 70s too I reckon.

rolling boh

Perfect day for cycling a good number out around dunboyne summerhill road area today .

Oberkon

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Got out at first light for a solo 85k at 29kph with 1000 climbing. Heavy frost and 1 degree when leaving. Went with overshoes, shorts, gloves, base layer and long sleeve jersey and got it just about right. Absolutely stunning morning for a spin.

Passed a guy heading out the road early into cycle and was travelling a few k faster than him. Gave a big wave and a 'good morning' and got nothing back. Realised then he had latched on to my back wheel, and weirdly, he hung in without saying as much as a word for a few k. I put the boot down after a while and dropped him as punishment for being so odd.

He probably thought you were weird for saying hello! You actually get a lot of that nowadays , it’s like I don’t know you so won’t even say hello back . Always nice to drop them, like you did after him sitting on your wheel like that
Doesn’t take much to even nod when passing etc

smacl

Short one for me today, just 32k with 690m of climbing. Traffic was mental around Cruagh and Tibradden so went onto the Coilte tracks off Pine Forest road on the Wicklow way. Beautiful day out but keeping with the Dublin covid limits was a bit of a chore.

Oberkon

Oberkon wrote: »

He probably thought you were weird for saying hello! You actually get a lot of that nowadays , it’s like I don’t know you so won’t even say hello back . Always nice to drop them, like you did after him sitting on your wheel like that
Doesn’t take much to even nod when passing etc

It was about 7.45 am and freezing cold. I would have thought that would be the time for a bit of solidarity with fellow cyclists. Maybe he got the hump because I passed him. Would gladly have gone with him for a few k if he would have taken a turn at the front, but I guessed the offer was never going to come.

secman

magicbastarder wrote: »

Yep, definitely a lot of people new to cycling. Quite a few over 60s and over 70s too I reckon.

I can attest to those age ranges

secman

Gorey to Arklow, woodenbridge, Avoca, towards Rathdrum, taking 2nd turn for Ballinaclash , Aughrim, woodenbridge Arklow and back to Gorey. 78 km , 32.3 kph 600 odd metres
Glorious cycling weather one the sun rose and burnt off the frost. Long sleeve base, summer kit, Gillet and overshoes to keep toes warm. Once my feet are toasty my brain assumes im warm

Luxman

I love a chase me. Left Summerhill in the Dunboyne direction with 2 cyclists about 600m in front of me. Didn't think to chase until I 'started calculating' if the gap was shrinking. Kept them in sight for a few km and though it was getting a bit smaller. I wasn't aware but they saw me behind and decided to keep the pace up. They tired before I did and caught them on the little drag up to Mullagh. I acknowledged them and went on down over that hill. Turned right at the 90degree turn for Blackhall and was expecting the chase, but alas they must have went straight on. Fun.

Daroxtar

One for the Joe Duffy brigade today...
A couple of us on the Sunday club spin got in behind a big tractor with a load of round bales just outside of Johnstownbridge and got a draft the whole way through Edenderry and on to Daingean. Nearly 30km surfing along at 40kmh, not even breaking a sweat. I'm sure there will be some out there who frown upon such carry on but it was pure bliss. Only for we'd agreed to have our coffee stop there we could have ended up in Roscrea
Did the rest of the spin at a decent enough pace too so ended up with about 115km @ 34.5kmh average and only felt like I'd done half that.
Yaay for tractors!!!!

JMcL

Yesterday morning was a solo 83km with about 865m climbing around south KK. Some lovely backroads between Ferrybank and New Ross. There's a fair amount of climbing as the road zigzags up and down the hill, but it's all long, draggy and very manageable on quiet, for the most part well surfaced roads, with nice scenery. More challenging was the road from New Ross across to Mullinavat which had a couple of testing sections on in. First was what started off as a steady 8% ramping up to 12% for probably a bit over a kilometre, then after a bit of a descent came a knee breaker of a steady 10-13% for the best part of km before easing back to something a bit more reasonable for another bit.

Glorious day and definitely one for layers. It was about 4 degrees when I left, 14 when I got back. Mistral was perfect for both extremes, and I was grand for the most part in shorts, but fingers and toes would have benefited from heavier gloves and overshoes respectively