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

Wildly Boaring

Wildly Boaring wrote: »

Got out for an hour. Delightful to get away from the turbo.

Had a fella on an ebike behind me for a few mins. Quick yokes.

Chances a road that was a bit bumpy over the summer. It eh wasn't great

Where is that?, familiar but I can't put my finger on it.

fat bloke

Broke outta the shed today too. Traced a 13km lap within my boundaries and kept circling till I had 100k done! Still a cerebral brow-beating but nothing as bad as my previous 4km lap 100!

LollipopJimmy

I had to visit a site in West Dublin then another out Southside, 55kms all in. Making steady progress, I should be back to 30kph average 100km spins in no time

Large bottle small glass

Wildly Boaring wrote: »

Got out for an hour. Delightful to get away from the turbo.

Had a fella on an ebike behind me for a few mins. Quick yokes.

Chances a road that was a bit bumpy over the summer. It eh wasn't great

They have a bit to go yet, 2 or 3 more rough winters and they should be perfect.:)

Crappy surfaces are avoided by cars and they tend to be slower traffic.

Wildly Boaring

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Where is that?, familiar but I can't put my finger on it.

This little road.
Was just trying to not retrace my steps

Wildly Boaring

Wildly Boaring wrote: »

This little road.
Was just trying to not retrace my steps

My god your pictures make that road look good !!!!!!! I was down it before Christmas and the whole time thinking "glad I'm not not on the Road bike"

I recall asking Eamon I think on here about is last year as I'd not been down it in years so had some expectations of what I was going to encounter.

magicbastarder

smacl wrote: »

Photo was taken from where the arrow is pointing in the map below.

picture not showing - going to the link says invalid attachment.

Wildly Boaring

[Deleted User] wrote: »

My god your pictures make that road look good !!!!!!! I was down it before Christmas and the whole time thinking "glad I'm not not on the Road bike"

I recall asking Eamon I think on here about is last year as I'd not been down it in years so had some expectations of what I was going to encounter.

I was on the road bike.
Had few little twitches getting around the holes. But nothing too bad. Killed my average speed though

CramCycle

Deleted User wrote: »

Anyone found a way to warn walkers who use the middle of the road that you are coming behind them?

If you have expensive wheels, just freewheel in good time. Otherwise, simply slow down and say "lovely morning", big smile and a wave. Does the job for most of it.

CramCycle

CramCycle wrote: »

If you have expensive wheels, just freewheel in good time. Otherwise, simply slow down and say "lovely morning", big smile and a wave. Does the job for most of it.

That's usually my approach for walkers in the middle of the road, and it does the trick most of the time, but was going into a head wind yesterday (nearly always the same in that spot) so nothing worked. Slowed to a crawl and when I passed whilst saying hello, two old ladies nearly had a heart attack! They were petrified. I may have to borrow the young fella's Peppa Pig bell. Never experienced it before as people have only started walking in the middle of the quiet roads in the pandemic. Have come across a few walking around blind corners on the wrong side of the road too. I think they are just not regular road walkers.

smacl

CramCycle wrote: »

If you have expensive wheels, just freewheel in good time. Otherwise, simply slow down and say "lovely morning", big smile and a wave. Does the job for most of it.

Similar enough on all the local Coilte tracks at the moment with walkers and dogs, just a matter of taking a more pedestrian pace in shared spaces. You get the workout on the climb and end up at ambling pace on the downhill. Its going to be this way until lockdown ends or the early mornings are bright enough to allow getting out before the masses. Nothing to be done other than get on with it and keep on smiling.

smacl

Deleted User wrote: »

That's usually my approach for walkers in the middle of the road, and it does the trick most of the time, but was going into a head wind yesterday (nearly always the same in that spot) so nothing worked. Slowed to a crawl and when I passed whilst saying hello, two old ladies nearly had a heart attack! They were petrified. I may have to borrow the young fella's Peppa Pig bell. Never experienced it before as people have only started walking in the middle of the quiet roads in the pandemic.

I've found on Stocking lane and Cruagh that you really have to expect walkers on the road on the far side of blind corners, slow right down and take them quite wide. Also plenty of people stepping out onto the road to avoid other pedestrians without looking behind them first. May just get that Peppa Pig bell myself too...

smacl

smacl wrote: »

I've found on Stocking lane and Cruagh that you really have to expect walkers on the road on the far side of blind corners, slow right down and take them quite wide. Also plenty of people stepping out onto the road to avoid other pedestrians without looking behind them first. May just get that Peppa Pig bell myself too...

Absolutely, it's been a learning curve. I'd say I'm a lot more rural and very quiet compared to most so coming across a walker on the wrong side of a blind corner is very unusual but it happened yesterday so I'll be ultra aware from now on.

D13exile

Ah motorists giving out about cyclists and now cyclists giving out about walkers. I guess its like the food chain . Before I had enough of the "keep within the 5km limit" (and following the event below) and started doing all my cycling indoors, I used to enjoy doing loops that included one particular stretch of road near me that was quiet, rarely seen a car on it and had a good surface with some nice fast bends to throw myself round (on the bike of course). As it was a slight downhill stretch too, I could really put the hammer down and do 40kph+ on it while practicing leaning into a fast bend and switching over to lean into an opposite bend. Until one day I'm literally flying round one bend (keeping out from the verge just in case there is a walker or two) only to come round the apex and find about 8 women, most of them with buggys and young kids in them literally forming a human chain the full width of the road. I had absolutely nowhere to go as they were stretched from one hedge to the other side of the road with no gaps. I yanked on the brakes (luckily I was in the drops and not on the tops of the bars which would have delayed me by a second or two and resulted in a crash) and stopped just in time and I mean within inches of a pram with a young child. Naturally everyone was shaken but then that quickly passed and I got the full tirade from said ladies about me "almost killing them". When I tried to politely point out that if I was a car that would have been moving much faster, there would have been fatalities as they were stretched across the full width of the road on the other side of a blind bend. This didn't cut any mustard with them and the phones came out and the "I'm calling the Guards" started. I said go ahead, as you were stretched the full width of the road and not keeping into the edge as they should have been. Then the verbals really ramped up and I wished them all a nice day and moved on with them still giving out in my wake. I dropped into my local Garda Station later as I know the Sargent through my job and explained what had happened (he's a cyclist too btw). He said we were all in the wrong and told me to dial back the speed or get a turbo and compete with him on Zwift . So that's one of the reasons I got my rollers (as I couldn't afford a direct drive turbo).

rushfan

Deleted User wrote: »

Was thinking that might be the only option. May have to take the plunge as there are so many walkers using the middle of the roads within my 5k.

Thanks a million.

The thing that really gets me is those walkers who, while walking in the same direction that I'm cycling, suddenly & without looking backwards, step off the footpaths so as to social distance from oncoming walkers.

a_squirrelman

D13exile wrote: »

Ah motorists giving out about cyclists and now cyclists giving out about walkers. I guess its like the food chain . Before I had enough of the "keep within the 5km limit" (and following the event below) and started doing all my cycling indoors, I used to enjoy doing loops that included one particular stretch of road near me that was quiet, rarely seen a car on it and had a good surface with some nice fast bends to throw myself round (on the bike of course). As it was a slight downhill stretch too, I could really put the hammer down and do 40kph+ on it while practicing leaning into a fast bend and switching over to lean into an opposite bend. Until one day I'm literally flying round one bend (keeping out from the verge just in case there is a walker or two) only to come round the apex and find about 8 women, most of them with buggys and young kids in them literally forming a human chain the full width of the road. I had absolutely nowhere to go as they were stretched from one hedge to the other side of the road with no gaps. I yanked on the brakes (luckily I was in the drops and not on the tops of the bars which would have delayed me by a second or two and resulted in a crash) and stopped just in time and I mean within inches of a pram with a young child. Naturally everyone was shaken but then that quickly passed and I got the full tirade from said ladies about me "almost killing them". When I tried to politely point out that if I was a car that would have been moving much faster, there would have been fatalities as they were stretched across the full width of the road on the other side of a blind bend. This didn't cut any mustard with them and the phones came out and the "I'm calling the Guards" started. I said go ahead, as you were stretched the full width of the road and not keeping into the edge as they should have been. Then the verbals really ramped up and I wished them all a nice day and moved on with them still giving out in my wake. I dropped into my local Garda Station later as I know the Sargent through my job and explained what had happened (he's a cyclist too btw). He said we were all in the wrong and told me to dial back the speed or get a turbo and compete with him on Zwift . So that's one of the reasons I got my rollers (as I couldn't afford a direct drive turbo).

:pac: But you weren't in the wrong.

Wildly Boaring

a_squirrelman wrote: »

:pac: But you weren't in the wrong.

We all have to use the roads with due care and attention.

a_squirrelman

Wildly Boaring wrote: »

We all have to use the roads with due care and attention.

Of course, but 8 abreast on a turn.

Seth Brundle

We're going off topic (again) but many years ago I was chatting with a rural client who had been found responsible for injuring someone (I think fatally) who whilst drunk was lying flat across a road just over the crest of a hill and he drove over them.

MojoMaker

That could be akin to the well-touted cycling equivalent of "3 abreast, Joe!!" :pac:

Seth Brundle

Seth Brundle wrote: »

We're going off topic (again) but many years ago I was chatting with a rural client who had been found responsible for injuring someone (I think fatally) who whilst drunk was lying flat across a road just over the crest of a hill and he drove over them.

I think I dragged this off topic with an innocent request about safely approaching pedestrians in the middle of the road.

D13exile

D13exile wrote: »

Ah motorists giving out about cyclists and now cyclists giving out about walkers. I guess its like the food chain . Before I had enough of the "keep within the 5km limit" (and following the event below) and started doing all my cycling indoors, I used to enjoy doing loops that included one particular stretch of road near me that was quiet, rarely seen a car on it and had a good surface with some nice fast bends to throw myself round (on the bike of course). As it was a slight downhill stretch too, I could really put the hammer down and do 40kph+ on it while practicing leaning into a fast bend and switching over to lean into an opposite bend. Until one day I'm literally flying round one bend (keeping out from the verge just in case there is a walker or two) only to come round the apex and find about 8 women, most of them with buggys and young kids in them literally forming a human chain the full width of the road. I had absolutely nowhere to go as they were stretched from one hedge to the other side of the road with no gaps. I yanked on the brakes (luckily I was in the drops and not on the tops of the bars which would have delayed me by a second or two and resulted in a crash) and stopped just in time and I mean within inches of a pram with a young child. Naturally everyone was shaken but then that quickly passed and I got the full tirade from said ladies about me "almost killing them". When I tried to politely point out that if I was a car that would have been moving much faster, there would have been fatalities as they were stretched across the full width of the road on the other side of a blind bend. This didn't cut any mustard with them and the phones came out and the "I'm calling the Guards" started. I said go ahead, as you were stretched the full width of the road and not keeping into the edge as they should have been. Then the verbals really ramped up and I wished them all a nice day and moved on with them still giving out in my wake. I dropped into my local Garda Station later as I know the Sargent through my job and explained what had happened (he's a cyclist too btw). He said we were all in the wrong and told me to dial back the speed or get a turbo and compete with him on Zwift . So that's one of the reasons I got my rollers (as I couldn't afford a direct drive turbo).

Rule one of the rules of the road doesn't apply to cycling no ?

secman

As in " Always expect the unexpected " ?

That and "You should always be able to stop within a distance you can see to be clear"

smacl

Up Cruagh road and into Cruagh woods to keep the climb going over lunch. Wet and misty and for once no one around so had the trails largely to myself. Came in like a drowned rat after a rather miserly 15.5k and 435 of climbing but still finding it better for the head than getting on the turbo.

D13exile

Deleted User wrote: »

That and "You should always be able to stop within a distance you can see to be clear"

Not saying I was entirely innocent here but I was keeping out from the verge in case there was a walker or two around the bend and I did stop in time......which so happened to be on the right hand side of the road where I veered when I saw the first of the ladies and her buggy as I went round the bend. Forming a human chain across a road, with no footpaths and on a blind bend was more than a little careless on their behalf. If I had been a car, things might not have ended so "well". I've stayed indoors cycling until such time as restrictions are lifted but I do go out walking with my kids and dogs and I still see walkers out in the middle of the road and/or with their dogs on the extendable leashes stretched out well to the front or side of them just waiting to trip up someone. Grrrrrrr....rant over.

smacl

D13exile wrote: »

Not saying I was entirely innocent here but I was keeping out from the verge in case there was a walker or two around the bend and I did stop in time......which so happened to be on the right hand side of the road where I veered when I saw the first of the ladies and her buggy as I went round the bend. Forming a human chain across a road, with no footpaths and on a blind bend was more than a little careless on their behalf. If I had been a car, things might not have ended so "well". I've stayed indoors cycling until such time as restrictions are lifted but I do go out walking with my kids and dogs and I still see walkers out in the middle of the road and/or with their dogs on the extendable leashes stretched out well to the front or side of them just waiting to trip up someone. Grrrrrrr....rant over.

Had this a few times in lock down, though not as bad as the above. Also had a bad accident some years ago where it was a car with a trailer taking the full width of the road on a blind corner, which was rather worse. Regardless of being in the right or wrong, I take blind corners slow enough at this point that I can stop dead if needs be. Tend to meet pedestrians on Cruagh and Stocking lane where there's no path most days since lockdown. Still enjoying the spins but fast they ain't. (That's my excuse why and I'm sticking to it )

Flyer1

Had a great spin today out around Tramore and the Coast road within my 5km. Got the bike back from a fairly major service including new wheels and changing from 23 up to 25c tyres.

Very impressed by the difference on the 25's ! Definitely more comfort on the bumpy sections. New brakes also took a bit of getting used to, it actually stops now.

Praying for some warmer temps and drier roads

Mercian Pro

Probably used the bell about twenty times in the Park and Tolka Valley Park today and most times it worked fine with people moving off the bike lane or back on to the footpath. I find if you ring it from a bit of a distance, you are more likely to get a positive response and fewer scowls. There's always a few who are anti-bike and think they are entitled to walk wherever they like and others with headphones who are in a world of their own. Wouldn't dream of cycling on the Canals without a bell on the bike.

44k at 27kph today with 700 up. Beautiful, but very windy day here in Cork. Same old route over and over again. Battle to get out with work and small kids but it's always worth the effort. Think I'd crack up without it!