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

crosstownk

TooObvious wrote: »

Cycling along the N7 this morning

I cycled the N7 from Naas to the Long Mile Road today. Not the most pleasant experience. The only positive was that the wind was behind me. It wasn't by choice. I'd missed a turn at Johnstown Bridge and was stuck for time by the time I got to Naas so the N7 was the quickest route home.

Very unpleasant and noisy with cars, trucks and busses whipping by.

Daroxtar wrote: »

Weather here was fine but the roads were manky dirty.

Agreed. The dirt was incredible. I went from home to Maynooth and onto Enfield. My bike was spotless when I set our today and now it's the dirtiest it's ever been. I hadn't time to clean it but I'll get to that during the week.

Anyway, great weather for January today. Missing the turn worked out well as I ended up with 110km and a relatively flat 500m.

Kaisr Sose

Totally agree on state of roads. My bike looks like it went cyclocrossing by itself when I was not looking! Is this the rock salt they are spreading on the roads (it looks like wet sand when it comes off the spreader). Maybe they mix salt with sand?

secman

Yesterday headed to killenagh, ballycanew, Gorey, out old n11 to Clogh, Camolin, Ferns. Left in Ferns across to The Harrow, Boolavogue, Ballyedmund and home. Just shy of 50 km , Avg 24.8 kph, windy oul spin. Bike was mank when I got back, same on Saturday on the Blessington spin. Thankfully I washed them down after both spins and ready to go again. That muck off stuff is handy

neris

1st spin off the year and 1st spin in months. A short flat 15km and the legs feel it. Felt good though to be back on the bike.

Alanstrainor

Well this morning was my first commute from my new house into town. Just bought a house in Portmarnock, so I came into Baldoyle and then just followed the coast all the way into Fairview where I work. The cycle from Portmarnock to Baldoyle will be the tough bit, the road is narrow enough and quite rural in feel. But it should be okay. The rest of the cycle was great, the off-road cycle track was fantastic, and not having any traffic lights to stop you makes it a quick commute!

We'll see how chipper I am when there's a strong headwind to contend with! But so far so good!

smacl

16k into a planned 25k and got my first broken chain ever (snapped quick link). Short enough walk back to the house so didn't bother fixing roadside, and a reminder to pay extra attention to cleaning with all the crap on the roads.

wanderer 22

smacl wrote: »

16k into a planned 25k and got my first broken chain ever (snapped quick link). Short enough walk back to the house so didn't bother fixing roadside, and a reminder to pay extra attention to cleaning with all the crap on the roads.

Had my first ever snapped chain a few days ago too, must be going around

Rogue-Trooper

Alanstrainor wrote: »

We'll see how chipper I am when there's a strong headwind to contend with!

If the headwind is bad just peel off up the Howth Road at Blackbanks and up through Raheny/Killester and into Fairview as there is a bit of protection from the wind on that route. Great surface on that road too.

Congrats on the new gaff BTW!

Mercian Pro

smacl wrote: »

16k into a planned 25k and got my first broken chain ever (snapped quick link). Short enough walk back to the house so didn't bother fixing roadside, and a reminder to pay extra attention to cleaning with all the crap on the roads.

colm18 wrote: »

Had my first ever snapped chain a few days ago too, must be going around

Neglected to clean and lubricate my chain a few winters ago. Not only did it snap but it snagged the cage of the derailleur and pulled it into the spokes. New derailleur, chain, cassette, chainring and wheel = expensive lesson.

veetwin

Fabulous day for cycling around North County Dublin ..50k into a planned 100 got my first ever puncture in the middle of nowhere west of Garristown. Off with the rear wheel, tube out, replacement tube in and tyre back on in minutes. First ever go at co2 canister with disastrous results. I mustn't have bedded the tube correctly and couldn't get it to inflate. Probably burst the tube trying. Thanks to the kind chap who stopped and assisted with a mini pump.

Called Mrs who collected me and dropped me to Richie's. 15 minutes and €55 lighter left with new Continental and tube. There was probably close to 10k on the tyre so cant complain. 13k more home so not a total disaster.

smacl

Cleaned and re-lubed chain that went yesterday and back out today for a lunch time 26k. Nice to be up and running but chain is defo on the way out, with plenty random gear changes and skips. Ordered a new one and spare yesterday which hopefully will be here for the weekend. Should really have picked up a cassette at the same as well, so that's next on the list. Lovely cycling weather out there, cool, dry and not windy, and set to continue that way for the next few days.

Luxman

An thoroughly enjoyable spin around NCD until I had clods of mud jammed under the mudguard adding resistance. Had to remove rear wheel on the side of the N2 to unclog it. Need to wash the bike now and do a decent job on it this time. 60k with 630m vertical. Glorious out there

Wishbone Ash

Alanstrainor wrote: »

... The cycle from Portmarnock to Baldoyle will be the tough bit, the road is narrow enough and quite rural in feel...

I've never had any problems on that stretch. Just stay well out from the edge to avoid close passes. It's one of the most popular roads for cyclists and most motorists appear to be accustomed to them being there.

(Good luck in your new home).

Inquitus

Did an FTP test last night in the dark and the rain and the mist heading up via Ballyboughal to the Naul, utterly horrible, head wasn't in the right place to embrace the suffering, weather was miserable, and it just hurt like hell mentally and physically for the 20 minutes, I got through it but it was the least enjoyable 20 minutes I have had on the bike in a good while.

dahat

Day off work so took out the Summer bike for a quick spin around, boy I miss that bike.

30km cruise at 28.7km AVG.

Inquitus

It's a bad spot for an FTP test fwiw, lots of surface and gradient changes, impossible to settle into a rythym, constant changing of gears and cadence, will find a better spot next time.

dahat

Inquitus wrote: »

It's a bad spot for an FTP test fwiw, lots of surface and gradient changes, impossible to settle into a rythym, constant changing of gears and cadence, will find a better spot next time.

Probably best done indoors maybe or a watt bike in a gym? Can't ever see myself doing one outdoors.

Inquitus

dahat wrote: »

Probably best done indoors maybe or a watt bike in a gym? Can't ever see myself doing one outdoors.

Agreed but the offset of a nice constant effort on the Wattbike or w/e is offset by melting like the wicked witch of the west into the floor!

Miklos

Nice club spin out to Howth, two passes of the head, one at balls to the wall pace. Then I spun up to FitzCycles and picked up my new Stages! Such a nice shop.

Parchment

Ended up lodging a complaint against a Bus Eireann bus driver this morning as a result of his conduct on my commute to work.

Waiting to hear back - know i probably wont.....

magicbastarder

i've lodged complaints twice with BE. next time i have cause to, i'll be going to the gardai.

Parchment

magicbastarder wrote: »

i've lodged complaints twice with BE. next time i have cause to, i'll be going to the gardai.

I told them i was contacting traffic watch too. I havent done it yet.

I doubt they will even bother to get back to me - they were not too pushed on the phone.

magicbastarder

both times, i sent emails rather than ringing them.

Parchment

magicbastarder wrote: »

both times, i sent emails rather than ringing them.

Oh i rang them - they told me to fill out the customer service form which i emailed in.

magicbastarder

colder and breezier out there than i expected. just 33k @26.7km/h, fairly took it out of me. maybe i'm not fully over this cold yet.

shootermacg

Parchment wrote: »

Ended up lodging a complaint against a Bus Eireann bus driver this morning as a result of his conduct on my commute to work.

Waiting to hear back - know i probably wont.....

What happened?

Annie get your Run

Parchment wrote: »

Ended up lodging a complaint against a Bus Eireann bus driver this morning as a result of his conduct on my commute to work.

Waiting to hear back - know i probably wont.....

They are by far the worst although a couple of private companies are not too far behind. Dublin Bus are not bad with only the occasional rogue driver being an ass but Bus Eireann really take the biscuit, in fact it looks to me like they go out of their way to make life difficult for cyclists.

kirk buttercup

3 spins of 25km this week and feeling very comfortable . Going to attempt my first 50 tomorrow, have changed to a carbon frames bike and loving it so will see how it goes.

retalivity

2017 starts today, or so i thought. Headed out from dublin city to stocking lane towards sally gap. Within 10 mins my fingers were frozen, my 6$ aliexpress waterproof & windproof thermal gloves being as useful as wet tissue wrapped round my fingers. Struggled on and up to the viewpoint for the first time in 2017, had the roads to myself, and bar the fingers was surprised how not-difficult it was considering ive done next to nothing for almost 3 months.
It was noticeably colder higher up, so decided to go down piperstown and out newcastle celbridge direction instead - forgot what a dog of a descent that piperstown is, coupled with the wind, my fingers were fecked by the bottom.

Cried off home to throw the gloves in the bin and look for new ones. A measly 31km in 92mins.

https://www.strava.com/activities/838922130

Parchment

shootermacg wrote: »

What happened?

I sent the email first thing Friday morning, nothing as of yet. surprise surprise!