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

positron

mugsymugsy wrote: »

Fair play to you for sticking it out. You planning on cycling back

Guess what I did yesterday?

Left Buncrana at around 0830 hours, took the same route (Derry, Strabane, Sion Mills, Omagh, nice big lunch at Kellys, Monahan etc and N2. Couple of rains early on, but weather improved by mid day. Got tired of the monotony of N2, and tried Google navigation that looked good in paper/phone, but the darn thing took me over sh1ttiest country lanes that are only fit for 4x4s, up and down many hills and sharp turns, and eventually lead me straight to a dead-end. There was an gap in the hedge with nothing but overgrown field on the other side and that's road according to Google. I was in a very dark place emotionally at this time, even thought of expletives I would send to Sunder Pichai (in Tamil) when I get home. I was struggling hard, out of water, and this detour added 10k to total distance! Finally I got back to N2 and turns out I was still 19k away from Ardee and that would be the first opportunity to get some water!! Barely made it to Ardee, crawled into Spar and bought a nice Yazoo drink, banana and water, and went into the nearby church and made their centuries old scripture stone thingee my make shift table and camped there for 20 mins. The hills between Ardee and Collon is something else - especially with the state that I was in. Eventually made it to Drogheda without any punctures like the last time - except the chain came off a couple of times, minor annoyance. By the end, I was so eager to get off the bike I even scored a PR in one of the last segments near home!

Unfortunately for me, phone keeps killing Strava app, so it didn't capture the first 25 kms from Buncrana to Derry. Anyway, it's somewhere around 10 hours of moving time, 12 hours door to door, approximately 235 kms covered, 1556m climbed.

Relive.cc Video: https://video.relive.cc/9913922211_strava_1502141677485.mp4

Although last couple of weeks of biking has been really amazing, this is the end of the cycling adventures for me for a while. Cycling was supposed to be the cross training for Dublin City Marathon in October (another first), and over last couple of weeks it has completely taken over and I haven't been out running. Bike is back in the shed now, except for an odd Drogheda-Dundrum commute etc. Until next time...!

markcahill1985

Bought my first road bike on Saturday and had my first spin yesterday. Have let myself get pretty unfit the past few years. Managed 30k yesterday with a 3k climb home at the end. Found it extremely tough and feeling it today. Feel it's a sport I will enjoy and looking forward to getting out again and hope it gets a bit easier.

The tax man

As if La Marmotte was enough of a challenge, I took on La Purito in Andorra over the weekend. My first time riding in the Pyrenees. Completely different to anything I've ridden in the Alps.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1120540944

Takca

markcahill1985 wrote: »

Feel it's a sport I will enjoy and looking forward to getting out again and hope it gets a bit easier.

It will, I barely notice the "cuntin hill" home that I used to dread in February. Stick with it ;-)

positron

The tax man wrote: »

As if La Marmotte was enough of a challenge, I took on La Purito in Andorra over the weekend. My first time riding in the Pyrenees. Completely different to anything I've ridden in the Alps.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1120540944

Nearly 6k climbing!! :eek::eek:

Eamonnator

Takca wrote: »

It will, I barely notice the "cuntin hill" home that I used to dread in February. Stick with it ;-)

That must be a very common name for hills.
There's one named that near me.

tikkamark

positron wrote: »

mugsymugsy wrote: »

Fair play to you for sticking it out. You planning on cycling back

Guess what I did yesterday?

Left Buncrana at around 0830 hours, took the same route (Derry, Strabane, Sion Mills, Omagh, nice big lunch at Kellys, Monahan etc and N2. Couple of rains early on, but weather improved by mid day. Got tired of the monotony of N2, and tried Google navigation that looked good in paper/phone, but the darn thing took me over sh1ttiest country lanes that are only fit for 4x4s, up and down many hills and sharp turns, and eventually lead me straight to a dead-end. There was an gap in the hedge with nothing but overgrown field on the other side and that's road according to Google. I was in a very dark place emotionally at this time, even thought of expletives I would send to Sunder Pichai (in Tamil) when I get home. I was struggling hard, out of water, and this detour added 10k to total distance! Finally I got back to N2 and turns out I was still 19k away from Ardee and that would be the first opportunity to get some water!! Barely made it to Ardee, crawled into Spar and bought a nice Yazoo drink, banana and water, and went into the nearby church and made their centuries old scripture stone thingee my make shift table and camped there for 20 mins. The hills between Ardee and Collon is something else - especially with the state that I was in. Eventually made it to Drogheda without any punctures like the last time - except the chain came off a couple of times, minor annoyance. By the end, I was so eager to get off the bike I even scored a PR in one of the last segments near home!

Unfortunately for me, phone keeps killing Strava app, so it didn't capture the first 25 kms from Buncrana to Derry. Anyway, it's somewhere around 10 hours of moving time, 12 hours door to door, approximately 235 kms covered, 1556m climbed.

Relive.cc Video: https://video.relive.cc/9913922211_strava_1502141677485.mp4

Although last couple of weeks of biking has been really amazing, this is the end of the cycling adventures for me for a while. Cycling was supposed to be the cross training for Dublin City Marathon in October (another first), and over last couple of weeks it has completely taken over and I haven't been out running. Bike is back in the shed now, except for an odd Drogheda-Dundrum commute etc. Until next time...!

Amazing bit of stamina to complete a trip like that!!Fair play to you!

magicbastarder

lovely evening out there. 51km from glasnevin, out past knocksedan, ratoath, kilbride and home. averaged over 29km/h, highest i've yet managed; quite a flat route though.

markcahill1985

markcahill1985 wrote:

Bought my first road bike on Saturday and had my first spin yesterday. Have let myself get pretty unfit the past few years. Managed 30k yesterday with a 3k climb home at the end. Found it extremely tough and feeling it today. Feel it's a sport I will enjoy and looking forward to getting out again and hope it gets a bit easier.

Absolutely beautiful evening out there. Took her out again this evening for a spin. First time solo. Did the same route and got my 30k in. Dare to say that climb home was a little easier tonight although I was passed out by 4 others who didn't look like they were breaking a sweat haha. Amazed how friendly other cyclists are; everyone had a wave or a hello. Feel great now.

retalivity

Up and down ballinascorney to the top, then round the reservoir, up Cunard to the military road and back into dublin city. In my search for walls to climb, i took a right on aligour road up a little lane (ballymorefinn??) - what a little thunderbastard. According to strava its only 400m averaging at 14.3%, i felt every second of the 3mins it took me to get up it though

https://www.strava.com/activities/1125533402

LollipopJimmy

I'd gotten the feeling lately that I was too relaxed on the bike. Doing nice distances regularly but not wrecked enough after it. So this evening I went out on a 20km route with the intention of emptying my legs... well it worked alright, 20kms around Dublin and my legs/lungs feel like they're on fire... in a good way

secman

A short spin out to the Lamb, left for Manor kilbride and left on to Lisheen, and back n81 , down embankment and home. 32.5 km avg 27.4 kph.

Daroxtar

The tax man wrote: »

As if La Marmotte was enough of a challenge, I took on La Purito in Andorra over the weekend. My first time riding in the Pyrenees. Completely different to anything I've ridden in the Alps.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1120540944

That's savage, I've my eye on it since the crazy stage in la Vuelta two years ago. Huge chapeau to you

Daroxtar

Made my first attempt at racing last night in the last round of the club league, previously I'd only done a time trial. I've been going well on the club spins at the weekend so the guys setting the handicap put me in the semi scratch group. There's no way I'm semi scratch. The handicappers were instantly removed from my Christmas card list!!!
Went out the back on the first lap and nearly blew my ring altogether trying to get back on. In my defense I had just done a good turn and as the group rolled past I waited for the last rider to pass me only to see them a hundred yards back and then there was a gap which I just couldn't close.
Then the scratch group caught me and urged me to jump in with them but that only lasted a minute as I was already shot. I gave myself a minute to recover and then just held a steady pace for a solo lap to the end. Baptism of fire!!
Despite the pain I enjoyed it and I was only ever treating it as a workout and gauge to see where I'm at. I'd like to think if I'd been in the next group I'd have held on better. And a couple of riders finished behind me so no Lantern Rouge either.

Rolled on home for 29km@35.4kmh
https://www.strava.com/activities/1127291585

magicbastarder

nice morning for it out there, 51km around NCD. i see snowtown was resurfaced with the cheapo resurfacing option, but a few weeks ago i guess. not too bad now, but there is still just a little bit of loose gravel in places.

also, top notch work to the guy in the articulated lorry who overtook me coming on the approach to the narrow bridge over the broadmeadow, on the R130.

Boscoirl

Club spin this morning. Done of the lads are doing a mizen2malin next week, so it was to be a handy one, did 75km @ ~27kmph

Legs like jelly for the first 30km after a 5km obstacle course thing I did yesterday. Stepped it up for the next 30km and drove the group on and the racing group passed us with about 15km to home so I jumped onto them managed to hang on for about 10k where they were averaging about 40kmph. Much more enjoyable than last week

grouchyman

55km Aughty challenge. First time on the bike for almost two months. Very enjoyable trip. Kudos to Portumna CC for a very enjoyable morning.

lethal dose

Done the LL 90K today but just as I was nearing the end and just within the 50K zone was a boy 6 or 7 and his sister on my left. I was on my own at that stage and he moved to the edge of the footpath as I approached and held out his arm to high five me! I slowed down so as to accept and ensure I didn't miss and make sure it was a gentle five. I have to say it was the best feeling I've ever had out cycling, I'll be back next year even if just to relive the memory.

Bet you made that wee lads day, chapeau!!!!

lethal dose

Truth is he made mine

Whyner

First sportive for me yesterday at the Leinster Loop and a great day out. Perfect weather, risked not bringing any jacket

Tonnes of grub before, during and after. Registering was a breeze. The jersey fit and looks decent

Loved the jostling for the first 30-40k with mini groups creating. Got totally caught up in it as I knew I would so the first 80k until the stop was quick for me

Last 50 a different story, only stopped for 10 mins and went out with a mate in a group out of my league and got dropped in less than a minute. Struggled to get in with any other groups so went solo for large parts. I've a terrible habit of sitting up and riding no hands to relive pressure on my back. Booking in for a fitting this week. Fair play to everyone involved, really well run and you should be very proud.

Topped it off by gorging on a Massaman with a few Helvicks and watched Icarus

130k @ 30.5 with 1126 Up

https://www.strava.com/activities/1131471444

rushfan

Beautiful morning out there. 73km around NCD. Quite a few other cyclists out too, almost like a Saturday.

triggermortis

55km around NCD. Was fairly windy and just got home before a large downpour.
Everything aches now. Need to get out more...

P_1

60km down to Eniskerry via Glencullen and back via Bray. That headwind on the coast road back was most unpleasant indeed. Need to do more non commute cycles as that was pretty sluggish.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1141205697

veganrun

Probably more of a rant but the other day I was cycling to work and some pedestrian walked straight into the cycle path without looking and I had to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting her. She had her back to the direction I was coming from and didn't even notice. I didn't have time to ding the bell, just had to slam on the brakes and skid. Grrrrr.

Rant over.

As for today, I did 2-3 miles on my first road bike (been using a hybrid so far). It went well enough, but need to get used to it and the gears.

magicbastarder

glad i got out this morning, not so pleasant out there now. windier than i expected though, was fighting a headwind for over half the cycle.
and i could not get 'wichita lineman' out of my head for the entire spin.

LollipopJimmy

40odd kms yesterday at a strong pace and into headwinds. Was bunched given I'd done a Muay Thai class yesterday morning.

Today I just did 25kms at a potter and watched the iron men and women. Got home just as the rain started, the only thing close to exertion I had today was chapelizod hill. Funny that I used to tear up that hill on a bmx and a big heavy Black Diamond Zoom back when I was a teen.

Daroxtar

Good spin with a buddy today. He's coming to Spain with me in a few weeks so wanted to get some hills done. We did that.
Ticknock- Kilmashogue- Cruagh- Kippure- Laragh- Coffee and cake, then back up Glenmacnass and Sally Gap and back to the start.
116km with 2119m climbing at a very leisurely 22kmh
It was a pleasant enough day to start but by the time we got up Kippure it was 7degrees and a bit of mist coming in. The descent to Laragh was cold but the coffee and cake was lovely. The climb back up the Gap wasn't too bad as we had a mild tailwind but we weren't in any hurry anyway, just enjoying being out. Got to within a few hundred yards of the start and the rain started. Could not really have timed it any better. Legs are feeling it a bit but the rest of the body is feeling pretty good.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1142883112

Takca

I did the Leitrim Glens 100KM today, I arrived early to see the 200KM start, about 40 of them left at 9AM for a long day in the saddle.

Then at 10AM we took off, I started with a strong group (to strong for me) but got dropped after about 20KM once the going got tough. Then I settled into a pace I was happy with. Chatting with some other soloists along the way. Had a great day, rain even stayed off for all but the last 10KM. I'm hoping I'll be able for the climbing in the 200KM next year....

http://leitrimglens.com/
https://www.strava.com/activities/1142991541

cdaly_

Takca wrote: »

I did the Leitrim Glens 100KM today, I arrived early to see the 200KM start, about 40 of them left at 9AM for a long day in the saddle.

Then at 10AM we took off, I started with a strong group (to strong for me) but got dropped after about 20KM once the going got tough. Then I settled into a pace I was happy with. Chatting with some other soloists along the way. Had a great day, rain even stayed off for all but the last 10KM. I'm hoping I'll be able for the climbing in the 200KM next year....

http://leitrimglens.com/
https://www.strava.com/activities/1142991541

Come visit on http://audaxireland.org and get in training...