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

Macy0161

Really couldn't face the wind and rain, and drivers, on Saturday so went out on the hardtail. Really enjoyed the spin (despite fork issues, as per the maintenance thread). Since my last time out a few new trails between me and ballinastoe have opened (and I've discovered a few more), which means I can cycle over with very little road and make a decent spin out of it.

They've really done up the trails in ballinastoe since I was last there. Was thinking n+1 would be an mtb, and saturday probably confirmed it, but really a full suss is looking overkill unless I'm ready to brave natural trails again. I did skip bump n grind and expressway, due to the fork issues, but I assume they've had the same work done? Anyway, no money for the moment but food for thought!

triggermortis

70km around NCD and as far over as Ashbourne @28.7kmh, which surprised me as I'm usually more snail-like.
Lovely morning for a spin

https://www.strava.com/activities/1200829835

Seaswimmer

Not quite my cycle today but just back early this morning from 10 days Faro to Alicante following the coast. 1115kms.

Not a drop of rain and not too hot most days. Back on the commute this evening which will be a bit strange..

brownian

Such a pleasant spin yesterday with Mrs B. Parked at the Beehive, then off to Deputy's pass, Rathdrum, Avondale, Avoca, over Beech Road to Arklow, across to the coast, up past Brittas and turn left at Magheramore to get back to the Beehive. A gentle 50k, with ever improving weather and lovely evening light.

wanderer 22

Seaswimmer wrote: »

Not quite my cycle today but just back early this morning from 10 days Faro to Alicante following the coast. 1115kms.

Not a drop of rain and not too hot most days. Back on the commute this evening which will be a bit strange..

Nice, sounds amazing. A full write up would be much appreciated :cool: , I'm looking at doing trip like this in the near(ish) future.

Torres09

Good 65km around NCD this morning...out early before them high temps lovely aul spin.

Seaswimmer

Seaswimmer wrote: »

Not quite my cycle today but just back early this morning from 10 days Faro to Alicante following the coast. 1115kms.

Not a drop of rain and not too hot most days. Back on the commute this evening which will be a bit strange..

colm18 wrote: »

Nice, sounds amazing. A full write up would be much appreciated :cool: , I'm looking at doing trip like this in the near(ish) future.

Well not much to write about. I have done the trip in the opposite direction before. I am not sure I would do this trip again for a couple of reasons.

1. Road from San Roque all the way through to Malaga is busy fast moving dual carriageway and not too pleasant to cycle on. No real alternatives unless you want to go up into the mountains.

2. Not much of a "Spanish experience" all the way from Estepona to Alicante. Coast is just full of resort towns (with a few exceptions).

Not for this thread but I did a trip a few years ago from Seville up to Santiago through the interior of Spain and that was by far my favourite of the trips I have done. PM me if you are thinking of anything in particular in Spain/Portugal and I will try and help.

Alanstrainor

I had a really weird one today cycling in. Every once in a while I come across this old fella (65+) walking in the cycle track. I ring my bell sometimes, he usually responds with "F*ck off". Today I saw him up ahead with his back to me, and he was stopped, I didn't ring the bell but he was waiting with a big rock in his hand and as I passed he lifted his arm to throw it at me! He didn't throw it, but what the hell! What a psycho!

Alanstrainor

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I had a really weird one today cycling in. Every once in a while I come across this old fella (65+) walking in the cycle track. I ring my bell sometimes, he usually responds with "F*ck off". Today I saw him up ahead with his back to me, and stopped, I didn't ring the bell but he was waiting with a big rock in his hand and as I passed he lifted his arm to throw it at me! He didn't throw it, but what the hell! What a psycho!

Jaysus that jarred something of a memory in me. Haven't lived in the area for about 5 years now but I used encounter a man same MO minus rock who liked to walk in a cycle lane and shout at me as I passed. This would have been on the churchtown road upper.

Alanstrainor

Deleted User wrote: »

Jaysus that jarred something of a memory in me. Haven't lived in the area for about 5 years now but I used encounter a man same MO minus rock who liked to walk in a cycle lane and shout at me as I passed. This would have been on the churchtown road upper.

I've moved since I last updated my profile! This is on the coast down from Baldoyle. I'll look to keep my camera running through that section tomorrow and beyond.

rollingscone

Just an extended commute on the world famous Wolfgang Beaterson for me:

Strava description says it best:

Dropped chain amidst a cloud of junkies. Dropped a dodgy pursuer in the park. Dealt with surprise mud traps in the singletrack and piles of cut grass on the few features Fatbag McCrapbag took on. Held firm when headphone peds Zombie walked across steep tracks.

It's a shared space but the obviousness of some people is astounding.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1203053380/shareable_images/map_based?hl=en-US&v=1506453034

Peterx

Cycled into town on the good bike and so had a financially and technologically assisted commute of awesomeness in the rising sun and slight tailwind. Park fun later. It's already a deadly day and it's only gonna get better.

Nearly managed 30kph average total time (although Strava's ego pleasing moving time does tip me over that mark)

Been off the bike for about 10 days or so due to illness + niggles that weren't going to get better by being on the bike. Legs were like lead and still a little wheezy but I forgot that once I got out the road a bit what a morning to be out, cool and bright.

Herself arrived back with some new Aldi livery for me yesterday so felt obliged to test that with a short spin out to Donore, Duleek and back in to town. As I said still not 100% full health but that really has set me up for the rest of the day mood wise.

secman

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Herself arrived back with some new Aldi livery for me yesterday .

It's only Aldi gear so it can't be too big whatever she's looking for

triggermortis

62Km out and around NCD on a few new roads ( I got lost again)

https://www.strava.com/activities/1207015128

Nice morning for it, bit windy in places

fader123

Just back from a brilliant spin up the Malahide Road and back around the coast via Howth to Fairview. Got caught in the very cold rain shortly after setting out but it was one of those days where the weather just doesn't matter. I love cycling!

neris

26km last night & 30km today. Both spins felt like id concrete blocks attached to the pedals and this morning was especially bad just couldn't get power out my legs and felt like changing gears wasn't doing anything

dahat

1 hour Spin today, nothing fancy but I reckon the good bike is away after tomorrow club spin, some short showers left the roads greasy and bike filthy.
I wore my Galibier leggings today, Mistral ones, not massively impressed but they will do, I had thought the rain would head off them but it didn't.

rushfan

Annual daa charity cycle today. 2 options, 60km or 100km. Cracking day for it. About 100 participants. Totalled 108km for the day. Home and happy. Now to ahem, rehydrate!!!

Inquitus

45km, a coffee and some scrambled egg in Naul, first time on the bike in a few months as I have been sick, great to be back out and a lovely day for it, beginning the slow build up for next season!

passinginterest

Commuting for the last few months 12.5k each way, Tallaght to city centre. Decided to try venture towards the hills today and see what all the fuss is about. Had planned to head down by Glensamole reservoir and continue up past the foot golf place and the old Dublin mountain golf club before spinning back down the n81. Not too far past foot golf and struggling to maintain 6kph I realised I'd taken on way too much so turned back. Took on the little back road up to Boherbabreena and back down by the graveyard and decided I'd chance the 'gunny hill' up towards hellfire club. Just managed to make it the top before grinding to a stop and thouroughly enjoyed the spin back downhill towards rathfarnham and then headed for home. Just over 26k covered and and hour and a quarter in the saddle, averaging 21kph. Enjoyed it but will have to keep practising the shorter climbs before I try take on such a long one again. Currently on a borrowed Cannondale CAAD8, think the frame is a little too small for me. Will probably invest in a bike to work job in the new year, that'll be for another thread! Finding cycling addictive having had to curtail running and football due to possible arthritis issue with my foot.

Wishbone Ash

rushfan wrote: »

Annual daa charity cycle today. 2 options, 60km or 100km. Cracking day for it. About 100 participants. Totalled 108km for the day. Home and happy. Now to ahem, rehydrate!!!

Did it myself. Pace was heavy going at times. My stomach was caving it when we got to Tayto Park as I had 90k done at that stage and didn't bring any food. There was supposed to be a bananna stop in Batterstown but I didn't see it.

(Good few Boardsies on it but no Boards gear. Did the section back from Tayto Park with secman of this parish).

rushfan

Wishbone Ash wrote:

(Good few Boardsies on it but no Boards gear. Did the section back from Tayto Park with secman of this parish).

Wishbone Ash wrote:

Did it myself. Pace was heavy going at times. My stomach was caving it when we got to Tayto Park as I had 90k done at that stage and didn't bring any food. There was supposed to be a bananna stop in Batterstown but I didn't see it.

It was at Caffreys pub. Same venue as last year.

Wishbone Ash

rushfan wrote: »

It was at Caffreys pub. Same venue as last year.

That's what I thought but I didn't see anyone stopping as the peloton roared through. (Didn't do it last year).

rushfan

Wishbone Ash wrote:

That's what I thought but I didn't see anyone stopping as the peloton roared through. (Didn't do it last year).

Ah you must've been in the leading bunch, unlike myself. Great day for it.

Whyner

Had a very enjoyable 70k down to Punchestown. Mate cancelled so set 6 goals up on Strava and had some fun. They were climbs of 2-4k. Beat the first few but legs were gonezo on the last. Ill be doing it again, making the goals harder. Crackin morning yesterday, perfect for spotting wild zebras...

https://www.strava.com/activities/1208487695

Daroxtar

" No, no, I don't mind so long as you get back home before 2 because I have a to be on the road by then"..... And with that gentle bit of encouragement / thinly veiled threat ringing in my ears, off out the door I went.
It was our club sportive today and anyone who has done the Tour of South Meath before knows it's hell for leather. Change of course this year meant it was the Four Counties tour. Seeing as I was under orders I joined the 30kmh + group and away we went. First 50k to the food stop went by at nearly 35kmh average. We didn't hang around there too long and off we went again at the same pace.

I was flying and tore up the few hills on the course and then after coming down Newtown Hill and turning for the home straight, out of nowhere I got a bastard cramp. Of course I did. Concerned too much with getting home quickly, I had done 90km on half a bidon. Genius.
That took a good 5 minutes to get right and then I had the joy of the last 15km solo into a headwind. That wrecked me so much so that the 28kmh group overtook me about 500m from the finish.
Crossed the finish line, had a glass of juice and had to head for the house. So bollxd I ended up having to swallow a gel to get me home.
Arrived home with about 10 minutes to spare
"Oh you're home, God you look wrecked. There was no need to be killing yourself"
Love, sweet love.

Longwood, Kinnegad, Tyrrelspass, Croghan, Rhode, Edenderry, Kilshanroe, Newtown Hill, Enfield, Mother Hubbards, Longwood.
115km @ 32kmh
https://www.strava.com/activities/1210279024

Miklos

First spin of the 2018 season for me today! Took September off between holidays and a bout of shingles so delighted to get back out in the air. I was down in Wexford for the weekend at a wedding so cycled home along the coast, 95kms and I'm feeling pretty shagged out.

secman

rushfan wrote: »

Ah you must've been in the leading bunch, unlike myself. Great day for it.

It was indeed a lovely day, especially after a nippy morning. Managed to hang on to the lead bunch to Tayto park , it was a hectic pace . Did the last 30 km with Wishbone Ash and we were all the time waiting for the train to roar by, 5 lads caught us with about 20 ish km to go, 4 of them went through and a young lad from Arklow stayed with us. We managed to keep a good pace thanks to WA especially over the last 10k. Avg was 30.2 kph for the 100.Having cycled 20 km over to the start , WA then proceeded to map out a 30 km home to round off a 150 km for the day, some man Donal and a pleasure to have met you yesterday .

crosstownk

My cycle today can be summed up in two words: Wet. Windy.

It was dry in south Dublin when I left but windy. Once I got up past Brittas it became wet. shítty, drizzly stuff that felt worse due to the headwind.

Wet again on the way back (after tea and a sambo in Blessington) but by the time I got to Brittas the rain stopped. Dry as a bone in Tallaght with a serious tailwind.

I cleaned the bike yesterday but I'm back to square one today. Running to standstill and all that.