Tell us about your cycle today part III

secman

Didn't someone put a photo up on cycling photos last week and you could clearly see Sally Gap crossroads on a photo taken on his incoming flight.

Mercian Pro

A few days late posting but headed down to Laragh on Thursday via Enniskerry, the Old Long Hill and the Lough Dan road. After a very pleasant lunch and chat at Glendalough Green, I cancelled returning by the Wicklow Gap and headed up towards Glenmacnass. About 5min after leaving, I saw what I initially thought was a buzzard but then recognised as a Red Kite. It was incredibly beautiful circling around and my only regret was not having a proper camera with me. After about 10min I dragged myself away but the memory eased the climbs all the way home to the North Side. 98km at 23km/h in perfect first day in shorts weather.

Mercian Pro

Mercian Pro

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118827548#Comment_118827548

Is that a permanent route NP? Sounds a lot more attractive than the Orwell 200 audax route last weekend.

Wildly Boaring

50k with 500m today.

But more importantly it was sunny, warm and very little wind.

Shorts and short sleeves.

Just delightful.....

gn3dr

Gap of Dunloe, Black Valley and up to Moll's Gap and back through Killarney. Haven't done it for years. I remember marshalling up there as a teenager when the Nissan Classic raced up there in the 80's

NamelessPhil

Yes it's a permanent route. It can be ridden in either direction around Kildare. https://www.audaxireland.org/audax/permanents/kildare-200-permanent/

devonp

Did a hilly 70Km this morning with just short of 1000m of up in great sunshine 😀, Cromwellstown, Saggart, Mt. Seskin and McDonaghs lane.

Forgot to apply sunscreen to my ears...oouccch ..when wearing a cycling cap under the helmet

looks like back to skull caps and thermals by the end of the week..🌨️ 😕

magicbastarder

worth mentioning that met eireann are now publishing UV index; though as you mention, i don't think it'll be an issue in a few days.

secman

Yesterday I was overdressed and baked as a result 🥵. Ballycanew to Gorey, Arklow, Woodenbridge. Took left turn at garage and immediate left again, long drag and left again. Eventually headed for Cooolgraeny, Kielernan, out on to main road and back to Gorey, Ballycanew.

70 km 27.5 kph 600 plus meters.

Today

Gorey, Arklow, Woodenbridge , Rathdrum, Deputy's pass and on to The Beehive, back along old N11 to Arklow and Gorey.

88km 30.4 kph, 600 plus meters. Dressed properly today, full summer kit 👌

JMcL

Long climb back to fitness continues with a 56km loop from Tramore to Portlaw and back wia Carrols Cross and Kill yesterday. 560m climbing at a sedate enough 22.1km/h. Altogether more pleasant experience that the discovery 2 weeks ago that despite having done a couple of relatively flat fasted centuries over the years that no, I cannot do 108km with about 900m lumpy stuff on just 2 espressos (nasty bonk for the last hour and no shops nearby) 😬

McGrath5

A nice 20K loop around the Bohernabreena reservoir yesterday, what a day for it. Some queue for the car park as I was leaving.

Got out for my first evening spin of the year last night. It was only an hour and just went to a local hill and did 3 intervals on it but it felt great to get out after work and not to be heading out to the shed to jump on the trainer. The sun was incredible but it was very cold even if I was well wrapped up. Met a guy in full summer kit with no lights coming against me just as it was getting dark.

29k with 607 up @ 25.3 kph.

beggars_bush

78km today. Was a tough spin out with headwind

De Bhál

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118539151#Comment_118539151

similar spin yesterday and white bags full of rubbish picked from the ditches left for collection on the side of the road. Brilliant work done. Fair play to whoever is at it. That is not easy work.

magicbastarder

yeah, passed a few near coolquay and also passed bunches of people pulling litter out of ditches near ratoath also.

saccades

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118843654#Comment_118843654

That long drag from Delaney's (wooden bridge garage) is called the New Line

Seth Brundle

New chain on the bike which made this morning's commute feel a little better despite the damp conditions.

However, the amount of "small" infringements by drivers make it that little bit worse. Pretty much every ASL and bike box that I pull up to has a car where I should go. I was beeped by a van driver as he travelled along a 24/7 bus lane because they incorrectly felt I should not have been there.

Traffic lights are routinely ignored but apparently as someone on a bike, I always break red lights. The four vehicles in the image below (bin lorry + 3 cars) all broke a clear red light (green for me) as they came from the left. The three cars all proceeded to use the 24/7 bus lane.

I was thinking that you never see any enforcement but for once, I saw a speed van along the N4 opposite the Spa Hotel - although because of the volume, traffic on the N4 at the time was moving quite slowly anyhow.

I'm tired of being labelled as a law breaker because I travel on a bike, when I feel like I'm one of the few on the road who is actually obeying the rules.

mr spuckler

I've started the long process of trying to get fit enough to climb the Stelvio twice in one day in July. I decided I needed to follow a structured plan so am doing an Etape du Tour one and last night was the first set of hill repeats. Only 3 x 1km long climbs but it brought back so many memories of how much I dislike hill repeats! Very much looking forward to 12 x 1km by the time I reach week 10 of the plan 😐️

magicbastarder

what hill have you chosen for that?

secman

Ah just couldn't think of the name of it at the time, it's funny, wexford is littered with roads called the New Line 😁, it was cursed by many last Sunday

mr spuckler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118892993#Comment_118892993

I'm in Raheny so options nearby are limited. Last night was Howth from St Fintan's school to the turn for St Fintan's road. Next week I might try the climb up to Deerpark, for variety if nothing else, although I don't want to go too steep either.

Please shout if you can think of any decent alternatives.

magicbastarder

in raheny, not much else really in easy reach, other than howth.

mr spuckler

75km around NCD this morning, past the airport then up as far as Garristown and Naul and back via Ballyboughal and Malahide. Traffic out as far as the Swords road was dreadful, although thankfully surprisingly few using the bus lane! Other than the stiff headwind on the outward leg it was a glorious day to be out.

Labelled "3 hour basic conditioning session" on my plan and had a moving time of 2:55 so pretty much nailed it! Definitely felt the combined effects of this week's training plus recent Covid but hopefully start to improve from here.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6948773349

wheelo01

Set out yesterday in a lovely sunny morning, aiming to go to do a loop of the Blessington lakes. I got just beyond Brittas when the heavens opened with snow.

I turned back for home, and when I reached the Jobstown inn, it was like entering another world, the ground was dry, the sun was out, so it defrosted me a little.

44 km @ 24.6 kph

https://www.strava.com/activities/6953007076

oh and did I mention I wore shorts for possibly the second time this year.

silverharp

Dublin -Enniskerry-Roundwood-Bray and DART home (shhhh!) , have to say Enniskerry is really catering to cyclists now, nice cycle racks outside the cafes. Great day, a smidgen cold when the sun wasnt shining but great nonetheless.

smacl

Had planned a longer one today but already knackered by the time I hit the strong winds in the featherbeds so went back via Glencree, nipping in for a circuit of Knockree and then back via Devil's Elbow. Decided to take in a bit of the Wicklow way on the way home for a very slow 46k with 1085m of climbing. Fair play to the hard souls that made it over the Sally gap today, felt bitter up that way this morning!

saccades

Barrow wheelers sportive, 100km at a very chilled pace helping a club mate on their longest spin. They felt fine until we turned into the wind 🤣 did a lot of towing but worth it to see how made up they were at completing the course.

Really well sign posted and loads of friendly Marshall's around the course. Loads of grub including some gorgeous soup, will do again next year.

magicbastarder

that was a lovely evening for it. 72km around NCD, 820m climbing, 27.5km/h. nice and calm and balmy.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118923171#Comment_118923171

Was out for an hour or so, mild and a real stretch there now too.