Tell us about your cycle today part III

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119351207#Comment_119351207

Some fantastic routes around that area. Tough going with three children but it's possible. I haven't seen the inside of a pub in a year and don't have time for much else but it's worth it and it's the release I need from life and work stresses. Give me a shout if you want any routes.

McGrath5

A surprisingly cool breeze in Howth yesterday morning, once I got back inland the temperature really picked up. A leisurely 55k.

smacl

Not getting in much cycling over the last few weeks post covid but managed a leisurely 40k with 832m of climbing on Saturday taking in Cruagh, Glencullen, Knockree, a small bit of the Wicklow way and back via Glencree and Featherbeds. The backroads around Knockree are well worth the diversion when doing the Enniskerry Glencree climb, a bit lumpy but very quiet with great scenery. Need to make the effort to get out much more.

McGrath5

A beautiful morning to cycle into work in Dublin, hazy sun and quiet roads, heaven!

mr spuckler

Final Bormio cycle for me this morning, decided on a simple up and down of the Stelvio pass rather than pushing harder and wrecking myself again like last week. I also had no idea how I'd feel on the climb but as it turned out I felt ok and got up in much better nick than my last attempt 9 years ago!

I headed up at 7am to avoid both the heavy traffic and the hotter part of the day and the decision definitely paid off. Climbing in shade for much of the climb meant I didn't overheat too early and I was sensible enough to stop twice on the way up rather than push beyond my limits. It was a glorious climb tbh and even more glorious descent 😁 Given that I'm a slow climber but fast descender I always see the descent as my reward! Looking at the stats I'm in the bottom 25-30% of times for the full climb but top 1% for 1 section of the descent and top 4% for another. I'm genuinely proud of that 😆

Just the 42km but 1,526m of elevation. Didn't quite crack the 80kph on the way down but got very close!

https://www.strava.com/activities/7492705733

ted1

https://strava.app.link/wZvcexVRMrb

https://strava.app.link/wZvcexVRMrb

Had my first commute since Covid started. To be honest I’ve not been out much since Covid.

hoping to do 2 days in the office from now on, mainly just for the cycle, really need to shift the Covid Kilos

main observations, there is far less traffic. no change in cycling facilities. And there’s a few pot holes in strand road that still haven’t been fixed.

https://strava.app.link/wZvcexVRMrb

blob:https://www.boards.ie/3022ed83-0bc6-4ab5-b78a-af90c5c0a3a3

magicbastarder

when i was commuting and crossing the east link northbound, i'd go straight in into ringsend, take a right at the church onto thorncastle street, and drop back onto the bridge just 50m or so from it. i preferred that than using sean moore road.

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119358111#Comment_119358111

id usually go that way. But spotted a new cycle park along the Sean Moore road.

But to be honest the road from the waste place to the bridge is a disaster. I’ll be going right at the church in future

Seth Brundle

Headed out this afternoon for a short spin but it didn't take me long to decide to head over towards Ballinascorney. I've a very minor op on my neck on Thursday so wanted to get a few hills in before then as not sure how long I might be out of action.

Next to no other cyclists about. It was strange but given the heat, I guess not surprising.

Shortly into the Ballinascorney ascent (from the famine cross), my rear tyre managed to puncture another tube. This is the second time in as many rides. I've been using a tube inside my Vredestein Fortezza tubeless tyre almost since I got the bike in May - I think it was my second spin where I got a bitch of a puncture that simply wouldn't seal. I've patched it and done all sorts but need to face the fact that I must replace the tyre.

As I had a puncture on my last spin, I only had one spare today - sure I'd hardly need two? Well, now I'll have no spare so do I change the tube and head for home or do I head over Ballinascorney and take the slightly longer way home? Feck it, I'll take the brave option!

Anyhow, the heat while I was fighting with the rim to get the tube replaced meant that I ended up finishing my single bidon of water. Not to worry, once I cross the hill, I'll head to Manor Kilbride and get some more in the little shop there. Murphy's law - it was closed. I went on towards Brittas but the cafe there is gone. Kept going and figured that either the cafe or the shop in Ardclough would still be open. I also noticed that my Garmin was down to 10%. My stress levels suddenly increased (I'm the type that won't let my phone run low and often would have a power bank handy).

The problem facing me now though was that Boston Hill would be closed for resurfacing during this week - daytime only. So would it be still closed about 4:15? Feck it - I'll chance it. However, if I'm wrong and have to go back up and around then my Garmin will presumably be out of battery before I get home.

Thankfully, it wasn't closed off and in fact, the three ramps there that slow down a cyclists descent have been removed and the surface is currently is smooth as ice. As I had started the descent taking it fairly handy, I figured there was no point now trying to get a decent time. Maybe tomorrow befor ethe cover it with a load of stone chips and kill any chance of a decent time for a few months.

Got to Ardclough and got some water, Lucozade sport and a Mars bar. The shop owner's husband charged up my Garmin for 10 minutes (up from 4% to 17%) so my stress levels were able to revert back to normal for the last 10km home.

Almost 79km @ 26.3km/h with 950m: https://www.strava.com/activities/7494754375

magicbastarder

managed to knock 35s off my PR on a 9km segment today without really trying, and with no tailwind. caught me by surprise when i saw it on strava.

Luxman

Garristown to Rathbeale road? Only 9k segment I know of.

magicbastarder

is that called the rathbeale road? anyway, yeah, G-Town Buzz on strava.

Luxman

I’m fond of a buzz myself now and again !

magicbastarder

also got local champion on herbertstown; kinda surprised me that i'd manage that with four goes at it in 90 days.

Turned 42 the other day. Couldn't afford a Porsche or a wife 20 years younger than me so went out chasing KOMs as an expression of my mid-life crisis. Picked three segments and got two of the three, with a second on the other, just four seconds off over 2.5k. I was well up on the live segment but burnt my matches too soon and died on the ramp at the end. I hadn't chased KOMs in ages, and while I won't get any younger, it was good to feel alive for a few hours on a summer's evening.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7501359260

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119366114#Comment_119366114

Was the distance planned or a coincidence? 😁

I hit the same millstone last week.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119366329#Comment_119366329

Ha, hadn't even noticed! Serendipity.

Congrats, it's a funny one. I think I'm conscious of ageing for the first time in my life. I don't feel old but then I meet an old school friend or sit in a room for a vaccine with others my age and realise I am older than I think. I suppose that's a good thing in a way. Cycling definitely keeps me young in my own head.

I told my wife last night I got two of the three KOMs I targeted and she replied, very earnestly, "what's the next step after a KOM? professional?" That took a few years off me.

JMcL

Went up the Col de Galibier today. It was closed to cars for the morning as part of the annual free Cols Réserves events. We'd just arrived a couple of days ago and I was going to give it a miss between the heat and altitude, but my better half thankfully persuaded me to give it a go. Took it very handy on the way up, frequent stops to catch breath and take photos, but bar the 12% sections near the top wasn't as bad as I feared (had to walk a short section of these, just couldn't get enough oxygen in)

There was free food and music at the top, and the descent was a blast. I continued toward Briaçon, and nearly came a cropper when a bee wedged itself behind my shades at 60km/h. I somehow didn't fly off the road while trying to stop and getting stung. Poor bee didn't fair too well either

Highly recommend the Col Reserves, there's another 2 for Granon and Galibier again on Aug 17/18 respectively. Details here https://www.envie-de-brianconnais.com/guide/velo-route-rando-vtt-brianconnais

Mid life crisis in full swing and back on KOM trail. Started raining just as I left last night so kept it local and hit the two segments I got KOMs on Wednesday night, except in reverse. Bought a power meter a few months ago and find it much easier to judge the efforts as a result.

I've also been practicing sprinting properly out of the saddle and in the drops, and think it has made a big difference as I seem to be able to get to a higher speed much quicker and then maintain it. Got both KOMs before the rain got too heavy, averaging 477w for one effort for 1m 45 seconds which I was very happy with.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7511511458

cletus

When people go chasing KOM's, do you do it as part of a longer spin, or would you focus on just that segment, and power through it

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119378229#Comment_119378229

I had segments off for ages and just switched back on to freshen things up.

On the last few KOMs I went for they were shorter evening spins I went full gas on the segments instead of repeats I would normally do. I also used the segments to practice sprinting.

But there are loads of fellas in my area who spend a lot of time targeting KOMs, go out on windy days and would save all their energy on rides for the targeted efforts.

ednwireland

60km done despite an apocalyptic forecasting 25+mm of rain. 1shower and rest on pretty much dry roads !

nigeldaniel

Managed 18km on my mountain bike and got absolutely drenched wet in a freak thunderstorm. Gave me a mega boost, don't know what it is about getting caught in bad weather but I seem to like it! I looked like 'mudman' from the apocalypse when I got home.

cletus

52km with a heavy headwind on the way out. Saw a buzzard and some ducks. No old farm gates, though. I mustn't live near their natural habitat

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119378229#Comment_119378229

i'm 46 and probably past getting any KOMs at this point; but the few i have bagged have been on quiet enough roads where there wouldn't be many cyclists pushing hard. but at this stage, i suspect you're not going to get a KOM unless you get a good tailwind and the stars are aligned for you - strava has been around long enough now that at some point, someone will have been along that road before you in ideal circumstances and recorded a time to strava.

secman

Out with Gorey cc this morning, very wet weather, carbon wheelset and rim brakes not an ideal combination at all 😬. Out coast road to Blackwater and across to Enniscorthy , back via Ferns to Gorey. Massive hold up in traffic coming into Ferns, the Applegreen promotion was the culprit.

81km avg 31.3kph , 670 ish meters. Absolutely drenched..pure waste of sun protection cream 😃

Macy0161

That feckin stupid applegreen promotion also did for the Vets race yesterday.

secman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119384946#Comment_119384946

Yeah saw that, a mate was racing, heard it was cancelled.

Daroxtar

Did Mount Teide in Tenerife today. We're here on a family holiday so I'm eating like a horse and drinking like a fish. Needed to get out for a spin to steady the ship.

I headed out early while the temps were still low 20s. There was a strong enough headwind and I don't know if it was the smooth road or just feeling good but I got rightly stuck into it for the first half an hour or so.

Went from Los Cristianos up through Arona and Escalona in just over an hour. The stretch up to Vilaflor took another half an hour but the mercury was hitting 30 at that stage. I topped up the bidons there and continued up but the heat and altitude were definitely taking their toll and the once headstrong and powerful young fella was long gone and replaced by an imposter. The last few kms to the top took forever. There's a few ramps scraping 10% and they really felt it at that stage. Then I had a brief respite descending down towards the Parador Hotel for a badly needed bit of refueling. However there's a short rise up to the hotel itself and that was renewed torture.

The descent back down to Los Cristianos was very enjoyable after that, 32km of fast twisty road all the way down but the wind had switched around so I got hit with some sketchy crosswinds. Also, the heat up there was now unbelievable. The Garmin was saying 38degrees and it genuinely felt like someone had a hairdryer in my face at times. Definitely not something I've ever experienced before or would be going out of my way to try again! The climb itself wasn't the hardest in terms of gradient but the length is a real test. There's definitely some nice scenery but I wouldn't rate it in my top climbs in that regard.

Finished up with 90km and 2551m climbed

https://www.strava.com/activities/7525558174/overview

magicbastarder

decided to have a pop at the coolquay circuit used by swords CC today (although my decision came about half a kilometre after i'd started the segment) and was quite happy with my near 35km/h over the near 11km circuit.

overall, did just over 50km at 32km/h which is fast for me. lovely calm evening for it. passed this place for sale on a back road between bracetown and fairyhouse, in case any of you lot have recently won the lottery.

https://www.daft.ie/for-sale/detached-house-herbertstown-house-gate-lodge-the-entire-dunboyne-co-meath/3944491