Tell us about your cycle today part III

JMcL · 27-04-2023 11:44AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120526914#Comment_120526914

Out of curiousity, what's the temperature drop like up around the Sally Gap at the minute? Doing the Orwell Lite at the weekend and trying to figure out clothing. Currently thinking (warm) shorts and jersey with leg/arm warmer and a jacket (hopefully arriving tomorrow and fitting when it does!)

Seth Brundle · 27-04-2023 11:49AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120527201#Comment_120527201

I'm doing the 150km Orwell. Sally is to have patchy rain so I plan on bringing my foldable rain jacket (link) that I can put away when the rain stops. Other than that, I think I'll wear a base layer and jersey. I can take the base layer off if it gets too warm. Bib shorts - open knees now that Winter is over!

If you look at www.met.ie and enter Sally Gap as the location, it will give you a rough idea of what to expect.

cletus · 27-04-2023 12:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120527207#Comment_120527207

@Seth Brundle, without wishing to turn this into another clothing thread, how do you find that jacket? I'm looking to replace an Altura Pocket Rocket, which, while keeping the rain off, is not particularly breathable. I already have a Mistral foul weather jacket, so I wanted something light and packable, but wasn't sure what to go with off the Galibier website. If you want to pm instead of further derail thread, that's fine.

Seth Brundle · 27-04-2023 12:18PM

It's a bit of a boil in the bag job but I only wear it if I'm likely to get cold from being wet. It does fold up small and light. Not sure what your Altura is like - I presume it's much the same.

cletus · 27-04-2023 12:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120527306#Comment_120527306

Cheers. Sounds similar all right. Might look at one of their more breathable rain jackets

smacl · 27-04-2023 01:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120527201#Comment_120527201

Met.ie had it as about 8-10 degrees yesterday evening. Usual craic in the hills of being too warm going up and too cold coming down so I saved my packable altura windproof for the return leg. Long leg bibs, base layer and long sleeved jersey felt about right for me, but I feel the cold more than many. Leg and arm warmers and jacket in back pockets make sense. Met has Wicklow hills as 12-13 degrees on Saturday, not much wind but a bit of rain, should be a nice day out. Haven't done the Randonee in a few years but always remember it as a water cooled event ;)

patrickc · 28-04-2023 10:53PM

was a beautiful day today, bib shorts and a short sleeve jersey.

75k with 700m and averaged 28.5km seemed like the most perfect day for cycling.

10-10-20 · 30-04-2023 04:03PM

Went up to Sally Gap today, dodged the showers except for one, but the spray got me good anyway.

Lost the bottle off the bike when I hit a large pothole on that stupid Blackglen road, in fairness I was probably going a bit quick down it as the ironworks are all exposed, but the full bottle took a dive and went straight under a wheel of a closely following car. 🙄 It was my good WW200 bottle too. 😄

Sally Gap was busy with cyclists and very threatening clouds moving across from the South-West, but temperatures were fine and there was a bit of wind, so the return journey into Enniskerry was interesting with the wet roads. But sure it's a great amenity to have on the door-step.

30-04-2023 07:03PM

Beautiful day here in Cork. Out at 6.45am with a four-hour pass so joined up with two lads and headed for the hills.

Felt good from the off, and while I'm by no means a climber due to my weight, I felt much better than I have for a while. Think I must have had a virus or something last month as every spin felt like a battle for a few weeks.

Headed for Mushera via the Butter Road from the city and then on to Millstreet.

My longest spin in a while and one of those rare days with good legs, good weather and good company. Brilliant.

Overall, 117k with 1,750m climbing at 28.5kph: https://www.strava.com/activities/8982656942?source=global-footer

saccades · 30-04-2023 09:31PM

Tough day today (for me), up to the tap pub and through deputy's pass, then around the back of glenealy to bookey bridge then Shay Elliot and sleave maan, turned left at the bottom to go up brown mountain. Ended up in Aughrim for a lovely coffee and then up croghan then home.

92km with 1600m of climbing, a slow 22km/h but felt like I could keep going. Weather was scorching all around, 5 mins after I got in the rain was bouncing 6".

Still another 6weeks to the W200 and I'm finally starting to think I'll get around (that first 30km has me worried as a Clydesdale).

Djouce on the MTB tomorrow 🤦

rolling boh · 30-04-2023 09:37PM

Big shout out to the cyclist who bailed me out with a tube to save me a fair walk after I damaged two tubes of my own .I was walking into Kilcloon when he stopped .Also to two others that gave me a tube up the road , wasn't my day for tubes .

secman · 30-04-2023 10:30PM

Gorey to Ferns and on to Scarawalsh roundabout and then towards Bunclody. Turned right for Clohamon and back to Ferns and finished back in Gorey.

65 kms 500 + meters and an avg of 30.5 kph.

smacl · 01-05-2023 01:30PM

Ballyboden - Cruagh - Sally gap - Laragh - Sally gap and home for me yesterday for 80k with 1259m of climbing. Lovely day and seemed to miss the heavy showers though very wet roads. Highlight was struggling up the top of Cruagh road, passing a small cottage, hearing a small voice saying "Good boy, well done" and seeing a young girl of about 4-6 waving frantically at me. Delighted for the bit of encouragement which put a big smile on my face :)

Seth Brundle · 01-05-2023 05:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120539378#Comment_120539378

I did the Orwell Wheelers Randonée on Saturday (as did a few others on here). Still tired from it. Initially I wasn't sure if I'd do the 125km or the 145km route. Although I had booked the 145, I'm just getting over a bad dose of food poisoning. In the end, I made a quick judgement call (plus I was aboiut 10 minutes ahead of my club-mates who were doing the 125 and I didn't want to wait). Shortly after I turned down the Powerscourt road at the start of the extra 20kms, I spotted a €50 note sitting there in the middle of the road, so I was glad I made that call!

145km with just shy of 2500m of climbing - Kiltiernan > Cruagh > Crone > Powerscourt > Ballinastoe > Sally Gap > Laragh > Wicklow Gap > Blessington Lakes via Ballyknockan & Manor Kilbride > Sally Gap > Glencree > Enniskerry > Kiltiernan

The weather was quite mixed - as I was passing Lough Tay, it was very warm and sunny. Half an hour later and it was lashing rain and bitterly cold.

I got soaked between Glenmacnass and Laragh. By the time I got to the Blessington Lakes, my energy was waning and I could feel my left calf starting to cramp up. At one point as I was approaching the Lakes, a driver close passed me. Pissed off, I held out my right middle finger. The driver stopped and got out - he was big, real big and I was half expecting him to throw a punch. Asking what I was giving out for, I just said that he came very close to me. His response was that if he was to give me 1.5m then he'd be driving in the ditch. I was about to tell him (as I would move off again) that if he didn't have room then he shouldn't overtake but when I went to put weight on my left leg, my calf locked up and I ended up hobbling over to the right hand side of the road and I'm sure that your man just thought I was weird.

The earlier rain as I approached Laragh had removed much of the "dry oil" on my chain so as I was going around the Lakes, I could hear the dry chain as I pedalled. Managed to get some oil from the mobile mechainc when I stopped at the water stop in Manor Kilbride. I really struggled from Manor Kilbride and by the time I was ascending the final Km up Sally Gap, the torrential rain (and hail) had returned, I had nothing left in me and had to briefly stop. Other cyclists passing by me gave me some words of encouragement which helped me up the hill. A coke and some sweets from the water stop helped me a little and I got going again but I was cold and wet.

The road from Glencree to Enniskerry was flooded from the rain so I figured I'd follow the line that the lad 5-10m in front was taking. This meant that I'd have a bit of a heads up if there was a pot hole (which thankfully there wasn't). As I went up the hill from Enniskerry (the scalp?), my left thigh locked up with cramp. I gave it a few seconds and managed to push on again.

The event itself was well organised. A few marshals at most turns so although I had the route on my Garmin, it was still good having them there.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8978674197

Went out yesterday and did a bit of a recovery ride (50km) but even today I can still feel my legs a bit tired.

saccades · 01-05-2023 06:33PM

From djouce to Crone and back via a few adventures down dead end trails that looked interesting. Some sketchy descents and loads of friendly walkers out.

Legs were tired so had to work way harder than usual and lost my GPS in the car park. Which is a pain.

02-05-2023 08:29PM

Day off today so headed for the hills of Waterford. Started in Fermoy Co. Cork and did a hilly 100k route with a number of well known climbs. Lovely day, perfect for the bike with light winds and temperature around 15 degrees.

The 'highlights' were Barnafaddock and Shanrahan which are two tough climbs. Shanrahan gains just short of 400m and has an average of over 7 per cent for 5.6km. The gradient is consistent nearly all the way to the top which is very unusual.

I took in the Vee from the Lismore side which is much gentler but has superb views from the top. From the descent, I would imagine it is nicer from the Clogheen side.

Got a puncture on the main road back into Fermoy just 1km shy of where I parked the car so missed out on the century.

Overall, 99km with 1,553m climbing at 28.1kph: https://www.strava.com/activities/8995610475?source=global-footer

Highly recommended route and area to cycle in.

Wildly Boaring · 03-05-2023 02:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120547937#Comment_120547937

Used live down there. Main thing i miss is the cycling. The Vee and all the roads around Kilworth were on my doorstep.....

saccades · 07-05-2023 02:43PM

Savage day today, didn't know half the route.

Arklow to ferns then across to buncloudy. There then up a decent drag to shilaleagh (sp) and onwards to tinahely.

Absolute hammer down to wooden bridge, then some cheeky climbs around avoca before heading home.

112km, 1100m climbing with an ave of 27.5kmh. I'm goosed.

retalivity · 07-05-2023 03:24PM

First red arms of the year, and i was only out for 2.5hrs and back by 11.30! Today and yesterday have been fantastic cyling weather

loyatemu · 07-05-2023 08:50PM

First time out in shorts this year (I had leg-warmers on last weekend but quickly took them off). Should have gone with short sleeves as well but then my arms would be burnt like my knees and calves.

Went up Wicklow Gap for the first time, it's a bit of a slog but worth it on a lovely day like today - loads of cyclists about; lots of motorcyclists too, many of them seemingly with a death wish; and at least 2 c***s in cars who decided that they'd like to try to knock a cyclist into the ditch for the hell of it.

Other than that, a very pleasant spin; ~80km with 1200m of climbing.

patrickc · 07-05-2023 10:09PM

I did the Dublin to Clifden cycle for the Capuchin centre this weekend. it was on Friday and Saturday.

an amazing trip, with some great people and a great cause, my first time to do it, but I'll do it again.

Day 1 Dublin to Ballinasloe Day 2 Ballinasloe to Clifden. the weather for the 2nd leg was perfect too.

chuckles1 · 08-05-2023 08:59AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120567659#Comment_120567659

Did that as well, it was brillant. Don't recognise you though from the profile pic!

jamesd · 08-05-2023 09:49AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120567659#Comment_120567659

Met ye passing Ballinasloe and I was wondering what event was happening - well done.

dinneenp · 08-05-2023 02:23PM

Took part in the Tuam Sportif yesterday. Did the 50km instead of the 100km as I haven't been out much this year.

First half (well 27km) was at a very relaxed pace, everyone chatting away to people, taking it easy enough. The 2nd half (24.5km) was a different kettle of fish. Once we passed Caherlistrane the pace quicken significantly & people were dropping off. I moved up, positioned myself in the main small bunch & stayed there. Didn't realise that there was only 3 of us until I glanced back.

I had only 1 stint leading, which was almost pushing myself past my limit. I dropped back from the front 2 after a while but not out of sight. Several times thought and wanted to ease up but kept pushing. Proud that I managed 35.4 kmph for 23.4km ( speed slowed down as I entered Tuam town for the last km)