Tell us about your cycle today part III

cletus

Not long back from a school spin, organised by the CoCo for Bike Week. We brought about 30 kids out, through the town, onto the new bike paths and back to the school.

Seth Brundle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120599475#Comment_120599475

Did the CoCo organise the bikes as I assume not all kids had one. With this weather making it feel even better being out, I'd say the kids are hoping to have another day out soon

cletus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120600130#Comment_120600130

The short answer is no, students had to bring their own bike.

PM me if you'd like the long answer 😉

magicbastarder

where would the council have sourced the bikes?

Seth Brundle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120600460#Comment_120600460

Dunno. If they are organising cycling events, I'd have hoped that they would have a few bikes handy for those that don't have them for whatever reason. Maybe I'm too naive.

cletus

There are two guys, as far as I can tell, that are our CoCo cycling officers (or whatever the proper title is). They would seem to be responsible for organising stuff like this.

Having met one today, the very kindest thing I can say is that he's not a cyclist

Was at the physio during the week with a tender hamstring. Gave me a few exercises but overdid them and ended up with sore calves and quads.

Couldn't get going at all this morning after a third night in a row with kids who didn't want to sleep. Legs were giving out 20k out the road and could tell it was going to be a hard day. Lashed rain on top if myself and the lad I was with for the first hour and a half and got quite cold in the mountains to the point that my ungloved hand struggled to shift the front derailuer.

Really struggled on a brutal stretch of the Butter Road from Millstreet to the top of Mushera Mountain. My legs were killing me and felt like dismounting and firing the bike over the ditch. But the only way home was to keep ploughing on and I get to the top after a struggle.

Downhill home but felt like crap. Few days of rest and a few decent nights' sleep badly required to get back on track.

Overall, 103km with 1,300m climbing at 29kph. A battle from pillar to post.

Seth Brundle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120624875#Comment_120624875

Overall, 103km with 1,300m climbing at 29kph.

That's a decent spin, especially given your sore legs!

saccades

Jeez, much better numbers than I and I'm chuffed with mine.

Hooned (PB's all over the show), up to glendalough and the sally gap, then to roundwood to get more water before the 3rd weekend up Shay Elliot/sleeve maan (forgot which is which), and another pb.

Felt good and put the hammer down from glenmalure to half way up the new line (wooden bridge) where my legs stopped cashing the cheques my head was writing.

My Garmin says 5 days to recover 🤣. I'm goosed. 114km, 1500m climbing at 25.0 kmph.

Glorious day and loads of friendly people out, class.

secman

Headed from Gorey to Arklow and on to woodenbridge, heading out the road to Avoca, took immediate right turn just past the hotel , a long draggy climb and we descended back on to Avoca Road, just short of Avoca . Turned into Avoca and turned immediately left and back on to a long draggy climb. Eventually came to a T junction and into Cullens old pub which is now The Latin Quarter coffee shop. From there a few more drags heading towards Jack whites. Back to Arklow and on to Gorey. 71 kms, 700 odd meters and avg 28.5kph.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120624941#Comment_120624941

The stats don't tell the full story unfortunately!

magicbastarder

i got a PR today on a segment i'd not noticed before, called 'The Klanmans Scarf'. a little bit cryptic and ill-judged.

secman

Out with club today, initially 1 group headed to Arklow, halfway there split into 2 groups; in woodenbridge a further split, 2 faster guys decided they'd head for Ashford, the rest decided to wait for the group behind.. I formed an inbetweeney group and headed solo, no other takers... Rathdrum... Deputies Pass, out onto N11 at The Beehive, Jack Whites, Arklow and back to Gorey. 89 kms, 600 meters and an Avg of 29.8kph. Legs felt good today....

godtabh

Did my first 100k in a long time. Slow as **** but done.

JMcL

Short one yesterday, but for a good cause. The Rotary Club in Waterford organised a spin from Waterford to Tramore and back in aid of the Ronald McDonald House in Crumlin. I did it with my wife and our 8 year old lad who absolutely flew it - in all 21km with about 100m up adding to and from with the scenic route for myself added about a further 28km and 200m roughly @ 23km/h

With hindsight, I'd have been happier throwing €100 toward RMH for their Cycle The Lakes on the 10th rather than the WW200 the following day. Similar amount of suffering involved!

https://rmhc.ie/fundraising-events/cycle-the-lakes-2023

JMcL

And contrary to the previous post, long one yesterday. 178km around Wexford, starting and finishing in Kilmuckridge, following in large part the route of the Yola 200 audax. I shortened it a bit as the lads I was with wanted to go at a higher pace so we decided they'd plough on after Hook Head and I'd chop out some of the route so we'd get back to the cars about the same time. It was probably a good choice as my right leg started to cramp badly about 20km from the end - typically along an interminable stretch of busy R road in the middle of nowhere with no place to pull in. I made up a concentrated dose of High5 hydration mix which helped a bit and made it to the end.

177.6km, 20.4km/h average, 1540m, 8:43 moving time

DrumcDub1

Sally Gap via Tallaght and Brittas, came down by the Hellfire club. All in about 1,000m climbing and 80km. First time doing it, mostly okay but found 2/3km from the top of Sally Gap very tough.

Roadtoad

Dublin to Galway, finally off my bucket list. 12 hours, 250k, a mere 750m up, tail winds and lots of sun (Friday last).

Grand Canal to Lucan, Royal past Mullingar, old train line to Athlone, then Ballinasloe, Athenry and Salthill. No time to dally, train back to Dublin.

The obligatory photo of a gate should have been at Woodlawn, but my buddy was putting me under pressure.

magicbastarder

woodlawn house? big palladian place?

iamstop

Had a leisurely cycle around Winnipeg yesterday. Went a bit deeper in to the dodgy North End then I usually would but it was a nice day out. No hassles.

McGrath5

20k around Caleta de Fusta in Fuerteventura, the head winds around here would put manners on you.

smacl

Up past the Sally gap yesterday evening via Craugh and Featherbeds. Caught the fire services in action deploying two helicopters on the Laragh road. Chatting to one of lads he mentioned they're hoping for a lot of rain soon as it is very dry up there. Lovely evening out with 52k and 830m of up. Pace seems to be getting even slower than usual, no doubt down to too much fine living and not enough time on the bike :)

magicbastarder

have had a fairly poor year so far; only was getting out once or twice a week, and then got some weird bug that kept me off the bike for 5 weeks. but my fitness has been returning after a few weeks where i've been getting out several times a week - got out for 65km this evening, 800m of climbing and happy with an average speed of 26.5km/h. cooler than expected, but no harm there.

smacl

Very glad to be in the habit of carrying two spare tubes today. Hit a rock coming down from the Hellfire club at lunch and blew the front tyre. Went to change the tube only to realise I'd packed a shrader rather than presta tube as one of my spares. Major 'doh!' moment. On the plus side, I find I'm getting pretty handy at changing tubes without lever and my somewhat oversized Topeak Morph mini-pump is well worth the extra bulk.

Seth Brundle

Did my first 200Km spin today on an alternative Wicklow 200 with a few club mates. Although we took in most of the W200 course, we started in Lucan and didn't make use of the W200 rest stops, etc.

Heading through Ballinabarney Gap, there were at least three cuckoos cuckooing (if that's what you call it). I don't think I've ever hear more than one at a time and at that, haven't heard one in a few decades.

Heading up Slieve Mann, my thighs started cramping up (despite plenty of fluids, etc.). Also around the base of SM, I could hear another cuckoo.

To be fair to Elite, the signage and marshalling was great. Can't comment on the rest stops obviously.

I think the only criticism I might have from the day is that some of the riders seemed to behave as if the roads were closed.

With a stop off for a pint at Hazelhatch, I made it back home in Leixlip with just over 200km (with 2600m @ 25.1km/h) and two cramped thighs. Knackered now but had a great day out!

cletus

Not half as interesting as Seth's. The only thing of note was a heron that I startled, who in turn startled me.

He flew out of the reeds right in front of me, so close that I had to brake. I nearly shït myself. He did shït himself, literally, as he took flight.

smacl

Lovely evening for a spin after work, up Cruagh and past the viewing point, on up to the mast at Kippure and then on to the Sally gap and back home for 47k with 1k of up at a very pedestrian 17.6kph. I'd forgotten how tough the last 100m or so of Kippure is, great reminder to drop a few kgs! Almost perfect weather for it, fewer bikes out than I'd expect though more than enough flies! Amazing to get back in at 9:30pm and it still bright.

vintcerf

Did the Ash Burners Cycle Club - Solstice Cycle, 5am start. Not much climbing but thoroughly enjoyed it.

First longish one for me in a few weeks as I was managing a hamstring and lower back issue.

Got out at 6.30am and had a four-hour pass for Father's Day. Headed for the mountains and managed to stay dry in the main until the very end when I got caught in a torrential downpour.

Did a total of 122km with 1400m climbing at 29.7kph. Enjoyable spin.

BoardsMember

First proper cycle this year. Gorgeous day in Dublin mountains. 80km, 22km average, 1k climbing. Shattered now, but last night was late with lots of booze so hoping that's why I'm so bushed.