Tell us about your cycle today part III

godtabh

Lovely day for a spin. Haven’t been out on the bike in a while.

63km around random county roads finished off with a donut and coffee at the Wandering Elk / Stodge Face

fiacha

High winds + Hippo physique = getting blown around the road by gusts. Didn't feel safe, so turned around and went home. Sitting here with a coffee trying to convince myself that I'm not turning into a wimp. :)

EDIT - Went out for a handy 25k in the Phoenix Park this evening. Beautiful autumn evening. Feel much better for it.

Two of the new bus stop / cycle ramps are open on the main road. The ramp is quite high, so I imagine you'd get a decent bit of air if you hit it at speed :). The metal plate has plenty of grip and felt fine to cross. Will be interesting to see how these work when there are groups of tourists waiting for the bus.

Seth Brundle

Went out for 50km around Kilteel this evening. Had a jacket on over a jersey and it still felt cool but it did stay dry throughout so I guess I shouldn't complain.

Went over and back Windmill Hill near Rathcoole and as I was heading downhill, a van coming towards me was overtaking a commuting cyclist who had pulled over and was dealing with some kind of mechanical issue. I was more conscious of the van coming towards me (and I was doing over 55km/h) and so quickly figured that I'd probably see him in a few minutes on the return ascent. Anyhow, by the time I caught up with him, he was at the top of the hill moving quite gingerly. Asked him if he was ok and it turned out that he had a tubeless puncture and no pump or anything. As I had a pump with me (and tubes, levers, CO2, etc), I helped pump up the tyre to get him home. Hopefully he made it home anyhow. I am surprised though that some people who ride tubeless don't know that you still really should carry tools & a spare tube or two. I had a clubmate recently appear surprised that tubeless doesn't always seal!

Anyhow, it was an evening of close passes for whatever reason - I think there were three of four really uncomfortable ones and all were into oncoming traffic. The last one flashed their hazards 100m up the road so I wasn't sure were they trying to apologise or what (I know for a fact that they knew I was there).

https://www.strava.com/activities/9894347908

devonp

Sat spin y'day over to Lacken via Sorrel hill, on my way out a Toyota Corolla overtook me near Oughterard (Arthurs resting place) and then slowed in front of me, with the passenger holding something out the window...it was my Vent Ultra gilet which had dislodged from my jersey pocket prob on Boston hill, cheers to him. Anyway it was cool enough on the remaining descents so I ended up wearing it from Ballinascorney til home

Seth Brundle

Have had a plan for the last few weeks to head out today on a short spin in a kind of homage to Arthur Guinness where I'd take in his statue in Celbridge, his grave in Oughterard (as mentioned by @devonp above) and Huttonread House where they reckon he was born (Arthur's ma's homeplace) as today is his birthday (remember Arthur's Day?).

Given the strong southerly wind, I also figured I might set a few PRs on my way home (stopping off for a sup obviously).

However, I've developed some kind of stomach bug so maybe I'll park the idea until next year ☹

cletus

Today I got two KOMs (one of which I previously had, and took back.)

Apart from that, I saw a heron, and in general it was a beautiful day to be cycling, particularly because it's a day I'd normally be working

MangleBadger

Thought today might have been one of my last cycles on the good bike for the year. So planned a route from Roundwood over Wicklow gap around blessington and back over Sally Gap.

On the decent from the gap My bike was making a lot of rattling noise. So stopped at valley mount to have a look. Front wheel was loose. Went to tighten the thru axle and the head sheared right off. Feeling pretty lucky it didn’t give up the ghost on the descent.

Had to call the parents to come drive over and rescue me. Plenty of cyclists offering help but obviously nothing to be done.

secman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121205447#Comment_121205447

Saw that on Strava, very lucky when you consider the descents 🫣

magicbastarder

any idea wha caused it? i'd be sending a photo to the manufacturer!

MangleBadger

I’m guessing I over torqued it. Although I use a torque wrench. Unless my torque wrench is reading wrong.

cletus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121206675#Comment_121206675

That's a possibility. Torque wrenches, technically speaking, need to be calibrated periodically.

At the very minimum, they should be stored with torque reading wound back to zero.

MangleBadger

I only recently learned that.

cletus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121206874#Comment_121206874

Another issue can be the range of the torque wrench, and the torque setting you're using

magicbastarder

still, it's a hell of a step to effectively shearing the head off the shaft - no matter whether the torque wrench was calibrated correctly or not, if it wasn't, you still need to put the excess torque through it yourself and probably would have copped if you'd been waaaay overtorquing it.

cletus

Is it possible that the thru axle wasn't torqued enough, and that it was moving, causing a wear ring around the head?

MangleBadger

Looking back I think I probably over tightened. As I remember setting my torque wrench and thinking this was much tighter than I usually tighten it. Usually I wouldn’t go more by feel and have the torque as a backup but never quite reach it.

cletus

On the road at 7.30 this morning. Saw a bouquet of pheasants.

Large bottle small glass

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121209235#Comment_121209235

Did you flush them or was it some other noise? If not was it not a bevy of pheasants?

cletus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121210877#Comment_121210877

I flushed them, definitely. Otherwise you're correct, it would have been a bevy. Or possibly a nye.

Roadtoad

If you flushed a couple of turds, would ot be a bouquet, bevvy , bevy or other more appropriate term?

(Plane delayed, bored and other unspecified apologies)

Seth Brundle

Headed out after lunch today to try and make the most of the Indian Summer before it apparently finishes tomorrow. For the middle of October, it's gas to be heading out in a pair of shorts and a (boards) jersey - no base layer or jacket!

Followed a route from Leixlip to Tallaght and up to Sally Gap via Bohernabreena and Featherbeds. It was my first time heading up via Bohernabreena and I'll happily admit, that seems a much more attractive road than the adjacent route via Stocking Lane. There was a strong SW wind which made it feel even tougher heading to Sally especially when on the plateau - in hindsight taking the aero bike probably wasn't the best choice. I passed another cyclist who was pulled over at the Lough Bray parking spot - soon after he and I were sharing each others wheel as far as Sally. My legs were tired at this stage so it did really help (if you're on here then thanks and I really liked your yellow Audi bike).

The spin down from Sally to Kippure Estate felt dodgy with the sidewind doing its best to push me over. I took it fairly handy but even so, I was half expecting somehting to happen. Headed over Ballysmuttan to Blessington and then back towards Leixlip.

As I was approaching Leixlip, a car passed me just outside the old HP plant and was probably the closest pass I've ever encountered. The driver didn't alter their line or their speed at all and it honestly scared the crap out of me. Pulled over and stuck the reg into my phone before heading on (I initially was thinking I'd report it but soon resigned myself to the fact that it wouldn't be worth the hassle). Anyhow, 2km up the road, there they are queueing to turn right towards the village so it clearly wasn't worth the risk. Kinda left a bit of a sour taste on what had been a good day out.

Anyhow, a few photos...

vintcerf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121220799#Comment_121220799

Bohernabreena up to Featherbeds was part of my favourite loop until one day in August when I came across this! Had to pull over and call the fire brigade. Looked like they had just set it on fire ... shook me for a bit. It's a lovely climb on a quite road.

https://streamable.com/9p17n1

https://streamable.com/705xq9

https://streamable.com/504xz6

loyatemu

didn't an ambulance go on fire going up there on the Reservoir Dog a couple of years ago?

smacl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121224191#Comment_121224191

Seen this before and burnt out cars on the stretch all the way up to the Sally gap used to be reasonably common. Wouldn't let it put you off what is a wonderful cycling route.

Seth Brundle

Went out yesterday afternoon for a spin around from Leixlip up towards Ashbourne. After a while the rain came but it was still a peasant enough evening despite. I had brought a banana for along the way and decided to pull over just off the Rathoath Rd (on Harlockstown Lane) as I was starting my journey south (and into the wind). A man walked past just as I was finishing my munch and we each exchanged the usual pleasantries regarding the weather. He then surprised me and offered to take the banana skin and dispose of it for me. I thanked him but declined his offer but was left thinking that as generous as it was, it was somewhat strange all the same.

magicbastarder

i know someone who was fined for throwing away an apple butt many years ago. so i always have a furtive check before lashing by banana skin into a hedge.

Seth Brundle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121263451#Comment_121263451

I'd be the same and it was a km or more up the road before I chucked mine away into a hedge along a remote stretch.

De Bhál

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121224191#Comment_121224191

one less Passat on the road

result

cletus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121263701#Comment_121263701

What are ye talkin about, Passats are daycent, laaad....

cletus

Thanks to the 3 fellas who didn't mind me jumping onto their wheels for a mile or two coming out of Athy this morning.

I'm not a member of a club, and I don't often ride in groups, so I'm always surprised at the extra speed you get from it.