Tell us about your new improved government regulations compliant cycle part II

Swans and cygnets on the way into work. They seem to have mellowed a bit since last year and no longer try killing everyone who passes.

The sunny weather seems to be a mood enhancer :cool: I had a number of pleasant encounters while out for a spin today.

I'd not been out for a long spin in a couple of weeks, so decided to make the most of the sunshine and head for Sally Gap. On my way through Phibsboro I got talking to a guy on an electric skateboard. He told me it had a 40km range and could top out at 40km/h, though he'd not been brave enough to try that speed yet (I don't blame him). It looked like fun, but did sort of remind me of a toy I had as a kid



There were a good number of cyclists of varying skill levels out enjoying the Military Rd. and its surrounds. I stopped just after the viewing point for a banana break and to enjoy the silence. I wasn't there long when three lads in full blown conversation passed, followed by a couple ("good morning!" from both), and a solo cyclist who also said hello. Back on the bike, and more friendly "good mornings" as I passed the couple again, followed by plenty of nods, waves, and hellos from most other cyclists coming in the opposite direction. A final cheery hello from a second cycling couple in Manor Kilbride, then back into traffic for the home stretch.

With exactly 10km left, and with thoughts of lunch running through my head, there was a sudden *POP* and rush of air from the back wheel Upon inspection I found a nice neat little hole in the tyre. The road was smooth and debris free, so I'm not sure what caused the blowout. I had narrowly avoided a lot of glass about 12km before this, whether I'd picked some up and it'd taken that long to cause the failure, I don't know.

As I was replacing the tube (including a boot to cover the hole), a third cycling couple passed (cycling must work wonders for some relationships) and asked if I was OK. I thanked them and waved them on, only to have the boot fail almost instantly. The support car was messaged, and I started walking. 50m down the road a man in a car coming towards me stopped and asked if he could do anything. I thanked him and told him support was on the way.

Turns out support was having lunch in Howth and wasn't on the way! 10km in my socks seemed doable (cycling shoes = slow walking shoes), the sun was still out and the roads were dry, so I kept going. 1.5km later and another car stopped and offered me a lift. I gladly took it. The driver was a complete stranger, but his dad is a keen cyclist so he said he wouldn't like to see one stranded. We chatted about work, his studies (medicine in Trinity :eek: ), etc., and he went ~8km out of his way to drop me to my door. I'll have to pay it forward somehow. If I ever see a stranded med student, I'll definitely stop and offer them a lift

90km on a sunny Friday in May. Cycling is fun.

On the home stretch of my spin yesterday going through santry a guy pulled up on a bike which on closer viewing had a small petrol engine bolted to it. He seemed to know what he was doing as it worked well. Except for two things. It spat out a lot of fumes which I proceeded to choke on for our 5 mins together to dardistown. The rear wheel had a buckle in it which due to the weight and speed he was doing I thought the whole thing would come asunder under the vibration. He only pulled away from me on the upslodes in the road as I couldn't maintain 34kph at those moments. He kept looking behind to see if e dropped me😜

I have seen rain in my time, but today was something special.

Heavy rain is to be expected, when rain is, but this total downpour lasted for the guts of 25 minutes.

It was relentless. Seriously heavy relentless.

I've had monsoon type rain showers that lasted a few minutes, to be replaced by normal rain, possibly with a bit more monsoon stuff. But 25 minutes of seriously heavy rain and a tad of hailstones thrown in?

I was lucky it was over 10 degrees, otherwise I'd have been frozen to death. The top I was wearing had no fancy technical stuff going on, other than being super nice to look at.

The rain also killed my Drift Stealth 2 Camera. It was that bad.

I'm not happy tbh.

Anyways, my bike is in sh1te again, and 115km done & 974m up.

https://www.strava.com/activities/996869570

#Lesigh

Tomorrow I'm un/de-hibernating the good bike.

I hope the weather is better.

Rarely post in this thread as my cycle is same commute day in day out. Today however cycled over to Stoneybatter on the pub/town/shopping bike and met the in laws for a few drinks and a bit of food. Walked down to the quays with the wife after and jumped on to the bike as she jumped on the 145. Beat her home to Deansgrange by a full 16 minutes!!

Pigeon Reaper wrote: »

Swans and cygnets on the way into work. They seem to have mellowed a bit since last year and no longer try killing everyone who passes.

Would you mind disclosing the location? My son want's to see a real life ugly duckling! Thanks

Had great intentions yesterday of going up the hills for some pre MB200 recce but managed to give my back a twinge and spent last night tossing and turning trying to get to sleep. Got up this morning still thinking of hills but I could barely get off the throne after my morning weight shedding so I though there was probably no point heading down to Glenmalure then having to phone herself to drive an hour and a half to collect me from some ditch if the back gave way altogether.
Settled on going out for a spin with the club, at least it'd be flat and I'd have someone to support me if needed.
Well it was relatively flat alright but heading out with the racing group the week after they've returned from a training camp in Majorca was not the smartest thing I've done with a bad back.
Plenty of headwind and crosswind coupled with some Wattmonsters drilling things meant one hell of a tough spin. I got dropped twice, first time about 3k from the coffee stop when they ramped up to nearly 50kmh on the flat. I knew we were stopping soon so I just said Nope, off with ye...I find I care less about what others think of me as I get older. I'm probably going to be an absolute arse in time to come.
Second time was just after the coffee stop although I got back on quickly enough on a descent. Managed to get myself going properly again after a little shelter and rounded off the spin with a foolhardy attempt at a sprint just coming back to my house.
Longwood, Edenderry, Mount Lucas, Rhode, Tyrellspass, Kinnegad, Longwood
92km in 2:51@32.3kmh
Back wasn't too bad afterwards either. Roll on Mick Byrne


https://www.strava.com/activities/998309077

waldo wrote: »

Would you mind disclosing the location? My son want's to see a real life ugly duckling! Thanks

They're just by the canal where the park west road crosses over it. There's another pair with cygnets by Clondalkin now too.

An even hundred about NCD taking in the Nags Head and Howth. Between a sore knee and the headwind the last 10k were pure torture.

https://www.relive.cc/view/1000485197

113Km @27.5kmh for me. Headed for Drogheda, Termonfeckin, Clogherhead, Dunleer, Collon, slane, Duleek, Julianstown, Balbriggan, balrothery and home.
A bit windy at times which made the going a bit of a slog, but a grand day out with no issues with the bike or other road users.
Now to collapse in front of Eurosport for the Giro..

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1753967546

A leisurely 35km around NCT at an avg of 23 km/h (which by my standards is pretty good!)

Handy and all as I go the only bit of freewheeling I did round a bend I met a club group going the other way, I felt I was crawling along. Think they might have been Upperchurch-Drombane CC, lots of friendly greetings anyway.

On a hunch I raised my saddle slightly - 5mm - I can't believe the difference in comfort so very happy with that. I still imagine I feel a bit 'heavy' on my hands but have a longer stem to try

beginner road cyclist, going through donnybrook village towards UCD at around 6pm, took the bend at kielys very awkwardly and ended up cycling down the slope between the curb/gutters and road. Managed to stay upright but chain came off and skidded all over the place with my toe coming through my shoe, Nightmare! I'll Take it slower next time.

Anyone else familiar with these 'slopes' in between roads and curbs, I think they're for road draining. Nightmare for cyclists.

Cycled out to Howth from the city centre after work and back again. Such an odd day, the sun was shining in the city and then once you hit clontarf there was an eerie mist rising off the water that blew towards the cycle path and reduced visibility quite a bit at times.

Then at St Annes park, back to sun shine for 200 metres, Sutton Cross, sunshine for a km up the hill before mist again.

Then on the way back it looks like a guy is walking his bike along the path, when nope, he stands behind it, takes a run and up on his unicycle whose wheel must have had around a 4 foot diameter and mad wide tires.

On the south quays some guy on a motorbike doing wheelies in rush hour traffic.

A cyclist flying straight through the red light at O'Connell bridge with buses and trucks completely preventing him from seeing if something was coming north to south. His guardian angel was working overtime there.

You'd miss all that crazy if you were stuck in a car

The photo isn't mine, shamelessly stolen from twitter