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

First commute on the new bike, Giant Contend SL 2 Disc. The bike is great, but the head wind was horrendous. Way worse than I was expecting, I think I would have avoided the coast had I known it would be as bad. But, this time I had gears on my bike to change down to which was nice! I'm running MTB clipless pedals as I had MTB shoes, a good bit stiffer to clip out of which will take some getting used to! But all good, and it looks like it will at least be dry for the cycle home. Huzzah!

Club Sportive today in aid of a local school, 2 routes 40km & 120km with the 120km being a rather tasty looking crew of more than established abilities....

My own 40th last night which ended at 2am with more than a reasonable amount of Bulmers consumed probably wasnt the best prep. Felt like hell for the first 30km but slowly came round then discovered a 35km avg for first 60km or so was the reason for dead legs early.

Second part hurt more and more thanks to a horrid back road from Carrick to Clonmel but got through it then had a dig at the end for some fun but Kilcash Hill put paid to that fun!!!

All n all a great day.... 122km at 34.4km/h!!!!!!!

Down in Wexford (specifically Enniscorthy) this weekend, so the OH and I cycled down to Wexford to watch the nationals. Took a reasonably direct way down, joining the N11 at Edermine, and heading south from there. Joined up with 3 lads from Wexford who were on their way back from Enniscorthy at the time. Hung around Ferrycarrig for a while, rolling to and fro between the bottom of the climb, and where they rejoined that road past the railway bridge before heading into the finish line for the end of the Ladies' race. While there saw one very hairy moment where a couple of support cars got stuck before the road curved around (there was a mechanical being fixed), and two riders did very well not to rear-end them, veering through a gap on the RHS. The marshals stepped in and tried to stop any more cars proceeding up to keep that little gap open, though the Aqua Blue car was none too pleased about that and were close to running him down! :eek: It was also interesting to see groups go up there reasonably together, and re-emerge a lot more split up

Anyway, in at the finish, watched the various groups come through for a while and heard the news of the ladies race being pulled in, and I can tell you it wasn't well received. Once they had come through we decided to wander away for a while, and came back to find our spots on the line (seriously, right on it, you can see us in the finish videos!) were still there, so hung out to watch the finish of the Men's race. Good craic, and once most riders were through, we headed back to Enniscorthy the long and lumpy way around, by the Heritage Centre, Ballyhogue, etc. and that was definitely the tougher way.

I think I may as well have swam into work this morning. I was absolutely drowned by the time I got in. But to be fair, it's the first time in a long time I've gotten so soaked! First commute in the wet on the new bike. Disc brakes are awesome. No loss of brake power despite the rain. I'm still not 100% familiar enough with the new tires to know where the grip limit is, but so far so good. Hopefully it will dry up in the afternoon.

Kippure is a walk in the park compared to the 3km mast road on Mt. Leinster.

You could go through Malahide Castle to the main gate on Back Road, then head south on Kinsealy Lane and either turn east on Chapel Road for Portmarnock and the coast (longer but avoids the Malahide Road entirely) or turn west for the Malahide Road near the garden centre.