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

Wishbone Ash · 03-07-2017 08:32PM

P_1 wrote: »

Just one thing to bear in mind is that Kineaely Lane doesn't tend to hold surface water very well. It can make it a less than ideal choice on a wet day.

(Kinsealy Lane?)

Good roads don't hold surface water! Why would you want a road to hold water?

P_1 · 03-07-2017 08:35PM

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

(Kinsealy Lane?)

Good roads don't hold surface water! Why would you want a road to hold water?

What I meant was that it seems to flood quite often. Was down it last Thursday and there was an awful lot of surface water and flooded potholes.

Wishbone Ash · 03-07-2017 08:49PM

P_1 wrote: »

What I meant was that it seems to flood quite often. Was down it last Thursday and there was an awful lot of surface water and flooded potholes.

So it holds surface water then!

P_1 · 03-07-2017 08:57PM

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

So it holds surface water then!

That it does

I think you get what I meant though :pac:

Idleater · 06-07-2017 07:22AM

So a year on from

Idleater wrote: »

Eroica Limburg 2016

I did the second edition of Eroica Limburg. Different route this year taking in more of Belgium. Again there were 3 routes 60/100/160 through every forrest track and farm gate they could find. Even included cobbles and a ferry crossing over the Maas.
Very well run event, and the stops were magnificent. Again country houses cooking omelettes and pancakes to order, fruit from local orchards, and as much coffee and vlaai (local cake) you decided to stuff your face with. Very international field again, had great chats with people from England, Germany, Italy and Spain, as well as the obvious Belgian and Netherlands. Some amazing bikes on show too.

A bit unfortunate with the weather, the only day of the week it rained :-( but it made for character building cycling nonetheless.

Strava link, Garmin in my pocket again for authenticity leads to the most humorous joke while lost: A group of us obviously missed a sign and ended at a junction with a couple of tie wraps on a post but no arrow. "Am I allowed google maps the route" :-)

Clean at the start

Bike parking Waterbrucht Millen

Kasteel van Rijckholt

Event support vehicle

retalivity · 06-07-2017 08:18PM

2 hr spin from dublin out to maynooth, barberstown, celbridge and back. The route out is my new favourite quickest-way-out-of-the-city-with-minimal-stops: from phoenix park city gate theres only 1 set of lights til you hit maynooth, traffic is generally light and junctions are easily negotiable. Headwind out, tailwind back. Considering i think ive only ever gone above 27kph once in a longish ride, delighted what i was churning out tonight

58.6k in 1h 58m, 29.8kph

https://www.strava.com/activities/1070983752

LollipopJimmy · 06-07-2017 08:27PM

Really good pace there. Might steal your route for Saturday morning myself

ED E · 06-07-2017 08:45PM

Lovely evening for a jaunt along the sutton cycleway.

dahat · 06-07-2017 09:38PM

Had an absolute nightmare in De Ronde A4 race Sunday so needed some confidence boosters this week.
Tipp Wheelers TT over 40km and bettered last year's time, happy out for a lad on a road bike.

Club Spin this evening and after changing to a 120mm stem the bike feels like a new bike tbh, Aidan Hammond recommend it a while back for me. Had a good spin with plenty of efforts so pleased with my week's work so far.

magicbastarder · 06-07-2017 10:25PM

Am in ballyconeelly in Galway, took the mtb with me, first time it's been out in over a year. Slow enough - chunky tyres make for slow progress on tarmac, but I was glad of them on the dunes and on the roads which have never seen tarmac. Great fun though, hammering across terrain you simply wouldn't look at on a road bike

moonshadow · 06-07-2017 10:46PM

Cracking evening for a spin, six of us 65 km @ 33kmph over undulating roads felt good except for late cramping.

Chuchote · 07-07-2017 07:55AM

So… my normal speed is around 11km/h - how do I get a bit faster without making myself miserable?

magicbastarder · 07-07-2017 08:02AM

Cycle downhill?

More seriously though, do you want to do it for fitness or to save time? Are you tired when you get to the end of your cycle?

ED E · 07-07-2017 08:15AM

Chuchote wrote: »

So… my normal speed is around 11km/h - how do I get a bit faster without making myself miserable?

The only answer to that question is a new bike. End of.

Alanstrainor · 07-07-2017 09:35AM

Chuchote wrote: »

So… my normal speed is around 11km/h - how do I get a bit faster without making myself miserable?

Are you in too high a gear? You should ideally be spinning your legs at a quick cadence.

This morning felt like one of those days where the wind manages to be blowing in your face no matter which way you turn. Perhaps it's the humidity or something, but I was killing myself to stay up at a reasonable speed coming down the coast from Portmarnock towards Fairview! Here's hoping the journey home will be easier!

Idleater · 07-07-2017 10:22AM

Chuchote wrote: »

So… my normal speed is around 11km/h - how do I get a bit faster without making myself miserable?

not exactly answering the question, but to put your misery into perspective:

Greg Lemond, cyclist. 3-time winner of Tour de France. wrote:

It never gets easier, you just go faster.

greenspurs · 07-07-2017 10:45AM

coming back from a long layoff (busy + a bit of laziness)

Did the same spin 3 times in the last 10days..
56km in 2hr9 -> 2hr2 -> 2hr. Average of 28kmph

Getting the legs back

Chuchote · 07-07-2017 10:52AM

magicbastarder wrote: »

Cycle downhill?

More seriously though, do you want to do it for fitness or to save time? Are you tired when you get to the end of your cycle?

Heh, went a bit faster today and got it to

Avg Max
Speed 13.3km/h 29.5km/h
Elapsed Time 2:00:16

a) neither, I do it for the sheer orgiastic happiness

a1) a mixture - sometimes I'm buzzing down to the shops and hauling back with a slab of Saskia water or tins of tomatoes plus half a week's shopping, sometimes I'm going for a bit longer of a cycle for the fun of it - the first on the bike that no one (touch wood) in their sane senses would steal and the second on my Preciousss. Speed tends to depend on where I'm cycling - if I'm going along suburban streets with the poor demented drivers and walkers who gaze before them like something out of a 1950s horror film and walk/drive straight in front of you, obviously slower. But whether for shopping or for pleasure, I'll go back roads as much as possible. It's just that suburban back roads are lined with cars any of which may hurl a door open at any moment, and carpeted with vicious potholes. (On the good side, there's the helpful free advice; this morning in Sandymount I decided not to try to take the lane to go right, but to halt on the left and wait for the stream of cars to pass. As the last car passed, when I'd been sitting there for 30 seconds or so, I put out my hand to signal right; a heavily pregnant man with white hair advised from the passenger seat, "You're leaving it a bit late to put your arm out, love…")

b) no, not tired

ED E wrote: »

The only answer to that question is a new bike. End of.

I like this suggestion and will consider it seriously

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Are you in too high a gear? You should ideally be spinning your legs at a quick cadence.

This morning felt like one of those days where the wind manages to be blowing in your face no matter which way you turn. Perhaps it's the humidity or something, but I was killing myself to stay up at a reasonable speed coming down the coast from Portmarnock towards Fairview! Here's hoping the journey home will be easier!

Yeah, geared up a good bit this morning instead of sauntering along, actually used the front sprocket wheel (or whatever the thing is called)…

Crocked · 07-07-2017 12:59PM

Chuchote wrote: »

So… my normal speed is around 11km/h - how do I get a bit faster without making myself miserable?

If you are going for a shorter spin than normal then make a conscious effort to go faster/push harder than you normally would, and also throw in a few longer spins (dont' have to be anything epic just longer than the normal one). You should see your speed on the "normal" spin start to increase.

retalivity · 08-07-2017 12:09PM

Ticknock, kilmashogue, tibradden and cruagh to viewpoint with a mild hangover. I am bunched.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1073196547

godtabh · 08-07-2017 12:38PM

Howth Hill to Kiliney Hill and some crap in between. Want to see which was harder. The hard side of Howth is hard than Kiiiney Hill.

95km all in. Probably should have done the 100

secman · 08-07-2017 06:32PM

Se out early this morning around back of blessington and stopped to watch early morning rowers on the lake, stunning morning. Saw a very busy outward n81 on my way back.
50 km avg 27 kph

magicbastarder · 09-07-2017 12:36PM

lovely morning for it; 42km around NCD at 27.7km/h - wind wasn't as much hassle as expected.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1074802180

positron · 09-07-2017 02:27PM

Drogheda, Clogherhead, Annagassan, Castlebellingham, Ardee, Sweet Jesus what have I done hill after hill after hill, Slane, Donore, Drogheda.

Absolutely beautiful morning once again, and 88k of beautiful villages and pleasant villagers always saying hello, chatting and advising on better roads etc. The hills between Ardee and Slane were interesting and Slane to Donore to Drogheda was even harder (running out of fuel as well I guess). On the plus side, my little tweaks / experiments are working well. I had terrible pain on my right wrist and elbow all of last week since last Sunday's 110k ride. GP reckoned it's RSI exasperated by cylcing and adviced not to bike for a while - err.. sorry I Miss GP I am on a mission.. looked up all sorts of videos and figured my wrist was not straight on bike. Turned the bar up 10-15 degrees to sort that out and bought new gloves with padding and it all seems to have worked. Also fitted a new Brooks Cambium 17 and for the first time I can feel my sit bones are actually sitting on the seat. Comfortable enough after today's outting, and given that my bottom got used to much narrower E4P saddle after a few rides, I think Cambium c17 will work just well. Aldi's softshell jacket was perfect for the early morning start as well - warm but not clammy. Great morning overall.

Daroxtar · 09-07-2017 04:20PM

I had intended to hit the Wicklow hills to test my new power meter but instead decided late last night to take a spin to the Slieve Blooms with a mate today. Delighted we did. He'd never been over there before and was really impressed with the scenery and how could you not be? Weather was near perfect for cycling apart from a tough headwind on The Cut.

We took it relatively easy but paced it fairly steady on the climbs. I have to say I'm delighted with the power meter. Had a much better idea what was in reserve over just going on heart rate and even managed a few decent attacks over the top of the hills where before I'd be blowing too hard to attempt it.

I did Glendine for the first time since I crashed there last year. It's a fairly brutal climb. Much tougher than Cunard or Kippure. Went down the back and turned around and came up it again from the far side. That's actually a really nice climb too. Then we went over the Wolftrap to Kinnity and had a lovely scone and coffee in the Castle before rolling back to the start for a total of 81.5km with 1400odd climbing in a leisurely 3:34. Really enjoyed it.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1075053493

secman · 09-07-2017 10:26PM

Headed from house to killenagh, ballycanew, Gorey( heavy traffic today) and on out old n11 through Inch and on to Arklow. About 50 odd minutes into spin and having beenn chasing segments , doing quick calc I realised I would be very close to 30 km for the hour. Decided to hit finish at the hour and was bang on 30 km.

. Carried on to Woodbridge and back to Arklow, Inch, Gorey, courtown, slong coast road to Ballygarrett, killenagh and home. 52 km avg 27 kph.
Overall 82 km and an avg between 27 and 30

Went to bother of working out Avg... just over 28 kph

LollipopJimmy · 09-07-2017 10:43PM

I've not been able to get out much of late but managed 230 kms this week... well after the low mileage the last 2 months and then doing a good bit this week my backside is not happy.

secman · 10-07-2017 11:55AM

Meant to mention I came across a guy yesterday on old n11 just out of Arklow heading for Gorey, he was walking with his bike, back wheel flat. Naturally I stopped to see if I could help him. He had no spares at all , I was going to give him a tube and inflate it with co2. I noticed the back tyre, I could almost get my finger into it.... told him it was pointless putting a tube into it. Tyre was in very bad condition, whilst taking to him I thought he was a bit familiar, he then pipes up.." I met you a few weeks back around coast road to Ballygarrett " I said and you were walking the bike with a bad front puncture, front tyre was in ribbons. Yep says he, I got a new front tyre..... Then tells me he did Ring of Kerry and no punctures..
Some people amaze me, I've taken a lot better off my bikes than what he was riding on, no spares, no co2, no pump... and a very black sludgy oily chain and derailler.

LollipopJimmy · 10-07-2017 12:13PM

secman wrote: »

Meant to mention I came across a guy yesterday on old n11 just out of Arklow heading for Gorey, he was walking with his bike, back wheel flat. Naturally I stopped to see if I could help him. He had no spares at all , I was going to give him a tube and inflate it with co2. I noticed the back tyre, I could almost get my finger into it.... told him it was pointless putting a tube into it. Tyre was in very bad condition, whilst taking to him I thought he was a bit familiar, he then pipes up.." I met you a few weeks back around coast road to Ballygarrett " I said and you were walking the bike with a bad front puncture, front tyre was in ribbons. Yep says he, I got a new front tyre..... Then tells me he did Ring of Kerry and no punctures..
Some people amaze me, I've taken a lot better off my bikes than what he was riding on, no spares, no co2, no pump... and a very black sludgy oily chain and derailler.

Madness. Although we got caught out yesterday, 1 spare tube each and my buddy got a flat, spare was also punctured, looks like something snagged it in the saddle bag then he snapped the valve off the spare i had. We got the dart from Howth to Harmonstown and got sorted in 360cycles

retalivity · 10-07-2017 07:34PM

retalivity wrote: »

2 hr spin from dublin out to maynooth, barberstown, celbridge and back. The route out is my new favourite quickest-way-out-of-the-city-with-minimal-stops: from phoenix park city gate theres only 1 set of lights til you hit maynooth, traffic is generally light and junctions are easily negotiable. Headwind out, tailwind back. Considering i think ive only ever gone above 27kph once in a longish ride, delighted what i was churning out tonight

58.6k in 1h 58m, 29.8kph

https://www.strava.com/activities/1070983752

Sameish route again this evening, got the avg speed up to 30.6kph. Absolutely banjaxed now though

https://www.strava.com/activities/1077239008

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

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