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

nilhg · 08-11-2017 10:20PM

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

You're 7 minutes ahead of me on that one!

Here's another challenge for you when you're out there - it's a 50km climb so try to do it in under 4 hours. I set myself that challenge and after a few fails, managed to do it in 3.59.

https://www.strava.com/segments/11692544?filter=overall

Thanks be to God I only saw this now, I did go up to the cable car station but very slowly and via Granadilla, can't get enough of the granadilla to vilaflor road. I'll leave your suggestion as something to train for next year.

Actually now that I think of it, it wouldn't have been possible anyway, there are roadworks in the caldera, a lovely smooth new surface going down for me next year....

rollingscone · 09-11-2017 08:52AM

Missed my usual cycling days this week and it has been a stressful one at work so I decided to try and purge it all this morning.

Blasted out the N11 to Bray, managed 2/3rds of Stratford road before I was pushing more than pulling (on the Singlespeed) and walked the last 100m like a dirty knee lover.

Got up Vico Road and was slowed down a bit by the weird misty/warm sleety headwind rain and traffic. Had plenty of gas in the tank by the City Centre and really would have liked to do at least the Clontarf cycle track but after 10 minutes of Dublin commuter dumpster fire I lost the will to continue...fckin Obesocrats :-/

41km in 1:40 323m climb, 25kph avg.

helimachoptor · 09-11-2017 02:09PM

Have seen a guy this week, on a bike with his son.
No lights
Helmet on father, none on son
No lights
Going through red lights

and..

No working brakes.. using his feet to stop, he had a few near misses yesterday/tuesday

rollingscone · 09-11-2017 02:12PM

helimachoptor wrote: »

Have seen a guy this week, on a bike with his son.
No lights
Helmet on father, none on son
No lights
Going through red lights

and..

No working brakes.. using his feet to stop, he had a few near misses yesterday/tuesday

Ah yeah but as long as he wears #hivis he'll be grand.

magicbastarder · 09-11-2017 05:42PM

first puncture in about five or six years, on the commute home. leaving work, made a mental note to pump the tyres when i got home, cos they're a tiny bit soft. about 5km from home decided to take a detour from my usual route, and within about 100m hit a pothole, and needless to say got a pinch flat.

while i was changing the tube, a pedestrian approached asking was i OK; she had a puncture repair kit in her bag she carried around for such eventualities. i felt bad about it, she actually seemed a little disappointed that she wasn't able to assist.

rushfan · 11-11-2017 02:26PM

52km this morning. Would have stayed out longer only that the Aviva beckons

retalivity · 11-11-2017 02:50PM

D8 - blessington - hollywood - wicklow gap - laragh - roundwood - enniskerry - d8

Between holidays/work/weather/dark evenings etc, ive not been out much in the last 2 months, bar the short commute. Went for a long one today, taking it easy, but was still absolutely bunched after about 70k. Stopped for food/drink, but wasnt doing, struggled on home. Garmin made it to 100k before dying, good lad!

113ish kms, 5hrs

https://www.strava.com/activities/1270557969

D13exile · 11-11-2017 07:22PM

First spin in 6 weeks as I've been busy with refurbishing the old house I bought. After just 200 metres, I was was passed by another guy booting along and I thought oh hell, I'm going backwards here. For the first 20 Kms, I felt tired and considered calling a day but I persevered. Then the second wind kicked in and I started to really motor along with good power in the legs and I soon was down in the drops enjoying the feeling of speed again. Started to get cold in the last 10kms as all I had on was bib shorts, a long sleeve jersey and fingerless gloves. Guess winter has arrived during my lay off. 50 Kms in 1 hour and 40 minutes wasn't bad considering the long time out of the saddle. Must wrap up warmer on my next spin on Monday.

Lemming · 11-11-2017 10:24PM

Took the missus across Sheffield to visit Bolehills BMX & pumptrack for the first time today. Despite the cold, the place was busy. Awesome to see so many children cycling; all ages and abilities from teenagers getting some disgracefully large air on jumps to boys and girls still in sing!e digit age ripping it around the track.

Kaisr Sose · 12-11-2017 01:33AM

D13exile wrote: »

First spin in 6 weeks. ...... After just 200 metres, I was was passed by another guy booting along and I thought oh hell, I'm going backwards here. For the first 20 Kms, I felt tired and considered calling a day but I persevered. 50 Kms in 1 hour and 40 minutes

Impressive! What sort of speeds can you do when you are not off the bike for 6 weeks?

Justwinginit · 12-11-2017 09:10AM

Only cycling a few months but really, really enjoying it. 2 nights ago on my own down a very dark back road in the pissing rain, 8k in, flying down a hill my chain flies off! Had to ring herself to collect me in the van. Have a 2nd hand trek 7.3. Luckily my local shop had it fixed next day. Really have to invest in some wet gear. Doing 25k 4 times a week. Longer run on Sundays Averaging 44mins for the 25k.

magicbastarder · 12-11-2017 09:15AM

25k in three quarters of an hour is impressive going.

Justwinginit · 12-11-2017 01:52PM

magicbastarder wrote: »

25k in three quarters of an hour is impressive going.

Cheers, wasn't sure if it is good or not, considering there are some hills on it I felt I was pushing, but doing it no problem nowðŸ˜€

D13exile · 12-11-2017 02:45PM

Kaisr Sose wrote: »

Impressive! What sort of speeds can you do when you are not off the bike for 6 weeks?

Not much faster tbh:D. I'd kind of plateaued at 33-35kph on average (with the odd high 30's on a good day) before my layoff no matter how much cycling I did. Maybe interval training would help me push that average higher instead of long spins at a steady pace? When I was younger, I used to mix my steady 10 km runs up with interval sessions of jog, sprint, jog, sprint to really work the cardiovascular system.

I'm 49 in a few months and my bones are starting to creak after exercise. However good diet and plenty of stretching will keep me active for a good while longer I hope. I walk the dogs a lot and do plenty of core strengthening exercises in the evenings to balance out my dodgy back (I've two collapsed discs). Cycling isn't as hard on the joints as running was so I'll keep at it.

pjmn · 12-11-2017 03:47PM

Knocknacarra, Moycullen, Spiddal and home again - beautiful morning - decent north westerly against me on the way out, but had the benefit on the way home... view across Galway Bay crystal clear...

42.7km Distance

1:35:14 Moving Time

358m Elevation
139W Estimated Avg Power

793kJ Energy Output

Avg Max Speed 26.9km/h 47.5km/h
Calories 885
Elapsed Time 1:35:14

secman · 12-11-2017 07:21PM

Did usual spin to blessington and back through manor kilbride yesterday in the pissings of rain 45 km and 25 kph avg. Met a chap from Rathfarnham heading towards manor kilbride and he had done Hollywood and the lakes. Sowed a seed.
So today I headed out to Hollywood and did the lakes, and back through manor kilbride and home. Garmin said 70 km and avg 24 kph. But I stopped on the left sharp turn for Valleymount just after the kings river bridge to take a photo, inadvertently stopped Garmin, it was reading just under 39 km. Thought I had restarted it and I stopped again at the picnic area on the right hand side just after the descent from Ballyknocken village. Again to take a photo and noticed distance was still just under 39km

.
I think the distance missing us about 7 to 8 km. Stand corrected on that !
Lovely day for a meander on the bike, except for the wind .

dahat · 12-11-2017 07:29PM

120km and 4.5hrs on the bike today with the club, pretty cold down here then add in a cold NW breeze and it wasn't much fun tbh.

I have been trying to do these club spins fasted and have worked up to 2.5hrs on a black coffee while trying to keep a Z3 pace which is tricky on a club spin at times. I'm hoping to get towards the full spin over the winter with just the high 5 tabs in water.
I also had my weekly puncture with back wheel this week, it's alternating wheels each week, frustrating.

Wishbone Ash · 12-11-2017 08:42PM

dahat wrote: »

...I also had my weekly puncture with back wheel this week, it's alternating wheels each week, frustrating.

Weekly? :eek:

Would you not use more resistant tyres especially in winter. You might have to sacrifice .5km/hr in average speed buts it beats being at the side of the road in the rain with frozen fingers dealing with punctures.

dahat · 12-11-2017 08:56PM

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Weekly? :eek:

Would you not use more resistant tyres especially in winter. You might have to sacrifice .5km/hr in average speed buts it beats being at the side of the road in the rain with frozen fingers dealing with punctures.

I've two new tyres on my old Alu bike which aren't winter tyres but should be fine hopefully. I'm hoping it just bad luck but if it continues I'll have to get a decent 23mm winter Tyre.

rushfan · 13-11-2017 01:26PM

63km with all my winter gear on . Left before 10, temperature said 5c but it certainly didn't feel like it. Got back and was standing in the porch taking off the overshoes, helmet, etc. The eldest shouts down "Hi Dad, just getting into the shower ". I'm sure my face was a picture. It's not the first time either. ðŸ˜©

Mercian Pro · 13-11-2017 01:38PM

rushfan wrote: »

63km with all my winter gear on . Left before 10, temperature said 5c but it certainly didn't feel like it. Got back and was standing in the porch taking off the overshoes, helmet, etc. The eldest shouts down "Hi Dad, just getting into the shower ". I'm sure my face was a picture. It's not the first time either. &#55357;&#56873;

I feel your pain! Nearly as bad as stepping into the shower and finding the feckers have used all the hot water.

D13exile · 13-11-2017 03:26PM

After Saturdays freezathon, I had my warm gear on today (all Galabier gear of long sleeve merino undershirt warm bib tights, mistral jacket full finger gloves and toe covers) and what a difference that made to my comfort. Nice and toasty despite the odd hail shower. Went from Clane to Kilmeague, up the Hill of Allen (in the big ring because my cable snapped when I tried to shift and I couldn't get it into the small ring), down to Newbridge, onto Naas and home. Just 42kms but after a two month lay off, I'm easing back into it. Felt tired for the first 20kms but funnily enough, the slog up the Hill of Allen in the big ring actually woke me up and I was flying after that all the way home. I barely averaged 25kph for the first 20kms but averaged 35kph for the second half of the spin (40kph in the last 5kms). Need to replace all my gear and brake cables now as I was lucky that it wasn't the rear mech cable that broke. Still using the original cables three and a half years after I bought the bike. While I clean the chain and bike regularly, I've neglected the cables.

Vizzy · 13-11-2017 05:11PM

D13exile wrote: »

After Saturdays freezathon, I had my warm gear on today (all Galabier gear of long sleeve merino undershirt warm bib tights, mistral jacket full finger gloves and toe covers) and what a difference that made to my comfort. Nice and toasty despite the odd hail shower. Went from Clane to Kilmeague, up the Hill of Allen (in the big ring because my cable snapped when I tried to shift and I couldn't get it into the small ring), down to Newbridge, onto Naas and home. Just 42kms but after a two month lay off, I'm easing back into it. Felt tired for the first 20kms but funnily enough, the slog up the Hill of Allen in the big ring actually woke me up and I was flying after that all the way home. I barely averaged 25kph for the first 20kms but averaged 35kph for the second half of the spin (40kph in the last 5kms). Need to replace all my gear and brake cables now as I was lucky that it wasn't the rear mech cable that broke. Still using the original cables three and a half years after I bought the bike. While I clean the chain and bike regularly, I've neglected the cables.

How did you get it to stay in the big ring, I thought that the derraileur would automatically "default" to the small ring if a cable snapped ?

D13exile · 14-11-2017 04:39PM

Vizzy wrote: »

How did you get it to stay in the big ring, I thought that the derraileur would automatically "default" to the small ring if a cable snapped ?

The front derailleur is stuck in place keeping the chain on the big ring at the front. The bike was laid up for almost 8 weeks and while I clean the bike frame and chain weekly, I have to admit that I neglected to lube the front derailleur which seized and probably caused the cable to snap when I tried to shift to the small ring at the front. Lesson learned and I've new gear and brake cables on the way to get the bike back into tip top shape. Would love a new bike but this house I've bought is sucking the life blood out of me.

Justwinginit · 15-11-2017 08:40AM

magicbastarder wrote: »

25k in three quarters of an hour is impressive going.

Update. Oops, That time was for the 18.5k it actually takes me 1hr4mins to 1hr1min for 25.6k

Justwinginit · 15-11-2017 10:40AM

Lovely night last night, hardly a breeze, managed to get the 25.6k down to 1hr 35secs...couple of standing puddles, (wet feet) have a pair of overshoes coming at christmas:-)

Annie get your Run · 15-11-2017 02:20PM

First time cycling in heavy fog this morning yikeeees! Very nearly got the bus instead but soldiered on, went the long way so I could take advantage of as many off road cycle lanes as possible and even waited for the pedestrian light at the Clonsilla / Power City roundabout!! Was very glad to see the sun coming up about half way in. Whatever about the reduced visibility, the damn fog seemed to seep into every gap in my clothing so I ended up being cold despite being pretty well wrapped up.

Borderfox · 15-11-2017 02:31PM

30km around the dirty roads of Meath, mudguards on so im clean but the bike!!

triggermortis · 15-11-2017 04:31PM

https://www.strava.com/activities/1276300311

68Km around NCD before work today. Nice and bright but a bit damp in places - took me a while to decide between the good bike and the winter one, but once I'd decided on heading to Howth I knew I'd need the gears on the good bike. Saw a few out in shorts, but I wasn't that brave..

magicbastarder · 15-11-2017 05:12PM

shorts for me on the way home - was 12C leaving work. too warm for leggings.

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

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