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

Miklos · 15-01-2018 10:18AM

100k with the club out to Wicklow town yesterday, a couple of us carried on while the rest stopped for coffee.

All was grand until the N11, started copping some serious aggro from people in private cars in the bus lane. Driving up behind us and leaning on the horn like lunatics. There were two perfectly good lanes of traffic they could have taken, but they saw fit to try and bully us off the road.

I had forgotten how much I hate the N11.

Doc07 · 15-01-2018 05:10PM

Miklos wrote: »

100k with the club out to Wicklow town yesterday, a couple of us carried on while the rest stopped for coffee.

All was grand until the N11, started copping some serious aggro from people in private cars in the bus lane. Driving up behind us and leaning on the horn like lunatics. There were two perfectly good lanes of traffic they could have taken, but they saw fit to try and bully us off the road.

I had forgotten how much I hate the N11.

My group passed you in the other direction near Rathdrum. You lads were flying.
Sorry about the N11 experience, we took some elaborate detours to avoid it on way
home.
I think it was Shakespeare who put it best....'some folk are just c&nts'

rushfan · 15-01-2018 05:39PM

38km around a blustery NCD this afternoon. Coming into Ballyboughal a gust caught me head on, I nearly did a wheelie!!! Enjoyable apart from some halfwit in a 05 black Insignia who gestured to me that I should be using the cycle lane at the new Tesco in Swords at a point on the road where there's 2 lanes. Think he just wanted to make a point.

magicbastarder · 15-01-2018 05:43PM

secman wrote: »

Unfortunately back to the physio

is the cycling being impacted by your back problems, or causing them?

secman · 15-01-2018 06:24PM

magicbastarder wrote: »

is the cycling being impacted by your back problems, or causing them?

It initially started with a back spasm on the bike , a mere 2km from home. Could hardly walk the next morning. Eventually settled down , but there's a " pull" sensation constantly there. 2 different physios arrived at same conclusion that it was caused mainly by hip/ pelvis being out of alignment. They both worked on that area, both also loosened a tight vertebae in mid region of back. Both then gave all clear to cycle. Each come back spin went okay, no pain or spasm. But on both occasions the next morning resulted in " pull" sensation feeling a lot more sore and more restrictive.
You are probably wondering if one of the bikes is the cause.... in truth I don't know. The 2nd physio actually cycles too, it has passed my mind, as one of the bikes was only bought in Sept 2017. On each of the 3 bikes I have tried to use same reach, saddle height etc, but doing it myself.

rushfan · 15-01-2018 10:18PM

secman wrote:

Unfortunately back to the physio

Best of luck with the back secman, these things can be a curse.

Mercian Pro · 15-01-2018 10:22PM

secman wrote: »

On each of the 3 bikes I have tried to use same reach, saddle height etc, but doing it myself.

Even if it is only to rule out the bike settings, it would be well worth getting a professional fit. Like others hereabouts, I would strongly recommend Aidan Hammond of Bikefitting Ireland.

07Lapierre · 15-01-2018 10:40PM

Mercian Pro wrote: »

Even if it is only to rule out the bike settings, it would be well worth getting a professional fit. Like others hereabouts, I would strongly recommend Aidan Hammond of Bikefitting Ireland.

+1 I'd pick one bike, get a bike fit and then only cycle that one bike for a few weeks. It's the only way to eliminate the bike as the cause of the problem.

Alanstrainor · 16-01-2018 01:22PM

The wind was fairly brutal this morning. I was heading south into Dublin city, and joined up with a cyclist on the Clontarf/Sutton track and we took turns battling the wind. It was nice, we managed a good pace in the end! No doubt I'll be blown home!

I only realised today that this time last year I got the keys to my first house, so I've been doing the Portmarnock/Fairview commute for a year now. So far so good, I do really enjoy it! Although January last year was a mess for storms and weather too, I'm sure there's plenty of windy days left in this winter!

site_owner · 16-01-2018 01:42PM

was windy alright! i did 20k down the malahide road and back up the coast. was a nice tailwind

although there are more and more people walking (2 abreast no less!) in the cycle track. i mean, there are 3 paths to choose from and a fairly large chunk of grass. they all, apparently, have hearing problems also.

just after st annes i encountered a new one for me. a council van driving at around 30kph on the cycle track. he eventually got stuck behind some pedestrians so i got past him. but at least it gives me a chance to upload some footage from my new (to me) fly6

magicbastarder · 16-01-2018 02:02PM

emptying the bins on the footpath, i guess?

site_owner · 16-01-2018 02:07PM

yeah, i imagine he drove up emptying all the way and then just turned around and flew back.

but IMO vehicle seems too big, too fast and no warning lights or sounds to be doing 30kph up the narrow section of the cycle track.
if a smaller vehicle was not available, he could also have drove up the road and walked the 10m to each of the 5 or 6 bins

Luxman · 16-01-2018 02:38PM

Love the chill attic air so went a did a few repeats in a local hill. Up and down I went and the snow started. I thought to myself what the flip am I doing out in 1 degree C doing reps. I must be mad. It just all became very real how my sanity is slipping away. You gotta love the bike. Made the most of a tailwind on a segment on the spin back to get a new PR

Alanstrainor · 16-01-2018 02:55PM

I pass that truck/van multiple times a week. Almost always stopped about halfway down the track, where I presume he enters. I guess they need some way to empty the bins. Whenever I've seen him moving he's coming against me and he stops and I move over to pass. No bother really.

Rogue-Trooper · 16-01-2018 03:59PM

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I only realised today that this time last year I got the keys to my first house, so I've been doing the Portmarnock/Fairview commute for a year now. So far so good, I do really enjoy it! Although January last year was a mess for storms and weather too, I'm sure there's plenty of windy days left in this winter!

.....a year on and you still haven't discovered the respite that is the Howth Road on a windy morning.........

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I pass that truck/van multiple times a week. Almost always stopped about halfway down the track, where I presume he enters. I guess they need some way to empty the bins. Whenever I've seen him moving he's coming against me and he stops and I move over to pass. No bother really.

I meet them quite a lot too and have never had any bother. Like you, they usually stop when they see you and they are usually rolling at a walking pace. In the morning they are usually south-bound and are usually on the pedestrian side, not the cycle lane.

site_owner · 16-01-2018 04:02PM

They must have a new lad because he was definitely up above 30kph and only slowed down for people who wouldn't move. Other than that he plowed on.

Anyway, not looking to annoy anyone or start an argument, just sharing what I saw.

Alanstrainor · 16-01-2018 09:58PM

Rogue-Trooper wrote: »

.....a year on and you still haven't discovered the respite that is the Howth Road on a windy morning.........

I meet them quite a lot too and have never had any bother. Like you, they usually stop when they see you and they are usually rolling at a walking pace. In the morning they are usually south-bound and are usually on the pedestrian side, not the cycle lane.

Lol, I find a groove and stick to it!

cdaly_ · 17-01-2018 05:16PM

Good resistance training...

secman · 17-01-2018 05:46PM

Mercian Pro wrote: »

Even if it is only to rule out the bike settings, it would be well worth getting a professional fit. Like others hereabouts, I would strongly recommend Aidan Hammond of Bikefitting Ireland.

Just a quick update, back with physio today and have decided to go for an MRI scan to see what exactly is the issue. Will most likely get a bike fit too and between it and MRI... hopefully.

smacl · 18-01-2018 02:21PM

secman wrote: »

Just a quick update, back with physio today and have decided to go for an MRI scan to see what exactly is the issue. Will most likely get a bike fit too and between it and MRI... hopefully.

Very best of luck with the MRI and if they give you headphones at the start make sure they you're not stuck with Joe Duffy!

rushfan · 18-01-2018 05:04PM

smacl wrote:

Very best of luck with the MRI and if they give you headphones at the start make sure they you're not stuck with Joe Duffy!

Ah here, that's terrible, miserappalling!!

Vizzy · 18-01-2018 05:06PM

smacl wrote: »

Very best of luck with the MRI and if they give you headphones at the start make sure they you're not stuck with Joe Duffy!

Joe would never fit in the MRI chamber with you TG.

Although, if he did, the headphones would come in to their own.

secman · 18-01-2018 05:08PM

smacl wrote: »

Very best of luck with the MRI and if they give you headphones at the start make sure they you're not stuck with Joe Duffy!

The appointment time is 8:00am , I mentioned in the questionnaire that I was allergic to Joe, so they suggested an a.m. scan, to be sure. Thanks for the good luck message.

Mercian Pro · 18-01-2018 08:11PM

Relatively uneventful but cold club spin today from Swords to Maynooth and back. As usual, we mainly stayed on quiet back roads and largely avoided main roads. On one narrow lane, a 4x4 came up quickly behind us. Before we even had time to think about singling out, he barged through in the narrow gap between the outside riders and the far ditch. There was no more than a 30cm gap between the handlebars and the car and his far wheels were up on the grass verge. The most ridiculous aspect of it was that this all happened in clear sight of a T-junction that was no more than 50m away.

Justwinginit · 18-01-2018 10:47PM

Managed the usual 20k this evening, first 5/6k fingers were damn freezing, but then they warmed up:-) Met another cyclist and had a chat over a few k (think I'll be joining ing his club soon) before heading our separate ways. New pr on the way back:-)

Borderfox · 19-01-2018 07:57AM

First spin of the new year after a bout of sickness, cold but well wrapped up. Galibier gloves are so worth it in weather like this.

Drivers behaving themselves too

LollipopJimmy · 19-01-2018 09:04PM

I'd mentioned here a while back I was struggling for motivation, in recent weeks I turned it around, my nutrition is on point, training a lot in the gym with Thai boxing, BJJ and boxing and the bike returned to me just after Christmas. Tonight it all came together, 50kms at max attack, the legs just spun for fun and feeling great getting off the bike. Adding a nice bike to the fleet this week too but that may not see the road until the weather improves

Felexicon · 21-01-2018 02:05PM

55km around a very wet North County Dublin this morning.
Swords - Rush - Skerries - Balbriggan -Naul - Ballyboughal
Had to go through 3 sizeable floods and was soaked to the bone but the roads were lovely and quiet.

LennoxR · 21-01-2018 04:02PM

Went out today on the gravel bike in Dublin mountains. Two punctures and an asthma attack on Boranaraltry Lane. And multiple soakings. Rather wish I 'd stayed at home.

dahat · 21-01-2018 04:29PM

I cycled my bike for 3hrs 38mins today and it rained for 3hrs 38mins but I enjoyed it all the same.

I'm still not quite there after illness and not sure if racing in March is a good idea but I'll train on and see.

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

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