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

Glad you are ok! Sounds scary

What type of donut was it?

Was supposed to do my first spin with a club today, met Colm18 close to home and rode out to the start together...or where we thought the start was.

Due to the official winter bike needing a new rear mech and BB I was once again on my singlespeed and confident that I had the route loaded on my Garmin I went ready to seek answers to two questions, 1. could I complete the route in 46x16 (yes) 2. Could I keep up with a bunch doing it... no answer to be had there as we never found the bunch.

The route was clearly designed as a chilling reminder of the impact that neoliberal politics has had on Irish society and also that you can encounter an Orwell group literally anywhere.

Thankfully the climbs such as they were were loaded towards the front of the route (Gunny hill, Edmonstown to the Rockbrook turnoff) and we mostly just scooted along on the flat, we passed a group from the club travelling in the opposite direction somewhere out near Celbridge and encountered the aforementioned bunch which included at least one partial Orwell kit in Ardclough.

We stopped to admire the piebald pony standing in front of a yard full of old vans and lorries before making our way on to Kill for a Coffee/full on brunch (french toast) before zlodding along to Kilteel and back into Dublin via Saggart.

Saggart has an insomnia now! If you're from a certain part of the world and of a certain age that's like finding out that Blade Runner is now our reality.

We abandoned the route halfway through Tallaght on the way back and made for home. Good little bop despite the slow average and you know missing our new clubmates completely.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1400631635

Managed to get 41km in around with some low hills. Not as cold as I thought but my hands (thumbs) gave in after 25km (a snow/hail shower did not help).
Happy with that!

My last three spins 365km in total approx 2500m climbing all on a Singlespeed which hadn't been too bad due to the fun responsive nature of the bike in question.

But today I started missing gears...nothing like a freezing headwind on a long draggy hill to suck the fun out of anything.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1402813482/shareable_images/map_based?hl=en-US&v=1518366295

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Puncture fest for me this morning.

Glad to see you got out again later. There's no stopping you.

ford2600 wrote: »

A quick spin in the snow

And on the club spin we thought some of the white patches on the roads of NCD and Meath were snow. That's the real thing - where were you and what gloves do you wear!!

A very enjoyable 85km/1500mts around the hills of south Dublin/north Wicklow! Hard work climbing into the wind but nice and bright and never got too cold!

Down in Kenmare with a bike for the first time. Over the Caha pass (very nice - not too long, not too steep, nice 'out there' feeling at the top), down into Glengarriff (pretty good descent too, some interesting gusts onto the right shoulder). A long slog up out of Glengarriff on the way to Adrigole - stiff headwind, starts to rain fairly seriously. Into Peg's corner shop in Adrigole for a cuppa (nice lady serving didn't mind the wet cyclist look), then up the fantastic Healy Pass. What fun - not too steep, one or two hairpins, really carved into the hill. Handy enough drop to Lauragh, over one last drag and down to the Kenmare river. Half an hour at 35++ with the wind behind me, and I'm done.

cahapass

healypass2



Must go to kerry more often!

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Puncture fest for me this morning. When I got the 3rd one, I abandoned and called in the team car. There was obviously something in the tyre but I couldn't find it. Sorting punctures with frozen fingers isn't much fun.

Found the culprit this morning in the comfort of the garage - what looks like part of an ordinary paper staple embedded in the rubber. I had to wash and dry the tyre first before locating it.

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Found the culprit this morning in the comfort of the garage - what looks like part of an ordinary paper staple embedded in the rubber. I had to wash and dry the tyre first before locating it.

Spare tyre ftw. Change tyre and tube on second puncture and deal with the rest later...

I think my winter bike is possessed! Yesterday I couldn't get the big ring (for the second time in as many weeks) for my ride into work. Got too busy to sort it before home time so rode it home again that way. Cleaned it and adjusted it this morning - all working fine on the test laps of the garden.
Hop on it this afternoon going to work - all good until I need the small ring.... just massive chain rub. WTF!! Cable seemed far too tight when I parked up in work so I adjusted it again before I locked it up.
Let's see what mood it's in later on when I have to ride home...

triggermortis wrote: »

I think my winter bike is possessed! Yesterday I couldn't get the big ring (for the second time in as many weeks) for my ride into work. Got too busy to sort it before home time so rode it home again that way. Cleaned it and adjusted it this morning - all working fine on the test laps of the garden.
Hop on it this afternoon going to work - all good until I need the small ring.... just massive chain rub. WTF!! Cable seemed far too tight when I parked up in work so I adjusted it again before I locked it up.
Let's see what mood it's in later on when I have to ride home...

Thinly veiled 'my garden is big enough to do laps on the big ring' boasts