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

Mercian Pro wrote: »

If you enjoyed that, try Mullingar to Longford on the Royal Canal Greenway. You won't manage as fast an average but it's a lot more scenic and you can always take the train back to Mullingar if you don't fancy the return spin.

I'll have to give that a try, is that route paved or part gravel?

Chris871 wrote: »

I'll have to give that a try, is that route paved or part gravel?

Mostly paved but some stretches are compacted quarry dust. Still fine to cycle on with 25mm tyres but a bit slower than tarmac.

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

That's an impressive average for a greenway. I presume it's paved?

better surface than any road tbh, except for maybe a 1-2km stretch through the bog close to Athlone which is quarry dust.

Chris871 wrote: »

I'll have to give that a try, is that route paved or part gravel?

The surface is excellent. It's very flat and long though. It isn't the most interesting of Greenways, great if you want to put the foot down though.

smacl wrote: »

Leisurely lunch time spin out to Enniskerry and back 32k @23.5kph. Glorious weather and great to be back in shorts. Roll on the summer! Gas comparing Strava's take on my rides over the last couple of days, today it reckoned I burned 1,396 calories for what was a pretty leisurely effort. Did a tough 17k of mostly off-road yesterday that had me gasping for air and having to get off and push a few times in about the same elapsed time for 812 calories. I need to find the section of the program where you explain to it about cycling uphill in mud and shale on a 15kg hybrid

If you're recording with a GPS then Strava accepts its value and doesnt calculate its own.

Wahoo have a bug where if your zones are wrong it can upload negative calories. That rolls strava over and shows 65,000 kcal for the activity :pac:

52km at 32.7kph yesterday. I pumped up my 25mm tires to just under 120psi to see what it feels like. Some of the bike paths in the area are cobblestones. A lot of unusual noises came from myself and my bike. I think I will reduce the pressure.

At one point I was doing a wind-assisted 40kph. A guy joined the bike path ahead of me on what looked like an ordinary hybrid with a mirror, panniers and the rider wearing jeans. He clocked me in his mirror and moved to the side of the path to accommodate my overtake. He need not have bothered. Despite my speed the guy was easing away from me, pedaling gently and my ego was taking some bruising. A short time later he took the scenic route, I guess because it was such a nice evening. He breezed by me when he rejoined the main route and I realised it was an 'S-Pedelec' (at least that's what they're called in Germany) with a number plate and 45-50mm tires. First time seeing one in real life. It was some machine - looked like great fun. I'd say he was doing close to 45 kph.

Chartsengrafs wrote: »

Snap! Here for three days, and on the same spec rental bike. Agree it’s very nice. Just grabbing a coffee on day 2. Plan is 105km with approx 1600 climbing. Solo today but did 75km on a bike shop spin yesterday, 36 in the group! Turned off at 55km to take in a few extra little hills solo. Some place in general.

Just back from a winter there. While Sant Hilari and Rocacorba are both pretty nice, I think the real jewels are Mare del deu del Mont (18 km climb to a monastery on top of a hill, 120k round trip) and the 'Hincapie Loop' a 75k fun-day that takes in Els Angels (the local 3-rock), Santa Pellaia (the way back over the Els Angels hills), the lovely coffee village of Monells, and as much 'extra km' goodies as you want, by going East in search of more lovely old villages (La Pera, Peracallada, Ullastret, Pubol, Rupia...).

The 'big day' option is Rocacorba + Mare del deu del Mont (130k, 2400m); masochists can also tag on Els Angels to push towards 200k and 3000).

The shop ride with Bike Breaks (Thursdays) is to be recommended, as are their rental bikes and those of the bike hire place beside the railway station.

positron wrote: »

It was around 7:20 in the evening. Perhaps it was Swords CC club league - plenty of support cars & an ambulance, if that's normal for club league race(?)/sportive(?)

Yeah 7:20 pm on Wednesday was a club league race. The marshals, lead cars, and ambulance are fairly normal.

Phil, you're insane


The Green Team will understand. No shortcuts.

Fare play NamelessPhil, sounds like another epic ride in the making. Much respect!

Got out for a spin for the first time in a long time, and what a beautiful day it was!! Headed north from Drogheda without any route in mind and happy to get lost in the countryside, which I did - and to top that up, a van pulled over and asked me for directions!! Luckily I was able to help as I had past that village 30 mins ago. Felt like the good old days of before GPS and robotic voice prompts. Drogheda-Baltray-Termonfekkin-Clogherhead-Anagassan-Castlebellingham-Strabannan-towards Tinnure but somehow ended up back on R132-Oldbridge-back. Also had the first tumble ever - forgot to unclip the pedals while marveling the curious looking "fairy mounds" at Baltray. Luckily only minor scrapes and there were no onlookers, so ego intact as well.. well, almost.

I have always known that you don't have to go to Spain, France or Switzerland for amazing scenery (although it does help), as we have plenty of that here in the west, up north, or south of Dublin etc. But I was wrong. You don't even have to go that far for beautiful scenic rides - Co Louth & Meath has plenty of it. Rolling hills, beautiful ocean views, nice-ish roads, enough places to get a bite or coffee. Okay, it might only last a few Tuesdays a year - but on the other hand you can get out and ride without any pre-panning what so ever and still have a great couple of hours on the bike. Also, so many beautiful houses and well manicured gardens... slightly jealous coming back to my house in an estate full of similar houses..!

Approx 77k, glacial avg speed of 23kmph etc
https://www.strava.com/activities/2302533314