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

Anyway, I finished the 400 just after 7:20 am this morning. 25 hours 20 minutes real time, slower than the last time but it was a route check and I took enough photos.

The night was tough going. I changed my kit outside Enniscorthy and rocked on to Blackwater. The night was cool enough even with the kit. The climbing didn't let up either, the coast road is surprisingly lumpy. I finished with just shy of 5,000m for the day.

After Arklow the tiredness kicked in. I was on familiar roads so I persuaded myself to keep going but I was getting slower and my eyes were closing on descents. After Roundwood I pulled over on a small road, sat down on a comfy stone wall and set the alarm for 10 minutes. Closed my eyes and drifted. I didn't sleep but it was enough to get me down Calary Hill and up the Poggio and back to the start.

Check out my activity on Strava: https://strava.app.link/nYWleJKh2V

Took to the hills this morning. My hill game has gone to the dogs. I was off the bike for 2 months with a trapped nerve in my shoulder blades. Need to build the legs and lungs back up.

About 30km and 470m climbing from killiney, Enniskerry, devils elbow, glen Cullen and home.

Best day today out there in a long time. Temperature perfect, wind negligible. Coffee good and cake sweet. North county Dublin was fantastic. The season has started now. Really nice did 50 and could have stayed out for another hundred only for family committments. If in doubt get out there

magicbastarder wrote: »

i had a dog scare the bejesus out of me just beside balrath house the other day. no warning, just appeared from behind a hedge and was only a few feet away when he popped out.

That lad is going to get get his comeuppance very shortly.
He's come come after me a couple of times lately.

Quick 50 km spin, Tallaght, Blessington and back this morning, cycled to the shops when I got back and am working in Dun Laoghaire tonight so there's another few km in

Question for the thread, is there an etiquette for when overtaking another cyclist? Usually say hello/morning but is it a good idea to check in on them/give encouragement or can that be a bit insulting?

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

In a rural area I'd usually say hello etc. In an urban setting I might give a raise of the left hand as I pass (depending on the type of cyclist they are) or If I know them, I'll have a brief chat.

I wouldn't give encouragement - I'd think that would be a bit weird (unless I was passing a child doing a sportive or something similar).

Drogheda to annagassin via clogherhead and back ....total just over 60k...just over 2 hours.

Just the one dangerous overtake by man in small white. van.

Overtook me with on coming traffic. Just about gave me 3 inches of space. Very very scary. Hope he heard the roar I let put at him.

tigerboon wrote: »

Yeah, gives calorie burn instead. Don't care about that, have plenty of them to burn but would like to know the km as you go. It does give it in the ride summary

yeah I was expecting it to give km in the ride summary but instead it was stuck on 0.0km. Must be a glitch as rushfan said, I'll delete the app and reinstall in the hope of a fix.

I left Drogheda yesterday morning with no definite plans - headed out to West for a change, thru Duleek, past Kentstown taking in the smells of freshly cut grass and weed & feed type fertilizers... and got as far as Tara. Nice roads between N2 and N3. Short but narrow climb up to Tara, and the place was buzzing with families out having picnics and generally having a good time.

Idyllic views to enjoy:


Sometimes you are the view.



Headed south from there, and looked up how to get Royal Canal way and decided to go to Enfeild via Dunsany, Batterjohn (lol, have to look up the etymology, must be interesting), Summerhill, Baconstown etc - lovely roads most of the way.

Grabbed some lunch at Supervalue there and got on the Royal Canal way heading towards Dublin. First couple of kilometers were pristine brand new tarmac and I was thinking this is amazing... when cyclist coming the other way waved me down and said it's blocked further up (Thanks Richard). But being the stubborn person that I am I kept thinking "but someone on boards said they have done the whole way". I went ahead and slipped past the barricades that clearly said "Entry strictly prohibited" and of course there was 2 inch size boulders where the path is getting built.



At this stage I had to take an important phone call so I walked for about 2-3kms while on phone, and then struggled to ride on it for 3-4k, it might be doable with MTBs but definitely not advisable on road bikes, but no one is supposed to be on it anyway. Work is in progress, and it will be beautiful when finished - it goes thru some nice wooded areas etc. At the far end of the roadworks it was blocked up proper like fort knox. Had to jump over the lowest section pulling the bike over the fence etc. A few k down further I see Richard, who like a sane person, followed the warnings and instructions, took the road and got there much quicker than me - although he said the road was very narrow and had a few close passes. Rest of the Royal Canal was a mix of nice paved surface to loose grit to just grass where you have to try and stick to a 6 inch wide track... It was beautiful - Kilkock & Maynooth looked fantastic, but there were also stretches were it was a bit featureless and boring.

As I got to Coolmine, after riding a section of "deep sinking", narrow tracks and exposed tree roots where going was a bit tough (for me), and also because the path ahead from Coolmine said no bikes, I went back on the road and headed to Blanchardstown. After spending couple of hours on the canal paths, paved road felt like a synthetic track and I made good progress all the way to Portmarnock, where I got some tart & tea and a lift home. Blanch-Portmarnock, even the twisty backroads that's usually busy were all eerily quiet yesterday. All sane people were clearly tipsy enjoying bbqs - you could actually smell bbq in the air all afternoon.

All in all thoroughly enjoyable 120k at a glacial 21kphm average. https://www.strava.com/activities/2308052985

Amazing weather, and what better way to enjoy this amazing part of the world.

Out at 8.30am for 2 hrs recovery spin after racing yesterday.

An utterly fantastic day with an East wind to take me home.

60km at. 30.8 avg.

33km with 1100m climbing over crone, knockree and djouce.

Took two pints of tea and a quick 60 winks to recover from the sweat.


Risked dry lube and got away with it too!