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

Seanmk1 · 05-05-2019 06:00PM

magicbastarder wrote: »

i went up howth this morning, from the village, and about halfway up passed i think four cyclists stopped dealing with a mechanical relating to what i thought was the chainwheel - was that you? from what you say, i suspect not, if you went back down by the graveyard?

anyway, on said ascent of howth i knocked 25s off my PB so i was happy with that.

That was me and two friends doing hill reps on Howth when we came across a fella with a broken chain. Spent ten minutes faffing around with my spare link before I copped on that it was a seven speed bike ðŸ€¦*♂️

Anyway, managed to bodge the chain back together, hopefully he made it all the way home OK.

blackwhite · 05-05-2019 06:13PM

Waterford Greenway from Dungarvan to Waterford, and then on to our accommodation - 51km broken with lunch in Kilmacthomas.

Lots of walkers and lots of families on bikes meant it wasn’t a fast spin by any means, but still a nice leisure spin.
2 tough hills in the city afterwards made up for the 47km of gentle ups and downs on the greenway

secman · 05-05-2019 06:14PM

Headed out on to coast road and on to Ballygarrett, Courtown, Ballymoney, around Tara Hill to Castletown, out to Inch, on to Gorey, back on coast road, Courtown, Killenagh and home.
58 km avg 25.5 kph. Mostly in zone 2 nice and handy.

dahat · 05-05-2019 06:55PM

A3 race in Wexford today, glorious day and good legs but abandoned due to a fairly serious crash.

Hopre the lad invovled recovers as it seems he was hurt badly after a collison with a stationary motorbike.

North of 32 · 05-05-2019 08:26PM

Didn't really fancy it today but with the forecast giving rain during the week I thought it would be better to get some more KMs in the legs while I have the chance to do it dry. I would really like to stop wearing my winter jacket on rides but I'm too cheap to shell out for leg/arm warmers.

Mega-highlights from today's ride included a top-sprint speed of 50kph and a max power output of 1,006 watts. Feel the power, baby! :rolleyes:

I've averaged 7-8 hours on the bike for the past 3 weeks. I need to get on a real training plan and make the most of the time.

magicbastarder · 05-05-2019 10:34PM

John Hutton wrote: »

Trying to get in some sort of shape for some bicycle touring so I took my touring bike out for a 60 km cycle today.

I'm even less fit, and even fatter, than I thought. Glacial average speed of 18km/h, seemed quite hilly, Garmin tells me I did a total ascent of 700m.

Be honest, how terrible is this? &#55357;&#56834;

I did enjoy most of it so it wasn't all bad.

my rough threshold between 'reasonably flat' and 'a reasonable amount of climbing' is 10m climbing per km (i usually cycle around north county dublin), so that would be a decently hilly spin.
the main thing i learned while getting fit again was not to dig too deep too early. if you're starting to feel the burn on climbs, go to an easier gear (if possible). burn means you're withdrawing funds from the bank that won't quickly return.

LollipopJimmy · 06-05-2019 06:10PM

One of those days today, cycled into town with the intention of doing a short spin, met a friend and we said feck it and headed for Glencullen, back down to Enniskerry then Bray and all along the coast, Kiliney Hill, Vico Road etc, stopped in Dalkey for coffee and then decided to head to Howth amd over the Head.

So my short spin was 97kms with 800 odd metres.

Utter Consternation · 07-05-2019 08:38AM

Went up the Sally Gap for the first time on Sunday. Cycled up through Bohernabreena. Going up wasn't as tough as i thought it would be in so far as that i didn't keel over at any stage.

Any tips for coming down hills at speed? I was kacking it on the return. Should I be hitting the brakes hard at all?

Seth Brundle · 07-05-2019 08:49AM

Utter Consternation wrote: »

Any tips for coming down hills at speed? I was kacking it on the return. Should I be hitting the brakes hard at all?

I'm no expert but I would assume that you should be able to stop within your field of vision. If I was coming down a windy country road then I would take it slower than a wide open road or dual carriageway.
Same rule would apply to surface, junctions, etc. If I was confident that the surface was ok, junctions were quiet, etc then I'd be more comfortable with speed.

Utter Consternation · 07-05-2019 08:54AM

Seth Brundle wrote: »

I'm no expert but I would assume that you should be able to stop within your field of vision. If I was coming down a windy country road then I would take it slower than a wide open road or dual carriageway.
Same rule would apply to surface, junctions, etc. If I was confident that the surface was ok, junctions were quiet, etc then I'd be more comfortable with speed.

Going too fast isn't really an issue as i'm hammering on the brakes all the way down due to fear.

Seth Brundle · 07-05-2019 08:59AM

Utter Consternation wrote: »

Going too fast isn't really an issue as i'm hammering on the brakes all the way down due to fear.

Yeah, I recall cycling down a large hill/small mountain in France on my hybrid and managing to nearly get 40km/h (leaving me quite unsatisfied).
Recently on my new road bike, I topped 60km/h.
Wonderful feeling especially with the warm air, given the recent bank holiday sun, but then the thought of hitting the tarmac teeth first made me pull the anchors

Justwinginit · 07-05-2019 10:24AM

John Hutton wrote: »

Trying to get in some sort of shape for some bicycle touring so I took my touring bike out for a 60 km cycle today.

I'm even less fit, and even fatter, than I thought. Glacial average speed of 18km/h, seemed quite hilly, Garmin tells me I did a total ascent of 700m.

Be honest, how terrible is this? &#55357;&#56834;

I did enjoy most of it so it wasn't all bad.

Use it as a reference starting point and move on from there. You will get fit pretty quick and see times drop if you keep it up. If you enjoyed it, all the better. Remember, you can't go 18km on a couch.....unless it's heavily modified:-p

loyatemu · 07-05-2019 11:50AM

I'm fairly timid descending but the one thing I would say is to keep your weight over the back wheel. If you need to stop quickly, the front brake stops you much more effectively than the back, but if you jam on the front suddenly you run the risk of going over the bars so need to adjust your balance accordingly.

LollipopJimmy · 08-05-2019 07:59AM

So, last night I left work, it was glorious, I went to Howth and up the Graveyard side then Old Carrickbrack Road, Windgate Road out onto Balkill and up to the Summit. Coffee in Il Panorama in the Village and home. 50ish KMs over an amazing evening.

This morning, shoe covers, rain coat, lights and feckin wind. Bloody cold too, a fine winters morning

brownian · 08-05-2019 04:46PM

Not actually today...but Sunday: out of Claddaghduff, around Aughris head into Cleggan, over to Moyard, some lost roads on the back of Cleggan head, then back en route to Letterfrack, Lettergesh, Lough Fee and Lough Muck (is this the loveliest road in Ireland?) then right on the N59 to Kylemore, down Glen Inagh to the N59, further south towards Glynsk and right to Cashel, on to Roundstone, fish and chips, on to Clifden and out the Streamstown Bay road back to base. 132 with only 1200m of climbing, and a right nice day. If it was easier, I'd post some pix...

Borderfox · 09-05-2019 07:33AM

out on my own to warm up and 33km out with the couch 2 50km group over two hills and plenty of back lanes, very wet but enjoyable enough

https://www.strava.com/activities/2352412733

Alanstrainor · 09-05-2019 09:46AM

I was like a drowned rat by the time I arrived in the office this morning. It may as well have been a January morning with those conditions; cold, wet and blustery. Here's hoping things are a bit better this afternoon.

magicbastarder · 09-05-2019 09:47AM

wasn't too bad leaving the house just after 6:30, but was raining by the time i got to work. however, rain is forecast for the afternoon in dublin.

Utter Consternation · 09-05-2019 11:07AM

magicbastarder wrote: »

wasn't too bad leaving the house just after 6:30, but was raining by the time i got to work. however, rain is forecast for the afternoon in dublin.

I took the mud guards off the bike a few weeks ago because i thought summer was here.

It is not. :mad:

RobertFoster · 09-05-2019 11:35AM

Utter Consternation wrote: »

I took the mud guards off the bike a few weeks ago because i thought summer was here.

It is not. :mad:

Sounds like you need a new bike...

Tell me how · 09-05-2019 02:11PM

Planning on cycling around Portumna - Gort and on to Loughrea before back to Portumna on N65 on Monday or Tuesday morning next.
Anything to be concerned about in terms of weekday traffic on these roads?

saccades · 09-05-2019 08:54PM

Club league Mtb race - sniper roots and muddy puddles.

Managed to pace well on the laps (knowing the correct number certainly helps) and got on the "podium".

Handicap next week will be a killer.

Bike will be washed tomorrow.

CormacH94 · 09-05-2019 08:59PM

Weird bit of weather - lashed from lunch, decided to throw on most of my winter gear before heading out at 6, right as the sun started to come out!

52km - laps around Phoenix park, attempting some form of intervalss (are intervals more for turbo trainers or is it feasible to do them on a ride, any tips would be appreciated)

Lovely evening if still a bit nippy

pjmn · 11-05-2019 08:06PM

100km solo spin out west this morning, average 29.5

https://www.strava.com/activities/2358599879

secman · 11-05-2019 08:38PM

Early morning spin today, group of seven of us , all stuck for time for various reasons, so did a straight run from Tallaght to blessington, on to Hollywood and straight back.
65 km avg 31.95 kph.

ED E · 12-05-2019 01:11PM

140KM at 29. Lovely out.

Anyone know when Manor Kilbride back towards Brittas got the new surface? It was very overdue. Lovin it.

LollipopJimmy · 12-05-2019 02:34PM

Yesterday was D8, Rathcoole across to Brittas then up the gap, Enniskerry then Bray, finished there. 75kms and 750metres

Today was D8 to Blessington, lap of the lakes then headed for Naas and the back way to Rathcoole, Newcastle then down to the canal at Lucan to home. 100kms on the nose with another 700metres

silverharp · 12-05-2019 03:04PM

Sandymount-Enniskerry-Glencree-Sallygap and back to Dublin. perfect weather, a little warmer than last week

magicbastarder · 12-05-2019 03:07PM

took the newest bike out for its first decent spin. sweet as a nut (better than i was, a few pints last night and a dicky tummy meant i was not firing on all cylinders)

secman · 12-05-2019 03:34PM

ED E wrote: »

140KM at 29. Lovely out.

Anyone know when Manor Kilbride back towards Brittas got the new surface? It was very overdue. Lovin it.

About 2 weeks ago, expecting plenty of pb's on Lisheeen rise before ths obligatory 10 tons of loose gravel is dumped on it.

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

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