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

coddlesangers · 17-06-2019 09:24AM

Really struggled to motivate myself yday to get out - tried to make myself do some uphill interval work to improve my absolutely dire climbing speeds.... got 582 metres of up into my 27k evening spin. Need to find time to get a long one in sometime this week though, I've been getting progressively less and less time out on the bike!

https://www.strava.com/activities/2455635658

Mercian Pro · 17-06-2019 01:04PM

Despite being dropped and struggling home solo on last year's Swords 2 County Sportif, I headed out with the lead group again this year. The 70k to Tayto Park was a blast on good flat roads and we averaged 32.7. A slightly depleted group left for the return leg and all went well until the drag up to Ardcath. Just like last year I couldn't stick the pace but, this time, I teamed up with a few other "rejects" and we worked well together all the back to Swords for an overall average of 30.8 over the 150k. Fairly wrecked at the end but a pint and sandwiches provided enough fuel to cover the 13k back home.
Comforting to know that I can sometimes still learn from past mistakes

Torres09 · 17-06-2019 01:24PM

Mercian Pro wrote: »

Despite being dropped and struggling home solo on last year's Swords 2 County Sportif, I headed out with the lead group again this year. The 70k to Tayto Park was a blast on good flat roads and we averaged 32.7. A slightly depleted group left for the return leg and all went well until the drag up to Ardcath. Just like last year I couldn't stick the pace but, this time, I teamed up with a few other "rejects" and we worked well together all the back to Swords for an overall average of 30.8 over the 150k. Fairly wrecked at the end but a pint and sandwiches provided enough fuel to cover the 13k back home.
Comforting to know that I can sometimes still learn from past mistakes

Think I passed you's yesterday (heading opposite direction) about 09:00 on the roundabouts at Swords, looked like a good group heading out...

ED E · 22-06-2019 09:34AM

TFW you've done 120K, are 1K from home and your average ends in .8. Got it, now to call an ambo.

dahat · 22-06-2019 02:12PM

Absolutely glorious day down South though it looked offy setting out around 9am especially when all you have is arm warmers.!!!

On what is now a good training route for me the coast road holds some savage views if you have time between intervals too look!!!

An enjoyable day on the bike with suffering aplenty through the intervals.

135km @ 34.5 km/hr & around 1,000km of up.

Hard to believe the weather is to be awful tomorrw. A local Sportive is on the cards and I hate getting wet!

pjmn · 22-06-2019 06:24PM

My longest solo spin of the year 166km out west, only averaged 25.2, had a tough headwind for the last 70km....

https://www.strava.com/activities/2471380325

22-06-2019 10:38PM

Was meant to pick herself and the eldest up from swimming this morning and decided sure I can just load the bike on the back and let her drive home with the kids and I'll head off for a spin.

Parked up and changed shoes. The girls drove off after telling us about the swim and I was about 20km out and it occurred to me I left my ****ing runners in the car park and not put them in the boot :mad:

Whoever took the space next had handed them in when I stopped in on the way back to see if they'd be found, so I rode home with a pair of runners around my neck

LollipopJimmy · 23-06-2019 08:50AM

Did the ring of Kerry yesterday, averaged 26kph, reasonably pleased with that. However, not so pleased with the hangover

dahat · 23-06-2019 11:30AM

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

Did the ring of Kerry yesterday, averaged 26kph, reasonably pleased with that. However, not so pleased with the hangover

Would ya post the route? Staying in Killarney late July and plan on doing a decent spin on day, once I'm back by 12 she said!

Wishbone Ash · 23-06-2019 11:51AM

dahat wrote: »

Would ya post the route? Staying in Killarney late July and plan on doing a decent spin on day, once I'm back by 12 she said!

I presume it the same as a few years ago. You'd want to be on the road early to be back by 12.

https://www.strava.com/activities/162019314

smacl · 23-06-2019 12:01PM

dahat wrote: »

Would ya post the route? Staying in Killarney late July and plan on doing a decent spin on day, once I'm back by 12 she said!

For my money the inner ring roads are far more rewarding. Killarney, Black Valley, Molls Gap, Ballaghbeama, Glencar, Lough Carragh, Glenbeigh,back roads around Caherciveen, Balligisheen, Glencar and back to Killarney via Kate Kearneys cottage. Road surfaces aren't as good in parts but way less traffic, some lovely climbs and fantastic scenery. Been a few years since I've done them but the descents of Ballaghbeama to Glencar and Ballighisheen to Glencar have a decent surface and great visibility which make for a real treat. (Note IMHO, both are way less fun in the other direction, hence Glencar twice)

dahat · 23-06-2019 12:07PM

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I presume it the same as a few years ago. You'd want to be on the road early to be back by 12.

https://www.strava.com/activities/162019314

Leaving early not an issue but may modify that for a slightly shorter spin, 5hrs with coffee probably an ideal compromise all round.

magicbastarder · 23-06-2019 03:40PM

got roped in to help with some sheep herding on my spin this morning. much nicer morning than expected.

Wishbone Ash · 23-06-2019 04:27PM

magicbastarder wrote: »

got roped in to help with some sheep herding on my spin this morning. much nicer morning than expected

Interesting word 'herding'.

While we have a flock of sheep and a herd of cattle, 'flocking' sheep just doesn't sound right.

Eamonnator · 23-06-2019 04:29PM

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Interesting word 'herding'.

While we have a flock of sheep and a herd of cattle, 'flocking' sheep just doesn't sound right.

What else would a shepherd do only herd?

magicbastarder · 23-06-2019 10:18PM

'a herd of sheep' is also acceptable though.

magicbastarder · 23-06-2019 10:20PM

i am bemused by the use of the phrase 'the national herd' when referring to the cattle in ireland, in news pieces about agriculture.
i just have an image of a select team of cattle in green jerseys who are sent abroad to represent the country in sporting affairs.

rushfan · 24-06-2019 06:30AM

magicbastarder wrote:

i am bemused by the use of the phrase 'the national herd' when referring to the cattle in ireland, in news pieces about agriculture. i just have an image of a select team of cattle in green jerseys who are sent abroad to represent the country in sporting affairs.

You're really milking it now , in fairness.

John Hutton · 24-06-2019 07:10AM

Took a spill off the Brompton this morning on the way to work. Had just put new tires on it last week so may have been a bit overconfident.

Was taking a shortcut which involves going down a very short, steep gravel hill at the bottom of which it joins onto a footpath with a sharp right turn.

Foolishly tried to kinda brake and turn at the same time when turning into the footpath, after going at a fair clip, bike just slid out from under me. It's a short fall from the Brompton and the path was slick enough so my hands just got dirty and not cut so the only thing wounded is my pride, and a badly scratched pedal.

Be careful folks, it's slippy out there after all that rain.

secman · 24-06-2019 07:34AM

magicbastarder wrote: »

got roped in to help with some sheep herding on my spin this morning. much nicer morning than expected.

The other evening heading down three castles i saw in the distance what appeared to be about 30 or so sheep being driven towards me, thought immediately about the dog or dogs, as we got closer to each other, to my horror they were not sheep but a big group (pack) of those dogs that run with a hunt, they were being driven by a man and a young lad on bikes with whips , in fairness they hardly gave me a glance.

ED E · 24-06-2019 07:42AM

ED E wrote: »

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

WTAF? They ruined it? Whats the logic behind applying a rolled tar surface then coming back and shredding it?

magicbastarder · 24-06-2019 07:54AM

exact same thing happened outside my inlaws house (on a small back road). the road was resurfaced about two weeks ago with a nice smooth tarmac surface, and they came along a few days ago, and did the tar and chip job on it. i guess the previous surface was a subsurface, but if they're in the mood to do a rolled tarmac job, i don't understand why they didn't continue and do the top layer in tarmac too.

smacl · 24-06-2019 08:27AM

magicbastarder wrote: »

exact same thing happened outside my inlaws house (on a small back road). the road was resurfaced about two weeks ago with a nice smooth tarmac surface, and they came along a few days ago, and did the tar and chip job on it. i guess the previous surface was a subsurface, but if they're in the mood to do a rolled tarmac job, i don't understand why they didn't continue and do the top layer in tarmac too.

Just a guess, but probably harder wearing over time and hence cheaper to maintain. They left a section of the Military road above Laragh in rolled tarmac and its gas when you hit it as everything suddenly goes smooth and quiet doe few hundred metres.

ED E · 24-06-2019 08:33AM

That piece before Glenmacnass is effin divine. Add a couple hairpins and you could be in Italy.

EDIT:

Maybe this is what they're at. Too quiet to grit it so have to make it rough as can be?

Wildly Boaring wrote: »

Also councils will not put SMA on a road they don't have on a salting (gritting) route.

LollipopJimmy · 24-06-2019 08:43AM

dahat wrote: »

Would ya post the route? Staying in Killarney late July and plan on doing a decent spin on day, once I'm back by 12 she said!

The route posted by WA is the exact I did.

You don't hang about so very possible you'd get back by 12 and surely the wife knows that 12 really means 1.30?

Seth Brundle · 24-06-2019 09:00AM

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Interesting word 'herding'.

While we have a flock of sheep and a herd of cattle, 'flocking' sheep just doesn't sound right.

Isn't that against the law?

Pinch Flat · 24-06-2019 09:39AM

Did the Sean Lynch memorial solstice cycle from Ashbourne yesterday. Great turnout a few hundred started. Did the 80km route. A 5am start with a 32 km/hr average meant I was back in bed for 8.00am.

joey100 · 24-06-2019 09:52AM

Bray to Bunclody on Saturday. Great day for it. Haven't done much cycling in wicklow and was first time up the wicklow gap. Legs still feeling Wednesday nights racing and was struggling up a short steep hill in Clonegal, had me looking for a soft hedge to land in. Then when I got off the bike at the end I realised my brakes had been rubbing most of the spin, the joy of a BB mounted back brake.

Eamonnator · 24-06-2019 12:36PM

Pinch Flat wrote: »

Did the Sean Lynch memorial solstice cycle from Ashbourne yesterday. Great turnout a few hundred started. Did the 80km route. A 5am start with a 32 km/hr average meant I was back in bed for 8.00am.

I did this as well.
Great morning. Well marshalled. Good route. Lovely breakfast afterwards.
Ave. 33.8kpm
I didn't get back to bed until after nine.

D13exile · 24-06-2019 12:37PM

My first 100km of the year last Saturday since I started cycling again after 6 months off from injury. Clane-Kilcock-Rathmolyon-Trim-Dunboyne-Leixlip-Straffan-Sallins-Clane, 100.1kms to be exact!!!

Felt great for the first 40kms to Trim but then when I turned towards Dunboyne, I was cycling into a headwind and it was very warm (20 degrees). My legs completely died on me and checking my stats after I got home, I saw that my average for the first 40kms to Trim was 33kph but that dropped to 24kph on the next leg. Literally like hitting "the wall" in a marathon. I was eating bananas and drinking electrolyte drinks and so I couldn't figure why my batteries just died so suddenly. I also expereinced my first bout of cycling rage when I noticed another cyclist riding right behind me for over 10kms, using me as a windbreaker and not a word or him taking the lead once in a while. If I speeded up, he speeded up, if I slowed, he slowed. Fecker just hung on to my back wheel until I got fed up with him and my dead legs and decided to pull over and stop to recharge. Then and only then did he say something which was "ffs, you could warn me you're stopping". Well my response was a lung clearing f-off. Cheeky fecker tailing me and then giving out when I decide to pull in and get some food and water into me. Well he shouldn't have been hanging on to my rear wheel so long. And to be honest, I did slowly decrease my speed prior to pulling over and he should have overtaken me.

After that pit stop at the 50km mark, I felt better and when I turned for home with 35kms to go, my legs came alive again and my average speed picked back up to 29kph. Was very tired when I got home but glad I broke the psychological barrier of 100kms for the first time this year.

And if my mysterious wheel hugger is reading this, next time say hello, offer to take the lead and generally don't be a d1ck!!!!!>

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

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