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

Way to work: somehow double punctured in Stillorgan, and had to push the bike to work. Got the bike fixed by the local mobile cycle clinic and took it home this evening.

I may have been lucky, but Donnybrook was relatively quiet outbound. Not sure I'd want to be near a bus around the curves at the Garda station though.

Mickiemcfist wrote: »

Yea you have to take the lane there out & inbound. Same going inbound at the junction of clyde road further up.

I agree completely about taking the lane there! Still, it was an enjoyable spin home

Back on the saddle again after a 'break' for the turf. Been a couple of weeks. 25.7km avg 27.1kph.felt a bit out of sorts starting off, but soon got into the rhythm again. Surprised myself with that time... Another tomorrow methinks.... Damn, it is nice and warm out there...

So after getting all the kit assembled took my first "proper" long(er) cycle today.

Good news is that I should have no problems hitting a 20kmph/50km minimum standard for group cycles - today did 33km at around 20.8kmph average and had plenty left in the tank at the end - was still cycling at around 24-30kmph on the way home. The gps tracker said my top speed was 75.6kmph but I think that might have been a blooper - the cycle computer said top speed was around 50.1kmph (good fun!)

Pros:
1. Finally got on the bike (in proper (Lidl ) cycling shorts - yes they do make a big difference!)
2. Found I wasn't as out of shape as I feared I might have been .

Cons:
1. Had my second unclipping issue and no dog walker to blame this time - came up to the top of a steep (to me) hill and was putting so much effort in that I forgot I needed to unclip - braked when I saw traffic on the main road and timburrr x2.

Semi-pro(?):
1. I now have matching grazes on both knees :cool:

Seeing as the weather was so good today hopped on the bike and tried a longer "spin".

65km round trip going from Dun Laoghaire harbour to Howth harbour - took a lunch break in the middle after reaching Howth. Finished it off by taking the N11 "hills" on the way back south - using the granny gears at one point (it was after 58km cycled after all in defence).

And third time's the charm - no falling off this time (it was starting to get embarrassing!).

New lessons learnt today:
1. the cycle path going to howth is lovely riding up
2. headwind is a major pain and I can understand how a gust can send Froome crashing with how much my bike was moving
3. hands can get sore after a few hours of cycling from being on the hoods - I shifted to going on the bar tops on the way back in "strong" headwind to give my thumb/forefinger curve a rest
4. under strong (for Ireland) sunlight sunscreen might be a good idea - I actually managed to get tan lines on leg and arms from the 3 hours I was outside

New question:
1. is "top" i.e. hardest gear relatively slow? I don't know how many RPMs I was doing (guesstimate 65-70(?)rpm) but that was only giving me around 30-34kmph on flat parts - do you normally go much faster than this? Is it that people are supposed to be hitting 80-100rpm etc. for speed or is 30-34kmph "enough"?

First time poster, long time lurker. I had a lovely one hour spin at an average speed of 28kmph. In the hour I began with a balls out effort for 2 minutes with a two minute break before repeating. Three minutes later i sprinted for 30 seconds in the saddle, freewheeled for 15 before repeating that 6 times. After a four minute break I saddle sprinted for 40 seconds then freewheeled for 20 and repeated that 6 times. My final set repeated the 30 second seated sprint set and I them rode home in a specially designed body bag empty retching, crying for Mammy.

Today is the first day of my summer holiday. I spent half a day in town buying bits and pieces for Gran Canaria. My mini shopping spree left me shattered. I just napped the entire afternoon.

Eventually I dragged myself from the sofa, onto the bike and knew from the first pedal stroke it was the best thing I could've done. I love that feeling.

I wanted to target one particular strava segment. I gave it everything and overtook a couple of other cyclists while breathing like a dying donkey. I sound like a faulty Henry the Hoover when I'm in the red, sucking in air. But after my ride I couldn't find it in my list of segments. Looked like it hadn't tracked. Gutted. I checked again later on the website version and there it was, 'hidden'. I knocked 4 seconds off my PB and set the fastest time of the year. YES! Let these good legs last for GC.

Lovely day out west of Dublin today, overcast for a lot of it but perfect conditions for easy riding without sweating a baths worth.

good one today 112km dublin-glendalough-wicklow gap and all the nice back roads around blessington lakes. used a HR monitor and cycled to the meter as far as glendalough, cycled a little slower but no breaks worked out the same timewise

Nice solo run from Dunshaughlin around the back of the airport and up to Naul. Home via Garristown. Used to do club races and time trials at the back of the airport so loads of memories there

80km @ 28kmph average

https://strava.app.link/eaNPel8QjY

Earlier today, Playa de muro to Can Picafort, Muro, sa Pueblo, Polllensa, Porto Polllensa, Alcudia, and back to Playa de Muro. 64km in total & all on a hybrid. Had intended to bring the necessary gear with me from Dublin but those plans went awry. Therefore today's spin was in t shirt, football shorts , & trainers. I probably looked like someone going football training. But hell, it was enjoyable.

Quick spin out west in glorious weather...

https://www.strava.com/activities/2531675674

Went up the sally gap from glendalough, then up Kippure. Scooted through Roundwood and on home via that cheeky climb out of Avoca.

120km at just over 25kmph with 1600m of climbing.


Tried legs now.