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

Type 17 · 29-09-2020 12:53PM

Been doing a lot more climbing this year, lost a few kg as well (91->87), and feeling quite spritely these days.

Went out this morning for a quick spin, (Dublin south city, Cruagh, Glencullen, Stepaside, Leopardstown, Blackrock & home) - only 36km with 451m climbing, but broke 12 PRs, all on climbing.

thesimpsons · 29-09-2020 03:03PM

had a free 2 hours so grabbed the gear and hopped on the bike for 30km in pure sunshine on quiet country roads Co Limerick. Most of my spins are spent trying to stay with the group so today was just me and the bike, didn't turn on the speedo and concentrated on heart rate instead. Came in at a 22 average which I haven't done in years apart from the odd spin with a beginner but it was so good to just cycle for enjoyment rather than chasing groups, pbs and training schedules.

Seth Brundle · 29-09-2020 04:04PM

thesimpsons wrote: »

had a free 2 hours so grabbed the gear and hopped on the bike for 30km in pure sunshine on quiet country roads Co Limerick. Most of my spins are spent trying to stay with the group so today was just me and the bike, didn't turn on the speedo and concentrated on heart rate instead. Came in at a 22 average which I haven't done in years apart from the odd spin with a beginner but it was so good to just cycle for enjoyment rather than chasing groups, pbs and training schedules.

I assume that the 22 average is your speed rather than your heart rate

triggermortis · 29-09-2020 04:42PM

70km around NCD midday as it was a glorious day for it.
No incidents or drama, just a nice enjoyable couple of hours to myself

29-09-2020 05:48PM

Actually I found traffic in general to be the quietest it's been for a while today when I was out for just a plod for an hour or so. Not lock down quiet by any stretch but noticeably quieter than I've seen in the last month or so.

.red. · 29-09-2020 06:09PM

Got my first proper 50km done today.
Picked a slightly easier route than normal as my usual loops are all around 30km.
Left home, onto the N22, down passed the Gearagh and just beyond Toons Bridge to hit 25kms. I stopped, turned around, quick breakfast bar and a drink in Toons Bridge and hit the road home again.
I struggled a little around the 40km mark as there was a bit of a breeze in my face but persevered and it seemed to dissappear again. Finished the last few kms stronger than I expected and made it home.
Ended up doing 50.6kms in 1:57 @ 25.9kph.
Very happy with that.

https://strava.app.link/1dqYYIEjbab

Roadtoad · 29-09-2020 09:29PM

70km around Poulaphouca with my daughter. I surrendered all jerseys and dignities, and seek consolation in having trucked around an extra 40 kg and 35 years.

(there should be a jersey for fearless weight-assisted down-hill sprints, I'd have won that)

sy_flembeck · 29-09-2020 09:39PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Actually I found traffic in general to be the quietest it's been for a while today when I was out for just a plod for an hour or so. Not lock down quiet by any stretch but noticeably quieter than I've seen in the last month or so.

Funnily enough I said the same thing about the roads in north Wicklow when I got home earlier. Oddly the back roads around here have been very heavy with traffic lately but not today.

A glorious day and no issues - bliss.

thesimpsons · 29-09-2020 09:53PM

Seth Brundle wrote: »

I assume that the 22 average is your speed rather than your heart rate

Ya, sorry should have been clearer. 22kph average speed and in zone 3 for majority of the spin. Could breath and talk (to myself) fairly nicely. Normally on spins, I'm breathless for majority of the kms.

Seth Brundle · 29-09-2020 10:04PM

thesimpsons wrote: »

Normally on spins, I'm breathless for majority of the kms.

Keep an eye on that. I'm not a medic or anything but you shouldn't be that breathless from some exercise.

secman · 29-09-2020 11:10PM

Templeville, a few twisting a climbing roads... eventually up Stocking lane, up by hellfire to viewing point, over to Cunard descent , a few more twists and turns out on to ballinascorney and home.
41 km 650 meters avg a mere 21kph. A short sharp climbing spin in pure darkness.....

thesimpsons · 30-09-2020 02:59PM

Seth Brundle wrote: »

Keep an eye on that. I'm not a medic or anything but you shouldn't be that breathless from some exercise.

Yip, thanks. I'm trying to get a handle on my heart rate & zones. While I'm able to do 80km distances with the group, maybe it's not the best thing to be in zone 4 for majority of it.

IrishLad90 · 30-09-2020 06:19PM

Got out for this cycle today after a long time off the road, i definitely need to work on my time but glad now that i got out as i have been off the wagon a bit the last while. Some beautiful scenes on the North side, traffic and potholes were a bit of a factor as i was not too familiar with large stretches of the route

dinneenp · 30-09-2020 07:10PM

Had to pick my car up from the garage this morning. Awful weather last night, was fearing the worst but it was fine this morning.
Felt good- home before 10am, got exercise & ready for work for the day.

https://www.strava.com/activities/4131637096

triggermortis · 01-10-2020 02:23PM

Great morning for it today and passed several large groups out on the NCD roads. It was so nice I added a few local loops onto the usual spin to make it up to a 100.

https://www.strava.com/activities/4136909860

Passed 8500km for the year, so I'm ahead of my 10000km target

Seth Brundle · 01-10-2020 02:39PM

Had to drop my car off to the mechanics this morning so took the opportunity on the way home to get a few hills in (trying to build up my hill abilities).
Strangely I felt uneasy with most of the downhills what with the damp surfaces and so took them fairly handy (which didn't do my average speed anby favours).
Depending on the rain this evening, I might head out and do a few crossings of the hills around Kilteel.
https://www.strava.com/activities/4136257035

Tell me how · 01-10-2020 06:30PM

Seth Brundle wrote: »

Had to drop my car off to the mechanics this morning so took the opportunity on the way home to get a few hills in (trying to build up my hill abilities).
Strangely I felt uneasy with most of the downhills what with the damp surfaces and so took them fairly handy (which didn't do my average speed anby favours).
Depending on the rain this evening, I might head out and do a few crossings of the hills around Kilteel.
https://www.strava.com/activities/4136257035

I spent some time in Lanzarote a couple of years ago and on my second day riding got the dreaded speed wobble and was actively picking a spot in the volcanic ash which dominates the land there.

Thankfully didn't actually crash but didn't enjoy a single descent for the rest of my time there.

01-10-2020 06:37PM

Tell me how wrote: »

I spent some time in Lanzarote a couple of years ago and on my second day riding got the dreaded speed wobble and was actively picking a spot in the volcanic ash which dominates the land there.

Thankfully didn't actually crash but didn't enjoy a single descent for the rest of my time there.

Came off on a wet descent last Christmas and took me a good five months to get my nerve back. Kept getting irrational fears about my back wheel wobbling even though I knew it was nonsense. Was fearless before that so like to think I'm somewhere in between now.

magicbastarder · 01-10-2020 07:04PM

Tell me how wrote: »

got the dreaded speed wobble and was actively picking a spot in the volcanic ash

IIRC, volcanic ash is insanely abrasive so i think you were caught between the devil and the deep blue sea with that decision.

Tell me how · 01-10-2020 07:11PM

magicbastarder wrote: »

IIRC, volcanic ash is insanely abrasive so i think you were caught between the devil and the deep blue sea with that decision.

Exactly! You know how time seems to slow down in intense moments? I was actively thinking which would do the least damage, the asphalt or the volcanic terrain. There was a car coming towards me as well which further complicated matters. Will never forget it. Was doing 79kph at the time and my strava just nosedived immediately after it.

01-10-2020 09:26PM

This always enters my head after a 'slo-mo' moment on the bike

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-G0SVEQW8A

velo.2010 · 01-10-2020 10:23PM

The winter bike has been reactivated and is ready for duty!

Tell me how · 02-10-2020 02:55AM

velo.2010 wrote: »

The winter bike has been reactivated and is ready for duty!

I'm currently in Boston area.
Some people have been wearing the winter clothing (jackets/tights/full finger gloves with 2 weeks.

It's still about 14C.

Gervais08 · 02-10-2020 08:13AM

I went out and did 12km (I Know, but I’m old!!) and saw my wee family with the kids flanked by mum and dad all cycling happily - all wrapped up!!!

I think the younguns call that “the feels”’

You guys doing hundreds of km - rockstars, stay safe!!

Seth Brundle · 02-10-2020 08:47AM

Went out this morning to do my commute (I'm working from home and haven't done it in a while).
Nearing my workplace (which I didn't go into) I managed to get a puncture

Put in a new tube and headed off again.
On the return leg of the journey, I was overtaken on a roundabout by an ignorant impatient driver - https://streamable.com/74sb7w

I'm now remembering why I didn't like the commute and was enjoying working from home.

*ignore the vulgarity within the video which some of you may have come accustomed to by now. Strangely, there was a little bang sound as she overtook me. Not sure what it was but I reckon that she thought I kicked her car (which of course I wouldn't do) which might explain why she slowed down after the overtake and also beeped at me.

magicbastarder · 02-10-2020 08:54AM

i once kicked up a chipping as a car was passing me, and it smacked quite loudly off the car. the driver was briefly irate until i explained it to him.

Mickiemcfist · 02-10-2020 08:56AM

magicbastarder wrote: »

i once kicked up a chipping as a car was passing me, and it smacked quite loudly off the car. the driver was briefly irate until i explained it to him.

Weird, I have a pocket full of them for similar scenarios!

cletus · 02-10-2020 05:37PM

Seth Brundle wrote: »

Went out this morning to do my commute (I'm working from home and haven't done it in a while).
Nearing my workplace (which I didn't go into) I managed to get a puncture Put in a new tube and headed off again.
On the return leg of the journey, I was overtaken on a roundabout by an ignorant impatient driver - https://streamable.com/74sb7w

I'm now remembering why I didn't like the commute and was enjoying working from home.

*ignore the vulgarity within the video which some of you may have come accustomed to by now. Strangely, there was a little bang sound as she overtook me. Not sure what it was but I reckon that she thought I kicked her car (which of course I wouldn't do) which might explain why she slowed down after the overtake and also beeped at me.

Watching the clip, when I heard the bang first, I assumed she had hit you

brownian · 02-10-2020 05:54PM

Given the forecast, thought I'd sneak out for a quickie yesterday afternoon. Sun was almost shining, but good and cool. Sadly, one of those days when you can't believe how sluggish you are, when the hills seem covered in velcro and you check that your brakes aren't rubbing - twice. Hadn't been on the bike for 10 days, and really felt it.

Anyway - Deansgrange - Tassie - Kilternan - Enniskerry (love that sweeping descent, love the Scalp too) - steeply up to Curtlestown (the rash of new mini-estates is growing out that way...developer-led speculative planning, totally car-reliant...), up into Glencree, avoid the temptation of the Armoury, cos I've only done 25k, up to the Kippure gate. From there it's either the Gap or the top...so on up to the top of Kippure, passing three young army lads at 5-minute intervals, each carrying a huge pack and a fake rifle made out of square-section metal tubing. Cold. Down again (colder), and then down the Crone wood road - fun! Surfaces up and down Glencree not bad at the mo. Finally up and over into Enniskerry, and home the same way.

First day I've worn toe-warmers over my shoes. A lot handier than overshoes, and pretty effective for cold days. Also wore arm-warmers, but ended up taking them off until the drop off Kippure. A gilet might be the thing (looks into cupboard rammed with other cycling gear - might just squeeze it in there...).

WOT · 02-10-2020 06:14PM

Sunday - London to Banbury
Monday - Banbury to Bridgnorth
Tuesday - Bridgnorth to Bala
Wednesday - Bala to Holyhead + Ferry

485km / 5320m

Wales is beautiful, windy, rainy and hilly.

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

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