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

Seth Brundle · 08-12-2020 10:35AM

I went out yesterday evening after spending the day in online meetings (from home) - really needed to get out as my head was melted.
Anyhow, was expecting it to be foggy and possibly slippery so went on my hynbrid rather than the road bike. However, there was no fog. Ground seemed damp but not frosty/icy thankfully. It was cold though (-2℃) - my right foot was numb for hours afterwards despite the merino socks and shoe covers.
Managed just shy of 50km @ 25.4km/h around the Leixlip/Ardclough/Newcastle/Lucan areas.
One thing I've noticed recently whilst cycling the back roads in the dark - I rarely get close passed. I reckon if I were to cycle the same road in the daytime, I'd be passed closely by several cars. Go figure.

https://www.strava.com/activities/4442967555

Rogue-Trooper · 08-12-2020 11:37AM

padyjoe wrote: »

cars passing me with no lights at all!!!!, with DRL on only and no rear ones lit, cars with parking lights.
I was wondering if those drivers don't care to put their lights on to make themselves visible, how much do they care about what's going on around them?

A girl I work with drove her new car for a couple of months at night with only her DRLs on. She thought she had automatic lights and only found out when someone jumped out of their car at the traffic lights one night to tell her off!!:eek:

Back on topic, this morning's commute into work was buttock-clenching at times. Was out the door before 0630 and it was very frosty out. Roads in my estate were completely white but main roads not so bad. Just took it really handy. Need to look at some winter tyres for the CAADX commuter bike - I have a spare set of rims so I could switch them easily on bad days.

CramCycle · 08-12-2020 11:54AM

Rogue-Trooper wrote: »

A girl I work with drove her new car for a couple of months at night with only her DRLs on. She thought she had automatic lights and only found out when someone jumped out of their car at the traffic lights one night to tell her off!!:eek:

The number of people who think their DRLs are full lights is frightening. I've been told to f off when I point out their rear lights aren't on in a nice way. DRLs are bizarre, why are they not just dims, it is bizarre. The studies their usage is based on was using dims, it is so bizarre.

grouchyman · 09-12-2020 02:19PM

25.6 kms this morning to bring my total to over 5,000 kms for the year. Was out at around 8. It was good and dark and wet, kinda what you expect this time of the year.

The main bike is getting its back wheel replaced for the second time in about 2.5 years, so I'm back to using the old trek 1.2 (sora groupset and flat pedals) at the moment. My times on the trek this morning are slower than usual so I'm curious to see if the new wheel on the main bike makes a big difference when I get it back.

smacl · 09-12-2020 03:34PM

grouchyman wrote: »

25.6 kms this morning to bring my total to over 5,000 kms for the year. Was out at around 8. It was good and dark and wet, kinda what you expect this time of the year.

Just 20k with 410m of up for me, up to the Hellfire through the mud in Masseys Wood, taking my YTD to 4,986k. Mañana, mañana....

Spiked tyres feel heavy as feck and are accompanied by the sound of someone drowning in a bowl of rice crispies. Better that the Schwalbe G-Ones in the mud for all that which make me think I'll need a rethink on the choice of gravel tyre in the spring.

smacl · 10-12-2020 02:38PM

Up Cruagh to Foxes and back for 25km with 400m of up and passed my 5000k goal for the year. Jebus but the ice tyres not only suck, they feel positively vampiric and I managed to record one of my worst ever times for the circuit in what were really good conditions. Really need to pick up a spare set of wheels so I can quickly pick tyres based on the day that's in it.

Wildly Boaring · 10-12-2020 06:03PM

50k pretty flat.
In the pissing rain and dark.
Wouldn't mind but I could have gone out earlier and avoided both

Ah well. Home and hosed.

Drivers better in the dark

Slideways · 11-12-2020 05:37AM

Out for a river loop this morning on the TT as the roadie has been giving me back pain despite a bike fit.
TT is normally ok but got off it all seized up with pins and needles in my hands. May have to stick to the running at this rate.

Been hot here too, not so noticeable on the bike with the breeze but I lost 1.2kg over the ride with sweat
40k at 29kph, mostly flat with a puncture just to keep things interesting
https://strava.app.link/OSET0PQB7bb

cletus · 11-12-2020 08:30AM

Slideways wrote: »

Out for a river loop this morning on the TT as the roadie has been giving me back pain despite a bike fit.
TT is normally ok but got off it all seized up with pins and needles in my hands. May have to stick to the running at this rate.

Been hot here too, not so noticeable on the bike with the breeze but I lost 1.2kg over the ride with sweat
40k at 29kph, mostly flat with a puncture just to keep things interesting
https://strava.app.link/OSET0PQB7bb

That Strava map brings back memories. I lived on North Beach for a spell, would have frequented Cottesloe and Freemantle

Slideways · 11-12-2020 08:48AM

cletus wrote: »

That Strava map brings back memories. I lived on North Beach for a spell, would have frequented Cottesloe and Freemantle

The place has its negatives at times but when it comes to cycling it’s pretty much perfect. Lots of cycle paths, great flat coastal rides and if you feel like punishing yourself some reasonable hills to get the granny gear some use

cletus · 11-12-2020 12:02PM

Slideways wrote: »

The place has its negatives at times but when it comes to cycling it’s pretty much perfect. Lots of cycle paths, great flat coastal rides and if you feel like punishing yourself some reasonable hills to get the granny gear some use

I'll be honset, I loved it there, didnt cycle, but the lifestyle suited me down to the ground. That was 18 years ago, though, so things may have changed

Deano12345 · 12-12-2020 04:33PM

Nice little 40K up to past the Vico baths and back via Sandycove. Definitely need a zero setback seatpost!

Lovely weather, not nearly as chilly as last week either

magicbastarder · 12-12-2020 04:43PM

First time seeing what could reasonably be described as a hill in about 8 weeks. Definitely felt fitness was down, and had some minor cramping in the legs at one point when I got out of the saddle. Still, nice evening to be back out again.

magicbastarder · 12-12-2020 04:44PM

And after tomorrow, the evenings start brightening again. Albeit slowly.

Wildly Boaring · 12-12-2020 04:48PM

magicbastarder wrote: »

First time seeing what could reasonably be described as a hill in about 8 weeks. Definitely felt fitness was down, and had some minor cramping in the legs at one point when I got out of the saddle. Still, nice evening to be back out again.

Yeah. I got in Bellewstown and a couple between there and the Naul.
Eh yeah not fast.

magicbastarder · 12-12-2020 05:09PM

Wasn't too far away from there today, up the mall and down snowtown into the naul.

byrnem31 · 12-12-2020 05:57PM

Lovely cycle from tallaght to Lucan today and back. Cold but dry and sunny. All in I was out for about 2 hrs as I took detours.

McGrath5 · 12-12-2020 06:20PM

Did 62k today, out to Dun Laoirghe then Howth. Traffic was mad everywhere, nice day though.

My fitness is definitely down, going to make a good stab at the festive 500 over Christmas.

dahat · 12-12-2020 06:30PM

Off out the door @9am today in what was a beautiful dry but chilly day. My enthusiasm for the day led me beyond borders with just the one stop for a coffee to warm the sheckles. A coffee at the beach in winter is new to me but it was magical with the day as it was.

139km done in just under 5hrs at a reasonable 28.5 km avg.

More tomorrow but its forecast to be pretty wet.

rushfan · 12-12-2020 09:36PM

I was a bit reluctant to head out today, ahead of a night shift, not to mention the low temps, plus a rake of sport on the tv. Anyway, off I went at 12, got in 70km but there was a definite drop off in temps around 3. Nonetheless, a great day to be out, glad I went in the end.

ednwireland · 13-12-2020 04:40PM

3.5 hours donegal town killlybegs, ardara and home

first hour great the road surface form donegal town to killybegs is sooo good these days.

then the rain started 2 hours of a downpour

great to get out though

mvt · 13-12-2020 05:31PM

Just back from a beautiful spin round the Phoenix park, was practically empty & looked stunning in the fading light.
Came home in the dark along the liffey through the memorial park thinking there was a cyclist coming against me & it turned out to be a rower in the water

wheelo01 · 14-12-2020 11:53PM

Nice short spin after work, I'd been chicken to go out the last two weeks with weather and a cold that I have.
Drimnagh, blanch, Clonee, across to Lucan,then back home -37km at an average of 27kph, no climbing to speak of, was a lovely afternoon for cycling.

https://strava.app.link/eRIxfltQdcb

magicbastarder · 15-12-2020 04:23PM

first time up over howth in two months. nice evening for it.

on the way home (soon after seeing an eye opening demonstration of RLJing by half a dozen motorists) i passed a cyclist having an argument with a motorist. she was parked on the left hand side of the road, facing the oncoming direction, outside a school; and if i was a betting man i'd hazard a guess she swung into that spot right in front of the cyclist, on the way to pick up her precious darlings.

Mercian Pro · 17-12-2020 05:34PM

A near perfect club spin this morning back and forth across NCD in winter sunshine made even better by hitting the 91.9km mark just outside St Margarets. That brought my 2020 total to 10k, a target that certainly didn't seem possible back in the days of the 2km circle last April. With 50 laps of the Phoenix Park during the original 5km circle and another 75 laps during the recent restrictions, the resumption of club spins this month was very welcome even with Centra and Applegreen takeaways rather than our usual cafe scones, mini-breakfasts and lattes!

https://strava.app.link/ZLkulKJoicb

20-12-2020 08:06PM

After nearly three weeks out with a heavy cold and then an ear infection, I got back on the saddle this morning for 80k with 900 climbing @ 27kph.

Was in good shape on my last spin - managed to drop my brother on a few climbs when I used always be blowing a gasket trying to keep up with him! - so was a pity I had the enforced break. Felt fine overall today but the legs were a bit stiff and achey towards the end. Stayed dry in the main but the roads were very wet and mucky so it was hard to get any momentum.

magicbastarder · 20-12-2020 08:44PM

fair play. i was out today and managed the same speed for 50km with way less climbing. the wind wasn't helping.

dahat · 20-12-2020 09:09PM

Last spin of the year for me today due to a minor surgery procedure so headed off for 4 hrs across the coast roads of Waterford. The weather today was ideal for the bike & met plenty on the road.

A tasty pastry & double espresso gave me good legs for the last 40km, legs were tired after a solid 7 day block.

120km @ 30avg with 1000m of up.

If anyone gets out of their county the coast roads of Waterford are well worth the effort to get there

20-12-2020 09:12PM

dahat wrote: »

Last spin of the year for me today due to a minor surgery procedure so headed off for 4 hrs across the coast roads of Waterford. The weather today was ideal for the bike & met plenty on the road.

A tasty pastry & double espresso gave me good legs for the last 40km, legs were tired after a solid 7 day block.

120km @ 30avg with 1000m of up.

If anyone gets out of their county the coast roads of Waterford are well worth the effort to get there

Conor Dunne on GCN has been doing a great job promoting the coastal roads of Waterford. I'll get down there from Cork for a spin next summer, all going well.

dahat · 20-12-2020 09:43PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Conor Dunne on GCN has been doing a great job promoting the coastal roads of Waterford. I'll get down there from Cork for a spin next summer, all going well.

You should, its a beautiful part of the country and easy make a weekend break out of it.

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

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