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

wheelo01 · 08-02-2021 09:59PM

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

Bit muddy in the park today, I'd just sank halfway up to my shins here.

This bike is grand for most of the trails in the park but some parts get a bit tough :pac:

https://imgur.com/gallery/S9QdBIa

I'm glad I didn't take you up on your offer on Saturday to join you

Your new bike looks the business, but by jaysus, I wouldn't like to be cleaning it - maybe during the summer lol

magicbastarder · 08-02-2021 10:12PM

looking at that, the easiest way of cleaning it would be to cycle to the bridge at islandbridge and lower the bike into the liffey on a rope for a couple of dunkings.

08-02-2021 11:33PM

I'm spotting a business opportunity in the Park for a man with a Karcher €5 a wheel :pac:

a148pro · 08-02-2021 11:42PM

CramCycle wrote: »

Sounds like my experience of Russia, coming into Moscow, road/motorway several lanes wide and cars doing 80 and only inches from each other, indicators and lanes were advisory at best. Our taxi driver didn't even flinch as he swerved across 3 lanes for a turn he apparently forgot he needed to take. Further south in Saratov, you could pay the police to drive through their version of Grafton St. and even get what appeared to be an armed escort. I don't recall a sober taxi driver and was warned about putting my seatbelt on could cause grave offence.

I have the sense that in Northern and Western Europe we're kind of obsessed with health and staying alive. In much of the Med and the rest of the world they literally do not give a ****. Its quite charming, provided you're not caught up in it yourself.

a148pro · 08-02-2021 11:47PM

magicbastarder wrote: »

i remember sinking up to my knee as a kid, very possibly in the same spot.

Is that the river that leads to the bridge / tunnel you can walk through up towards Ordinance Survey building? Or the steep part of the Furry Glen off walkers left leading up to the path to your right (generally frequented by lads cruising)? From recollection the later was way too steep to cycle, slipped up it with the kids recently, but doesn't look like it in that video

a148pro · 08-02-2021 11:51PM

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

To be fair that was the only really muddy part, the rest is doable on the gravel bike. Might get chunkier tyres for more craic though. That there is in depths of the Furry Glen

I think it is the river that leads to the tunnel actually. What are you on 36mm? Surely there's nothing beyond a fat bike that would give you grip in mud like that, and certainly not going uphill?

LollipopJimmy · 09-02-2021 12:07AM

a148pro wrote: »

I think it is the river that leads to the tunnel actually. What are you on 36mm? Surely there's nothing beyond a fat bike that would give you grip in mud like that, and certainly not going uphill?

It's not quite as far in as the spot you're thinking, tbh there's loads of tracks so I just try and find one where I don't have to walk. I got out of there today once I got beyond the log 'bridge' you can see there. Wrong bike in the wrong place but still knocking a bit of craic out of it

magicbastarder · 09-02-2021 09:41AM

i think i went up to my knee just downstream of the lake in the furry glen.

cletus · 09-02-2021 09:47AM

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

Bit muddy in the park today, I'd just sank halfway up to my shins here.

This bike is grand for most of the trails in the park but some parts get a bit tough :pac:

https://imgur.com/gallery/S9QdBIa

I see your mistake there Jimmy. It's all in the nomenclature.

That's not a "trail", that's a "ditch"

a148pro · 09-02-2021 03:24PM

I'm amazed anyone can ride a bunch of those trails, pretty impressive. Will have to lower my tire pressures and lift my game.

smacl · 09-02-2021 05:29PM

Muddy as bejezus in Masseys today too, awkward trying to keep enough speed to keep from toppling sideways in some spots. Promised snow never really arrived, though pretty bitter up by the Hellfire and very blowy coming back down making for an interesting descent. The more I cycle around Masseys the more I reckon we should be planting well spaced decidous hardwoods in areas that Coilte has nominated as parkland for primary use. While not a huge area, you can walk and cycle pretty much anywhere in it, giving the impression it is way larger than it actually is. Really magical at this time of year. A slow 18k with 400m of climbing but a very pleasant one.

jrby · 09-02-2021 06:29PM

How did you get 18k out of Massey, the kids have me plagued with bringing them to the gap and tichnock, presume Massey is a bit more gentle and more forgiving for someone at my age who doesn't want to be jumping over everything.

smacl · 09-02-2021 06:46PM

jrby wrote: »

How did you get 18k out of Massey, the kids have me plagued with bringing them to the gap and tichnock, presume Massey is a bit more gentle and more forgiving for someone at my age who doesn't want to be jumping over everything.

18k included Cruagh road up to Masseys and Masseys up to the Hellfire, only a couple of KM in Masseys itself today, including the main path and the river path on the way back. You've also got the outside edge route which can take you to the upper part of Cruagh and quite a few other smaller tracks. Its nothing like the GAP or Ticknock in that the trails aren't designed for bikes and you will be sharing the space with walkers and the odd horse rider. The climb up to Cruagh involves chucking the bike over styles at a couple of points and I'd say it is quite challenging, not sure I'd let kids descend that bit as there are a few steep and deep drops if you get it wrong. More of a place to explore at a meandering pace than to look for any andrenalin buzz, possibly worth doing a recce yourself first to see if it fits the bill for what you're after.

jrby · 09-02-2021 07:02PM

thanks, not looking for an adrenalin buzz, more meandering pace would suit and fine doing climbs, prefer them to the desents. Same on the road bike, even though i don't have the build of a climber....

will give that a go without the kids.

thanks and any other recommendations would be appreciated.

a148pro · 09-02-2021 10:02PM

smacl wrote: »

The climb up to Cruagh involves chucking the bike over styles at a couple of points and I'd say it is quite challenging, not sure I'd let kids descend that bit as there are a few steep and deep drops if you get it wrong. More of a place to explore at a meandering pace than to look for any andrenalin buzz, possibly worth doing a recce yourself first to see if it fits the bill for what you're after.

Did this at the weekend and it was about 8 inches of mud the whole way. Gets very muddy in Winter and I suspect has been getting more traffic since COVID. I've never done it and not regretted it, I think once in Summer I was able to cycle most of it apart from the styles.

a148pro · 09-02-2021 10:30PM

jrby wrote: »

thanks, not looking for an adrenalin buzz, more meandering pace would suit and fine doing climbs, prefer them to the desents. Same on the road bike, even though i don't have the build of a climber....

will give that a go without the kids.

thanks and any other recommendations would be appreciated.

There's a worthy loop to be done around them all, all fireroad and not a jump to be seen - go into Massey's from the Equestrian Centre, you follow the original cobbled Military Road up and take a right at the top into Hellfire. Loop around Hellfire (right around the front where smacl posted a pic from the other day is nice and has a very challenging climb back up to the actual ruin (realistically you need to get out and push I think?).

Then back down into Massey's, over the other side of the forest then up the muddy described path up to Cruagh (carry), into Cruagh by the Dublin Mountain Way route (access at the twisty bends you'd know from the road bike up to the viewing point - short carry)

Then down the nice descent into Tibradden, across Tibradden and over to Kilmashogue and in to Ticknock.

Cafes at Hellfire and the Hazel House.

Iits hard to describe these routes unless you know them, but you can't go wrong just going in to explore them, its basically fireroad and obvious trails. There aren't that many options there. I find Komoot is a good app for looking to see where a fire road goes and whether its a dead end. Either way go in and fiddle around, you can't go far wrong.

As Smacl says Massey's is a gem, particularly for a walk. I only discovered it about a year ago and have been going to Cruagh for years. In Autumn its off the charts. You really learn the value of proper mature trees. The main fire road routes in Cruagh are monoculture holocausts, but there's actually a more mature forest trail that leads out of the car park, usually too muddy for a bike I'd say.

Another great place is Prince William's Seat. There's an attractive long fire road descent there which goes around the mountain from the Glencullen side down towards Glencree Road, and can be combined with a super spin along the river where the Wicklow Way goes goes into Chrone and you can divert up a lovely loop to give you views of Powerscourt. But alas you'll be well beyond the 5k there. Hopefully soon.

Eventually I'll get round to posting a clean GPS run of these routes on the gravel thread as I have a sense a lot of people buy these bikes and then, like me, struggle to find decent routes on them. If you don't have time to explore it can be hard to get going.

smacl · 10-02-2021 09:42AM

a148pro wrote: »

Did this at the weekend and it was about 8 inches of mud the whole way. Gets very muddy in Winter and I suspect has been getting more traffic since COVID. I've never done it and not regretted it, I think once in Summer I was able to cycle most of it apart from the styles.

Never managed the rocky bit aftey the stiles either and the steeper sections when its very muddy would often have me getting off and pushing. Once I drop below 5kph, its get off or fall off time here! Always enjoy it though. Some great rope swings scattered around in the woods for the kids too.

jrby wrote: »

thanks, not looking for an adrenalin buzz, more meandering pace would suit and fine doing climbs, prefer them to the desents. Same on the road bike, even though i don't have the build of a climber....

will give that a go without the kids.

thanks and any other recommendations would be appreciated.

Probably worth noting if you're going in by the bottom gate on Cruagh lane, you're better cycling than driving as there's very little parking, particularly at the weekend. If you're brining kids, drive as far as the cemetery and go from there. Also, know that they will be coming home caked in mud

jrby · 10-02-2021 10:23AM

Brilliant, I usually just do road cycling but got a mountain bike as there was no point in renting a bike every time I brought the kids to the GAP. Really enjoy the GAP but really more interested in the more off beaten / less jumpy stuff. So thanks for the directions.

magicbastarder · 10-02-2021 04:33PM

chilly enough out there; pleasant in the sun cycling with the wind, not so fun cycling in the shade into the wind.

Seaswimmer · 10-02-2021 04:42PM

2 laps of my usual Deansgrange > Killiney > Glenageary > Bakers corner circuit.

Snow flurries on the first lap and blazing sunshine on the 2nd..

as Brendan Behan was reputed to have said " With this weather you wouldn't know what to pawn"

smacl · 10-02-2021 05:07PM

Back up to Kilmashogue woods again at lunch, a bit more snow than yesterday though not that much. Just enough to make it that bit more tiring and I was really feeling my age as a number of young MTBers nipped past me on what were probably heavier bikes. Great craic descending on the snow covered gravel and the road section was clear enough making that a bit handier. Cars were also being cautious and considerate which is a bonus.

68 lost souls · 10-02-2021 05:23PM

smacl wrote: »

Back up to Kilmashogue woods again at lunch, a bit more snow than yesterday though not that much. Just enough to make it that bit more tiring and I was really feeling my age as a number of young MTBers nipped past me on what were probably heavier bikes. Great craic descending on the snow covered gravel and the road section was clear enough making that a bit handier. Cars were also being cautious and considerate which is a bonus.

What sort of bike are you using for these spins? I saw in one of your other photos its a disc break frame of some sort, be interested as they are all my 5km zone too.

wheelo01 · 10-02-2021 06:35PM

I got inspired by @mercianpro and his looping in the park - though I missed a few roads comparing maps on Strava.
38 km at 25 kph, was a lovely day for it apart from the icy gusts, glad to get out again, it's been 10 days or so.
Took a wrong turn through the hospital (thought there was a through road, it was so greasy and messy to get back up, I just decided to jump the wall

https://strava.app.link/PKntrkaGLdb

smacl · 10-02-2021 06:43PM

68 lost souls wrote: »

What sort of bike are you using for these spins? I saw in one of your other photos its a disc break frame of some sort, be interested as they are all my 5km zone too.

Using a Rose CX bike currently fitted with 42c Schwalbe spiked ice tyres, more usually 40c Schwalbe G-One all round tyres. I've cycled all these routes on a road bike with rim brakes and 25c Durano plus in dry conditions in the past but you need CX or gravel tyres for the mud. Even the G-Ones are a bit sketchy in the mud and I'll possibly swap for Gravel Kings at some point, which seem to be the tyre of choice for many gravel riders. One downside of rim brakes is that if you hit any sandy mud, they won't be long wearing your rims down. The can also get caked in mud and jam the wheels a bit or simply stop working properly. If you have an older bike or beater that can take > 35c tyres I'd say your good to go. I've use 35c Schwalbe CX Comps a fair bit which work well and are cheap as chips. Personally not being great technically, I also prefer pinned flat pedals to clip-ins for the off-road and use Nukeproof Neutron EVOs.

FWIW, the ice tyres are possibly not worth the effort. Heavy, sluggish and only add a few extra outdoor days. They're also a pain to get on and off, which is the main reason they're still on.

LollipopJimmy · 10-02-2021 07:56PM

Cycled around the Phoenix Park again today, feck me it was cold at around 5pm.

Sawba few lads setting up a large tent in the depths of the Furry Glen, looked like they were setting up for a party

Eamonnator · 10-02-2021 09:08PM

Seaswimmer wrote: »

2 laps of my usual Deansgrange > Killiney > Glenageary > Bakers corner circuit.

Snow flurries on the first lap and blazing sunshine on the 2nd..

as Brendan Behan was reputed to have said " With this weather you wouldn't know what to pawn"

I remember it as "The weather is so changeable, you wouldn't know what to pawn."

I seem to remember it being in a book of short stories, but so long ago, I can't properly recall.

BiggJim · 10-02-2021 09:13PM

Nice little spin around town earlier. Probably clocked up about 7k after work.

Mercian Pro · 11-02-2021 06:31PM

wheelo01 wrote: »

I got inspired by @mercianpro and his looping in the park - though I missed a few roads comparing maps on Strava.

Turned out to be a great day for it despite the cold breeze. We nearly met a few times according to Flyby and finally crossed paths on the Khyber Road possibly when I was taking photos of the deer! I was on my anti-clockwise loops whereas you were more freestyle

https://strava.app.link/LF4vlcYkNdb

fat bloke · 11-02-2021 06:46PM

Usual hour on the rollers. Nothing remarkable about it except that it'll be my last cycle or pedalling activity for a while.

. Surgery tomorrow morning on a chronic spinal / neck issue.

dastardly00 · 11-02-2021 06:54PM

fat bloke wrote: »

Usual hour on the rollers. Nothing remarkable about it except that it'll be my last cycle or pedalling activity for a while. . Surgery tomorrow morning on a chronic spinal / neck issue.

Best of luck with the surgery

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

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