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

Seth Brundle · 14-04-2021 03:19PM

Had a route planned to head down to Sallygap via Brittas and back via Glencree and Ballinascorney today. This would be my first spin in the Wicklow mountains this year.
No sooner had I got to the top of Slade when work called me and needed me asap for "an emergency". As usual, it involved someone who should know how to do something but as they are more senior, I had to get back.
Possibly just as well. I seemed to have forgotten my climbing legs when I left home.

Whilst I kinda took my time getting home, I only managed to get almost 60km @ a slowish 25.1 but with a satisfactory 555m of climbing.
It was cool when I left home so was dressed for it. By the time I got home, I felt that I should be in regular summer gear, it felt that warm. Hopefully this weather stays for a while.

https://www.strava.com/activities/5125500032

Mercian Pro · 14-04-2021 06:41PM

silverharp wrote: »

are KOM short distances only? can you extract times on say a route like some point in dublin near the city to say Enniskerry village

Existing Strava segments are predominately short and some of them ridiculously so. Where you will find longer ones is on the big climbs like the Wicklow Gap or Slieve Maan. It's unlikely that there is a segment say from Dundrum to Enniskerry as there are a number of traffic lights in between and it would be a bit of a lottery to get them all green when trying for a KoM.

Nigzcurran · 14-04-2021 06:47PM

New bike which I received in error is gone back to the shop and ive a 4 week wait now for the correct one to arrive, back on the old warhorse till then but I gave it a good rattle after work anyway and got pretty similar times to what i was getting off the new one

MojoMaker · 14-04-2021 07:10PM

The marketing teams won't like that :pac:

magicbastarder · 14-04-2021 07:10PM

Glorious evening out there. 62km with 750m of climbing.

rushfan · 14-04-2021 09:21PM

Cycling home from work last night, beautiful evening for it. Heading through Batter Lane, I had to move closer to the side of the road to allow a couple of cars past. The surface seemed worse than usual, I was thinking it was almost bizarre that I hadn't punctured when...…………………..30 seconds later, kaput! Managed to limp most of the way home
And today when I changed the tube, I managed to strain a muscle in my elbow which meant I couldn't complete the job. Anyway, I'm off to check my Lotto numbers now!!!

LollipopJimmy · 14-04-2021 09:24PM

Mercian Pro wrote: »

Existing Strava segments are predominately short and some of them ridiculously so. Where you will find longer ones is on the big climbs like the Wicklow Gap or Slieve Maan. It's unlikely that there is a segment say from Dundrum to Enniskerry as there are a number of traffic lights in between and it would be a bit of a lottery to get them all green when trying for a KoM.

There are lots of new ones where I live, I got one retrospectively, some are only 100metres or so and it seems people are making them just to get KOMs. I got a few then stopped chasing

magicbastarder · 14-04-2021 09:30PM

rushfan wrote: »

Batter Lane

one of the most mundanely named roads in ireland. lana an bothar.

14-04-2021 09:43PM

rushfan wrote: »

Cycling home from work last night, beautiful evening for it. Heading through Batter Lane, I had to move closer to the side of the road to allow a couple of cars past. The surface seemed worse than usual, I was thinking it was almost bizarre that I hadn't punctured when...…………………..30 seconds later, kaput! Managed to limp most of the way home
And today when I changed the tube, I managed to strain a muscle in my elbow which meant I couldn't complete the job. Anyway, I'm off to check my Lotto numbers now!!!

Well if you were the one person who won 12.4 million tonight I'm calling new bikes all around for boardsies !!!!!

Jim Gazebo · 14-04-2021 09:59PM

45k @ 27kph today for me. No real climbing, just trying to up the distance. Felt okay at the end, but the legs did feel it a bit on the climb up to the house. Slowly but surely.

Monday before I'll be out again. Running ahigher priority next few days .

rushfan · 14-04-2021 10:29PM

magicbastarder wrote: »

one of the most mundanely named roads in ireland. lana an bothar.

I was referring to it as Ba(s)tter(d) Lane last night

silverharp · 15-04-2021 01:40PM

i have never cycled from Rathfarham up glencree way so set that as a mini goal over the next couple of months as a mid week hill foused ride, weather was that good yesterday evening so decided to make a start on it. there is one bit where there is a crossroads and what looks like a vertical wall ahead, Ill keep that for next week.
Toying with the idea of driving to Rathfarnham and starting the ride from there, the rest is junk volume in busy traffic

loyatemu · 15-04-2021 01:46PM

Agent Smyth wrote: »

And don't forget the people who leave their garmin on while traveling to and from their start/finish points in their car

I got a PB on a segment near me and out of curiosity had a look at the leaderboard. The KOM did it at 75km/h - looked at his route and it was the Wicklow 100 from some years back and he'd clearly left Strava running as he drove home out of Greystones. The next few times were all implausible as well. And don't get me started on people bagging steep KOMs on eBikes... (not that I'd be threatening the top ten in any case though).

Seth Brundle · 15-04-2021 05:19PM

64km @ 28.9km/h
had been doing about 30km/h average until the last quarter of the spin. Road resurfacing in Kilcock meant I got delayed and also had to slow down and cycle on the path for a bit (as instructed by the workers). That seemed to knock the wind out of my sails as I found it tough going from then on.
Still, it was the first time out this year without a jacket - wore a long sleeved jersey with a base layer. But the fine weather also meant that there were millions of flies out there too

https://www.strava.com/activities/5132076101

Wildly Boaring · 15-04-2021 05:50PM

Seth Brundle wrote: »

64km @ 28.9km/h
had been doing about 30km/h average until the last quarter of the spin. Road resurfacing in Kilcock meant I got delayed and also had to slow down and cycle on the path for a bit (as instructed by the workers). That seemed to knock the wind out of my sails as I found it tough going from then on.
Still, it was the first time out this year without a jacket - wore a long sleeved jersey with a base layer. But the fine weather also meant that there were millions of flies out there too
https://www.strava.com/activities/5132076101

Flat part of the world

Seth Brundle · 15-04-2021 05:52PM

Wildly Boaring wrote: »

Flat part of the world

I know. I should be getting faster times!

magicbastarder · 15-04-2021 06:13PM

when did strava start putting slight formal sounding locations on cycles?
e.g. 'The Municipal District of Celbridge'; 'The Municipal District of Ashbourne' etc

magicbastarder · 15-04-2021 06:17PM

Weepsie wrote: »

Garmin flashed up I was on a segment I had apparently starred some time ago

it's quite a weird segment!

ozzy jr · 15-04-2021 07:43PM

Cycled around Phoenix Park today. I like the new cycle path layout. I’m guessing it’s only a temporary change and we’ll be back to walkers in the cycle paths soon enough.

secman · 15-04-2021 07:45PM

magicbastarder wrote: »

when did strava start putting slight formal sounding locations on cycles?
e.g. 'The Municipal District of Celbridge'; 'The Municipal District of Ashbourne' etc

About 2 months ago from memory if not more ? Apparently to save us time checking where the spin is at a glance.

secman · 15-04-2021 07:52PM

Commute from work to meet a buddy, about 6km in total to get out of heavy traffic on to open back roads, out by Newcastle, Lords rd, Boston hill, Kilteel, Rathcoole Saggart and home. 53 kms 26.5kph with 400 meters. Met a couple of boardsies Jim Jim and his buddy Brian.

Seth Brundle · 15-04-2021 08:02PM

secman wrote: »

About 2 months ago from memory if not more ? Apparently to save us time checking where the spin is at a glance.

...because the maps are confusing?

secman · 15-04-2021 08:03PM

Seth Brundle wrote: »

...because the maps are confusing?

Probably for yanks mainly

vintcerf · 15-04-2021 08:40PM

55km this evening. how steep is the Howth climb? curious if i'd manage as a newbie. also those averaging +25km how do you do it!?

Seth Brundle · 15-04-2021 08:55PM

vintcerf wrote: »

55km this evening. how steep is the Howth climb? curious if i'd manage as a newbie. also those averaging +25km how do you do it!?

My sister, who would be a sonewhat unfit newbie cyclist, did Howth recently. Start off by going up and down via the graveyard and take your time. No doubt a few riders will pass you but remember that it won't be their first time.

As for your question of 25km - are you referring to average speed or distance? Either way it will depend on the bike you're on (mountain bike or hybrid or road bike) and also what your fitness level is like.

magicbastarder · 15-04-2021 09:03PM

there are two main ways of approaching the summit; from howth village is shorter and thus steeper, but is one continuous unbroken climb.
it's what i call an 'honest' hill, in that the steepest section is near the bottom; it doesn't surprise you with any steep ramps near the top when you're beginning to tire.

the option Seth mentioned is easier - longer and thus a shallower climb, plus it's actually about four climbs stitched together. if there's a typical south westerly, you will have it at your back for the second half too.

07Lapierre · 15-04-2021 09:05PM

vintcerf wrote: »

those averaging +25km how do you do it!?
]

E-bikes!

CianRyan · 15-04-2021 09:08PM

Did roughly 38km tonight, spun out from Tallaght to Clontarf to grab some dinner. My brother in law had a new pop up burger place opening tonight.
My plan was to spin up Howth Hill but I got closer and had to turn around to meet the rest of the family, herself was waiting for me with a jacket, wooly hat and a pair of jogger.

Had a pain in the ass stopping at lights, I had forgotten what that's like and how badly it kills your stride. Also had my left foot going quite numb towards the end of my ride which is not great. Had some time out of the saddle which helped.

Forgot to start Strava when I started my spin and when I got going again after dinner, hence my trip across Dublin Bay. :pac:

Check out my activity on Strava: https://strava.app.link/cWoHIJq9tfb

Wishbone Ash · 15-04-2021 09:40PM

Mercian Pro wrote: »

Existing Strava segments are predominately short and some of them ridiculously so. Where you will find longer ones is on the big climbs like the Wicklow Gap or Slieve Maan. It's unlikely that there is a segment say from Dundrum to Enniskerry as there are a number of traffic lights in between and it would be a bit of a lottery to get them all green when trying for a KoM.

There are some very long ones out there. Rode through this 106km one while doing Mizen to Malin a few years ago.

https://www.strava.com/segments/12305096

magicbastarder · 15-04-2021 09:45PM

there are some savage times set on it (and it doesn't strike me as a segment where you'd have many 'i forgot to turn off the GPS before loading my bike on the back of the car' moments)

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

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