Tell us about your cycle today part III

devonp · 07-09-2021 09:11PM

prob last of the long summer commutes for me, usual cc to cruagh and up to the line, down cunard Bohernabreena over to Seskin up mcDonaghs lane and home to leixlip, great evening. low sun had me wishing i'd brought my cycling cap instead of the sweat band and glasses

at the top of McDonaghs lane i stopped to take a pic of the wicklow mts , heard some very loud and powerful sounding motorbikes seemed they were racing??(was there a race near there, quite a few cars parked around brittas) or were they taking advantage of the road closure on Lissheen ??

magicbastarder · 07-09-2021 10:21PM

glorious weather this evening; went for a relaxed short spin this evening around NCD, decided to try to find some roads i'd not been on before.

found a cracker of a short one - 'old brazil way' about 2km north of the airport. drops down into the ward river valley, beautiful spot (though the weather helped) - the photo of the bridge in the photos thread was taken on it.

magicbastarder · 07-09-2021 10:50PM

also had a 'why is this tiny little back road so busy?' moment earlier, then i passed the fingal ravens grounds so the penny dropped. it's in the arsehole of nowhere.

07-09-2021 11:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117855962#Comment_117855962

Just saw this, a family member used to have a place in La Mata. I rode around the lagoon there on a MTB and found the surface back them hard going in places and sandy!!! Cycling there can be a killer with the heat and the wind off the coast. Just had a look at the place on the google maps and my god it's changed since I was last there. It hasn't grown out it's grown up. The 2 bed 2 story with roof access house we used to stay in around this time of the year is gone and is an apartment block now. The Italian place on the beech we used to eat in is still there but has been swallowed by apartments now too. Looks like a lot of the smaller places ex-pats would have live in have been torn down and rebuilt in the last 15 years or so.

Seth Brundle · 09-09-2021 07:03PM

Back to the joys of commuting as of yesterday. Plenty of muppets still allowed behind the wheel - bus lanes still a free for all, red light breaking getting even worse - when someone does stop at a red light, more often than not they are stopped on the advanced bike box.

On my way home this evening, whilst travelling over 40km/h west along the N4 from the Newcastle Rd junction, the driver of a Kearns bus felt the need to beep me from close behind to tell me that there was a cycle path over to my left. I just pointed back at him and then to the busy traffic lane to my right. What hope is there if "professional" drivers aren't even aware of the basic rules of the road?

magicbastarder · 09-09-2021 07:46PM

popped out to howth this evening. so much for the light wind and nice evening, it was quite blowy and started getting foggy as i was passing the wooden bridge. up the top of howth was pea soupy, visibilty down under 100m.

does wind resistance go up much in fog? felt a bit slow today.

Seth Brundle · 10-09-2021 09:02AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117869526#Comment_117869526

said bus driver - bit close behind me for trying to distract me...

https://youtu.be/7gX6PDXIHdo

wheelo01 · 15-09-2021 11:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117871021#Comment_117871021

Feckin bus drivers!!!

Managed to get a 52km cycle in last week in Spain, I have a whole new level of respect for those who do the vuelta and TDF. It was uncomfortably hot, no amount of drinking helped with the dehydration (sweaty fecker on Ireland). Came back cramping too, just to top it all

https://www.relive.cc/view/vYvr4wgnNx6

alsomanaged to get out for 25km this evening at 28kph drimnagh, Tallaght, Lucan and home again. Very clammy out, used two bidons on this short spin.

Tombo2001 · 16-09-2021 09:55AM

Cycled into city centre Dublin.

Have to say its an improved experience compared to 3 or 4 years ago, better cycles lanes apart from anything else.

One thing that jumps out though is the lines of traffic at the back of Brown Thomas, and also on Capel Street.

I spotted a Garda Van driving onto Capel Street - WHYY!!!>>>??? It would take 20 minutes to get from one end of that street to the other. Have they nothing better to do. Its just stupid. On a bike they would be through in three minutes, and would see way more.

Seth Brundle · 18-09-2021 04:45PM

Did the Blanch Wheelies Sportive in aid of St. Francis Hospice. We left Strawberry beds and made out way up to Skryne and back where we had some pizza and beer.

The mornings mist didn't last too long and by the time we reached Connolly's in Skryne it was quite sunny and warm.

All in all I did almost 120km @ 28.6 with just shy of 600m. I think that was my 20th 100+km spin this year so happy with that 🚴‍♂️👍

https://strava.app.link/xFUhywsHEjb

Wildly Boaring · 18-09-2021 05:25PM

My home parish.

It's O Connoll's but we'll let you off.

I got in 75k with about 700m climbing.

Over the Boyne at Oldbridge, up the hills to the view over Lobinstown, down past the Sally and back over the Boyne at stackallen.

Away back home by the sea.

Seth Brundle · 18-09-2021 06:43PM

It's O Connoll's but we'll let you off.

I knew that, just wasn't thinking properly. Sure everyone knows it from the telly!

smacl · 19-09-2021 05:31PM

Short enough one today taking in backroads around Enniskerry, including Ferndale road / Berryfield lane, up Killegar road to foxes, looping around a bit of the Wicklow way for some off road, back to foxes via the Devils Elbow and home via Cruagh road. 51k with 944m of climbing in some lovely Autumn sunshine. Rather annoyed to see the exit I use to get back from the Wicklow way to Bridge road now contains a private property / no trespassing sign. This seems to have happened to a number of the gravel routes I'd have used regularly in the Dublin mountains area. Land registry lists most of the surrounding land as commonage which would suggest the laneway is a right of way. Must check with some of the local walking clubs to see what the craic is.

grouchyman · 19-09-2021 10:41PM

Moved up to a faster group in the club today with a fair bit of trepidation. Up to this my best avg was 25-26 kph for 100kms. Managed 27.7 kph for 140 kms today so I'm well pleased with that.

Pinch Flat · 19-09-2021 10:45PM

Just completed the malin to mizen 640km over four days. Finished last leg in mizen today. Fantastic experience with cystic fibrosis Ireland. Would recommend

ss573 · 19-09-2021 11:10PM

Went down to Killiney today and this was my longest ride (26.7 km) in the past 1 month since I have started learning bike riding. I was planning to decrease the cycling distance by getting the Dart from Killiney halfway to my home while coming back. But later I realised that the Dart is closed in that area due to some engineering work and I had to bike the whole way back. Most of the trip from Dundrum to Killiney had bike path except for the hilly roads near the beach.

In the past one month, I've felt that Dublin is a tough city for bike riding because of so many up & down hill sections on any trip. I have improved my avg speed from 8kmph in August to 12kmph in September and I am looking forward to bringing it to the average bike riding speed I am seeing online and here (20-25 kmph). On my trips I get absolutely knackered on longer uphill stretches and I resort to walking my bike on the sidewalk which contributes to my slow average speed. I will have to become a little less overweight for increasing my uphill speed xD

Some images from my trip to Killiney...

loyatemu · 20-09-2021 10:55AM

club cycle up the Shay Elliot to watch a bit of the race yesterday. Put a bit of welly into the descent only to check Strava and find I was 44th out of 45 to do that segment yesterday (most of the others were in the race I guess). Beautiful day for it. We stopped in Laragh for coffee, along with every motorbiker in Leinster (or so it seemed).

Tombo2001 · 20-09-2021 05:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117913334#Comment_117913334

A few things to note:

(i) The more you do it the easier you get.

(ii) The bike you have at the very least has big thick tyres. For me thats something I would only use on grass or trails. On road, a thinner tyre goes a good bit faster (less resistance), therefore with same effort your average speed goes up. Hybrid tyres are fine for city cycling.

(iii) Yes you are right, Dublin has lots of hills. Any river is going to be essentially accompanied by a valley, hence slopes in Christchurch from the Liffey, in Glasnevin from the Tolka, and I assume around the Dodder in Rathfarnham etc.

(iii) Is your bike heavy, ergo maybe point would apply to what I said about tyres. If you have suspension, that adds a lot of weight. Try walking a hundred yards with 10kgs on your back. Cycling a heavy bike is a similar-ish idea.

These are some lovely photos, and lets face it - on a sunny day like yesterday, would you rather be moving freely on your bike or sitting in that big long line of car traffic.

Tombo2001 · 20-09-2021 05:17PM

eeek.....the more you do it, the easier it gets.......

is the Edit function gone in Boards? I cant see it.

secman · 20-09-2021 07:54PM

Click the cog to the right of your post, gives you 24 hours window to edit your post

ss573 · 21-09-2021 12:37AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117916354#Comment_117916354

Oh definitely I would be on my bike and trying to get somewhere new in this beautiful city. Also I don't have a license yet so will have to wait on the car for couple years if I want to go on longer drives across the country.

Thank you for sharing your advice. I guess my bike could be a lot lighter. I got this one from FB marketplace for only €125, few months ago when I came into this country. My plan is to get hang of bike riding and Dublin for few months and then get a proper road bike.

Wishbone Ash · 21-09-2021 08:49AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117688947#Comment_117688947

I did that Heartbreak 200 route yesterday. My God it's complicated. I wasted loads of time trying to ensure I made the correct turns and even still made 4 mistakes and had to backtrack. It was also a lot more lumpier than I expected. That continuous up/down really takes it out of you.

https://www.strava.com/activities/5992631529

Wildly Boaring · 21-09-2021 11:04AM

4 Bellewstowns? Fun

ednwireland · 22-09-2021 08:46PM

Wet evening Ride.

Darkglasses · 22-09-2021 09:40PM

Nicest cycle I've had in possibly years. In preparation for my Mondello 24 attempt I'm focusing on going slow and just trying to spend as much time in the saddle as possible, without any regard to speed or distance. Great mindset to have, spent plenty of time looking up and enjoying the Harvest Moon rise. Appropriately enough I did a bit of foraging of wild blackberries.

23-09-2021 07:02AM

Got taken out by a heavy cold for the guts of three weeks and only got back on the bike yesterday after work. Great to get out for a bonus spin which was badly needed to clear the head and open up the lungs. I always feel so much better when I've managed to get a break from kids and work by jumping on the bike for a few hours.

55k @ 31.2kph with a KOM thrown in for good measure so the break didn't do me too much harm even if one of my quads started cramping near the end.

A new Wahoo Kickr Core landed on Monday which will be good timing for the onset of the dark nights and bad weather.

Luxman · 25-09-2021 07:23PM

Made a dash through the city early enough in the morning to avoid traffic, from Ratoath to Rathfarnham, the up Cruagh and up towards Glencree. I got to Sally Gap and there was no one there, enjoying the silence and some snacks for a few mins, then arrived about 4 lads from one side and 2 ladies from t'other side and it turned into a right proper conversation, so being a grumpy old git, I left. It was fab up there for the few mins of quiet. 110k in total and found some new roads too.

Seth Brundle · 25-09-2021 08:30PM

Had planned on a rest day as I'm doing the DFB Sportive tomorrow and it should work out at about 160km all in.

However, I had to sign on in Fairview this afternoon so decided to cycle the 22km each way from Leixlip.

Although the weather was lovely, traffic was crap. A taxi sped past me in the wand separated section of bus lane on the N4 inbound opposite Liffey Valley. I was doing 35-40 and he was much faster. Looking at the front and rear camera footage, I don't think he slowed or changed his line at all.

Passing alongside the Phoenix Park a prat in a Corolla decided to use his horn to tell me that I should be using the crappy cycle path and not the road. I caught up with him on the quays and he confirmed his ignorance of the ROTR.

Further on along the quays at the Courts, I was nearly taken out of it by a man in his Audi who felt that the red light facing him coming from the bridge meant nothing.

On the way home, again doing a decent speed on the N4 buslane approaching junction 4a (Spa hotel) a Go Ahead bus zoomed past half in the bus lane and half in lane 1. He wasn't very close but it did feel like it was.

It wasn't great over the last eighteen months but the aggression and hostility from drivers was a lot better than it is now.

stevencn88 · 25-09-2021 09:46PM

80k with 1050m meters climbing. Cracking day for it. One close pass from a taxi up near Glencree, but aside from that "oh sh1t" moment, loved every second.

Nigzcurran · 25-09-2021 11:24PM

I have no cycle to tell about unfortunately. I’ve hit a bad place of other things getting in the way of me getting out on the bike and it’s depressing

Tell us about your cycle today part III

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