Tell us about your cycle today part III

Wildly Boaring · 08-09-2022 12:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119585524#Comment_119585524

The tiny road opposite it up to the snailbox is always covered in shite in winter.

The farmer must let the whole yard flow out on public road and across into his fields

mr spuckler · 09-09-2022 03:11PM

6 different ascents to Howth summit car park for me today. I'd originally planned on heading towards the mountains for twice the distance & elevation but work pressure meant I didn't have enough time, so will most likely do it all again up Howth tomorrow! My last hurrah for Mallorca in 2 weeks time.

57km & 1,038m elevation.

magicbastarder · 09-09-2022 03:18PM

i'd never actually taken the road down to the baily lighthouse, that you took; i wouldn't have copped where the turnoff was (i note it's marked on the pillar as a private road)

mr spuckler · 09-09-2022 03:53PM

I knew it from hiking around the area and when I came across a description for the 12 summits of Howth discovered it as a supposedly additional route to the summit. Nice steep section, especially when it's several summits in!

It's a private road for motor traffic but the small gate is always open. I assume it's a right of way as it brings you down to the cliff walk.

If I have the heart/legs tomorrow I'll do the other 6 routes...

mr spuckler · 10-09-2022 07:23PM

Did the other 6 routes to the top of Howth today. Definitely felt yesterday's efforts at times but overall wasn't too bad. 57km & 1,037m of elevation.

Surprisingly I wasn't as bored as I'd expected either day given it is basically just multiple variations of the same ascent. So now I'm thinking I'll take a run at the 12 summits before too long!

cletus · 11-09-2022 06:00PM

Stopped wimping out this afternoon. Two lessons learned today;

a) tubeless sealant worked to repair punctures

2) don't go cycling without a pump.

Gerry · 11-09-2022 06:42PM

spun over from maynooth to a friends house in santry yesterday, greenway to drumcondra. took the hardtail and set a fairly good pace. routing around some of the new bits around ashtown/pelletstown proved tricky, ended up taking a few flights of steps, to the amusement of the folks drinking cans 😀

return today with a major hangover and not much sleep, wussed out and got on the train at drumcondra. was already wet from the first bit of the spin, got annoyed with the drunks on the train and having to stand with the bike so got off at castleknock. deep sinking was seriously sketchy so took it steady. rest was continuous puddles but kept speed up where I could.

almost hit my old 150km target for the week..

18-09-2022 08:05PM

Haven't posted in a while, but managed to negotiate the return of a weekend long spin after being restricted to mostly late evening spins over the summer.

The conditions were: no Strava after the ride until kids are in bed, no sitting around like a hollowed out cabbage (her words) for the day after my spin, and to be back within three hours.

Managed the first two but got two punctures and was home 15 minutes late with just 70k in the bag. Both puncture repairs involved a 15 minute arm wrestle (cold, unsupple tyre and cold hands) with a new GP 5000.

Got there in the end but could have done with an extra pair of hands from one of the two groups that passed to get it on. Nobody as much as asked if I needed a hand which I found strange as I never pass a cyclist with a mechanical without asking.

After a cold start, it was a beautiful morning but the two punctures took a bit of the enjoyment out of the spin. My third in two weeks after a year without one.

All in, 70km with nearly 700m climbing at 30kph.

philten · 18-09-2022 09:41PM

Did the Gravel Grind West 110km event. Great day on bike, smallish numbers, about 150 entered I think. Wild Nephin National Park is an amazing place.

Averaged 24km/hr with 1150m climbing. Mixture of surfaces from greenway, road, sandy surfaces and stoney bits where need to be careful to avoid the bigger ones.

smacl · 19-09-2022 08:10AM

Got there in the end but could have done with an extra pair of hands from one of the two groups that passed to get it on. Nobody as much as asked if I needed a hand which I found strange as I never pass a cyclist with a mechanical without asking.

That's really weird, I find most cyclists stop and always do myself. Got a dig out last week with the lend of a spare tyre lever in a similar situation and stopped yesterday to a lad pushing his bike down Cruagh.

First weekend spin in a while myself here too, Ballyboden to Laragh via Sally gap and back the same route for 80k with 1200 of climbing. Felt knackered first time over the gap but actually fine the second time and really enjoyed the Laragh - gap climb. Beautiful day out, headed out about noon, more motorbikes and cars than cyclists though still plenty out. Some big organised walk around Glencree made the Featherbeds a bit dodgy.

retalivity · 19-09-2022 10:17AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119636227#Comment_119636227

The climb from Laragh to Glenmacnass is probably my favourite (reachable from dublin) road to cycle. I came up it yesterday for the first time in ages, it feels almost alpine. The road up to the Liam Horner memorial from Crone woods is a close second.

nigeldaniel · 19-09-2022 10:33AM

aaahhh my derailleur came off... to be fair the bike in question has seen better days! Managed a spot of DIY and got home in first gear. Been a while since I had a go slow on the bike day.

dinneenp · 19-09-2022 01:13PM

First club Sunday cycle I went on since May. Alarm went off & I considered going back to sleep. Obviously was happy that I didn't. It won't be long until the mornings are cold and wet....

88km, 3 hours 9 mins, 27.9 kmph.

19-09-2022 04:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119636227#Comment_119636227

Found it strange myself, but was passed by a lad while fixing a puncture last week on a very quiet road and he just ploughed on too. Was on a TT bike and had a tri suit on so didn't expect much more 😀

Yesterday was odd, a large group and and two lads together. Barely looked at me. I have also noticed that fewer cyclists say hello these days too. Most of these would be relatively inexperienced based on the gear, speed etc so maybe they just don't know the unwritten rules. Would have thought it was common courtesy in both cases though.

Wildly Boaring · 19-09-2022 09:38PM

I had to go past a fells in Mornington yesterday. He was getting rear wheel off.

Had 5 mins to get home and onto a zoom meeting within a few minutes.

Shouted an apology, felt bad. I do always say hello to people including must runners.

Seaswimmer · 21-09-2022 01:01PM

Just back from a week in Spain. Valencia to Malaga along the coast so approx 720km in 5 full and 2 half days cycling so average about 120km per day. Flat at the start, hilly in the middle and lumpy for last couple of days. Stopover towns this time were Oliva, Santa Pola, Puerto de Mazarron, Carboneras, El Ejido, Nerja and Malaga.

Hotels were from 21 euro to 50 (Malaga ) per night each, probably average about 30. Still very inexpensive for food and drink in rural Spain. Mostly on the N332 and N340 which are quiet and well surfaced for the vast majority of their length.

Brought our own bikes both ways with Ryanair. No check in queues or any other hassle at either Dublin or Malaga. Weather was slightly too hot (33/34) at the start but ended up late 20s at the end which was perfect.

Heading back end of October to do Barcelona to Malaga so slightly longer trip over 10 days and while much of the route is the same we will try and stay in different towns.

magicbastarder · 24-09-2022 01:56PM

tough slog on the bike today. a stiff north easterly which i got the brunt and never the benefit of, and first time spinning up the winter bike in about six months. the beer and whiskey last night didn't help either.

devonp · 24-09-2022 05:50PM

Usual enough Sat cycle for me, Cromwellstown, Ballinascorney (top bit ), Saggart hill, Athgoe, Stacumey lane.

on checking strava for times etc noticed that Nicolas Roche was about, almost matched his time on B'scorney 😆 (he was prob taking a rest after the first part )

cool enough but stayed dry despite some big black clouds

Seth Brundle · 24-09-2022 06:34PM

I was out on a club spin which was kept shorter and flatter than usual as most are doing the GDBR tomorrow (not me).

I got covid booster #2 on Wednesday and have been feeling crappy ever since. On the one hill we did today going from Kill towards Kilteel, I found myself struggling - legs sore and sweat dripping off me. Looking at Strava after, I did PBs on various segments here so am kinda puzzled 🤔

Overall 72km @ 29.6 with 400m.

Hopefully feeling better tomorrow for a bit more of the same.

magicbastarder · 24-09-2022 08:43PM

i was surprised to pick up some local legends on strava today; on the road between ratoath and the nine mile roundabout. i managed some with only 9 efforts in 90 days, i would have expected that road would have been much busier. clearly no-one commuting on it anyway.

Mundo7976 · 24-09-2022 09:16PM

Too dangerous to cycle on it regularly I'd imagine. I find from fairyhouse roundabout at the m3 to the 9 mile is atrocious

Luxman · 24-09-2022 09:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119660605#Comment_119660605

Its a road the locals avoid like the plague, even outside of the rush hour volumes its horrible to cycle on. The road from Ratoath out by Firehouse is also terrible. Actually I'll not be able to ever get out of Ratoath!!! :-)

magicbastarder · 24-09-2022 09:31PM

yeah, it's not a road you see many other cyclists on. i usually only find myself on it in that direction (ratoath to nine mile and down along the broadmeadow) as it's the home stretch of a sort for me at that stage. in a northwesterly it's a good fast run.

regardless, i was surprised to get a local legend by averaging it once every ten days.

Seth Brundle · 24-09-2022 09:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119660840#Comment_119660840

I don't think I've cycled on the road past Fairyhouse alone since my first time when a driver who was held up for a few seconds before he could overtake me decided to spit on me.

magicbastarder · 24-09-2022 10:02PM

yeah, that's not a pleasant road (says he who's been on it a few times recently)

25-09-2022 12:02AM

Heading home this morning there were 2 lads under instruction and clearly marked as such on their bikes up the road from me. Lads stalling at lights and getting beeps from immediately behind and a truck further back who should have seen they were learners from his position. Bullies and arseholes.

cletus · 25-09-2022 12:32PM

Early(ish) start this morning. It was a little chilly, so I was glad of the Galibier mistral jacket.

Saw a startled heron and two sleeping swan

De Bhál · 25-09-2022 01:06PM

Cold out this morning

magicbastarder · 25-09-2022 01:23PM

it's cool, but i'd have been sweltered in a mistral!

windier again today than expected. i realised that a significant portion of the cycle i was going to do this morning mirrored the GDBR so just headed to the airport and did loops around the back past the boot.

cletus · 25-09-2022 01:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119662855#Comment_119662855

It was 6° when I went out the door this morning. Had just the jacket and a baselayer.

I was warm by the time I got home, all right, but I definitely appreciated it at the start

Tell us about your cycle today part III

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