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Tell us about your cycle today part III

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Comments

  • #2042
    Seth Brundle
    Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 42,834 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    I seem to have a dose of manflu over the last few days but managed to cycle in and out of work, allowing myself to take a long way home around the hills near Lyons Estate.

    This morning I really wasn't feeling the love getting on the bike. Laptop in the office, I could have driven but decided to head in on my good bike (the cassette on bike #2 is rattling and my spare rear wheel needs a new tyre). Shortly after leaving the house, as I was coming down the hill into Leixlip village at about 40km/h, my 2 month old Garmin (1040 Solar) and the Raveman light underneath it popped off and landed on the ground (the plastic part of the out-front mount broke). Panic set in thinking that the screen had smashed or that a car behind would drive over them but thankfully they were fine (phew).

    Further along as I was travelling south on the Outer Ring Road from Lucan, a bus driver passes me (I'm in the bus lane and he is in lane 1 travelling uphill at a decent speed but for some reason he blasts the horn at me. I use this stretch of bus lane frequently and it is rarely used because of the short distance between roundabouts and the bus lane ending for each roundabout.

    Eventually caught up with him as he was parked in the buslane adjacent to Grange Castle and I asked him what the horn was about. Hiss problem was that I was "blocking the bus lane" (he didn't see the irony of him parking in one) and came out with the usual crap about me having to use the cycle path (which would mean me yielding at each of a number of junctions and roundabouts). Telling him that I was completely entitled to use the bus lane was absolutely rejected especially when the driver was able to point at these non-legal signs...

    image.png

    Eventually made it to work and I feel lousy with aches and pains all over. I just want to go home to bed!

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


  • #2043
    secman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,653 ✭✭✭secman


    What part exactly failed ? I too have a relatively new Garmin 840 and raveman light combination 😬

    Speedy recovery, just getting over a dose myself, missed a week on the bike.

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


  • #2044
    Seth Brundle
    Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 42,834 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    It was then plastic holder in the JRC out-front mount itself. I don't want to use the Garmin mount as I don't want anything on my bars (the JRC mount screws in under the bars)

    I've ordered a few replacements now...

    https://www.jrc-components.com/products/computer-mount-plastic-insert-kit-garmin-wahoo?variant=32019921141863


    Post edited by magicbastarder on


  • #2045
    fiacha
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 803 ✭✭✭fiacha


    Got knocked off the bike last year and the Garmin parted from the mount. The lanyard kept it hanging from the bars. Well worth using one and only takes seconds longer to attach / detach.

    My Ravemen light doesn't have an attachment point unfortunately, but I might try and bodge one with an o-ring.

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


  • #2046
    Seth Brundle
    Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 42,834 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    I think the Garmin came with a lanyard so good to be reminded to put it on and actually use it

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


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  • #2047
    cletus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,364 ✭✭✭cletus


    Last night's cycle, fell of the bike, and got a KOM (not at the same time)

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


  • #2048
    secman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,653 ✭✭✭secman


    Started to use lanyard on Garmin 840 just last weekend, just as well the line is elastic, otherwise it would be a PITA.

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


  • #2049
    Seaswimmer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,994 ✭✭✭Seaswimmer


    Just back from a Lisbon to Malaga trip. Left Patricks day and back last night. Stopover points were Setubal, Vila nova de Milfontes, Lagos, Olhao, Mogeur, Los Palacios y Villafranca, Medina Sidonia (Los Badajelos), Tarifa, San Pedro de Alcantra and a short spin into Torremolinos last day. Travelled with a 24 litre saddle bag and 7 litre bar bag on a steel framed bike with 28c tyres..Got a box from a local shop and a €20 taxi straight to the airport Wednesday morning. 950km over 9 and a bit days. Included 4 short ferry hops. Lucky with the weather. 14 degrees up to 28 but mostly dry apart from a few light showers one morning.

    Spanish drivers and roads are much superior to Portuguese ones. No issues really although this will probably be the last time we cycle the A7 from Estepona to Fuengirola. Fast moving dual carriageway with not much in the way of a hard shoulder although there are various service roads to provide a bit of relief but not terribly pleasant. Only other route if coming from the west towards Malaga is into the hills.

    Great value still to be had. Accommodation from 23 to 34 euro per night each. 330ml bottles of Sagres and Super Bock from as little as 1.20 in rural Portugal. Food also very cheap although you would need to like bread. One thing we discovered is by and large the Portuguese like pastries for breakfast while the Spaniards still tend towards the tostada with tomatoes and/or ham..

    So a successful trip. We had covered most of the route before except for the bit from Lisbon down to the Algarve. Although by staying in different towns and villages each time you get a slightly different experience.

    And a big shout out to Ryanair as usual. You can walk into Malaga airport and it looks like chaos but invariably the Ryanair desks are calm and mostly empty. They have also installed a few self service check in stations there now which are new since our last trip.

    And for the first time ever I was charged for the bike on the air coach when I arrived back. €7 although it should have been €5 according to the FAQs. Not by the driver but by someone in a happy to help you Aircoach bib who was taking the money..

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


  • #2050
    Seth Brundle
    Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 42,834 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    Haven't been able to get out much recently with a kidney infection (which still hasn't gone) and I'm feeling very claustrophobic and frustrated.

    The plan last night was to head out with the club this morning as yesterday's spin was cancelled due to Kathleen.

    About 12:30 our dog started barking downstairs and then a moment later the alarm went off. Sprinting down the stairs, I managed to twist my ankle. No sign of anything outside thankfully but now I'm lying on the couch with my foot elevated knowing that it will be yet another few days before I'm back on the saddle

    Bugger! 😪

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


  • #2051
    secman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,653 ✭✭✭secman


    Ventured out today , still a bit of Kathleen about. Tough headwind and squally rain on the way out. Started off with 8 bodies and ended up with 5 sticking it out. Took to the back and by- roads on way out to try and get a bit of shelter. Came back on coastroad to avail of a nice tailwind coming in off the sea. Gorey to Blackwater and back on a scenic twist and turn route.

    70kms avg 27.7 kph almost 700m up

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


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  • #2052
    mcburns07
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,391 ✭✭✭mcburns07


    No end to the wind lately, savage headwind for the last hour of my ride down here in Cork. Dry and sunny though, will take what you can get!

    142km 1500m 30.4km/h

    https://www.strava.com/activities/11126366623/

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


  • #2053
    Wildly Boaring
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,678 ✭✭✭Wildly Boaring


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121989460#Comment_121989460

    Serious spin fair play,

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


  • #2054
    mcburns07
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,391 ✭✭✭mcburns07


    Grand day for it in Cork, felt like spring finally.

    Coming up to a year cycling, wondering what I did with my spare time before I took it up 😅

    211km, 2060m, 31.6km/h

    https://www.strava.com/activities/11181003540#kudos

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


  • #2055
    Seth Brundle
    Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 42,834 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122019630#Comment_122019630

    That's some pace for over 200km 👍

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


  • #2056
    Roadtoad
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 832 ✭✭✭Roadtoad


    The six round towers in Kildare: Kildare, Castledermot, Old Kilcullen, Kilashee, Oughter Ard and Tahadoe.

    145km.

    Screenshot_20240427_153314_Strava.jpg
    Post edited by magicbastarder on


  • #2057
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 52,179 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122019686#Comment_122019686

    Not just 200km - 2km of ascent!

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


  • #2058
    fiacha
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 803 ✭✭✭fiacha


    Little bump to keep the thread active :D

    A comfy 50k in the Phoenix Park this morning. Round and round in circles. A little boring, but nice to be out in decent weather.

    Chewed 2 flies and something buzzy was stuck in my helmet for a bit, so definitely feeling like Summer again!

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


  • #2059
    Roadtoad
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 832 ✭✭✭Roadtoad


    Heard a woodpecker (Mórchnagaire breac) banging away between Laragh and Drumgoff, Wicklow. OK, it might have been a different variation, but on the balance of probability….

    New in these parts since 2005, new to me since May 2024.

    Glen Bride, Wicklow Gap, Glenmalure etc.

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


  • #2060
    10-10-20
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,865 ✭✭✭10-10-20


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122095630#Comment_122095630

    I think I heard one once in Wexford. You'd hear lots of buzzards these days, probably other birds of prey too. That's the enjoyable thing with cycling... you're not so far detached like you would be in a vehicle.

    I'm building up to climbing Kilmashogue Lane this month without putting the foot down during the climb. This time last year it was packed full of little bunnies.

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


  • #2061
    ted1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,257 ✭✭✭✭ted1


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122095630#Comment_122095630

    Came in from wales , due to low level of forestry they are causing a lot of damage to ESB poles on the east coast.

    Did 42.2 km myself. Had planned more , i’m jacked up on medication for joint issues. Only just back in the bike having done. Very little since Covid.

    Did 86km to Brittas and back last Friday , and 60km round trip to office on Tuesday.

    Legs are feeling the pain. , planing on doing East Kilkenny on Monday as my daughter is doing a 7s tournament down there

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


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  • #2062
    retalivity
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,922 ✭✭✭✭retalivity


    First trip up to Sally gap for the year today, very grey and misty, visibility very poor. Luckily there was plenty others on the road going the same direction as part of the orwell randonee. Too early in the year for me to look at that much climbing!

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


  • #2063
    Seth Brundle
    Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 42,834 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    I did the Orwell Randonnée today. Last night as I was getting everything ready, I found my good bike had a flat rear tyre so did a quick tube change. Came out this morning and found the new tube to be flat 😪

    Using my #2 bike whose brake blocks needed replacing, meant that I'd be taking the descents fairly handy.

    Wasn't sure which to do and ended up doing the lite version. Saw a few familiar faces along the way including @Wishbone Ash (who I think may have done the full route).

    The event was well marshalled and the weather was better than last years event. The only negative was the sight of someone being treated by paramedics on the descent at Lough Bray - hopefully they are doing ok 🤞

    125km @ 23.6 with 2025m

    https://strava.app.link/hSbFvFhskJb

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


  • #2064
    fiacha
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 803 ✭✭✭fiacha


    A flat 66K at 25 this afternoon. Slowly creeping up on the 100K :D. Lovely to feel a bit of heat again. Traffic looney toons as expected, but no near misses. Zero insects ingested. Happy days.

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


  • #2065
    JMcL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,514 ✭✭✭JMcL


    Did a 78km spin around south KK with a bit of climby stuff out of Portlaw on Sunday myself, but more notable was taking the young lad into Waterford yesterday as he wanted to buy some Lego so decided to make him work for it :-). 22km round trip which wasn't a bother to him, but between impatient numpty drivers squeezing past (seriously - there's a 9 year old on a bike 🤬) and bits of infrastructure hostile to anyone lacking in confidence/ability it was a bit unencouraging

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


  • #2066
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 52,179 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    i'm back on the bike a week or so after a near nine month break - out on saturday, saw five raptors within about 20km, but i suspect at least one of them was a repeat sighting. four buzzards and a kite; the kite and a buzzard 200m apart but both within the perimeter fence of dublin airport, not a great place for big birds to be.

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


  • #2067
    smacl
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 15,902 Mod ✭✭✭✭smacl


    Back in Ireland for the weekend and first time on the road bike since last August and long covid since December. Short one up Cruagh, through Masseys and back down Cruagh. Chest still in bits and felt every vertical inch but still pleased. Going to be a long haul back to bike fitness.

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


  • #2068
    The Macho Man
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 241 ✭✭The Macho Man


    Did the RoB yesterday. Conditions were as bad as you could imagine. Dry for the first maybe hour then relentless rain and wind for the rest. Given the utterly dreadful conditions everyone was still in really good spirits at the food stops and getting through it. Really tough day at the office though, was talking to a lad who had done it the last 7 years in a row and for each year he said it never rained. Then of course my first time doing it and its awful 😄

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


  • #2069
    Seth Brundle
    Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 42,834 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    I found some of the "casual" cyclists to be slightly frustrating with groups busy chatting which made overtaking on the ascents more awkward.

    I did think the RoB was very well organised and the food stop at Allihies having plenty of sambos, sweets, bananas and tea/coffee (I didn't use the other food stops). I was disappointed then to arrive at the finish and get a portion of cold pasta (which really was cheap tasteless crap). Unfortunately there was no drink to wash it down, not even a tap to get some water.

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


  • #2070
    JMcL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,514 ✭✭✭JMcL


    Did the RoB as well and agree with the above 2 comments. We bailed on the 140km as the headwind and rain coming out of Eyries was miserable, and I didn't personally fancy descents on narrow roads with specs streaming. Top of the Caha was biblical when I got there - strong side gusts, horizontal rain, and probably 30m visibility. Quads started to cramp on the descent with the cold and wet. Glad I did it, and once thawed out was in good shape all told. The lady handing out the medals promised to turn on the sun next year 😅.

    Bet there weren't too many takers for the ice baths!

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


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  • #2071
    Roadtoad
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 832 ✭✭✭Roadtoad


    Liffey Descent, on a bike!

    Probably about 40 years since I did it in a kayak, and it was a good day out. From the top bridge up the Kippure road I descended crossing to the 'other' side at each public bridge. Around Sallins the route planning got messy, as the bridges cannot sensibly be taken in sequence. The trip through Castletown and St. Catherine's Park has to be done before the gates are closed (currently 17.30). I enjoyed mixing it with the diverse selection of 2-wheeled transport I met with and chased at rushhour from Hueston Station along the quays to the sea bridge and then back west. Of course the hard part was getting to the start point, but I had the hand of god on my back climbing up the Sally Gap.

    The descent is about 150k and my day was 240k, 2k ascent.

    Post edited by magicbastarder on


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