Laochra na Laoise: Vintage Steel Bike Ride 15th September Port Laoise

Brendan Hennessy · 22-08-2013 12:15am #1

Hi all,

Its back to Reynolds 531, cloth caps and toe clips for Sunday the 15th September. Following on from the interest in the Shay Elliott Vintage Ride in June many asked if there would be another one. So why not?!

This early message is asking you to save the date and note the location - Port Laoise. The start point will be close to the motorway for ease of access and the proposed route will have 2 distances and any amount of early return points. A mid-way point will be in Durrow, where we hope to link in with some vintage enthusiasts there.

As with the Shay Elliott event this is an informal spin: no fee, you need an old bike, training done for 50-80 miles and to obey the rules of the road.

This is also an opportunity for those l'Eroica bound to brag and train and the rest of us to draft and grumble. More details to come but in the meantime save the date. Here's a pic from the Shay Elliott event to remind you of the sunshine!

Harrybelafonte · 22-08-2013 8:31am

I still haven't sorted a steel frame BH, but I just wanted to congratulate you on taking the initiative to organise these rides, I've spoken to cyclists who share an interest in older bikes and we've bemoaned a lack of L'Eroica type spins here. Chapeau and all that!

Daithi BC · 22-08-2013 8:51am

Sounds great - really looking forward to this. Time to start practicing my downtube gear shifts.

25sean · 22-08-2013 9:10am

Was on the Shay Elliott day out, epic spin, well organised, very friendly crowd and PLENTY to talk a to bout!!

Will try to pencil this day in, fair play Brendan!

sarge10 · 22-08-2013 2:55pm

Hi Brendan,

I'm looking forward to it. I'll bring a bike that doesn't unwind its BB this time! Onwards and upwards I say!

Daithi BC · 22-08-2013 5:38pm

sarge10 wrote: »

Hi Brendan,

I'm looking forward to it. I'll bring a bike that doesn't unwind its BB this time! Onwards and upwards I say!

Epic breakdowns are all part of the fun of vintage cycling! See you on the 15th.

Daithi BC · 24-08-2013 3:50pm

I'm just working on the routes and route notes at the minute. The provisional route is available at http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/251955419. The only bit I still need to check is the second climb in the Slieve Blooms. The last time I was there, it was gravelly but passable, so I just want to make sure it's still ok. If it isn't there's a different nice climb to bring us back.

I've done up the route notes for the first 70km as well. Let me know if you think they need any more details.

Brendan Hennessy · 27-08-2013 10:07pm

Hi all,

Many thanks to Dáithí BC for all his work on route and notes. We'll be able to give the location and times shortly. I can imagine those L'Eroica bound won't have a problem with some gravel! As with the Shay Elliott cycle it'll be helpful to know the level of interest.

In the meantime here's a teaser - name the frame builder who had a connection to Cork:

Satdog · 27-08-2013 11:43pm

Holdsworth

dub56 · 27-08-2013 11:59pm

Hi Brendan,
I presume thats your new purchase of a WF Holdsworth.I think the link with Cork was that Hardings sold bikes under their name
that were built by Holdsworth on contract.
I hope to be there on the 15th on my Donaldson, just need to get kitted out .

Brendan Hennessy · 28-08-2013 12:08am

Indeedy it is - made frames for Hardings too. Few bits to be got for it by September. Time to import 'Post vintage Images of Beauty' to this thread?! At l'Eroica you can have your bike photo'd and authenticated and you receive a cert in the post.

Daithi BC · 28-08-2013 11:47am

That looks lovely, Brendan! Hope you get it up and running by the 15th.

I'm off to a pub in Durrow this evening to do a bit of "research" to see if it's a suitable stopping point for us. Will report back tomorrow (but not too early).

eoghan84 · 28-08-2013 12:26pm

this is fierce interesting! does it have to be toe straps?

Daithi BC · 28-08-2013 2:37pm

eoghan84 wrote: »

this is fierce interesting! does it have to be toe straps?

I use toe clips without the straps. I'm not confident enough of my abilities to get the straps undone in time if I need to stop. If you don't want to use a clip, then just a flat pedal would work fine as well.

eoghan84 · 28-08-2013 3:25pm

Daithi BC wrote: »

I use toe clips without the straps. I'm not confident enough of my abilities to get the straps undone in time if I need to stop. If you don't want to use a clip, then just a flat pedal would work fine as well.

thanks Daithi, so the rule is no new school cleats then?

Brendan Hennessy · 28-08-2013 5:58pm

Hi Eoghan,

I have a mental image (or memory!) of cyclists tumbling over at every stop and slow down trying to undo toestraps!

So, as with the Shay Elliott event, we're encouraging people to bring their vintage gear but we're not ones for rules so nobody is going to be turned away because they have automatic pedals - as they were once called - or other such new fangled gadgetry! Sure my old white Look delta pedals are nearly 30 years old.

My experience is that once there people will just wish they did have their own steel frame and retro jersey - so you've a few weeks left to get them if you can, but no need to go to the expense of pedals etc.. Look forward to seeing you there.

Brendan

happytramp · 28-08-2013 9:51pm

eoghan84 wrote: »

thanks Daithi, so the rule is no new school cleats then?

Would seem to be. I usually ride my old bike with the straps a little loose so I don't need to do it by hand.

Brendan Hennessy · 02-09-2013 7:07pm

Hi all,

We've finalised the plans for our vintage bike run Laochra na Laoise on Sunday the 15th of September.

Assemble 9.30am to leave at 10am from Midway Food Court just off the M7 http://www.midwaym7.com/. As with the Shay Elliott spin it would be great to keep people together as a club spin till the 30 mile point at Bob's Bar in Durrow. Bob's Bar doubles as the home of the High Nelly museum. Very apt indeed! http://www.bobsbardurrow.com/

Food Stop: We are organising sandwiches & cake to be had at Bob's for the princely sum of about a fiver (drinks extra!). Of course bring your own food for the spin. It would be helpful if people could confirm their interest/attendance so we have a headcount for numbers (we estimate 30).

Routes: In the meantime Dáithí BC has been tracking the roads of Co. Laois and has created 2 great routes on good surfaces and quiet roads. The short route is shy of 50 miles and the long route just about 80 miles. The long route includes climbs of the Slieve Blooms so have your training done. The route notes (attached) include include more detail and Dáithi has put up the routes on mapmyride:

Long route: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/278099143
Short ride : http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/278099719
please note may my ride distances are miles rather than kilometers.

Bikes & Jerseys: Reynolds 531, Vitus 979, Duralinox, KAS, La Vie Claire, Molteni; you know what we mean. But, hopefully you've noticed we're not too precious about this either but do encourage people to get as much vintage gear as they can. It's up to you to ensure your bike is in good order and, according to Daithí who mapped the route, have decent brakes for the downhills!

Riders: Please do have some miles in your legs (note to self there!). As with the Elliott event not everyone knew everyone so please feel welcome to come to this - you won't be the only one who is joining in for the first time. Riders destined for l'Eroica in October must of course ride up the front and block the wind and jealous grimaces of riders behind.

Back-Up: In the golden era riders had to be able to service their bikes and do their own roadside repairs. While I'm sure we'll look after each other we do not have a back-up driver, unless of course we have a volunteer?

Photography and Photographs: It would be great to get some pics of the bikes up here in the advance and perhaps a budding photographer would be interested in volunteering on the day?

Register of Bikes: Now I'm dreaming?

Questions: Please feel free to ask

Thanks and best wishes

Brendan and Daithi BC

Daithi BC · 03-09-2013 7:52pm

Sounds good, Brendan. I've been over all the roads on the route over the last few weeks. All the road surfaces are in good order, and they've even resurfaced some of it recently. Unfortunately they didn't flatten out any of the hills.

I'll stick up a few thoughts on the climbs later in the week.

sbs2010 · 03-09-2013 10:21pm

Hi

Am wondering about footwear for my old pedals. I've got these

http://www.velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=56109256-da35-4c09-9448-af9dddacab48&Enum=109

But modern shoes for cleats. Should I take off the cleats or just go with runners?

Daithi BC · 04-09-2013 2:02pm

I used to just use a pair of SPD shoes without the cleats. They sort of looked a bit vintage and they had the stiff sole. If you can be bothered to take the cleat off the shoe, then I'd try it to make sure you'll be ok with them and that they don't slip. Otherwise, a pair of runners will do the job.

sbs2010 · 04-09-2013 10:27pm

Just to double-check the routes

The map my ride links posted the other day say:

Long Route = 78km or 48miles
Short Route = 44km or 27miles

And they go in very different directions from Portlaoise.
The provisional route posted in August looks more like it.

winterwarden · 04-09-2013 10:32pm

Hi folks, very excited to join one of these rides at some point, won't be able to make this one, but maybe the next!

Brendan supplied my own Raleigh so I owe it to him to make the effort.

It's great to see the interest in the rides, you're doing a great job, and seriously well done for the organisation. It's hard enough to get a few friends out for a short spin.

Look forward to hearing (and seeing, should a photographer show themselves) how it goes! Also looking forward to the bikeporn that might be posted in advance. Mmm steel.

All the best, Michael.

Safe cycling.

Super Freak · 04-09-2013 11:13pm

sbs2010 wrote: »

Just to double-check the routes

The map my ride links posted the other day say:

Long Route = 78km or 48miles
Short Route = 44km or 27miles

And they go in very different directions from Portlaoise.
The provisional route posted in August looks more like it.

These routes loot like our club spins from last week. I'll contact Daithi tomorrow and I'm sure he will correct that pretty quickly.

Daithi BC · 05-09-2013 11:50am

Sorry - my fault! These are the routes:

Full route: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/251955419
Short route: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/274967077

Brendan - could you please update your post in case people click the links from it.

Brendan Hennessy · 05-09-2013 10:29pm

Hi Guys

Sorry I can't edit my initial post so please all refer to post from Daithi BC for route update. I'm off to cry into my cool tissues (bought in Supervalu for those with long La Vie Claire memories)!

We're not sure of numbers (are we ever?) but please feel free to share info on the ride on your club sites and facebook etc. We don't expect hoards but a pity for people to miss it who would be interested

Best wishes, Brendan

sbs2010 · 05-09-2013 10:56pm

Thanks lads

If I make it, I think it'll be the short route for me.

sarge10 · 06-09-2013 6:43pm

As the hapless victim of the unwinding Italian threaded fixed cup on my 1950's Olmo during the Shay Elliott Vintage ride, I have decided to bring a different bike. They all have English threaded bottom brackets so that's one mishap I won't have again. Now which one of my mounts to bring. I've narrowed it down to four but can't make my mind up which one to bring. So why don't you guys give me an opinion on which one you would like to see in the flesh on the day.

Let me know what you think...

The four to choose from are as follows:

1953 Claud Butler Jubilee
http://http://www.flickr.com/photos/59239888@N06/5459219928/

1959 Maclean Featherweight
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59239888@N06/9685577819/

1982 Peugeot PH12 100 Year Anniversary
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59239888@N06/9685577633/

1986 Peugeot PGN10 Gold Special
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59239888@N06/8638467224/

sy · 06-09-2013 7:21pm

They all look fab. Colour schemes are stunning. Claude Butler if i had to pick one :-) thanks for posting

Daithi BC · 06-09-2013 8:06pm

Another vote for the Claud Butler from me. What's the gearing on it like?

25sean · 06-09-2013 8:32pm

+1 on claude butler.. like to see that front mech shifter up close!

Laochra na Laoise: Vintage Steel Bike Ride 15th September Port Laoise

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