Tell us about your cycle Yesterday.

shaka · 21-03-2016 12:13PM

Got around 115km yesterday for 26k average, fairly flat with only two hills maybe about 600m climbing

P_1 · 21-03-2016 04:46PM

Century achieved

106km Howth Head, Malahide, Roganstown, Naul, Balbriggan, Airport, Town in 4.45.

Chuffed and bolloxed...

Lusk_Doyle · 23-03-2016 05:33PM

Almost eight months off the bike ended yesterday. Dropped the hire car back yesterday and had brought the bike with me to cycle back to the in-laws house.

Christ that hurt.

Did approx 15kms into the wind and even the little rises in the road reduced me to a snail's pace.

Then, I wasn't paying attention and went the wrong way which resulted in an additional 10kms or so. I think the mental damage that did was as bad as the physical.

I was never so glad to see the father-in-law as I could barely turn the pedals and had zero energy left in the tank and would never had gotten back.

My ass is killing me too. Day off today before another attempt tomorrow.

Check out my 34.4 km Ride on Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/524505357

P_1 · 25-03-2016 04:20PM

Fark it's windy out! 36km down to Killiney, loop around the hill and home

dahat · 25-03-2016 05:23PM

[url] https://www.strava.com/activities/526393695[/url]

Afternoon spin and pretty windy so decided to do a few local hills n drags and try find some cover from the wind.

Went after a few PR as well with a little wind assistance but who cares! Actually felt really good today and hopefully this is the start of me finding my climbing legs.

Domane · 25-03-2016 05:41PM

Headed out at 9am for the first time in six weeks. Was pretty stiff for the first 10 km but then I got into a good rhythm and kicked up,the pace. Of course, the gentle,southerly breeze at my back starting out had turned into a fecking gale when I headed home and the last 25km was into the teeth of it. Sucked the strength out of my legs and I was glad to get home. Still, 75kms in three hours wasn't bad considering my long lay off, the bigger belly on me and that wind.

crosstownk · 25-03-2016 06:46PM

P_1 wrote: »

Fark it's windy out!

That's for sure!

My commute home form Swords was straight into that wind the whole way home. Dublin Airport was reporting gusts of almost 40kts which is almost 75km/h. It wasn't as bad when I reached the city but still stiff enough.

adrian522 · 25-03-2016 07:05PM

https://www.strava.com/activities/526377349

Out to howth and back. Started out as a nice day, had a puncture early on, sorted that butnwas on tenterhooks thereafter with no more spare tubes.

On the way back got overtaken by a bus with just cm to spare and nowhere for me to go due to the roadworks by clontarf there. About as scared as I've been on a bike.

Also the wind was pretty extreme in parts along the coast road, apart from all that it was a pretty good day,first proper cycle of the year for me.

P_1 · 25-03-2016 07:17PM

adrian522 wrote: »

https://www.strava.com/activities/526377349

Out to howth and back. Started out as a nice day, had a puncture early on, sorted that butnwas on tenterhooks thereafter with no more spare tubes.

On the way back got overtaken by a bus with just cm to spare and nowhere for me to go due to the roadworks by clontarf there. About as scared as I've been on a bike.

Also the wind was pretty extreme in parts along the coast road, apart from all that it was a pretty good day,first proper cycle of the year for me.

Had something similar today down by Booterstown. Potentially my fault mind. Bus was ambling along, fully to the right of the cycle lane, I decided it was safe to go by on the left, staying well within the cycle lane, bus then drifts to the left taking up about half the cycle lane just as I was about to put on the gas to get by. Cue a sharp pull on the brakes and a strange sort of run with my feet on the ground.

nilhg · 25-03-2016 08:50PM

First big solo spin of the year, took the day off once i saw the forecast for the weekend and headed for Wicklow, the plan was to go North to South before the wind got up but that didn't quite work out...

Left home and headed to Naas, Kilteel, The Lamb, Sally Gap, Luggala and onto Laragh via Roundwood for a coffee stop, my plan was to go over Shay Elliot and Slieve Maan than see how the legs felt, in the event even though I had a head wind going south they felt fine so I abandoned plan A (Ballinabarney Gap, Glen of Immal and home) and headed back to Laragh with the help of hopefully a tail wind, of course it didn't quite work out like that, it was sheltered enough for the first 2/3 of both climbs, but I was happy enough, came over both comfortably enough.

After a quick bowl of soup in Laragh I headed for home over the Wicklow Gap, I was a bit worried that the wind migh be funneled down the valley and it was a bit that way till I got past Glendalough, after that it was OK, I can't say I was getting a push but it didn't seem to be hindering me.

It was a different story once I went over the top, mad swirling gusts coming around stands of trees and through gates, I thought I'd be blown off the bike a few times, it calmed down a bit as i came down lower but was hairy till after Hollywood.

I finished up with 169km 3200m (I think maybe the garmin was giving a few bonus m on account of the wind..) 8 hours in the saddle, which I'm happy with, wasn't worried about speed today, just wanted to get round in relative comfort.

https://www.strava.com/activities/526442421

ted1 · 25-03-2016 10:59PM

nilhg wrote: »

First big solo spin of the year, took the day off once i saw the forecast for the weekend and headed for Wicklow, the plan was to go North to South before the wind got up but that didn't quite work out...

Left home and headed to Naas, Kilteel, The Lamb, Sally Gap, Luggala and onto Laragh via Roundwood for a coffee stop, my plan was to go over Shay Elliot and Slieve Maan than see how the legs felt, in the event even though I had a head wind going south they felt fine so I abandoned plan A (Ballinabarney Gap, Glen of Immal and home) and headed back to Laragh with the help of hopefully a tail wind, of course it didn't quite work out like that, it was sheltered enough for the first 2/3 of both climbs, but I was happy enough, came over both comfortably enough.

After a quick bowl of soup in Laragh I headed for home over the Wicklow Gap, I was a bit worried that the wind migh be funneled down the valley and it was a bit that way till I got past Glendalough, after that it was OK, I can't say I was getting a push but it didn't seem to be hindering me.

It was a different story once I went over the top, mad swirling gusts coming around stands of trees and through gates, I thought I'd be blown off the bike a few times, it calmed down a bit as i came down lower but was hairy till after Hollywood.

I finished up with 169km 3200m (I think maybe the garmin was giving a few bonus m on account of the wind..) 8 hours in the saddle, which I'm happy with, wasn't worried about speed today, just wanted to get round in relative comfort.

https://www.strava.com/activities/526442421

Fair play to you, thought I was doing well with my 54km and 750m.

https://www.strava.com/activities/526182327

devonp · 26-03-2016 08:57AM

nilhg wrote: »

First big solo spin of the year, took the day off once i saw the forecast for the weekend and headed for Wicklow, the plan was to go North to South before the wind got up but that didn't quite work out...

Left home and headed to Naas, Kilteel, The Lamb, Sally Gap, Luggala and onto Laragh via Roundwood for a coffee stop, my plan was to go over Shay Elliot and Slieve Maan than see how the legs felt, in the event even though I had a head wind going south they felt fine so I abandoned plan A (Ballinabarney Gap, Glen of Immal and home) and headed back to Laragh with the help of hopefully a tail wind, of course it didn't quite work out like that, it was sheltered enough for the first 2/3 of both climbs, but I was happy enough, came over both comfortably enough.

After a quick bowl of soup in Laragh I headed for home over the Wicklow Gap, I was a bit worried that the wind migh be funneled down the valley and it was a bit that way till I got past Glendalough, after that it was OK, I can't say I was getting a push but it didn't seem to be hindering me.

It was a different story once I went over the top, mad swirling gusts coming around stands of trees and through gates, I thought I'd be blown off the bike a few times, it calmed down a bit as i came down lower but was hairy till after Hollywood.

I finished up with 169km 3200m (I think maybe the garmin was giving a few bonus m on account of the wind..) 8 hours in the saddle, which I'm happy with, wasn't worried about speed today, just wanted to get round in relative comfort.

https://www.strava.com/activities/526442421

are SE & SM harder from the Laragh side ??

nilhg · 26-03-2016 09:21AM

devonp wrote: »

are SE & SM harder from the Laragh side ??

Shay Elliot is much easier from the Laragh side, there's a ramp at the start up through the trees after that its steady enough, to my mind it's the easiest of the four, Slieve Maan from that side starts hard and stays that way, there's no respite at all the whole way to the top and it's the longest of the four climbs easily the hardest of the lot.

Coming from the other side both climbs are quite similar, the hardest bits are at the bottom and they ease off a little higher up.

I'd reckon if you average it out there's very little difference going one way or the other, both are hard.

Luxman · 26-03-2016 09:22AM

devonp wrote: »

are SE & SM harder from the Laragh side ??

I find the more comfortable from te Laragh side. Depends where is the spin they come of course. I know every millimetre and paint particle of my stem when climbing them

stackerman · 26-03-2016 03:03PM

Managed to get 10 mins into ride before nearly being blown off my bike on a fast descent, and the heavens opened up. Turned on my heels and headed for home.

Seems I'm more of a fair weather cyclist

wilhelm roentgen · 26-03-2016 04:35PM

I was with the family last week in Tenerife and hired a bike for a few days, never cycled there before.
Did Mount Teide and started the climb from the costal town of Playa San Juan, monster climb of 50+km's that took me the bones of four hours.
Slight downhill into the crater before climbing again past the Parador hotel and up to the cable car station.
I was surprised at how crap the road surface was in places on the TF38 road, but it was ok for climbing.

The weather was amazing at the at the top, but the descent into Vilaflor was so cold in freezing fog, I was warned to carry extra clothes but I didn't have enough.

The descent was just under 50km's back to Los Cristianos and I was in a complete heap!

El Caballo · 26-03-2016 04:46PM

Not usually one to shy away from riding in the wind but there was some really strong gusting crosswinds out there today to be riding on country roads, got pulled a few times and abandoned my planned long ride after 10k and made tracks to the hills and shelter to do a few 2k hill repeats. Still a bit dicey on the descent with the water streaming down the road but got 5x2k repeats done and took it real easy coming home to finish up with just shy of 50k for the day.

ezra_ · 27-03-2016 02:07PM

Got over my fear of hills today.

Did Blessington -> Sally Gap -> Glencree -> Devil's Elbow (they named that right) -> Viewing Point -> Ballinascorney -> Blessington

C. 75k route, with c. 1.2k of climb.

Made it as far as the quarry on Ballinascorney before the legs started to really complain but it was flatish home so wasn't too bad apart from the wind and rain.

Feeling a bit more confident about the Naas 110k thing now. Learned that I have no ability / technique / confidence during descent. Think I burned off most of the brake pads...

LollipopJimmy · 27-03-2016 03:29PM

Been off the bike a number of weeks due to work being far too busy and the showers in the office are out of action so couldn't even commute. Still been following a strict diet and training plan in the gym, cycled out to Howth and up to the summit quicker than I ever have before. Coming past Clontarf bus station on the way home my rear wheel decided it wanted one less spoke. Nursed it home with a lot of swearing

Mercian Pro · 27-03-2016 04:20PM

Another great club spin around the byways of NCD and south Meath. With an early start we managed to miss any of the showers and our route had more crosswinds than headwinds. 1500km covered so far this year over 16 spins.

We are really fortunate in Swords CC to have experienced group leaders who know every lane, turn, climb and pothole in NCD and are prepared to share that experience with us newbies. I am sure other clubs have similar "senior" members who devote a lot of time and effort spreading their enthusiasm for cycling to others. Happy Easter to them all.

ford2600 · 27-03-2016 04:32PM

Full Irish in Blackrock Castle, coffee in Goldberg while reading tribute to Cruyff followed by two lunchtime pints in Sextant reading Joe Brolly.

Who needs a bike.☺

Fishy1 · 28-03-2016 01:22PM

Set out in glorious sunshine this morning. Had a pit stop in sunny Tramore. Then I noticed the dark clouds coming over the horizon.
Cycled home in hailstones, a first for this novice.
On a positive note, I've discovered that cycling in hailstones leads to new PBs

P_1 · 28-03-2016 01:29PM

76 km up in the Wicklow Hills and back home along the coast today, bushed doesn't come close. Wind in the face for the majority of the climbs.

https://www.strava.com/activities/528955308

Ryder · 28-03-2016 02:01PM

60k out to Baltinglass on Saturday in the driving rain and wind. First cycle over 9k in 4 months. Average speed on the flat N81 a miserable 22 kph.

60k back home that evening in the relative sunshine......30kph average. Bliss although haven't been up or down a stairs since

Daroxtar · 28-03-2016 02:42PM

First 100 of the year. I seem to have managed to pick a circular route that had a headwind for 80% of it but thankfully I got a push home for the last 20k or so when the legs were trying to give up. Other than the breeze it was a lovely day for a spin.
Longwood- Balivor- Athboy- Delvin- Mullingar- Kinegad- Longwood
101.3km in 3:23 @29.9kmh
Ribs and wrist are still very sore after last weeks spill but it's the first time I've gone under 3:30 for 100 so very happy with that. If I hadn't slowed down around Mullingar I'd have gotten in under 3:20 so that's the new target

https://www.strava.com/activities/528975611

dahat · 28-03-2016 03:57PM

[url] https://www.strava.com/activities/528915259[/url]

My weather watching pays dividends again, passed on Saturday and Sunday due to weather and overtime (to pay for cycling goodies).

Mild day, wind was on the low side so set off to do a solid spin without any mountain stuff but the road to Tipp Town from Clonmel via New Inn has its faif share of lumpy bits without being severe.

Knew i was going well by the Garmin so had my fingers crossed i hit the 30km average for the spin and was delighted i did. 31km average for 87km odd.

Now its all prep for the Vee Valley Challenge on Sunday, 110km with a couple of nice climbs.

tigerboon · 28-03-2016 06:36PM

Hailstones 2 days in a row. Face like the Cork flag for a while today, yesterday was a headwind when the hailstones came.

DMW22 · 28-03-2016 06:42PM

Wussed of the club spin yesterday because of the weather. Decided I needed to get out today to make up for it and to hopefully ease the slagging. Headed for the Slieve Blooms to work on my spring tan

Very enjoyable spin and couldn't get over how warm it was.

115.7 km, 1240 m, 28 km/h

https://www.strava.com/activities/529021354

crosstownk · 28-03-2016 07:26PM

I headed out this morning at 10am. It was quite chilly. The wind was stiff enough too. I probably stayed up a bit too late last night and supped a beer or two too many and certainly felt the effects all the way out the Tallaght Bypass. I struggled up the Embankment but the struggle blew off the cobwebs.

I went left at Brittas and out past the firing range. I then headed back toward Manor Kilbride but turned left at the Ballysmuttan junction and made the questionable decision to go up Ballynultagh Gap. My God, the road was in bits. It reminded me of the road up Priest's Leap - broken. Sheep shít, grass, potholes, uneven, gravel - lots of gravel. But as I'm quite stubborn in a thick sort of way, I carried on. At the top the view over Blessington Lakes nearly made the struggle up worth it. My average speed had plummetted thanks to the nasty climb and poor road surface.

The surface on the descent was almost as bad - rough and slow. I descended into Lacken and then went on to Blessington for tea and a scone.

The spin home from Blessington was uneventful and finally I had wind assistance all the way past Tallaght.

72km, 787m @ 20.5km/h.

Wishbone Ash · 29-03-2016 06:12PM

Gave El Teide another go today - last did it 2 years ago. This time I went all the way to the cable car station - almost a 50k climb. Again, I over-paced myself and had plenty left in the tank but I suppose it's better than blowing up! The descent required a lot of concentration and my whole body seemed stiff when I got to lower altitude.

https://www.strava.com/activities/529916828

Tell us about your cycle Yesterday.

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