Tell us about your cycle Yesterday.

MB Lacey · 11-05-2016 11:42AM

topcat77 wrote: »

Did my usual commute today (5km) and got a puncture after 1.5km. i was stopped by 2 separate cyclist and offered a spare tube and help. I passed on the help as i was within sight of work and have plenty of tubes there. I thanked both for the offer and mentioned it was very nice of them. it put a nice smile on my face after a bad start to the morning.

Lucky you!
I had the opposite experience

Had a rare puncture this morning along the canal at Portobello.
Heart sank, brand new GP4000 II tyre, what a pain.
Heart also froze a little. I was about to try and fix a puncture at the lights at Portobello junction - that's quite an audience of stationary cars and cyclists having a good old goo.
Performance anxiety kicked in.
'You can do this, you've watched those GCN videos, changed tubes before, it's easy.'
Opened my trusty saddle bag filled with allen keys, tyre levers, CO2 cartridges, spare tube - happy days.
Set myself up sitting on the canal wall, removed front wheel, removed tube, expertly blew air into tube to hear where the air was escaping from, couldn't hear a thing for the traffic, shoved old tube into back pocket.
Ran my fingers gingerly along the inside of the tyre to feel if anything sharp was remaining before fitting the new tube, this was going well.
Fitted new tube, pushed sidewalls of tyre back into rim then checked there was no tube protruding from under the sidewalls, I was like a pro.
I'm ridiculously proud of myself.
I am woman.
I flexed my biceps.
Puncture on my way to work? No problem, I have it covered, check me out.
Old tube removed, inside of tyre checked, new tube perfectly fitted, got my cartridge, got my.....
Where's the adaptor thing for the cartridge?
You know the little yellow one that's always in the front of my saddle bag.
The yellow one.
Where is it?
Oh I see it! It's at home, on the shelf in the shed.
Eyes to heaven, moment of glory gone forever.
I had no way of filling my new, puncture free tube with air.
I considered stuffing the tyre with grass like I've seen them do on youtube, but figured this might be taking the 'I'm like a pro' attitude a bit close to crazy zone.
There was nothing for it, I started running up to innocent cyclists stopped at the lights, pushing my CO2 cartridge in their faces like a desperado, asking if they had a cartridge adapter thing on them.
No-one had, lights changed, they escaped.
Next lights, no-one. Lights changed, they cycled to work.
Like a sad puppy I returned to my bike, lifted it over the wall.
Eyes down, I walked my bike with its unfixed puncture to a bike shop to borrow some air.
My tyre wasn't the only thing deflated this morning.

Bloggsie · 11-05-2016 12:35PM

I was so happy reading this until the last few lines, I feel your pain!

SUAF4Munster · 11-05-2016 12:43PM

Starting a new job in Southside industrial in Cork on Monday, coming in from the Elms so around about 8 miles. Going to get back on the bike as it's much shorter than my old commute. Anyone cycle a similar route, might add on as I get fitter so any local recommendations appreciated!

Luxman · 11-05-2016 02:17PM

MB Lacey wrote: »

Lucky you!
I had the opposite experience
Had a rare puncture this morning along the canal at Portobello.
Heart sank, brand new GP4000 II tyre, what a pain.
Heart also froze a little. I was about to try and fix a puncture at the lights at Portobello junction - that's quite an audience of stationary cars and cyclists having a good old goo.
Performance anxiety kicked in.
'You can do this, you've watched those GCN videos, changed tubes before, it's easy.'
Opened my trusty saddle bag filled with allen keys, tyre levers, CO2 cartridges, spare tube - happy days.
Set myself up sitting on the canal wall, removed front wheel, removed tube, expertly blew air into tube to hear where the air was escaping from, couldn't hear a thing for the traffic, shoved old tube into back pocket.
Ran my fingers gingerly along the inside of the tyre to feel if anything sharp was remaining before fitting the new tube, this was going well.
Fitted new tube, pushed sidewalls of tyre back into rim then checked there was no tube protruding from under the sidewalls, I was like a pro.
I'm ridiculously proud of myself.
I am woman.
I flexed my biceps.
Puncture on my way to work? No problem, I have it covered, check me out.
Old tube removed, inside of tyre checked, new tube perfectly fitted, got my cartridge, got my.....
Where's the adaptor thing for the cartridge?
You know the little yellow one that's always in the front of my saddle bag.
The yellow one.
Where is it?
Oh I see it! It's at home, on the shelf in the shed.
Eyes to heaven, moment of glory gone forever.
I had no way of filling my new, puncture free tube with air.
I considered stuffing the tyre with grass like I've seen them do on youtube, but figured this might be taking the 'I'm like a pro' attitude a bit close to crazy zone.
There was nothing for it, I started running up to innocent cyclists stopped at the lights, pushing my CO2 cartridge in their faces like a desperado, asking if they had a cartridge adapter thing on them.
No-one had, lights changed, they escaped.
Next lights, no-one. Lights changed, they cycled to work.
Like a sad puppy I returned to my bike, lifted it over the wall.
Eyes down, I walked my bike with its unfixed puncture to a bike shop to borrow some air.
My tyre wasn't the only thing deflated this morning.

The silver lining in your saga is that it won't happen again!

RobertFoster · 11-05-2016 03:24PM

MB Lacey wrote: »

I walked my bike with its unfixed puncture to a bike shop to borrow some air.

You were being economical, not wasting a cartridge while there was a pump in walking distance

MB Lacey · 11-05-2016 03:57PM

RobertFoster wrote: »

You were being economical, not wasting a cartridge while there was a pump in walking distance

I am not ashamed to admit it, that thought did cross my mind

Borderfox · 11-05-2016 06:25PM

Sticking to my short sharp shocks, 26.3km @32.5kmph. Great out and back in with a tough middle section but good progress at holding power steady

https://www.strava.com/activities/572810886

roosterman71 · 11-05-2016 07:04PM

Borderfox wrote: »

Sticking to my short sharp shocks, 26.3km @32.5kmph. Great out and back in with a tough middle section but good progress at holding power steady

https://www.strava.com/activities/572810886

Is it any harm to ask, what yer thinking is behind these spins? What is the end goal, or what is the expected gain?

Boscoirl · 11-05-2016 09:05PM

Skived off work early and went for a spin with a few of the lads, 50km then cut the grass when I got home, I love the bright evenings

One of the lads had a blow out, after about 5km, made ****e of a brand new tyre, so he had to call for the broom wagon( the missus) first time out on the tyre

Borderfox · 11-05-2016 09:37PM

roosterman71 wrote: »

Is it any harm to ask, what yer thinking is behind these spins? What is the end goal, or what is the expected gain?

I would expect to be able to push hard and recover quicker, I had planned to race this year but put that off till next year so might try some time trials to keep my eye in.

My cadence has dropped by at least 20 rpm too so that will build strength

dunworth1 · 11-05-2016 09:57PM

Boscoirl wrote:

Skived off work early and went for a spin with a few of the lads, 50km then cut the grass when I got home, I love the bright evenings

Very bold! :P

35k spin for me tonight lovely evening for it

dahat · 12-05-2016 01:11AM

Wemt out with a mate today to do Mahon Falls as it is part of the upcoming Comeragh Tour and i have never been up it on a bike.

Wasnt as severe as I thought but we only had 45km in the legs when we got there. Still glad to get over it first time. We came home via Kilmacthomas then Carrick where the weather got right messy till Clonmel.

100km with 27km average and 1000m or just under climbing.

smacl · 12-05-2016 01:06PM

Lunch time spin up Cruagh to Foxes and back via Kilternan. Absolutely gorgeous out there and if I wasn't up to my neck with work at eh moment would have also gladly skived off for the rest of the day and headed into the hills. For those thinking of getting out tonight, go for it. Might even sneak back out later myself. 25k @23kph with 415m climbing, which while slow for some is better than I've been doing lately, so pleased enough.

brianomc · 12-05-2016 03:53PM

What a day out there, absolutely gorgeous.

Went for a lunchtime spin with my brother in law, when we stopped for coffee I noticed his front tire looked odd, there was a little chicane-like bend in it. So we said we would cut the cycle short and take it handy home.

200 metres up the road, bang, 5mm or so hole with the tires guts coming out, we phoned his team-car to put them on standby. Changed the tube, put 2 patches on the inside, 1 on the outside and limped the 10km home. Amazingly the outer patch was still attached, although if it didnt hold then we wouldnt have made it.

Still, 50km done, home just in time to catch the end of the giro, off out to my parents for a feed and a weeks holidays coinciding with some great weather. I'll take it.

Dades · 12-05-2016 05:32PM

Enjoying the amazing day while out for a quick spin and feeling very smug about having mastered my first clippy shoes on their debut outing.

Then I keeled over in front of a long line of cars waiting to turn.

#pridebeforeafall

RobertFoster · 12-05-2016 05:33PM

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

You'll probably be disappointed - its not difficult in itself. What makes it difficult is getting boxed in (very narrow road) on a sportive. If the rider/s in front come to a stop in front of you, it's almost impossible to get clipped in and to get going again.

Full Wall - https://www.strava.com/segments/824925

Half Wall - https://www.strava.com/segments/1077130 (which many think is the full wall!)

I wasn't disappointed

I approached it from the Old Military Rd., taking a left after Glencree. I stopped at the metal bridge (Oonagh Bridge) just before the wall for a few minutes to enjoy the river and the sunshine (and a banana).

When I set off again, I wasn't expecting the climb to start as soon as I turned the corner (the clue is in the name I suppose!) and I was in entirely the wrong gear. I shifted down as quickly as possible, but decided to turn around and start again. Once that initial climb is out of the way there's no major shocks for the rest of it.

Beautiful day for it, and a beautiful part of the country to be in. So quiet too going uphill, just the odd bird and my breathing breaking the silence.

The descent back was a bit iffy with the surface and how narrow the road is. My pump hopped out of my pocket on a particularly rough patch - I wouldn't recommend hill walking in cleats

Headed home via the Devils Elbow (hopefully quicker this time), about 95km in all. It's nice to have the weather to go exploring.

Alanstrainor · 12-05-2016 07:32PM

Really lovely commute home up along the rock road. The fresh sea air was welcome respite from the heat. What I couldn't believe was the amount of cyclists with full jackets, gloves, leg warmers on. Even guys going at a relatively decent pace were all kitted out.

G1032 · 12-05-2016 08:01PM

Booked the day off work tomorrow so we're up visiting my parents (Galway) . Brought the bike into work with to cycle out to them after work.

So the good :
Unreal weather. So warm. Little bit windy but big deal.
The 'city' cycling involved going from Ballybrit to Newcastle and I thought the cyclist was well catered for. Good cycle lanes and they weren't full of debris. Impressed.

The bad: The road from Newcastle to Oughterard (N59) is nothing short of a disgrace. Road works everywhere and the road surface for most of the trip were shockingly bad
Got a puncture Moycullen. My first puncture in 8600+ km!! Managed to get back on the road in about 15 minutes. Couldn't for the life of me find anything stuck in that tyre and was paranoid I'd get a second puncture but managed to get home without further incident.
Couple of close calls with the usual drivers who think they own the roads.

Lovely steak dinner with roast potatoes ready for me when I got in the door. Gotta love that

secman · 12-05-2016 08:50PM

Managed to get out for a spin this evening. Kilnamanagh to blessington..valleymount...around to ballyknockon..Lacken. back through blessington, main Road back to Kilnamanagh. 70.4km... ave 25.6km. Lovely evening for a spin. Saw what looked like a race , starting at old Brittas inn..

Oh and no dogs

Bloggsie · 13-05-2016 06:48AM

Dades wrote: »

Enjoying the amazing day while out for a quick spin and feeling very smug about having mastered my first clippy shoes on their debut outing.

Then I keeled over in front of a long line of cars waiting to turn.

#pridebeforeafall

I fell on my 1st outing with clip ins, outside a church as a funeral was about to leave!

Bloggsie · 13-05-2016 06:51AM

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Really lovely commute home up along the rock road. The fresh sea air was welcome respite from the heat. What I couldn't believe was the amount of cyclists with full jackets, gloves, leg warmers on. Even guys going at a relatively decent pace were all kitted out.

I left my jacket in work yesterday, didnt fancy 30 kms wearing it home last nite, a cracking evening!

godtabh · 13-05-2016 07:07AM

873m of climbing in 45km. Starving now. Time for a fry

Seaswimmer · 13-05-2016 11:37AM

Last night did Killakee up Stocking Lane, Military Road, Glencree and back over to Johhny Foxes where we had 2 nice pints sitting outside.

They wont serve any kind of food outside so we rolled on down to Lamb Doyles where kitchen closed at 9, 10 minutes before we arrived.

Rolled home hungry....

Bloggsie · 13-05-2016 01:28PM

Seaswimmer wrote: »

Last night did Killakee up Stocking Lane, Military Road, Glencree and back over to Johhny Foxes where we had 2 nice pints sitting outside.

They wont serve any kind of food outside so we rolled on down to Lamb Doyles where kitchen closed at 9, 10 minutes before we arrived.

Rolled home hungry....

leave your mouth open, there's enough flies around at the mo to keep you going till you get home!

Seriously, nothing worse than being hungry while out on a spin.

triggermortis · 13-05-2016 05:14PM

Rode to work last night, lashing rain. Managed to dry gear to mildly damp before going home this morning - in more rain. Back into work tonight, started off dryish but heavens opened halfway here so all gear now soaking again. Great!

dahat · 13-05-2016 10:36PM

A bloody glorious day here today. I finshed work at 6am then rose again to at 10.30 to get a spin in before school run at two.

Cracking weather, minimal gear, good pace on and enjoying it till ssssssss and puncture, took 10mins to sort and off again on the second lap of a TT circuit locally.

Second lap, good pace on again, glanced at my Garmin and missed a pothole, instant puncture AGAIN.... With the spare tube used it was now time for the SOS call for rescue.

43km at 30.7 avaerage.

Really tempted to head off for a 7am spin to rid the mind of that horrible ending to the spin, off on a beach run with the family at 11 so am spin locally sounds really tempting.

secman · 14-05-2016 03:06PM

Killenagh to Gorey..old n11 to Arklow..around coast road to Tara hill, Ballymoney, courtown, killenagh..home . 69km Avg 25km. Chilly to start at 9 ish... lovely day now.

smacl · 14-05-2016 05:13PM

Some panicky last minute preparation for the WW200. Looking very much like reclaiming the lanterne rouge, if indeed I manage to drag my sorry ass around at all. Today was Ballboden, Enniskery, Kilmac, Laragh, Aughrim, Aughavannagh, Slieve Maan, Shay Elliot, Laragh, Sally gap and home. 139k @ 20kph with 2.25k climbing. Still struggling on the hills, foot went down to take a breather half way up Slieve Maan which remains as vicious as ever and also half way up Shay Elliot for no good reason other than being bollixed. Fantastic day out, though I was glad I'd the long sleeves on.

smacl · 14-05-2016 07:54PM

dahat wrote: »

A bloody glorious day here today.

Who needs glorious when you can have bloody glorious. Bloody glorious countryside we have on our doorstep when the rain, hail, and storms let up, and some timed, bloody glorious then too.

dahat · 14-05-2016 08:36PM

smacl wrote: »

Who needs glorious when you can have bloody glorious. Bloody glorious countryside we have on our doorstep when the rain, hail, and storms let up, and some timed, bloody glorious then too.

Yep, drove the Coast Road today (Bunmahon to Tramore) and going to cycle it tomorrow but after 3 punctures in two days my confidence is somewhat battered.

Tell us about your cycle Yesterday.

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