Tell us about your new improved government regulations compliant cycle part II

dahat · 15-06-2019 3:15pm

Savage day down South, only a day for a jaunt around the coast road which always delivers on a sunny day.

4hrs pedalling with 137km done @ 33.9k and 1000m of up. Fit for a body bag now!!!

Weepsie · 15-06-2019 4:04pm

Arranged to collect some shoes from DirkVoodoo so an excuse to head for the hills. Cruagh, Glencullen, Kilmolin, Glencree for a quick espresso, over the featherbeds and home. Only 67 km but just under 1000m done in that so all good

https://www.strava.com/activities/2451939794

pjmn · 15-06-2019 6:06pm

63km out west this morning @ 28km avg, had all 4 seasons on the spin but finished in glorious sunshine...

https://www.strava.com/activities/2451446869

ED E · 16-06-2019 12:52am

60KM, sluggish and flat. But the legs work post W200 so all is well.

For the northsiders/NCD folk: Do ye find it easy to do a non stop route? Starting in south Dub unless you go up n over top you've got a stack of traffic lights to snare you. My knowledge of areas like the naul is poor but it strikes me that you guys might be able to use smaller R roads for short loops without stopping 100 times at reds. Pain in the face.

magicbastarder · 16-06-2019 1:14pm

there's bugger all traffic lights out around the naul, i think just one set in the naul itself, which is a pedestrian crossing so rarely red.

65km this morning (taking in the naul) around NCD; very up and downy even though the total ascent wasn't huge (670m). the rain held off for the most part anyway.

actually for ED E: this was my spin; i think i hit four, maybe five sets of lights. as it turns out, i didn't have to stop at any.
https://www.strava.com/activities/2454379979

magicbastarder · 16-06-2019 1:20pm

however, if you want to get *to* the northside, it's another matter. obviously the clontarf cycle path offers a relatively traffic light free spin out to howth.

Weepsie · 16-06-2019 1:44pm

Was going to do the McNally sportive but was a bit slow to wake up. Went out on my own, headed for Tara via Ratoath and then back via Skyrne, Ardcath and Garristown.

Ended up crossing paths with McNally participants and looked well organised. I confused one or 2 when I went straight on I think when they were turning off.

102 km in 3h23 @ 30.6 kmph. Not much climbing, even for North Dublin it seemed low.

https://www.strava.com/activities/2454632706

magicbastarder · 16-06-2019 1:50pm

you gave it some beans on glebe road again.

Weepsie · 16-06-2019 1:58pm

magicbastarder wrote: »

you gave it some beans on glebe road again.

Twas a very benign morning so gave it a go. Blew up as I tend to

Also, with the exception of the airport and 1 each in Ratoath and I dunshaglin I had no lights to stops at. That's 100 km with maybe 8 lights and most of them were within 2 km of my apartment. Plenty of junctions to yield at, but mostly rolling stops all morn

ED E · 16-06-2019 2:18pm

magicbastarder wrote: »

there's bugger all traffic lights out around the naul, i think just one set in the naul itself, which is a pedestrian crossing so rarely red.

65km this morning (taking in the naul) around NCD; very up and downy even though the total ascent wasn't huge (670m). the rain held off for the most part anyway.

actually for ED E: this was my spin; i think i hit four, maybe five sets of lights. as it turns out, i didn't have to stop at any.
https://www.strava.com/activities/2454379979

You got that glorious 1.0 move ratio.

For my similar spin I got .83 (stopped 17% of the total time, that included snacks shopping).

LollipopJimmy · 16-06-2019 2:26pm

Out to Malahide from D8 via St.Stephens Green to meet the lads

Went across Portmarnock then to Howth, up the Graveyard side with that cheeky right around to Windgates and then back up to the summit. Nice coffee in the village and back up via Balkill Road and back into the City. Having a donut now, only 5k home from here.

All in it'll be 70kms.

dahat · 16-06-2019 2:30pm

Sluggish to get going this morning after yesterday's spin, legs & body feeling it. After some excellent stalling on my end I left the house for 4hrs on the road.

With no route chosen due to laziness I basically wandered around until I needed to do my intervals. The first two 10min reps went well then rep 3 was hell. The fourth one was 15mins but legs blew after 3 mins in a big way, rolled home after that.

The local shop was still open so a can of coke & a bounty helped me get the last 700 yards home!!! ðŸ€£ In all seriousness I think the mind just had enough after rep 3/4.

110km at 31.7avg and just over 700m.

secman · 16-06-2019 4:28pm

Out on a club spin this morning with Gorey cc touring group, trying to dodge the heavy showers. Gorey to ballycanew to turn for Oulart and across to Enniscorthy, back to Ferns and Gorey.
65 km 450m avg 28.6 kph
Apart from the delayed start due to heavy rain just happened to dodge a lot of heavy showers.

smacl · 16-06-2019 6:15pm

First time back in the hills for a couple of weeks, Cruagh, Sallygap, Glenmacnass and back for 62k and 971m of up. Died going up Cruagh which was a stern reminder to keep on track with the diet but strangely ok for the climb up to the gap. One of those every weather kind of days where I actually appreciated the misty rain and breeze on the uphill bits and being rewarded with some sunshine up top. More hill work required.

coddlesangers · 17-06-2019 10:24am

Really struggled to motivate myself yday to get out - tried to make myself do some uphill interval work to improve my absolutely dire climbing speeds.... got 582 metres of up into my 27k evening spin. Need to find time to get a long one in sometime this week though, I've been getting progressively less and less time out on the bike!

https://www.strava.com/activities/2455635658

Mercian Pro · 17-06-2019 2:04pm

Despite being dropped and struggling home solo on last year's Swords 2 County Sportif, I headed out with the lead group again this year. The 70k to Tayto Park was a blast on good flat roads and we averaged 32.7. A slightly depleted group left for the return leg and all went well until the drag up to Ardcath. Just like last year I couldn't stick the pace but, this time, I teamed up with a few other "rejects" and we worked well together all the back to Swords for an overall average of 30.8 over the 150k. Fairly wrecked at the end but a pint and sandwiches provided enough fuel to cover the 13k back home.
Comforting to know that I can sometimes still learn from past mistakes

Torres09 · 17-06-2019 2:24pm

Mercian Pro wrote: »

Despite being dropped and struggling home solo on last year's Swords 2 County Sportif, I headed out with the lead group again this year. The 70k to Tayto Park was a blast on good flat roads and we averaged 32.7. A slightly depleted group left for the return leg and all went well until the drag up to Ardcath. Just like last year I couldn't stick the pace but, this time, I teamed up with a few other "rejects" and we worked well together all the back to Swords for an overall average of 30.8 over the 150k. Fairly wrecked at the end but a pint and sandwiches provided enough fuel to cover the 13k back home.
Comforting to know that I can sometimes still learn from past mistakes

Think I passed you's yesterday (heading opposite direction) about 09:00 on the roundabouts at Swords, looked like a good group heading out...

ED E · 22-06-2019 10:34am

TFW you've done 120K, are 1K from home and your average ends in .8. Got it, now to call an ambo.

dahat · 22-06-2019 3:12pm

Absolutely glorious day down South though it looked offy setting out around 9am especially when all you have is arm warmers.!!!

On what is now a good training route for me the coast road holds some savage views if you have time between intervals too look!!!

An enjoyable day on the bike with suffering aplenty through the intervals.

135km @ 34.5 km/hr & around 1,000km of up.

Hard to believe the weather is to be awful tomorrw. A local Sportive is on the cards and I hate getting wet!

Weepsie · 22-06-2019 3:19pm

What a day out there. Have to go to a wedding later and had to try a suit for another wedding so limited time.

Cycled to try the suit, and came home a longer way. 52 km in just under 2 hrs, would've happily stayed out for another few hours meandering

pjmn · 22-06-2019 7:24pm

My longest solo spin of the year 166km out west, only averaged 25.2, had a tough headwind for the last 70km....

https://www.strava.com/activities/2471380325

22-06-2019 11:38pm

Was meant to pick herself and the eldest up from swimming this morning and decided sure I can just load the bike on the back and let her drive home with the kids and I'll head off for a spin.

Parked up and changed shoes. The girls drove off after telling us about the swim and I was about 20km out and it occurred to me I left my ****ing runners in the car park and not put them in the boot :mad:

Whoever took the space next had handed them in when I stopped in on the way back to see if they'd be found, so I rode home with a pair of runners around my neck

LollipopJimmy · 23-06-2019 9:50am

Did the ring of Kerry yesterday, averaged 26kph, reasonably pleased with that. However, not so pleased with the hangover

dahat · 23-06-2019 12:30pm

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

Did the ring of Kerry yesterday, averaged 26kph, reasonably pleased with that. However, not so pleased with the hangover

Would ya post the route? Staying in Killarney late July and plan on doing a decent spin on day, once I'm back by 12 she said!

Wishbone Ash · 23-06-2019 12:51pm

dahat wrote: »

Would ya post the route? Staying in Killarney late July and plan on doing a decent spin on day, once I'm back by 12 she said!

I presume it the same as a few years ago. You'd want to be on the road early to be back by 12.

https://www.strava.com/activities/162019314

smacl · 23-06-2019 1:01pm

dahat wrote: »

Would ya post the route? Staying in Killarney late July and plan on doing a decent spin on day, once I'm back by 12 she said!

For my money the inner ring roads are far more rewarding. Killarney, Black Valley, Molls Gap, Ballaghbeama, Glencar, Lough Carragh, Glenbeigh,back roads around Caherciveen, Balligisheen, Glencar and back to Killarney via Kate Kearneys cottage. Road surfaces aren't as good in parts but way less traffic, some lovely climbs and fantastic scenery. Been a few years since I've done them but the descents of Ballaghbeama to Glencar and Ballighisheen to Glencar have a decent surface and great visibility which make for a real treat. (Note IMHO, both are way less fun in the other direction, hence Glencar twice)

dahat · 23-06-2019 1:07pm

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I presume it the same as a few years ago. You'd want to be on the road early to be back by 12.

https://www.strava.com/activities/162019314

Leaving early not an issue but may modify that for a slightly shorter spin, 5hrs with coffee probably an ideal compromise all round.

magicbastarder · 23-06-2019 4:40pm

got roped in to help with some sheep herding on my spin this morning. much nicer morning than expected.

Wishbone Ash · 23-06-2019 5:27pm

magicbastarder wrote: »

got roped in to help with some sheep herding on my spin this morning. much nicer morning than expected

Interesting word 'herding'.

While we have a flock of sheep and a herd of cattle, 'flocking' sheep just doesn't sound right.

Eamonnator · 23-06-2019 5:29pm

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Interesting word 'herding'.

While we have a flock of sheep and a herd of cattle, 'flocking' sheep just doesn't sound right.

What else would a shepherd do only herd?

magicbastarder · 23-06-2019 11:18pm

'a herd of sheep' is also acceptable though.

magicbastarder · 23-06-2019 11:20pm

i am bemused by the use of the phrase 'the national herd' when referring to the cattle in ireland, in news pieces about agriculture.
i just have an image of a select team of cattle in green jerseys who are sent abroad to represent the country in sporting affairs.

rushfan · 24-06-2019 7:30am

magicbastarder wrote:

i am bemused by the use of the phrase 'the national herd' when referring to the cattle in ireland, in news pieces about agriculture. i just have an image of a select team of cattle in green jerseys who are sent abroad to represent the country in sporting affairs.

You're really milking it now , in fairness.

John Hutton · 24-06-2019 8:10am

Took a spill off the Brompton this morning on the way to work. Had just put new tires on it last week so may have been a bit overconfident.

Was taking a shortcut which involves going down a very short, steep gravel hill at the bottom of which it joins onto a footpath with a sharp right turn.

Foolishly tried to kinda brake and turn at the same time when turning into the footpath, after going at a fair clip, bike just slid out from under me. It's a short fall from the Brompton and the path was slick enough so my hands just got dirty and not cut so the only thing wounded is my pride, and a badly scratched pedal.

Be careful folks, it's slippy out there after all that rain.

secman · 24-06-2019 8:34am

magicbastarder wrote: »

got roped in to help with some sheep herding on my spin this morning. much nicer morning than expected.

The other evening heading down three castles i saw in the distance what appeared to be about 30 or so sheep being driven towards me, thought immediately about the dog or dogs, as we got closer to each other, to my horror they were not sheep but a big group (pack) of those dogs that run with a hunt, they were being driven by a man and a young lad on bikes with whips , in fairness they hardly gave me a glance.

ED E · 24-06-2019 8:42am

ED E wrote: »

Anyone know when Manor Kilbride back towards Brittas got the new surface? It was very overdue. Lovin it.

WTAF? They ruined it? Whats the logic behind applying a rolled tar surface then coming back and shredding it?

magicbastarder · 24-06-2019 8:54am

exact same thing happened outside my inlaws house (on a small back road). the road was resurfaced about two weeks ago with a nice smooth tarmac surface, and they came along a few days ago, and did the tar and chip job on it. i guess the previous surface was a subsurface, but if they're in the mood to do a rolled tarmac job, i don't understand why they didn't continue and do the top layer in tarmac too.

smacl · 24-06-2019 9:27am

magicbastarder wrote: »

exact same thing happened outside my inlaws house (on a small back road). the road was resurfaced about two weeks ago with a nice smooth tarmac surface, and they came along a few days ago, and did the tar and chip job on it. i guess the previous surface was a subsurface, but if they're in the mood to do a rolled tarmac job, i don't understand why they didn't continue and do the top layer in tarmac too.

Just a guess, but probably harder wearing over time and hence cheaper to maintain. They left a section of the Military road above Laragh in rolled tarmac and its gas when you hit it as everything suddenly goes smooth and quiet doe few hundred metres.

ED E · 24-06-2019 9:33am

That piece before Glenmacnass is effin divine. Add a couple hairpins and you could be in Italy.

EDIT:

Maybe this is what they're at. Too quiet to grit it so have to make it rough as can be?

Wildly Boaring wrote: »

Also councils will not put SMA on a road they don't have on a salting (gritting) route.

LollipopJimmy · 24-06-2019 9:43am

dahat wrote: »

Would ya post the route? Staying in Killarney late July and plan on doing a decent spin on day, once I'm back by 12 she said!

The route posted by WA is the exact I did.

You don't hang about so very possible you'd get back by 12 and surely the wife knows that 12 really means 1.30?

Seth Brundle · 24-06-2019 10:00am

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Interesting word 'herding'.

While we have a flock of sheep and a herd of cattle, 'flocking' sheep just doesn't sound right.

Isn't that against the law?

Pinch Flat · 24-06-2019 10:39am

Did the Sean Lynch memorial solstice cycle from Ashbourne yesterday. Great turnout a few hundred started. Did the 80km route. A 5am start with a 32 km/hr average meant I was back in bed for 8.00am.

joey100 · 24-06-2019 10:52am

Bray to Bunclody on Saturday. Great day for it. Haven't done much cycling in wicklow and was first time up the wicklow gap. Legs still feeling Wednesday nights racing and was struggling up a short steep hill in Clonegal, had me looking for a soft hedge to land in. Then when I got off the bike at the end I realised my brakes had been rubbing most of the spin, the joy of a BB mounted back brake.

Eamonnator · 24-06-2019 1:36pm

Pinch Flat wrote: »

Did the Sean Lynch memorial solstice cycle from Ashbourne yesterday. Great turnout a few hundred started. Did the 80km route. A 5am start with a 32 km/hr average meant I was back in bed for 8.00am.

I did this as well.
Great morning. Well marshalled. Good route. Lovely breakfast afterwards.
Ave. 33.8kpm
I didn't get back to bed until after nine.

D13exile · 24-06-2019 1:37pm

My first 100km of the year last Saturday since I started cycling again after 6 months off from injury. Clane-Kilcock-Rathmolyon-Trim-Dunboyne-Leixlip-Straffan-Sallins-Clane, 100.1kms to be exact!!!

Felt great for the first 40kms to Trim but then when I turned towards Dunboyne, I was cycling into a headwind and it was very warm (20 degrees). My legs completely died on me and checking my stats after I got home, I saw that my average for the first 40kms to Trim was 33kph but that dropped to 24kph on the next leg. Literally like hitting "the wall" in a marathon. I was eating bananas and drinking electrolyte drinks and so I couldn't figure why my batteries just died so suddenly. I also expereinced my first bout of cycling rage when I noticed another cyclist riding right behind me for over 10kms, using me as a windbreaker and not a word or him taking the lead once in a while. If I speeded up, he speeded up, if I slowed, he slowed. Fecker just hung on to my back wheel until I got fed up with him and my dead legs and decided to pull over and stop to recharge. Then and only then did he say something which was "ffs, you could warn me you're stopping". Well my response was a lung clearing f-off. Cheeky fecker tailing me and then giving out when I decide to pull in and get some food and water into me. Well he shouldn't have been hanging on to my rear wheel so long. And to be honest, I did slowly decrease my speed prior to pulling over and he should have overtaken me.

After that pit stop at the 50km mark, I felt better and when I turned for home with 35kms to go, my legs came alive again and my average speed picked back up to 29kph. Was very tired when I got home but glad I broke the psychological barrier of 100kms for the first time this year.

And if my mysterious wheel hugger is reading this, next time say hello, offer to take the lead and generally don't be a d1ck!!!!!>

triggermortis · 24-06-2019 2:59pm

Due back in work on Wednesday so had to get out to complete the June gran fondo on Strava. Headed for Howth, bit of a detour as the road was closed by Portmarnock. It was open again on the return but the heavens opened around the same point. Hit 50km as I came into Malahide In 1 hour 38 so I was averaging just over 30kmh including going over Howth at that point.
Took a loop of the airport before heading out to Lusk, Rush then Skerries.
Reached the house at 98.8km so went up the road a bit and back to clock up the 100km.
Bike needs a good clean now...
Averaged 29kmh, and hit a few pb’s

magicbastarder · 25-06-2019 10:57pm

nice 58k spin, but found yet another road which i recently started using because it's been resurfaced, but found this evening that it's a mess of chippings; this one: https://www.strava.com/segments/19057883

decent chat too with a guy cycling home from work, he's a swords mcnally chap, knows a couple of folks here.
weirdly, even though we cycled from the broadmeadow to garristown together, the strava flyby shows a low correlation score.

secman · 25-06-2019 11:42pm

Out on club spin, had planned on doing Sally Gap but you couldn't see mountains ar 6:30 this evening, so an alternative route, straight from CSS shop to blessington, around small lake, right turn ballysmutten , up military road to ballinascorney and back down to Tallaght.
52 km 675m Avg 25.8 kph

magicbastarder · 26-06-2019 8:02am

i passed a chap this morning on a bike which looked a lot like LollipopJimmy's look this morning - is it de rigeur to put yellow cables on them, or was that LJ himself?
was on the strand road, maybe halfway between merrion gates and sandymount.

LollipopJimmy · 26-06-2019 9:04am

magicbastarder wrote: »

i passed a chap this morning on a bike which looked a lot like LollipopJimmy's look this morning - is it de rigeur to put yellow cables on them, or was that LJ himself?
was on the strand road, maybe halfway between merrion gates and sandymount.

Not me and it's safe to assume it wasn't as clean as mine so you should have known. That model came with yellow cables from factory

Tell us about your new improved government regulations compliant cycle part II

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