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

Gerry · 11-11-2018 6:45pm

Eamonnator wrote: »

What was the Garda going to give you the ticket for?
It is legal to cycle in the cycle/bus lane, so he couldn't ticket you for that. Not having a bell on your bike is not an offence for which you can get a fine on the spot. The garda would have to summons you for that to appear in court.

Yeah I wasn't sure at that moment as apparently this law has gone back and forth on mandatory use. But next time I'll be asking for the ticket yes.

silverharp · 11-11-2018 6:55pm

i didnt know about the bell, seems like something that guards can have up their sleeve if they want to act the b0llox

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/motoring_1/driving_offences/cycling_offences.html

Under the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 1963 a bicycle used in a public place must be fitted with a bell capable of being heard at a reasonable distance. It must also be equipped with brakes, one for the front wheel and another for the rear wheel.

Eamonnator · 11-11-2018 7:48pm

silverharp wrote: »

i didnt know about the bell, seems like something that guards can have up their sleeve if they want to act the b0llox

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/motoring_1/driving_offences/cycling_offences.html

It's not black and white, there are exceptions to the bell rule.
If I remember correctly, if you're on a race bike, cycling to compete in a race, you're exempt.

godtabh · 11-11-2018 7:50pm

100km for the first time in over a year. Getting my **** together hopefully

LollipopJimmy · 12-11-2018 10:39am

Nothing out of the ordinary, just my usual commute but I forgot to remove my groin guard after training. Only noticed as I left the gym and stripping naked on the Naas Road wasn't an option. Bit sore now

Alanstrainor · 12-11-2018 10:56am

I was about 6km into my commute this morning and I was crossing the train tracks in Baldoyle and suddenly; BANG. My rear tyre exploded in fantastic fashion. My GP4000IIs was torn from it, a gash a couple of inches long. B*llocks, I was a bit stranded, not half way to work, but a long walk from home. Thought of sticking a tube in it and crossing my fingers but a bus happened to be due and I asked the bus driver whether he'd be able to give me a lift with the bike! He said absolutely, but if there was someone with a pram then I was off. Made it home anyway, and as if by some sign from some almighty being I had only just ordered a new GP4000II on Thurs, fingers crossed it arrives today!

Internet Friend · 12-11-2018 11:10am

Had to throw out a GP4000s II on Saturday myself. Noticed a large bulge in the tyre wall that was rubbing off the frame. Had a look at it and there was a nice 1.5cm gash in it. Decided it wasn't worth the risk. Anyway, threw an old gatorskin on for now (new GP on the way) and did 45km with my brother and a mate yesterday, was a lovely morning for it.

WMP · 12-11-2018 1:41pm

Internet Friend wrote: »

Had to throw out a GP4000s II on Saturday myself.

Two failed GP4000s II. I love the GP4000s but many people think that II's are not as heard wearing as the originals.

Do you lads think that also?

I got a tear in one after a few hundred kms. I did hit a pot hole going fast but I do wonder if the originals would have stood up to it. I used them for years without one compliant.

Mercian Pro · 12-11-2018 2:22pm

As posted here before, I really don't think that the very marginal gains in responsiveness balance the relatively high risk of sidewall damage with GP4000's. I've switched to Rubino Pro's on my good bike and GP4Seasons on my commuter and won't be going back to 4000's any time soon.

Eamonnator · 12-11-2018 2:26pm

The Continental Grand Prix 4000 IIs are being replaced shortly.
So you won't have to worry about them for much longer.

Internet Friend · 12-11-2018 2:48pm

First issue I've had with them to be honest and that was over 2 sets covering around 8000km (previous set from my stolen Giant included)

WMP · 12-11-2018 2:51pm

I wouldnt use anything else on my road bike as they are great tires in my opinion. One puncture in about 20000km. But I have heard a few people comment that they think the IIs are not as robust as the previous generation.

Hopefully the next gen Eamonnator referred to will be as good as gen 1.

Alanstrainor · 12-11-2018 3:52pm

I've been using the GP4000s for a long time now. I've had many sets and it's my first catastrophic failure like that. I reckon there's got to be about 6000km on that tyre, it wasn't worn beyond the wear markers but it was getting there and had flattened a small bit. It might have been due to a slice from glass or something else. Since I have a GP4000 incoming I'll stick with that for now and weight my options next year.

Type 17 · 12-11-2018 4:38pm

GP4000 successor: https://road.cc/content/tech-news/251454-continental-grand-prix-5000-tyre-tubeless-option-launched-video

site_owner · 12-11-2018 6:09pm

I've dumped 2 gp4000 this week, bulging sidewall on one and puncture after puncture on both.

Not that old either

Tell me how · 13-11-2018 2:06pm

Tell me how wrote: »

These posts are eerily relevant.

It's my turn to post about a bad experience. A car pulled on to the roundabout I was going through yesterday and hit me. Spent the night in A&E. Literally. 12 hours . Nothing broken thankfully but walking with crutches now to aid sore hip area now. Immediate damage on bike seems to be limited to wheel/rear cassette as car drove over it but haven't analysed yet.

It was still daylight (before 5) and I had flashing LED light on front (and rear) but driver said they never saw me.

Pain persisted so had MRI early today. Fractured pelvis.

:(:(

rushfan · 13-11-2018 2:21pm

Tell me how wrote:

Pain persisted so had MRI early today. Fractured pelvis.

Unfortunate. Best of luck with the recovery.

terrydel · 13-11-2018 2:31pm

Tell me how wrote: »

Pain persisted so had MRI early today. Fractured pelvis. :(:(

Get well soon.
His insurance company wont be able to use that defence.

mr spuckler · 13-11-2018 2:48pm

rushfan wrote: »

Unfortunate. Best of luck with the recovery.

hear hear on the recovery. it really is incredible just how little attention is paid to the road by so many drivers :mad:

Tell me how · 13-11-2018 2:54pm

Thanks everyone.

I shudder to think the impact this may have on my weight by the time I get back on the bike.
Anyone got any guidance on trying to ensure this doesn't happen bearing in mind that comfort eating is a critical part of the recovery (or so my body tells me).

secman · 13-11-2018 3:09pm

Tell me how wrote: »

Pain persisted so had MRI early today. Fractured pelvis. :(:(

Speedy recovery.... there go I but for the grace of God ,

secman · 13-11-2018 3:18pm

Tell me how wrote: »

Thanks everyone.

I shudder to think the impact this may have on my weight by the time I get back on the bike.
Anyone got any guidance on trying to ensure this doesn't happen bearing in mind that comfort eating is a critical part of the recovery (or so my body tells me).

Its difficult but do-able... i was off the bike with back problems from early Dec last year to near enough mid Feb, just decided when I realised it could be 6 to 8 weeks that I went off all crap , and stuck to it rigidly ovet Christmas, surrounded by junk food , didn't put much weight on, really really helped when I got back on the bike.

SHEER WILL POWER... yes I can

Good luck with it, be dogged determined.

Ray Bloody Purchase · 15-11-2018 10:04am

A minor victory of sorts this morning (in my own head anyways). I was cycling down Clanbrassil Street in the Bus Lane into town just outside Fumbally Cafe this morning. I see a guy in a big BMW pull into the bus lane behind me. I always stay in the centre of the lane along here because there's always delivery lorries and vans pulling out from the left.

The genius in the BMW goes right up my hole and starts beeping for me to get out of the way. I turned around and pointed at the bus lane symbol on the road and also indicated that he may be an enthusiastic fan of self love. He looked a bit shocked and backed off.

It's dangerous along there because there's always people veering into the bus lane to shave a second or two off their wait for the light. It gets right on my tits because they never feckin' check their mirrors and barge in.

Thinkingaboutit · 15-11-2018 11:45am

Always vehicles who shouldn't be there bombing down that buslane, or vans or lorries stopping / ed anywhere. Yet going down there every morning so sort of used to it. Self lovers quite like Audis too, also clapped out Passats.

LollipopJimmy · 15-11-2018 11:46am

Every morning now I seem to be getting stuck behind motorcyclists in the cycle lane along the canal. It's becoming a pain in the hole because they tend to creep along and with the traffic to my right at a standstill it's hard to overtake

AndrewJRenko · 16-11-2018 11:43pm

Ray Bloody Purchase wrote: »

A minor victory of sorts this morning (in my own head anyways). I was cycling down Clanbrassil Street in the Bus Lane into town just outside Fumbally Cafe this morning. I see a guy in a big BMW pull into the bus lane behind me. I always stay in the centre of the lane along here because there's always delivery lorries and vans pulling out from the left.

The genius in the BMW goes right up my hole and starts beeping for me to get out of the way. I turned around and pointed at the bus lane symbol on the road and also indicated that he may be an enthusiastic fan of self love. He looked a bit shocked and backed off.

It's dangerous along there because there's always people veering into the bus lane to shave a second or two off their wait for the light. It gets right on my tits because they never feckin' check their mirrors and barge in.

Some of those bus lanes can be really tough to ride in. I sometimes get struck down with sudden, very serious tiredness that slows me down to crawl.

16-11-2018 11:50pm

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Some of those bus lanes can be really tough to ride in. I sometimes get struck down with sudden, very serious tiredness that slows me down to crawl.

Jez take it easy fella, you're in the right gear ? 34x28 is the one you want for this situation in those tough bus lanes , I know there can be sudden headwinds winds too especially when you get a car behind you

lizzylad84 · 17-11-2018 11:42am

Injured my calf muscle during the week so opted to head out solo this morning, got about 15k do e before leg cramped up do headed for home. 35k done all in.

LollipopJimmy · 17-11-2018 2:08pm

Between the crash and the mental stuff I've been doing in the gym lately I've not really been out, went out today to Howth, up the back of the graveyard, down to the lighthouse, up to the summit down to the village back balkhill (sp?) Road, windgate road, down to the market for coffee then back up the village side lhs of the church this time and then home. 63kms all in with 650meteres but 45kms was flat so I'm happy with that.

silverharp · 17-11-2018 3:15pm

nice 5 days of commuting, amazing weather for nov, leap card stayed in wallet and 125km clocked up.

RacoonQueen · 18-11-2018 12:53pm

Took the bike out this morning and flat rear wheel again. :mad: Pumped back up and went out for a tentative 25k. Checked pressure when I go back, still at same pressure as before I left. Dunno what the **** is going on. Had been fine for 3 weeks then flat today.
Wheel and tyre seem fine and tubes aren't puncturing.
Maybe I just need to treat myself to new wheels.

Also dropped my apartment key and fob on the way out on the bike, got home...no key. Remembered hearing something drop out by lamb doyles but ignored it at the time thinking it was just debris getting thrown about..went back out and sure enough it was my key. Both were destroyed...just about managed to get key to turn in lock after hounding neighbours to let me into the building. Not my day. Should have stayed in bed this morning.

ED E · 18-11-2018 2:42pm

Get yourself some zippy pockets Queen. Not worth the hassle losing stuff.

Huge turnout for club Sundays this week. Making hay while the sun, amazingly, shines.

pjmn · 18-11-2018 5:24pm

https://www.strava.com/activities/1971769361

lovely morning, but some headwind once I turned after Roassaveal...

saccades · 18-11-2018 5:34pm

Missed the club road spin as the little one is doing the practice mass things and #1 child is ill and needed minding.

Did a quick 95 mins into the hills, ave 29.5kph and 500m climbing. You forget how hard it is on your own, would have sworn the wind was in my face all the time.

Good session all the same, legs are burning and I could eat a scabby horse.

monkeyslayer · 18-11-2018 8:13pm

Some amount of filth on the n81, overshoes look like they spent the day on a building site

Don't Chute! · 18-11-2018 9:29pm

Went out today fully intent on heading for Tallaght and going up by Ballinascorney and on to Enniskerry. Beautiful day for it, my absolute favourite type of day for a cycle. I got about 7 kms before I got a puncture. This was only the fifth spin on a brand new bike with brand new tyres. Only brought one spare tube so just did a short spin close to home. My last bike had Gatorskins on for about six months and i never got as many punctures in the previous four years when I had continentals on. Must have been about ten! Now this! Back to Continentals it is so.

Daroxtar · 19-11-2018 11:32am

Headed off yesterday into completely new territory. Leitrim.
4 of us drove down to Leitrim village and were on the bikes for 9. Lovely sunny weather if a little cold to start, light breeze, rolling roads, not a car in sight. Hit the first climb at a decent pace, Sleive Iniarann. It's a good climb that steadily increases in gradient up into double figures towards the top and has fantastic views over half the country. Then a good long descent and coffee stop in Drumshambo.
We headed off again around by Kilronan Castle and into Ballyfarnon and then took on an utter little brute of a climb, 2km @10%. I made a terrible mistake of chasing down one of the others who had opened a gap on the first part of the climb. With about 500m to go to the top the road ramps up to over 20% and as I got out of the saddle, my quad cramped and I had to ditch it.
Now I make a point of seeking out stupid hard, steep climbs and getting up them. I've beaten the Angliru (well, not beaten but definitely drawn) but that little bstard left me on my ass. I rolled back down about 100m to a bridge so I could clip back in, took about 5 minutes straightening out the leg and went again. Made it on the 2nd attempt but my leg was in bits.
After that we went back down and over to Geevagh and climbed the other side of that hill suffering all the way then back down suitably chastened and spent the next 30km fighting off the bonk into a headwind. Not my finest hour.

Finally rolled in for 110km with 1440 climbing.
I really need to shift that spare stone weight I found.
Anyway, it was a fantastic route and I'd strongly recommend anyone not familiar with the area to check it out.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1972054508

triggermortis · 20-11-2018 3:29am

Just cycled home from work. Wet and miserable and the headwind I had on the way into work earlier was now a headwind in the way home! Lovely...

LollipopJimmy · 20-11-2018 10:48am

Just the normal small commute but for the first time this year I felt miserable on the bike, cold and windy. Some skumbag had a go at me at Bluebell too, getting quite tired of the **** there

Alek · 20-11-2018 11:04am

Absolutely the worst morning commute in a long time. 45kph sidewind from the east, channelling between the buildings into a headwind but NEVER tailwind, rain and hail that disappears every single time you decide to stop and put the jacket on, and that fecking ironic rainbow at the very end.

I'd rather cycle in a downpour, hurricane, snowstorm, you name it, there is at least that smugness of surviving hardship in it, but this undecided moody shoite is beyond my mental capabilities.

Ugh.

silverharp · 20-11-2018 11:09am

got home fine last night but definite shift in wind to the East, plenty of wind resistance. On the wimp list today, let the train take the strain.....

Alanstrainor · 20-11-2018 2:18pm

Alek wrote: »

Absolutely the worst morning commute in a long time. 45kph sidewind from the east, channelling between the buildings into a headwind but NEVER tailwind, rain and hail that disappears every single time you decide to stop and put the jacket on, and that fecking ironic rainbow at the very end.

I'd rather cycle in a downpour, hurricane, snowstorm, you name it, there is at least that smugness of surviving hardship in it, but this undecided moody shoite is beyond my mental capabilities.

Ugh.

And mine was the opposite. Blasted into work down from Portmarnock to Dublin city centre. That easterly was more north easterly I'd bet, which gave me a massive boost. The gusts weren't pretty when they caught you side on, but overall it wasn't too bad.

God help me on my return journey!

Taxuser1 · 20-11-2018 3:22pm

I was commuting home last night and ahead of me saw a rider with a fantastic rear light, probably the best I've seen on a nighttime spin. I caught up with him and complimented him on his attention to safety but in particular the magnificent rear light which could be seen for miles. I rode off regretting that I hadn't asked where he got it. I came to a stop a few hundred metres later at the red lights at the always busy Terenure X and the rider I passed came up alongside and told me that they were Aldi lights, that he got them 3 years ago. He ruefully noted that their brightness might never matter as there were so many lunatics on the road anyway. He wished me good luck as he headed off through the red lights.

devonp · 20-11-2018 9:36pm

on the commute home from cc to leixlip..was flying along with the tailwind..thought the bike seemed extra comfy..after the bridge in Chapo checked the tyre..softish ..kept going...it started to bucket down through Palmerstown..kept going..lots of fishtailing..made it as far as the Salmon Leap on the last lb of air! walked thru Leixlip and up leixlip hill to home, good job i use MTB cleats with the commuter...i'll check the tyre in the morning!!

Wishbone Ash · 20-11-2018 10:09pm

I was on my way home from a group ride this afternoon when I had a spectacular blowout just as an articulated truck was passing me outside Naul village. Scared the crap out of me for a second as I thought it was one of the truck's tyres.

I assessed the damage and immediately thought I'd call Mrs WA. Thinking she'd take the head off me I said I'd try to do a repair job and see how far I'd get. Managed to get a boot in but it wasn't big enough to cover the hole so the tube was visible. I put a very small amount of air in - probably 10-15psi and just enough to prevent road damage to the wheel. The wind, rain and hailstones didn't help working at the side of the road.

I hobbled along being very pessimistic and regularly looking down at the visible tube. Because of the very low pressure, the bike kept wallowing over and back on the tyre giving some hairy moments. I was expecting it to go at any moment but incredibly I managed to cover the 15k home and didn't have to do any walking.

It looks like damage from a mis-alligned brake pad but that wasn't the case. The tyre has 14,000kms on it so I'm assuming it just got weaker recently.

site_owner · 20-11-2018 10:29pm

Aren't durano rated for about 3000km?!

Wishbone Ash · 20-11-2018 10:43pm

site_owner wrote: »

Aren't durano rated for about 3000km?!

3,000kms? First I've heard of it. Pretty pointless having to change tyres every month!

LollipopJimmy · 20-11-2018 11:54pm

Cycled up Chapelizod hill tonight in hailstones and with a full gear bag and turns out I did my PB. Definitely getting fitter, gym regime is not for the front hearted though.

Wishbone Ash · 21-11-2018 12:42am

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

...., gym regime is not for the front hearted though.

I now have visions of you with a massive heart growing out of your back!

LollipopJimmy · 21-11-2018 1:02am

Ah fer feck sake... I no do engrish good today

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

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