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

Pepe LeFrits · 12-07-2016 1:47pm

I cycled down to Ballymahon for a family gathering on Sunday and came back yesterday. The most I'd cycled before was 65km the previous weekend. 240km spread over two days was a bit of a step up!

The first leg was a bit of a slog, weather conditions were pretty miserable. I found myself feeling low on energy in the middle third and the final third included the R392 which was relentlessly up-down, which was tough on the quads. Was pretty tired when I arrived in Ballymahon but delighted with the achievement.

On the second leg I cheated a bit and got a lift to Athlone... meant I could avoid the R392 and take the Athlone-Mullingar cycleway instead. This added an extra 20km or so to the journey but I'd take nice and flat over burning quads and being overtaken on narrow roads by SUVs doing 100km/h over the crest of hills. The sun was out and it was a really enjoyable ride, and quite easy too.

I reckon the difficulty I felt in the first leg must have been psychological, because I wasn't /that/ tired after it, whereas as soon as I sat down on the couch after the 'easier' second leg, I couldn't stand up again

Already thinking about my next trip. South next time I reckon!

Pepe LeFrits · 12-07-2016 1:52pm

Oh, and how uncomfortable was sitting on that saddle by the end... still a bit 'raw' today...

triggermortis · 12-07-2016 7:37pm

I work away from home and cycle to and from work. Forgot to bring my Garmin with me this week and have lost count of the times I've looked at where it usually wouls be sitting.. Didn't realise I was this dependant on it!

R1_Pete · 12-07-2016 7:43pm

Didn't get out over the weekend with one thing and another, head was mush as a result. Took a half day today as it wasn't raining, headed off and towards Naul with no plan in mind as such. Ended up doing just over 100k, but the route was real scrappy, doubled back on myself etc.

Hadn't planned a long one, but you know how it goes.. "Ah sure 10k more and it'll be 70" "ah sure it's so close to 100 now"

Anyway nice enough for a random Tuesday afternoon

yop · 13-07-2016 9:13am

Finally of the 40km Connacht TTs. Broke the hour last week by 4 seconds, so this week I wanted 59.50.
Felt good, nice evening, slight wind on back on the way out, got there in 29.37 @ just over 40km average and 305 watts, so I then knew I had a good chance of breaking it.
Hit another gel at 30 mins and a quick drink, I decided to try hit 300w again on the way home, 2 long inclines and I needed to make sure I didn't burn, looked down on the 1st of them and I had 440 watt average so quickly turned that down to 320. I had changed the garmin to lap only, so that meant when I hit lap at 1/2 way I cud only see the figures for the out leg. I pushed hard on the last 10km and drove it over the line.
Checked my finishing time and got 59.41, so delighted to take 15 seconds off and that was a total of 55 seconds over the 3 races.
Averaged 299 watts and just over 40kmph. Have to say I am still happy.

Bloggsie · 13-07-2016 9:28am

yop wrote: »

Finally of the 40km Connacht TTs. Broke the hour last week by 4 seconds, so this week I wanted 59.50.
Felt good, nice evening, slight wind on back on the way out, got there in 29.37 @ just over 40km average and 305 watts, so I then knew I had a good chance of breaking it.
Hit another gel at 30 mins and a quick drink, I decided to try hit 300w again on the way home, 2 long inclines and I needed to make sure I didn't burn, looked down on the 1st of them and I had 440 watt average so quickly turned that down to 320. I had changed the garmin to lap only, so that meant when I hit lap at 1/2 way I cud only see the figures for the out leg. I pushed hard on the last 10km and drove it over the line.
Checked my finishing time and got 59.41, so delighted to take 15 seconds off and that was a total of 55 seconds over the 3 races.
Averaged 299 watts and just over 40kmph. Have to say I am still happy.

are you also known as Bradley Wiggins?

cracking effort by the way!

monkeysnapper · 13-07-2016 11:29pm

As a keen cyclist but only having cheap bikes as some might remember I splashed cash a month ago and bought new bike .

Today I finally changed to cycling shoes for 1st time . for first time ever I won't stick out like sore thumb doing events .

Did 5 miles . pretty pathetic really .

Ring of the reeks here I come fully kitted out .

Kaisr Sose · 13-07-2016 11:34pm

monkeysnapper wrote: »

Today I finally changed to cycling shoes for 1st time . for first time ever I won't stick out like sore thumb doing events .

Did 5 miles . pretty pathetic really .

Well done. Out of small acorns grow big trees...so onwards and upwards!

triggermortis · 14-07-2016 8:45am

Finished night shift ( 5 of 5 ) this morning and as my flight home isn't until tonight I thought I'd get a spin in before bed. The plan was to take a steady spin for 2 -3 hours to tire myself out and then get a decent sleep when I got back.
Traffic was chaos in a few spots - I was the fastest thing on the road in places until I hit the slightest incline, then I just felt drained. As I've no Garmin with me, I decided to turn on data roaming and use Strava on my phone for a change (first time ever). Shouldn't have bothered as I was so slow. Monday it was 35 degrees here. Today was 12! I had winter tights, top and gloves on. This still didn't really help much.
I took a wrong turn at a roundabout and realised I was heading towards the airport (and home) but as it had started raining and I wasn't feeling like doing my planned route, I didn't bother turning back and headed for home. 39.5 Km in 90 minutes isn't great but it was all I could muster.
Time for a (crappy Swiss) beer and bed for a few hours now!

https://www.strava.com/activities/640344197

Bloggsie · 14-07-2016 9:35am

monkeysnapper wrote: »

As a keen cyclist but only having cheap bikes as some might remember I splashed cash a month ago and bought new bike .

Today I finally changed to cycling shoes for 1st time . for first time ever I won't stick out like sore thumb doing events .

Did 5 miles . pretty pathetic really .

Ring of the reeks here I come fully kitted out .

nothing can hold you back now!

Bloggsie · 14-07-2016 11:02am

normal work spin this morning. 28.9 kms 64 mins 26.9kmph average.

the PP looked gorgeous this morning, only negative was the fool on the DB skipping through the red ligths on the north quays at Capel Street & the lights beforehand.

run_Forrest_run · 14-07-2016 12:10pm

i'm a proud fair weather cyclist so I took the bike into work this morning. The endorphins were flying about at 6:55 this morning heading along the river Lee into the city. To make things even more positive I didn't encounter one red light, not one, must be a record of some sort! Arrived 4 minutes faster than normal

Bloggsie · 14-07-2016 12:42pm

run_Forrest_run wrote: »

i'm a proud fair weather cyclist so I took the bike into work this morning. The endorphins were flying about at 6:55 this morning heading along the river Lee into the city. To make things even more positive I didn't encounter one red light, not one, must be a record of some sort! Arrived 4 minutes faster than normal

you will have to change your handle to cycle Forrest cycle!

brianomc · 14-07-2016 1:58pm

Chapelizod to Howth and back. Smashing day out there, everybody in a good mood it seems, motorists/cyclists/joggers all getting along. Got the weird vibe along the way of "am I just dreaming this?".

WindGuru said a light tailwind out but I got a PR on (nearly) every segment from the Alfie Byrne road until I had done the loop of Howth and was back at Sutton Cross so it must have been stronger than I thought. Feck that bus who got in my way on the descent. 2 3rd places sticking out like a sore thumb in a block of gold.

I'm not sure when it happened but they resurfaced the road in both directions from Sutton Cross all the way back onto the seafront cycle lane. The boneshaker cycle lanes are gone.

Think I frightened some girl initially when I pulled alongside her to tell her that her kickstand was still down. Presumably these things are designed to move up if they get caught on the road while turning but better safe than sorry no? That was my good deed of the day anyway.

Mercian Pro · 14-07-2016 5:40pm

Not such a good experience as brianomc above unfortunately.

On the way back home after a very enjoyable club spin to Oldbridge when an Expressway coach half passed me in a bus/bike lane and then attempted to squeeze me onto the footpath. The driver saw me allright as I could see him looking in the inside mirror but that didn't stop him from coming right into the kerb. By then I had breaked hard to let him pull ahead. I attempted to "speak" to him when he stopped at the lights 50m later but he kept the door closed and wagged his finger at me!
I have reported him to both Bus Eireann and the Gardai but don't expect much will happen.

Daroxtar · 14-07-2016 8:32pm

Mercian Pro wrote: »

Not such a good experience as brianomc above unfortunately.

On the way back home after a very enjoyable club spin to Oldbridge when an Expressway coach half passed me in a bus/bike lane and then attempted to squeeze me onto the footpath. The driver saw me allright as I could see him looking in the inside mirror but that didn't stop him from coming right into the kerb. By then I had breaked hard to let him pull ahead. I attempted to "speak" to him when he stopped at the lights 50m later but he kept the door closed and wagged his finger at me!
I have reported him to both Bus Eireann and the Gardai but don't expect much will happen.

Report him to Traffic Watch. They will follow up on it

ted1 · 14-07-2016 10:41pm

took a detour on the way home.

dawson street- coast road, around howth head- portmarnock- malahide-swords-airport-drumcondra-east link- Dun laoighre

stopped for a 99 ice cream and drink, then 40 ft-dalkey-killiney-bray head-killiney.

I was short of the 100 so i did afew laps around the block and finished with 100.6KM and 743m climbing.

https://www.strava.com/activities/641127975

great day for it, and the views around the coast are great.

secman · 14-07-2016 11:22pm

secman wrote: »

Haven't been out since Sunday...
A summer headcold... pits ...Probably won't be able to get out till weekend hopefully. Poxy summer headcold..... you expect these in the winter

Still haven't been out ...the dose came back for a second attack ðŸ˜¢ 10 days since I was last out !
I'm seriously thinking of getting out for an early bird spin before work tomorrow morning.

Mercian Pro · 14-07-2016 11:26pm

Daroxtar wrote: »

Report him to Traffic Watch. They will follow up on it

Thanks D. Will try that in the morning. Looks like it's a phone only service which is a bit odd nowadays.

In sending it to the Gardai earlier, I found it really difficult to check which station was responsible for the area where the incident happened. Traffic Watch should get over that issue.

Wishbone Ash · 14-07-2016 11:40pm

Mercian Pro wrote: »

...In sending it to the Gardai earlier, I found it really difficult to check which station was responsible for the area where the incident happened...

I've had experience of that also when is unfamiliar territory which seems ridiculous in a country with one police force and a PULSE system. It's not as if there are separate administrations such as in the UK/USA. That said, I think it's a bit of a cop out (pun unintended!) depending on who you get to talk to. It's particularly frustrating when that line is trotted out within your local Garda division - Romeo Brava saying you were actually within the remit of Romeo Charlie, nuttin' to do with us blah, blah blah!

moonshadow · 15-07-2016 12:04am

Jumped up two groups tonight as numbers were down for the spin ,normal average is 26/27.
Busted a gut to average 31.9kmph over 42km felt great at the end , back out with that group next week....progress &#55357;&#56490;

Bloggsie · 15-07-2016 8:00am

ted1 wrote: »

took a detour on the way home.

dawson street- coast road, around howth head- portmarnock- malahide-swords-airport-drumcondra-east link- Dun laoighre

stopped for a 99 ice cream and drink, then 40 ft-dalkey-killiney-bray head-killiney.

I was short of the 100 so i did afew laps around the block and finished with 100.6KM and 743m climbing.

https://www.strava.com/activities/641127975

great day for it, and the views around the coast are great.

I hope it was Teddy's you got the 99 from!, Best in South Dublin.

Bloggsie · 15-07-2016 8:15am

felt really strong so I put the hammer down(relatively speaking) from the PP to Maynooth going home yesterday 29.3kms in 70 mins, 25.1 kmph average. doesnt match up to some of the big numbers that are put up on here that I wont ever get within an asses roar of, when I started in May the journey home was taking 80 plus mins & I was creamcrackered afterwards.
A big smiley face on me having dinner last nite!

ted1 · 15-07-2016 8:47am

Bloggsie wrote: »

I hope it was Teddy's you got the 99 from!, Best in South Dublin.

Of course it was.

retalivity · 16-07-2016 3:04pm

Kilmainham - Tallaght - Ballinascorney - Kippure estate - Sally Gap - Glencree - Featherbeds - Rathfarnham - Kilmainham

59k in 2hrs 35m. Seem to have hit a wall where I cannot get over 23kph average when there are hills involved. Just do not have the power to grind through a higher gear on the slopes.

Lovely day for it out there, skirted around the grey clouds. First time up the back road from ballinascorney to kippure estate via the army camp, lovely quiet, lonely road, nice long drag of a hill too. Windy as hell from the gap to the featherbeads

https://www.strava.com/activities/642651904

barrier86 · 16-07-2016 3:11pm

60km today. 750m climbing average speed 22kph. Not amazing but first cycle in a while do pleased enough.

rustynutz · 16-07-2016 5:20pm

Just upgraded my Felt F95 for a Giant Defy 0, took it for a short 20km run, first time with clipless pedals too, and didn't fall off! what a difference in gear shifting from Sora to Ultegra, very pleased.

Don't Chute! · 16-07-2016 5:43pm

80 kms this morning from Greystones out to Enniskerry and Stepaside and up Cruagh road. Back down to Stepaside via Johnny foxes and down to Dalkey and home. I've been purposefully keeping it in the big ring since I got back from the Alps and I made it up Cruagh today! Delighted!

https://www.strava.com/activities/642498243

nilhg · 16-07-2016 7:55pm

I did the Danny O'Shea memorial TT today, well out of my comfort zone and I felt a bit like a carthorse among thoroughbreds but we're trying to encourage TTing in the club so when a few others were heading over it seemed the thing to do to go with them.

I finished well down the field, the best that could be said is that I wasn't last but was happy enough with my time, the only way to improve is to line up before the starter, I don't seem to be able to replicate the same effort in training, this was the second open TT I've done this year and along with one in our club league, I reckon I've learned a little from each of them.

https://www.strava.com/activities/642679327

Eugene Donohoe · 17-07-2016 5:31am

Bloggsie wrote: »

28.8 kms in 65mins 26.5 avg.

I will pass the 1000km mark on my spin home this evening, not bad considering I only started commuting to & from work in the second week of May

not as much as some on here but Im chuffed with hitting the mark.

That's very good. I'm just starting out myself a bit late in life but looking forward to it.

magicbastarder · 17-07-2016 1:48pm

lovely morning for it this morning, albeit with a choppy wind. 35km around NCD.

Daroxtar · 17-07-2016 2:08pm

Got up this morning raring to go. I'll hit the hills!!! Sat on the throne and my back went into a spasm. It's been niggling all week at work. Plans changed, no point going up the Sally Gap and blowing up altogether. I figured that maybe a gentle spin would do me better, loosen me up. I set off and just up the road I met a few of the local club lads heading out. They were the intermediate group and told me to tag on with them.
Had a lovely spin down to Mullingar and back. 85km in 3:08 @27.5kmh. Well within myself all the way and did plenty up the front. Very enjoyable company and the chocolate cake and coffee was top notch too

Weather was beautiful and I changed my cables and bar tape yesterday... OMG the bike is shifting unbelievably smoother. No comparison. You just touch the lever and it pops up or down. Lizard skins bar tape is so nice too. Took my gloves off after a few k just to enjoy the feel....mmmmmm
I may have to join the club. I've been meaning to for ages but just never seem to be around where they're on their spins.

Back is looser, still not perfect but bearable. It's actually grand while cycling, not great walking. I'll be lazy at work for the next few days. Can't let it interfere with my cycling!!!

https://www.strava.com/activities/643755269

terrydel · 17-07-2016 3:23pm

Daroxtar wrote: »

Got up this morning raring to go. I'll hit the hills!!! Sat on the throne and my back went into a spasm. It's been niggling all week at work. Plans changed, no point going up the Sally Gap and blowing up altogether. I figured that maybe a gentle spin would do me better, loosen me up. I set off and just up the road I met a few of the local club lads heading out. They were the intermediate group and told me to tag on with them.
Had a lovely spin down to Mullingar and back. 85km in 3:08 @27.5kmh. Well within myself all the way and did plenty up the front. Very enjoyable company and the chocolate cake and coffee was top notch too
Weather was beautiful and I changed my cables and bar tape yesterday... OMG the bike is shifting unbelievably smoother. No comparison. You just touch the lever and it pops up or down. Lizard skins bar tape is so nice too. Took my gloves off after a few k just to enjoy the feel....mmmmmm
I may have to join the club. I've been meaning to for ages but just never seem to be around where they're on their spins.

Back is looser, still not perfect but bearable. It's actually grand while cycling, not great walking. I'll be lazy at work for the next few days. Can't let it interfere with my cycling!!!

https://www.strava.com/activities/643755269

Look after that back chief, I speak from painful experience as to the physical and mental turmoil a bad back can cause.
That taking a dump is an extreme sport eh?!!

Daroxtar · 17-07-2016 3:47pm

terrydel wrote: »

Look after that back chief, I speak from painful experience as to the physical and mental turmoil a bad back can cause.
That taking a dump is an extreme sport eh?!!

Haha, a feed of pints, a bag of dry roast peanuts and a kebab.... It could be extreme enough!!!

Back gives me a little bit of bother every now and again, 20 year working in construction. I'm surprised I can function at all. Hopefully I'll be right in a few days. Feel better now than earlier. Yoga and heat pack at night usually has me sorted. Fingers crossed.

terrydel · 17-07-2016 3:59pm

Daroxtar wrote: »

Haha, a feed of pints, a bag of dry roast peanuts and a kebab.... It could be extreme enough!!!

Back gives me a little bit of bother every now and again, 20 year working in construction. I'm surprised I can function at all. Hopefully I'll be right in a few days. Feel better now than earlier. Yoga and heat pack at night usually has me sorted. Fingers crossed.

Good stuff, Ive sat at desk the last 15 years and honest to God I think thats the worst thing possible for the back! Stretching or a bit of yoga type exercise is great. That and a top notch mattress fixed me (as much as it was possible to fix me). Dont do enough stretching mind you.

f1000 · 17-07-2016 5:25pm

First proper spin in nearly a month. Savage day for it. 50km with an average of 24.3km/h in 2 hours. Legs are feeling it now. Recovery beer going down nicely.

sullivlo · 17-07-2016 8:04pm

55km today. Home to Fairview, up to Howth (Sutton side) and back down the same way and on to Malahide. Straight down the Malahide road then and a right turn home. Average 23kph I think.

Punctured though. Kinda twice. Must have pinched the new tube when putting it in, but used all of my co2 on it so ended up having to walk back to Halfords and borrow their pump as my cycle buddy had no pump with her.

Great day for it. Cultivating the cyclist tan nicely.

Hauki · 17-07-2016 9:07pm

200k and 2200 of climbing. Absolute monster of a day and longest ride ever!

Zigzagged around Wicklow, tackled some hills and enjoyed the glorious weather. Despite this being longest ride to date I still managed to get PR's on most of the major climbs :eek:

Looking back I still remember me thinking that doing 100k is something that I'll be never able to do, and this isn't even that long ago. How wrong was I?

Get out. Keep riding. Keep pushing. This a hobby that gives so much :cool:

https://www.strava.com/activities/644319441

Mercian Pro · 17-07-2016 9:42pm

Had a great time yesterday guiding eight cyclists from Dublin to Kilkenny on a sponsored cycle for the Alzheimer's Society. For most of them it was quite a bit longer and tougher than any cycle they had previously done. The route was great mainly on quiet back roads through Ballymore Eustace, Dunlavin and Moone before lunch in Carlow. In the afternoon we passed through Bagnalstown and Paulstown before joining the R712 for the last 20k into Kilkenny. Battling a headwind we even got rolling turns going in the bike lane which helped take everyone's minds off the last push.
Interestingly, bikes and gear ranged from quite upmarket to bargain basement but it made little difference to participants' enjoyment and sense of achievement.

secman · 17-07-2016 11:31pm

First spin in 2 weeks after a summer dose thing... 66km.. 24.5 kmph. Quick loop around to Ballygarrett..killenagh. Gorey.. Camolin
.Ferns.. Boolavogue..Ballyedmund..home.
Lovely morning to get back. Went down to Cahore and got a nice swim in too.

strmin · 18-07-2016 8:04am

135km at 28km/h. My longest ride so far. What a lovely Sunday it was. I never thought I would get sunburn in Ireland.

https://www.strava.com/activities/643824966

Bloggsie · 18-07-2016 9:19am

sullivlo wrote: »

55km today. Home to Fairview, up to Howth (Sutton side) and back down the same way and on to Malahide. Straight down the Malahide road then and a right turn home. Average 23kph I think.

Punctured though. Kinda twice. Must have pinched the new tube when putting it in, but used all of my co2 on it so ended up having to walk back to Halfords and borrow their pump as my cycle buddy had no pump with her.

Great day for it. Cultivating the cyclist tan nicely.

Rule no 5. Always have a pump!

Pepe LeFrits · 18-07-2016 10:00am

Cycled down to Wicklow Town and back on Saturday, about 105km. On the way out I went via Dalkey/Bray/Greystones... the hills! :eek:

Was passed on the way out and on the way back by another lad enjoying a similar spin (albeit at a bit of a faster pace

). Nice fella, offered some words of encouragement. I've 2 weekends left to try to build up some fitness before I cycle to France for my hols. I think I'll be alright, I wasn't as tired afterwards as I had been the previous weekend.

LollipopJimmy · 18-07-2016 12:24pm

Few nice rides over the last 7 days. Running late this morning on my 13k commute, nice to know I've an extra bit in the tank as the fitness levels rise

P_1 · 18-07-2016 2:40pm

Planned a nice long spin up to the North County, hit a pothole in Drumcondra and popped a spoke so that put paid to that. Keep an eye out there on your cycle as the surface seems to be getting worse.

Anyone know how much it costs to replace a spoke?

magicbastarder · 18-07-2016 3:12pm

i think i paid a tenner in humphries. maybe 15.

traprunner · 18-07-2016 3:25pm

2 spokes and labour was €16 in 360 Cycles.

Receipt states:
Labour buckle/wheel truing €0
2 spokes needed
TJ Labour €16

secman · 18-07-2016 9:02pm

Kilnamanagh to blessington,loop around back of lakes to Manor Kilbride and back to Kilnamanagh. 42km Avg 26.8 kph. Lovely evening for a spin.

Unknown Soldier · 18-07-2016 9:29pm

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

Cycled down to Wicklow Town and back on Saturday, about 105km. On the way out I went via Dalkey/Bray/Greystones... the hills! :eek:

Was passed on the way out and on the way back by another lad enjoying a similar spin (albeit at a bit of a faster pace ). Nice fella, offered some words of encouragement. I've 2 weekends left to try to build up some fitness before I cycle to France for my hols. I think I'll be alright, I wasn't as tired afterwards as I had been the previous weekend.

Well done, good spin.

You've come along way since CS

Says me, in fairness.

LollipopJimmy · 18-07-2016 11:31pm

I'll go for a little spin after work he says, loosen the legs after training them for an hour at lunch in the gym he says, be grand he says.

71.8kms @27.4km/h with 360m of the up stuff.

We shall sleep tonight, rest day tomorrow thanks be to baby jebus.

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

Comments