Anyone cycling around NCD tomorrow morning?

wobblyknees

Early early?

neris

normally would but heading to wicklow to play on the mountains and practice hill climbs. where do you normally start off from and what level you at?

RobFowl

Blakes Cross 08:30 sharp Swords Cc spin 70k 28-30kph average. We wait for punctures. Lots of turn off points if you need to get home and can carry on if you want longer.

wobblyknees

I hijacked this thread:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055990124

This is a bit of what I have been doing recently:

Sounds ridiculous when you put it like that! But I was doing 30-35k one way, then later doing another 30-35k. Plus it was over 8/9 days. In fact, just looking at it again and I did only 480 - 500km in 8 days (no rest days) and 610k in 12 days (2 rest days). So over 12 days it's actually only an average of 50k each day, but over 8 days its an average of about 60km a day without a rest day. I should really be able to hit 100km with a couple of days rest before hand then?

I am a beginner though. Reading some of the stuff on climbing hills and I wouldn't have thought about some of the stuff on changing gears. I'd be inclined to lamp into a 'high' gear and try and power up hills for example!

wobblyknees

RobFowl wrote: »

Blakes Cross 08:30 sharp Swords Cc spin 70k 28-30kph average. We wait for punctures. Lots of turn off points if you need to get home and can carry on if you want longer.

What's the route?

neris

try cycling up to drogheda via laytown and bettystown then back down the N1 and take a turn off for the Naul then head Naul to Swords. Should be bout 100k. I did my 1st 100 bout 6 weeks ago from Baldoyle up to Drogheda and back. Roads are flat and light on traffic and easy enough to turn off early and head home if needed. just pace yourself take it easy and enjoy. Use bike route toaster to plan a route and it will give you distance aswell

Beasty

wobblyknees wrote: »

What's the route?

Here

There is also a slower leisure group starting out from Swords at 9.30 - not sure of the route of that one (Note the "All year round (once it's not raining!)" comment though)

wobblyknees

neris wrote: »

try cycling up to drogheda via laytown and bettystown then back down the N1 and take a turn off for the Naul then head Naul to Swords. Should be bout 100k. I did my 1st 100 bout 6 weeks ago from Baldoyle up to Drogheda and back. Roads are flat and light on traffic and easy enough to turn off early and head home if needed. just pace yourself take it easy and enjoy. Use bike route toaster to plan a route and it will give you distance aswell

Thanks for the suggestion. Sounds good. Might have to adjust it slightly to make it back to Balbriggan but looks good. I'll have a look at bike route toaster as well. thanks.

wobblyknees

Beasty wrote: »

Here

There is also a slower leisure group starting out from Swords at 9.30 - not sure of the route of that one though

Thanks, what would you suggest I go for?

RobFowl

wobblyknees wrote: »

Thanks, what would you suggest I go for?

Go for the 08:30 group and see how it goes. If it's too fast back off and try the 09:30 one next week. The pace is steady and stay at the back and don't get sucked into doing turns at the front.

Beasty

RobFowl wrote: »

Go for the 08:30 group and see how it goes. If it's too fast back off and try the 09:30 one next week. The pace is steady and stay at the back and don't get sucked into doing turns at the front.

Yeah, that 9.30 links in with the vets. You probably don't want to be seen cycling round NCD with a load of geriatrics...;)

wobblyknees

Beasty wrote: »

Yeah, that 9.30 links in with the vets. You probably don't want to be seen cycling round NCD with a load of geriatrics...;)

I'm going to give the 8.30 a go. When you say Blakes Cross, are you talking opposite the garage, on the left hand side as if you are heading for Swords?

I've been having trouble accessing the bloody internet since earlier, in particular Google, I can't access the maps you posted earlier. If you could post up an image it would be brilliant!

RobFowl

Beasty wrote: »

Yeah, that 9.30 links in with the vets. You probably don't want to be seen cycling round NCD with a load of geriatrics...;)

From one to another beasty :rolleyes: 35-55 is the growth area in cycling......

Beasty

Route goes from Blakes Cross to Lusk, heading along the Skerries Road, taking a right towards Loughshinney, then up the coast road to Skerries (getting there around 9), back along the Lusk Road then taking a right up towards Ardgillan and on to Balrothery, over to Naul, then Oldtown and down to the Airport to head back to the old N1 and Swords - those from the Skerries area head back past Blakes Cross and through Lusk

I'm guessing those coming from Swords simply head up the old N1 then take a right at Blakes Cross and set off from there

RobFowl

wobblyknees wrote: »

I'm going to give the 8.30 a go. When you say Blakes Cross, are you talking opposite the garage, on the left hand side as if you are heading for Swords?

I've been having trouble accessing the bloody internet since earlier, in particular Google, I can't access the maps you posted earlier. If you could post up an image it would be brilliant!

Opposite the tire garage at the start of the skerries road. I'll be joining later around Milverton and will be the Chubby guy on a Ridley (not very specific in Swords CC but'll be wearing a Brittany jersey).

The touring group are a great bunch but like to go for longer (time wise) spins and stop for coffee. The Blakes cross spin gets to Swords at 10'45 Skerries at 11'10 Balbriggan at 11'20 so is good in terms of keeping the family happy...

http://www.swordscc.com/
Look under club training spins
0830 saturday group

BTW officially it's under the direction of Pat Halligan (he's a very fit Vet on a Raparee frame)

Beasty

RobFowl wrote: »

From one to another beasty :rolleyes: 35-55 is the growth area in cycling......

And I am living evidence of it... - 50 is the new 40, which probably makes you 21 or so:rolleyes:

Inquitus

Whilst we are on the Swords CC vibe, I am just trying to get back into cycling, riding a hybrid, can avg @24 kph over a Swords fairly flat 30k or so on an evening ride, as a non member can I hook up with the beginners group on a Sunday unheralded and just join in?

RobFowl

Inquitus wrote: »

Whilst we are on the Swords CC vibe, I am just trying to get back into cycling, riding a hybrid, can avg @24 kph over a Swords fairly flat 30k or so on an evening ride, as a non member can I hook up with the beginners group on a Sunday unheralded and just join in?

In a word Yes...

Inquitus

RobFowl wrote: »

In a word Yes...

Super, thanks.

wobblyknees

RobFowl wrote: »

Opposite the tire garage at the start of the skerries road. I'll be joining later around Milverton and will be the Chubby guy on a Ridley (not very specific in Swords CC but'll be wearing a Brittany jersey).

The touring group are a great bunch but like to go for longer (time wise) spins and stop for coffee. The Blakes cross spin gets to Swords at 10'45 Skerries at 11'10 Balbriggan at 11'20 so is good in terms of keeping the family happy...

http://www.swordscc.com/
Look under club training spins
0830 saturday group

BTW officially it's under the direction of Pat Halligan (he's a very fit Vet on a Raparee frame)

When you say gets to Balbriggan at 11'20, do you mean for the (almost) second time as presumably going from Ardgillan to Naul takes you close to Balbriggan.

As it stands I'm looking at cycling from Balbriggan to Blakes cross via the N1 and following the group all the way back to Balbriggan!

wobblyknees

Beasty wrote: »

Route goes from Blakes Cross to Lusk, heading along the Skerries Road, taking a right towards Loughshinney, then up the coast road to Skerries (getting there around 9), back along the Lusk Road then taking a right up towards Ardgillan and on to Balrothery, over to Naul, then Oldtown and down to the Airport to head back to the old N1 and Swords - those from the Skerries area head back past Blakes Cross and through Lusk

I'm guessing those coming from Swords simply head up the old N1 then take a right at Blakes Cross and set off from there

Thanks for all the detail. Can just about picture it now bar the route between ardgillan and naul.

Beasty

wobblyknees wrote: »

Thanks for all the detail. Can just about picture it now bar the route between ardgillan and naul.

Left at Ardgillan gates, right at T junction down to and through Balrothery, right onto Old N1/R132, first left, down dip, up hill left towards R122 out of Balbriggan, head out over M1 all the way to Naul ...

And yes, 11.20 is Rob's ETA back at Balrothery/Balbriggan, otherwise he's grounded all next week...

wobblyknees

Beasty wrote: »

Left at Ardgillan gates, right at T junction down to and through Balrothery, right onto Old N1/R132, first left, down dip, up hill left towards R122 out of Balbriggan, head out over M1 all the way to Naul ...

And yes, 11.20 is Rob's ETA back at Balrothery/Balbriggan, otherwise he's grounded all next week...

Brilliant, got it now. You take one of the back roads between Balrothery and the M1. I've been up and down there loads of times. In fact the road from skerries to ardgillan is really nice. I ran it loads of times a few years back when training for the marathon.

I'll take a leisurely cycle to Blakes cross in the morning so and see how I get on from there. I think I'll be alright!

I'll be wearing a plain blue cycling top and black shorts for what it's worth. Please be aware that my bike is also an extremely expensive luvergimossgismo. *

*May or may not be true. May actually be a hybrid raleigh road bike with a bag/carrier.

Beasty

I won't be riding tomorrow, as I have a vets race on Sunday. Depending on what else is on, there may only be a few at Blakes Cross, and they pick up people as they go along, (often quite a few joining in and around Skerries) with Rob not joining until Balbriggan/Balrothery.

wobblyknees

Beasty wrote: »

I won't be riding tomorrow, as I have a vets race on Sunday. Depending on what else is on, there may only be a few at Blakes Cross, and they pick up people as they go along, (often quite a few joining in and around Skerries) with Rob not joining until Balbriggan/Balrothery.

Ok, presumably it's ok to just turn up and introduce myself to whoever is there then?

Beasty

wobblyknees wrote: »

Ok, presumably it's ok to just turn up and introduce myself to whoever is there then?

I'm not sure how long anyone hangs around at Blakes Cross. They may just turn up in a group and head straight off, but if anyone is hanging around just say hello and join in with them, riders normally just join on and say hello as they ride along - Rob will look after you ...

NB - they normally pick the pace up around the airport - don't worry if you get dropped there - it normally comes back together at the lights or one of the roundabouts back on the Old N1. People will be dropping off around that area also, as it heads around Swords

wobblyknees

Well that was interesting. 30km/h + up hills was alright for the first half hour or so until I got as far as Skerries and the black hills! All in all, including the journey to Blakes cross, and the journey home I did only 42km. I'd say if I attempt this again, I need more sleep the night before and a few rest days before hand. I also very much need to do a lot of work on hills! Otherwise, it was enjoyable and a bit of an eye opener cycling with people for the first time and I very much appreciated the help and pointers from those I spoke to at the back!

blahblah06

Is any newbies heading to these cycles this morning ?

Preferably the slower one

Inquitus

blahblah06 wrote: »

Is any newbies heading to these cycles this morning ?

Preferably the slower one

Nope, I was on the beer last night for my wifes birthday, but I hope to make the beginners spin next Sunday.

blahblah06

Missed it myself this morning will definitely be at the beginners next Sunday to meet a few heads

Inquitus

Actually I am away on holidays with the kids in Mount Wolesley in Carlow next weekend so I will be cycling round whatever it has to offer, be the sunday afterwards for the beginners spin for me.