Tell us about your cycle Yesterday.

crosstownk

PrismES wrote: »

My missus was late for her "Mammy's Camogie" game, I forgot the time, it will probably be all picture no sound when she gets home.
30.9km at 27.4kph
http://www.strava.com/activities/202011013

It's not your fault that you punctured

Wishbone Ash

smacl wrote: »

Didn't have much time today so decided to tackle Kilmashogue ... .... Had to unclip and put the feet down twice...

The only thing that keeps me moving there is that I won't get unclipped before the bike begins rolling back!

crosstownk wrote: »

It's not your fault that you punctured

The trick is to ring ahead if you know you're running late and say that you've just 'punctured' and may be delayed. Saying it when you arrive home just sounds like an excuse.

BenEadir

PrismES wrote: »

Another after dark spin on one of my usual routes, darkness certainly heightens your awareness.
1st of October and the average temp on the spin has dropped 4degrees, my big toe was numb when I got home. Time to invest in some winter gear.
My missus was late for her "Mammy's Camogie" game, I forgot the time, it will probably be all picture no sound when she gets home.
30.9km at 27.4kph
http://www.strava.com/activities/202011013

Hi PrismES,

I'm new to this lark. Used to do a bit of jogging but at 46 and 96kg (183cm) my left knee packed in so my jogging days are over and my cycling days are commencing.

I recently bought a road bike and the requisite clothing and I started doing 20km to 30km spins in the summer evenings eg from near Stillorgan Luas (where I live) to Enniskerry which I really enjoyed but I've been on crutches for the last 6 weeks following an operation to repair my knee and I should be back on the bike again in a couple weeks. The problem I have is figuring out what early morning (6.15am) or evening routes to do as both will be in the dark. My preference is to stick to well lit roads rather than venture out into the country roads even though I'll have good front and back lights myself. Is that what most people training in the dark early morning or evenings do?

The route you did this evening runs close to where I live and is the type of weekday spin I'd like do. Would you recommend it? I'd like to identify some routes which are well lit and allow as much of a continuous run possible ie not traffic lights every few hundred meters.

Appreciate any advice you can give me.

PrismES

BenEadir wrote: »

Hi PrismES,

I'm new to this lark. Used to do a bit of jogging but at 46 and 96kg (183cm) my left knee packed in so my jogging days are over and my cycling days are commencing.

I recently bought a road bike and the requisite clothing and I started doing 20km to 30km spins in the summer evenings eg from near Stillorgan Luas (where I live) to Enniskerry which I really enjoyed but I've been on crutches for the last 6 weeks following an operation to repair my knee and I should be back on the bike again in a couple weeks. The problem I have is figuring out what early morning (6.15am) or evening routes to do as both will be in the dark. My preference is to stick to well lit roads rather than venture out into the country roads even though I'll have good front and back lights myself. Is that what most people training in the dark early morning or evenings do?

The route you did this evening runs close to where I live and is the type of weekday spin I'd like do. Would you recommend it? I'd like to identify some routes which are well lit and allow as much of a continuous run possible ie not traffic lights every few hundred meters.

Appreciate any advice you can give me.

BenEadir,
I like this route, it opens a few of possibilities on route depending on how your spin is going.
Yes, I would recommend it, the only dodgy part was Whitechurch Road from the roundabout to College Road, not great street lighting, however its a very quite road with a good surface, you do need a decent front light to see the few speed bumps though.

I started cycling in June this year, I was looking for something low impact to get me fit (44 and 97kg), I've dropped 16kg since then and feel great.

PrismES

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

The trick is to ring ahead if you know you're running late and say that you've just 'punctured' and may be delayed. Saying it when you arrive home just sounds like an excuse.

Every thing was kosher on her return. She's been very supportive.

BenEadir

PrismES wrote: »

BenEadir,
I like this route, it opens a few of possibilities on route depending on how your spin is going.
Yes, I would recommend it, the only dodgy part was Whitechurch Road from the roundabout to College Road, not great street lighting, however its a very quite road with a good surface, you do need a decent front light to see the few speed bumps though.

I started cycling in June this year, I was looking for something low impact to get me fit (44 and 97kg), I've dropped 16kg since then and feel great.

Thanks PrismES,

Appreciate the feedback. I'd be happy with half the weightloss.

triggermortis

First commute on my 'commuting bike' in 3 months and first proper ride on it since fitting a new chain, hanger, RD and cables, only to find the chain skips under load on a lot of the cassette. Time for a new cassette I think.
I only took this bike today as it has mudguards and I got soaked yesterday as the mount bracket for my raceblades snapped off of the other bike.

neris

Had a lovely spin up around howth tonight from the sutton side. Took the 1st climb up by the golf club a bit enthusiastically and was huffing and puffing like a good thing by the old cemetery. Great free wheel down into the village and tailwind back home. Saw a large group of cyclists stopped for coffee at il panorama. September/october really is a bad time of the year to be rediscovering the fun of being on the bike

rollingscone

Got out early this morning, was out the door at 0626 headed up to Cruagh, it was ferking froooozing when I left the house so I put in a fairly good pace as far as Edmonstown, managed to miss the Bin Lorries this time as well.

By the time I was passing that old factory type building opposite the golf club I had picked up a 40ft Lorry and decided, despite my allergy to hill start- clip ins in road shoes to do the the decent thing and not make him stay behind me all the way up the hill.

Imagine my dismay when the lorry passed and about 20m later turned left into the Golf Club and disappeared, huffed and puffed up fueled only by an Apple I'd had before leaving the house and made it as far as the last ramp before the first bridge before stopping for a casual puke. Couldn't get clipped in again so one leg pushed-stopped-started for an embarrassing 15-20m until I got to the Bridge itself and got going properly again. It was just getting light as I pootled along past the Cruagh wood carpark and it was pretty sweet to be up there alone watching the city get its sun on.

Went straight down the other side at the viewpoint and was even more conservative than usual as I really didn't know what to expect from the braking surfaces on my shiny new Scirroccos.

There was little to no traffic, although the cars that came oncoming demured to dip their headlights even though it was already bright out, got passed by a lovely broaaad vintage car that sounded like a WW1 fighter getting warmed up and saw a miracle, a taxi driver stopped dangerously on a bend just before the turn off left for Tallaght to drop off a fare, who evidently realised the error of his ways and moved to a more suitable spot.

Traffic had materialised in earnest by the time I got back into Rathfarnham and it got a bit crap from there but my most notable moment was travelling in the right hand side of the bus lane towards Harold's cross waiting for my opportunity to get into the centre lane to turn right at the bridge when I passed the entrance to the Hospice I saw a woman stopped waiting to cross into the hospice between two cars in the centre lane, carefully peering through the windows of the car to her left waiting for me to pass safely.

I immediately thought to myself, if she'd been a typical Irish driver she'd have nosed out expecting the waters to part and I'd be going over her bonnet at 40kph....sobering.

http://www.strava.com/activities/202454189

Alek

First time up the full Kilmashogue lane. You were right guys, after the carpark (where I usually turn left) is where the fun begins!

The last climb is simply brutal. Kept thinking to myself - just make it to the bend, a few meters more, its going to be flatter... but it wasn't. My foot touched the tarmac. Only for like 15s, but cheating is cheating. Good excuse to come back and do it in one go!

12:08 bridge to top, not too bad methinks.

Zyzz

Been eyeing up this downhill for a while, 1 second off, killer.

http://www.strava.com/segments/1108028?filter=overall

triggermortis

After I uploaded my Garmin tonight, I found I'd knocked 13 sec off a segment I wasn't really aware of on the way to work this morning and am now KOM on! and with a skipping chain!

http://app.strava.com/activities/202429676

Garzard

Planned spin for Saturday / Sunday if the weather holds:

https://www.google.ie/maps/dir/Morton's+Pub,+B%C3%B3thar+Theach+Na+Gi%C3%BAise+Thiar,+Dublin+24/Sally+Gap/Laragh,+Co.+Wicklow/Blessington,+Co.+Wicklow/Morton's+Pub,+B%C3%B3thar+Theach+Na+Gi%C3%BAise+Thiar,+Dublin+24/@53.1178664,-6.34209,43762m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m35!4m34!1m10!1m1!1s0x48670b1358ed1fb3:0x377a9f892454cb75!2m2!1d-6.33196!2d53.286654!3m4!1m2!1d-6.3311488!2d53.2761254!3s0x48670b19e7208c65:0xfda52f02c2e62de7!1m3!2m2!1d-6.312!2d53.1376!1m5!1m1!1s0x4867bd81d5050ead:0xa00c7a99731cdf0!2m2!1d-6.2956!2d53.0092!1m5!1m1!1s0x48679d206e90e7c9:0xa00c7a99731d540!2m2!1d-6.5254!2d53.1748!1m5!1m1!1s0x48670b1358ed1fb3:0x377a9f892454cb75!2m2!1d-6.33196!2d53.286654!3e0

PrismES

Bloody windy spin tonight. Home to Lucan and back. Had a head wind on the way back nearly stopped me dead, and crossing the bridge over the Naas road I was nearly blown over.
An election poster was blown across the road about 10m ahead of me approaching the N81 near the swimming pool in Tallaght, should it have hit me would the candidate be at fault?
Also seen a guy carrying a dead rabbit, road kill maybe :eek:

Anybody else having trouble with Garmin Connect tonight?

40km at 27.6kph
http://www.strava.com/activities/202432696

The tax man

Alek wrote: »

First time up the full Kilmashogue lane. You were right guys, after the carpark (where I usually turn left) is where the fun begins!

The last climb is simply brutal. Kept thinking to myself - just make it to the bend, a few meters more, its going to be flatter... but it wasn't. My foot touched the tarmac. Only for like 15s, but cheating is cheating. Good excuse to come back and do it in one go!

12:08 bridge to top, not too bad methinks.

That's a great time especially for the first time and not knowing the lay of the road. I've done it plenty of times and my best is 13.23.:o

Mercian Pro

neris wrote: »

September/october really is a bad time of the year to be rediscovering the fun of being on the bike

There is never a bad time.

smacl

Mercian Pro wrote: »

There is never a bad time.

Sometimes getting out on a really crap day can be bizarrely invigorating. Just a matter of wearing the right gear.

smacl

The tax man wrote: »

That's a great time especially for the first time and not knowing the lay of the road. I've done it plenty of times and my best is 13.23.:o

Didn't time myself on it earlier this week, but I'd guess you could safely add five minutes to that. After the car park, the cateye was showing between 7 and 8kph on the ramps. Brute of a climb and not my favourite descent either.

cdaly_

Alek wrote: »

First time up the full Kilmashogue lane. You were right guys, after the carpark (where I usually turn left) is where the fun begins!

The last climb is simply brutal. Kept thinking to myself - just make it to the bend, a few meters more, its going to be flatter... but it wasn't. My foot touched the tarmac. Only for like 15s, but cheating is cheating. Good excuse to come back and do it in one go!

12:08 bridge to top, not too bad methinks.

Jaysus! My only time up Kilmashogue lane, I had to stop and gasp halfway up. I met a runner at the top. He'd done the climb faster than I had! :eek:


Then I watched a lad ride up it on a fixie... :cool:

Alek

Then I watched a lad ride up it on a fixie...

This would have killed a little bit of me yesterday.:eek:

not yet

Don't want to clog up the place with a thread on this...

Out yesterday and got a blow out 1k from home..scared the bejaysus out of me. Anyway I now have a 10mm gash/cut in a fairly new Conti 4000 s.

Just wondering should I bin it or try or patch from inside etc...

Cheers.

Alek

I would fix it with a large patch (~3x5cm) made out of a sidewall of another tyre, glued wth a strong and elastic glue. If it will not bulge out after some time it may be fine.

I may have a boot patch in this size made out of Vittoria Open Corsa, if you want one.

not yet

Alek wrote: »

I would fix it with a large patch (~3x5cm) made out of a sidewall of another tyre, glued wth a strong and elastic glue. If it will not bulge out after some time it may be fine.

I may have a boot patch in this size made out of Vittoria Open Corsa, if you want one.

Cheers,
I've a couple of tyres laying around I'll give it a go..

cdaly_

not yet wrote: »

Don't want to clog up the place with a thread on this...

Out yesterday and got a blow out 1k from home..scared the bejaysus out of me. Anyway I now have a 10mm gash/cut in a fairly new Conti 4000 s.

Just wondering should I bin it or try or patch from inside etc...

Cheers.

Bin it.

Patching it is really just a get you home thing. There's likely a risk that the cut will extend even if patched, the patch (unless very smooth) will likely chafe leading to punctures and, if it blows again, you risk crashing (most likely if it's mounted on the front).

That said, apparently the best tyre boot is a piece of a Capri-Sun 'juice drink' pouch. Very thin and light but pretty strong. Wrap it around the tube, refit in tyre and pump up...

Alek

the patch (unless very smooth) will likely chafe

A properly glued one won't*. And patch made from an old tyre will have at least the same strength as the original casing

*
1. find a good elastic glue that is designed bond rubber - ie. what shoemakers use.
2. apply a thin layer to the inside of tyre and the patch
3. let the glue dry almost competely - usually 10min.
4. Press the patch firmly to the tyre and leave it compressed for 12h.

Fian

My cycle (to an external meeting and then back to work) today:

Wet, very wet.

The trip home this evening is likely to be pretty similar except that it will start with damp clothes.

Feels like summer is over. Ah well thats a good excuse to light a nice fire and have a nice sunday roast this weekend.

RainyDay

The_Sub wrote: »

yes caught the whole thing plus my verbal response...

Lovely, are you going to share the video with the whole class?

Unknown Soldier

Fian wrote: »

My cycle (to an external meeting and then back to work) today:

Wet, very wet.

The trip home this evening is likely to be pretty similar except that it will start with damp clothes.

Feels like summer is over. Ah well thats a good excuse to light a nice fire and have a nice sunday roast this weekend.

In fairness it was windy this morning in Dublin, but not wet where I was.

Going home was a very, very different story.

Totally drenched but luckily little wind. It wasn't quite summer rain but at least it wasn't winter rain. Managed 14'ish in and 21 home. Very little cyclist about too. Been awhile since I had to strip off in the hall!

Also got me a KOM this morning. Been singing KLF's 3am Eternal in my head all day and replacing 3am with KOM and "ancients" with Canyon.

It's a work in progress and also a Friday

I, for one, love cycling in the rain and the dark

Don't Chute!

52km today Greystones to Enniskerry up the Devils Elbow down into Stepaside and home. First time for the Devils Elbow although the climb out of Enniskerry was worse! Absolutely fantastic weather for a spin!
http://www.strava.com/activities/203101780

Peterx

Heading up to Kippure masts in the mist this morning at about 9am to put out an orienteering control I was in a world of my own when a workvan passed me. I was surprised to say the least.
It was pretty cold up there at that time. Like a different day later on down in Tala in the sun.