Tell us about your cycle Yesterday.

stryker mcqueen

daily commute from Tallaght to Baggot St was ended prematurely in Templeogue village today! cycling past the Maxol when some oul codger decides not to indicate or check his mirrors and takes a sharp left into the petrol station , creasing me in the process.......bike in Hollinsgsworth getting repaired, a swollen arm for my troubles so not too bad overall.

In fairness he was a decent chap and gave me a lift into work, the most awkward hour of my life, what do you talk about in that scenario???

I can understand why he hit me , it was the longest hour of my life and he was the worst driver ever lol, almost did the same to a girl on the SCR and seemed completely oblivious to other road users!

Dcully

Had an hour to kill lastnight so I thought id head into that headwind for a bit.
Within minutes I was in the middle of a hailstorm, wind got even stronger to the point where I had to give it everything on the drops just to achieve 23kph.
I was already wet so I decided to keep going into this headwind and shower to Clonbollogue a village 15k from home and looked forward the gale like tailwind home.
Just my luck ,as soon as the hail shower passed the wind dropped off dramatically,not to its previous force but was gone completely,it was actually quite eerie,never seen anything like it before.
The final 2k to Clonbollogue was dead calm, likewise when I turned round to head back home,so much for looking forward to the tailwind :P

Herc

Nice 110k around north of Mallorca in toasty 18deg average yesterday. Tasty headwinds though coming in from the north. Formentor and Femenia tackled. New surface out to the lighthouse very nice. More and more cyclists to be seen here year after year. If it's any consolation, weather alot more Irish today, dull and damp!

dahat

Check out my 51.2 km Ride on Strava: [url] https://www.strava.com/activities/559014244[/url]

Some nice climbing done today, Tickincor straight onto Powers Pot with a loop around back to Powers Pot descent. Took in a few more digs then home. Savage wind in places though with varying weather as well.

Really pleased with the effort today and feeling like my hard work is paying off a bit with regards to climbing.

Unknown Soldier

Currently trying to wrap my head around commuting again, kind of succeeding too, which is good.

Did the Tallaght reservoirs at the weekend and ended up going up "Glencree".
Beautiful, tough climb. Proper lovely climb tbh, like out of the Giro or something.

Once I was up at the feather beds I could go left for home or right, for stuff...

Found myself at Sally Gap thinking, right for home'ish or straight ahead, for stuff...


Small pit stop at Laragh and up Wicklow Gap I went.

Kudos to the Sap that has that segment there btw, ya feckin SAP!

Anyways, didn't feel that well on the descent and by the time I got to Valleymount I was sure that the pain in the righthand side of my chest wasn't my heart (I think my heart is more left'ish)

So I gave it sox with the hope that my missus would get my DIB etc.

Still here.

meh.

Was quite the slog around the Blesso lakes and back up Ballinascorney to home. Ended up with about 110km done and 1,750m of climbing.

The climbing was tough but fine, but "endurance" levels are quite banjaxed. I rang the missus at Ballyknockan or whatever the fcuk it's called and told her she was learning to drive, so in the future she could collect me when I was feecked!

The fact I went out for a "quick spin" didn't go down well with the suggestion of driving lessons.

I'll be paying for it this weekend!

The Cycling pianist

I'd like to withdraw my "balmy" comment from two days ago

The Noble Nudge

Hail coming down kilmashogue had to stop under the m50 bridge..onto lamb Doyle's, Blue light to Jonny foxes...13m/s wind all the way back to Tallaght. Have cycled in worse TBH but the wind knocked the ****e out of me. Job done

smacl

Unknown Soldier wrote: »

Did the Tallaght reservoirs at the weekend and ended up going up "Glencree".
Beautiful, tough climb. Proper lovely climb tbh, like out of the Giro or something.

If you came from the reservoirs to arrive at the featherbeds, I'm guessing that was Glassamucky rather than Glencree (other side of mountain), which is an altogether different beast. Lovely climb, and a firm favourite, but probably the hardest way of getting to the featherbeds on a bike.

Luxman

90 lovely if slightly chilly kilometres for me. The difference with this spin was the complete lack of planning on the route. I just went a wanderin'. But about 20k in I realised I had taken off my saddle bag when washing the bike and forgot to re-install. So I was praying my Gator's held up. Once I forgot about the lack of saddle bag I just cycled along and took turns all over the place off the so called planned routes I would know well. I always had an inkling where I was in relation to the towns and villages but it was joyous to explore.

Faith+1

Never posted in this forum before but need your expert advice giys and gals. I'm starting a new job next week and im thinking of cycling instead of driving as it's a 9-5 so traffic will be mental. I'm commuting from Cabra to Ballymount Dublin12.

Is it do able and would I do it under an hour? Im quite fit and my bike is a carbon frame so it's pretty light? Any advice is appreciated

iwillhtfu

Faith+1 wrote: »

Never posted in this forum before but need your expert advice giys and gals. I'm starting a new job next week and im thinking of cycling instead of driving as it's a 9-5 so traffic will be mental. I'm commuting from Cabra to Ballymount Dublin12.

Is it do able and would I do it under an hour? Im quite fit and my bike is a carbon frame so it's pretty light? Any advice is appreciated

Depending on where in Cabra you are it's no more than 15km one way.

Easily achievable in an hour but should be achievable in closer to a half hour.

I guess the main issue would be what your job might be and will you have time to change get dressed/showered similar.

Wishbone Ash

Luxman wrote: »

...about 20k in I realised I had taken off my saddle bag when washing the bike and forgot to re-install. So I was praying my Gator's held up.....

I forgot my mini-pump a few weeks ago on a solo ride and, unlike you, I wasn't able to forget about it. I only realised about 50 or 60k into the ride and from then on I was paranoid about the tyres and kept thinking they were getting soft.

(I regularly forget my water bottles).

irishrover99

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I forgot my mini-pump a few weeks ago on a solo ride and, unlike you, I wasn't able to forget about it. I only realised about 50 or 60k into the ride and from then on I was paranoid about the tyres and kept thinking they were getting soft.

(I regularly forget my water bottles).

I forgot my helmet once, oh lord it was a slow commute home.

Faith+1

iwillhtfu wrote: »

Depending on where in Cabra you are it's no more than 15km one way.

Easily achievable in an hour but should be achievable in closer to a half hour.

I guess the main issue would be what your job might be and will you have time to change get dressed/showered similar.

I'm literally beside the deaf school on Ratoath Road so I'd be in Inchicore in 15mins.

Yeah it's an admin job, so it's a smart casual environment. If I could do it comfortably in under an hour then Im a happy man. I just hate traffic and would rather move at any speed than be crawling along.

Daroxtar

Two nice spins here on holidays again. Did 75km with 900m climbing yesterday from Fuengirola to Coin and back but snapped the RD cable so had to cut the spin short and limp for a few km. Luckily enough it happened fairly close to the start of the descent. There was one short enough climb to get over and despite my best efforts I couldn't grind up 12% in 30-11. I managed to get the gear tied into one of the middle sprockets and continued home. Got the cable repaired for €12 which I thought was a very decent price.
https://www.strava.com/activities/559039108

Today I headed back up for a second crack at the climb up to the masts over Mijas. Pacing is a funny thing. Today I climbed slower and steadier all the way. I didn't fancy tasting my lungs like the last time. There's a section of about 5.5km at 7% then a short flat and another section of 5km at 10% so it works out about 12km 7.5%. Made it all the way without stopping and took 3 minutes off both sections of the climb. I won't win any medals but I'm delighted at beating myself.
30km, 1100m climbed.
https://www.strava.com/activities/559938419/overview

terrydel

Out with the brother today.
From my home in Clondalkin, up over Ballinascorney and onto the Gap, then down into Laragh, home via Glenmacnass/Manor Kilbride/N81. 104km @ 23.7 kmph average. Worked with the brother doing 2k on and off the front, otherwise it would have been a lot slower. 1320m of climbing. Very tough day in the saddle. I wore my new Galibier Colombiere jacket for the second time and it was quite frankly ****e in this weather. Sweat a lot under it and it got soaked thru by the time we hit Glenmacnass on the way into Laragh. The combination of this and the biting wind at the time made the sweat very cold and I was fecking freezing!
It warmed up a bit on the way back, taking the Glenmacnass route again. We made good time here, under an hour for the 20k. The weather was ****e from the Gap on home, got soaked thru again. Saw loads of Orwell Randonee participants all day as their route seemed similar to ours, obviously longer tho! Fair play to them is all I can say, another 50k today would have done me in And I need a better jacket for this weather.
The Colombiere fits nice and is well made but I think it really is only for very, very cold dry days, nothing else. And they need to look at the breathability, I hate being cold on the bike so will gladly wear lots of layers, but I've not sweat as much as I did wearing this with any other winter jacket.
Ah well, it was tough but good preparation for the W200

irishrover99

As i only got the all clear last night for the Orwell randonnee I missed the registration but decided I set out earlier and do the route anyway. That was a bloody hard day. The weather really didn't help at all and the snow up turlough hill was amazing and something I'll remember for a while even though it didn't stick much to the ground. It made me feel like i was in the giro d'italia. Took a wrong turn at the top so don't think I went up all the way. First 50k for me was awful and generally felt slow all day but looking at others times it seems it could have just been the conditions. Some really long slogs on that route and the just go on forvever.

Fastest up the full wall but seems I was the only one who done it. Not surprised if the bottom half was taken out due to the conditions on the approach.

https://www.strava.com/activities/560920136

neris

Daroxtar wrote: »

Two nice spins here on holidays again. Did 75km with 900m climbing yesterday from Fuengirola to Coin and back but snapped the RD cable so had to cut the spin short and limp for a few km. Luckily enough it happened fairly close to the start of the descent. There was one short enough climb to get over and despite my best efforts I couldn't grind up 12% in 30-11. I managed to get the gear tied into one of the middle sprockets and continued home. Got the cable repaired for €12 which I thought was a very decent price.
https://www.strava.com/activities/559039108

wheres the derelict looking castle that youve 2 pics of on your strava? heading down that way for xmas and thinking of taking the bike if I can loose a few stone before

Daroxtar

neris wrote: »

wheres the derelict looking castle that youve 2 pics of on your strava? heading down that way for xmas and thinking of taking the bike if I can loose a few stone before

The castle is Castile La Motta, it's at the junction of the A387 and the A7053, between Fuengirola and Coin, close to Alhurín El Grande. It's a nice spin from Fuengirola, some climbing but with a few short exceptions it's fairly easy. Service station and café beside it. Not a whole lot worth seeing in Coin but the road to Mijas is quite scenic or just descend back the way you came if you like smooth fast roads

ezra_

92k @ 27.4kph.

Blessington -> Baltinglass -> Killcullen -> Naas -> Blessington -> Hollywood

The last 10k were an unexpected bonus as herself was also out and wanted the shower first so took the car home...

First time over 27k and happy that it was on one of my longer trips

godtabh

Went down to Boora Bog with the kids. Spent a couple of hours pulling 30kg behind me. Credit to the people in Boora. It's a great facility

Unknown Soldier

smacl wrote: »

If you came from the reservoirs to arrive at the featherbeds, I'm guessing that was Glassamucky rather than Glencree (other side of mountain), which is an altogether different beast. Lovely climb, and a firm favourite, but probably the hardest way of getting to the featherbeds on a bike.

After speak to Mr. Ash yesterday at the Orwell Randonnee, I was incorrect with the "Glencree" bit, I just saw a signpost saying that.

I defo didn't do Glassamucky (I know it, super, super tough climb ALA the Reservoir Dog 2015), as that is on my bucket list, the bucket of stuff that I'm not doing. But I will...

Having reviewed the spin on Strava https://www.strava.com/activities/555494441

It might be called "Piperstown climb" or "Kilakee Rd" climb. Basically if you go up Bohernabreena, past the graveyard etc, and just keep going up to the Featherbeds, that's the climb.
It's just I started it where the end of the Reservoirs spin meets that road.

Whatever it is called is was a tough but great climb, bar the downhill bit near the top, where you realise, you have to go back up those meters somewhere!

Highly recommended, nice road, and nice surface too, nevermind the lovely views behind you.

retalivity

Unknown Soldier wrote: »

Whatever it is called is was a tough but great climb, bar the downhill bit near the top, where you realise, you have to go back up those meters somewhere!

Highly recommended, nice road, and nice surface too, nevermind the lovely views behind you.

I came down that road about a month ago and the road surface from where the houses start down to the church was awful, have they fixed it?

Kaisr Sose

Today was my 2nd spin (yesterday 1st) after one month illness. Nice to be back and lovely day to boot. Felt good but lacking a bit of power /fitness.

https://www.strava.com/activities/562070260

Cycle was tainted a bit due to an encounter with another cyclist whom I passed. He raced past me and was giving it verbals that I could not keep up or something like that. He even changed his route and came after me to continue his 'race' and the verbals.

Kudos to the guy, he was in good shape, but trying to cajole a random person to race him made him look more like an immature show off than a good cyclist! But he was no kid....think he should have more sense!

Has this ever happened anybody else ? I hope this guys attitude to sharing roads with cars and people is better.

Unknown Soldier

Kaisr Sose wrote: »

Cycle was tainted a bit due to an encounter with another cyclist whom I passed. He raced past me and was giving it verbals that I could not keep up or something like that. He even changed his route and came after me to continue his 'race' and the verbals.

Kudos to the guy, he was in good shape, but trying to cajole a random person to race him made him look more like an immature show off than a good cyclist! But he was no kid....think he should have more sense!

Has this ever happened anybody else ? I hope this guys attitude to sharing roads with cars and people is better.

Ehh no, thanks Jebubs! I'm not sure how I'd handle that tbh. Either, "please go away, you are annoying me" or " Here, d1ckhead, Fcuk off out of my space"

retalivity wrote: »

I came down that road about a month ago and the road surface from where the houses start down to the church was awful, have they fixed it?

No, now that you mention it.
I think that is still a bit ropey for descending but grand for crawling up, I was more referring to the part after all the houses, when you reach desolation and it is one or so KM to the feather beds.

Anyways, my recovery ride this morning has consisted of letting the cat out, two coffees, a couple of smokes and now I think I am going to lie on the couch and watch Avengers: Age of Ultron followed by Spectre, both in glorious 1080p.

Rule5 can go feck itself :pac:

rollingscone

Kaisr Sose wrote: »

Today was my 2nd spin (yesterday 1st) after one month illness. Nice to be back and lovely day to boot. Felt good but lacking a bit of power /fitness.

https://www.strava.com/activities/562070260

Cycle was tainted a bit due to an encounter with another cyclist whom I passed. He raced past me and was giving it verbals that I could not keep up or something like that. He even changed his route and came after me to continue his 'race' and the verbals.

Kudos to the guy, he was in good shape, but trying to cajole a random person to race him made him look more like an immature show off than a good cyclist! But he was no kid....think he should have more sense!

Has this ever happened anybody else ? I hope this guys attitude to sharing roads with cars and people is better.

I think I might have a picture of that guy:



On the rarer than a dodo that can type occasion where I'm faster than someone I'll try to say something nice to them.

dahat

[url] https://www.strava.com/activities/562013697[/url]

Did tbis yesterday, local fundraiser for a school nead where the club is based. Looked a handy crowd of local cyclists.

As per usual it didn't turn out to be a handy leisure spin, quite a few lazy at doing turns while sitting on in the group and this was early on!

Did plenty work myself and a few big turns near the end to bring what was left home. A club mate did finish first so was pleased with my effort all day long. Think i was in the first 6 home of the 100k group.

As we cycled to the start i ended up with 115k at 32km average.

dastardly00

I was out for a 60km spin around Galway today.

One hailstone shower.... fair enough.

Two hailstone showers... That's bad luck.

Three hailstone showers.... WTF did I do to the weather gods to deserve that!! :pac:

acorn

Think I've just cycled the best ever mountain road :-)

From Ballingeary to Top Of Coum on Cork/Kerry border.
Narrow and dodgy surface in places so not for speed merchants but the views and the feeling of remoteness - fabulous !

PS. Thanks to the local cyclist en route who made sure we were on the right track and knew how to get home

retalivity

Yesterday, few laps of phoenix park with a detour to tackle somerton lane and chapelizod hill
Today, different route, same hills, but faster.

https://www.strava.com/activities/561796096

https://www.strava.com/activities/563077212