Tell us about your cycle Yesterday.

Borderfox

More testing today. This time 22km at 90% effort on a flattish circuit at a much lower cadence than I usually ride in. All good but run in to home was tough. 34.4kmph average with 85% in Z4.

I can feel the time trial form coming, for my amount of training that I can squeeze in

https://www.strava.com/activities/565997838

brianomc

Tackled the Wicklow mountains for only the second time, the first time was a year ago and I made it up Cruagh road stopping 3 times including at the viewing point, then chickening out and going down Old Military Road and home again.

So I was determined this time. Passed by my first stopping first and all was going well, saw the second one but couldn't get by it without stopping to catch my breath. Dammit. Got to the viewing point and just turned left instead of stopping. One little stop at Lough Bray and it was on to Sally Gap to Manor Kilbride and home again via the embankment.

I can see the appeal of cycling up there, once you get off Cruagh Road and all the hedges it's a smashing route and a nice escape from the city. I'm not much of a climber but I don't think I was going too slow. I didn't get passed out by any other cyclists anyway My garmin crashed between Tallaght and Lucan but hopefully I can get the file repaired and I can find out.

Great day for it, very little wind so that definitely helped.

G1032

Borderfox wrote: »

More testing today. This time 22km at 90% effort on a flattish circuit at a much lower cadence than I usually ride in. All good but run in to home was tough. 34.4kmph average with 85% in Z4.

I can feel the time trial form coming, for my amount of training that I can squeeze in

https://www.strava.com/activities/565997838

If I wanted to get average HR to calculate LTHR so I could better define training zones what's the best way to go about this?
Is it preferable to cycle a flat route as opposed to hilly? Cycle on a relatively calm day as opposed to a windy one? Or turbo instead of road? Can I take a section of any ride where I went flat out for as long as I could?

I'm currently calculating zones from max HR and for max HR I'm using the max ever recorded on my Garmin (recorded in August 2014)

Borderfox

G1032 wrote: »

If I wanted to get average HR to calculate LTHR so I could better define training zones what's the best way to go about this?
Is it preferable to cycle a flat route as opposed to hilly? Cycle on a relatively calm day as opposed to a windy one? Or turbo instead of road? Can I take a section of any ride where I went flat out for as long as I could?

I'm currently calculating zones from max HR and for max HR I'm using the max ever recorded on my Garmin (recorded in August 2014)

My maximum is calculated from an effort over a rising Road and I work out the zones from there. Doesn't matter if it's windy just so long as you can squeeze everything out over as long a distance as necessary. I have done it on a climb too.

I test every 5 weeks to check progress

RobertFoster

A slow ~96km for me today. Checking Strava, it's my first time on the N11 since 2014. A couple of years ago it was a road I was on frequently (out the Rock Rd, back the N11), but the more I explore the more my routes change. I was in Glencullen to see what the Devils Elbow was like* and decided to come back by the N11 for old times sake.

It wasn't until Stillorgan did I realise I'd been missed. A Dublin Bus driver came up behind me while waiting for the lights to change and started beeping and beeping and beeping... I ignored him (treat 'em mean etc.) and continued on my merry way when the lights changed and the pedestrians cleared the junction (I'm sure some of the peds thought the beeping was for them). Within the next 200m, my admirer had overtaken me (while continuing to beep) and immediately pulled into his next stop (I had to brake to avoid coming across as eager as him), then made some gesture out his window (it must be code, I don't know what it meant). I didn't have the heart to tell him I didn't remember him, so I just gave him a generic "howaya gorgeous!" not to upset him.

Alas, our 30 second interaction was all we had. A quick glimpse at his bespectacled face as I rode off into the distance, not nearly enough time to rekindle our relationship. I didn't even get his name or number (staff, route, nor reg). Hopefully our paths will cross again! We'll always have Stillorgan...


*(Not as bad as I expected. I felt tired today, so I took it handy enough. It's no Kilmashogue, it's not even right of the church in Howth :pac: I must go looking for "the wall" next.)

Wishbone Ash

RobertFoster wrote: »

... I must go looking for "the wall" next.)

You'll probably be disappointed - its not difficult in itself. What makes it difficult is getting boxed in (very narrow road) on a sportive. If the rider/s in front come to a stop in front of you, it's almost impossible to get clipped in and to get going again.

Full Wall - https://www.strava.com/segments/824925

Half Wall - https://www.strava.com/segments/1077130 (which many think is the full wall!)

crosstownk

Today's commute home (20km) is hardly noteworthy but it's the first time this year that I've been on the bike in just shorts and jersey.

I usually play it safe and overdress but not this evening. Great to feel summer approaching.

Alanstrainor

Got my bike back after dropping it in for a bottom bracket replacement. It took a lot longer than I was expecting, but to be fair to the shop that did it, the crankset on my bike is strange and they had to source a pretension bolt for the crank. I'm always suprised how quickly I find I lose fitness, I definitely felt sluggish today, although I'd say a lot of that was all in my head.

saccades

Mixed day today - I got a new into work PB of 46 minutes (had 48mins for 2 years that I just couldn't beat) on tuesday, managed to match the 48 mins this morning despite still feeling tuesdays effort. It's a new bike with drops that I'm still getting used to along with gaining summer fitness. Pretty chuffed, there is more to shave off that time (sub 45 definitely, aiming for an optimistic 40).

On the way home I enjoyed the sunny! countryside first 2/3rds and pushed on the last towny 1/3. Stupidly I went into a corner on a roundabout at about 40kmph, flicked over and powered down in the bend to push out.

I've done it loads on the mtb and loads on my previous commuter, a v.high BB Pompino.

My pedal bit into the road on the downstroke, I went from leaning to the right to being flung over leftwards and into the road. A coupla bounces off my hand first, rolling right over to then land on my shoulder and whalloped my knee and stopped rolling in the gutter. bike scuttered and pinged along for a coupla yards.

Big Kudos to my dhb mitts that saved the palm of my hand which murders at the mo, knee has an egg sized lump on it and my arm/shoulder hurts to lift above my head (in a bruised kind of way) all been drowned in witch hazel. Bike has a big gouge out of 1 pedal (XT) and a medium gouge of the other, left side brake/shifter along with bar tape is scruffier than teenagers bedroom along with the rear skewer, some minor snags and rips to the rest of my gear, I remember thinking "ROLL!" so I've gotten away with it really all things considered.

To add insult to the inury the missus drove past just as I was limping off the roundabout, she thinks I'm a clown at the best of times on my bike.

More kudos to the lady in the SX4 who stopped and checked I was ok.

Domane

Off work early so headed out for a spin in the fine weather. Clane-Donadea-Johnstownbridge-Carbury-back roads to Prosperous and home. Think I overdressed though with a long sleeved compression top under my cycling jersey as I was sweating bricks and got through two 750ml bottles. However despite several long hills and dodgy potholed roads, I managed the 45kms at an average of 26kph. Only downside was the cycling app I use, mapmyride. For the third time running, the damn thing didn't save my data, despite me clicking the save button. It also didn't upload to my FB account after I tried this. Finally, it didn't auto pause at traffic lights even though I had this feature enabled. Had my fill of that crap app and think I'll finally try out Strava.

coumshingaun

Kilkenny-Kells-Kilmoganny-Owning-Piltown--Templeorum-Mullinavat-Balyhale--Stoneyford-Kilkenny.Around 90km.
Wrecked! Great hill practice and totally empty roads between Piltown and Mullinavat. Chased by a sheepdog and saved by a car who scared him off near Knocktopher.

Don't Chute!

43kms this evening up the Red Lane out to Roundwood and home through NTM. Got a kom so happy with that but the hills are killing me at the moment.

neris

not been on the bike in over a month and needed to go to near ashbourne from baldoyle today so with the good weather decided Id take the bike. thought i was about to die about 5km into it fighting a head wind and crosswind. pleasant spin up from swords to garristown and down towards tayto park on the back roads. 44km done and the legs know all about it. Had thought I might cycle back home but not at that stage in fitness yet so will cycle back up tomorrow and maybe make it a little longer

funnights74

2016 Stephen Roche Tour de Cure. Too put it bluntly it bucketed down from start to finish:(. I had registered to do the 160 km but the thought of climbing the vee twice in those conditions had me downgrading to the 110 km, along with a few others. Good craic along the way with a group from cobh, they called the conditions "Character building":P, i called them wet.:D
Numbers seemed down on previous years, no doubt due to the deluge but we got around handy enough. Foodstop was top notch and overall plenty of support on the route.

retalivity

Out this morning - Kilmainham - Sutton - Howth (2 ascents) - Malahide - Portmarnock - Howth again - home, 83k-ish altogether

Out with a friend who only just got a road bike, so took it relatively easy to keep pace with him, apart from a few of the hills i sped away on. Strava crashed on the way home, only tracked to the summit at howth on the way back and missed the last 20ish k home. Gutted as I gunned it in the coast road with the wind behind me.

Anyone else having issues with strava recently? This is not the first time it has crashed on me in recent weeks. Using the app on my phone, not tied to a watch or computer or anything.

https://www.strava.com/activities/569188224

https://www.strava.com/activities/569362088

danoriordan1402

Back on the Defy this morning for the first time in 18months due to injury and other factors. Did 16km at a gentle pace - had to dismount and do the walk of shame for a bit of a hill at one stage but hopefully in a couple of weeks will hammer that. Cant beat a early morning cycle in decent weather.

velo.2010

A lot of folk looked like they were paying for the the amount of gear they were wearing today - it was very warm when that sun came out.

bazermc

velo.2010 wrote: »

A lot of folk looked like they were paying for the the amount of gear they were wearing today - it was very warm when that sun came out.

Can't blame them in fairness though it's been so bad so far this year. Although rte did say highs of 21 today

roosterman71

107k "Tour of the Heartlands" today with Shannonside Cycling Club. Good few turned out, and the rain stayed away. It was pretty warm when the sun was out.

Went with a group aiming to average 27/28km/h, which would be higher than I'd normally be able for but sure no harm in giving it a go
Wind against us for the second half. Our group stayed together the whole spin (bout 30 of us) so it was grand. A few from the club rotated duties at the front which was some going so big thumbs up to those lads. There was no expectation, or requests for others to take the reigns. Not sure if that's normal for these spins or not

Ended up averaging 29.8. Fair happy, and had fuel sill in the tank
https://www.strava.com/activities/569547358

Daroxtar

A day of two halves. Headed up Stocking Lane early this morning. Went hard enough and set a few PR but probably should have warmed up a bit more as I couldn't get my breath for ages. By the time I got to the viewing point the fog was down and it only got heavier all the way to the Sally Gap crossroads. Met up with another cyclist there and we tipped along slowly down to Laragh. My glasses were completely fogged up so had to take them off and while I'm not blind I'm fairly reliant on the specs all the same. I had to follow the other cyclists line, hoping he was avoiding potholes. Probably one of the nerviest descents I've ever had.

I got into the café in Laragh and had a nice coffee and then decided to return the same way. Maybe it was the caffeine or maybe it was the fog clearing and the sun coming out but I got a spurt and said "Feck it, let's see what I have in the legs." I gave it socks all the way to the top of the Sally Gap, paid no heed to the HR monitor and hit the crossroads nearly as quick going up as I came down. 10 minutes better than my previous best!! I was a terrible ball of sweat and snot though at that stage so I opted out of climbing Kippure and continued back over the featherbeds. I tried giving chase to a lad ahead of me but I hadn't a thing left after that so I just trundled on back to the start.

87km with 1277m climbing in 3:40

https://www.strava.com/activities/569363267

NeedMoreGears

Lovely spin over howth. I've never seen so many people out on bikes. All sorts too : from a two year old on a balance bike to a guy who must have been eighty if he was a day. The latter was about half way up on the Sutton side. Great to finally get out in summer gear

smacl

Struggling to find fitness after a couple of patchy enough months on the bike, so headed out today with a plan of getting in some hills. Ended up going Ballyboden, Ballinascorney, Blessington, back roads to Wicklow gap, Sally gap and home for 107k with 1517m climbed over a rather lethargic 5hr15. Pretty shattered afterwards and less than impressed with an average speed of just 19kph but such is life. Still loving the climb up the old road to the Wicklow gap which includes one of my favourite descents in the county. Starting on the lake side, a bit rampy and crap surface on the way up, but reasonable surface, zero traffic and great sight lines on the way down. Well worth a punt if you're in the vicinity.

smacl

velo.2010 wrote: »

A lot of folk looked like they were paying for the the amount of gear they were wearing today - it was very warm when that sun came out.

Yes indeed, I was one of them. Cool enough in the morning and I thought I'd made the right choice, but climbing up by Glenmacnass with the sun belting down and zero breeze I suffered for sure.

Tigerandahalf

First time out on the bike today for a while. Lovely mild day. Had planned to do only about 30km but ended up with 50km.

Day was spoilt by having a carrot thrown out the window of a car and hit me in the lower back.
Unfortunately it is very rare that I go for a cycle now without cars beeping or some other behaviour.

Oymyakon

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

Day was spoilt by having a carrot thrown out the window of a car and hit me in the lower back.
Unfortunately it is very rare that I go for a cycle now without cars beeping or some other behaviour.

Don't understand how people can be such prlcks, really saddening

Kaisr Sose

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

First time out on the bike today for a while. Lovely mild day. Had planned to do only about 30km but ended up with 50km.

Day was spoilt by having a carrot thrown out the window of a car and hit me in the lower back.
Unfortunately it is very rare that I go for a cycle now without cars beeping or some other behaviour.

Good for you!!

Sorry to learn about the inconsideration shown to you but it's becoming as common as potholes. Going up kilakee is scary at times with boy racer types screaming abuse as they pass or threatening to run you over just because you are on a bike and they don't want to slow down! Just keep out more from the left hand margin so as to have somewhere to go if a motorist gets too close!

ozzy jr

Did 70km or so this morning, Dundrum - Tallaght - Lucan - Airport and home. Uneventful until coming through Dundrum village on the way home and a pedestrian decided to cross the road without looking and we collided. Luckily I was slowing down coming to a red light and neither of us got injured.

https://youtu.be/4zUdm3h_T9E

Wishbone Ash

ozzy jr wrote: »

Did 70km or so this morning, Dundrum - Tallaght - Lucan - Airport and home. Uneventful until coming through Dundrum village on the way home and a pedestrian decided to cross the road without looking and we collided. Luckily I was slowing down coming to a red light and neither of us got injured.

https://youtu.be/4zUdm3h_T9E

Traffic queued at lights, pedestrian heading for edge of footpath, pedestrian doesn't hear bike, pedestrian doesn't expect bike etc.

Would you not have anticipated her move and shouted/braked?

(I'm far from perfect by the way, just know from experience, that her move was fairly predictable compared to pedestrians who suddenly emerge from the front of large vehicles).

ozzy jr

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Traffic queued at lights, pedestrian heading for edge of footpath, pedestrian doesn't hear bike, pedestrian doesn't expect bike etc.

Would you not have anticipated her move and shouted/braked?

(I'm far from perfect by the way, just know from experience, that her move was fairly predictable compared to pedestrians who suddenly emerge from the front of large vehicles).

All she had to do was turn her head and look.

I was sure I shouted whoa as she stepped out, but she had headphones on anyway. I wouldn't say her move was fairly predictable, she changed pace as she decided to cross.

f1000

Headed out to Howth earlier. Traffic was mental. Was taking it easy as I'd just fitted new wheels and tires and then got a pinch flat from a drainage cover that was placed in the wrong direction while trying to ease my way up through traffic (on the Coast Road about half way between Dollymount Ave & the corner of Mount Prospect Ave). Tire is OK but the tube got wee bit shredded and could not repair on the spot. The one time I forgot to pack a spare tube. Headed back to 360 Cycles for a tube. First time in there and the lads there were great. Place was very busy and got served quickly, also gave a tip for use of their track pump. Rest of the spin went great, 50k after 2 months off. Will head out tomorrow again but will probably head into Killester and down Watermill Road to avoid that awful congestion