Tell us about your cycle today part III

Not today, but Saturday 14th. Took part in a charity cycle and it was my first time cycling around in the Wicklow mountains. I really enjoyed it.

Probably took way too much food with me but I feel like I was well fueled and didn't bonk. Route was around the lake, Sally Gap, rest stop in Laragh, Wicklow Gap back to the N81 and then on a bit to the finish.

Not the most amazing effort, but I didn't get off the bike or stop on any of the climbs and passed a few folks on much nicer bikes doing just that.

I don't think so - I see buzzards nearly every time I go out on the bike, kites less often. On Saturday there was at least 6 buzzards doing circles above me near Kilmacurragh, they've become much more common than they were (I don't think I'd ever seen one prior to about 10 years ago).

Club spin today and a bit more after. 115km.

Got wet.

did the Miners Cross Audax on Saturday. First time doing an Audax or 200, I'd never done much more than 100km previously.

It was a fairly tough route, very lumpy going up what seemed like every short sharp hill in east and south Wicklow, but beautiful countryside, quiet roads and good company (the weather was pretty decent too). Good selection of food at the control points. The last 50km was very tough as I didn't have much left in the legs; my granny gear got a good workout.

Total for the day - 220km; 3500m ascent; a shade under 20km/h

Commute from office up Greenhills Road and up the embankment, Lisheen south , and upby Three Castles into Blessington. Back the main road and discovered that a long stretch from just past the Lamb to almost Brittas is being recovered in tar but at the moment is in a stripped state...the vibrations cycling over it is brutal...😪 back down embankment and home.

49km 369 m and avg 28 kph.

Nippy enough in summer kit 😨

92k around south Meath. Stamullen, duleek, slane, walterstown, kilmessan, dunsaughlin, skryne. 900m climbing too surprisingly.

Then another 35k this evening from there back to the seaside. Not much climbing at all but started it with a spin up skryne hill.

Some day for it. Perfect weather for the bike.

And yes Mr Spuckler I avoided all but about 20 yards of Duleek Drogheda road. One I stay well away from always

Ballycanew to Gorey , Arklow, Woodenbridge, Rathdrum, across Deputy Pass and on to the Beehive, Jack Whites, Arklow, Gorey and back to Ballycanew.

103 km, 670 meters, avg 31.4kph

Bit windy too

had my first serious fall off the road bike, which is probably not bad going after 12 years. Coming to the bottom of the Enniskerry bends intending to go over the footbridge, I foolishly attempted to bunny hop onto the path at the last gate entrance before the bridge. Unfortunately the path was not as low as I thought, my wheel clipped the kerb and I went flying across the ground and banged my head against the wall.

The helmet did it's job, but my neck took a lot of the impact and is pretty sore today, along with my elbow and knee getting somewhat de-skinned. More importantly, the bike is fine and my clothes seem to have survived. I think I probably got lucky all things considered, we get nine lives right?

Anyway, 60km and 1100m climbing @ 21km/h (the last 10km somewhat slower than the rest as I trundled home feeling sorry for myself).

I was kayaking on Suit between, Cahir and Newcastle and we were slowly gaining on a herd of 10 swans or so. Maybe going from 300m to 100m over 10/15mins.

Two swans got up and fly back upstream and shortly after flew back downstream before returning to the herd.

Within about 2 mins they all turned around and in V formation came straight for us, and went they finally got airborne and above us they probably cleared us by 2-3m.

Fear and awe in equal measure.

The collective noun when airborne is a wedge and a bank when on ground. Herd, game flight and bevy can also be used it seems 😊