Tell us about your cycle today part III

Seth Brundle · 01-10-2022 7:30pm

Looking at the OSI map, as you're travelling W over the hill towards Lacken, Sorrel Hill is on your right and Black Hill on your left...

secman · 01-10-2022 7:31pm

So we were All correct 🤣 Strava shows it as Sorrell Hill Gap

01-10-2022 8:56pm

Out early this morning. Did the 90k loop I did last week in reverse - I was given three hours and know this comes in at exactly that with one short coffee stop - and managed to do it at exactly the same wattage as last week, 241. Zone 2 everywhere except Zone 3 on the three main hills.

So peaceful out there at that time and lovely to get well out of the city. Had a very close pass from a person in an SUV (army tank!) on a bend at a renowned accident black spot. Crazy stuff. All other drivers were great and very respectful. Had a chat with a farmer as he took his cows across a road after milking.

Home at the three hour limit on the button and felt good after eating loads and drinking three full bottles. Fuelling well has really transformed my longer rides.

Overall, 89k with 913m climbing at 30.5kph.

MangleBadger · 02-10-2022 6:50pm

Lovely day for a spin. Have gotten into the habit of putting the bike in the car and driving to lesser travelled roads.

Started at Aughrim and went Woodenbridge, Avoca, down by Brittas, Arklow and back.

Encountered a killer of a hill outside Arklow. 12% average for 800m, but a lot in the high teens. Sapped the legs for the rest of the spin.

https://strava.app.link/RqiiEXFSNtb

https://strava.app.link/1vKqkOXSNtb

71k with 975m at 24.4kmh. Need to get that average speed up!

JMcL · 02-10-2022 9:33pm

Relatively flat spin this morning Tramore to Waterford, then out towards Kilmacow turning over to Fiddown on lovely quiet back roads. Back across the Suir to Portlaw, where I thought about throwing a bit of climbing into the mix, but didn't, as have had some non-covid bug niggling at me over the past couple of weeks, so felt a bit lacking in energy. Took the straight road to Kilmeaden and home. Close passed on the way for no good reason by some twat in a topless Audi, so he may well have heard my opinion of him.

Nevertheless, glorious morning. 61.5km with about 470m of up at a fairly sedate 22.5km/h average

crosstownk · 02-10-2022 10:30pm

Ref Sorrel Hill Gap - I've always knows the hill as Sorrel Hill but for me, the pass at the top has always been Ballynultagh Gap. https://www.strava.com/segments/6802023

secman · 02-10-2022 10:56pm

See that, but Strava shows that as Sorrell Hill Gap on my ride . Google refers to both names on different Web pages. As I said, I called that road Sorrell Hill and the 2 lads with me called it Black Hill....

Seth Brundle · 02-10-2022 11:00pm

Looking at the OSI 6" map, Ballynultagh is a townland on the left of the road with Ballydonnell on the right (as you head uphill towards Lacken). Sorrel Hill peak is where Ballydonnell meets four other townland.

https://webapps.geohive.ie/mapviewer/index.html

Seth Brundle · 08-10-2022 6:49pm

Did the Dublin Fire Brigade "Staying in the Saddle for Prostate Cancer" 115km sportive today - second time doing it. Grrat weather, great route but my legs were empty for the middle third up to Bellewstown (that feckin hill!)

I cycled from Leixlip to the start point in Fairview and within 200m of home my tubeless front tyre started jizzing all over me and the bike. Do I go home and get my old bike or do I continue and hope it seals? I motored on.

Got the lads from CSS to top up the air and I cleaned the white mess off the bike.

Heading up Howth Head and my tyre does it again. Again I motored on again.

Apparently in Howth village some of the lads heard a kid say something like "daddy look at the cyclists" and daddy replied that "no we don't like them" 🙄

I cycled back home managing to beat my previous high score of 160km (which was last year's event) but with everyone out, I headed off to McEvoys in Hazelhatch for a quick delicious pint.

All in all, I did my longest spin of 177km at 26.2km/h with 1281m which brings me over my annual target of 75,000m. Knackered now!

https://strava.app.link/Rn5lFcoQXtb

09-10-2022 6:58am

Nothing as impressive as 177km for me but got out yesterday morning for 70k. Had to be home by 9.30am so was on the road for 7.15 and was seriously underdressed. Finding it hard to get my head around digging out the winter kit after such a warm, beautiful summer in my neck of the woods.

Headed out in bib shorts, summer socks and a base layer over a short sleeved jersey with just a neck scarf thingy to keep me warm. No gloves. I realised after 10 minutes I had made a mistake but was on the clock and didn't go back, hoping I would warm up. I never did really, even after the sun came up.

Anyway, I saw a huge bird of prey (buzzard?) in a field and had a great interaction with a tractor on a narrow road. He was stuck behind me and I just knew the traffic would be building so I signalled to pull in and I got a friendly double toot as he passed. Last time I was on that stretch I got abused by a driver so it felt good to change it up.

Overall, 70k with 700m climbing at 30.5kph. Bang on the money at target of 240w for the spin.

I got the stingy hands and legs in the shower afterwards as a reminder that I need to get out the winter kit. Ironically, I have a brand new winter jersey and bib tights in the wardrobe.

secman · 09-10-2022 1:39pm

I managed a 70km yesterday, set out st 8:15 am Tallaght to Saggart, Kilteel, Kill ,Naas. The other lads headed for curragh, I had to be back early, on Grandfather duty, headed across to Blessington and back home solo. 70km avg 27 odd kph and 530 odd meters

Today , headed to Gorey for meetup, Camolin, Ferns , The Harrow, Boolavogue, Oulart, Ballyedmund and home. Just under 60km ,avg 29kph and 475 meters. Very windy but dry today.

I find this weather still okay, still on Summer kit with long sleeve under armour. Yesterday wore lightest gloves I have but today back in mits.

Great to get out today, had it as a write off due to bad weather.

Just nudged through 9,000 kms today...Happy with that.

ednwireland · 09-10-2022 2:59pm

wet, thing is once your out in it it's never as bad . Still better than the turbo 😃

Seth Brundle · 13-10-2022 10:29am

Headed off to work this morning and this was the first mornign where it was damn cold. Far too cold for mitts and bare knees. I had put my shoe covers on before leaving so at least my feet were comfy. Stopping at a set of lights, I was able to try and thaw my fingers out but the cold foggy air just meant that I was cold again moments later.

By the time I got to work (~20k later), it was lovely. The fog had lifted and the air had warmed up.

That spin allowed me to hit my annual target of 10,000kms so chuffed with that (I hit my elevation target of 75,000m last Saturday). StatsHunters.com has me down with an Eddington number of 89km/63miles - is that good/bad/average?

magicbastarder · 13-10-2022 2:44pm

seeing lots of BOPs around these days - two buzzards today on a relatively short cycle, a kestrel the other day, and multiple kites and buzzards over the last few weeks.

JMcL · 13-10-2022 4:24pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119739523#Comment_119739523

I find that once you start seeing them, you tend to see them more easily, prior to which they'd have been classified "big dark bird, far away, probably a crow". I really started spotting them during the lockdowns firstly, I was looking more (young lad was/is interested in wildlife), and secondly there were probably fewer of them being killed by drivers. Birdwatch Ireland did a really good episode on buzzards on their "In Your Nature" podcast (highly recommended in general). Can find it here : https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/in-your-nature-ep-04-buzzards/id1554068928?i=1000513923215 and elsewhere as well

cletus · 13-10-2022 5:13pm

Thanks, i'll throw that on the 'listen to' list

loyatemu · 14-10-2022 11:36am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119739977#Comment_119739977

I think there are a lot more of them around than there were. Obviously the Red Kites have been re-introduced and are doing well, but I see Buzzards pretty much every spin nowadays (in Wicklow); even 10 years ago I hardly ever saw one.

magicbastarder · 14-10-2022 11:40am

i've see three dead buzzards at the side of the road this year, presumably all roadkill.

i did grab one and stick it in a bag, in case the NPWS wanted it to test for avian flu, but given it was found at the side of the road, and that the beak had a bit of damage on it, the ranger and i concluded it was almost certainly a vehicle strike which killed it. i'd also been afraid it had been shot - my FIL has come home from the clay range once or twice parroting anti-buzzard propaganda.

Seth Brundle · 14-10-2022 11:45am

anti-buzzard propaganda

How could one be against buzzards? They don't kill lambs so who or why would be pushing such propaganda?

loyatemu · 14-10-2022 11:49am

you've been taken in by the pro-Buzzard mainstream media. Buzzards would kill you and everyone you love without giving it a second thought!

magicbastarder · 14-10-2022 12:13pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119743120#Comment_119743120

a typical example given is they'll scavenge on dead lambs, so a farmer driving past his field in the morning and seeing a buzzard perched on a dead lamb will assume the buzzard killed it.

however, in the example of the gun club propaganda, i suspect it's borne from them thinking that a lot of the pheasants they might release would be taken by buzzards. the gas thing was the spiel was that the decline in song bird numbers was down to the 'alien' buzzard.

i suspect a buzzard chasing a songbird would be like trying to chase a teenager on a scrambler, while driving a dump truck.

14-10-2022 12:19pm

I have it in the back of my mind it's crows that do the damage to sheep? Probably me remembering an old wives tale 😂

nigeldaniel · 14-10-2022 12:21pm

Its been years since I happened across an old Buzz myself. I do cycle passed a very old disused quarry about 8km from me where I suspect one or two live out their lives in quiet contentment.

magicbastarder · 14-10-2022 12:22pm

one of the buzzards i saw earlier this week came within about 5m of me. it's a great buzz.

JMcL · 14-10-2022 12:53pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119743313#Comment_119743313

I had the same happen me earlier in the year - nice quiet flat road so was bombing along at a reasonable pace and the bird just fell in pace with me and stayed there for a couple of hundred meters. On the other hand, following @loyatemu line of reasoning, maybe it was just lunchtime 😂

Large bottle small glass · 14-10-2022 1:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119743295#Comment_119743295

There are a few different types of crows, but the crow which is partially black/grey (referred to locally as scall crow) do take eyes out of lambs.

They used to be killed using traps; but the fcukers are pretty smart.

The buzzard population in my location north west Waterford/South Tipperary has exploded in the last 5 years or so. It's rare I go out that I don't see at least one. Recently one entered this canopy "tunnel" for a couple of hundred meters while i cycled along.

https://goo.gl/maps/Y4yBozab56kwPur19

I couldn't get away from a pair of buzzards out around here one day

https://goo.gl/maps/L3hzjVNFtkakWPdn7

The roads turn and twist a bit but for a few km they were nearly constantly there.

Their battles with crows are interesting; I've seen a couple of times 2-3 crows "intercept" them and escort them away from the flock. Risky enough for all parties and if you believe Dawkins and increased chance of sex for the crows once they head home 😀

Mundo7976 · 14-10-2022 1:58pm

Seeing plenty of red kites around NCD lately, never really noticed them too much till recently when one came out of a hedge and stayed about 10metres ahead of me for 500m or so.

Yesterday one dropped on a mouse? in a field when I was close & he wasn't happy with me passing so move a but further in, and gave me a daring look as I passed.

Great seeing them in action.

beggars_bush · 15-10-2022 8:07am

Went out for a quick spin yesterday.

32km at 30.1kph

200m climbing

Had three strava segments lined up along the route and managed two KOMs, which is always nice. Just 3 secs off the third one, which we'll try another day

retalivity · 15-10-2022 8:28am

...

Luxman · 15-10-2022 5:21pm

I was out on the (no longer) clean summer bike as the hack is awaiting a replacement crankset (original is cracking). First 20 mins was drizzly and damp and headed out to NCD where the farmers were very busy mucking up the roads, bike and rider destroyed but it was nice enough once the rain stopped and I resigned myself to having a filthy bike. Washed the bike as soon as I got out of the shower, the summer bike has seen very little dirt (ever). Think I'll emigrate :-)

Tell us about your cycle today part III

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