Dublin City Cycle - Sunday 14th September 2008

Victor · 09-09-2008 09:33AM #1

The Dublin City Cycle takes place next Sunday 14th September.

Meeting at Merrion Square Sourth at 8.30am and starting at 9.30am, it will follow a 10-kilometre route around the city. This is a joint initiative by Dublin City Council and the Dublin Transportation Office and is now in its fourth year. It is open to people of all ages and fitness levels and is free of charge to enter.

Further details and registration here: http://www.dublincitycycle.ie

monument · 09-09-2008 04:18PM

Victor wrote: »

Sunday ... 8.30am and starting at 9.30am

Húrin · 09-09-2008 11:27PM

I've seen posters that say p.m.

monument · 12-09-2008 12:58PM

The route just got a lot smaller????

http://www.dublincitycycle.ie/route.htm

Tackleberry · 12-09-2008 01:08PM

Jesus thats pretty lame isn't it? I was gonna head in and have a boot around but don't think I'll bother now - very frustrating - if you're gonna have an event like this then do it right and don't do it half-arsed

monument · 12-09-2008 01:12PM

Tackleberry wrote: »

Jesus thats pretty lame isn't it? I was gonna head in and have a boot around but don't think I'll bother now - very frustrating - if you're gonna have an event like this then do it right and don't do it half-arsed

I'm half thinking the same thing.

12-09-2008 01:14PM

I didn't see the original map, what has been cut?

monument · 12-09-2008 01:16PM

To the top of O'Connell Street / Parnell Square.

kenmc · 12-09-2008 01:17PM

that is lame indeed. seems to be a bit of a case of 'quick, get the cyclists up and out on the roads while everyone else is still hungover in bed, so that when they get up and start looking for brekkie they'll be able to drive into town undisturbed' :rolleyes:

Chips Lovell · 12-09-2008 01:17PM

I signed up for this and was going to do it with my missus. The only thing is that the new route now is so short that we'll probably have to cycle further to get there and home afterwards than on the 'cycle' itself.... and we live in the city centre.

kenmc · 12-09-2008 01:20PM

so irish!

Caroline_ie · 12-09-2008 02:47PM

MMMmmmm Let's race it ... I'll use the Zipps

Chips Lovell · 12-09-2008 02:51PM

Caroline_ie wrote: »

MMMmmmm Let's race it ... I'll use the Zipps

As I said on an earlier thread, I'll be up late on Saturday polishing my disc wheel.

Morgan · 12-09-2008 03:32PM

If you can't get out of bed for the early 8.30am start, there's always this:

Thomas_S_Hunterson · 12-09-2008 03:44PM

Just signed up...looks like a fairly gentle affair, although it's about 10km for me each way to get there:p

DirkVoodoo · 12-09-2008 04:22PM

I signed up too. Dunno why, I don't think i will be fast enough to race or slow enough to be in with the casual, balloon wearing crowd (its on the site, they recommend wearing balloons on your head).

I shall be the lone boards jersey wearing chap in no-mans land, between the slow and fast crowds.

Chips Lovell · 12-09-2008 04:47PM

Just got an email from the organisers. The route has been shortened because of "operational safety reasons".

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

I signed up too. Dunno why, I don't think i will be fast enough to race or slow enough to be in with the casual, balloon wearing crowd (its on the site, they recommend wearing balloons on your head).

I shall be the lone boards jersey wearing chap in no-mans land, between the slow and fast crowds.

No one's going to be racing.

Slice · 12-09-2008 05:08PM

WTF? That is a poxy length compared to last year. I might just give it a miss seeing as I cycle most of that route almost every day

DirkVoodoo · 12-09-2008 05:28PM

el tonto wrote: »

No one's going to be racing.

Am i to assume I have missed out on much of the sarcasm of previous posts?

Chips Lovell · 12-09-2008 05:36PM

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Am i to assume I have missed out on much of the sarcasm of previous posts?

Yup. In fairness, there was an earlier thread on this where the joking started and you might have missed it.

bealbocht · 12-09-2008 07:21PM

yeah.. its a bit of a "give the kids a spin before real road users wake up"

9.30 on sunday morning.. is there such a thing... ??

and you are supposed to register.. , probably so they can say "x number " were there, cos thats how many registered..

Looks like the work of a "NGO committee" to me.

should be (IMO) around 3pm,

By sunday.. it will probably be 3 times around Merrion Sq.

I see they are collecting for concern.. but otherwise.. what is "supposed" to be the point of the whole thing.

Victor · 12-09-2008 09:25PM

I wonder how they are dealing with one-way streets and banned right turns.

drcopernicus · 13-09-2008 12:29AM

If the public service wants to kill something, this is how its done. The Irish bureaucratic genius for intertia is impressive enough, but its only when a provision can no longer be resisted that they pull out all the stops and make that provision **** beyond belief.

The allocation of an 8.30 am to 9.30 am slot should have been sufficiently begrudging to ensure the non-participation of those suburbanites unwilling to get up at 7 am on a Sunday morning for the privilege of a 25 minute canter around town, ie nearly all of them.

Alas, the citizenry must have signed up anyway in numbers sufficient to demonstrate their support and enthusiasm for a cycling alternative that there was no alternative but to practically cancel the whole affair.

I don't know whether or not to go now. It would be nice to experience a ride around the city centre accompanied only by the whirr of a "peloton"; it would be up there with sailing for the sensation of movement without engine noise, which is awesome. But even though I live two blocks from Merrion Square, I'm not sure I wouldn't be selling myself short hauling my arse out of bed for a spin around the perimeter of Trinity College, which is about the size of it now.

On the other hand, my public service experience tells me that is exactly what they want. With such small numbers taking part (despite the trojan efforts of the council to inconvenience motorists and the public for cycling ingrates), the Dublin City Cycle is a budget item that will be prime cut-back fodder in the years ahead.

I'd say that on the morning, it'll come down to the number of drinks I quaffe on Saturday night. Dublin City Cycle probably shouldn't hold its breath.

Chips Lovell · 13-09-2008 06:41PM

From the latest email:

Two members of the Garda Mountain Bike Unit will lead the cycle. Participants MUST stay behind these leading Gardai.
Anyone who overtakes the Gardai will be deemed to have left the event and will no longer be considered a participant. A member of the Garda Mountain Bike Unit will also bring up the rear of the event, participants must obey the Gardai’s instructions and if they choose to be passed by this Gardai they will be deemed to no longer be participating in the event.

I'm curious to find out what happens to you if you are deemed to be no longer a participant.

vektarman · 13-09-2008 06:47PM

el tonto wrote: »

From the latest email: I'm curious to find out what happens to you if you are deemed to be no longer a participant.

Jeez they'll defo pass me, I'll be on a 1970's raleigh chopper, does this mean I'll be tied up and dragged along the ground!?!

Raam · 13-09-2008 07:07PM

el tonto wrote: »

I'm curious to find out what happens to you if you are deemed to be no longer a participant.

You simply HAVE to pass them so we can find out.

kenmc · 13-09-2008 07:37PM

el tonto wrote: »

From the latest email: I'm curious to find out what happens to you if you are deemed to be no longer a participant.

You could argue that you were never a participant, and just stumbled across them as you were heading out on a training run. But thanks for closing the roads for us anyway

gaffmaster · 13-09-2008 07:44PM

GASP!!! this sounds so much more fun now! I suppose the real game is now seeing if you can be passed by the rear garda at the start of the "race", then really go for it and whiz past all other partisipants and pass the leading garda by the end of the said "race"!!!

rflynnr · 13-09-2008 07:55PM

Actually, given the in-all-likelihood sedate nature of the pace the Guardai are going to set, I'm tempted to pop along on the hybrid carrying both kids just to witness the faces of officialdom as all three of us canter past. "But Guard, this is my regular Sunday spin. Right kids?"

kenmc · 13-09-2008 08:01PM

are there any early houses en-route by any chance?
I think it probably best if the boards jerseys are left behind so, given the likelihood of rule-breaking on this one. Tomorrow, I shall be mosty argentenian i think!

drcopernicus · 13-09-2008 08:04PM

The real fun is to lap the rear garda, thus re-acquiring the lost participant status.

Caroline_ie · 13-09-2008 09:34PM

Don't worry about the guards ... once we pass them, they won't be able to catch us ... the city is ours!! Muahaha!!!

Stark · 13-09-2008 09:42PM

el tonto wrote: »

From the latest email: I'm curious to find out what happens to you if you are deemed to be no longer a participant.

Ever see those TV license ads where the guy confesses to his family that he didn't pay his TV license and everyone looks at him in disgust? You'll be that guy, only worse.

Raam · 13-09-2008 09:46PM

Does this Dublin City Spin preclude a Boards spin?

c0rk3r · 14-09-2008 01:54AM

I'am going to win this competitvie non-competitive event. just you wait and see

rflynnr · 14-09-2008 07:25AM

Raam wrote: »

Does this Dublin City Spin preclude a Boards spin?

If it doesn't do I win kudos/earn some sort of handicap for spinning with 35kg worth of offspring aboard?

Actually, on reflection, this should be a new Olympic event: the 10,000m commute. Cyclists are forced to cover said distance with 40 kgs of ballast, in rain gear, on traffic-light-ridden, pot-holed tracks, whilst the organisers jump out from behind random bushes to replicate the careless opening of car doors. Let's see: what have I left out?

(This also throws the whole Dublin City Cycle into a new light. Since it's clearly not designed to incentivise people to cycle, perhaps it's intended to kickstart training for this new event in time for London 2012.)

oobydooby · 14-09-2008 07:56AM

edit: I deleted that bit of idealism and decided that the event is a load of crap.

drcopernicus · 14-09-2008 09:29AM

I was slipstreaming nicely when the peloton was cleft in twain by the Luas. I caned it into Dame St., using the Sheldonator's cornering technique to cut up some chic Frenchies on pastel-painted Nellies at the Thomas Davis statue, but I'd just lost too much time.

Would it have been so outrageous to ask people one or two trams-worths of punters to walk from Harcourt to Stephen's Green or vice versa? How many people are cutting it fine for vital appointments at 9.30 am of a Sunday?

The hi-viz better be worth it.

Chips Lovell · 14-09-2008 09:58AM

vektarman wrote: »

Jeez they'll defo pass me, I'll be on a 1970's raleigh chopper...

Think I passed you. Baseball cap? Kind of burnt orange chopper?

drcopernicus wrote: »

I was slipstreaming nicely when the peloton was cleft in twain by the Luas. I caned it into Dame St., using the Sheldonator's cornering technique to cut up some chic Frenchies on pastel-painted Nellies at the Thomas Davis statue, but I'd just lost too much time.

We dropped several small children but failed to win the final sprint.

Was keeping an eye out for you and other boards heads but didn't spot anyone.

Chips Lovell · 14-09-2008 10:04AM

Here we all were, an army of Freds

Trojan · 14-09-2008 10:20AM

Cycling gear is sexy. http://www.flickr.com/photos/alrocket/2852422235/in/set-72157607265926307/

kenmc · 14-09-2008 10:33AM

el tonto wrote: »

Was keeping an eye out for you and other boards heads but didn't spot anyone.

Just out of bed. Kind of forgot to not drink too much last night. Managed to set the alarm though, but when I looked out the window it was too bright so decided against getting up!

Did ye all get free hi-viz? Or have the builders been reduced to cycling to the dole office now they can't afford money for their 'utility' vehicles?

Thomas_S_Hunterson · 14-09-2008 10:35AM

Yea it was a sea of high viz even though the roads were closed...It was a fairly pedestrian affair.

Think I spotted a boards jersey out there.

And a jazz band wtf?

Chips Lovell · 14-09-2008 10:41AM

kenmc wrote: »

Did ye all get free hi-viz?

Free hi-viz on offer for everyone, which pretty much everyone seemed to take them up on. Was kind of weird to look at, so many people in the same getup.

rflynnr · 14-09-2008 10:45AM

I think the dispensers of hi-viz were on some kind of a volume bonus. The guy looked at my 2- and 4-year old kids, then me and said "you'll need three so" before handing me two vests for 10-13 year olds. Sensibly, the kids refused to wear them.

Overall verdict on the event: fun but pointless.

DirkVoodoo · 14-09-2008 10:49AM

Got fairly toasted last night, 3 hours sleep. I did try and get out but by the time I found my mate and we started on the route, the main bunch was coming back so we turned around and cycled to the finish. I declined the bottle of water some nice lady offered me as I didn't think my 400 metre cycle had deserved it.

I had my jersey on briefly, seemed like a nice day out bus as someone mentioned already, ultimately not that much of a point (aside from the charity aspect).

vektarman · 14-09-2008 10:59AM

el tonto wrote: »

Think I passed you. Baseball cap? Kind of burnt orange chopper?
That was me, the one with the tow rope:)

monument · 14-09-2008 11:42AM

I asked a group of the stewards about the shorting of the route. Strangely I was straight away asked if I was "the one" who emailed them (I still haven't got a response).

Anyway, the guy I was talking to seamed pretty open and willing to engage. He said (like the email on Friday evening said) that it was for safety reasons, adding that closing off Westmorland Street and O'Connell Street would shut down Dublin Bus. I asked if the route was unsafe now and was told no but they couldn't have cyclists and buses together.

Slightly in shock I said ok fine. He said I looked sceptical. Indeed, but it was - still - early on a Sunday so I left it at that.

rflynnr wrote: »

I think the dispensers of hi-viz were on some kind of a volume bonus. The guy looked at my 2- and 4-year old kids, then me and said "you'll need three so" before handing me two vests for 10-13 year olds. Sensibly, the kids refused to wear them.

Good on them. But lucky you did not try to hand them back.

When lining up register I avoided one person handing them out, politely said no thanks to another. Then politely said no to the person I registered with, at which point I was told in a rather annoyed tone that they would prefer if I wore one. I said I'd prefer not to and walked off.

Here's some pics, starting on this page...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cianginty/2855124345/in/set-72157605993013417/

Or at the end of this set...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cianginty/sets/72157605993013417

Chips Lovell · 14-09-2008 12:26PM

Think I spotted you Monument as you came up Georges Street and I was going down it.

monument wrote: »

When lining up register I avoided one person handing them out, politely said no thanks to another. Then politely said no to the person I registered with, at which point I was told in a rather annoyed tone that they would prefer if I wore one. I said I'd prefer not to and walked off.

I got lucky in that case. The woman registering me took one look at me and said "I take it you don't want one of these". "Err, no" was my reply.

Raam · 14-09-2008 12:35PM

el tonto wrote: »

The woman registering me took one look at me and said "I take it you don't want one of these". "Err, no" was my reply.

The "Euro look" and high-vis are mutually exclusive, eh?

TinyExplosions · 14-09-2008 01:01PM

I would have headed out, but far too many pints last night means I was dead to the world till about 11... sounds like fun though

Dublin City Cycle - Sunday 14th September 2008

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