Operation Transportation Diaries: 20th June 2015

Sunday, 21 June 2015

20th +21st June 2015, Flat tyre - Martin is equal to the task!

Weekend Break in Youghal!

20th June Martin writes:

I arrived in Youghal yesterday evening for the weekend, so I had limited internet access. It was my first time carrying a bike on a car rack over a long distance, so I was a bit nervous.. but the bike was still on the car when we got to Youghal! :)

I went for a cycle yesterday evening, out from the mobile home park, onto Clay Castle strand car park. It was very relaxing to look across to Front stand and watch and listen to the waves breaking. While stopped I took a few snaps of Cabel island and Youghal head. Several people parked up with their car windows rolled down reading a book, listening to the radio or just taking in the views.

Next I headed towards Front strand passing Aura Leisure Centre, Youghal Pitch and Putt club; there I could see the mobile home park where I was staying, in the distance.

I got close to Clancy’s bar and things didn’t feel right,I looked down and saw that the front wheel was totally flat.

It was now time to try what I had seen on a Youtube video into practice. Got repair kit off bike, took front wheel off and started by taking tyre and tube out.

I had a replacement tube on me so I checked inside of tyre for sharps and put new tube and the tyre back on the wheel.

I inflated the tyre with a mini CO2 cylinder I had, but it only inflated the tyre by about half. So I put front wheel back on bike and SLOWLY headed back to mobile park.

Editor's Footnote:

Check out this video on how to change and fix a flat bike tire:

How to change and fix a flat bike tire - Trek Bicycle

21st June Martin writes:

After the CO2 inflation I got my tyre pumped with air this morning.

Headed towards Youghal town centre today, passing Perks funfare, Greyhound track and the Lighthouse, went under Clock Gate and onto Main Street. The street was extremely busy with a large amount of traffic and people heading from shop to shop.

So I made my way to the back street, where I stopped a while for a breather and took in the sights. A group of tourists were having a laugh, while enjoying a drink outside a bar. The skipper of a tour boat is also getting his boat ready for his next group.

On my way back to the mobile home I took a few more photos. I also passed the Walter Raleigh hotel where part of a wedding group was standing out front

Why not grab your bike and head down to Youghal this summer and check out an event:

Youghal festivals and events 2015

Saturday, 20 June 2015

20th June 2015, Aisling and Karen Take to The Tracks for 50km+ Roundtrip!

Sunny Saturday Cycles

Aisling Writes:

Today I cycled from Ballintemple to Crosshaven with my friend Karen.

Aisling and Karen on the Old Railway line to Crosshaven

We had only intended to cycle to Monkstown but it was just such a beautiful day, we continued onto Crosshaven.

Aisling's Scenic Coastal Route from Ballintemple to Monkstown

We stopped off in the Bosun restaurant in Monkstown for some food and water. And of course we had to have a 99-ice cream when we got to Crosshaven!

Karen would be a much more experienced cyclist than myself so she was giving good tips along the journey .

The Bosun Bar/Restaurant "famous for its fine food" as depicted on: http://monkstown.org/- A website where there is a diverting extract describing the town taken from Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, 1837

Editor's Footnote:

The old cork Railway line has been converted into a walk/cycle route from Centre park Road to Rochestown, Rochestown to Monkstown and Carrigaline to Crosshaven. You can see evidence of its former use along the way as illustrated in the images below: