12th June 2016 - Country road cycling in Limerick

Sunday cycle to Newcastle West

Shauna writes:

Luckily for me the weather was much better today which allowed me to go out for longer on my bike. I was meeting friends for lunch today a so I decided I would cycle from my home house in County Limerick to the nearest small town (Newcastle West) where I was having lunch. This is roughly about 9 km, it is mostly downhill. So I set off about 40 mins before i was due to meet my friends.

I wanted to allow myself enough time as this is not a regular thing for me and was unsure of how long it would take. Again cycling in the countryside is very easy because there is little to no traffic on the roads. As I got closer to Newcastle West there were a few more cars on the road. However as it was Sunday it was quieter than usual so I wasn't too concerned about  cycling on the road.

Interested in cycling a quiet road nearby you, cycle Ireland have a route finder just for you! Click here to see more

When I eventually got to town, I noticed how little places there are to secure a bike. This is something I wouldn't have noticed before as I would normally drive or get a lift to town. It is a real inconvenience for anyone that would cycle regularly into town. In the end I had to lock it to a lamp post in the main town square because there were very little options for locking it.

Some foolproof advice on locking your bike and other tips on preventing your bike from getting stolen: see here

The journey home was a little harder as it was uphill. I wouldn't be used to cycling regularly so this was a bit of a battle for me. I took a break at the top for a few minutes to take a drink.

Later that evening I had to call to a neighbours house, normally this would be a journey I would do by car or on foot. I decided to take the bike,  my younger brother and our dogs decided to come along for the trip. 

Taking the bike was much faster and more convenient for a small trip like this. My younger brother would cycle a lot so he was thrilled that I was going out on the bike with him.

Overall today was very enjoyable and I'm getting more user to being back on the bike!

12th June 2016 - Uphill climbs and Pothole Dives all in the name of that calorie burn!

 

DONNACHA VENTURES OUT ON DAY 1:

 

 

Donnacha writes:

 

I was away for the weekend with family so didnt get to start until I got home this evening. There is a nice and challenging loop right outside my door so I set off towards Bandon. Storm Desmond and Storm Frank has left many a legacy on that stretch so it is not a road to lose concentration on! Fortunately Sunday evening meant it was quiet.

 

One consequence of these resiliant storms was every cyclists nightmare - POTHOLES!

Learn how you can deal with them here: Cyclists Guide to Dealing with Potholes



 

I  turned off before I came in towards the mart and came back towards Kilmacsimon where I popped down to see if there was any boats on the water.

 

The calm water at Kilmacsimon

 

 

The break at the watersedge was a welcome few minutes rest before the 1 mile steep climb home - not one for the faint hearted! I got to the top surprisingly easy although I am sure I could pay for that in the morning! Got home just in time for tea - feeling good!

 

 





An impressive distance travelled and amount of calories burned by Donnacha after his first trip!



 

**FUN FACT**:
With the 605 calories Donnacha burned could eat; 3 49g Snicker Bars OR 1 cup of cornflakes with half a cup of milk, an apple, 3 grilled chicken breasts, a baked potato and a cup of steamed broccoli!!
 

 

 

 Continue to follow Donnacha's journey back on two wheels here and on:

Facebook



 

 

  

June 13th, 2015 Cycling: TheTug and Recoil for Chris and Marcia

Fear and Longing in Passage

Marcia Writes:

So, this is National Bike Week ( www.bikeweek.ie ). Thanks to the goodwill of my sporty friend, I have a bike. She gave it to me last year when she upgraded. 

The only Irish made bike: http://www.highnelly.ie/

Her old bike was a massive upgrade for me too. Before that, I used to puddle along the Passage West - Blackrock line occasionally during the summer on my aunt's 100-year old High Nelly, small dog in Wiser bottle box on the backer and bigger dog on a lead running alongside. Several of the kids usually in tow on various sizes of bikes, generally rescued from the civic amenity site in Raffeen. Travelling Wilburys!

But my bike has been growing rustier and rustier as I spend more and more time rushing between work, being mom's taxi, cooking dinners and preparing tomorrow's school lunches. To the extent that I am now positively scared to get up on it. Even worse is the ghastly hill up to our house that seems to go on forever. Embarrassingly, I always have to get off and walk.

Marcia is not alone
in her uphill struggles
as this blogger in Austin acknowledges:
 http://www.treegrowsinaustin.com/2010/04/

On the other hand, Chris is 13. He can cycle anything. Nothing can kill him, stop him or slow him. He wants to road cycle from Passage West to Crosshaven. Thinking of my lovely son negotiating the narrow roads around Raffeen and the fast cars clipping hedges, I baulk.

So Chris and I have both taken on a challenge. Cork City Council is running Operation Transportation for the week. We've signed up to cycle at least 10 minutes every day, keeping a diary of what we do, where we go and how we feel. He's champing at the bit. I'm dreading it. He will need to try road cycling. I will just need to try!

We started this morning with 3 hours of an "introduction" to our bikes outside the main gates of UCC:

• How they work, 
• How to recognise when they need attention and 
• The basics of road cycling safety.

I felt like a total cheat for driving with the bikes to the UCC car park! I had visions of my two-wheeled rust bucket being pitted against Lycra and carbon wheels. Thankfully, no. My chariot was perfectly adequate. And I even had company in walking rather than cycling up Donovan's Road. A thoroughly enjoyable session and a very gentle confidence builder for both Chris and for me, albeit in different ways.

So how I'm going to fit 10 minutes of cycling in to my already overstretched daily routine, I don't know. It'll take me 10 minutes alone to make it back up the estate home! But I've got to start somewhere, so here goes ... 

http://www.inspireux.com/2014/06/21/methods-to-achieve-user-delight/

17th June Maria Climbs Every Mountain

Cycling is just

Part of my Routine now!

Maria writes:

Today I did some nice "getting from A to B" cycling.

I took a cycle to my friends house in the morning. It's up a hill and I was tempted to get off the bike but I persevered and finally arrived at my friend's house panting and sweating, but fee...ling gooood!!

From: http://cyclenewbie.wordpress.com/2009/03/08/cycling-uphill-burbage-road/

Of course that meant it was a blast coming home, racing down said hill...and ok... I'll admit it-singing too (oh yeah!) I felt like Maria Von Trapp (without kids in tow). After that I cycled to pick up my daughter and came home. 

Maria Von Trapp High On a Hill ......Leyo Leyo Lay!

 I enjoyed being on the roads today. I exercised my right to take 'central position' in the lanes if needed and I am getting more confident with the bike itself, using different gears and so forth. Today was my favourite day so far as I didn't feel I HAD to push myself to cycle, I simply used it in my daily activities. Very enjoyable.