The Northern Ireland Thread. *Warning* May include cake

12467…28

Comments

  • dw300
    dw300 Posts: 1,642
    Vino2007 wrote:
    Good work, never quite understood why there were three seperate segments up to divis but not one for the full duration up.

    Maybe because since NI is relatively flat, most of our cyclists are big rouleurs and can't hack an uphill segment longer than a mile. :p I just realised there is a similar segment from the Stockman's Lane roundabout, but that has 2 other roundabouts to negotiate, mine doesn't.

    That segment .. has a great surface on the Monagh Bypass, reasonably decent on the Upper Springfield Road (there were roadworks), Divis Road is tar sprayed, but ok, and the final bit from the car park up is fine apart from the cow poop. The final bit of the climb from the transmitters is a little uneven but you'll climb it ok. On the way down that bit is a bit hairy as it's slightly loose, but I suck at descending, it's probably fine for most .. there was a big side wind up there and i almost got blown off the path at one stage.

    The upper section is weird .. there are no trees and its so huge and open that you have no sensation of what speed you're doing. I didn't try the door, but it looked like the little shelter where you can get a coffee was shut today.

    Last time I went up there (last year) we didn't climb Divis, we cyclocrossed across to Black Mountain. Awesome view, hairy as hell if the ground is damp!

    Oh, and if you're going up, remember it several degrees colder up there than in the city, so you'll probably not want to hang around for long unless the shelter is open.

    BTW .. Hannahstown Hill .. http://app.strava.com/segments/1207107 .. That would blow my legs apart before the rest of the climb!
    All the above is just advice .. you can do whatever the f*ck you wana do!
    Bike Radar Strava Club
    The Northern Ireland Thread
  • garrynolan
    garrynolan Posts: 560
    Anyone tried the Ligoneil road? Great climb. Also the Ballygomartin road after the junction with the Springmartin road - mental! - and even steeper coming from the other side, though shorter.
    Visit Ireland - all of it! Cycle in Dublin and know fear!!
    exercise.png
  • paul_mck
    paul_mck Posts: 1,058
    15% climbs all day long in the sperrins. Brutal.

    47mph on one of the descents tho. Then the balls ran dry lol.
  • t.m.h.n.e.t
    t.m.h.n.e.t Posts: 2,265
    paul_mck wrote:
    15% climbs all day long in the sperrins. Brutal.

    47mph on one of the descents tho. Then the balls ran dry lol.
    Do I recall you building a roadie?
  • madden2011
    madden2011 Posts: 142
    I've done Hannahstown hill once, though was dying for a pee and a drink and had to stop off on the way up which pretty much ruined my time on strava, wasnt that much fun though, feels like it goes on forever.
  • paul_mck
    paul_mck Posts: 1,058
    T.M.H.N.E.T wrote:
    paul_mck wrote:
    15% climbs all day long in the sperrins. Brutal.

    47mph on one of the descents tho. Then the balls ran dry lol.
    Do I recall you building a roadie?

    still on the MTB :P

    IMAG0116.jpg
  • Vino2007
    Vino2007 Posts: 340
    Oh aye Divis is where it's at, only thirty minutes from my house.
  • WheelieBad
    WheelieBad Posts: 43
    I'm planning on having a look around for bikes at the weekend. Any LBS I should go see/avoid in and around Belfast?
  • dw300
    dw300 Posts: 1,642
    WheelieBad wrote:
    I'm planning on having a look around for bikes at the weekend. Any LBS I should go see/avoid in and around Belfast?

    Well CRC have fooked me over once too many times to recommend them. They're probably as good as the rest, but they just won't be getting anymore of my money for a while.

    I got my bike in McConveys, who were decent enough.

    I think it's pretty much going to come down to what brand of bike you want. But the more you know what you need, the less likely you'll get sold something they want to sell you.
    All the above is just advice .. you can do whatever the f*ck you wana do!
    Bike Radar Strava Club
    The Northern Ireland Thread
  • paul_mck
    paul_mck Posts: 1,058
    give podium 4 sport a try also, friend works there they do good enough deals on merida and trek.

    montgomery road belfast.
  • paul_mck
    paul_mck Posts: 1,058
    saw this on another thread :)

    Subject: Strava 'Bagging'
    dw300 wrote:
    Could this be the least impressive KoM ever ?? I churned out a whopping 104w to get this one, and I'm pretty sure I had a tailwind ..

    http://app.strava.com/segments/1499170

    Me and my mate have got all competitive over this one. I KOMed it (with a long stop in the middle at lights) then he beat it, so Ill be heading out to take it back again :P
  • antlaff
    antlaff Posts: 583
    just downloaded some rides into Strava and have first place in last years Lap of the Lough!! :P

    http://app.strava.com/segments/736887

    hope i can say the same after this weekends Inishowen 100
    Work
    Ride
    Play
    Sunny Days
    Fun
  • dw300
    dw300 Posts: 1,642
    paul_mck wrote:
    saw this on another thread :)

    Subject: Strava 'Bagging'
    dw300 wrote:
    Could this be the least impressive KoM ever ?? I churned out a whopping 104w to get this one, and I'm pretty sure I had a tailwind ..

    http://app.strava.com/segments/1499170

    Me and my mate have got all competitive over this one. I KOMed it (with a long stop in the middle at lights) then he beat it, so Ill be heading out to take it back again :P

    So, it was you! I'm amazed it stood for so long. Run it in the evening so you've a better chance with the traffic. Or if you're hardcore, try it at 3:30 in the morning, with soigneurs on the pedestrian crossings to help you out. =p

    antlaff wrote:
    just downloaded some rides into Strava and have first place in last years Lap of the Lough!! :P

    http://app.strava.com/segments/736887

    hope i can say the same after this weekends Inishowen 100

    Nice one. The year I did it it was the opposite way round. I totally bonked after 50 miles. I think I got 4:45ish .. I expected to see faster times. Have you done it before?
    All the above is just advice .. you can do whatever the f*ck you wana do!
    Bike Radar Strava Club
    The Northern Ireland Thread
  • antlaff
    antlaff Posts: 583
    dw300 wrote:

    Nice one. The year I did it it was the opposite way round. I totally bonked after 50 miles. I think I got 4:45ish .. I expected to see faster times. Have you done it before?

    Yeah - I did it the previous year also - time was 4.50ish but giving it a miss this year, not bragging but its not stimulating being so flat. Doing the Inishowen and Giants sportive's this year
    Work
    Ride
    Play
    Sunny Days
    Fun
  • paul_mck
    paul_mck Posts: 1,058
    antlaff wrote:
    dw300 wrote:

    Nice one. The year I did it it was the opposite way round. I totally bonked after 50 miles. I think I got 4:45ish .. I expected to see faster times. Have you done it before?

    Yeah - I did it the previous year also - time was 4.50ish but giving it a miss this year, not bragging but its not stimulating being so flat. Doing the Inishowen and Giants sportive's this year

    its a crap event anyway. Freewheelers was much more enjoyable.
  • t.m.h.n.e.t
    t.m.h.n.e.t Posts: 2,265
    I love this country. Lovely blast up the coast after a couple of short stops to make adjustments(changed stem from 110 to 80), flat calm no sign of a breeze

    Who put that fucking headwind there on the way back? barsteward. I'm pretty sure I was pulling the TV Tommy gurn face most of the way back!
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Hi all, newbie here. Been at it about a month now I guess, jumping on the TDF and Olympic bandwagon. Loving it so far, completely hooked on Strava.
    Was out in a group for the first time at the weekend there and had a great time. Any one know of any good clubs are Jordanstwon Whiteabbey direction? Someone had told me UUJ were/had set one up?

    I need to work on my hill climbing badly, I'm much quicker on the flats pro rata than climbing. Thankfully there are some pretty good climbs near me, it's just getting the motivation to go at them after the commute home!
  • paul_mck
    paul_mck Posts: 1,058
    you arent that bad on the hills chris!! Just keep doing what youre doing imo.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Ha thought that might have been yourself!
    I just don't feel like I have any kind of climbing technique or plan, I feel much more comofrtable out of the saddle in a higher gear, probably grinding my knees to dust. Have been making a conscious effort to go one gear lower than I feel most comfortable in, not sure if it's making me any quicker as yet.
    I'm not recovering as quickly as I would like either. Went out last night with the aim of doing a quick 40mins pre dinner, taking a little 1.2m flat spring KOM and going for a few climbs. After the spring I was completely and utterly busted. Was 15 seconds slower than my own best heading the other direction too, although still fast enough to be no.1

    I think part of the problem is the 9m commute I do twice a day, each time treating it like a time trial lol. Either way, my legs are never 100% back to full strength, they just about get to 90% if I drive in to work due to weather then wait until the evening, i.e 24h+ break.
  • t.m.h.n.e.t
    t.m.h.n.e.t Posts: 2,265
    Madigan?
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Just googled them, look like a very professional outfit thanks!!
  • paul_mck
    paul_mck Posts: 1,058
    there is east antrm as well. and kings moss in ballyclare.
  • madden2011
    madden2011 Posts: 142
    @hutchy_belfast by any chance are you the C Hutchison who demolished my time by 12secs to get KOM on that B59 to manse road segment? If so damn you :) that is some going though, ive cut the gap down to 9 seconds.

    Im always up the Carrick direction, you should give the Knockagh Road a go from the Woodburn side thats a challenge.
  • paul_mck
    paul_mck Posts: 1,058
    chris is a strava junkie!
  • paul_mck
    paul_mck Posts: 1,058
    oh I might have a go at that segment later see if I can beat my mid 40s place lol.
  • t.m.h.n.e.t
    t.m.h.n.e.t Posts: 2,265
    paul_mck wrote:
    there is east antrm as well. and kings moss in ballyclare.
    I'm still considering taking Kings Moss up on that invite we got at the sportive.
  • madden2011
    madden2011 Posts: 142
    Cant help but swear under your breath when you get the "Uh Oh" email from strava.

    It is one of the busier segments up this end of town Paul Im sure you'll move up a few positions
  • paul_mck
    paul_mck Posts: 1,058
    I usually take it handy on that part due to the impending manse road to sandyknowes drag but Ill give it some later then take it easy up the hill :)
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    madden2011 wrote:
    @hutchy_belfast by any chance are you the C Hutchison who demolished my time by 12secs to get KOM on that B59 to manse road segment? If so damn you :) that is some going though, ive cut the gap down to 9 seconds.

    Im always up the Carrick direction, you should give the Knockagh Road a go from the Woodburn side thats a challenge.
    Yup that's me, that was a good run out, got 4KOMs on that one run lol that was the last of them!
    I live just off the J'town road, aiming for the various Knockagh assents in the future as they seem competitive. I'm not quick enough at hills yet though and my legs don't have the gas in them that the lungs have.
    Edit: as for swearing under my breath... there's a segment that runs right outside my front door basically. It has changed hands between myself and one other guy 4 times since I have started cycling and has dropped by 16 secs in total over a 1.2m run. I'm now taking it as a personal insult that it's no longer mine seeing as it runs past my house. I'm currently 1 second behind him and not sure how much faster I can actually go on my own. Still- it irritates me greatly that it's not my name on it.
  • madden2011
    madden2011 Posts: 142
    I usually go for both the b59 and manse road one then coast down ballyhenry road then give hydepark road a go. Thats my usual midweek route.

    Chris 4 KOMs is pretty good especially since you have only been at cycling a month, is that the climb up J'town road? Ive only been down it never up it

Categories