Leadmines // Threerock - Timed lap on the Epic course

This morning the weather got a bit better compare to the terrible conditions over the last couple of days, so needless to say how happy I was to get out on the bike without the risk of hailstones. :)

Today's spin - Leadmines & Threerock

My plan was to get out to the Leadmines and see what I can do on the Epic club course. I haven't been there for a good while now and I was prepared to get some proper slippery time around the well known club course. So after the fast tarmac climb I was feeling good and excited about the whole plan. "This is gonna be great!" I thought when I started my timed lap on the muddy trails. I gave everything I had I guess and when I got the lap done with my personal best of 14 minutes and 35 seconds I was feeling sooo good about myself...until I got back home and uploaded the data to Strava. My lap time was enough to be the 24th best registered time on the club course. Not bad, but I honestly thought I was going a bit faster than that. :) 

After I finished at the Leadmines I turned back towards Threerock and did a little bit of mountain biking there too. I finished just in time before the usual Saturday madness kicked in! Happy days! :) 

On my way home

In the last couple of weeks I've been quiet busy to get ready for the arrival of our Little Baby (painting the room, putting baby furnitures together and going to antenatal classes), so I've been doing spins only once a week. Funny enough, since I spend less time up in the mountains I appreciate my time on the bike lot more. Everytime I get out it feels like just the perfect spin and it wasn't any different this time either. 

I had great time on the bike, I did 2 hours and 20 minutes and covered the distance of 44 km this morning. It was fun ride on the super muddy trails. Conclusion of today's spin: next time I need to calm down after a timed lap 'cause it's not always as good as it seems! :)

Kilmashogue climb x 9 times in a row // 2012 goal is done!

I just got back home not long ago from the Kilmashogue Lane where I got one of my special projects done. The plan was there for a while and I had the details worked out as well long ago but the real inspiration was the last year's National Hillclimb Championship. So why not to try and see my climbing limits, hah?

Luckily I picked a nice and bright day for attempt but after all the bad weather just a couple of days ago (snow, hailstones and the rest...) I was honestly worried about the sudden change of weather. I decided to drive out instead of ride my bike there 'cause I needed everything (drink & food, dry clothing) easly accessable. So, after a quick prep I was ready to go!

All ready to go

Let's get the ball rollin'! :)

The plan was to ride nicely and set a constant pace during the climb. So, after I settled into a comfortable pace I started to get the climb done one after another. The first 4 times it was absolutely ok, didn't have any problems at all. But during the 5th, 6th, and 7th time I started to feel pain and tiredness from different parts of my body (lower back, shoulders, arms, legs). By the time I got up to the top the 8th time, it was pretty much obvious to me: I can get it done one more time, but that's about it. So I went for it one more time and after that my body and my head gave it up pretty much in the same time. My lower back was possibly the most critical but I was sore everywhere else too...

The faithful Madone 4.5

But hey, it's done! I completed the Kilmashogue Lane tarmac road climb (between the M50 bridge and the top of the tarmac road) 9 times in a row. Happy days! :)

Map & elevation graph

Details of today's challenge:

Lenght of each climb: 2.58 km

Number of climbs: 9

Total distance: 46.59 km

Total time: 2 hours 42 minutes

Total elevation gain: 2079 m 

Avarage speed: 17,2 km/h

Calories burned: 2033 cal

So, the special goal that I've set for myself for 2012 is done and dusted! I'm very tired and sore but in the main time I'm happy to know I've done what was planned. So, the number to beat is 9 on this brutal climb, next time I'll try to push out the limits a bit more and get a double digit number written on that flat stone. When that next time would be? Don't even ask me! It wont be any time soon, that's for sure!!! :)

Big thank you to John Clarke from ThinkBike for the set of wheels for the day!

New personal best - Kilmashogue climb (long)

My task was to get a new personal best on the Kilmashogue climb this morning. I love this climb because it is long enough and the avarage gradient is pretty consistent (only couple of steep bits along the way).

As a warmup I cycled through Rathgar and Rathfarnham to get to the start point which is the M50 bridge just next to the Marlay Park.

From the bridge I went up on the Kilmashogue Lane to the Kilmashogue carpark. There I hit the fire road that leads up towards the top of Threerock. I have crossed all to way to the upper section of the tarmac road that runs up to the top which was the finish point.  The first section and the last bit was on tarmac road but most of the route was fire road.

I felt great on the climb and I could manage to set my new personal best on it. It is nice to see what is the best time on climbs like this 'cause I can compare to this time when I give it a go again in the future.

Kilmashogue Climb (long) 

(From M50 bridge to the top where the tarmac road ends on Threerock)

distance: 3 km

max. speed: 22,4 km/h

calories burned: 318 kcal

personal best: 21 minutes 56 seconds

New personal best - Ballinastoe (long loop)

Yesterday I went up to Ballinastoe to have a super fast training spin as a preparation for the National Champs. The weather was really bad, the rain was quiet heavy at the time I left from home. Because of that I decided to drive to the mountain bike trail centre rather than ride all the way there. Normally I cycle out and back but this time I voted for the bit more comfy option. :)

Ready for the record attempt.

My plan was to set up a new personal best riding the long loop. I haven't ride those trails for a good while so I was very curious what I can do on the day. I got ready and off I went.

The weather hasn't improved at all for the rest of the afternoon, so I was riding in very heavy rain and lots of mud. Luckily it was a warm day anyway so at least I didn't feel cold. I completed one of the long loop and one of the short one. I checked the time on the long loop and I was happy to see: task was completed, I finished with a new personal record. 

Ballinastoe Trails (long loop)

distance: 14 km

elevation gain: 319 m

avarage speed: 14,9 km/h

max. speed: 38,1 km/h

calories burned: 479 kcal

personal best: 57 minutes 48 seconds

After the wet and muddy spin

The gear might needs a good and effective detergent :)

I wanted to record a nice XC video footage also, so the GoPro camera was fitted on the bike during the long loop. Check out the recorded footage! :)

                   

1st timed climb of the year and MTB spin afterwards

I have completed my 1st timed climb of the new year this morning. I started to feel better and better on the bike in the last 2 weeks so I have decided to go ahead and check my time on one of my favorite climb. 

This climb is the Kilmashogue climb. I have started from the well known Yellow House Pub in Rathfarnham and headed to the Kilmashogue car park's direction. This climb goes all the way uphill from the Yellow House, there is only one place that has a little bit of downhill section close to the start point. During the way I have passed the M50 just right next to the Marlay Park. After the M50 I hit the Kilmashogue Lane and from that point the road leads you all the way to the top. This lane is a dead end so you need to turn back when you get to the very top.

During the way there is a steep section just before you get to the car park. After this the gradient gets a little bit more friendly but once you get up to the houses and the big opened fields the road gets steep again.

 

The steepest section of the climb

After I have passed the houses on the right I was nearly on the top, just a little bit more to go. Even if this road leads nowhere for some reason I like this climb becuase it is long enough and some of the stages are steep.

Details of the Kilmashogue climb:

Start point: Yellow House Pub (Rathfarnham)

Distance: 6.16 km

Elevation of start: 130m

Elevation of finish: 396m

Total elevation gain: +266m

Total ascent: 300m

Total descent: 34m

Duration: 23min 57sec

After the climb I went for my normal off-road spin. I have started from the Kilmashogue car park. I have climbed all the way up to the very top of Threerock and covered some of the trails on the sea side of the mountain. 

It seems like the winter does not want to give up the grip up there because everything was still very icy. Also the clouds were sitting on the top of the mountain so everything looked a bit like I am in the middle of nowhere. Brilliant!

 

The spin took 1 hour and 35 minutes (only the off-road bit) and I really enjoyed it in the winterly conditions. It seems like the low temperature and the icy surface isn't too bad after all. 

The overall time I have spent on the bike today was 2 hours and 20 minutes and I have covered 38km of distance.