Halloween Cycle in Dublin City

Friday brought the start of the Bank Holiday weekend (wahey!) 

After leaving work I headed to Dublin City to meet up with Ciaran at the start of the Critical Mass Halloween cycle. Unfortunately I had a bit of a false start after I realised that I left my phone in work, just as the train left Dun Laoghaire Station. I had to get off at Monkstown Station and cycle back to DL - in fairness it was a nice cycle on the protected cycle path of the DLR Coastal Mobility Route. After picking up my phone from my desk I returned to the station but unfortunately I just missed a train so that set me up to be late for the start of the cycle.  So I reassessed my plan and texted Ciaran to say that I would meet up with the cycle gang on Capel Street.  And that's what I did having got off at Tara Street and cycling down Abbey Street directly to Capel Street.

Many of the cycle crew were in full costume but we just wore masks - red dragon for me and werewolf for Ciarán.

Always fun to take part in this event and have a nice saunter on the bike around Dublin. But I particularly like the themed critical mass cycles depending on the time of year. I look forward to the Christmas one now that the Halloween one is over for the year.

And after the cycle it was back to Capel Street where we had wings & wine in All Bar Chicken......

....well I had wine, the werewolf had beer!

Click here to see my very first Critical Mass cycle - which coincidentally was a Halloween cycle too (and I dressed in full costume for this one)!

You can join Critical Mass if you like - just come along to the start at Parnell Square opposite the entrance to the Hugh Lane Gallery, at the side of the Garden of Remembrance. It is on the last Friday of every month and starts at 6pm. See you there!!

Brompton Bike Service - Penny Farthing Cycles

Brompton Mini Overhaul

I noticed my tyre was a little soft the other day so asked Ciaran to put some air in it for me. Two days after this when I went to cycle  it was back a little soft which led me to believe that I had a slow puncture. I was heading to work, so I returned home and switched my bike out for Ciaran's.

Ciaran then dropped my bike in for repair to Penny Farthing Cycles on Camden Street while I was in work, 

It was timely to get it to the shop as it was well overdue a service. 

Later in the day the shop called to ok the additional parts that were needed to be changed. New back brakes were needed along with a new chain. I ok'd these parts and then asked if they had a standard size seat post in stock. They said they would check and would install if they did. After all of that, they said the bike would be ready for pick up any time after 5.30pm.

Penny Farthing Cycles seem to do most repairs and services on the same day as drop off which is fantastic, They are also conveniently located on Camden Street, along with friendly staff. Given that they are official Brompton Suppliers & Servicers, I highly reccomend this shop!

So, when I arrived later to collect my bike, the mechanic advised that he did have a standard size post but it was black rather than metal like the extended one that was currently on my bike. The reason I wanted to switch out the post was because when travelling with my Brompton I have to take my saddle off in order to fit it in the travel case because I have the longer length post. The extended post came as standard on my bike when I bought it, but I really didn't need it because I never put the post up to its full length. I guess if I gave a loan of my bike to a taller person they would enjoy the extra length, but for me it is unnecessary.  So given the option of switching to a standard size post in black, I jumped at it.

And guess what?! It looks great!

I nearly think it looks like a special edition black Brompton and I feel like it has really upgraded the look of my Brompton. 

Of course it is about the usability too and it is so convenient to pull the post up to the top height and not have to readjust down. The mechanic also changed the postion of my saddle and this has also improved the rideability. It feels great to cycle on it, and for a 50 Euro part it is like a new bike!!

Here's a close up of the new pole. 

I was given the old post to take home so I will hold on to that. I could possibly put it up for sale on Done Deal or the like, but it also could come in handy if for some reason a taller person took a lend of my bike and I could put the older taller metal post on to the bike for this time.

In case you were wondering what my bike looked like with the metal post, here's a pic of me on it back in Malaga sometime in 2020 or 2021.

Let me know which you think looks better!

Go Capel Steet!

Capel Street will be Car-Free!

After numerous consultations and receiving thousands of submission (I sent one in!), Dublin City Council with the support of the Councillors will make Capel Street Car Free.

Having been trialled successfully last Summer, though with limited car free hours, it is great news to see this street being permanently made car free. It will be the longest street in Dublin to become car free and will follow in the footsteps of Grafton Street and Henry Street both of which are Dublin's main shopping streets and have been pedestrian only for decades. It seems bizarre to think that buses used to drive down the upmarket paved Grafton Street and I am sure that it will become like that with Capel Street someday in the future with no one calling to have it revert to the bottle neck choked with traffic street that it currently is.

Capel Street has an interesting mix of pubs, eateries and shops. I haven't been on the street in ages but intend to go back as soon as it is made car free. The last time I was there was in about June 2020 (I think when Ireland opened after the first lockdown) where I visited the hardware store there. It's worth mentioning that I cycled to visit this shop and at the time I had my electric bike so I strapped the piece of plastic tubing that I bought in to my panniers (half in half out) and cycled back across the Liffey to Ranelagh from the Northside. 

I sure am looking forward to this big change in Dublin and share a video below which shows the potential for the streets of Dublin but also shows how some of the fears of car drivers is generally unfounded, world over.

Good job Dublin City!

Edit - here's my trip report from my visit to Capel Street on 21st of May, the day after it was made car free

Wow weather in Ireland!

We've had the most beautiful weather for the past few days here in Dublin. It's been so good that I have been getting out and about lots on my bike.  

Friday

On Friday, I went in to the city after work and hooked up with the "I Bike" Crowd who had organised a critical mass cycle through Dublin. I joined up with them at Stephens Green apposite the MOLI Museum of Irish Literature and it was exhilarating to cycle around town in a group with music blaring and bells and whistles making a lot of noise. There was great interest from people as we passed by with lots of them cheering and waving at us.

Saturday

Then on Saturday, it was another cycle. This was part of an expedition over to the other side of the city for Ciaran to drop a van back to a friend. He had a loan of the van but needed to return it on Saturday as on pretty much a whim he decided to travel to Malaga to meet up with a friend who was there. So we drove to the my parents house and visited with them for a little bit and then travelled on to return the van. We had out foldup bikes in the back of the vehicle so we took them out and then cycled to Coolmine Train Station. We got on the train which then took us to Connolly Station and from there we headed towards Ranelagh but stopped off on Baggot Street and got coffees in Insomnia which we then brought over to a little park (Wilton Park?) on the other side of the canal where we sat and chatted in the sun. Then it was back on the bike and a quick cycle home to start getting ready for a big dinner event later that evening. 

Sunday

We lost an hour due to daylights saving this weekend, so when Ciaran got up to go to the airport it was 7am rather than the 8am it was saying on the clock. He took the blue Aircoach to the airport just before 9am and after saying goodbye at the bus stop I went for a walk around Ranelagh doing my usual Sunday morning litter pick!

Dublin Airport turned out to be an absolute nightmare. After giving himself nearly 3 hours before his flight, Ciaran made it to the plane with minutes to spare. Other passengers were not so lucky with the plane taking off half empty with security delays causing lots of people to miss flights. Staff shortages caused hours long queues just to get in to security and then in security there were only a few lanes open which caused even further delays, He said it was mayhem and looking on twitter it looked terrible with anxious people queuing for hours and then going on to miss their flight.  If you are travelling in the next few weeks, the delays are forecast to continue to get to the airport extra early with plenty of time to spare!!

Mother's Day

And then on Sunday I was back on the bike again and cycled back in to to town and got on the train at Connolly Station. I got off at Ashtown and cycled the short ride up to my parents house (with flowers, chocolates and a small gift in my bike bag). The weather was incredible and my mother and I just sat in the front garden and took in the sun for two hours or so. To get home after my visit I took the train to Broombridge where I got off and then took the Luas to Ranelagh and from there is was a stop off in Tesco and then another quick cycle home.

When I got home I sat out in the garden with Bones keeping me company while I read "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Loving my bike!

So after all that cycling I can tell you that I am loving my bike and it makes me so happy when I am cycling around - particularly when the weather is fine. But here's something that made me really happy. As I was cycling up through Ranelagh after getting off the Luas, a guy approached me and as he got closer I checked his bike out which was a bright orange Brompton. At the same time he looked my bike over (it's a basic black Brompton). After checking each other's bike out we then looked up at each other and he gave me the biggest friendly smile and nod and I gave him a big smile too. So much fun! I wish I had given a big wave too....but I didn't really have time.

I always enjoyed when I used to drive my Smart, giving a wave to other Smart drivers and now I love doing the same to other fellow Brompton cyclists!

Happy Halloween!

 Halloween Spooky Cycle with Dublin Cycle Campaign

We had a fun morning, taking part in the Dublin Cycle Campaign's "Spooky Cycle" along Sandymount Strand. It was a glorious sunny October day and everyone was in great spirits as we cycled slowly along the road. Led by Gardai from Irishtown and Donnybrook Garda station there was a mix of people with families and children of all ages. There was a mix of cargo bikes and regular bikes and we spotted another couple on Brompton's with theirs being red and cream while my Brompton is black with Ciaran's being raw lacquer.

Here's a few pics before the cycle got underway.

Happy International Women's Day!

Pedal Power

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Libraries presents a special video for International Women's Day

It's 10 minutes long and a great watch......and you'll even catch sight of me on my bike with Bones in the basket!!

Freedom Machine

As a woman, cycling gives me freedom to get around quickly and conveniently. Coined as the "Freedom Machine" by Susan B. Anthony, I certainly feel free when I ride my bike!

Click here to see my account of cycling in to the city to attend a birthday party - what could be more free than that?!

School Day Cycling

Watching this video reminded me of how great it was to cycle to school when I was younger, being one of about 10 girls who cycled in a school of about 900 girls. My twin sister and I were always late for school and we needed to cycle fast to get to assembly on time. We must have looked a state with our gaberdines flying around as we cycled furiously in our uniform. Our uniform was a skirt and it may have been preferable to cycle in trousers and then change when we arrived.......but sure we never were on time to do that!!

Our best friend Alice was a cyclist too and we used to cycle home together. We pushed our bikes to Alice's house as she lived closest to the school and dawdled and chatted on the way to her house where we stood at the driveway and chatted some more......until.... Amy and I realised that we were going to be late for swimming classes if we didn't leave straightaway.  You can see a pattern here! And then it was off again, cycling home quickly to get our swimming gear and head down to the pool - on our bikes again!

I'm glad that my parents encouraged me to cycle as a child because as an adult I can now see the worth of forgoing the car and enjoying the bike. Cycling is great for my physical and mental health and honestly it makes my spirit happy and I feel young at heart when I am on the bike.

If you haven't cycled in years now is the time to get back on the saddle and enjoy the thrill of the ride!

Cycle protest for the Liffey Cycle Route NOW!

Yesterday I picked up my electric bike from the shop (it needed a new motor). It was ideal to get it back then as I needed it for today's cycle protest which started at 11am at the Grand Canal Theatre.

Organised by Dublin Cycling Campaign and others it was held in order to highlight the need for the Liffey Cycle Route to be built immediately rather than delayed until 2024.

It was a cold day but the turn out was large with probably over 250 cyclists and others on different modes of transport - a guy beside me was on a single tire type of electric skateboard while there were two escooter riders in front of me (wearing high viz that said "You're not stuck in traffic - you are traffic"). There was individuals and families with kids (on bikes and in cargo bikes) and even dogs in baskets on bikes or being pulled in carriers.....I had planned to bring Bones who likes to sit in my panniers but I was worried it might be too cold for him.

Check out this awesome lad in his goggles!!!

We cycled from the Marker Hotel at the Grand Canal Basin all the up the Liffey to the Dublin City Council Offices and then over the bridge and back down the quays returning to the starting point.  Families went to the front and we cycled to the speed of the slowest cyclist - I did not need to turn my electrics on and I'd say no one broke a sweat.

It was really great to get out for the cycle and make our message known - but I missed my twin sister who came on past protest cycles with me....but I know she was with us in spirit from her home in Florida!

Have a read of the Irish Times coverage of the event here which includes a video. And hopefully my next blog about the Liffey Cycle Route will be good news with a plan in place to get it built NOW.

For further reading, look up #liffeycycle and #liffeycycleroute on twitter.

An "Up and at 'em" Saturday

Whew I got up to loads yesterday!

I was up early and we headed off to Deansgrange to visit a church. A church you say!

Yes! This 1970's wonder designed by John L. Griffith who seemingly was the brother of the parish priest of the time. 

It's the Holy Family Parish Church at Kill O'the Grange and it's a whopper of a brick building.

Very impressive altogether and worth a visit. It was locked so had to take the picture of the internals through a window. I'd like to go back and see the inside sometime in the future.

 



After our Church visit, Ciaran had to go on a site visit so I went home and did some social media work for his website and on his return we took Bones to Pot Bellied Pig, Rathmines for brunch. I had their full Irish (the Hog) for the first time and was really impressed. Excellent quality ingredients cooked perfectly. Annoyingly I forgot to ask them to leave off the toast as I don't eat bread.  Gah, I hate food waste.

 

After brunch, Ciaran headed off to play Padel in Bushy Park, while I got on my bike and cycled in to town to experience a "Car Free" South William Street.

This one street had been closed off to car traffic for the day (access was given to anyone with a disabled parking badge and cars could still exit the Brown Thomas car park) by some civic activists including the Dublin Commuters Coalition, Irish Pedestrian Network and the Dublin Cycling Campaign.

Wow it was blissful given that this is a terrible street when cars are on it as it is woefully small, with inadequate pathways for pedestrians - in particular those with buggies or using wheelchairs.
It was great to see the street being fully used with loads of people socialising on the street, families hanging out and people spilling out from Grogans drinking pints of Guinness on the roadway. It's definitely one road that could be pedestrianised quickly and would be such a great improvement for the city.

I hope that People Power can get this done!

Check this pic out - Dublin is so small. My sister in the States was sent this pic by a friend asking if this was me! You can't do anything in this town without being spotted.... :-) 

And then I found a picture of myself on social media coverage of the Streets are for People actions. Too funny seeing myself caught on film all unaware!

After my cycle home, I had a short turn around time before I headed back towards the city on the Luas. This time it was to Iveagh Gardens to see Burt Bacharach.

This was my first time as this venue and I thought it was brilliant. Capacity is about 5,000 and it has a nice bar set up with lots of food stalls to get something to eat at.

The bar had beer, wine and mixed Gin drinks in a can (this is a somewhat odd single liquor offering, but how and ever...) so I went for a glass of prosecco which was rather nice in the setting!

We had a great night at the concert, it was mild and didn't rain. We were able to get very close to the stage and had a great view of the show along with the sound being very good. Burt Bacharach is an absolute legend, 91 yrs old and still going strong. All of his hits had me singing along and I was still singing them in my head as we took the Luas home. 

A great day and an even better night!

As the song goes
"Dublin can be heaven, with coffee at a eleven and a stroll around Stephens Green......"
With the pedestrianising of more streets there can be more strolling around this heavenly city - let's keep the action going!

For further info about South William Street being given over to pedestrians, check out #Streetsareforpeople on Twitter.