Sunday Spins Winter 2024: Feedback Survey!

Winter Spins will run from Sun 1st October 2023 to 10 March 2024
A draft of the Winter spin schedule is posted on the Orwell website.
tinyurl.com/48hyc8fh

Events will be posted in the calendar on RWGPS by midweek before each spin.

Red spins leave Dundrum at 09:00.  Groups are self led and nominate leaders on the day.
Orange spins leave Dundrum at 09:10.  Groups are self led and nominate leaders on the day.
Orange routes were provided by riders from this group.  They may change on the day.

Yellow and White spins will have leaders, and require an RSVP (tomanage numbers)

There is some logic to the Yellow/White route selection.  
The rides start easy enough and get a little more difficult up to Christmas.
In January, the routes start off easy again,  and build up to March.
There is an attempt to provide a mix of flat, lumpy and hilly rides.

Sometimes the White route is a shorter version of the Yellow route.  
On other weekends the same route is used.
This gives White riders options to move to yellow when appropriates.

Most of the routes have been used over the last number of years
(some with minor updates based on feedback received).

All of the posted routes are available in the Orwell Library on Ride With GPS.

As a club, we welcome feedback on the Winter spins.

If you have comments please send them to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(please dont post on WhatsApp or in the Forum - as useful feedback may get lost in the chatter).

This Winter,  Leisure members will receive a weekly “Safety Tip” by eMail.

If you do not want to receive these safety tips
please reply to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject.
You can also unsubscribe at any time over the winter spin period.
This safety tip initiative will be reviewed at the end of the 2023/24 Winter spin season.

Reminder for the first spin of the winter

09:00 - Red groups (self organised)
09:10 - Orange groups (self organised, may change posted route)

09:20 - Yellow groups  Please RSVP to the Yellow event on RWGPS

09:30 - White groups Please RSVP to the White event on RWGPS

Yellow is an 84km flat route which passes Avoca in Dunboyne (then bypasses the town).

White is a 68km flat route which also passes Avoca Dunboyne, but goes through the town where there are other coffee options.

If you haven't been out in a while, check your bike on Saturday (tyres, brakes, chain, gears, etc..)
Riders should carry 2 spare tubes and a pump/CO2 gas

Regards
Joe

Both Yellow & White route to NMK
It is lumpier than the last 2 weeks but shorter at only 66km
(Bray head is the only real climb)
There are at least 4 coffee options open on a Sunday morning if Fishers is busy.
The return over Kilcroney to Enniskerry avoids the schuss on the N11 to Berryfields.
Yellow and White riders should RSVP on Ride with GPS so we can roster enough leaders

Yellow
ridewithgps.com/events/224309-winter-sunday-yellow-15-oct

White
ridewithgps.com/events/224057-winter-sunday-white-15-oct

 

White and Yellow have different routes this week

Yellow have a flat 80km to Kilcock
cw via Rathcoole, Celbridge & Maynooth
Home Strawberry Beds & Phoenix Park
winter-sunday-yellow-22-oct
  
  
 
White have a flat 74km to Maynooth
Ccw via Lucan.  
Home Celbridge, Newcastle.
winter-sunday-white-22-oct

As usual
Yellow and White riders should RSVP on Ride with GPS so we can roster enough leaders

An Orange route is posted on the roster but this may change on the day
The Red route is typically posted on the forum before Sunday

 

9:00 Red
Keep an eye on the forum
  
09:10 Orange:
The traditional self organised Orange groups will leave at 09:10.
This Winter we will trial a new Orange group to be dispatched next.
This is will consist of riders at 24-26 pace depending on the conditions.
Further background above
  
78km to Blessington
RSVP at
ridewithgps.com/events/287896-orange-05-nov-structured
  
09:20 Yellow:
78km to Blessington
RSVP at
ridewithgps.com/events/224312-yellow-05-nov
  
09:30 White:
67km to Blessington
RSVP at
ridewithgps.com/events/224060-white-05-nov

White, Yellow & Orange (structured) are all on the same hilly route this Sunday.

Anticlockwise 73km with 1100m ascent and coffee at Roundwood.
As usual, RSVP on RWGPS so we have an idea of numbers.

White
ridewithgps.com/events/288805-white-19-nov

Yellow
ridewithgps.com/events/288826-yellow-19-nov

Orange with leader
ridewithgps.com/events/288871-orange-structured-19-nov

Orange (self org) default route is clockwise to Roundwood via Kilcoole.

Red rides typically posted on the forum

4 out of 5 weather apps say 12 and dry.   None agree on wind.
 

This week, White, Yellow and Orange (led) - all take the same 70km flat route to Russbourough.
It will be nippy, so the ride stays on the N81 as far as Brittas.
As ususal, RSVP as below

White
ridewithgps.com/events/288806-white-26-nov

Yellow
ridewithgps.com/events/288827-yellow-26-nov

Orange (led)
ridewithgps.com/events/288872-orange-structured-26-nov

Orange (self org) default route is anticlockwise to Straffan via Maynooth.
Red rides typically posted on the forum

Sunday is the morning after the awards night.
It will be frosty.
Different riders are comfortable with different conditions.
It is the responsibility of each rider to determine if it is safe for them to ride.
Just because a group is heading out - this does not mean it is right for you.

To answer some questions I have received about spins this Winter.

White spins range from 45km to 84km in distance (average is 69km)
Yellow spins range from 60km to 84km in distance (average is 74km)

The "difficulty" of spins is largely determined by elevation.

The White / Yellow plan for this year looks something like this:

 

Start easy.
Build to include some hills until late November (more for Yellow than White)
Stay low in December and January
Start to add more climbing in February and March
 

Met Éireann have a Status Yellow - Low Temperature/Ice warning up to 11am on Monday.  

There is also a Satus Yellow - Fog warning (Dense fog and some freezing fog).

As a result, club spins with leaders are cancelled on 3rd December.

Sunday 07 Jan
White, Yellow & Orange led
All on the same 64km route with minimal ascent to Lucan
Its not a pretty route but starting easy again for the new year
(and it stays low in case the cold snap happens)
Please RSVP so we can check leader numbers

White
ridewithgps.com/events/288812-white-07-jan

Yellow
ridewithgps.com/events/288833-yellow

Orange led
ridewithgps.com/events/288878-orange-structured

Orange self organised is anti-clockwise to BallymoreEustace

Red rides typically posted on the forum

Ive tweaked the routes on the return
to stay on the N81 in as far as the Square junction
then across Old Bawn Rd
This is probably safer than the contraflow, two-way, stop/start cycle lane on Killinardan Ave.

You must be a member of both Orwell Wheelers & Cycling Ireland to participate in Club Winter Spins.   Have you renewed both?

Following 3 relatively flat spins since Christmas,
Sunday is a lumpy 72km to Newcastle, NMK, Arboretum.
Home via Delgany, Bellevue Hill, Kilcroney, Poggio.
Coffee at the Arboretum can be slow.   Later groups might stop at NMK
Whites might shorten the route after coffee at NMK and head up the N11 to rejoin the route at Kilmac
As usual please RSVP to help with leader planning

White
Leader P Mullen
ridewithgps.com/events/288816-white-04-feb

Yellow
Leaders J Davenport and S Foster
ridewithgps.com/events/288837-yellow

Orange (led)
ridewithgps.com/events/288882-orange-structured

Reposting an answer to a question raised elsewhere 

There is an outline schedule for Winter spins attached to the *Whats coming up* section of the website.  This is visible to all (and shows up on Forum pages as well)

We have put more effort into updating the club calendar so info can be found here also. 

orwellwheelers.org/m-calendar

For newer members, we have a policy (on the website) that

Club Winter spins WILL NOT take place if an ORANGE weather warning is in place

If there is a YELLOW weather warning, or other adverse conditions, Club Winter spins MAY NOT take place

This has recently (2024) been updated to include note that in adverse conditions a message will be posted on WhatsApp or the Forum after 6pm the night before

 

My original intention was a single base route for all groups this weekend.
A tough one - but with lots of shortening options.
Ideally each group could do what made sense for them.
  
  
I got feedback that the route was too hard for whites.
So white have a flat 62km to Blessington instead.
White RSVP
ridewithgps.com/events/288817-white-11-feb  
  
  
Then I got feedback that the route was too much for yellows.ing spin).
So yellow do the first 20km of the original plan,
before taking an easier option for a lumpy 70km in total
Yellow RSVP
ridewithgps.com/events/288838-yellow  
  
  
I’m still suggesting the Mile High route for Led Orange.
Orange RSVP
ridewithgps.com/events/288883-orange-structured   
  
  
Getting past the schoolboy innuendo there is a specific objective behind this route.

It’s a good opportunity to assess climbing fitness early in the season.
It is half the distance and half the climbing of the Good Friday Monster.
(6 weeks from now.  See the forum if interested).
  
  
It can be used to set the baseline for anyone looking at:

• Orwell Randonnnee
• Ring of Beara
• Wicklow 200

For anyone doing the Mallorca 312
2 laps would match the first half of this event
As a slow yellow rider, Ive done the full route twice.
Both times the full route took about 5hr 30 elapsed.

There’s a short gravel section from ticknock mast back towards buckleys fireplaces. 
With all the recent rain that might be very soft. Caution is advised.

The route this week is 80km.  
A gentle rise to Kilteel, then rolling flat road before coffee at  Ballymore Eustace, or Russborough or Blessington.  Home via easy Ballinascorney
  
White RSVP
ridewithgps.com/events/288818-white-18-feb
  
Yellow RSVP
ridewithgps.com/events/288839-yellow
  
Led Orange RSVP
ridewithgps.com/events/288884-orange-structured
  
Self organised Orange default is Rathnew

For ref,  since Covid, routes have been easier than before the pandemic. 
On 19Feb 2017 the White route was Featherbeds to Sally Gap and over Luggala to Roundwood
(Repeated mid Feb in 2018 and 2019)
Over the Summer we will need to think about whether we stick with flatter routes for next season.

Sunday 25th February
RSVP for rides with leaders
  
White
Old long hill to Roundwood. 
The route home wanters to get off the main road as much as possible
  
Yellow/Led Orange 
Coastal route via Bray Kilcoole Rathnew for coffee at Ashford. 
Home via Roundwood and Old Long Hill.
  
Yellow: ridewithgps.com/events/288840-yellow
  
Led Orange: ridewithgps.com/events/288885-orange-structured
  
 
Self organised Orange default is BallymoreEustace.

Sunday 03 March

White: Saggart, Eadestown, Coffee @ Blessington.  Home Butter Mtn & easy Ballinascorney
66km lumpy but only 780 ascent
RSVP @ ridewithgps.com/events/288820-white-03-mar

Yellow: Saggart but a nice climb before dropping to Eadestown and Coffee @ Blessington
Home via Ballysmuttan Bridge and Kilbride Army Camp
74km and a mere 1050m ascent
RSVP @ ridewithgps.com/events/288841-yellow

Led Orange on the same route as Yellow
RSVP @ ridewithgps.com/events/288886-orange-structured

Self organised Orange default route is Roundwood

As usual, please RSVP for rides with leaders.

Please go with an appropriate group.   
If you struggled in led Orange last week - then go Yellow.
If you struggled in Yellow last week - then go White.

Sunday 10th MarchYellow and led Orange take the high road to Laragh via Sally Gap, home via Oldbridge
84km and 1300m climb
  
Although this was a route for all colours in March  2017 & 2018 & 2019 
White take the slightly easier low road to Laragh via Oldbridge, home via Roundwood
80km and 1100m climb 
  
RSVP @
  
White:   ridewithgps.com/events/288821-white-10-mar
 
Yellow:  ridewithgps.com/events/288842-yellow
  
Led Orange:  ridewithgps.com/events/288887-orange-structured  

Thats it for the Winter Spins

Next Sunday 17th March is St Patrick's Day.
No formal spins planned as it's a Holiday weekend - and there will be road closures for parades.

The following Sunday 24th March is date for the Orwell 200 Audax
We would hope to see a good number of Orwell members enter this.

The week after that Sunday 31st March is Easter Sunday.
No formal spins planned as it's a Holiday weekend - and many leaders/attendees will be away.

Many thanks to all who took part this winter, especially the leader, without whom many of these rides would not take place.

We had about 160 different people sign up for White, Yellow or Led Orange Spins.
Adding self organised Orange and Red would bring this number over 200.

Roll on Summer!