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cycle the grand/royal canal

24567

Comments

  • #52
    HappyNoel
    Registered Users Posts: 41 ✭HappyNoel


    Did the Grand Canal for the second time over two days last week on my Trek 8.3 DS hybrid, weather was so-so on Day 1 but sunny and warm on day 2 - very little rain, even on the first day. Trail is grassy, muddy, gravelled and tarred in different spots - hybrid needed at least.

    Got as far as Tullamore and crashed there for the night, headed on to Shannon Harbour and from there onto Ennis for a few days. Definitely a trip to do again and again, although the gates can be a pain - especially with pannier bags. I found the best thing to do is shove the bike through the gates from behind, although no doubt it looked a bit odd.

    Tullamore is a good target to aim for - long enough to be a challenging cycle but you've plenty of accomm/food options when you get there. There are some very remote sections so bring the usual supplies and a spare tube.

    I'll stick up a few photos in the near future.


  • #53
    01Surveyor
    Registered Users Posts: 114 ✭✭01Surveyor


    Happy Noel, That sounds like a great trip. I agree completely Tullamore is the best day 1 destination, its more than enough cycling unless you have a lot of miles in the legs or are a masochist. You also have the option of returning to Dublin for an overnight as the train service is very good and the trip only takes an hour. I agree the areas just before and after Tullamore are remote in the extreme and pretty boring too.

    I did the short Leixlip loop yesterday and once again it was glorious. It was great to see so many cyclists using the canal, the word is getting around.The only boats I saw were stationary. Gollierstown and the Deep Sinking have to be among the most attractive parts of the canals. On the approach to Hazelhatch I could hear a steam engine on the nearby railway line, despite my best efforts it beat me to Hazelhatch station, but I presume it was a historic outing to Mullingar, the wheezing and whistling drowned out my own.!? BTW this loop takes less time than I thought allow 2.5 hours for the round trip. Also beware several large potholes on the high section of the Deep Sinking. Yesterday there were a lot of anglers with large poles blocking the towpath on the Royal after Leixlip, it looked like a competition and there were so many it wasnt hard to anticipate the obstructions, a lone angler is not so easily spotted and Ive almost collided with large amounts of expensive looking carbon fibre more than once, so watch out. The section from the 12th Lock to Ashtown is still closed. Unfortunately it looks like they have built another tarmac autobahn to replace the towpath so the unique canal setting is not going to be what it was. I really hope they dont wreck the Deep Sinking.

    I have some photos too but they are too big to upload, any suggestions on how to reduce the file size?


  • #54
    Uberbeamerman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 290 ✭✭Uberbeamerman


    Hi all,
    My parents intend cycling the Royal canal towpath next weekend from Leixlip to Cloondara . Has anybody any clue as to which areas are best avoided.

    My Dad'll have a mountain bike but my mother will have a touring bike.

    Thanks


  • #55
    01Surveyor
    Registered Users Posts: 114 ✭✭01Surveyor


    Uberbeamerman wrote: »
    Hi all,
    My parents intend cycling the Royal canal towpath next weekend from Leixlip to Cloondara . Has anybody any clue as to which areas are best avoided.

    My Dad'll have a mountain bike but my mother will have a touring bike.

    Thanks

    I did the same trip but from Dublin two years ago on a hardtail ATB. I think it would be very hard work on a bike without front suspension and I am not sure it is doable on a touring bike even in this dry weather. There is no need to avoid anywhere on the correct bike but the section after Ballynacargy through Ballymglavy bog a bit rough for anything other than a mountain bike. It would be much more enjoyable on a mountain bike. Take a look at TowPath Tours on Amazon its a great book for this trip.

    Hope that helps.....your parents will have a great time.

    ps. A risky spot is Fureys in Moyvalley, many a trip has ended there due to the quality of Fureys pints and food.


  • #56
    Bloggsie
    Registered Users Posts: 1,054 ✭✭✭Bloggsie


    01Surveyor wrote: »
    I did the same trip but from Dublin two years ago on a hardtail ATB. I think it would be very hard work on a bike without front suspension and I am not sure it is doable on a touring bike even in this dry weather. There is no need to avoid anywhere on the correct bike but the section after Ballynacargy through Ballymglavy bog a bit rough for anything other than a mountain bike. It would be much more enjoyable on a mountain bike. Take a look at TowPath Tours on Amazon its a great book for this trip.

    Hope that helps.....your parents will have a great time.

    ps. A risky spot is Fureys in Moyvalley, many a trip has ended there due to the quality of Fureys pints and food.
    that may not be a bad thing, as well as helping the local economy the couple of hours to get there will have worked up a thirst!


  • #57
    SCOL
    Registered Users Posts: 448 ✭✭SCOL


    I'm hoping to cycle from Dublin along the Grand canal and come back to Dublin on the Royal.

    What is the best routh to cycle between the two Canals ? or is there a pathway between them.

    Shey.


  • #58
    RebelButtMunch
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,385 ✭✭✭RebelButtMunch


    SCOL wrote: »
    I'm hoping to cycle from Dublin along the Grand canal and come back to Dublin on the Royal.

    What is the best routh to cycle between the two Canals ? or is there a pathway between them.

    Shey.
    It's all in this thread


  • #59
    01Surveyor
    Registered Users Posts: 114 ✭✭01Surveyor


    SCOL wrote: »
    I'm hoping to cycle from Dublin along the Grand canal and come back to Dublin on the Royal.

    What is the best routh to cycle between the two Canals ? or is there a pathway between them.

    Shey.

    Shey,

    That was my plan too. IWAI give an award, called the Green and Silver, to boats that do the full circuit from any point and return, via the canals the liffey and the Shannon. There was to be a similar award for cycling or walking but unfortunately there is no riverside route form Shannon Harbour to Clondra (Richmond Harbour) along the Shannon. Obviously there are roads between the two places but they are often so far from the river as to be unrelated to it. Several people have tried to identify a suitable route without success so far. I think even walking the Shannon bank is a problem due to the terrain and the number of drains and tributaries that feed it and the shortage of bridges. In order to get the boat award you have to register with IWAI and get a card stamped along the way to verify your trip. I ended up doing the length of both canals and obviously the link from Grand Canal Harbour to the Royal Sea Lock at the convention centre, so the missing link is that from the West end of both canals. I think the trip is still worth doing even if you have to go from Shannon Harbour to the Royal by road. You can do the canals in a day each and its only 50ish miles from Clondra to Shannon harbour so the entire circuit is probably possible in 2 days but that takes a lot of effort and you miss a lot of the pleasure of a more leisurely trip.

    Let us know how you get on


  • #60
    HappyNoel
    Registered Users Posts: 41 ✭HappyNoel


    Bah. Was hoping to stick up a few pictures/links of my Grand Canal cycle a few weeks ago but apparently I'm still a new user so I can't!

    Anyhow if anyone's interested I stuck a few shots up on flickr - until I lose the newbie tag you'd just have to search flickr for them - my username is noelhogan. As you can see the terrain is pretty variable so choose the right bike.

    Also, avoid backpacks if possible - after a long time in the saddle a bag can become very heavy! First year I used a bag, after that it was panniers all the way. Had few problems with the gates, I either pushed the bike through from behind or else walked it through on the back wheel.


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  • #61
    SCOL
    Registered Users Posts: 448 ✭✭SCOL


    Are there sign posts in Mullingar to get you from the grand to the royal ?


  • #62
    HappyNoel
    Registered Users Posts: 41 ✭HappyNoel


    Nope, they're a long way away from each other at that point. Take the N52 to Tullamore or perhaps some minor roads to Edenderry. Looking at over 30K to either destination from Mullingar though.


  • #63
    01Surveyor
    Registered Users Posts: 114 ✭✭01Surveyor


    SCOL wrote: »
    Are there sign posts in Mullingar to get you from the grand to the royal ?

    I looked at the next most convenient link between the canals after Maynooth and it seems to be Edenderry on the Grand and Killucan/Moyvalley on the Royal. I doubt if there are any signposted routes specifically from canal to canal. 30k on the road will seem easy after being on the towpath for a while.


  • #64
    SCOL
    Registered Users Posts: 448 ✭✭SCOL


    I was hoping to do a loop and not come back the same way. I might take the killucan/moyvalley routh and see how I get on.


  • #65
    WaterwaysIre
    Registered Users Posts: 13 ✭WaterwaysIre


    Canal Towpath Greenway Update.

    Today the Ashtown-Castleknock and Longford sections of the Royal Canal Greenway opened. Big progress there.

    Funding has been put in place to extend the greenway on the Royal from Mullingar through Coolnahay where it currently stops to the Westmeath Border. This work will be complete by year end. Work will be carried out out by Westmeath CoCo


  • #66
    garancafan
    Registered Users Posts: 1,034 ✭✭✭garancafan


    Well done WI.


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  • #67
    Mercian Pro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,299 ✭✭✭Mercian Pro


    garancafan wrote: »
    Well done WI.

    And Fingal CC and the NTA.

    Any prediction WI for when the full Royal Canal Greenway from the Liffey to the Shannon will be completed?


  • #68
    blobbie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 673 ✭✭✭blobbie


    Mercian Pro wrote: »
    And Fingal CC and the NTA.

    Any prediction WI for when the full Royal Canal Greenway from the Liffey to the Shannon will be completed?

    Varadkar was interviewed on radio yesterday and he estimated that the Dublin to Galway "greenway" would take 5 to 10 years to complete. Current progress was indicating a completion date closer to 5 years but due to budgetary constraints etc etc it could stretch to 10 years.

    http://leovaradkar.ie/2014/06/latest-section-of-dublin-galway-coast-to-coast-greenway-opens-varadkar/

    Something for the mobility scooter perhaps :-)


  • #69
    Mercian Pro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,299 ✭✭✭Mercian Pro


    blobbie wrote: »
    Varadkar was interviewed on radio yesterday and he estimated that the Dublin to Galway "greenway" would take 5 to 10 years to complete. Current progress was indicating a completion date closer to 5 years but due to budgetary constraints etc etc it could stretch to 10 years.

    http://leovaradkar.ie/2014/06/latest-section-of-dublin-galway-coast-to-coast-greenway-opens-varadkar/

    Something for the mobility scooter perhaps :-)

    10 years and my mobility scooter might be about the same. Completion of the full route and my kids' mobility scooters mightn't be that different either.


  • #70
    blobbie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 673 ✭✭✭blobbie


    Currently in tullamore having cycled the grand canal way today from Dublin.

    On a hardtail with carradice super c bag.

    The majority of gates are fine however some are a complete joke. Had to lift bike over 2 gates as no cycle gateway available. Another had a turnstile which is near unusable with a bike. Around another 3 or 4 are so narrow the bike only fitted after taking bag off. Most others are passable but you need to dismount which is fine. Am heading back to Dublin tomorrow so will take some snaps of them.

    Most of the pathway is in decent nick. A mix of local road, tarred pathway, grass & hardened mud . One horrible section just past edenderry turn with cobblestone type surface.

    Hardly any people on it past 12th lock. Dog walkers and the very odd Fisher. No sign of any other cyclists and no ramblers.

    Could do with some extra signage at road junctions especially robertstown where you need to keep to the right hand waterway and not go down the barrow-line even though you follow road signage for barrow line to canal junction.

    EDIT:
    Inchicore to 12th Lock, the path is on the southside of the canal.
    12th Lock to Hazelhatch is on the northside.
    Hazelhatch to Sallins in on the southside.
    Past Sallins it is mainly on the northside of the canal. Last section into Robertstown is on the southside. Another section between Sallins & Robertstown is also on the southside.
    Past Robertstown is all on the northside of the canal to Tullamore.

    95kms or so in 5h 30m from Dublin to Tullamore. Flat as a pancake. Glad I'm on a mtb or arms & ass would be sore.


  • #71
    vektarman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,923 ✭✭✭vektarman


    A few pics from my cycle from Maynooth to Mullingar to-day along the Royal Canal. The route was handy enough with a mixture of gravelled surfaces, grass with a worn track through them, and about 4 kilometres of long grass between Kilcock and Enfield, although even the long grass had a worn down route through it. I didn't have to use many kissing gates as a lot of the main gates were unlocked, handy to watch out for, don't forget to close them after you.

    Hill of Down.
    DSCF6614_zps4da7a4ea.jpg

    Approaching Mullingar.
    DSCF6618_zpsc9b59052.jpg

    This was quite narrow, near Moyvalley.
    DSCF6609_zps2e18bca3.jpg


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  • #72
    donkey balls
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,497 ✭✭✭donkey balls


    vektarman wrote: »
    A few pics from my cycle from Maynooth to Mullingar to-day along the Royal Canal. The route was handy enough with a mixture of gravelled surfaces, grass with a worn track through them, and about 4 kilometres of long grass between Kilcock and Enfield, although even the long grass had a worn down route through it. I didn't have to use many kissing gates as a lot of the main gates were unlocked, handy to watch out for, don't forget to close them after you.

    Hill of Down.
    DSCF6614_zps4da7a4ea.jpg

    Approaching Mullingar.
    DSCF6618_zpsc9b59052.jpg

    This was quite narrow, near Moyvalley.
    DSCF6609_zps2e18bca3.jpg


    Nice pics did I meet you at the lock just before Kilcock this morning?


  • #73
    vektarman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,923 ✭✭✭vektarman


    donkey balls wrote: »
    Nice pics did I meet you at the lock just before Kilcock this morning?

    That was me alright, nice chatting to you, fantastic day for a cycle. :)


  • #74
    donkey balls
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,497 ✭✭✭donkey balls


    vektarman wrote: »
    That was me alright, nice chatting to you, fantastic day for a cycle. :)

    Did you manage to get the bus or train back without any issues? As I don't think I would be able for Castleknock Mullingar Castleknock in the one day.


  • #75
    vektarman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,923 ✭✭✭vektarman


    There were plenty of busses and trains from Mullingar, I got the 14:53 train back, no problems bringing the bike on.


  • #76
    donkey balls
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,497 ✭✭✭donkey balls


    vektarman wrote: »
    There were plenty of busses and trains from Mullingar, I got the 14:53 train back, no problems bringing the bike on.
    That's great going try and give it a go this weekend all going well.


  • #77
    rje66
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,257 ✭✭✭rje66


    Hi.
    Am looking for some recommend bike routes along royal or grand canal closeish to dub suitable for fit bloke and first time cycling wife and 18 month on carrier. Ideally a village to drive to leave car and cycle along path then back to car.
    Also open to other suggestions of nice easy trails away from traffic.
    Ta.


  • #78
    Planet X
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 3,999 Mod ✭✭✭✭Planet X


    There is the makings of an offroad/road (mixed surface) challenge(race) to do the Grand/Royal canals. Full distance self supported.
    :)


  • #79
    TheBody
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,629 ✭✭✭TheBody


    So because of this thread and because I live quite close to Mullingar, I cycled along the Royal canal from Mullingar to Ballinacarrigy today.

    Parts of it is gravel path with HUGH potholes. Parts are a grass track. Parts are tarred.

    I have to said I really enjoyed my cycle. Beautiful scenery. No fear of getting flattened by a car or a lorry. High recommend!


  • #80
    wanderer 22
    Registered Users, Subscribers, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,162 ✭✭✭wanderer 22


    70k along the Grand this morning ; slow going but a great spin - even with a puncture and the occasional downpour.

    http://www.strava.com/activities/162341273

    Planning to cycle the entire route at the start of next month...may even upgrade my plans and do the Royal in the same trip as well :D

    2A34EE7ACEC04193AAB876DDDE570B75-0000373996-0003602415-00748L-0BC70876D8DC4B1D8B1CED9E72488BC0.jpg

    417B9346644D41DFA68967D81E56D20F-0000373996-0003602416-00748L-0C90BBD4E87547C088BDFCCC8FF1E263.jpg


  • #81
    CatFromHue
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 18,217 Mod ✭✭✭✭CatFromHue


    I got 30 mins into the Royal Canal from Enfield heading out to Mullingar yesterday before I'd some bike problems and had to turn back.

    I wouldn't have fancied doing it on a hybrid though, I was on mtb.

    It was great though as in that 30 mins I saw a stoat swimming across the canal, lots of rabbits, and plenty of fancy dragonflies too!


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  • #82
    donkey balls
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,497 ✭✭✭donkey balls


    CatFromHue wrote: »
    I got 30 mins into the Royal Canal from Enfield heading out to Mullingar yesterday before I'd some bike problems and had to turn back.

    I wouldn't have fancied doing it on a hybrid though, I was on mtb.

    It was great though as in that 30 mins I saw a stoat swimming across the canal, lots of rabbits, and plenty of fancy dragonflies too!

    Are you the lad who I met that had problems with the rear derailleur.


  • #83
    blobbie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 673 ✭✭✭blobbie


    Some gate types along the Grand Canal from Inchicore to Tullamore.

    Dublin & Kildare mainy have kissing gates or "slot" type gates that you can get a bike without panniers through (see grey gate below for example). The majority of the rest are bike handle bar wide however some are not and the odd place you will need to lift your bike over. It even has a turnstile thrown in to make you wonder.

    Dublin Gate:
    56868329FE89473D90CA651D73C1BFD9-0000373998-0003602454-00500L-2E12412ACED944498E83B91F0352830E.jpg

    Kildare Gate:
    1BFF6D45D9994917BB6A47C78A42FE45-0000373998-0003602456-00500L-7B0072FAE7D847F782C4DA51AAC4C157.jpg

    A3DCC53DB59E4B2EA88D6AB8C7A3814F-0000373998-0003602457-00500L-8485318C782F490C891C3B545209BA88.jpg

    Some not so clever gates requiring bag removal or a lift:

    34AE336BDED7403BBF2D92547478D2B9-0000373998-0003602455-00800L-88F0C091BFBA42BABE6598E2BAEFE66F.jpg

    ABCA3082A9134ACCAAFA54BED5A13843-0000373998-0003602453-00800L-A1CA34D486354BE6A047D126DE7EBB5E.jpg

    262750A48EB44E8A9A994B7679D3E7F9-0000373998-0003602451-00800L-F56A4A98640847E1BDFDD9C08E8A2D06.jpg

    55F71952802F437A92069DE4BC509DB8-0000373998-0003602449-00500L-A165C9C7AECE44798710B51B8AF5A0DA.jpg

    76C957D96EB449A581F8892A74B1AF4B-0000373998-0003602458-00800L-013FF4AE557847E28C05132968677BF7.jpg

    Most of the other gates are passable:

    29783539A9BB4EB7AD129AD633A4F243-0000373998-0003602452-00500L-85FB038F7BCD4D36855BBFC272DE6F3A.jpg

    and wider versions of

    262750A48EB44E8A9A994B7679D3E7F9-0000373998-0003602451-00800L-F56A4A98640847E1BDFDD9C08E8A2D06.jpg


  • #84
    donkey balls
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,497 ✭✭✭donkey balls


    Finally got to cycle to Mullingar after months of saying that I would do it,85K from Castleknock to Mullingar according to sports tracker it took me 5 hours 18 mins:o.
    Considering I cycled from Castleknock to Mullingar on Tuesday morning and it took me 3 hours I was hoping to do Mullingar in and around 4 hours,Saying that the wind was against me all the way and I got caught out in a down pour just outside Mullingar.(Altura jacket I bought for €50 held out well)
    Anyway I caught the 1657 train back home which cost me €19.20 and no charge for the bike,But what I didn't know was that the train is an express one which does not stop at Leixlip Clonsilla castleknock etc it heads straight for Connoly :eek:.
    After getting of the train I asked the lads at the gate about why the train did not stop he pointed out that I should have got off and swapped trains at Kilcock,The next train from Connoly to Castleknock was going be in 40 mins so I cycled home along the royal canal.
    I am going do it again sometime maybe even go further out anyone got an idea of what sort of training I would need to be doing to make it to Longford,Or Dublin Mullingar Dublin.


  • #85
    CatFromHue
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 18,217 Mod ✭✭✭✭CatFromHue


    donkey balls wrote: »
    Are you the lad who I met that had problems with the rear derailleur.

    The one who said he needed a welder?

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=91144294&postcount=4193

    I actually had my full tool kit with me too but nothing I could do about that break!


  • #86
    donkey balls
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,497 ✭✭✭donkey balls


    CatFromHue wrote: »
    The one who needed a welder?

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=91144294&postcount=4193

    That's the one


  • #87
    Red Kev
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,793 ✭✭✭Red Kev


    SCOL wrote: »
    Are there sign posts in Mullingar to get you from the grand to the royal ?

    No. But an alternative is to cycle to Ballinea along the Royal canal on a good path 5km west of Mullingar, then on country roads around Lough Ennell to Kilbeggan. There is a spur of the canal here down to the Grand, arriving east of Tullamore. Beautiful stretch of canal.
    Uberbeamerman wrote: »
    Hi all,
    My parents intend cycling the Royal canal towpath next weekend from Leixlip to Cloondara . Has anybody any clue as to which areas are best avoided.

    My Dad'll have a mountain bike but my mother will have a touring bike.

    Thanks

    Did both last year on a bog standard bike with 700x25C tyres. Had no issues. Used Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres, had one puncture and that was on tarmac!!
    donkey balls wrote: »
    Finally got to cycle to Mullingar after months of saying that I would do it,85K from Castleknock to Mullingar according to sports tracker it took me 5 hours 18 mins:o.
    Considering I cycled from Castleknock to Mullingar on Tuesday morning and it took me 3 hours I was hoping to do Mullingar in and around 4 hours,Saying that the wind was against me all the way and I got caught out in a down pour just outside Mullingar.(Altura jacket I bought for €50 held out well)
    Anyway I caught the 1657 train back home which cost me €19.20 and no charge for the bike,But what I didn't know was that the train is an express one which does not stop at Leixlip Clonsilla castleknock etc it heads straight for Connoly :eek:.
    After getting of the train I asked the lads at the gate about why the train did not stop he pointed out that I should have got off and swapped trains at Kilcock,The next train from Connoly to Castleknock was going be in 40 mins so I cycled home along the royal canal.
    I am going do it again sometime maybe even go further out anyone got an idea of what sort of training I would need to be doing to make it to Longford,Or Dublin Mullingar Dublin.

    I've basic to OK fitness, about 20 kg overweight, can average 22 km/h on a road bike over 3 hours. I did Cloondara to Dublin on a touring bike with panniers and a tent last year. Left Cloondara at 3.00 p.m, arrived near Mullingar (Mary Lynch's) at 9.30 p.m, left at 6.30 a.m. and was in Grand Canal at 3.00 p.m. Leisurely cycling, plenty of stops and a few pints en route.


  • #88
    gzoladz
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,201 ✭✭✭gzoladz


    Thanks all for the info and amazing photos, I am dying tomgive this a go.

    From a security perspective, is there any area that should be avoided along this route?


  • #89
    Mec-a-nic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 407 ✭✭Mec-a-nic


    Thanks to this thread for reminding me that I've wanted to do this for a while, but the time/bikes/way weren't in place before. I plan to do this in stages before repeating it completely, so a first step was Maynooth-Dublin on the Royal canal.

    Firstly, the train takes 40minutes to get out to Maynooth and the cycle back was about an hour so I'd cycle both legs next time.

    The track starts out pretty wide
    Co2Vo1kl.jpg

    before narrowing to a pair of hard running paths.
    8Mnp6R8l.jpg

    and both would be doable on a cross bike, or a road bike if dry.

    Then it becomes an elevated, tree root strewn track at Coolmine, and one of my favourite MTB trails now!
    iFlf3AFl.jpg
    MRNDwofl.jpg

    Once in Dublin, one can follow the increasingly desolate path around to near the docks, or, turn off at Ashtown station, the closest point to the Phoenix Park and enjoy that route into the city.

    Next leg is Enfield to Mullingar.


  • #90
    Qualitymark
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Qualitymark


    What kind of surfaces do they use on the huge long bike trails in Finland and Denmark?

    The canal paths sound like a brilliant route for school cycling groups.


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  • #91
    donkey balls
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,497 ✭✭✭donkey balls


    gzoladz wrote: »
    Thanks all for the info and amazing photos, I am dying tomgive this a go.

    From a security perspective, is there any area that should be avoided along this route?


    I have cycled along the Royal Canal a good few times going from Castleknock to Kilcock and back with no problems,The trip that I did out to Mullingar last Saturday again no issues if you mean a few skangers drinking around the canal.


  • #92
    gzoladz
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,201 ✭✭✭gzoladz


    I did it today. I could not wait until next week so I gave it a go today.

    As I didnt have much time, I just did Lesson st to Hazelhatch and back.

    The surface is excellent up until Adamstown. And from Adamstown to Hazelhatch it is grass. Very cycleable but a bit bumpy at times. I'd say cyclist with a road bike will not have much fun in that part of the way.

    As it is Sunday afternoon, there were a few families on the way. Also a few scangers with horses but didnt feel unsafe.

    I will try to give it another go next Sunday morning. Planning to leave quite early, go as far as I can and take the train back.


  • #93
    Mec-a-nic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 407 ✭✭Mec-a-nic


    Qualitymark wrote: »
    What kind of surfaces do they use on the huge long bike trails in ... Denmark?

    Standards of bike lanes in Denmark are very high, 2.5metre (8+ feet) width of asphalt. It wouldn't really fit on this canal path that was designed for one draft horse...

    Source: http://www.copenhagenize.com/2014/01/copenhagens-design-manual-for-bicycle.html


  • #94
    OldBean
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,407 ✭✭✭OldBean


    Just back from Dublin-Maynooth on on the Royal and back. I forgot to turn on my Strava at the beginning, but started at the start of the canal, off the Liffey, and stuck with the whole way out, cutting off at the Ashtown Station on the way back to cut through the park.

    I did it on a chrome-moly frame, 28c tyres, drop handlebars and a leather saddle. Definitely do-able, and a really nice cycle, ranging from fast gravel sections to the pretty technical root & mud track with an 8ft drop to your right hand side into the canal, to grass trails. I'm sure a hardtail would have made life much easier, but I never really felt I needed it... though if we'd had more rain recently, I'm sure it wouldn't have been half as fun.

    When you get to Maynooth, take a right off the canal, down to the town square, and find yourself a great little cafe called Atlas Unit 1 - Great coffee and cakes from the Wild Flour Bakery.


  • #95
    Bloggsie
    Registered Users Posts: 1,054 ✭✭✭Bloggsie


    OldBean wrote: »
    Just back from Dublin-Maynooth on on the Royal and back. I forgot to turn on my Strava at the beginning, but started at the start of the canal, off the Liffey, and stuck with the whole way out, cutting off at the Ashtown Station on the way back to cut through the park.

    I did it on a chrome-moly frame, 28c tyres, drop handlebars and a leather saddle. Definitely do-able, and a really nice cycle, ranging from fast gravel sections to the pretty technical root & mud track with an 8ft drop to your right hand side into the canal, to grass trails. I'm sure a hardtail would have made life much easier, but I never really felt I needed it... though if we'd had more rain recently, I'm sure it wouldn't have been half as fun.

    When you get to Maynooth, take a right off the canal, down to the town square, and find yourself a great little cafe called Atlas Unit 1 - Great coffee and cakes from the Wild Flour Bakery.
    i live in maynooth & I love it that we dont have a chain coffee shop in the town(maybe bar O'briens sandwich place). some great choices for a coffee. yet to try boss hogs (on the left hand side after entrance to glenroyal)


  • #96
    Doctor Bob
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,141 ✭✭✭Doctor Bob


    OldBean wrote: »
    ranging from fast gravel sections to the pretty technical root & mud track with an 8ft drop to your right hand side into the canal, to grass trails.

    Did you do the new tarmac section from Ashtown to Castleknock? If so, how did you find it? Were the gates open fully?


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  • #97
    OldBean
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,407 ✭✭✭OldBean


    Bloggsie wrote: »
    i live in maynooth & I love it that we dont have a chain coffee shop in the town(maybe bar O'briens sandwich place). some great choices for a coffee. yet to try boss hogs (on the left hand side after entrance to glenroyal)

    That's the place I popped in to, think they recently changed the name to Atlas Unit 1 - I'm pretty into my coffee so had been meaning to check it out for a while!


  • #98
    OldBean
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,407 ✭✭✭OldBean


    Doctor Bob wrote: »
    Did you do the new tarmac section from Ashtown to Castleknock? If so, how did you find it? Were the gates open fully?

    Did it on the way out, the surface is great, but none of the gates were open. I didn't think I'd mind the gates, but to be honest, they were a pain in the arse. I'm riding an XL frame which didn't really fit into the kissing gates, so I had to lift the bike over.

    I found on the Tarmac section, people weren't as inclined to let me past, so ended up on the grass quite a bit, but as soon as the trails started, everybody was great. A couple of bike signs might help people realise I'm allowed cycle there (I am, right?).


  • #99
    Doctor Bob
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,141 ✭✭✭Doctor Bob


    OldBean wrote: »
    (I am, right?).

    You certainly are on the Ashtown-Castleknock bit- the Dept of Transport and the NTA have spent quite a bit of money to encourage it!

    Pity about the gates. You'd have to wonder at the wisdom of turning a towpath into a cycle route, then preventing people from getting onto it and using it. :rolleyes:


  • #100
    OldBean
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,407 ✭✭✭OldBean


    Absolutely - as much as it might be given out about, some white paint a la Clontarf-Sutton would go a long way.


  • #101
    monument
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 14,088 Mod ✭✭✭✭monument


    OldBean wrote: »
    Did it on the way out, the surface is great, but none of the gates were open. I didn't think I'd mind the gates, but to be honest, they were a pain in the arse. I'm riding an XL frame which didn't really fit into the kissing gates, so I had to lift the bike over.

    I found on the Tarmac section, people weren't as inclined to let me past, so ended up on the grass quite a bit, but as soon as the trails started, everybody was great. A couple of bike signs might help people realise I'm allowed cycle there (I am, right?).

    What day did you use it?

    Thanks anyway -- When the council told me 'most restrictive' mode I was thinking most restrictive gate opening, not the gate fully closed and cyclists only allowed via the kissing gate or lifting bike over.


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