Leisure cycling Dublin

lady_marmalade

Hi, I've just bought a bike, not been cycling in 20 years! :eek: Anyway, I'd like to get out and about, get some exercise and stuff and was wondering are there any scenic (and preferably safe) routes you could recommend?

beans

Thing is, to get to the scenic routes you most likely will encounter some roadways with no cycle facilities, so the first thing I would recommend would be to get comfortable cycling in traffic again. If you aren't able to glance over your shoulder without crashing, maybe invest in a handlebar mirror? You need to be able to see what's coming behind you. You should be relatively ok sharing lanes with cars, manouvering from lane to lane, being assertive & signalling your intentions etc etc...

That said, the route from Clontarf to Sutton is quite pretty and easy to ride on the cycle track. There is a similar path i believe that follows the bay on the south-side out past Sandymount, but again getting from one to the other requires city-centre cycling.

What part of the city is home for you?

RedTea

There's a book 'Leisure Cycling near Dublin' which outlines some interesting routes in and around dublin - most of 2nd or 3rd class roads so traffic is not too busy.

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/WEBSITE/WWW/WEBPAGES/showbook.php?id=0717140059

there are routes around clontarf, howth, finglas and in wicklow . some of the start points require a bike (or long cycles) to get there. dist ranges from about 20-95km...so all levels catered for.

I have only managed to do a couple of the routes so far.

I started a thread like this earlier

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055060023

getting an OS map an exploring the smaller roads is also recommended.

lady_marmalade

beans wrote:

Thing is, to get to the scenic routes you most likely will encounter some roadways with no cycle facilities, so the first thing I would recommend would be to get comfortable cycling in traffic again. If you aren't able to glance over your shoulder without crashing, maybe invest in a handlebar mirror? You need to be able to see what's coming behind you. You should be relatively ok sharing lanes with cars, manouvering from lane to lane, being assertive & signalling your intentions etc etc...

That said, the route from Clontarf to Sutton is quite pretty and easy to ride on the cycle track. There is a similar path i believe that follows the bay on the south-side out past Sandymount, but again getting from one to the other requires city-centre cycling.

What part of the city is home for you?

Dublin 6. I've been out on the Harold's Cross and Rathmines roads which are fairly busy and I'm comfortable enough with them. I could get into town to a DART station handy enough without having to go Dame St or O'Connell St (my main fears!) so the Clontarf -Sutton route sounds good...

lady_marmalade

RedTea wrote:

There's a book 'Leisure Cycling near Dublin' which outlines some interesting routes in and around dublin - most of 2nd or 3rd class roads so traffic is not too busy.

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/WEBSITE/WWW/WEBPAGES/showbook.php?id=0717140059

there are routes around clontarf, howth, finglas and in wicklow . some of the start points require a bike (or long cycles) to get there. dist ranges from about 20-95km...so all levels catered for.

I have only managed to do a couple of the routes so far.

I started a thread like this earlier

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055060023

getting an OS map an exploring the smaller roads is also recommended.

Thanks for the links, I'll check them out...

Membrane

lady_marmalade wrote:

Hi, I've just bought a bike, not been cycling in 20 years! :eek: Anyway, I'd like to get out and about, get some exercise and stuff and was wondering are there any scenic (and preferably safe) routes you could recommend?

There's a cycle lane with nice views running alongside the Dodder, although it's not very long and interrupted by a road, it should be easy to reach from D6. The lane runs from The Lower Churchtown Road (near the Dropping Well) to Clonskeagh Road.

For the best scenic views you need to go into the mountains. If your bike has low gears then there are a few streches that aren't too demanding, but you'd have to be able to stuff the bike in the car to avoid the more demanding climb to get there. For example you could take the Edmondstown Road into the mountains, then turn left at the junction in the direction of Glencullen, ~100M further there is a car parking opportunity, you could then cycle to Glencullen and back. That involves some climbing for which you'll need low gears and good brakes, but it is certainly doable for a beginner.

cyclopath2001

beans wrote:

That said, the route from Clontarf to Sutton is quite pretty and easy to ride on the cycle track. .

Not especially recommended. It can be quite tough when the wind is blowing the wrong way, some parts are over-grown with weeds and dog-walkers, joggers and roller-bladers insist on using in preference to the three footways nearby.

Victor

Rathmines-Ranelagh-Donnybrook, through Herbert Park, follow the Dodder, trhough Sandymount, along the coast to Sydney Parade, back Ailesbury Road-Eglinton Road* (or Beech Hill and follow the Dodder to Rathgar or even Rathfarnham) back to Ranelagh.


* This right turn needs to be done in two phases as there is a right turn ban. Go up Eglinton Road, cross Clonskeagh Road, stop at No. 1 Clonskeagh Road, wait for lights to change and join traffic from Clonskeagh heading for Ranelagh.

cunnins4

beans wrote:

That said, the route from Clontarf to Sutton is quite pretty and easy to ride on the cycle track.

I like that route. Ya can go almost all the way to howth from town although it can be quite busy with walkers/dog walkers/joggers. As cyclopath said, it can be windy and that's annoying, but it is a nice cycle and it does have cycle lanes for a decent length and not interrupted much by roads.

Prob a bit out of the way for you though if you're in D6.

beans

Are there any areas of Marlay Park that are akin to the Phoenix Park as far as cycling is concerned? Would have thought this would be a good bet for your locale.

Park cycling can be quite nice, especially on a day like today. Beware joggers who jog while staring at their knees... :rolleyes:

RainyDay

You can't cycle inside Marley Park. I do a circuit of the outside of the park 2-3 mornings a week before I head towards work, as I'm trying to get my weight down. There is a cycle lane along the busiest road (Grange Rd), and the traffic isn't too bad on the rest of it, but I wouldn't particularly recommend it as a leisure cycle. If you are out that direction (and can handle a few hills), head out towards Larch Hill, or the Pine Forest for a nice run.

Traumadoc

There are some nice routes around Dublin Try www.bikely.com

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Run-about-Dublin

lady_marmalade

Thanks everyone for replying. I cycled round Phoenix Park on Saturday and to Dun Laoghire and back yesterday! To tell the truth I didn't plan to cycle all the way back, I thought I could bring the bike on the DART - I'd seen bikes on the DART before and thought it was OK. Pity it isn't, it'd be a great way to get round Dublin wouldn't it?

gzoladz

I dont really know who is the "out of his mind" who decided that. At least during the weekend it should be allowed.
The problem is that parking the bicycle near the station is not safe either.

lady_marmalade

gzoladz wrote:

I dont really know who is the "out of his mind" who decided that. At least during the weekend it should be allowed.
The problem is that parking the bicycle near the station is not safe either.

I could have sworn I've seen people with bikes on the DART before. I guess you have to be careful where you get on/off.

daymobrew

lady_marmalade wrote:

I thought I could bring the bike on the DART - I'd seen bikes on the DART before and thought it was OK.

http://www.iarnrodeireann.ie/about_us/faq.asp?faq_id=31#31

Irish Rail FAQ wrote:

Q. Can I bring my bicycle onto the train?
A. Bicycles can not be conveyed on DART or Commuter trains unless folded and suitably covered. On Intercity trains bicycles not folded and covered can be conveyed in the guards compartment or the special cycle racks where provided. A valid ticket for the bicycle must be obtained before travelling.

Please check at your local station before travelling.

Ghost Rider

The Phoenix Park is a lovely place to cycle. Only problem is the iPodestrians, power-walkers and joggers who tend to hog the cycle paths.

I do find that cycling quickly past them at a distance of 1-2 inches gives them pause for thought, however.

Another nice route is from Baldoyle to Malahide along the coast. What cycle lanes there are tend to be rubbish but, if you don't mind the traffic, the scenery is very fine.

gzoladz

I can deffinitly say that people do carry their bikes on the DART. But this doesnt mean they are allowed to do so.

Do buy the book Leisure Cycling near Dublin. I have it an it has very nice routes. I do them on my Brompton so I dont really have the issue to carry your bike on the train.

About the iPodestrians (loved the word), you dont need to go that far, there are plenty of them in the city centre, getting off the LUAS and around the main stations.

Membrane

Ghost Rider wrote:

The Phoenix Park is a lovely place to cycle. Only problem is the iPodestrians, power-walkers and joggers who tend to hog the cycle paths.

I do find that cycling quickly past them at a distance of 1-2 inches gives them pause for thought, however.

Tricky business, I tried to squeeze past a pedestrian in January, handlebar caught his arm which sent me flying over the bars, couldn't walk at all for 10 days followed by 2 weeks on crutches, took 6 weeks before I was able to cycle properly again.

Ghost Rider

Ouch. My sympathies.

Were you on a cycle path?

Membrane wrote:

Tricky business, I tried to squeeze past a pedestrian in January, handlebar caught his arm which sent me flying over the bars, couldn't walk at all for 10 days followed by 2 weeks on crutches, took 6 weeks before I was able to cycle properly again.

Muahahaha

Lads what is the canal section between Phibsboro and Ashtown like ? Is the surface smooth or rough and are there many gates to navigate ? Also is it safe halfway between them ?

idiottje

If your coming from Harolds Cross, the cycle lane along the Canal on the city side of the canal is a nice route into the Canal Basin. You could go out to along the seafront at Merrion, but would be on the roads for a bit to get there. Tends to be quiet on Sunday mornings if you want a bit of P and Q. Or, you could head out to Howth as suggested above. Or head out to Poolbeg Lighthouse along the Great South Wall.

Meetup.com has a number of cycle groups that are non competition, casual cycling groups.