Road to the top of Kipure?

ollietrex · 07-07-2008 12:54pm #1

Just wondering is the road to the top of Kipure rideable on a road bike? Was looking at some steep up hill training and looked a good candidate.

dub_skav · 07-07-2008 1:00pm

If it's where I'm thinking of you're talking about Sally Gap, it is rideable and a great training spin, I'm sure one of the lads will have it mapped on mapmyride or somesuch for you.

ollietrex · 07-07-2008 1:06pm

Its the road off to the right after the sally gap climb which leads to the masts at the top of Kipuire. It is blocked off to cars but I have seen people walking up it but just wondered what the state of the road surface was for road riding?

Chips Lovell · 07-07-2008 1:08pm

Think it was discussed here last year. Apparently its rideable, but the descent is a bit hair raising.

Raam · 07-07-2008 1:23pm

If it's the same one I'm thinking of, then it looks awful imposing. Is this the one with a gate across the road?

ollietrex · 07-07-2008 1:24pm

Yep thats the one... Might go and have a look at it one night this week and give it a try.

Might make an intresting one for hill repeats, lol

dub_skav · 07-07-2008 1:56pm

Sorry didn't realise you meant the one up to the masts, apparently it is rideable but the descent would probably be fairly dodgy on a road bike.

Raam · 07-07-2008 2:04pm

Sounds like it should be included in the Boards 200.

ollietrex · 07-07-2008 2:10pm

Sounds good, you lot try it and if you come back in one piece I will then go and ride it.

toombah · 07-07-2008 2:21pm

The road to the mast is perfectly fine on a road bike. Can be a bit blustery near the top on a windy day as you're fairly exposed. The descent is fairly fast but I'd say safe, only one spot over a little bridge that you have to watch it on.

TinyExplosions · 07-07-2008 2:58pm

Raam wrote: »

Sounds like it should be included in the Boards 200.

You're truly sick you are...

Raam · 07-07-2008 3:00pm

TinyExplosions wrote: »

You're truly sick you are...

I'll do the up part, and you can do the down part if you like?

blorg · 07-07-2008 3:31pm

IIRC the gate is at 500m or so and the top of the road is at 750m- a fair bit of climbing!

Raam · 07-07-2008 3:38pm

blorg wrote: »

IIRC the gate is at 500m or so and the top of the road is at 750m- a fair bit of climbing!

Maybe we should leave it out so

FrankGrimes · 07-07-2008 4:47pm

I cycled from the gate up there a while back - a good cycle and tough in parts. It was on uneven ground and gravelly in places - we were racing on the descent and it was a bit hairy at times - gravel gave way under the back wheel a few times, good detour but not for road bikes methinks.

Supercell · 07-07-2008 4:47pm

Its no steeper than the road from Ashford to Annamoe, if you can do that (and I cannot) then Kippure won't beat you.

kenmc · 07-07-2008 4:56pm

Pretty sure Emty was telling me one day he cycled up that road, he mentioned the descent as being a bit hairy I think. Emty, you around mate?

dave2pvd · 07-07-2008 7:12pm

Unless the road has seriously disimproved over the years, its perfectly rideable on a road bike.

I've done it several times.

I believe the Team WORC guys had an Enniskerry - Kippure TT a while back...

Road to the top of Kipure?

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