Toughest Climb in Ireland?

at1withmyself

magicbastarder wrote: »

where is the list maintained?

Post 385, on previous page is the latest post with the link.

Maybe a mod could add to the OP?

magicbastarder

cheers, i somehow missed that. the colour coding appears to be a reference to the county, yeah?

Plastik

After doing the Mt. Leinster mast road at the weekend I'm glad to see it listed as #1 on the spreadsheet. 39*25 wasn't enough as a climby gear. Closest I've come to putting a foot down on a climb, probably ever, but with so many walkers around pride wouldn't let me :rolleyes:

2.5km at a rare aul speed of .... 9.

smacl

Plastik wrote: »

After doing the Mt. Leinster mast road at the weekend I'm glad to see it listed as #1 on the spreadsheet. 39*25 wasn't enough as a climby gear. Closest I've come to putting a foot down on a climb, probably ever, but with so many walkers around pride wouldn't let me :rolleyes:

2.5km at a rare aul speed of .... 9.

Tearing along so, the foot came down for me after the speed dropped to 5kph on this track and the walk of shame ensued. The CX bike is great fun, but the engine needs looking at,

Alek

2.5km at a rare aul speed of .... 9.

9! Well done. Knees of steel.

Thats like first 15 of all the people that attempted it?

ford2600

Alek wrote: »

9! Well done. Knees of steel.

Thats like first 15 of all the people that attempted it?

Ah but he was well warmed up:eek:

wanderer 22

smacl wrote: »

Tearing along so, the foot came down for me after the speed dropped to 5kph on this track and the walk of shame ensued. The CX bike is great fun, but the engine needs looking at,

Had a walk of shame on this too - pm me for a long list of excuses :pac:

Plastik

Alek wrote: »

9! Well done. Knees of steel.

Thats like first 15 of all the people that attempted it?

Only in StravaWorld

P_1

Is Cunard to Sally Gap on that list? Feels like it should be

OleRodrigo

Brian? wrote: »

Nominate a climb you're 4th on Strava on. I like your style

Its the Wishbone Ash technique of using a random post to promote yourself:

' I see the price of Strawberries has gone up. Well, that reminds me of a 300k ride I did, bitterly cold out, bucketing down, only had a club jersey and bibs on, brutal climbing...and...er, oh yeah, strawberries '

Wishbone Ash

P_1 wrote: »

Is Cunard to Sally Gap on that list? Feels like it should be

Cunard to the Military Rd is there at 29th (but not to the Sally Gap).

Often referred to as 'Glassamucky'.

man_no_plan

Plastik wrote: »

After doing the Mt. Leinster mast road at the weekend I'm glad to see it listed as #1 on the spreadsheet. 39*25 wasn't enough as a climby gear. Closest I've come to putting a foot down on a climb, probably ever, but with so many walkers around pride wouldn't let me :rolleyes:

2.5km at a rare aul speed of .... 9.

Fair play for getting up. I cycled down about 3 weeks ago and struggled to get up to mount Leinster itself. Then I had a chat with myself and said you're here now push yourself on...

Through the gap, did about 500 metres and had another chat, I did the turn of shame which is far, far worse than the walk of shame

Shoco83

Looking at the list, #54 Black mountain from Omeath, i think should be changed for this route, strava.com/segments/7012248 (sorry can't post links as a new user)

It's about 80% the same except they take a different turn for the mast, this route is slightly shorter but tougher IMO and also the bit that's different is a much better road and doesn't involve a lane

mhiggy09

Plastik wrote: »

After doing the Mt. Leinster mast road at the weekend I'm glad to see it listed as #1 on the spreadsheet. 39*25 wasn't enough as a climby gear. Closest I've come to putting a foot down on a climb, probably ever, but with so many walkers around pride wouldn't let me :rolleyes:

2.5km at a rare aul speed of .... 9.

Jesus well done. I Walked up it a few weeks ago and it was tough. I can't imagine doing it on a bike.....
And the climb up to the gate doesn't look to simple either.

Oryx

Plastik wrote: »

After doing the Mt. Leinster mast road at the weekend I'm glad to see it listed as #1 on the spreadsheet. 39*25 wasn't enough as a climby gear. Closest I've come to putting a foot down on a climb, probably ever, but with so many walkers around pride wouldn't let me :rolleyes:

2.5km at a rare aul speed of .... 9.

Friend of mine did it 25 times in one day last year.

secman

Oryx wrote: »

Friend of mine did it 25 times in one day last year.

Jeez that's some penance... how bad did he sin ?
There's reps and there's this !

iwillhtfu

Oryx wrote: »

Friend of mine did it 25 times in one day last year.

Everesting?

That's some slog I'm not sure I'd want to be coming down the hill tired. :eek:

smacl

iwillhtfu wrote: »

Everesting?

That's some slog I'm not sure I'd want to be coming down the hill tired. :eek:

Which for many of us would be on the first rep

iwillhtfu

smacl wrote: »

Which for many of us would be on the first rep

I'd have to get up there first

Plastik

The descent is fairly rapid alright. The surface is good but a bit bumpy and with the arrow straight sections you're goaded into letting rip or face cooking the brakes. You'd want balls of steel to come close to Janos Kohlers speed on Strava for the descent. Plus a bike like Janos. Too many walkers around to really open it up at the weekend but it's fast. Those few corners at the top come at you very quickly when you're approaching at 70kph.

What sort of bike did he do the 25 reps on? Assume maybe a mountain bike with ultra low gearing and hydraulic disk brakes.

wanderer 22

My main memory of the descent is the smell of my disc brakes burning up.

De Bhál

I went up Mount leinster to the mast in early June. Hardest few km I've rode on a bike for sure. Took all I had to not put my foot down. beautiful morning for it and I've attached a couple of shots here. The descent isn't nice at all and i didn't let up on pulling the brake lever for more than 4secs maximum.

Crocked

All this talk of Mt Leinster has me thinking of popping down for a sufferfest up. Any good locations for parking a bit away (20-30km) for a nice cycle too and from?

smacl

Crocked wrote: »

All this talk of Mt Leinster has me thinking of popping down for a sufferfest up. Any good locations for parking a bit away (20-30km) for a nice cycle too and from?

If you just want to do the mast, there's a car park at the base at nine-stones. Further afield you've plenty of options, I usually cycle through Bunclody on my way up to the nine stones, though haven't been up to the mast yet myself.

iwillhtfu

Crocked wrote: »

All this talk of Mt Leinster has me thinking of popping down for a sufferfest up. Any good locations for parking a bit away (20-30km) for a nice cycle too and from?

You could park in bagenalstown just off the motorway M9 or else head into bunclody a bit more of a trek off the motorway.

De Bhál

Crocked wrote: »

All this talk of Mt Leinster has me thinking of popping down for a sufferfest up. Any good locations for parking a bit away (20-30km) for a nice cycle too and from?

Gowran's about 25-30k away and is not too far in from the motorway if you were driving down from Dublin for example. Also a nice coffee shop in Gowran called Glasraí and Goodies.

I wouln't advise just parking up at the nine stones and cycling up the mast road section as you will need a warm up spin. Also to note to go up the mast road you have to lift the bike through a walkers gap in the fence.

ford2600

Plastik wrote: »

The descent is fairly rapid alright. The surface is good but a bit bumpy and with the arrow straight sections you're goaded into letting rip or face cooking the brakes. You'd want balls of steel to come close to Janos Kohlers speed on Strava for the descent. Plus a bike like Janos. Too many walkers around to really open it up at the weekend but it's fast. Those few corners at the top come at you very quickly when you're approaching at 70kph.

What sort of bike did he do the 25 reps on? Assume maybe a mountain bike with ultra low gearing and hydraulic disk brakes.

No matter what the gearing your are going to have to keep moving at some min speed to stay upright.

For an 85Kg combined weight 161W average @5km/h would be needed.
6km/h would need 194W. Not sure you could go slower than 5km/h? I went up at 7.4km/h and not sure how much slower you could go and stay upright

Even on 34/34 5km/h is about a cadence of 40. 6km/h is just under 50.

I had a lumpy enough cycle over and back to it, but as it's so high you wouldn't think it looking at the profile.

Alek

My main memory of the descent is the smell of my disc brakes burning up.

These were my brakes !

We were descending in fog, wet surface, walkers walking. I almost went through a set of metallic pads, there was not much left, and when I touched the caliper at the bottom, it hissed. Ouch. Rotor was blue.

I was on 30/34 (heavy touring bike, 16kg or so total) and I managed 7.5kph with a stop of shame maybe 200m from the top.


https://dgtzuqphqg23d.cloudfront.net/WLYVvGFNHrgrs4LNkKlpbtWI-AbYP1p0QmuUCfKW9YQ-2048x1371.jpg

Crocked

Cheers lads, plotting a couple of options on strava.

Buncloudy is probably a little close for a kick off point, and Gowran a little far driving wise. Have plotted a route from Bagnelstown and Tullow. Seems like a lot of small local roads in that neck of the woods which only seem to have one off houses along them so hopefully will be nice roads to tipp around as well.

iwillhtfu

Crocked wrote: »

Cheers lads, plotting a couple of options on strava.

Buncloudy is probably a little close for a kick off point, and Gowran a little far driving wise. Have plotted a route from Bagnelstown and Tullow. Seems like a lot of small local roads in that neck of the woods which only seem to have one off houses along them so hopefully will be nice roads to tipp around as well.

I regularly cycle in an around the area and the roads are in decent shape. If you plan a return trip it's nice to dip the auld legs in the river.