Cycling on the N81

SteM

I want to start cycling into work (south city) from Tallaght and was looking at some routes. I think by far the most straightforward would be down the N81, past the Spawell, through Templeogue and Rathmines and down the Canal.

Has anyone got any experience of doing this route on a regular basis? Do you get caught in traffic much at Terenure? How do bikes get through the Spawell roundabout?

Any feedback would be gratefully received.

Chips Lovell

I don't commute on the N81, but I use it regularly coming back from spins in Wicklow. I take the roundabouts as the cars do.

Roddy23

That's pretty much my route in. It's grand, the spawell roundabout - there's a cycle lane around the outside of it, so ye might have to stop the odd time, but it isn't a difficult one compared to something like the walkinstown roundabout.

Terenure is fine too. The only thing that can be tough for someone who hasn't cycled for a while is getting back into the rhytm of things. You might find that by the end of the week if you're cycling 5 days a week into work, that you're legs might start to tire, and the cycle home can take longer than previous. Although you'll always be quicker then the bus when there's traffic on the roads.

delta_bravo

Theres a dedicated cycle lane for the Spawell. It begins at the basketball arena and runs right past the Spawell. At the roundabout you will need to dismount and then re -enter the cycle lane after the roundabout

HJ Simpson

It depends where you are heading to in town. I cycled it everyday but turned off left before Templeogue and headed down through Kimmage Road/Mount Argus/Harolds Cross. I found the lemons walking on the cycle track to be about the worst as it a shared one on the footpath. Through Telmpleogue/Ternure.

seamus

Can't say I do exactly that route, but I have some experience of it.

Coming up to spawell, there should be an explicit shared cycle track which goes over the M50 but under the junction, so you don't have to contend with the roundabout. This brings you all the way down to the Spawell roundabout.
At the point, if you've remained on the cycle track, you'll have to stop and wait to cross the road to resume the cycle track on the far side. Otherwise, you could join the road and use the roundabout.

When you get to Terenure (which is part of the route that I take), it's fine. Traffic is often heavy, but you'll never get stuck in it. Just beware of busses and lorries. There are loads of them using that road and most of the time they seem to stop at the entrance to an estate and leave a gap in front of them. So watch out for traffic coming across your path.

Also note that when you reach the canal at Rathmines, there's no right turn.

Whereabouts in the South city are you heading? There may be a more direct route.

HJ Simpson

Oh yeah forgot to say that the M50 upgrade is underway on the Tallaght/M50junction so you are expected to cross at the pedestrian lights at Kilsarran and head along the footpath/cycle track back onto the original cycle track. I just take to the road here and head over the M50. Just dont get intimidated by the traffic!

SteM

Thanks to everyone for the replies.

Roddy23 wrote:

The only thing that can be tough for someone who hasn't cycled for a while is getting back into the rhytm of things. You might find that by the end of the week if you're cycling 5 days a week into work, that you're legs might start to tire, and the cycle home can take longer than previous.

My plan is to cycle in, get the bus home one day. Get the bus in, cycle home the next etc. Until I get used to the journey at least. I cycle about 6 miles a day right now so I'm hoping that it won't take me too long to get into the swing of things.

seamus wrote: »

Also note that when you reach the canal at Rathmines, there's no right turn.

Whereabouts in the South city are you heading? There may be a more direct route.

Oops, didn't realise there was no right turn there. I'm heading to the Ringsend end of Pearse Street so I thought going down the Canal might be best.

Bunnyhopper

SteM wrote: »

Oops, didn't realise there was no right turn there. I'm heading to the Ringsend end of Pearse Street so I thought going down the Canal might be best.

In those situations I sometimes just get off and walk across the road.

Alternatively, if you're coming from Rathmines heading north, I think (not 100% sure) you can take a right into Richmond Manor, then left up Lower Mountpleasant Avenue, and then right at the canal.

Chris Peak

Bunnyhopper wrote: »

In those situations I sometimes just get off and walk across the road.

Alternatively, if you're coming from Rathmines heading north, I think (not 100% sure) you can take a right into Richmond Manor, then left up Lower Mountpleasant Avenue, and then right at the canal.

You can do that. Or, cycle all the way to the lights at the canal, and if you have the green light, just pull in front of the traffic facing towards Ringsend.

You're probably better off cycling both ways (To work & home again) right from the start. It's pretty much down hill into town anyway. And it's not too steep coming home.