Howth / Hill training

Chartsengrafs

I was wondering is Howth of use for hill traing? I recently moved to Clontarf from Dunshaughlin, and have been just cycling up and down the coast. Is the Hill of Howth do-able and if so what route? I took a quick spin around in the car, but wasn't sure of a good route.

I'm not cycling long, but do a lot of running so have a certain pain threshold! Thanks

Chips Lovell

It's very doable. I do it at least once a week myself.

The south side of the head is a longer climb, but less steep. The northern side (from the village) is shorter but steeper. For the hardest route up, take a right at the church when heading from the village.

mikemac

el tonto wrote: »

For the hardest route up, take a right at the church when heading from the village.

Good god, is that section even possible? :eek:
Hard-core if you can manage it!

ba

howth hill is great for hill training! planning on getting across to howth once a week from here in for some specific training for the oncoming season.
have been up the steepest part once, taking a right at the church, never again. but definitely worth trying once.

amjon

What sort of average speed do you guys hold going up the graveyard side?

Chips Lovell

mikemac wrote: »

Good god, is that section even possible? :eek:
Hard-core if you can manage it!

It's steep alright but far from impossible to ride.

amjon wrote: »

What sort of average speed do you guys hold going up the graveyard side?

I've never timed myself going up but according to my computer, around 20kph on that side. I'd be much slower on the northern side.

Raam

ba wrote: »

have been up the steepest part once, taking a right at the church, never again. but definitely worth trying once.

I would have thought you would be able for it no problem?

RobFowl

amjon wrote: »

What sort of average speed do you guys hold going up the graveyard side?

LesJeunes CC used to run a hill climb TT from the church to the summit (southside route). The record (as I remember not 100% reliable ) was 7mins 50 secs.

Bambaata

i try to gte it in once a week too from the harbour side. its a good spin but I am thinking ill cut out the junk and just drive to the hill to do reps cos clontarf strand is more like a dog track than a cycle track! Ive had my dog lead experience there already and don't want another!

Raam

Howth is great for training. I go there a lot on my own. I find it useful to train with someone else also, so you can take lumps out of each other trying to sprint up parts of the hill.

irishmotorist

I can't picture the church - where is it? I usually do it clockwise. Go straight into the town from the coast road, take a right at the public jacks at the very end at the pier and up that portion. Then after it levels out, take a right, back towards the villiage and left up the hill to the Summit.

Raam

irishmotorist wrote: »

I can't picture the church - where is it? I usually do it clockwise. Go straight into the town from the coast road, take a right at the public jacks at the very end at the pier and up that portion. Then after it levels out, take a right, back towards the villiage and left up the hill to the Summit.

It's directly in front of you as you ascend from the village. If you are ascending via the road at the public jacks, otherwise known as Balscadden Road you won't see the church.

Ryaner

I did my first cycle around Howth Hill last week. If you are only starting on Hill then expect to get over taken at some point on the way up, but not by me. I averaged 8-9km going up the first time with a recovering knee.

Hermy

Here's a loop I used to do if anyone's interested:

Head up Carrickbrack Road to the Summit Inn and down Thormanby Road to the village.
Swing left at the Church and head up Balglass Road and on to Balkill Road as far as the Summit Inn and take a right onto Carrickbrack Road.
Head downhill as far as the second right - a sharp right that takes you up onto Wingate Road - continuing to the end of Windgate Road and turning left onto Balkill road.
Heading back down to the village take it handy on Balglass Hill and turn right at the Church heading back up to the Summit Inn via Thormanby Road.
At the Summit Inn turn right onto Balkill Road and head downhill as far the third left turning onto Windgate Road and follow the road as far as Carrickbrack Road.
At Carrickbrrack Road you can turn right and go home or turn left and do the whole thing again.

BaBiT

Howth Hill is a great place to train...I've been riding that hill since 1985 when I started cycling!...Unfortunately I live in down the country now (relocated Dub) so I only get to climb the Hill on rare occasions but last time I was over it I had my Garmin 705 on the bike and got some data from it...The southside climb is mostly around 5-7% and the northside climb through the villiage is 12% (although I could swear I saw 13% when I looked down at one stage but not according to what I uploaded at the end!)

beans

My Polar may be broken, but after cycling around Benahavis in Spain over the Christmas, the steepest ascent registered as 20% :eek:

Billy Whizz

BaBiT wrote: »

Howth Hill is a great place to train...I've been riding that hill since 1985 when I started cycling!...Unfortunately I live in down the country now (relocated Dub) so I only get to climb the Hill on rare occasions but last time I was over it I had my Garmin 705 on the bike and got some data from it...The southside climb is mostly around 5-7% and the northside climb through the villiage is 12% (although I could swear I saw 13% when I looked down at one stage but not according to what I uploaded at the end!)

Pretty sure there are some (thankfully) brief sections of ~20% when you turn right at the church.

Chartsengrafs

OK good stuff, might just give it a bash at the weekend so!

Chartsengrafs

Finally gave it a go today, wasn't too bad. The lungs held up no bother but the legs didn't know what was going on at times.

I went up from the South side, up towards Windgate Road etc. Wasn't too sure where the actual summit was, I know that sounds a bit thick, but it was hard to figure out which route to take in unfamiliar territory!

Got a wave from a Boardsie in Clontarf around noon on the way back. A pity wave I'm guessing