Bray - UCD commute

StudentC

This weekend I'm going to give my Bray to UCD commute a go for the first time.
It's about 16km, there's no way I'm going to manage it both ways every day initially but hopefully I can build up to it.

Obviously the most straightforward (and shortest) route is straight in the N11 all the way, and that's what I'll try at first. But I'm not a big fan of the N11 and I get bored very easily so have been looking at the maps trying to think of alternatives. I was thinking maybe of a back way through Stillorgan and Kilmacud, and possibly even the Carrickmines / Cabinteely / Rathmichael areas too. But it would probably get very long and maybe a bit hilly as well.

Anybody got any suggestions, or should I just stick to the main road?

Thanks

zzzzzzzz

StudentC wrote: »

This weekend I'm going to give my Bray to UCD commute a go for the first time.
It's about 16km, there's no way I'm going to manage it both ways every day initially but hopefully I can build up to it.

Obviously the most straightforward (and shortest) route is straight in the N11 all the way, and that's what I'll try at first. But I'm not a big fan of the N11 and I get bored very easily so have been looking at the maps trying to think of alternatives. I was thinking maybe of a back way through Stillorgan and Kilmacud, and possibly even the Carrickmines / Cabinteely / Rathmichael areas too. But it would probably get very long and maybe a bit hilly as well.

Anybody got any suggestions, or should I just stick to the main road?

Thanks

I'd say stick to the N11 to begin with anyway and see how you get on.

Once you feel like you can manage a bit more, Rathmichael, Kiltiernan Dundrum, Clonskeagh, UCD would be handy enough.

A couple of hills, sure, but after a few weeks you'll manage it no problem.

Gavin

I'd probably go over to Eniskerry, then into drundrum, taking the right bringing you into kilmacud and straight down into the clonskeagh entrance. Much better than going up N11 (for me anyway)

Although it's a bit longer alright

blorg

I would go via Rathmichael and Ballycorus Road or this way

Only adds ~2.5km on from straight up the N11.

Probably no reason to go through Enniskerry unless you are far south Bray.

Rathmichael/Ballycorus Road and in through Kilternan has very little in the way of crazy hills, just a bit rolling, but the other route I linked there does have a bit of climbing. Would be a hell of a lot more pleasant though.

Muller_1

blorg wrote: »

I would go via Rathmichael and Ballycorus Road or this way

Only adds ~2.5km on from straight up the N11.

Probably no reason to go through Enniskerry unless you are far south Bray.

Rathmichael/Ballycorus Road and in through Kilternan has very little in the way of crazy hills, just a bit rolling, but the other route I linked there does have a bit of climbing. Would be a hell of a lot more pleasant though.

I use this way when the morning/evenings get brighter. Ballycorus is poorly lit, if your going this way in the dark please make sure you are very visible to traffic.

StudentC

Thanks everybody for the replies, I'll give the different routes a go over the next while.

Muller_1 wrote: »

I use this way when the morning/evenings get brighter. Ballycorus is poorly lit, if your going this way in the dark please make sure you are very visible to traffic.

I'm pretty well lit up at the moment, and will upgrade my lights soon. I'm not as high-vizzed as i might be though, because the angry rude Dublin City Council woman refused to give me a high viz vest this morning, because i wasn't actually on a bike at the time. Obviously walking an extra half-hour out of my way to pick one up for when I am on a bike isn't good enough, this despite her handing them out to all on sundry on their bikes, to hang over their handlebars / put in their basket / stuff into their bag. Ah well, it's fair enough I suppose and more fool me for trying to get a freebie. I do have one, I just wanted another (free) one to make a backpack cover from!

Seaswimmer

I would try other side of N11. Into Shankill then back road through Ballybrack, Church road, Rochestown ave, Stradbrook road, Rock road and left before Tara Towers up to UCD. Long stretches without traffic lights and only 1 mandatory cycle lane (church road)

fenris

I have recently started commuting from Bray to Fitzwilliam square, up through Shankhill is handy enough, traffic is manageable and you will be at the roundablut at loughlinstown before you know it. After that I think that you are as well to go straight up the N11 on the way in, I found it a lot easier than I expected. At the moment I am doing it between 1 hour and 1 hour and a quarter depending on both internal and external wind!

On the way home the hill from Fosters avenue to the Stillorgan park hotel is a bitch so I go home via Deansgrange and get back onto the N11 via the Clonkeen road.

check out

http://mapmyride.com for routes with elevation profiles etc.

Why not drive/get a lift as far as Loughlinstown and cycle the rest of the way, youi will probably find that your worries about the distance is more about confidence (in hindsight of course) than having enough energy to make it the full way. There is nothing to say that you cannot stop at a garage and get your breath and a bar of chocolate for a few minutes if you need to. (you probably won't but the idea that you could is nice to have)

StudentC

Thanks seaswimmer and fenris.

Rode in on Saturday, turned out to be easier and quicker than I expected, so I'm a little more confident now. Although that was with very little traffic and buses to be wary of!

So I'll give it a go a few times a week til I get used to it.

The cycle lane all the way in is pretty nice to have, just a pity about the random potholes etc :rolleyes: