Ballinastoe

Vélo

I loaded the family in the car yesterday and went for a drive. I was looking for Ballinastoe so I'll know where to go when I bring the MTB up. I stopped at an entrance saying Ballinastoe Wood. My question is is this the only entrance to it as I saw a sign to go this way if you were walking but didn't see any signs for bikes. The entrance I'm talking about is down the road from Djouce Wood and not too far from Enniskerry. There was alot of cars parked outsude but only one had a bike rack on it.

Morgan

Sounds like you were in the right place. I thought there was a trail map at the entrance, can't remember.

Here's the directions:
http://www.madmtb.com/maps/map_djouce_ballinastoe_carpark.htm

And a map of the trail:
http://www.coillteoutdoors.ie/index.php?id=54&trail=135&trail_type=2&no_cache=1

Gavin

Golf club a bit further down on the left ? When you walk in past the barrier, there should be a noticeboard on the right showing the cycling routes and such.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?cid=11246245225867203054&q=Balinastoe&sll=53.111545,-6.204529&sspn=0,0&ie=UTF8&ll=53.118036,-6.204014&spn=0.072839,0.154324&z=13

Vélo

Am I right in saying Ballinastoe is better to start on than Djouce as Djouce is more difficult.

rob1891

yes, ballinastoe is full of easy single track. Great place to learn more about your bike, but don't stagnate there either! Get to know it well and then move on to bigger and better things.

Vélo

Thanks for all your help. Just one more thing, I presume this is ok to do on your own or are you better off having someone with you?

Gavin

You can do it on your own, if you take it easy. Best to have someone with you. Chuck up a post when you are heading down and I'm sure someone here would be around to head along too !

Morgan

Ballinastoe is fine to ride on your own. There's usually plenty of riders about, so if something goes wrong you're sure to be found before the deer and foxes start gnawing on your body.

rob1891

These are the guys who will have to come pick you up should anything happen, so best take their advice:

http://www.dwmrt.ie/?p=83

Never go mountain biking alone. Ideally you should go with two friends – one to stay with you and tell you it’s going to be ok and one to scream back down the hill and get some help. A mobile phone can be very useful but often coverage is patchy and it can’t replace having someone with you if things go wrong.

Bstoe is tame, but if you don't know how good or bad your bike handling skills are, you might end up riding something that knocks you off. For a first time around, I'd go on a very busy weekend or ideally with a group. Alone, be overly cautious.

bazzjazz

A good reason to go with someone who is familiar with the route is that the route is mapped out but can be hard to follow for the first time, as I found out recently when I nearly crashed into three guys going the wrong way on a relatively fast section. It was their first time.

blorg

I'd be on for heading out there myself. Beginner myself so I would be happier in a group, falling off is pretty much guaranteed, it's only the severity of the injuries that is unknown. Have absolutely no coordination, hope it comes with time

Vélo

Are you planning on heading out this weekend? I could be able to make it. I have to visit my Granny one of the days, so I could fit her in but cycling comes 1st.:D I have to work around the missus also:(

TinyExplosions

Aquinas73 wrote: »

Are you planning on heading out this weekend? I could be able to make it. I have to visit my Granny one of the days, so I could fit her in but cycling comes 1st.:D I have to work around the missus also:(

I'm thinking of venturing out off road this w/e

Vélo

I didn't think you had a MTB or are you getting a lend.

blorg

May do, will see how my hip heals up, I can still cycle with it but I wouldn't want to land on it again (can't lie on it.)

TinyExplosions

Aquinas73 wrote: »

I didn't think you had a MTB or are you getting a lend.

Will have a lend, or a new one of my own by the weekend

Gavin

I'd be on for this alright. Saturday or Sunday are probably both ok.

peterk19

i'd be on for this too in a month or so once i get mine bought

Vélo

I can go either Saturday or Sunday also. The wife wasn't a problem and my Granny's 92 so probably doesn't even know who I am. If anyone's going on the Saturday road spin we could have it on Sunday but as I said I'm easy.

blorg

Sunday is probably best so we can still do the road spin on Saturday?

Gavin

Yeah, Sunday is grand !

NeilMcEoigheann

got up at 8 when my buddy called around, cycled to ticknock and onto the wicklow way and then followed the wicklow way until after the djouce boardwalk and then dropped down into ballinastoe tore about the empty trails with abandon and then got the munchies so headed to roundwood ate food and returned to ballinastoe for one final lap before calling it a day and heading home via enniskerry, 90km, 2000m climb, 8 hours, they are really nice flowly trails which is kinda fun as i had never been there before. again again again!!!

Vélo

New thread started.