Re: Royal Canal

sinbadthesailor

I'm aware there was a thread on these almost two years ago but does anyone here ever cycle along the Royal canal from Leixlip/Clonsilla all the way into Dublin City. Is it do-able these days or have the towpaths been improved at all? Much hassle from scobies etc.? Thanks

ROK ON

Hi. A few weeks back I tried to cycle back from Superquinn in Ashtown to Castleknock via the canal tow path.
My bike had 700*25 slick road tyres: I got only a few hundred meters before turning back and continuing home by road.
Unless you have thick MTB tyres it is not worth it IMHO. Grass and gravel (and broken glass sverywhere).

Also I have cycled many times in Clonsilla and Leixlip, passing over the canal/railway bridge, it always looked to me to be too grassy for a road bike.

Should be doable with MTB tyres however.

Civilian_Target

Did it in 2006 with a hybrid with 700x28 armadillos. It's a bit of a bumpy ride, but it's doable. No hastle... but for the sake of your bits you might be more comfortable on the road!

ROK ON

I am not sure do you want to do this just to do it or as a commute.

If you want to 'just do it' then it is doable.

If you want to do this for a commute then dont bother. From Clonsilla head down by Westmanstown/Luttrelstown/Diswellstown Cottages. Then straight into the Park (either Whites Lane or Mount Sackville).

Follow road down parallel to Chapelizod. Keep going down Kyber Road and exit at Islandbridge. Bus/Cycle Lane all the way in the quays.
Just a suggestion.

Stark

I believe Trojan did it on a cyclocross bike. Very uncomfortable on road tyres though.

Sean02

I do it reguraly particuarly during frosty road conditions. Confey to Glasnevin 55 mins. I use Dawes hybrid. Its tough going but an exillerating ride. However a word of WARNING Porterstown to Coolmine is very dangerous, very narrow path lots of protuding rocks very deep drop to water. Most times I walk the 150 meters. As there is no way back up the bank. If you fall in and survive the fall you must swim to far side. I helped rescue two cyclist one in the water the other stranded on the far side in the last three years. The worst part of the story is that neither Gormley & Co or local politicans or Waterways Ireland could even acknowledge my numerous letters calling for warning signs at Coolmine and Porterstown. Don't let all this put you off it's in my opinion number one cycling route in west Dublin / Kildare.
P.s. Never in 15 years had a problem with "scobies" whatever they are, occasionaly the strech between Broombridge and Dorset St might be intimidating, no real danger though during daylight hours.

BostonB

I'm guessing you'd be quicker on the road, so theres no point.

Sean02

If you up for a challenge, enjoy cycling in a lovely senic and traffic free environment, have that extra 15 minutes to spare the canal wins out every time. Thats only my opinion. Also if this facility was available in any other country the cycling community would be using it more and demanding that it be upgraded and maintained. The Grand Canal is much more "cycleable". due to the number of public and local access roads that have replaced original towpaths.

Dirk Gently

As said above, it's a nice spin, with the exception of the little stretch at coolmine with the big drop, narrow trail and rocky terrain. Even if the hedging was cut back that would be a great challenging stretch but the way the hedging is it leaves you literally the width of your bike in some parts to travel along side a really big drop. You have to cycle it at less than walking pace to keep balance. I done town to lexlip a few times on a front suspension mtb. wouldn't attempt it on a road bike. Definitely worth doing, but for fun more so than commuting.