cycling in Galway after work?

Sniipe

Dunno if this is more suited to the Galway City thread, but sure maybe someone here can help.

I live in Galway city, and love doing the spideal block, which is 44K and takes me about 1hr 40. This is a nice trip on sat/sun morning.

Since there is more sunlight, I would like to do this or similar after work. But, if I finish at 5.30 and get out on the road at 6.00 traffic is terrible on the spideal road and the moycullen road. I live on the headford road and hate getting out of the city. People getting home from work

I do have a car rack and would be willing to travel a small bit to get out of the chaos and do a loop... Any ideas?

kenmc

well it's bright till 9 now, and if it takes you 1h40, you could easily leave at 7 and still get home in brightness.

jautukas87

I live in Knocknacarra and hate both of those roads (to moycullen and to spidael). So I was wondering same thing.

EDIT:

I used to leave galway on this road and then cycle up and down moycullen spidael road, but since ppl got some crazy and scary dog just before entering moycullen spidael road, I'm afraid to cycle down there.http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/ireland/galway/947072739954

Sniipe

kenmc wrote: »

well it's bright till 9 now, and if it takes you 1h40, you could easily leave at 7 and still get home in brightness.

We have a mathematician in the house

Yeah, I could leave then. But then I'd be at home for an hour doing nothing... I couldn't exactly eat then either or I'd cramp on the bike.

/me wanders off to googlemaps (spideal block is nice cause it has some hills)

[edit]LOL love the 'scary dog' icon on your circuit.[/edit]

[edit]sunset in Galway is 22.06 today[/edit]

jautukas87

Sniipe wrote: »

(spideal block is nice cause it has some hills)

Some hill repeats for ya. You could drive with car to Moycullen. [check elevation]
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/ireland/moycullen/317124109541392847

Sniipe

nice repeat there. I'll definately give that a go. Thats what I'm kinda looking for, nice inclines. The moycullen - spideal route doesn't go as high as that. You find mapmyride any good? They seemed to have improved it since I last saw it.

snubbleste

jautukas87 wrote: »

EDIT:
I used to leave galway on this road and then cycle up and down moycullen spidael road, but since ppl got some crazy and scary dog just before entering moycullen spidael road, I'm afraid to cycle down there.http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/ireland/galway/947072739954

that road between Doire Chrith and Cnoc ar easair(labelled 22) is a dirt track with gates isn't it?

jautukas87

snubbleste wrote: »

that road between Doire Chrith and Cnoc ar easair(labelled 22) is a dirt track with gates isn't it?

22 miles, yes, map is wrong, never really found that road :rolleyes: .

jautukas87

Sniipe wrote: »

You find mapmyride any good? They seemed to have improved it since I last saw it.

Yeah, I love elevation profile.

goods

If you live in the Headford rd area , try heading out the Dyke road and out around Moinlough, Nice route along by lough corrib for a bit and back,
Not to taxing in the hill dept but no traffic

check
http://www.mapmyride.com/route/ie/galway/451124211814471614

danburke

jautukas87 wrote: »

Some hill repeats for ya. You could drive with car to Moycullen. [check elevation]
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/ireland/moycullen/317124109541392847

I love this hill...

How long does it take ye to 1) climb the hill? 2) complete the lap?

I'm fairly slow.. I think it takes my 8 mins to climb the hill

pgibbo

You could always think of joining one of the clubs on their week night cycles. This crowd go on Thursdays from Dunnes in Terryland at 6:30. Galway Tri Club also organise group cycles.

The other option would be to ask Nigel in Nigels Cycles, around the corner from you, or either Kearneys or Walshe's for some recommended routes.

If you are willing to drive to Partry or Tourmakeady, there are some savage hills there - Lallys Hill - for hill repeats.

hynesie

West Coast Wheelers leave from Bushypark Church every Wednesday night at 7pm to do the Spiddal loop. There's two groups, one slow and one fast. The slow group take a left to Spiddal in Moycullen, the fast group go past Moycullen and go the longer and harder way up the hill. Details here.

danburke

hynesie wrote: »

West Coast Wheelers leave from Bushypark Church every Wednesday night at 7pm to do the Spiddal loop. There's two groups, one slow and one fast. The slow group take a left to Spiddal in Moycullen, the fast group go past Moycullen and go the longer and harder way up the hill. Details here.

What's the pace like of these two groups?

I can usually get around the spideal block in about 1h30mins

L'Enfer du Nord

Sniipe wrote: »

Dunno if this is more suited to the Galway City thread, but sure maybe someone here can help.

I live in Galway city, and love doing the spideal block, which is 44K and takes me about 1hr 40. This is a nice trip on sat/sun morning.

Since there is more sunlight, I would like to do this or similar after work. But, if I finish at 5.30 and get out on the road at 6.00 traffic is terrible on the spideal road and the moycullen road. I live on the headford road and hate getting out of the city. People getting home from work

I do have a car rack and would be willing to travel a small bit to get out of the chaos and do a loop... Any ideas?

I've been pondering the same issue for two years or more. Roads around Galway seem to be either traffic choked or terrible surface (+ moderate dog attack risk) - Dyke road suggestion is good one.

Plus there aren't too many hills to choose from near the city.

SucCes09

I am out in the Corofin\Tuam area and wondering best bet for hills around here? Real flat land here. My only hope was a hill between Abbeyknockmoy and Monivea, but that is getting resurfaced (and has a scary dog!)

hynesie

danburke wrote: »

What's the pace like of these two groups?

I can usually get around the spideal block in about 1h30mins

Only 1 group today.
Bushypark to Barna was 1 hour 6 minutes. We turned up Barna hill so I don't have a time for the full loop.

quietobserver

danburke wrote: »

What's the pace like of these two groups?

I can usually get around the spideal block in about 1h30mins

you will be fine with it so. there was a group out this evening i passed them on my way home about 10 of them. been on the spins last year its a steady comfortable pace and you will learn to ride steady in a group.

Sniipe

pgibbo wrote: »

You could always think of joining one of the clubs on their week night cycles. This crowd go on Thursdays from Dunnes in Terryland at 6:30. Galway Tri Club also organise group cycles.
...
If you are willing to drive to Partry or Tourmakeady, there are some savage hills there - Lallys Hill - for hill repeats.

hynesie wrote: »

West Coast Wheelers leave from Bushypark Church every Wednesday night at 7pm to do the Spiddal loop.

I think if I have enough time today I will try and meet up with West Coast Wheelers tonight. I may get dropped, but if its the Spiddal Loop I won't mind.
Next week I'll try the Galway Bay Cycling Club...

I know Nigel, and probably a good few from the old Thermo King club, so I may know some. As for the Tri Club, I know Richard there and I have heard they leave from bushy park church also, but don't know days/time.

Cheers for all the replies anyway.

[edit] http://www.galwaybaycycling.com/ appears to be down [/edit]

Aramicon

Hmmm, as the Galway Bay website admin, this is news, have just emailed blacknight...

....
...

That was quick, it's back up! Nice one blacknight...

Club spin today, about 6:45 from Bushypark church... I expect the fine weather is going to pull a sickie though.

We haven't started handicapping them yet like we did last year, but that will change, the 09 summer league is only a few weeks old...

Oh, we've got an open night in the NUIG Kingfisher next week if anyone is interested... will post details on club site now...

Sniipe

Aramicon wrote: »

Club spin today, about 6:45 from Bushypark church... I expect the fine weather is going to pull a sickie though.
...
Oh, we've got an open night in the NUIG Kingfisher next week if anyone is interested... will post details on club site now...

Can I come along tonight, or should I wait for the open day?

Aramicon

Anyone can go out on the spins, though I think being a member of some club is encouraged- being signed up to CyclingIreland has some insurance cover.

Route is Bushypark (6:45)- Moycullen- Spiddal- Furbo- Galway.

We did the reverse route for a few weeks, as far as I know we are changing today.

Speed depends on who is there, if there are a good few racers they wait behind for a couple of mins. It usually gets faster near the end, which is outside the Connemara Coast Hotel in Furbo (there's a very faded line), before cruising back into the city...

Sniipe

Thanks for the reply Aramicon. I'll see you tonight, I mite re-join cyclingireland/club (10 years later), but not for races.

I'm not too worried about the pace, I'll happily drop off if I have to.