First time in Mountains (Dublin)

Chartsengrafs

Hey all,

I'm not cycling long but am keen to get started doing some hill work. To date I've been going round Dunshaughlin/Trim/Batterstown/round that area, 40k ish, and also from Clontarf (where I live), up Howth summit.

To be honest I'm not keen on cycling from Clontarf, through the city centre and up the N11 just yet- particularly with cleats. So I was hoping for suggestions on places I could drive to (I know....just plain cheating), to use as a starting point for some quieter roads. Is this feasible?

I'm from Meath, hence the lack of familiarity with certain parts of South Dublin..

Thanks!

Lumen

You just need to find a decent route through town.

I live in Clonsilla, and after some experimentation I've found an easy route to Dundrum that takes about 40 minutes. It's a good warm up before the hills start.

Chartsengrafs

OK thanks, know what you mean. Excuse my ignorance, would there be essentially a lot of climbing from Dundrum onwards? I guess I just need to get used to city traffic..

blorg

Lots of choices really.

Lamb Doyle's Pub out through Enniskerry, up Glencree and over the Military Road and down Stocking Lane (40km) - note this is the opposite way than I have it plotted

Laragh taking in Wicklow and Sally Gap (73km) - you could start that one in Kilbride if you liked (it is a tough one.)

No shame in driving over to start if you are not used to cycling.

Chartsengrafs

Wow, thanks for that Blorg. Literally wouldn't have a notion otherwise! I'll check those routes out

ROK ON

Both routes mentioned are very very beautiful cycles. Fantastic scenery, in almost any weather.

blorg

Here's another 40km loop taking in Sally Gap, Luggala and passing near Lough Dan- there is a short detour (under 1km but up a hill) off that road if you want to actually see Lough Dan- change to satellite view and you can see the road leading up to the big mass of water where I have the route point. On this one there is a car park more or less where I have the start and finish, half way up Luggala. Don't be fooled by the distance as it is a very tough 40km! I think I would do that one counter-clockwise, you get a nice long descent down into Laragh in the middle that way.

Here's another really really tough 40km loop from Laragh. Shay Elliot, Slieve Maan (up the hard side), around the back of Slieve Maan which goes back up to almost the same elevation, first through a forest but then with the view opening out, down into Greenane and back up over only a slightly reduced but steep hill to Laragh.

You should also consider driving to Dundrum and coming on a Boards cycle, it is easier in a group.

SerialComplaint

Basster wrote: »

Hey all,

I'm not cycling long but am keen to get started doing some hill work. To date I've been going round Dunshaughlin/Trim/Batterstown/round that area, 40k ish, and also from Clontarf (where I live), up Howth summit.

To be honest I'm not keen on cycling from Clontarf, through the city centre and up the N11 just yet- particularly with cleats. So I was hoping for suggestions on places I could drive to (I know....just plain cheating), to use as a starting point for some quieter roads. Is this feasible?

I'm from Meath, hence the lack of familiarity with certain parts of South Dublin..

You could try the road out through The Naul at the back of the airport and then into Drogheda - powerful hills there, if I recall correctly. Though not as scenic as the those glorious southside routes!

kennyb3

SerialComplaint wrote: »

You could try the road out through The Naul at the back of the airport and then into Drogheda - powerful hills there, if I recall correctly. Though not as scenic as the those glorious southside routes!

are they really considered half decent hills at the naul? i m from balbriggan and incorporate them in most of my cycles. they are tough but as a newbie i have nothing to compare them to and was wondering whether more experienced cyclists just thought they were little bumps

lukester

The hills coming into/out of The Naul are pretty small and short, at least the ones I've been on.

Raam

The hills on the northside are tough enough if you ride at a fast enough speed, but they are nothing compared to Wicklow. Howth is the only thing that comes close.

souter

As a fellow Northsider from my few expeditions I can vouch the extra effort to get to Wicklow is worth it.
However, for convenient hills have you tried going right at the church on the North ascent of Howth?
Did it last night and while it doesn't have the length or scenery of a Wicklow climb is does have some savage gradients and takes you right to the top of the hill.

Jawgap

The Naul and Bellewstown are not exactly nosebleeders, but there's a couple of sharp inclines there that can give you a good work out.

iregk

Basster I live in Blessington and anytime I'm starting off on a staurday morning there are a lot of people who would drive to Blessington and start form there. Thats maybe one option. Your at the start of the Wicklow gap then and if you like a nice cycle around the lakes also.

G

vektarman

I'm in training for the Ring of Kerry cycle but not being an experienced cyclist and being used to the flat roads of North Kildare, I drove to and parked in Blessington, the route I used was Hollywood>Wicklow gap> Laragh>Drumgoff Bridge>Slieve Maan>Donard>Blessington, a tough cycle for my first time in 30 years in the Dublin mountains but a great feeling having done it, the only part I would advise to avoid if you're a first timer is Hollywood because of the climb and use the Valleymount route around the Blessington lakes instead.

blorg

Jeez well done on that vektarman, that is a hell of a lot tougher than anything you will find on the Ring of Kerry. Good luck with that.

vektarman

Thanks Blorg, I have to admit though I got off the bike at that climb after Hollywood in the lashing rain, I had a five min break and was determined to do the route, the sun came out and it made it a bit easier, that first hill was like hitting a wall at the start of a marathon.:)

iregk

vektarman wrote: »

the only part I would advise to avoid if you're a first timer is Hollywood because of the climb

Great climb, done it yesterday evening in the heat and almost killed me! Due over it again this saturday morning.

A slightly easier way alright is to take the valleymount turn off (quite a bit earlier on the n81 than hollywood) and go up there. This will bring you right ou the back of hollywood and onto the gap.

Chartsengrafs

Thanks folks for all the suggestions, more than enough to work with here!
And I'm working towards the Boards Saturday morning spins, wouldn't want to head out unprepared.

Chartsengrafs

So I gave this a go today; was fairly blissful in the good weather! Well apart from the parts where my legs nearly fell off and when I got lost :rolleyes:

Looking forward to the next weekend!

Traffic home was fairly brutal, might be cycling home sooner than I expected.. think I need to loosen my pedals first or something.