Cycling on the N7

madson

Anybody know if it is ok to cycle on the N7 from Newlands Cross to the Naas exit just before it becomes the M7.

I know its ok to cycle a National road but with this section of road being 100kph, 3 lanes, and a number of exit/entry ramps it could be nearly classed as a motorway.

Might be cycling at the weekend so just want to make sure its ok before i do it.

Thanks

Chips Lovell

Have ridden that stretch before. As long as it's not a motorway, you're allowed to cycle on it.

Húrin

That's a high quality dual carriageway, which is the same as a motorway technically. The only difference is legal.

blorg

You can legally cycle on it, it's just not particularly pleasant (I have cycled that length of it before a few times, in both directions.)

madson

In what ways in it not pleasant?

I'm guessing the exit/entry ramps could be a bit of a pain with impatient drivers and if there is a strong wind.

Chips Lovell

Well it's monotonous and noisy. Entry/exits are a bit of a pain in the arse, but OK once you're a confident cyclist

blorg

madson wrote: »

In what ways in it not pleasant?

Um...

vs

Note I didn't say it was not safe, cycling on a dual carriageway is generally perfectly safe if you have a hard shoulder. Entry/exit ramps are not too bad once you get used to them.

It is however decidedly not pleasant, lots of fast moving noisy traffic.

tomc

If you would prefer not to take that particular road you can take the road in behind the 'poitin still' just after rathcoole which will eventually bring to the back of Naas even on to the Curragh if you want?

TomC:)

**Timbuk2**

I always wondered this. Between Dundalk and Newry, the M1 motorway continues on as far as Newry, but it continues on as the N1 dual carraige way (in reality it looks exactly like the M1 motorway with green signs).

The speed limit is even 120 km/h. Google maps thinks it is a motorway, but in actual fact it isn't. I was never sure whether I was allowed cycle on it as it resembled a motorway so much (even the speed limit).

245

Be careful of the disappearing hard shoulder before the Green Isle hotel - it gets a bit hairy with trucks in the inside lane (you'll have to share). I cycled it today (up to just past Green Isle TBH) - it was marginally better than getting around the Red Cow but not by much. Once you're past that, sliproads and noise are the only hassles - should be ok earlier in the day.

blorg

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

I always wondered this. Between Dundalk and Newry, the M1 motorway continues on as far as Newry, but it continues on as the N1 dual carraige way (in reality it looks exactly like the M1 motorway with green signs).

The speed limit is even 120 km/h. Google maps thinks it is a motorway, but in actual fact it isn't. I was never sure whether I was allowed cycle on it as it resembled a motorway so much (even the speed limit).

If it has green signs and is not legally classed as a motorway you can cycle on it. There are a number of "motorway standard" dual carriageways with 120km/h speed limits.

newton

blorg wrote: »

Um...

vs

Note I didn't say it was not safe, cycling on a dual carriageway is generally perfectly safe if you have a hard shoulder. Entry/exit ramps are not too bad once you get used to them.

It is however decidedly not pleasant, lots of fast moving noisy traffic.

+1 if you have your wits about you it's safe, but why do it unless you absolutely have to - it's never as enjoyable as the quieter back roads, and most of the time no faster, since you have to be so careful going through the intersections,

unionman

el tonto wrote: »

Have ridden that stretch before. As long as it's not a motorway, you're allowed to cycle on it.

I still have nightmares about that cycle el tonto.:eek:

As blorg and el tonto say, it is OK but the squeal of traffic is constant and unpleasant compared to quieter roads.

But it is also worth noting that from Newlands Cross to Naas is mostly uphill. It's rolling road but mostly uphill direction.

Quite possibly my least favourite ride on any road in Ireland. Doable, legal, but a complete pain in the aras.