Flat routes in south Dublin

Húrin

Hi, I'm trying to get a willing friend into doing spins. She's not really well able for hills or long distances yet so I'm trying to put together some routes that are mostly flat. Problem is that she lives in Shankill, which will be perfect for when she gets into doing spins in Wicklow but is not suitable for this stage.

I've been thinking that the best place to head for could be west to Kildare, for which purpose I made this route, but there's a steep hill just after Saggart that I need to avoid. But it seems that the only way to avoid this is to go onto heavy traffic roads like the N81 and N7.

Anyone have any route ideas? Criteria: avoid hills and heavy traffic roads, yet be at a reasonable distance from Shankill.

xz

Not able for long distances, you say, yet your route is nearly 80 km, and that doesn't even get her back to Shankill.

A relatively "flattish" route from Shankill, would be to head south, into Bray, veer off to the right at the junction just after the "Coach and Horses" pub onto the upper Dargle road, and follow this onto the N11. It drags up from here up as far as Brennanstown Riding School, which should be the worsed of this route.
From there, carry on through Kilmacanogue, Glen of the Downs, carry on straight on the N11,up another ,easy drag, until just before Kilpedder, where there is a turn off filter lane to Greystones, take this exit, go straight through the roundabout and follow the road to the next roundabout, take the third exit, towards Kilcoole, Newcastle, Rathnew, There is a small hill here, but nothing major,stay on this road as far as Rathnew,the road has some heavy surfaces in some places, and is a "little" bit up and down, but very manageable for a novice, at this point, you could double back, it's approx 60km round trip from Shankill

Blowfish

The lazy (though not particularly pretty) route would just be to head to Blackrock via Rochestown Avenue, then just hug the coast all the way to Howth village and back.

Distance - 60k (far saner for a beginner), highest elevation - 50m. Can't get much flatter than that, plus if she still has a bit of energy at Howth, you can potter around it.

kincsem

From the small roundabout at the south end of Shankill village, past Shanganagh cemetery to the big roundabout just north of Bray is 1.78 km. It xhas a maximum gradient of about 2% and has a cycle path on each side of the road (1.78 x 2) = 3.56 km. A few laps of that would do for a start, and if the beginner has had enough they are close to home.

With more experience and bike craft you could extend it towards Bray and up the road beside the Dargle river (Upper Dargle Road) to the roundabout just before the N11 going to Kilmacanogue 4.31 km x 2 = 8.62 km.

Nothing is more discouraging than an experienced rider dragging a novice all over the countryside at a speed they can't handle.

keano007

xz wrote: »

Not able for long distances, you say, yet your route is nearly 80 km, and that doesn't even get her back to Shankill.

A relatively "flattish" route from Shankill, would be to head south, into Bray, veer off to the right at the junction just after the "Coach and Horses" pub onto the upper Dargle road, and follow this onto the N11. It drags up from here up as far as Brennanstown Riding School, which should be the worsed of this route.
From there, carry on through Kilmacanogue, Glen of the Downs, carry on straight on the N11,up another ,easy drag, until just before Kilpedder, where there is a turn off filter lane to Greystones, take this exit, go straight through the roundabout and follow the road to the next roundabout, take the third exit, towards Kilcoole, Newcastle, Rathnew, There is a small hill here, but nothing major,stay on this road as far as Rathnew,the road has some heavy surfaces in some places, and is a "little" bit up and down, but very manageable for a novice, at this point, you could double back, it's approx 60km round trip from Shankill

I'm living in blackrock and when I'm not feeling like taking on the mountains in Wicklow I always take on this route down through greystones and then onto kilcoole and rathnew, back up the other side of the n11 then. There's a lovely country road just parellel to the n11 that goes most of the way up. No hills at all maybe one or 2 small pulls but at th end of the day your friend will never get strong unless she takes on a few hills now and again and build it up