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Thinking of cycling from Kilkenny to donegal

  • 24-03-2010 11:43am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,005 ✭✭✭


    We are doing our quarterly trip up to see the family in Donegal and was thinking of cycling over 2 days while my wife drives up with the kids. It's about 180 km a day.
    Can anyone give me advice on which particular roads to avoid and if it is a mad idea as I'm familiar with the car journey but by bike is different.


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,440 ✭✭✭cdaly_


    I would have thought 180km per day might be pushing it a bit unless you're used to the long distances.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,005 ✭✭✭ashleey


    I did that sort of distance last year but it was France, which means smoother and flatter. Might have to do 3 days


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,450 ✭✭✭Harrybelafonte


    How far into Donegal are you going?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,995 ✭✭✭✭blorg


    Look at Google Maps Walking directions, they are good for cycling. Looks flat until the end, more like 150km/day unless you are going very far north or west into Donegal. I'd say well doable if you have done 180km/day back to back in France. Google Maps walking tends to route on smaller roads... you can figure something decent out. I have done a lot of long cycles around the country and would avoid N roads personally. To be honest a GPS makes this a hell of a lot easier if you have a complex route, you can go down complete back roads in confidence... Without you can still do it but needs a bit more planning and more of a risk of going off course.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 11,394 Mod ✭✭✭✭Captain Havoc


    Are we going to see you back on the bike soon so?

    https://ormondelanguagetours.com

    Walking Tours of Kilkenny in English, French or German.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81 ✭✭gmoorewest


    Good luck with that, planning to go from mid Roscommon to Letterkenny myself. I've been on road from Athlone to Sligo, mostly good surface, bar the odd patch. Only notable hills are around Boyle, only approx 2km and very good surface. Back roads around this area are very bad. Let us know if you want some company or a food stop!!!


  • Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 120 ✭✭ludermor


    blorg wrote: »
    Look at Google Maps Walking directions, they are good for cycling. Looks flat until the end, more like 150km/day unless you are going very far north or west into Donegal. I'd say well doable if you have done 180km/day back to back in France. Google Maps walking tends to route on smaller roads... you can figure something decent out. I have done a lot of long cycles around the country and would avoid N roads personally. To be honest a GPS makes this a hell of a lot easier if you have a complex route, you can go down complete back roads in confidence... Without you can still do it but needs a bit more planning and more of a risk of going off course.
    if you drag the starting point of that link to dublin then it sends you to the isle of man then onto belfast then donegal!!! Might need an aquabike for that journey


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 583 ✭✭✭NeedsTraining


    Ooops


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,005 ✭✭✭ashleey


    Google maps walking is a great idea. I'm going as far as ardara in the south of the county and also I could also ring for a lift in the last 30k if I capitulate. I'll be using a nokia 5800 for gps maps in case I get lost. I'm away next week and if the weather is good when I get back I'll give it a go. I'm planning to stay away from n roads as much as possible. Thanks for the advice


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,995 ✭✭✭✭blorg


    ludermor wrote: »
    if you drag the starting point of that link to dublin then it sends you to the isle of man then onto belfast then donegal!!! Might need an aquabike for that journey
    Yes, it is something to do with crossing the border into NI and the routing algorithm for the UK- as far as I can work out. Only happens (but not always) when a route is going through NI.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,005 ✭✭✭ashleey


    I'm planning it for the Easter holiday weekend if anyone is on the road then. Probable departure on Easter Saturday and hoping for lightish traffic and no trucks


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 11,394 Mod ✭✭✭✭Captain Havoc


    Be very careful using Nokia as a GPS, I used it to get from Abbeyleix to Kilkenny once and it took me on some dirt tracks.

    https://ormondelanguagetours.com

    Walking Tours of Kilkenny in English, French or German.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,005 ✭✭✭ashleey


    I'll use it as a backstop and I appreciate the advice.

    I found a brilliant site for plotting an elevation map of the route:
    http://www.heywhatsthat.com/profiler.html

    I'm planning to cycle to Longford on the Saturday and on the next day, get up earlyish and if I'm shattered get picked up by the family travelling up on the Sunday.

    Now fingers crossed for good weather, otherwise I wont bother.

    profile.cgi?src=profiler&axes=1&curvature=0&metric=1&pt0=52.551202,-7.382812,ff0000&pt1=52.55126,-7.38304,00c000&pt2=52.62093,-7.28251,0000ff&pt3=52.65832,-7.25255,ff0000&pt4=52.71581,-7.29215,00c000&pt5=52.78821,-7.34329,0000ff&pt6=52.85771,-7.38273,ff0000&pt7=52.97079,-7.33568,00c000&pt8=53.08144,-7.33171,0000ff&pt9=53.14207,-7.36431,ff0000&pt10=53.23715,-7.47866,00c000&pt11=53.29952,-7.49241,0000ff&pt12=53.38411,-7.58261,ff0000&pt13=53.40614,-7.87976,00c000&pt14=53.45132,-7.98815,0000ff&pt15=53.57583,-8.09519,ff0000&pt16=53.63161,-8.19099,00c000&pt17=53.7265,-8.20874,0000ff&pt18=53.84199,-8.2235,ff0000&pt19=53.92481,-8.27776,00c000&pt20=53.98581,-8.28836,0000ff&pt21=54.09902,-8.40032,ff0000&pt22=54.2169,-8.50045,00c000&pt23=54.30751,-8.47555,0000ff&pt24=54.37094,-8.53109,ff0000&pt25=54.4632,-8.35324,00c000&pt26=54.49331,-8.18808,0000ff&pt27=54.57974,-8.12939,ff0000&pt28=54.63332,-8.09253,00c000&pt29=54.65037,-8.21194,0000ff&pt30=54.70505,-8.30055,ff0000&pt31=54.76,-8.40214,00c000


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