what are the toughest clims in the Wicklow hills...

Highway_To_Hell

I know this was discussed before but I cannot find the thread, but which are the toughest climbs in the Wicklow hills.

With teh W200 coming up, over the past few weeks I have done the following climbs usually 20/30km cycled before I start the climbs:

Manor Kilbride - Sally Gap
Enniskerry - Grencree - Sally Gap - Ballinastoe
Enniskerry - Crone woods - Sallygap - Manor Kilbride - BallyKnockan - Wicklow Gap
Manor Kilbride - BallyKnockan - Wicklow Gap

I didn't find any of them particularly hard (except maybe the crone woods to Sally Gap, but even then there are plenty of respite sections along the way.

I haven't gone up the following climbs, and from going down them it would look like I have been doing them from the easy side.

Laragh - Sallygap
Laragh - Wicklow Gap
Roundwood - Sally Gap

and I have never even driven up/down Slievemane, how tough is it? I now a lot will depend on what has been done before you hit each climb.

I think there is a website that gives details of each climb, if anyone has the link it would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Chips Lovell

The Laragh side of the Wicklow Gap is the harder one. It features quite a steep section near the old mining village. Aside from that, it is fairly steady.

The Old Long Hill Road, from outside Enniskerry, up past Ballinastoe is a good climb as well, especially when you continue on to go over the side of Djouce up the the Sally Gap.

Slieve Mann and the Glenmalure/Shay Elliot are both tough climbs and pretty similar in terms of length and gradient. Not as long as the Sally or Wicklow Gaps, but consistantly steep. If you're preparing for the W200, they're the ones to watch out for as you'll have plenty of miles in your legs before you hit them.

seamus

Highway_To_Hell wrote: »

Laragh - Sallygap

I did this on Saturday.

Overall it's OK, not too difficult. There's about 5km of fairly serious climbing, but then it mostly levels out to light gradients and flatness. The relief when you hit this is great
One section is a long slow climb (around 9-10% gradient), but as long as you take it easy you should be good; Get into your lowest gear and spin. It's a fantastic view over a valley, so you can distract yourself with that. You could do worse than take a 2 min break at the marked car park at the top for some water and a breather, as you've about 3km more climbing to do. I didn't bother but I passed a group (who didn't look like newbies) who had stopped there. The heat on Saturday made it quite savage for me.

blorg

I'd say the Shay Elliot side of Slieve Maan is the hardest overall road climb in Wicklow. It is long (4.5km) and consistently steep.

If we were allowed include Kippure, Powerscourt Waterfall to the mast would probably clinch it.

n-dawg

What about Laragh to the top of Turlough Hill

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/ie/ballyboden/188127471487843611

~10km @6% with some sections up to 10%

Was great during the snow this year cause they kept the road clear. In places there was 2m high snow banks on the sides!

Raam

They are all tough if you ride them fast enough

roc_racer

Ha - the toughest climbs are all off-road*;

• From the bridge over the river at Knockree to the top of Maulin via the switchbacks
• B'stoe car park up to and over the sleepers and on to the top of Djouce
• From Laragh following the WW and riding up Scarr to the summit
• Laragh - Wicklow Gap - Turlough Hill - Camaderry Summit

*MTB may be illegal in Wicklow National Park

Bluefoam

roc_racer wrote: »

Ha - the toughest climbs are all off-road*;

• From the bridge over the river at Knockree to the top of Maulin via the switchbacks
• B'stoe car park up to and over the sleepers and on to the top of Djouce
• From Laragh following the WW and riding up Scarr to the summit
• Laragh - Wicklow Gap - Turlough Hill - Camaderry Summit

*MTB may be illegal in Wicklow National Park

I always thought the summit of Camaderry looks just like the surface of the moon - except there are probably no bog holes on the moon. The grassy decent back into laragh on the other side is super cool

Capt'n Midnight

There are some short little stinkers

Long Hill but starting from the bottom of the valley it's as sharp turn so you have no momentum as you start the climb.
Onagh, Ireland

Devils Glen, Ashford, Wicklow, Ireland

Devil's Elbow, on the road between Enniskerry and Johnnie Foxes


+1 for Slieve Mann and the Glenmalure/Shay Elliot especially if heading West to East

Redjeep!

I'm booked in the WW200 and it'll be the first time I've ever ridden around that area.

What's the wisdom around gearing ? Do I need a compact ? I've never used one before, but bought one last year after doing a hard sportive in Wales and am wondering whether to fit it or not.

Bikerbhoy

blorg wrote: »

I'd say the Shay Elliot side of Slieve Maan is the hardest overall road climb in Wicklow. It is long (4.5km) and consistently steep.

If we were allowed include Kippure, Powerscourt Waterfall to the mast would probably clinch it.

Talking of which Blorg we did that route you suggested ,to take in Maan and Elliott on Sunday tough enough with the warm weather but enjoyable all the same great prep for next month , oh and for the record we went Glenmacnass/Sally Gap on homeward bound journey so an epic day of climbing all told

thanks again
bikerbhoy

blorg

Redjeep! wrote: »

I'm booked in the WW200 and it'll be the first time I've ever ridden around that area.

What's the wisdom around gearing ? Do I need a compact ? I've never used one before, but bought one last year after doing a hard sportive in Wales and am wondering whether to fit it or not.

It depends on your fitness and preferred riding style, but if you are asking the question I would say yes, fit it, especially if you already have it bought. Have you done a hilly 200km before on your current setup? Better have the gears and not need them than need them and not have them.

Redjeep!

Cheers Blorg,

In fairness I reckon I could manage it without the compact, but will probably fit it as you say. Better to have them and not need them.

The Welsh sportive I did last year (The Merlin Ride) was 200km and probably hillier than the WW200, but I found that I struggled towards the end. There were lots of short steep climbs in the last half that I found really sapped your energy.

cyco

This is a good climb if you want something tough- A lot of people claim hills to be over 10% but mapmyride confirms this one- Kilmashogue lane. Steepest paved road i know
http://www.mapmyride.com/route/ie/dublin/563127479518867481

ripeinmay

I did Slieveman and Shay Elliot last Sunday, they're managable, but tough considering one is after the other.

Also, I didn't want to start a new thread and sorry for going a bit off topic. But what would your average speed be during the wicklow 200? Also how many breaks would you take? I did a 170 km cycle there last week and it took a total of 13 hours average 21km an hour with roughly 2-2.1/2 hours break.

DirkVoodoo

ripeinmay wrote: »

I did Slieveman and Shay Elliot last Sunday, they're managable, but tough considering one is after the other.

Also, I didn't want to start a new thread and sorry for going a bit off topic. But what would your average speed be during the wicklow 200? Also how many breaks would you take? I did a 170 km cycle there last week and it took a total of 13 hours average 21km an hour with roughly 2-2.1/2 hours break.

There are some missing hours in there I think. If you aim for about 9 hours I think that is a pretty achievable time for the 200 for a beginner.

The tax man

cyco wrote: »

This is a good climb if you want something tough- A lot of people claim hills to be over 10% but mapmyride confirms this one- Kilmashogue lane. Steepest paved road i know
http://www.mapmyride.com/route/ie/dublin/563127479518867481

Parts of that climb read 18% and 20% on a Garmin. On the last section I can't keep the front wheel on the ground and have to climb out of the saddle.

seamus

cyco wrote: »

This is a good climb if you want something tough- A lot of people claim hills to be over 10% but mapmyride confirms this one- Kilmashogue lane. Steepest paved road i know
http://www.mapmyride.com/route/ie/dublin/563127479518867481

Ballinscorney hits 20% for about 50m. Though it's a much shorter climb than Kilmashogue.

Blowfish

ripeinmay wrote: »

I did Slieveman and Shay Elliot last Sunday, they're managable, but tough considering one is after the other.

Also, I didn't want to start a new thread and sorry for going a bit off topic. But what would your average speed be during the wicklow 200? Also how many breaks would you take? I did a 170 km cycle there last week and it took a total of 13 hours average 21km an hour with roughly 2-2.1/2 hours break.

As Dirk said, there's definitely some missing hours there. 170km at 21km/h works out at a bit over 8 hours on the bike.

The final checkpoint in Greystones closes at 9pm which gives you 14 hours overall to complete it, so if you did take 13 hours at the weekend, then you'll definitely need to shorten your breaks.

manwithaplan

Talking of tough short sections, I went up the Main Street in Howth and on up Windgate Road to the top of the Head on my hybrid on Saturday (you can see the Wicklow Mountains from there!). There's a very steep 100-150m as you climb out of the village. I don't have a Garmin but I would imagine it would clock close to 15%.

Bluefoam

manwithaplan wrote: »

Talking of tough short sections, I went up the Main Street in Howth and on up Windgate Road to the top of the Head on my hybrid on Saturday (you can see the Wicklow Mountains from there!). There's a very steep 100-150m as you climb out of the village. I don't have a Garmin but I would imagine it would clock close to 15%.

I used to do Howth, up the opposite side on the full sus MTB & down offroad from the summit. The climb nearly killed me...

Russman

seamus wrote: »

Ballinscorney hits 20% for about 50m. Though it's a much shorter climb than Kilmashogue.

Out of interest, is that the bit just after the gates into the golf club (Dublin City GC ?), before the bit up the side of the mountain ?

seamus

Russman wrote: »

Out of interest, is that the bit just after the gates into the golf club (Dublin City GC ?), before the bit up the side of the mountain ?

Nope, that's the easy bit
It gets steeper there, then gets less steep as the road turns to the right. Just on the corner there is a good place to take a break if you're dead. As you go up the hill out of the corner, it gets progessively steeper over 300ish metres, then there's a noticeable shunt as you hit the 20% part for about 50-75m. Then it starts levelling out again just before you hit the left turn at the top.

Russman

Yep, I think I know the bit you mean, I'm up and down that road probably twice most days (in a car ) and often wondered what the gradient actually was - had no idea what 20%, 15% etc actually felt like in real life. Been up it a few times in the last month or so on the bike and, for me, its a tough one alright, had to stop for a breather where there the main road swings right up the hill (with the cliff on the left and the 2 holes on the golf course down to the right) and there's a left turn there too. The shame of it....;)

souter

blorg wrote: »

If we were allowed include Kippure, Powerscourt Waterfall to the mast would probably clinch it.

Out of curiosity, why not Kippure? Did it yesterday and it was the hardest climb I've done:

It's steep

You've climbed Sally Gap before even starting it

It's so exposed you have to grind up in an aero tuck

It get's steeper

There's a sign for no bikes, so you worry about getting into a pointless argument with a jobsworth (didn't happen, but I was going to claim the sign was only excluding MTBs).

When you get into the death zone near the top it gets yet steeper

You can't actually get to the very summit without defying the No Admittance (and people mid week)

You grind away for an eternity in blazing sunshine, staring at your front wheel then just as you get to the top the clouds descend

The surface is so bad you use up a set of brake blocks on the descent

Aside from all that, I was grinning like a crazy thing after doing it.

ROK ON

Only the last stretch of Kippure is properly steep. Much of the first 2km are not that challenging.
Last bit is tough no question about that.

Greyspoke

Here's (maybe) a new one for you that I tried for the first time yesterday and would rate as pretty tough. It runs from Kilteel village (which is about 6k south west of Rathcoole) and goes dead straight up and over Cupidstown Hill before dropping down the other side to meet the Blessington road almost opposite the turn to Kilbride. From the left turn just south east of Kilteel it climbs about 140m in 1.75kms and is steepest just before the top. The road is quite narrow but has a good surface although the other side from the Blessington road is the complete opposite - twisty with a very poor surface so be careful if you 're going down that way. Interestingly, there looked to be a faded line across the road at the top as if it had been used for a hill cimb once - anyone know anything about this? Also if anyone can plot it on mapmyride or something like that I'd be grateful as I haven't a clue about those things. Ta!

tawfeeredux

Greyspoke wrote: »

Also if anyone can plot it on mapmyride or something like that I'd be grateful as I haven't a clue about those things. Ta!

I think this is the one?

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/ie/rathcoole/739127600562696334

Greyspoke

Thanks! Yep, that's the one okay. Anyone else tried this one? I'm not sure which side would be harder as I've only been up from the Kilteel side.

tawfeeredux

Haven't tried it myself yet, I'm only exploring that neck of the woods since i moved to Lucan recently. There's some steep sections on the back roads between there & Saggart, esp around Sladevalley. Mite give this one a go soon.

Plastik

How accurate are those mapmyride gradient percentages?

I did a hill at the weekend that I only tried for the first time and once plotted out it's telling me that there's a section of 20%. Now, I've nothing against which to judge this as I have only been cycling for a few months - but this hill is steep and I had to stop halfway briefly.

on_the_nickel

Could anyone give some guidance as to the average and max gradient for the Enniskerry - Grencree - Sally Gap - Ballinastoe route?

RWGPS states max gradient of 17.8%, is that accurate?

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/94115

petethedrummer

This one hits 20%.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/97785

-K2-

on_the_nickel wrote: »

Could anyone give some guidance as to the average and max gradient for the Enniskerry - Grencree - Sally Gap - Ballinastoe route?

RWGPS states max gradient of 17.8%, is that accurate?

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/94115

There's a bit after Powerscourt Waterfall that's at 17% for about 100m and then another sharp bit climbing up towards Djouce carpark, but it's short enough as well.

on_the_nickel

ElectronEng wrote: »

There's a bit after Powerscourt Waterfall that's at 17% for about 100m and then another sharp bit climbing up towards Djouce carpark, but it's short enough as well.

Thanks, I'd never been in the area before but I think I remember both parts well! Just twigged you can select and zoom in to the elevation map there as well.

Garthvader

Happened across this thread via a Google search.... Giving it a bump for old time's sake!

monkeyslayer

Whats the longest non stop climb in the Wicklow/Dublin hills? I'm guessing Enniskery to the top of Kippure?

bazermc

I recently found this climb

https://www.strava.com/segments/1463228?filter=overall

Short but a killer

Still trying to figure out how the KOM got up in 34 seconds

wanderer 22

monkeyslayer wrote: »

Whats the longest non stop climb in the Wicklow/Dublin hills? I'm guessing Enniskery to the top of Kippure?

Start at Bray Beach for a few extra metres Though it's not a non-stop climb I guess...

mcgratheoin

colm18 wrote: »

Start at Bray Beach for a few extra metres Though it's not a non-stop climb I guess...

http://www.strava.com/segments/2705076 Start at the N11 and it's pretty continuous all the way to Kippure

Wishbone Ash

colm18 wrote: »

Start at Bray Beach for a few extra metres Though it's not a non-stop climb I guess...

25k at 3%

https://www.strava.com/segments/9412109

Plastik

Plastik wrote: »

How accurate are those mapmyride gradient percentages?

I did a hill at the weekend that I only tried for the first time and once plotted out it's telling me that there's a section of 20%. Now, I've nothing against which to judge this as I have only been cycling for a few months - but this hill is steep and I had to stop halfway briefly.

2010 :rolleyes::o