Climbs in Cork

on_the_nickel

I did a search and couldn't find a thread on this, apologies if it already exists, but I thought it would be nice to have details on the climbs in one place. I'm familiar with some around the south of the city but haven't a clue about any others in the county (I'm a blow in).

Anyway, to get the ball rolling, here's a lumpy but nothing that stands out route I did a few weeks ago.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/115453

Does anyone know any longer climbs in the general area?

mcgratheoin

Have a look at the rebel tour here - should give you an idea of a few hills to head for out of the city.

ROK ON

1. Mullaghanish; leave Ballyvourney and head on back road to millstteet.
Half way up there is a private road to an RTE mast. Road rises to 650m in 7km.
Tough, very tough.

2. Butter Road - between Millstreet and Rylane.


3. Keimanagh - between Gougane Barra and Kealkill.

adodsk

Cousane Gap

Temple Hill :eek:

Patrick's Hill :eek:

papac

Ballyhooley via Carrignavaar is a nice spin. Not killer climb but hilly nonetheless.

Cloghroe-Nadd-Banteer- 100k Round trip that will raise your heart rate.

thebouldwhacker

For my money get to West Cork, those mentioned above plus...
Priests leap
Barley Lake
Mount Gabriel
etc etc

Signal_ rabbit

Kilchrohane?

corkandproud

Barley Lake, now that would be some spin on the bike.

thebouldwhacker

It is, some decent too. parts of it are cruel but a great climb and a fantastic spin to get to it.

roadmanmad

Richmond Hill in Fermoy. Steep and snappy. For good measure continue out Strawhall towards Castlelyons Cross. For a Hill with a Nasty Kick Return the same way.

Nazerath Hill on the way to Mallow to Dromahane, Again Steep and snappy.

New Tipperary Hill, Donoughmore. In my youger days I crashed more times descending on this hill that any other. However thay took out the dangerous Bend and steep gradient at the base so the fun is gone.

Also in Donoughmore in the lee of the Mountain starting at 52:00:45N (52.01246) Lon: 8:46:59W (-8.78297) Approx but the surface can be poor and God help you if you meet a cross dog there is no escape. Short Steep and nasty for wheels and tyres.


Slightly outside Cork Leave Tallow in Waterford for Midleton the climb out is steady,

Blarney up to Clogheen Church - short and snappy,

Blackpool Shopping Centre to Farranree Church

Tower Village toward Cork on the Butter Road (Kerry road)

I think there is a Category 2 used that was used in the Tour of Ireland that is near Millstreet, but I never climbed it.

From Millstreet to Cork on the Kerry Road.

ajk24

roadmanmad wrote: »

I think there is a Category 2 used that was used in the Tour of Ireland that is near Millstreet, but I never climbed it.

From Millstreet to Cork on the Kerry Road.

mushera / mushermore

on_the_nickel

adodsk wrote: »

Temple Hill :eek:

H:eek:ly F:eek:ck, googled that last night and headed out there this morning. Turned right and was immediately in 39/25, last one on the cog. Was going so slow I was in danger of falling when I got as far as the school and saw a wall in front of me. After careful consideration, I bailed!

Lovely day for it all the same!

I go over Musheramore evry now and then (between Millstreet and Rylane) as it's on my route from Cork to Tralee. Was coming down the Cork side yesterday and was nearly caught out by the road surface, the council are doing road works and a section about 500m long perhaps 500m below the summit now has no surface at all, just crushed rock. Pretty much impassable on a road bike I had to unclip one foot and kind of scoot along at walking pace. I'd say it won't be fixed for a while I doubt they'll be working over the weekend.

on_the_nickel

on_the_nickel wrote: »

H:eek:ly F:eek:ck, googled that last night and headed out there this morning. Turned right and was immediately in 39/25, last one on the cog. Was going so slow I was in danger of falling when I got as far as the school and saw a wall in front of me. After careful consideration, I bailed!

Lovely day for it all the same!

Has anyone actually done Templehill?

cantalach

on_the_nickel wrote: »

Has anyone actually done Templehill?

Yes, many times. It's what our group calls a category 'C' climb, where 'C' stands for a very rude word.

on_the_nickel

cantalach wrote: »

Yes, many times. It's what our group calls a category 'C' climb, where 'C' stands for a very rude word.

Bah, you're supposed to say "No, it's impossible. It's actually over 45% and cannot be done without a rope".

smacl

thebouldwhacker wrote: »

It is, some decent too. parts of it are cruel but a great climb and a fantastic spin to get to it.

Yeah, the inland roads on that side of the Beara peninsula are fantastic, but you wouldn't want to be afraid of potholes. Also a nice one if you turn off the Glengarriff - Castletownbare road at Zetland pier, follow the coast to Adrigole harbour, and go up the Healy pass. The climb up Healy pass is great and not nearly as tough as it looks from the bottom.

A friend regularly does the Kenmare - Caha pass - Healy pass circuit, and says it's a great ride, though as a novice it seems like a tough one to me. Gotta get back to West Cork soon.

blorg

cantalach wrote: »

Yes, many times. It's what our group calls a category 'C' climb, where 'C' stands for a very rude word.

Is it substantially worse than Patrick's hill? I've done that one on my fixie (46-17.) Discovered muscles in my lower back I never knew I had.

cantalach

blorg wrote: »

Is it substantially worse than Patrick's hill? I've done that one on my fixie (46-17.) Discovered muscles in my lower back I never knew I had.

Profile below. You gain 105m in about 750m travelled, which works out at 14% average. Most of this is in two savage ramps though - one at the start and another about half way. In absolute terms, these ramps aren't as steep as Patrick's Hill but the fact that they go on much longer makes Temple Hill, for me anyway, much harder.

cantalach

I've just noticed that the numbers on the Y-axis here are well off - don't know what that's about.

Edit: Just checked my Garmin log. Last time I went up, it reported 108m gain in 690m travelled. This is more like 15.7% average.

SomeFool

Is that Temple hill in blackrock or is there another one? I like the hill past the Monkstown Inn, don't know the name of it or the one up from Rafeen towards Rochestown.

on_the_nickel

SomeFool wrote: »

Is that Temple hill in blackrock or is there another one? I like the hill past the Monkstown Inn, don't know the name of it or the one up from Rafeen towards Rochestown.

No, it's out the Iniscarra Rd. You'll know it when you see it.

Having seen the profile, I don't feel so bad, I got halfway up but I think I need a lower gear to try again!

How long are those climbs round Monkstown/Rochestown?

SomeFool

on_the_nickel wrote: »

No, it's out the Iniscarra Rd. You'll know it when you see it.

How long are those climbs round Monkstown/Rochestown?

Is it the one up towards the pitch and putt club?

Those climbs are not long at all but nice to hit on the way home from a spin

on_the_nickel

Havent a clue what it leads too, but I'd be disappointed if it's not some magical, mystical land with free pints, a hot bath and big fluffy bed.

cantalach

SomeFool wrote: »

Is it the one up towards the pitch and putt club

Well, yeah, though it's a proper golf course if we're talking about the same place (Monkstown Golf Club). It's a nice climb - you gain about 85m in 1km but most of that comes shortly after the start and it levels out then with just another small dig towards the top.

thebouldwhacker

This be it

SomeFool

thebouldwhacker wrote: »

This be it

Cheers for that, not originally from Cork so if i'm out on my own it can be a right adventure at times!!

thebouldwhacker

SomeFool wrote: »

not originally from Cork

Really?!? I thought with a name like that you were pure Northside boy! Just goes to show eh....

cantalach

This thread got me thinking...so I've mapped out a 57km loop with (apparently) just under 1,200m of climbing that you can do without having to go too far from Cork City. I've avoided main roads as much as possible and put in as many of the good hills I know on the south side of the city. Inevitably though, I've had to omit a few hills too because I simply couldn't work out how to get them into the loop without all sorts of crazy doubling back! I started from the Pouladuff Roundabout because it was as good a place as anywhere to start.

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/69947

Dubba

cantalach wrote: »

This thread got me thinking...so I've mapped out a 57km loop with (apparently) just under 1,200m of climbing that you can do without having to go too far from Cork City. I've avoided main roads as much as possible and put in as many of the good hills I know on the south side of the city. Inevitably though, I've had to omit a few hills too because I simply couldn't work out how to get them into the loop without all sorts of crazy doubling back! I started from the Pouladuff Roundabout because it was as good a place as anywhere to start.

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/69947

Nicely done! Must give this route a go myself soon.

on_the_nickel

cantalach wrote: »

This thread got me thinking...so I've mapped out a 57km loop with (apparently) just under 1,200m of climbing that you can do without having to go too far from Cork City. I've avoided main roads as much as possible and put in as many of the good hills I know on the south side of the city. Inevitably though, I've had to omit a few hills too because I simply couldn't work out how to get them into the loop without all sorts of crazy doubling back! I started from the Pouladuff Roundabout because it was as good a place as anywhere to start.

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/69947

Great, thanks, I'll definitely give that a go next week. I have a lap that skirts around most of those climbs and because I'm always trying to lower my time on it, I never veer off it. http://ridewithgps.com/routes/117990

cantalach

on_the_nickel wrote: »

Great, thanks, I'll definitely give that a go next week. I have a lap that skirts around most of those climbs and because I'm always trying to lower my time on it, I never veer off it. http://ridewithgps.com/routes/117990

Looks like your route goes right by many of the climbs on mine so you could just pick 'n' mix whatever you want, depending on how energetic you're feeling

papac

cantalach wrote: »

This thread got me thinking...so I've mapped out a 57km loop with (apparently) just under 1,200m of climbing that you can do without having to go too far from Cork City. I've avoided main roads as much as possible and put in as many of the good hills I know on the south side of the city. Inevitably though, I've had to omit a few hills too because I simply couldn't work out how to get them into the loop without all sorts of crazy doubling back! I started from the Pouladuff Roundabout because it was as good a place as anywhere to start.

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/69947

Excellent route Cantalach.
I'm living in the wilds of East Cork atm but I'd be tempted to drive to town for this spin.
Good one for a boards spin out some sunny Sunday. (If we ever see one again.):mad:

murf85

cantalach wrote: »

This thread got me thinking...so I've mapped out a 57km loop with (apparently) just under 1,200m of climbing that you can do without having to go too far from Cork City. I've avoided main roads as much as possible and put in as many of the good hills I know on the south side of the city. Inevitably though, I've had to omit a few hills too because I simply couldn't work out how to get them into the loop without all sorts of crazy doubling back! I started from the Pouladuff Roundabout because it was as good a place as anywhere to start.

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/69947

Some nice climbs here infairness. So is Any one up for giving this a crack over the weekend?

on_the_nickel

In Dublin this w/e but I think I'm free next weekend, will know closer to the time

cantalach

murf85 wrote: »

Some nice climbs here infairness. So is Any one up for giving this a crack over the weekend?

It's my son's birthday tomorrow and I'm doing a 180km charity sportive on Sunday up in Tipp. Maybe next weekend...my only issue with doing this route on a weekend is that it's a bit short. I prefer to try to get in longer spins at the weekend. 57km is more of a weekday evening kinda distance.

murf85

cantalach wrote: »

I prefer to try to get in longer spins at the weekend. 57km is more of a weekday evening kinda distance.

Thats cool, would be hoping to get in a longer spin too but would be possible to add in another 50km to it!

let me know anyway!

Dubba

murf85 wrote: »

Some nice climbs here infairness. So is Any one up for giving this a crack over the weekend?

I'd be up for one of these weekend cork spins alright but would prefer a later hour than most, 10 - 11am meet up would suite me, anyone else with no weekend responsibilities?

100Suns

If you want to do some climbing and stay close to the City, take a look at the Race Around Ireland Route Map for the Cork City stage. The organisers have gone out of their way to find every climb on or around the route. Did it yesterday afternoon sometime-some good short sharp stuff with Patrick's Hill and out around the north suburbs. From the Ballincollig area to the M8 on the east side was lumpy and quite tough.

rebel.ranter

There are plenty of hills in the Passage/Moneygurney/Garryduff area, as steep as you want. There's one killer of a hill that drops down into Monkstown that I have only gone down, it will definitely challenge any level of rider.
I have a similar route to the ones
http://ridewithgps.com/trips/69947
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/117990
but I am getting out less & less spending too much time in Dublin.

Dubba

There's one killer of a hill that drops down into Monkstown (quote rebel.ranter above)

Its called The Glen, I cycled up it for the first time today, its tough but short.

murf85

Anyone fancy testing themselves on a few of these climbs over the weekend?

cantalach

murf85 wrote: »

Anyone fancy testing themselves on a few of these climbs over the weekend?

Heading away on holidays so I won't be able to get out. Enjoy if you're giving it a lash!

2 Wheels Good

Tried Templehill last night, nasty enough, did Patricks hill on the way back just to compare. It's a good climb, different anyway. The climb up to Garryduff from the Rochestown inn side is nearly worse (in my head anyway).

rebel.ranter

That Garryduff climb is a toughie, before my back went to ribbons it used to be the finishing stretch of any of my routes, hated it but it felt (to me) like a crowning achievement to make it without stopping!

adodsk

Just a heads-up for anyone thinking of going over here soon - there's about 1km of new surface (loose marbles!!?) on the Millstreet side of the summit - made for an "interesting" descent last Saturday.

Take care!

Just tried templehill for the first time on friday. I must have cycled past the turn off for it hundreds of times but always assumed it was just a private entrance and never thought to go up there until reading this thread. Sweet Jesus, it's a tough one, much harder than Patrick's hill in my opinion due to the greater length, also some crazy chasing dogs that caused me to sprint hard for about 30secs sent the HR rocketing, was wishing for a smaller gear than the 39-23 I had on.

There was some lads doing building work near the bottom and one of them called out to me as I went past-"You've got some climb ahead of ya baaiiii!" How right he was!

on_the_nickel

Did you do it? I need to build myself up for another go!

on_the_nickel

on_the_nickel wrote: »

Did you do it? I need to build myself up for another go!

Huh? Me? I did ya, fairly tough but well doable.

torturedsoul

As a newbie to cycling (i.e 4 months) Im currently up to approx 40K per cycle. I do on or two hills, not too much. (Grange Hill is one if anyone is interested, left at grange cross on the back road to Killumney). Im doing it on a ****ty enough steel mountain bike as I save up to buy a road racer. But out of interest, how long would it take ye guys to cycle a route like Cantalach's?

Plastik

Killahora is a tough ba$tard of a hill. If you're to believe the gradient mapping on the website the steepest section is 16.9%. Quite short though.