Starting commute from Glasnevin to Citywest on Monday

vanjaqwq

Starting commute from Glasnevin to Citywest on Monday. Just looking for some general tips. Gonna be just under 40km round trip. I cycle everywhere but have never clocked up these sort of km's in one day. My commute for the last 5 years has been 15km round trip. Before that was 28km. So yeah just looking for some advice food and hydration wise.

Planning on going from Finglas Rd, via Broom Bridge, Cabra, Phonenix Park, Ballyfermot, Parkwest, Nangor Rd, Newlands Cross, Kingswood and finally Citywest. Anyone go this route? any better route. Trying to give Red Cow the wide birth completely or is it ok??

Anyway tips etc etc would be great. Thanks.

tomasrojo

I used to cycle from Terenure to Citywest, and for a while from Kilmacud to Citywest. I didn't need any refreshment en route, and just had some sandwiches and some water when I got to Citywest. I imagine you should be fine from a hydration/nutrition point of view, since it's just under 20km per leg. In fact, I used to eat nothing from the time I got up until I got to work, because my stomach seems to wake up about two hours after the rest of me. I imagine a light breakfast would be better than that, but I don't think you'd need to eat anything special.

As for the route, I always went via the Tallaght bypass and Jobstown, as it used to be much quieter than using the Naas road. Given where you're coming from, that's not much use to you.

EDIT: There's supposed to a bicycle route through the Red Cow interchange, but the last time I was there I just went the car route, as traffic was light and I couldn't be bothered wandering around trying to find it. I wouldn't be at all happy going through that interchange when there's a lot of traffic, but I don't know much about it.

columbus_66

I wouldn't go by Newlands X, just go all thew way up the Nangor Rd, and then left onto the Grange rd and over the Naas Rd and then right up by Wilson's Auctions and you can then turn left into City West.

Seaswimmer

I always find if you use Google maps with the walking option for these kind of trips then you get a fair idea of the best route. You can then modify it slightly to suit you with regard to traffic lights, road surfaces, busy junctions, one way streets ect.

I commuted Dun Laoire to Leixlip for a while and the Google walking option threw up a route I had never considered but turned out to be the best...

monument

Where in Glasnevin and Citywest? Both are fairly broad areas.

You should have a bit of fun with this -- there's so many options! ...Maybe leave the fun* for the way home when you can afford to get lost ...When looking in Google Maps click as said above click on walking options or click on "show options" and select "avoid highways" then drag the line to what suits you. Guessing it's Citywest business park, and these are in order of discovery:

Option A (around 18-19km each way)

Something like this (lots of different bits could be changed), and on from point "B" on the map up to the business park via the road along the Luas (not marked in on the map -- currently it's a brown track from when building was ongoing).

Advantages: Few on-footpaths cycle lanes, less major roads and junctions, lower speeds of cars.

Option B: (around 18-19km each way)

This is google map's first suggested route from the Finglas Road to the business park (but I've moved you from Le Fanu Road because if its speed ramps).

Also: This can't be mapped out in the directions part of google maps, but try in the park using the cycle route to go the other way around the president's house which maybe a bit shorter. And also I'd try out the Grand Canal between Killeen Road and just after the M50 (or even as far as the R113) -- even with it's kissing gates it might be shorter and nicer. Around Clondalkin, I've routed around the centre which adds distance (1km give or take) but it should be quicker most of the time.

Advantages:Also few on-footpaths cycle lanes, less major roads and junctions, lower speeds of cars, and large scenic sections (the park and the canal mostly).

Keep in mind for both of these routes if a road or junction does not suit there could be an alternative which may be around the same time.

Option C (19km -- map not correct in the middle, although what is shown is an option, but longer)

Same as option B from the Finglas Road to the Kylemore where it meets the canal -- at the canal get cycle along it until you reach the Dublin Outter Ring Road, which you cycle down until after the N7, where Citywest is. Along the Dublin Outter Ring you have a choice of bus lane or hardly interrupted on-footpath cycle paths which makes them better than most.

Advantages: Most scenic and the fewest junctions of any kind (but it might seem like it is taking longer than it is because such long, straight sections)

* I may find this more exciting than I should as I don't currently have a commute.

Roadtoad

Don't be afraid here, hundreds of bikes take it on every day. City-bound, take the bus lane by Joel's restaurant, Louis Fitzgerald's hotel etc, to cross over the M50. Easy peasy.

monument

Any update OP? How was the commute?

Roadtoad wrote: »

Don't be afraid here, hundreds of bikes take it on every day. City-bound, take the bus lane by Joel's restaurant, Louis Fitzgerald's hotel etc, to cross over the M50. Easy peasy.

It's not just about fear of anything happening -- the alternative roads are just nicer for crossing over or going under the M50, and nicer than the Naas Road generally.

Even the route you're suggesting towards the city includes crossing lanes on a slip road and then merging with what can be high-speed traffic.

vanjaqwq

Going grand. I've been going straight up the nangor rd from parkwest and then across to citywest. I haven't changed my route yet. The 15 acres in the park has been a bit of a experience, between deer flying accross the road, joggers with no high viz or lights and on coming cars keeping full head lights on. I haven't been able to better 54 minutes on the way in in the morning. When I get up to fitness and If I can do it in 45 minutes I'll be happy. Can get home 43 minutes. I've been getting up eating my kids Ready Brek, drinking a pint of water and then up on the bike. I think a could do with warming up a bit before.