Ballinastoe Query

ABitofsense

Hi

Would Ballinastoe be ok for beginners?

I do a bit biking, on road with hybrid & easy off road paths with friends MTB, and myself and girlfriend are getting new MTBs over the next few weeks would like to know would she or me even :rolleyes: be able to do the trial as a complete beginners.

I have read through a few stories on here with people hurting themselves on the trial so dont want to scare my girlfriend off MTBing first time out. Also can anyone recommend any other trials? Searching the internet isn't turning up much.

Tenzor07

Ballinastoe is grand if you stick to the lower section of the trails...

there is a sharp climb up from the carpark into a left turn, down towards the first "technical" section, which is grand, its fairly flat and no drops to the sides.. then back onto a fireroad, which goes straight and uphill and loops around to a bit of singletrack which is mildly techy, nothing to worry about... the next section is faster and more downhill, but again no drops or huge rocks... finally back up a bit of fireroad into a narrow-ish section of mainly downhill singletrack which brings you back intowards the carpark...

C3PO

As Tenzor says stick to the lower trails! Some of the upper ones are badly eroded, which actually make them more interesting for experienced riders but a bit hairy in places for newer arrivals! And there's no shame in getting off and walking if you're not sure!
The Metro trails in Ticknock are fairly gentle too!

Tenzor07

RPL1 wrote: »

The Metro trails in Ticknock are fairly gentle too!

Sure are.. Spotted two people on Hybrid bikes coming down the lower section at the weekend! :rolleyes:

billy.fish

Metro trails in 3 Rock are easier by comparison, BS is a better day out. Nice starter spot, not a patch on Djouce or other spots

Get in and you'll love it.

petethedrummer

Wooden walkways can be very very slippery when wet. So be careful there.

Joey Joe-Joe Jr

Are either Ballinastoe or the Metro trails doable on a CX bike?
Leaving aside completely the riders incredible lack of:

A) Fitness
Skill/Technique
C) Natural Ability

billy.fish

Erm....I've rode both....they are fine.... I use them for training for the 3 Peaks.

General advice...maybe not, or be prepared to walk bits

Tenzor07

Joey Joe-Joe Jr wrote: »

Are either Ballinastoe or the Metro trails doable on a CX bike?
Leaving aside completely the riders incredible lack of:

A) Fitness
Skill/Technique
C) Natural Ability

I've seen people coming down Metro lower on Hybrid's so sure, why not!

Tenzor07

Opps said that already...

Would not use the CX bike on those trails, head over to Masseys for a spin around there, no rocks or ruts... ye would be mad to risk wrecking your wheels on those other trails... Puncture city!

Joey Joe-Joe Jr

I'm getting very mixed signals gents!

Guess I'll take the bike up there and see what happens!

Tenzor07

Bring plenty of spare tubes and a spoke key and a new spine...

eoghan84

Joey Joe-Joe Jr wrote: »

Are either Ballinastoe or the Metro trails doable on a CX bike?
Leaving aside completely the riders incredible lack of:

A) Fitness
Skill/Technique
C) Natural Ability

I tried Ballinastoe on a cyclocross bike and I dont think its much fun, wheres Masseys?

Tenzor07

eoghan84 wrote: »

Wheres Masseys?

www.coillteoutdoors.ie/?id=53&rec_site=43

C3PO

I wouldn't use my CX bike on either Ballinastoe or Ticknock!

cycletheroad

What is Ballinastoe like compared to Ballyhoura?

Tenzor07

Ballinastoe is basically one trail around 14km in total, could be done in 2 hours or 50mins depending on your level of fitness...

Ballyhoura is at least a proper attempt at a mountain bike park, 5 different trails of varying lenght, nothing too challenging technically..

Has proper car parking facilities, a bike wash, coffee and vending machine.. and showers...

In contrast Ballinastoe has none of the above...

Defo worth a trip to Ballyhoura just to see what its like....

C3PO

cycletheroad wrote: »

What is Ballinastoe like compared to Ballyhoura?

A very poor relation! Badly maintained and much shorter - a full loop takes about an hour! Ballyhoura is a credit to the guys down there!

cycletheroad

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Ballinastoe is basically one trail around 14km in total, could be done in 2 hours or 50mins depending on your level of fitness...

Ballyhoura is at least a proper attempt at a mountain bike park, 5 different trails of varying lenght, nothing too challenging technically..

Has proper car parking facilities, a bike wash, coffee and vending machine.. and showers...

In contrast Ballinastoe has none of the above...

Defo worth a trip to Ballyhoura just to see what its like....

Thanks for that, id know ballyhoura well, the MTB would know its way around now:D.

Theirs rumors of a mountain bike trail(s) going to happen in the Comeragh Mountains. Its being floating around awhile.

cycletheroad

RPL1 wrote: »

A very poor relation! Badly maintained and much shorter - a full loop takes about an hour! Ballyhoura is a credit to the guys down there!

Definitely.....Top Class

petethedrummer

Ballinastoe is more technically demanding. Well the top bit is.

C-Shore

petethedrummer wrote: »

Ballinastoe is more technically demanding. Well the top bit is.

That section after the U-turn where the wheelbarrow is :mad: gets me every time!
Other than that it's a really enjoyable trail! Although, after coming down the top rocky section back onto the fire road that seems to never end, isn't that enjoyable in a head wind!

Bawnmore

Dragging up an old thread as it's a similar question. Feel free to lock if I need to open a new thread.

What's Ballinastoe like compared to Ticknock? Have minimal MTB experience but went around Ticknock last weekend and found it very fast in parts. Definitely parts at the beginning that I was holding on for dear life. Found the 2nd half a bit easier. Climb at the beginning was a bit of a killer too when you haven't exercised in a year or so

But looking to head out to Ballinastoe Saturday, would it be much more/less demanding than Ticknock?

Bawnmore

Anyone?

C3PO

Ballinastoe is a bit more technical than Ticknock but a much better spin altogether! The 1st climb is tough going for most people! Just be careful and you'll be fine!

Tenzor07

Ticknock is basically one big climb and a descent...

B'stoe has about 7 or 8 segments so you can have a rest at the end of each if you wish..

nothing too demanding at all..

Bawnmore

Thanks guys - would the 1st climb be tougher than the climb at ticknock? I struggled to cycle up here, but took it in bits and pieces and was fine. Walked some of it even pushing the bike.

Would it be a fair assumption to think 2 hours should cover it from start to finish?

C3PO

Climbs are no worse than Ticknock but there is much more climbing to do! A fit rider will do Ballinastoe in approximately an hour - it's just over 14kms from start to finish!

rab!dmonkey

The descents in Ballinastoe are for the most part a little tighter and not as fast as those in Ticknock. The upper sections are quite nice though. There is some singletrack climbing, which is more enjoyable than the paved climbs at Ticknock.

Bawnmore

Cool - going to go out early Saturday morning to give it a bash. Thanks for the advise, will report back here if I make it back

SuiteCheex

C-Shore wrote: »

That section after the U-turn where the wheelbarrow is :mad: gets me every time!

Happy frickin' days!!! I'm not the only one who has a problem with that section. But in saying that they've gravelled it a bit recently so it's not as bad as it used to be.

Apparently there's trails in Glengalough. Anybody tried them yet?

Tenzor07

SuiteCheex wrote: »

Apparently there's trails in Glengalough. Anybody tried them yet?

There was a race there a couple of weeks ago...

...but is a private estate not open to the public without permissions..

Lawdie

Bawnmore wrote: »

Cool - going to go out early Saturday morning to give it a bash. Thanks for the advise, will report back here if I make it back

Enjoy and you can climb up without using the fireroads so go and explore!

Bawnmore

Still alive Great day up there although took longer than we had intended. Took a wrong turn somewhere and added a few km onto our trip.

We were out for about 3 hours overall. Didn't know what to expect when I saw a "wheelbarrow" section mentioned above. It was a lot more obvious than I thought it would be....