Hill Novice

Briain O Loinsigh

Howdy ,I'm in a bit of a pickle in trying to decide on a long cycle with a lot of climbing as I find howth head a challenge at the moment.
I can get around howth head from the sutton side without stopping etc ,but I've never been near wicklow before and don't know how it compares.

Would I be biting off more than I can chew trying to heading towards wicklow via the yellow house ? ,I'm not sure if there are more novice friendly ways to navigate the way.

Anyways ,hoping someone can shed a little light.

Thanks.

endacl

Where in wicklow would you like to end up? Once you hit the rise after ballyboden road the hills are your oyster. If you keep to the main drag there's a reasonable pull up to the featherbeds where things flatten out nicely. At any point after you can hang left for fun descents towards enniskerry, or keep going for the sally gap. Bring mars bars...

cdaly_

Alternatively, you can go for a flatter run from Dundrum out through Stepaside to Enniskerry. There's a reasonable amount of rollingness without too many steep bits along that route.

From the Yellow House to Sally gap is pretty tough going for a novice but regular pauses to gasp for air would see you through.

Briain O Loinsigh

I know how to get to the yellow house ,but I'm a little lost after that. I cycled that way before and ended up near a long cycle lane that lead me to sandyford and I cycled back through blackrock if that makes any sense.

I'm not sure what road to take when I take the right at the yellow house.

Briain O Loinsigh

cdaly_ wrote: »

Alternatively, you can go for a flatter run from Dundrum out through Stepaside to Enniskerry. There's a reasonable amount of rollingness without too many steep bits along that route.

From the Yellow House to Sally gap is pretty tough going for a novice but regular pauses to gasp for air would see you through.

Thanks for that ,I don't want to over do it tbh. If I can get deep enough into the cycle before any serious climbing I'd be happier ,at least I'd be pumped a bit and be more careful about using too much energy.

Edit : Would I be heading past the yellow house on towards dundrum ? ,passing the yellow house without turning right at it ?

Scuba_Scoper

Turn right at the Yellow House and keep going straight until you run out of breath.. I'd say about 4.75km. Stop. Get your breath back and keep going straight.

Alternatively, head out the N81 to Blessington. It is about 25km from Templeogue. So, a nice 50km round trip - there and back. Or go around the Lakes following the Lake Drive signs (and keeping in site of the lake) that;s a nice 75km round trip from Templeogue with some nice rolling hills to get the ticker motoring.

If you want the hills you can't go wrong with option 1 as heading straight after the right turn at Yellow House will bring you up the clouds which ever road you take.

Briain O Loinsigh

Encouraging bit of info there lads ,thanks very much

cdaly_

Here's a Rathfarnham to Enniskerry route which is easy enough on the hills.

Briain O Loinsigh

cdaly_ wrote: »

Here's a Rathfarnham to Enniskerry route which is easy enough on the hills.

Top man ,I tried to use the satelite view on google a few days ago to work out a route from memory but I couldn't grasp it. I know exactly where to go on your map there ,not a route I've travelled before but I know the roads from driving ,much appreciated.

PurpleBee

These threads always inspire me to go cycle up a mountain...until I get to the bottom of it

Briain O Loinsigh

PurpleBee wrote: »

These threads always inspire me to go cycle up a mountain...until I get to the bottom of it

You could always bring a canoe !

colm_gti

PurpleBee wrote: »

These threads always inspire me to go cycle up a mountain...until I get to the bottom of it

On a nice day the suffering is worth it for the views....and the descent!

PurpleBee

I actually kind of enjoy the punishment, the thing I hate is people being around to witness my suffering, like I was cycling up Killiney Hill this evening and I was passing people on the footpath, I have a fear that I'll run out of steam and they'll pass me out again, how humiliating!

colm_gti

PurpleBee wrote: »

I actually kind of enjoy the punishment, the thing I hate is people being around to witness my suffering, like I was cycling up Killiney Hill this evening and I was passing people on the footpath, I have a fear that I'll run out of steam and they'll pass me out again, how humiliating!

Think of it as incentive to power on

Briain O Loinsigh

It's only a hill ,it won't rob your bike.

PurpleBee

haha nope! just my dignity

smacl

Scuba_Scoper wrote: »

Turn right at the Yellow House and keep going straight until you run out of breath.. I'd say about 4.75km. Stop. Get your breath back and keep going straight.

Keeping straight takes you to Ballyboden roundabout, Edmondstwon road, on up past the Merry ploughboy pub, and up to the Military road via Cruagh road which is steep enough. If you take a right and left after the roundabout, , see map, it takes you up stocking lane which is a bit longer but not quite as steep and maybe a bit easier starting off. The good news is, once you get to the top by either route, you will see a small carpark (usually referred to as the viewing point) which will have an ice cream van waiting for you. You can then continue on, and either descend at the first left to get back to Enniskerry, or continue on to brave the sally gap.

Scuba_Scoper

smacl wrote: »

...
The good news is, once you get to the top by either route, you will see a small carpark (usually referred to as the viewing point) which will have an ice cream van waiting for you.

The bad news is that the ice-cream van is not equipped with an oxygen cylinder:D and a space blanket where I do my quite convincing Stephen Roche 1987 -Alpe d'Huez impression

seamus

PurpleBee wrote: »

I actually kind of enjoy the punishment, the thing I hate is people being around to witness my suffering, like I was cycling up Killiney Hill this evening and I was passing people on the footpath, I have a fear that I'll run out of steam and they'll pass me out again, how humiliating!

To be fair, the first time that happens the people will probably say, "Jaysus fair dues to you, I could never do that".

Almost every hill will have plenty of good places to stop (usually as you crest a steep bit), so if you just keep powering on until you see something that looks like a place to stop, then you can make it look like you planned to stop there and didn't just run out of puff.

g0g

smacl wrote: »

Keeping straight takes you to Ballyboden roundabout, Edmondstwon road, on up past the Merry ploughboy pub, and up to the Military road via Cruagh road which is steep enough. If you take a right and left after the roundabout, , see map, it takes you up stocking lane which is a bit longer but not quite as steep and maybe a bit easier starting off. The good news is, once you get to the top by either route, you will see a small carpark (usually referred to as the viewing point) which will have an ice cream van waiting for you. You can then continue on, and either descend at the first left to get back to Enniskerry, or continue on to brave the sally gap.

Strangely I actually find the Cruagh route easier/longer than Stocking Lane not the other way around like you! That hill just after the right turn (think it goes down to Firhouse) is really tough, and again towards the end I find it tough.

smacl

g0g wrote: »

Strangely I actually find the Cruagh route easier/longer than Stocking Lane not the other way around like you! That hill just after the right turn (think it goes down to Firhouse) is really tough, and again towards the end I find it tough.

Just measured it and you're right, my bad. Ballyboden - Cruagh - Viewing point is 6.6k, Ballboden -> Stocking lane -> Viewing point is 5.5k. Funny, I always find Stocking lane easier, God knows why.

Briain O Loinsigh

I'm going to wait until next week to try wicklow ,I set my bike up this morning with an ortlieb handlebar bag so I can carry a spare jacket ,food and other stuff. Might even bring a camera with me and take a few photos:)

Thanks for the advice.

nomdeboardie

I feel like I've entered an alternative reality where I'm the only one who doesn't know where "the yellow house" is :eek: :pac: (Follow the yellow brick road?)

smacl wrote: »

... small carpark (usually referred to as the viewing point) which will have an ice cream van waiting for you

There does be an ice cream van? :eek: *Makes mental note to be observant next time* When do it be there?