Went up the Howth side of Howth Hill this morning

monkeypants

Due to a wrong turn, I went up this side of the hill this morning. It was tough coming out of the village, but then it evened out. Much shorter than the Sutton Cross side.

Which side is generally preferred?

buffalo

Did you go up to the left or the right of the church in the village?

Preference is a personal matter.

billyhead

buffalo wrote: »

Did you go up to the left or the right of the church in the village?

Preference is a personal matter.

Anytime I climb Howth from the village side I go up the left side of the church towards the summit. I think its a steeper and more taxing climb that direction

Lusk Doyle

billyhead wrote: »

buffalo wrote: »

Did you go up to the left or the right of the church in the village?

Preference is a personal matter.

Anytime I climb Howth from the village side I go up the left side of the church towards the summit. I think its a steeper and more taxing climb that direction

Way way steeper up the right of the church my friend!

billyhead

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

Way way steeper up the right of the church my friend!

Oops sorry should have said left. I havent ventured out their in a while and the last few times i would do the climb from the road passing the graveyard and pitches.

Lusk Doyle

billyhead wrote: »

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

Way way steeper up the right of the church my friend!

Oops sorry should have said left. I havent ventured out their in a while and the last few times i would do the climb from the road passing the graveyard and pitches.

???

You did say left! The Sutton side is longest. The left of the church from the village is shorter but steeper. The right of the church from the village is shorter again and steeper still.

monkeypants

buffalo wrote: »

Did you go up to the left or the right of the church in the village?

The left. Not that familiar with Howth and didn't know it was an option. Will try it the next time I'm up that way.

bcmf

monkeypants wrote: »

The left. Not that familiar with Howth and didn't know it was an option. Will try it the next time I'm up that way.

Have a good long hard think about whether you want to do it.
If you enjoy climbing its nice. If you dont it's a nightmare.

buffalo

monkeypants wrote: »

The left. Not that familiar with Howth and didn't know it was an option. Will try it the next time I'm up that way.

http://app.strava.com/segments/719902 - it's very tough in the middle, 17% ish.

bcmf

buffalo wrote: »

http://app.strava.com/segments/719902 - it's very tough in the middle, 17% ish.

....and of course who has KOM on it. Is that you in second joint first buffalo?

awec

How does it compare to the likes of stocking lane?

jameverywhere

I didn't know you could go right at the church either! I did the Howth side this afternoon (left of the church) and then the Sutton side right after. Sutton just goes on and on forever; I prefer to just get it over with. I am down in my lowest gear on the Howth side though. Can't imagine trying to tow weight up that side... (haha, I think like a tourer)

Descending on the Sutton side feels a lot safer to me, since it isn't as steep, and you don't end up right in the middle of town with all the traffic and parked cars.

I will say that it seems the Sutton side is more popular, as I see a lot more cyclists when I'm going that way.

Cookie_Monster

Never gone up the Sutton side, never would. Always up through the village. Only done right of the church thouhg, didn't realise right road connected back ontot he summit road.

buffalo

bcmf wrote: »

....and of course who has KOM on it. Is that you in second joint first buffalo?

Try as I might, I just can't beat himself.

jameverywhere wrote: »

I will say that it seems the Sutton side is more popular easier, as I see a lot more cyclists when I'm going that way.

FYP

billyhead

Have a day off tomorrow from work so I think I might go for a spin out to Howth summit tomorrow. I will be leaving from the Rush area at around 9am if anyone wants to join me on the way.

Raam

buffalo wrote: »

Try as I might, I just can't beat himself.

I can't beat it either.

Jawgap

awec wrote: »

How does it compare to the likes of stocking lane?

not nearly as long but going right at the church introduces elements of steepness you don't get on Stocking Lane but only for about 150m or so.

I'd rank the 'climbs' there in order of difficulty as
1. Rt at the Chruch
2. Lft at the Church
3. Sutton side

.....and you have to go alllllll the way to the car park or it doesn't count

I prefer going up from Howth village rather than descending into it - too many driveways, side streets etc to make descending at speed fun.

Spokes of Glory

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

Way way steeper up the right of the church my friend!

Back in the day (like mid 80's), the legendary Johnny O'Sullivan ran Howth CC out of the little community hall right at the top of that climb. Club meetings were fun, specially after riding your Viking 5 speed out there.

Spokes

jameverywhere

The Sutton side is not more popular only because it's easier--I think the traffic is more obnoxious on the Howth side as well, and people who want to avoid that would use the Sutton side.

munsterleinster

Howth is fairly local so I'll do it at least once a week.
For a change I'll head up from sutton cross and turn left about half way up.

Head down to the harbour on Thormamby road as Balglass road is sh1tty at any speed.

Head back up Balglass road right to the summit..

https://maps.google.ie/maps?saddr=Greenfield+Road&daddr=53.3700091,-6.0855449+to:53.3686289,-6.069146+to:East+Pier+to:53.3766116,-6.0631417+to:Bailey+Green+Road&hl=en&ll=53.379028,-6.075182&spn=0.034765,0.089779&sll=53.379258,-6.070848&sspn=0.017382,0.044889&geocode=Fd6nLgMdiMWi_w%3BFZlcLgMdWCSj_ymTLbKh9gRnSDHQ8wT9pscAEw%3BFTRXLgMdZmSj_ym9hqWDiQRnSDEwzcL8pscAEw%3BFaOkLgMdHnmj_w%3BFWN2LgMd23uj_yn_MIMQhQRnSDHR1cL8pscAEw%3BFbxhLgMdw5aj_w&mra=dpe&mrsp=4&sz=15&via=1,2,4&t=m&z=14

redscan

I went up the Howth side on my fixed gear. Never again. Well maybe ...

monkeypants

Took another spin up to the left of the church last night and came down the other side of the church. Didn't really enjoy the descent; too many blind gateways and the road surface isn't great. Very sharps bends at the bottom too, was using the back brake quite a bit (unusual for me, normally you could disconnect it and I probably wouldn't notice). I could smell the brakes coming through the village. Probably won't bother with that descent again.

Back through the village and up the Sutton side. Was easier than I thought it would be, maybe the earlier climb had loosened me up a bit. Rather than being knackered, I was only 13 seconds off my best time on Strava. Had a great spin back down and home to Swords. The mist made it somewhat eerie, but I had lights on and it was quiet enough.

buffalo

monkeypants wrote: »

Took another spin up to the left of the church last night and came down the other side of the church. Didn't really enjoy the descent; too many blind gateways and the road surface isn't great. Very sharps bends at the bottom too, was using the back break quite a bit (unusual for me, normally you could disconnect it and I probably wouldn't notice). I could smell the brakes coming through the village. Probably won't bother with that descent again.

Janey no, you'd never enjoy that descent. The trick is to try enjoy the ascent of it!

thehamo

went up the right side of the church yesterday. Cried a little at the top, then came down and went up the left side. Legs were goosed by the top of the second hill. Tough hill up the right side. Never thought of timing it, but wouldnt be setting the world alight id imagine!

bren_mc

decided to head out that way on saturday as i'd never been before and after reading this thread had to try right of the church. it is very steep :eek: ! at least though the worst part is near the bottom. eases off then to a milder kind of torture.

monkeypants

Jawgap wrote: »

.....and you have to go alllllll the way to the car park or it doesn't count

Is that the carpark up past The Summit pub? Never been up there, what's to do up there other than turn around and come back down?

Raam

monkeypants wrote: »

Is that the carpark up past The Summit pub? Never been up there, what's to do up there other than turn around and come back down?

Donuts and dogging.

monkeypants

Raam wrote: »

Donuts and dogging.

Donuts you say...