Anyone commute Westmanstown -> Lucan

Surveyor11

Starting a new job after the bank holiday weekend, so the commute into the city is coming to an end. I'm hoping to cycle to the new job (heading from Carpensterstown to City West) but the trickiest part for me is around Westmanstown - bit nervous about it, and plenty of lunatic drivers on this stretch of road.

I will be lit up well - post mounted smart 1/2 watt supplemented with a flashing light on my back pack - may even get a hump reflective cover for my back pack for the legally blind drivers out there. Using a 200 lm Lenser upfront supplemented with a cat-eye strobe and also have a 150lm maglite which I'll be helmet mounting. So no worries there.

I'll be heading into gridlock central at the Lucan bridge, but from there to Citywest it should be ok.

Alternative maybe to head down Chapelizod -> Kylemore road then pick up the Naas Road.

ROK ON

Westmanstown to Lucan is fine. I do it reasonably regularly in early morning or evening. Did Lucan to Westmanstiwn last night around 630pm.
I don't see what the issue with cars are. It isn't a quiet road but no more crazies than the average road anywhere.
You'll be grand.

Surveyor11

Ok ROK ON thanks for that, my only experience of cycling this route is on early weekend spins heading out to the mountains in day light. Have had a few incidents on that road, it's the dark evenings there that have me spooked. I'm hoping it'll work out, as you say no more crazies than the average road anywhere!

Lumen

This stretch of road is best avoided:

http://goo.gl/maps/eu98g

I've had more dodgy overtakes on that 650m of road than everywhere else combined.

Surveyor11

Yep, that's the one. Have had a few close calls there in broad daylight at the weekends. Nearly fell foul of the 'must overtake NOW' instinct that seems to be so prevalent in many drivers. They usually do it just on the bend, then when they realise there's a car coming the other way, they'll cut in close to you. But then again, maybe in dark winter evenings the oncoming car lights assist this maneuver.

I'm thinking of heading down Tinkers Hill, then cutting across the Strawberry Beds into Lucan. Cuts that piece out anyway.

Lumen

Surveyor11 wrote: »

They usually do it just on the bend, then when they realise there's a car coming the other way, they'll cut in close to you. But then again, maybe in dark winter evenings the oncoming car lights assist this maneuver.

Unfortunately not, it's happened to me in darkness.

There's something about that road. Probably that drivers have just broken free from urban gridlock and are in "hammering down the back roads" mode.

wotdef

You could always head straight down to the beds via Somerton land or the one just up from the church. The name of it eludes me at the moment. Double up on your lights for the dark days.

Surveyor11

I think Rugged Lane it's called - yeah have thought of that. I'll be coming onto the Porterstown Road from the new link road linking Carpenterstown, so that would make sense. Mind you, we came across a dead donkey that looked like it had come off worse from colliding with a car there one morning not too long ago:eek:.

The more I think of it, the Strawberry Beds might be a better option - since they put down the speed ramps, the speed merchants seem to be giving this a wide berth.

wotdef

Rugged lane , that's the one. Somerton is slightly wider and better surface. Sure you can go out through the gate opposite the hotel to get to it.

Lumen

There's a big dog on Rugged Lane.

Surveyor11

Damned if I do

Lumen wrote: »

This stretch of road is best avoided:

http://goo.gl/maps/eu98g

I've had more dodgy overtakes on that 650m of road than everywhere else combined.

Damned if I don't

Lumen wrote: »

There's a big dog on Rugged Lane.

Adding up for an exciting commute so far!!!!:D

AGC

Can't access the links but presume the issue is from the entrance to the Castle at Luttrelstown(The new layout junction) to just past Westmanstown golf club?

Tough enough driving that one on dark evenings!

wotdef

Lumen wrote: »

There's a big dog on Rugged Lane.

Hmm, must go and introduce myself.

Surveyor11

AGC wrote: »

Can't access the links but presume the issue is from the entrance to the Castle at Luttrelstown(The new layout junction) to just past Westmanstown golf club? !

Yeah, it's tricky enough there. Not too bad when you cut across at Fort Lucan, it's the road into Lucan before Laraghon (Sp?) That's the worry. So I have two options a) take my chances with cars or b) take my chances with big dog. b) will be easy lon the way into work as it's down hill, wouldn't fancy trying to outsprint a big dog up the hill on the way home!