Wicklow spin advice.

Discostuy

Hello all,

I am planning my first spin down in Wicklow this weekend and was wondering if anyone familiar with the area could spare any advice and tips.

This is the route we have planned.

The plan is to park up in the visitor car park and leave from there.
Would this be a good route, and more importantly are the roads suitable for standard road bikes?.
Anything we should note or watch out for?.

Thanks
Stu.

AstraMonti

It's a nice route, perfert for road bikes. Just keep an eye οn the cars parked around the sally gap waterfall, nothing much else.

Bloch

I've cycled all those roads at various times. Nice route and excellent views. For a first spin it's challenging enough -- are you starting from Laragh and heading up the Wicklow Gap first? That would get the toughest bit done first.

No shops along the route, so you would need to bring enough snacks and water (maybe 2.5 litres each). I have no problem drinking mountain water, don't know if others have strong views on it.

t'bear

Bring your climbing legs!

superlav

Nice route, those roads are all fine for road bikes.

Personally I'd go straight through Sally Gap to get back to Laragh, something like this.

I just don't enjoy the direct desolate 19km route from the Sally Gap to Laragh, ever since a fantastic sunny spin was ruined by a mid May hailstorm which came out of nowhere on that section and ended up with me trying to warm myself up with a hand dryer in Glencree coffee shop :-(

smacl

Included most of this circuit on my spin a couple of weeks ago, though took the lake drive side rather than the Blessington side, which is a bit shorter but hillier. All good on the road bike though sally gap from the cross roads is a bit bumpy. You've shops in Blessington and Manor Kilbride for any re-fuelling. Two great climbs and fantastic descents, enjoy!

HivemindXX

You may already know but there are a lot of mapping sites that use the same data as Google maps but also give you the height profile (which Google provides but doesn't display on their own site).

Here's your route on one of those:
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2584774

I did this except in reverse last weekend and the roads are fine. There are a few crater like potholes near the Sally Gap but you can go around them, there is no point where the road is completely destroyed.

It is a good route, the roads are relatively quiet and the area around Sally Gap is very pretty in my opinion. Plently of hills too which I guess you want based on what you planned.

I guess it depends on how water you generally drink but I'd consider 2.5l each to be excessive. I would be fine with 500ml and a few jellies. There's a shop in Lackan (that I've never gone in to) and if you are desparate you can cross over the bridge in to Blessington and get something when you get there.

You should also treat yourself to some tea and a cake in Glendalough Fayre in Laragh when you are almost back. I think stopping there is a Wicklow cycling requirement.

smacl

HivemindXX wrote: »

There's a shop in Lackan (that I've never gone in to)

Closed weekend before last, much to my disappointment as I was looking forward on an orange super-split from about half way up the Wicklow gap.

Discostuy

Thanks for all the replies.

The plan is to do the route clockwise (per the map) and see how we get on. My only hill climbing has been Howth and a few trips around North County Dublin. My mate is a bit more experienced, but I reckon we'll be grand.

Hivemind, that's a great feature thanks very much. Gives a great idea of the route and climbs.

Superlav, just looking at your route suggestion. Could be a possibility, I'll run it by my mate. Cheers.
Thanks again.

nak

smacl wrote: »

Closed weekend before last, much to my disappointment as I was looking forward on an orange super-split from about half way up the Wicklow gap.

Ditto for last weekend, was very disappointed, not that I needed the ice lolly.

smacl

Discostuy wrote: »

Superlav, just looking at your route suggestion. Could be a possibility, I'll run it by my mate. Cheers.

That back route to Laragh is very attractive and a fantastic spin, but has some rather steep ramps. If the legs are tired after getting up the Sally gap, the direct road to Laragh over Glanmacnass is much easier.

g0g

If by any chance you do it anticlockwise just be careful descending from Sally Gap towards Kilbride. Lovely open start to it that you can really get a great speed on with the right wind, but a nasty bridge pops out of nowhere after not-too-long and it took out a few riders the year I did the Wicklow 200. It's grand if you know it's coming, but first time down the hill just be aware there's a bridge at some point!

Lovely loop anyway and either way you'll be finishing it on an enjoyable downhill!

The good thing about clockwise is it has the most "relaxed" climb up to Sally Gap, although the last little bit drags on.

And if you're not tired enough on the day just add in Turlough Hill from the top of the Wicklow Gap!!

nilhg

Thinking of doing a route similar to the OP myself over the long weekend, I'll be taking the highshort cut over Ballysmuttan if I do though, makes that stretch a little more interesting I think.

mirv

I'd maybe go clockwise starting in Blessington. You won't be warmed up for the wicklow gap climb if you start 400m away in laragh. Especially if you havent done anything in wicklow before and you can use the laragh stop as a lunch break instead. Easier parking too.

Discostuy

mirv wrote: »

I'd maybe go clockwise starting in Blessington. You won't be warmed up for the wicklow gap climb if you start 400m away in laragh. Especially if you havent done anything in wicklow before and you can use the laragh stop as a lunch break instead. Easier parking too.

That's a good point about hitting the climbs too early on.
Is it a killer climb?.