Nice routes from Rathmines? Around 30km - not viewing point!

quozl

Can anybody recommend some nice cycles starting from Rathmines?

I'm heading up either stocking lane/viewing point or out via step-a-side towards enniskerry every time. I do like the climb to viewing point and it's making me stronger but I'd like a bit more variety in my choice of routes.

I'd particularly love a 30-40 km one that is flat and without tonnes of traffic lights so that I could see how fast I can go without the climbs in the way

Biggest one I've done so far is one of 48km, via - you guessed it - viewing point, featherbeds, enniskerry and step-a-side. So that's about the max of my range at the moment.

bazermc

Down the canal over grand canal dock, than out the clontarf area bike lane to howth, turn around and come back

About 40k in total

RunRoryRun

If you're looking for a nice flat route, head down towards the coast and go across the Eastlink bridge at the point. Once across there, it's a lovely flat cycle with a good portion of cycle path all the way out to Howth. Scenery is good and if you fancy it, Howth Summit at the halfway point is worth it for both the view and the downhill reward!

From Rathmines I'd say it's probably about 44km out and back or thereabouts.

RunRoryRun

bazermc wrote: »

Down the canal over grand canal dock, than out the clontarf area bike lane to howth, turn around and come back

About 40k in total

Have just seen this

Reservoir Cogs

Ballinascorney/Brittas:
https://maps.google.ie/maps?saddr=rathmines&daddr=Ballinascorney,+County+Dublin+to:hillsbrook+to:rathmines&hl=en&ll=53.295183,-6.400223&spn=0.193299,0.582275&sll=53.123702,-6.608276&sspn=0.776289,2.329102&geocode=FZqgLQMdX2Wg_yk3owMLqQ5nSDEiECsJptf2jg%3BFbRsLAMdcG-e_ymlpTgNE3VnSDEBRxYpn4iO9g%3BFSSALAMdS76d_ynF6es1uHVnSDGieYadTuoj3w%3BFZqgLQMdX2Wg_yk3owMLqQ5nSDEiECsJptf2jg&mra=ls&t=m&z=11

A fitness improves, extend to Blessington & Lake Drive or Manor Kilbride & Sally Gap

quozl

Thanks a lot - those ideas look great.
Howth Hill looks fun. Comparing them on Strava it looks a bit easier than stocking lane?

And Blessington looks great for extending on to Sally Gap and then home via my beloved viewing point

wanderer 22

quozl wrote: »

Thanks a lot - those ideas look great.
Howth Hill looks fun. Comparing them on Strava it looks a bit easier than stocking lane?

And Blessington looks great for extending on to Sally Gap and then home via my beloved viewing point

Don't forget you can descend via Cruagh as well as Stocking lane from viewing point...Your post has made me realize that 90% of my spins take in either Stocking Lane, Viewing point or Enniskerry, I think I need to diversify.
Here's a short 30k spin I've done, out to stepaside, up to johnny foxes, down via cruagh
http://www.strava.com/activities/41208315

quozl

Thanks, Colm It's an additiction - why would you go any other direction when there's all the lovely hills in that one direction?

I often come down Cruagh - Up viewing point, down Cruagh - to be honest, it's the other half of my viewing point obsession. Or maybe viewing-point/cruagh/enniskerry trifecta.

I would go up Cruagh but I'm not a huge fan of struggling uphill at about 14kph on a road with nothing but blind corners

I've done that loop of yours, except I include Kiltiernan before step-a-side. I like it but it's only feeding the obsession.

LennoxR

Additionally for an easy one, there's now a cycle lane along the Grand Canal all the way out to Lucan.

Only downside is a lot of 'kiss gates' to stop joyriders, but good route and surprisingly nice scenery. Once in Lucan come back via Newcastle and Tallaght or alternatively, go into Lucan itself, and come back by the strawberry beds (the road that runs along the north of the Liffey), which is amazingly rural considering it deposits you back in the Phoenix Park in the city centre.

quozl

Thanks LennoxR. Where does that start?

I thought that there was no cycle lane between portobello and inchicore at least - does it start west of there?

Squidgy Black

Howth Hill's not as bad from the Sutton side, so I'd suggest doing it that way first instead of tackling the huge incline from the harbour. The bike path along Clontarf is nice, just watch out for potholes when you have to cross over at the wooden bridge.

RunRoryRun

stetyrrell wrote: »

Howth Hill's not as bad from the Sutton side, so I'd suggest doing it that way first instead of tackling the huge incline from the harbour.

I prefer going up the harbour side if only for the longer downhill reward back towards Sutton

quozl

What's it like compared to Cruagh Road or Stocking Lane? If it's easier than those then that's fine. If it's worse, then I'm definitely going up the easier side

Wishbone Ash

quozl wrote: »

What's it like compared to Cruagh Road or Stocking Lane? If it's easier than those then that's fine. If it's worse, then I'm definitely going up the easier side

The Sutton side of Howth is much easier and shorter than either Stocking Lane or Edmonstown Road (I'm presuming that's where you mean when you say "Cruagh Road"?).

The village side of Howth, although steep in one section, is relatively short and also much easier than Edmonstown Rd and Stocking Lane. Even the steepest part just after the church wouldn't compare to the bit between Mount Venus and Montpellier Farm.

Balkill Road (right at the church) has a very steep short section -probably 20% or so.

Wishbone Ash

Howth Sutton Side - 3.7km at 3.1%

http://app.strava.com/segments/1019696

Howth Village Side - 2km at 5.3%

http://app.strava.com/segments/1622026

Stocking Lane - 5.1km at 5.9%

http://app.strava.com/segments/693111

(There doesn't seem to be a full segment for Edmonstown Road - i.e. Ballyboden to Cruagh Bridge)

LennoxR

quozl wrote: »

Thanks LennoxR. Where does that start?

I thought that there was no cycle lane between portobello and inchicore at least - does it start west of there?

Yup, see here. It starts at Davitt Road around the Suir Road Luas stop in Dolphins Barn. See here.

But just ride along the canal and you'll find it.

funkyjebus

How about this. I kept on going up either stocking lane or cruagh, so I've started to make a point of heading out tallaght/blessington more often. The climbs imo don't feel as tough.

You can stretch than on to bleesington in future, they have awesome cream cakes in the Kitchen cafe (iirc) on the main street, what more reason do you need.

g0g

I was looking for similar in the past. I see a couple of people have recommended routes heading out the R114. I find that's a great place for not-too-long cycles on quieter roads with the option of slightly or very hilly. Take either the left at Bohernabreena or else head up past the golf club and take the next turn left. Granted it's heading up towards your beloved Featherbeds, but I see someone has recommended a route going out one way and coming back another. If you feel like a challenge there are a couple of tough climbs at the end of that valley like this one!! :eek: