Evening Cycle Route Suggestions (50-60k)

stiofan85

Howdy folks,

Getting ready for my cycle to China next year and looking for route suggestions for mid-week cycles. I'm bored stiff of my usual Howth summit and back route, which is about 43k.

I live in Kilmainham, so any suggestions leaving from near that area in the 50-60k region for mid-week evening spins would be greatly appreciated. I think I'd like to avoid the mountains due to the darkness and narrow roads - save those longer spins for the weekend.

Thanks,

Stephen

duffyshuffle

There's at least ten different ways to climb howth, I think it's the safest place to night ride, do you ever mix it up?

stiofan85

duffyshuffle wrote: »

There's at least ten different ways to climb howth, I think it's the safest place to night ride, do you ever mix it up?

I don't vary the Howth part, but I actually don't mind the climb - it's short enough and I enjoy it. It's the bit in between really that I'm bored with. I find the cycle path along the coast quite mundane, and a bit dangerous with dog leashes not very visible (nearly ran over a black dog last night because I couldn't see him!).

The other thing I find is going to the top of Howth and back is a bit short - I'd like something about 15k longer without having to repeat the same stretch.

I guess it's just the nature of this time of year - dark evenings limit the routes we can do.

I'll change up Howth tomorrow night and see how I get on. Might swing out further into the Northside for some extra kms too.

Lusk_Doyle

You can go up howth more than once in a ride you know!

stiofan85

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

You can go up howth more than once in a ride you know!

Like I said, just looking for something different.

allez

I used to ride to Howth in the summer from Killiney, you can do a whole trip along the coast and back and it works out around 62km. Theres plenty of nice little climbs and kickers and some nice long flat sections to get the miles into the legs. Its well lit too so theres no chance of Sasquatch or The Glencullen mad man getting you (yes he exists) if you venture up the back of the Dublin Mountains.

07Lapierre

Head south to Bray?

Plastik

If you want to keep cycling during the winter then invest in good lights. I think my front/rear combination cost about €150. Heading up the Featherbeds/Sally Gap tomorrow evening, no problem.

Ole Rodrigo

You can do long routes entirely within the city lights. Over to Killiney and then back over for a few laps of Howth. The Howth road is almost finished its resurfacing, a much nicer ride than the Clontarf cycle path/ Coast road.

MB Lacey

Depending on what lights you've got, would your consider going north west? kilmainham-right to islandbridge-chapelizod- strawberry beds-lucan-leixlip and back via dunboyne/clonee? I'd say that'd be 50/60km.
You'd need good lights for strawberry beds though.

Or. South.
Kilmainham- left at imma-scr to the canal- up crumlin rd- left for walkinstown roundabout- follow the r112 along the dodder, that can be a nice fast spin, be lit up too... Don't know where you'd go then at night

Or instead of heading straight for the r112 at walkinstown roundabout go right up green hills rd, right at the end and throw yourself around the n81/ blessington?

I live in drimnagh, just waiting on a lezyne SuperDrive front light and these are the night routes I'm thinking about.

Crumlin rd- New nangor road is another lit up vein out of the city to consider too.

LennoxR

My evening spin in the winter (from Rathfarnham) is up to the canal down into Crumlin, up the hill at Greenhills Road and down into Tallaght then back to Dundrum by the Old Bawn/Grange Road, then back home. About 30 km in total.

Surprisingly few traffic lights and a little climb up Greenhills Road. Quite a good little circuit. To make it longer you could start at Ringsend a follow the Canal from there to Crumlin. And as you live in Kilmainham that would add on a few km to get back from Dundrum.

Alternatively I've done laps of Phoenix Park at night with no ill effects in the past.

stiofan85

Thanks for the suggestions folks. Phoenix park is handy as it's nearby, but I spent the summer training on it for the Dublin City Triathlon - it's soooo easy to head home after a few laps because I only live around the corner!

Lights probably might be good enough for Strawberry beds/Sally gap - I have 2 front lights and 2 rear, wearing a full high viz jacket. I could always throw my super bright head torch on too.

I'll give one of these a try tonight and see how I get on.

Thanks!

MB Lacey

let us know how you get on, especially if you descent down lower rd hill in the dark, I find that hairy enough in daylight.

blobbie

stiofan85 wrote: »

Howdy folks,

Getting ready for my cycle to China next year and looking for route suggestions for mid-week cycles. I'm bored stiff of my usual Howth summit and back route, which is about 43k.

I live in Kilmainham, so any suggestions leaving from near that area in the 50-60k region for mid-week evening spins would be greatly appreciated. I think I'd like to avoid the mountains due to the darkness and narrow roads - save those longer spins for the weekend.

Thanks,

Stephen

Stephen, where in China are you heading? I'm just back from a cycle trip in Guizhou & Guangxi - fascinating place.

Top tip - know how to use chopsticks or you'll be going hungry !!!!

stiofan85

blobbie wrote: »

Stephen, where in China are you heading? I'm just back from a cycle trip in Guizhou & Guangxi - fascinating place.

Top tip - know how to use chopsticks or you'll be going hungry !!!!

Heading to Beijing, starting here in Dublin and going through Europe, Iran and the 'Stans and through the North-West via Kashgar. Route is here: http://dublin2beijing.com/the-route/

Funnily enough, I was in a Korean restaurant last night and had to give up on the chopsticks! I'll learn. Or use my spork!

How long were you there? Camping? Any other good tips?

Lawr

Plastik wrote: »

If you want to keep cycling during the winter then invest in good lights. I think my front/rear combination cost about €150. Heading up the Featherbeds/Sally Gap tomorrow evening, no problem.

What is your front/rear combination?

Plastik

The front is a Philips LED http://www.rosebikes.com/article/philips-front-light-led-bikelight-saferide-80/aid:642257

The rear is a Moon Shield http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/lighting/bike-lights/rear-led-lights/moon-shield-60-rear-led-light.html

stiofan85

MB Lacey wrote: »

let us know how you get on, especially if you descent down lower rd hill in the dark, I find that hairy enough in daylight.

Went on this route last night:



Like you said MB, that descent is hairy in the daylight so I was on the brakes the whole time in such darkness. Strava told me I put in some terrible times, but the wind was horrendous on the way up and on the descents I wasn't taking any chances in the dark.

Roads up on the mountain are just too quiet at night, so I think I'll try some of the other routes suggested nearer the city where they're better lit.

I had three front lights with me, but one died by the Sally Gap, so I turned off the head torch to be sure. I guy actually pulled up in his car as I was near the N81 and said I was extremely visible with the two red lights on the back and the high-viz, so that's good to know!

Didn't see one other cyclist from Rathfarnham until I got back past the M50 after Tallaght!

petethedrummer

stiofan85 wrote: »

I think I'd like to avoid the mountains due to the darkness and narrow roads

It's not going to be all wide and well-lit roads on the way to China. Probably a good idea to prepare yourself for all possible conditions.

Plastik

stiofan85 wrote: »

Roads up on the mountain are just too quiet at night

That's the appeal. Was up there again last evening. D1, Tallaght, Boharnabreena, Featherbeds, Glencree, Greystones. Lovely.

stiofan85

petethedrummer wrote: »

It's not going to be all wide and well-lit roads on the way to China. Probably a good idea to prepare yourself for all possible conditions.

Completely true - but I won't be cycling at night during the trip, and I'd like as much as possible to avoid dangerous roads prior to departing. Wouldn't be a good story if I injured myself "training" to cycle to China!

petethedrummer

Cycling at night or in poor light is going to happen on your trip. Cycling at night in Ireland will be a cake walk compared to cycling in the daytime in some of the countries you are traveling through.

MB Lacey

Looks like you covered a lot of ground on your first real night time spin, through the most isolated/ blackest areas you could have chosen!

It's going to be tough for you to avoid complete darkness if you want to get good out of the city spins at that distance.

You may be better heading Meath way if you want to avoid descents.

stiofan85

MB Lacey wrote: »

Looks like you covered a lot of ground on your first real night time spin, through the most isolated/ blackest areas you could have chosen!

It's going to be tough for you to avoid complete darkness if you want to get good out of the city spins at that distance.

You may be better heading Meath way if you want to avoid descents.

I was looking for something different to my Howth spin, and I definitely got it, so I see it as a result there, and plenty other routes suggested too. Will give some of those a shot next week. Back to the mountains tomorrow during the day though

At the end of the day I'm just putting miles on my legs before I leave. I'm not out to simulate the full range of conditions of the China trip. The first few weeks should be fairly similar to Ireland in terms of weather and daylight. Maybe a bit colder. I won't be cycling at night for safety. That's a rule I've set myself. If I haven't made my mileage then so be it. Pitch the tent, up early the next day and try to make up for it.

I will say this though - the absolute silence and darkness made that spin last night very lonely, which was good practice for next year, so from that point of view it was very useful. Will definitely give it another go for that alone. Just charge the lights a bit more before I go!