How hilly is the road past the Hell Fire Club

Cdub

I commute to work, round trip of about 8 miles everyday and on the weekend I've started doing some recreational cycling. I live in Walksinstown so have been cycling up as far as the HellFire Club (old military road?). From my house its a round cycle of 13 miles. My bike is a Giant Rapid 4.

I see a lot of bikes going up the hill and beyond the HFC.

Getting to the HFC has been a stretch for me but I was wondering what kind of road lies beyond it? Does it plateau out at all or does it stay steep. I've gotten about 1 km beyond it (before I ran out of legs/lungs and turned for home) but it was still climbing.

Does it climb forever or is there some lovely nirvana of gentle slopes up ahead?

smacl

Cdub wrote: »

Does it climb forever or is there some lovely nirvana of gentle slopes up ahead?

It climbs for a bit more before reaching nirvana in the form of an ice cream van at a cark park, all very doable. Then it climbs at a shallower angle to allow a descent into Glencree / Enniskerry, or climbing further and steeper still before reaching the sally gap.

quozl

I'm not sure exactly where the HFC is - I think it's around the peak of Montpelier Hill. So if you went 1 KM past that then you're pretty close to viewing point car-park. If you can get up there then it gets easier after that. Not exactly easy, but noticeably easier.

There's also an ice-cream van in the car-park at viewing point once the weather gets nice, and a nice view of city.

Just get a bit further each time and before you know it you'll be up in the featherbeds which is grand and then descending down to glencree and mostly rolling downhill home from there via Johnny Foxes.

Wishbone Ash

quozl wrote: »

I'm not sure exactly where the HFC is - I think it's around the peak of Montpelier Hill.

It's about 10mins walk from the entrance to the forest there. There's usually a line of parked cars.

youcancallmeal

Try coming up Cruagh road instead. I find it a little bit easier to climb(Longer distance so slightly less steep?) than the road up past the Hellfire club, they meet at viewing point. Also look into getting map my ride or strava, they will show you elevation for your planned/cycled route among other things.

Cdub

youcancallmeal wrote: »

Try coming up Cruagh road instead. I find it a little bit easier to climb(Longer distance so slightly less steep?) than the road up past the Hellfire club, they meet at viewing point. Also look into getting map my ride or strava, they will show you elevation for your planned/cycled route among other things.

I use the cycling option on the Runkeeper app for tracking my cycling. I have found it handy up to now because I track my hill walking with it too but I'll check out the other options you mentioned.

I must have a look at Cruagh Road too, see where I access it from.
If I make it to the Viewing Point is there a round robin trip I can take back down past Johnnie Foxes?
Sorry guys, don't know the ground up there too well so always go up and down the same road.

quozl

If you make it up to viewing point then you can take a left at the carpark and then another left about 3 (wild guess) KM later and that'll take you back to where you started. It's also all down-hill that way and you can roll home. After getting the all-important ice-cream at viewing point.

Do check out strava. You can use the explore option and it'll show you elevation profiles of the segments around there.

The return route via Johnny foxes is a bit of a longer loop than just rolling home via Cruagh and involves some more climbing. Maybe have it as a mid-term goal and returning via Cruagh as a short-term one.

quozl

Here's the Stocking Lane return via Cruagh loop - http://www.strava.com/routes/243990

Here's Stocking lane looping back via Glen Cullen. That's more of a medium term goal as the distance is much bigger and you'll find the Devil's Elbow (just before Glencullen) a short, sharp nasty climb. It's so short that you could always walk it though! http://www.strava.com/routes/243994

Here's something in between, Cruagh loop via Glencullen. No Devil's Elbow. The only really tough bit is Cruagh road itself so once that's done it's not so bad. http://www.strava.com/routes/243995

Wishbone Ash

Cdub wrote: »

I must have a look at Cruagh Road too, see where I access it from.

Instead of turning right at the HSE Good Counsel centre (for Taylor's Lane and then left for Stocking Lane), go straight ahead up Edmondstown Road. That will bring you to Cruagh Road.

DaithiMC

Cdub wrote: »

I commute to work, round trip of about 8 miles everyday and on the weekend I've started doing some recreational cycling. I live in Walksinstown so have been cycling up as far as the HellFire Club (old military road?). From my house its a round cycle of 13 miles. My bike is a Giant Rapid 4.

I see a lot of bikes going up the hill and beyond the HFC.

Getting to the HFC has been a stretch for me but I was wondering what kind of road lies beyond it? Does it plateau out at all or does it stay steep. I've gotten about 1 km beyond it (before I ran out of legs/lungs and turned for home) but it was still climbing.

Does it climb forever or is there some lovely nirvana of gentle slopes up ahead?

I think this is the relevant segment for you to look at... http://www.strava.com/segments/633508. After you get past the turn down to Woodcourt (I used to call this Gunny Hill?) it kicks up a bit, you will see the road rise, then it comes back for a while and kicks up again.

Its about 2.3km to the viewing point from here and I estimate about 1.2km from the Hellfire Club turnoff so about halfway through this segment. As others say, when you get to the viewing point you can go left or right - right for Glencree, the Featherbeds, and although a climb, much less steep - or left and down Cruagh road which is a nice descent. You can also turn up to the right (before the bridge on Cruagh Road) past Pine Forest and head over to Johnny Foxe's - that's another 1km of climbing, though a little less steep.

Hunterbiker

This is a good thread for me. This just on my doorstep but not taken the bike up there yet. Will use these.

irishmotorist

To me, this is the Entrance to Wicklow. It stays hilly, but you will have passed the steepest bit (until Lough Bray?) by the time you pass Hellfire Club. You can take a left at the viewing point car park to go backdown or go a bit further and take a turn for Bohernabreena or go a bit further and reach Sally Gap.

Go further and expand your horizons :-)

quozl

irishmotorist wrote: »

Go further and expand your horizons :-)

Easy for you to say, you're in a car!

Cdub

irishmotorist wrote: »

To me, this is the Entrance to Wicklow. It stays hilly, but you will have passed the steepest bit (until Lough Bray?) by the time you pass Hellfire Club. You can take a left at the viewing point car park to go backdown or go a bit further and take a turn for Bohernabreena or go a bit further and reach Sally Gap.

Go further and expand your horizons :-)

This is a very encouraging thread. The thoughts of getting past the HFC and having another few miles of similar incline was defeating me mentally.
After reading this, my Stephen Roche glasses are welded back on!

Cdub

quozl wrote: »

Here's the Stocking Lane return via Cruagh loop - http://www.strava.com/routes/243990

Here's Stocking lane looping back via Glen Cullen. That's more of a medium term goal as the distance is much bigger and you'll find the Devil's Elbow (just before Glencullen) a short, sharp nasty climb. It's so short that you could always walk it though! http://www.strava.com/routes/243994

Here's something in between, Cruagh loop via Glencullen. No Devil's Elbow. The only really tough bit is Cruagh road itself so once that's done it's not so bad. http://www.strava.com/routes/243995

Does the descent before Devils Elbow give you much momentum to get up it?

wanderer 22

Cdub wrote: »

Does the descent before Devils Elbow give you much momentum to get up it?

No! Not for me anyway, the bend beforehand is too sharp

quozl

Cdub wrote: »

Does the descent before Devils Elbow give you much momentum to get up it?

Not really, the Devil's Elbow is steep enough to rob your momentum very quickly. However by the time you're ready for a 40 km spin (you'll be surprised how soon) then you'll be mostly ready for the Devil's Elbow anyway.

There are only two REALLY steep bits IIRC - the rest is just steep. The really steep bits are short so if you don't mind walking 50 metres twice then it'll be just like a short section of your usual Stocking lane climb. Don't let it put you off but do the shorter loop without the Devil's Elbow first.

thejaguar

Once you get to viewpoint carpark, the world (Dublin/Wicklow Mountains) is your oyster.
You've done most of the work if you've gone a kilometre past the HFC carpark - it's only about 1.5k or so from there to the carpark.

Once there I'd say hang left and cruise back down by Cruagh and enjoy the fruits of your labour. You'll have the added bonus of scoping out a new route up to the carpark. Do that the first time anyway.

Next time, go right at the carpark, do a little bit more work and take the first right you come across. Nice fast downhill will bring you down to the old dump near bohernabreena and eventually to the old mill pub.

Then, as I said - the world is your oyster!

smacl

colm18 wrote: »

No! Not for me anyway, the bend beforehand is too sharp

That, and the distracting smell of burning rubber from the brake pads

Around that area, the Devils Elbow, the Wall, and Kilmashogue lane are three good reasons why I like to have a few low gears on the bike. On the plus side, the likes of Cruagh feel way easier afterwords.

Jk_Eire

quozl wrote: »

Here's Stocking lane looping back via Glen Cullen. That's more of a medium term goal as the distance is much bigger and you'll find the Devil's Elbow (just before Glencullen) a short, sharp nasty climb. It's so short that you could always walk it though! http://www.strava.com/routes/243994
http://www.strava.com/routes/243995

This was one of my first solo cycles a while back. Actually had the same bike you at the time. A Giant Rapid 4. Felt like a monumental achievement at the time. I had to walk up a few of hills when the legs gave up but I was far from cycling fit at the time. A few months later on the same bike after a bit of training, I was able to complete the route no problems without leaving the saddle. Spectacular scenery throughout and a nice intro to the Dublin/Wicklow mountains.

dragratchet

thejaguar wrote: »

Once you get to viewpoint carpark, the world (Dublin/Wicklow Mountains) is your oyster.
You've done most of the work if you've gone a kilometre past the HFC carpark - it's only about 1.5k or so from there to the carpark.

Once there I'd say hang left and cruise back down by Cruagh and enjoy the fruits of your labour. You'll have the added bonus of scoping out a new route up to the carpark. Do that the first time anyway.



Then, as I said - the world is your oyster!

i enjoy climbing cruagh and descending stocking lane, the latter is much safer and faster a descent - nice surface too, cruagh has more severe twists and turns to slow your roll (unless you're a lunatic)

youcancallmeal

dragratchet wrote: »

i enjoy climbing cruagh and descending stocking lane, the latter is much safer and faster a descent - nice surface too, cruagh has more severe twists and turns to slow your roll (unless you're a lunatic)

Agreed! I remember the first time coming down Cruagh I misjudged a particularly tight turn (The one right after the turn off for Glencullen). I had to swing right out to the other side of the road and I was thinking if a car had been coming up I would have been straight over the bonnet at a huge speed :eek:

dragratchet

youcancallmeal wrote: »

Agreed! I remember the first time coming down Cruagh I misjudged a particularly tight turn (The one right after the turn off for Glencullen). I had to swing right out to the other side of the road and I was thinking if a car had been coming up I would have been straight over the bonnet at a huge speed :eek:

you cant let personal safety get in the way of a fast descent

thejaguar

They've resurfaced a lot of the road down past Cruagh, the surface is much better now. And it's great practice for cornering, something I really need.

smacl

thejaguar wrote: »

They've resurfaced a lot of the road down past Cruagh, the surface is much better now. And it's great practice for cornering, something I really need.

Same here. I go full tilt past Cruagh woods which is about 60kph for me and then use the descent between the bridges to improve my cornering. The military road from Featherbeds to the viewing point is also a fun descent, but I find it gets hairy in heavy winds.

L'Enfer du Nord

quozl wrote: »

I'm not sure exactly where the HFC is - I think it's around the peak of Montpelier Hill. So if you went 1 KM past that then you're pretty close to viewing point car-park. If you can get up there then it gets easier after that. Not exactly easy, but noticeably easier.

There's also an ice-cream van in the car-park at viewing point once the weather gets nice, and a nice view of city.

Just get a bit further each time and before you know it you'll be up in the featherbeds which is grand and then descending down to glencree and mostly rolling downhill home from there via Johnny Foxes.

Not wishing to be pedantic, but doesn't the most direct route from Glencree to Johnny foxes involve a very steep, albeit shortish climb?

quozl

L'Enfer du Nord wrote: »

Not wishing to be pedantic, but doesn't the most direct route from Glencree to Johnny foxes involve a very steep, albeit shortish climb?

Yep - the Devil's Elbow. The followup posts cover that.

L'Enfer du Nord

quozl wrote: »

Yep - the Devil's Elbow. The followup posts cover that.

Sorry yes should have read on.

OP as you may already have found out for yourself 1 km beyond the Hellfire club is on the cusp of some great cycling and scenery, most of it easier than the bit you've already done.

Enjoy

Cdub

Thanks for all of the replies guys, I set off this morning at 7am and headed up past the HFC and MADE IT to the top of the hill past the car park, I won't deny, for me it was tough but I ground it out and actually cheered when I saw the car park!!!!
I didn't stop to think about pushing further, instead I kept going and headed down Cruagh Road, a most welcome descent.

Next time up I'll skip Cruagh Road and push on a bit. Is Johnnie Foxes the next loop after Cruagh?

From house to house I covered 13.8 miles so was happy with that for a novice:)

Wishbone Ash

Cdub wrote: »

Thanks for all of the replies guys, I set off this morning at 7am and headed up past the HFC and MADE IT to the top of the hill past the car park, I won't deny, for me it was tough but I ground it out and actually cheered when I saw the car park!!!!

Well done. Half the battle is in your head. The first time I headed up Stocking Lane/Kilakee road I thought the car park would never appear. Now I keep going until Laragh. You'll be trying Kilmashogue Lane in no time!

blobbie

Cdub wrote: »

Thanks for all of the rtlies guys, I set off this morning at 7am and headed up past the HFC and MADE IT to the top of the hill past the car park, I won't deny, for me it was tough but I ground it out and actually cheered when I saw the car park!!!!
I didn't stop to think about pushing further, instead I kept going and headed down Cruagh Road, a most welcome descent.

Next time up I'll skip Cruagh Road and push on a bit. Is Johnnie Foxes the next loop after Cruagh?

From house to house I covered 13.8 miles so was happy with that for a novice:)

Good stuff.

The next section is from car park to the Dublin/Wicklow county border. Another 4kms or so. Still climbing (for the most part) but a much easier gradient than stocking lane. Just before the county line you can head down via glassamucky (not the greatest road so might be better off heading back the way you came)

The section after the county line is featherbeds with an option to swing down via glencree & enniskerry or continue out towards Sally Gap with some climbing up past lough Bray but it flattens out again after the lough. A tough climb past the lough but you'll have enough if you have gotten that far. Probably 10kms or so past the county border.

The trick is to keep cycling on a regular basis especially if you are doing hills. I'm not saying it ever gets easy but it is easier if you do it regularly

Doc07

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Well done. Half the battle is in your head. The first time I headed up Stocking Lane/Kilakee road I thought the car park would never appear. Now I keep going until Laragh. You'll be trying Kilmashogue Lane in no time!

Well done. First couple of spins last year I had to walk for a few minutes up Cruagh. Now when I reach the viewing point I still need a quick stop there for a drink but then head to Enniskerry/Powerscourt. Coming from Rathfarnum side I alternate climbing from Cruagh or Stocking Lane.

Wishbone Ash

Doc07 wrote: »

Well done. First couple of spins last year I had to walk for a few minutes up Cruagh

Rather than walking, try stopping the bike and remaining in the saddle for a minute or so if you're under severe pressure. It can make a big difference. (I had to do that the first time I went up Kilmashogue Lane).

Alanstrainor

Cdub wrote: »

Thanks for all of the replies guys, I set off this morning at 7am and headed up past the HFC and MADE IT to the top of the hill past the car park, I won't deny, for me it was tough but I ground it out and actually cheered when I saw the car park!!!!
I didn't stop to think about pushing further, instead I kept going and headed down Cruagh Road, a most welcome descent.

Next time up I'll skip Cruagh Road and push on a bit. Is Johnnie Foxes the next loop after Cruagh?

From house to house I covered 13.8 miles so was happy with that for a novice:)

Fair play, I find that part of the cycle to be the worst on my Sally Gap climbs. You'll be able to spin on further without much stress until lough bray, and even that climb, although steep is over rather quickly and then that's your climbing done until the gap!

Wishbone Ash

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Fair play, I find that part of the cycle to be the worst on my Sally Gap climbs

You don't go up there on the fixie, do you? :eek:

Alanstrainor wrote:

You'll be able to spin on further without much stress until lough bray, and even that climb, although steep is over rather quickly and then that's your climbing done until the gap!

I find the bit at Lough Bray (near where the powerlines cross the road) to be the toughest. It's fairly easy then all the way to Laragh after that and one can return via Roundwood/Bray which is relatively flat.

(You're lucky you live so close to the hills. I have 45kms done before I get to Stocking Lane).

Alanstrainor

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

You don't go up there on the fixie, do you? :eek:

I do ya!

Haven't done so in a while, but its doable!

Wishbone Ash

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I do ya!

Haven't done so in a while, but its doable!

That's seriously impressive. :cool:
I though doing Howth (Sutton side) was pushing it on my fixie!

maloner

Cdub wrote: »

Is Johnnie Foxes the next loop after Cruagh?

At the car park on Stocking lane take the left (as you did today I think) and at the bottom of the first half of the descent there's a fork. You probably went left and continued down, but if you go right and up hill for about 1-1.5km which is steep enough in places, you'll then have a nice spin flat/downhill spin to johnnyfoxes and then various downhill options. Straight on from johnny foxes will take you to kilternan down a fast enough descent

mirv

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I do ya!

Haven't done so in a while, but its doable!

How do you get back down?

crosstownk

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Well done. Half the battle is in your head. The first time I headed up Stocking Lane/Kilakee road I thought the car park would never appear. Now I keep going until Laragh. You'll be trying Kilmashogue Lane in no time!

Well done indeed.

This climb on my radar since I did Sally Gap from the N81 side twice in recent months. However, I seem to have a mental block with tackling Kilakee for some reason.

So now I'm targeting to do it by the end of the month thanks to this thread.

Ba$tards.

Doc07

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Rather than walking, try stopping the bike and remaining in the saddle for a minute or so if you're under severe pressure. It can make a big difference. (I had to do that the first time I went up Kilmashogue Lane).

Thanks. Hard to get going again when you lose momentum. Gettinna compact next week so looking forward to a few more low gears. Hopefully won't have to ever come to a standstill there again. Tried a compact for first time on holiday last week in Lanzarote. Fantastic. Regarding the OP progress, keep on trucking. I could only do 20km flat last summer and can manage 80km with some hills(fairly slowly).

Wishbone Ash

crosstownk wrote: »

....This climb on my radar since I did Sally Gap from the N81 side twice in recent months. However, I seem to have a mental block with tackling Kilakee for some reason..

It's a bit easier overall from the N81 side but it gets steeper as you near the Gap whereas from the Kilakee side most of the climbing is over earlier and it's more or less downhill to the Gap.

(It's just occurred to me that I've never ascended from the Roundwood side).

crosstownk

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

It's a bit easier overall from the N81 side but it gets steeper as you near the Gap whereas from the Kilakee side most of the climbing is over earlier and it's more or less downhill to the Gap.

(It's just occurred to me that I've never ascended from the Roundwood side).

Downhill to Sally Gap. Lough Bray springs to mind.......

Wishbone Ash

crosstownk wrote: »

Downhill to Sally Gap. Lough Bray springs to mind.......

That's why I used the term 'more or less'! It's relatively short.

crosstownk

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

That's why I used the term 'more or less'! It's relatively short.

Yep. True. I haven't climbed it yet. Maybe after I tackle Kilakee........ I'll look forward to descending into Manor Kilbride!!

L'Enfer du Nord

crosstownk wrote: »

Well done indeed.

This climb on my radar since I did Sally Gap from the N81 side twice in recent months. However, I seem to have a mental block with tackling Kilakee for some reason.

I had a mental block too for a long time. I saw the sign in Glencree saying Sally Gap 7 km, I saw the road going up and up. I put 2 + 2 and made 7 km of sheer hell. Was happy to ding that the road actually levels off after 2 or 3 km of hell.

Wishbone Ash

crosstownk wrote: »

...I'll look forward to descending into Manor Kilbride!!

If you haven't descended before take care approaching the first little bridge - there's a horribly deceptive bend there which catches many cyclists out. It looks grand until you're on it!

NeedMoreGears

Agree with WishboneAsh on that one - a few ended up in hospital on 2011 edition of the wicklow 200 (the wet one) having crashed at that bridge

Cdub

crosstownk wrote: »

Well done indeed.

This climb on my radar since I did Sally Gap from the N81 side twice in recent months. However, I seem to have a mental block with tackling Kilakee for some reason.

So now I'm targeting to do it by the end of the month thanks to this thread.

Ba$tards.

For what its worth, I left the house at 7am and on my climb up to the car park only about 4/5 cars past me either way. It was so quiet it was easy to put all of my mental energy into my pedals. It also meant I could stay towards the middle of the road in places (not coming up to blind bends) which also helped me. Sometimes if I'm buried into the left I feel like I'm in the ditch.

jober

NeedMoreGears wrote: »

Agree with WishboneAsh on that one - a few ended up in hospital on 2011 edition of the wicklow 200 (the wet one) having crashed at that bridge

i only pulled a lad out of a ditch unconscious last week on that decent,took one of the small bends too fast
i was on my way up the hill when i seen him come of his bike

smacl

NeedMoreGears wrote: »

Agree with WishboneAsh on that one - a few ended up in hospital on 2011 edition of the wicklow 200 (the wet one) having crashed at that bridge

Remember seeing a few ambulances on the day ok, visibility was atrocious as well. It is certainly not a good hill to check whether or not your brakes work in the wet.