Bikepark Ireland

Donie75

I only recently heard about Fairymount Farm and I was thinking of checking it out because I heard they have new trails in build. They have a new website too. Looks like an interesting spot. Open 18th May.
http://www.bikeparkireland.ie/

Does anyone know the length of the trails? Would be great to see more trails in the midlands.

fat bloke

That looks deadly.

Seaneh

No idea of distances but I've been told that you can go from the enduro climb onto the green run and when you combin the two you have a fairly long auld slog. They provide uplifts to the top of the hill as well if you don't fancy climbing and you can get about 15 uplifts in a days cycling, probably more when the days are longer.

xxyyzz

Bike rental is saucy enough. €90 for a DH bike for a day. Morzine is about €75 - €80 per day and Fairymount is no Morzine.

Seaneh

xxyyzz wrote: »

Bike rental is saucy enough. €90 for a DH bike for a day. Morzine is about €75 - €80 per day and Fairymount is no Morzine.

Morzine is cheaper because there is competition, there are several shops renting in Morzine. It's also cheaper to run a business in morzine, lower wages, lower cost of goods etc. 80 for the day isn't cheap but comparing it to Morzine is silly.

It's only €40 for the day for a hard tail.

Most people rent in places like this will have no need or use for a DH bike anyway as they wouldn't be able for the black runs. Anyone able for the black runs will own their own bike already.

marc96

Hi guy looking for Abit of info,

I'm new to mountain biking and doing it more to keep fit than anything else,I've ordered myself a trek 4300 mountain bike and just wondering if this bike will be able for all of the trails they will have at this place.

Cheers

xxyyzz

Seaneh wrote: »

Morzine is cheaper because there is competition, there are several shops renting in Morzine. It's also cheaper to run a business in morzine, lower wages, lower cost of goods etc. 80 for the day isn't cheap but comparing it to Morzine is silly.

It's only €40 for the day for a hard tail.

Most people rent in places like this will have no need or use for a DH bike anyway as they wouldn't be able for the black runs. Anyone able for the black runs will own their own bike already.

€90 per day is very expensive for anywhere. Morzine is the one of the most expensive resorts in France unless Galway Bay breweries are paying you for lobbyist fees. Although I'd agree there is more competition there. I won't get into it with you Seaneh, I know you can go for days.

Seaneh

xxyyzz wrote: »

€90 per day is very expensive for anywhere. Morzine is the one of the most expensive resorts in France unless Galway Bay breweries are paying you for lobbyist fees. Although I'd agree there is more competition there. I won't get into it with you Seaneh, I know you can go for days.

Hohoho, quality stuff there. I don't agree with moaning about prices so I must be a shill for a company, it's a bit bloody old at this stage, whoever you are.


Competition in Morzine and lower cost of operating in France means it's cheaper to rent a bike in Morzine than it is in Ireland, it's not rocket science. It doesn't matter if Morzine if expensive compared to other areas of France, it's still cheaper than Ireland, and that's true for many very obvious reasons. If you can't get your head around that and have to resort to "playing the man" instead of the ball there isn't much I can do for you here.

You think it's too expensive, don't rent from them, simples.

Seaneh

marc96 wrote: »

Hi guy looking for Abit of info,

I'm new to mountain biking and doing it more to keep fit than anything else,I've ordered myself a trek 4300 mountain bike and just wondering if this bike will be able for all of the trails they will have at this place.

Cheers

You'd be grand on everything besides the Downhill/Black runs.

Chips Lovell

@xxyyzz and Seaneh

Please stop bickering or we'll issue cards

Seaneh

Vladimir Kurtains wrote: »

@xxyyzz and Seaneh

Please stop bickering or we'll issue cards

10-4 rubber duckie.

C3PO

Unless you're a real Downhill rider my guess is that Rostrevor would be a better bet for day out!
http://www.mountainbikeni.com/rostrevor/

Kitepimp

I was In Fairymount farm / bike park Ireland yesterday and have to say it is a stonkingly good place. The glorious sunshine definitely presented the place at it's best..
Definitley a spot for the full sus unless you want to stick to the blue/green and enduro trails, but you'll be missing a lot of what the place has to offer in that case.
With approx 40 riders yesterday we got almost 30 uplifts in.
The red trail was definitely a favorite with perfectly aligned big berms, tabletops and doubles galore, but everything rollable aswell.
The blue is lovely and flowy and 2 of the 3 blacks are really enjoyable. The newest has a few bits that the flow isnt really there on and I reckon may need some re-work.
I was riding a specialised enduro SL and occcasionally felt I could do with a slacker head angle, but never felt I was too undergunned. Most people were riding freeride type single crown.
The blacks are short due to their vertical nature but the uplift more than compensates, and the facilities are good with a small cafe open all day and BBQ burgers availeble at lunchtime.
I'll be back for sure!!

silvo

Heading down here at the weekend and can't wait to try out the new trails. A couple of the DH races were held here last year and they were excellently ran with very enjoyable trails. The uplifts are very short and fast, and I think we got about 18 uplifts one of the days we were down last year so well worth the cost.

silvo

Just back from Bike Park Ireland and I have to highly recommend the place not only for downhill riders, but also for families, XC and enduro riders. The trails are fast and flowy, and the pumptrack onsite (perfect for kids) is one of the biggest in Ireland. The uplifts are quick and well organized, and you get to the top within 10 minutes. I lost count of how many I got in the day. The red and blue trails are well thought out and are super fast and fun. The two enduro climbs also get you to the top if you don't want to use the uplift system, but the uplifts are well worth the cost. Any riders looking for a good day out on new trails should head down. Here is a video of their opening day for an idea:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyZRb0AmF_s

Exodus 1811

Any idea what trail that is in the promo vid? I am currently riding a Specialized camber comp, and I think the jumps would be a little too much for my bike/skill. I've been up and down Ballinastoe a few times, through all their trails, but none of them ever felt as DH as these look.. I also dont have a full face etc, am I wasting my time trying to get down there? The facilities etc look great though!

silvo

Exodus 1811 wrote: »

Any idea what trail that is in the promo vid? I am currently riding a Specialized camber comp, and I think the jumps would be a little too much for my bike/skill. I've been up and down Ballinastoe a few times, through all their trails, but none of them ever felt as DH as these look.. I also dont have a full face etc, am I wasting my time trying to get down there? The facilities etc look great though!

You would be well able for the green, blue and red trails and it would be well worth the trip down. You will get more descents done in a day than you would usually get in a couple of months which would bring your riding skill along as well.

xxyyzz

What Silvio said. The Green and Blue are well doable. The blue is particularly fun and better than any descent in any of the Coillte trail centres.

The red has some big jumps and berms alright but all of them can be rolled. They are mostly tabletops rather than drops. TBH in the past I could get down most things but I preferred to keep my wheels on the ground however after a few runs down the red run when the confidence starts to build I got completely hooked. It's the trail I keep coming back to. The faster you go, the more it has to offer.

If you're not confident, your best bet is to let everyone in the truck go off ahead of you and then go down at your own pace. The black runs (1 and 2, I avoided the pro line) are good fun also, tight rooty and technical but grand if you go at your own pace.

Exodus 1811

Perfect. Exactly what I wanted to hear! I am out of Ireland at the moment and been looking forward to trying a new trail. Cheers lads.

xxyyzz

Bikepark Ireland is featured on nationwide on Wednesday at 7pm, rte1.

Lemming

xxyyzz wrote: »

Bikepark Ireland is featured on nationwide on Wednesday at 7pm, rte1.

Anyone want to make a digital recording of it for those of us who RTE are too stingy to allow streaming services for please?

Viper_JB

xxyyzz wrote: »

What Silvio said. The Green and Blue are well doable. The blue is particularly fun and better than any descent in any of the Coillte trail centres.

The red has some big jumps and berms alright but all of them can be rolled. They are mostly tabletops rather than drops. TBH in the past I could get down most things but I preferred to keep my wheels on the ground however after a few runs down the red run when the confidence starts to build I got completely hooked. It's the trail I keep coming back to. The faster you go, the more it has to offer.

If you're not confident, your best bet is to let everyone in the truck go off ahead of you and then go down at your own pace. The black runs (1 and 2, I avoided the pro line) are good fun also, tight rooty and technical but grand if you go at your own pace.

The red is great loved the blue also, one of those runs where you get more and more from it everytime you ride it, I tried the black 1 when I was there and found it to be a bit tricky, was using my XC bike though and I don't think the tyres were great for what I was doing at the time. Loved it though so much fun lots of cheap trills to be had, will probably take the plunge and rent a DH bike next time if I get there early enough would probably be worth the expense, my bike felt a bit lacking in some spots.

Ryath

I don't know how this place isn't better known. Went over last Thursday evening and had the place to myself. Did the green twice and the blue once. Would have liked another run but didn't have the energy to do the enduro climb a fourth time given my current lack of fitness. First time riding my new Cube hardtail in anger was good fun can really see my self doing a lot more of it. It's only a 45 min drive from me and good to mix up the training a bit rather than riding road all the time.

Went to Ballyhoura then on Sunday 40k bloody tough bonked badly for first time in years. Still really enjoyed the day, Tech loop is great fun. I'll be looking at dual suspension bikes soon I'd say!

benneca1

I have been there a few times. This place is amazing. All routes can be rolled on any bike if you have a reasonable level of skill. The green is handy, the red and blue are as hard or as easy as you make em, take it easy if you want, then as you get confidence hammer them and jump and nail the berms as you wish. The black trails are rideable for anyone who has biked a bit just take them handy there is a way around all tricky bits if you want. Uplift works fine 2.50 a run or 35 for the day. i did a full day yesterday and lost count how many runs i did.

There is a coffee shop burgers and grub even a bike shop. How anybody can complain is beyond me. When you're done you even can wash your bike and update your fecebook status Ive been mountain biking here for 30 years now, and I can safely say this place is the dogs. You can even bring the missus and the kids and send em down the green they'll come to no harm. The family who own the place put a lot of thought and effort into the place and it shows.

Ryath

A little playgound would be great to keep the kids entertained. It's very near to my home place so could easily pop in for and hour or two when going to visit my mum. I could imagine my wife's face suggesting sending my youngest down the green on her balance bike!

Donie75

Must check it out soon. It's only an hour from home so ideal. I've heard great things about it. Only complaint I heard was that the runs are very short.
Did Ballyhoura a few weeks ago. Great day out but had a nasty fall on the new Tech Trail 2 and smashed my helmet and spent the following week looking like a boxer.
Any word on the Slieve Blooms project recently?

benneca1

No news about new trails in Slieve blooms yet. I wouldn't say trails are short if you alternate red blue and black you have plenty to keep you amused and you can either use uplift or cycle so that means you can get a good few runs in. The enduro cycle is nice too if you're fit enough

xxyyzz

The guys from the velo bikeshop finished up in BPI at the weekend and BPI now have their own rental fleet. It's a pity imho as Keelim really knew his stuff and was extremely helpful and the shop had some very good stock. It's business though at the end of the day.

Cast Iron

Finally got down to BPI yesterday. Spent the whole day there and had a brilliant experience. Excellent place to get your skills and confidence up working from green to black trails.

Brought my hard tail with me and it handled almost everything (some chicken runs on the black though!) Pals rented the Kona full sus bikes for €50 for the full day.

Good buzz around the place with plenty of banter. Will definitely be back.