Planning cycle routes

Triceratops Ballet

I'm another newbie(ish) to cycling, just got my first road bike after cycling a hybrid for the last 7 years (WHY DIDN'T I CONVERT SOONER?!) and I'm looking to try out some new routes, my problem is planning them.

For years I've been doing Crumlin to Blackrock/Dun Laoghaire and back out of habit, but now I have the road bike I feel I can really push myself to do longer distances. I did my first 50k at the weekend and I could have gone for hours. But I don't want to fall into the trap of doing the same route over and over is there an app (or even a feature on google maps I don't already know about) where I can put in a start point and get a map of a 50k radius?
I'm just having such a mental block trying to pick some new routes, and googling my above requirements is giving me no joy.

any help appreciated!

07Lapierre

http://www.ridewithgps.com

crosstownk

I usually plan routes using Garmin Connect but Map My Ride has a similar function. Basically you just click the roads on the route you want to take and it gives you the distance and elevation.

I'll assume you're based in Crumlin from your post so why not plan a route out the Tallaght By Pass to Brittas or Saggart and back. Blessington is probably a 50/55km round trip from Crumlin and a little more if you go through Manor Kilbride. Some lovely scenery too.

bazzamac

try bikemap.net

Matt Bianco

I was in a similar position to you OP last year when I decided to devote more time to cycling.

Initially I used this site to get ideas which I found excellent although as I use a Garmin 200 I could only add breadcrumb trails to the unit http://cycleireland.ie/ although they have now added an app which looks interesting

After a summer using the northside based routes, I joined a club and that's where route knowledge really expanded which I'd really recommend if that bug has truly bitten and you want to push the distance out as well as variety of routes

Triceratops Ballet

Matt Bianco wrote: »

I was in a similar position to you OP last year when I decided to devote more time to cycling.

Initially I used this site to get ideas which I found excellent although as I use a Garmin 200 I could only add breadcrumb trails to the unit http://cycleireland.ie/

After a summer using the northside based routes, I joined a club and that's where route knowledge really expanded which I'd really recommend if that bug has truly bitten and you want to push the distance out as well as variety of routes

Thanks all this is great!!

The plan is to build up my speed and distance over the summer and join a club come autumn, got the bike with BTW and got a computer with it so I can monitor my progress.

MB Lacey

Well done on the raod bike, you'll see your kms go sky high now.

Get a Strava account or a Garmin Connect account.

For long cycles I use Garmin Connect (and then load the route to my garmin edge 800 for turn by turn directions en route).

I don't know if you have a Strava account (if not, get one, they're great for motivation, keeping track of kms, routes etc) but you can now also plan routes on there too.

I cycle from a similar area (Drimnagh), I like getting off main roads as soon as I can, so my default is to head over to Phoenix park and go down Strawberry beds then up around the fields in Meath.

From Crumlin you could also head down to Walkinstown roundabout and either turn right for Greenhills rd - Tallaght - N81 for Blessington Lakes - then onto R759 for Sally Gap!

Or go straight on at Walkinstown roundabout, follow the R112 (quite a decent cycle path along the Dodder in places) until you get to Churchtown/ Dundrum, take the Sandyford Rd up through Stepaside and soon you'll be Enniskerry having a coffee.


I'm inspiring myself here

Triceratops Ballet

MB Lacey wrote: »

I'm inspiring myself here

if you can't inspire yourself today there's no hope! I'm clock watching, waiting to get out on my bike after work!

nilhg

dottie_lottie wrote: »

I'm another newbie(ish) to cycling, just got my first road bike after cycling a hybrid for the last 7 years (WHY DIDN'T I CONVERT SOONER?!) and I'm looking to try out some new routes, my problem is planning them.

For years I've been doing Crumlin to Blackrock/Dun Laoghaire and back out of habit, but now I have the road bike I feel I can really push myself to do longer distances. I did my first 50k at the weekend and I could have gone for hours. But I don't want to fall into the trap of doing the same route over and over is there an app (or even a feature on google maps I don't already know about) where I can put in a start point and get a map of a 50k radius?
I'm just having such a mental block trying to pick some new routes, and googling my above requirements is giving me no joy.

any help appreciated!

Strava has nifty search function which gives you most of what you are looking for, and it seems to work even of you aren't logged in, try this lot for starters

a148pro

Some good routes by MB Lacey there. A great and easy one is the spin out to Howth, best cycle lane serviced route we have. Nice of an evening, about 40k return for you, you can also do a climb to the Summit too. Add on a bit to Malahide along the coast road, there and back 60k odd.

But I always think we're blessed in Dublin with the mountains so close, I get such a buzz going up there.

OP head along canal to Harolds Cross, swing a right and then straight until the yellow house pub, swing a right again and then straight all the way up past Cruagh Woods to the viewing point, lovely views over Dublin city. Very steep climb up Cruagh, will open your lungs. Bear in mind that climbing is a lot harder than cycling on the flat and adjust the length of your cycles accordingly.

Then build your fitness progressively by doing the following; continuing on and going over and down to Glencree (nice rest stop in the reconciliation centre), then over and up to the Sally Gap, very scenic, lovely lakes to the right as you head up, then over and up to Kippure to the right (if you look out your window from Crumlin its the mountain with the radio mast on top). Great feeling heading up there and back from your door, and its a decent climb, prob close to half a tour de France climbing stage from your house and back.

Then take a left at Sally Gap and see the stunning Guinness Lake from above and go on and over to Enniskerry.

Then go straight on at Sally Gap and over and down the stunning descent into Laragh and on to Glendalough.

Then on and up the Wicklow Gap and around Blessington lake to Tallaght.

Then....

slideshow bob

Can't beat local advice, but if you're stuck Strava Heatmaps can be helpful. I guess the downside in Dublin is it will be dominated by commute routes rather than spins:-
http://labs.strava.com/heatmap/#13/-6.24342/53.29695/blue/bike