Dublin 15 to Dundalk - best route

DS2013

I am going to be cycling from Dublin 15 to Dundalk next week. Looking for any advice on the best route. I was planning to go on the old airport road through Skerries etc..but somebody suggested the N2. Does anyone know what the surface is like on the N2?

ozzy jr

Earlier today I was checking a route from Dundrum to Drogheda and it was suggested taking the road to Ashbourne (R135), then turning onto the R152 to Drogheda.

You could continue on Ashbourne road to Slane, Collon, Ardee and then into Dundalk. I've no idea what the road is like though.

Eamonnator

DS2013 wrote: »

I am going to be cycling from Dublin 15 to Dundalk next week. Looking for any advice on the best route. I was planning to go on the old airport road through Skerries etc..but somebody suggested the N2. Does anyone know what the surface is like on the N2?

There's a pothole about 1km north of Collon, and another one about 8kms farther on. Apart from that, the surface on N2 is fine.

most of it is even paved

magicbastarder

'best' route being quickest, shortest, or most interesting?

DS2013

magicbastarder wrote: »

'best' route being quickest, shortest, or most interesting?

I guess best surface. I don't mind if it is a bit longer if the surface is better

Eamonnator

Best surface would probably be N2. I would say, it's also the shortest.
But I don't think anybody would describe it as interesting.
Highlight is probably that pothole just north of Collon.

DS2013

Eamonnator wrote: »

Best surface would probably be N2. I would say, it's also the shortest.
But I don't think anybody would describe it as interesting.
Highlight is probably that pothole just north of Collon.

I will be in my own and hoping to go at a reasonable pace so not sure it needs to be too interesting. If I go on the N2 it sounds like all I need to do is watch out for that pothole.

Eamonnator

Yeah, it's a good road, hard shoulder on a lot of it.

magicbastarder

might be worth considering heading out the N3 and taking the road past fairyhouse to ratoath, and past curragha to get onto the N2 rather than going for the N2-N3 interconnector.

Wishbone Ash

N2 has a good surface and, as has been said, good hard shoulders for most of it. It is quite tedious though, especially from Ashbourne to Slane - long and straight and a curse in a headwind! (It also has an above average volume of heavy trucks - avoiding the tolls on the M1).

Personally, I'd prefer the R132 (old N1).

DS2013

Thanks, I had not considered that there would be a lot of trucks avoiding the M1 toll.

magicbastarder

generally though, on the N2, you would expect the winds to be coming from your left.

padjo5

I cycle the R132 between Dublin-Drogheda, there's a pretty awful stretch of road between swords and Balbriggan, not too bad other than that 'cobbled' stretch!

Wishbone Ash

padjo5 wrote: »

I cycle the R132 between Dublin-Drogheda, there's a pretty awful stretch of road between swords and Balbriggan, not too bad other than that 'cobbled' stretch!

Yes, its particularly bad from the Five Roads to Balrothery - an unfortunate symptom of a road losing it 'N' status and no longer managed by the NRA.

trav1963

Hate to even drive on N2. Traffic is just crazy. Old N1 would be lesser of 2 evils for me.

DS2013

107km door to door. Went with the old N1 route in the end. Very enjoyable apart from a few stretches where the surface was terrible. Thanks for the advice.

Eamonnator

Glad you enjoyed your spin.
Pity you didn't get to see the pothole. It looks it's best at this time of year.