solo ROK spin next week or nicer route?

ILIKEFOOD

Was thinking about doing the ROK solo next week - but having browsed the ROK 2016 thread one poster suggested that it wasn't a great route to do outside of the event

What's the ring road like on a normal day? Is it an enjoyable spin?

Are there nice routes in the locale?

Cheers

mossym

go down the next peninsula and do the beara peninsula, plot a route that takes in healy and caha passes and you'll have a cycle way nicer than the ROK.

Ring of Beara 160km loop is a beauty. Could start from Kenmare as you're out that direction and you'd also have the option of cutting it short and heading back to Kenmare if you didn't fancy doing the Healy Pass twice (although you'd miss out on the Caha pass climb doing this as well.

Fian

I did it outside the event with my brothers. We had a fantastic time. We did it on Hybrids and stopped in Cahirciveen overnight before continuing to Killarney in the morning and heading home from there.

The roads were fine, no problem at all. My brothers would have had very little experience on bikes at all at this point especially, but the traffic was grand and we had an enjoyable spin. Some lovely views and a great time.

smacl

ILIKEFOOD wrote: »

What's the ring road like on a normal day? Is it an enjoyable spin?

Nothing wrong with the ROK route, but IMHO there is some of the most spectacular and enjoyable cycling in the country to be had on some of the adjacent l-roads around Ballighasheen, Ballaghbeama, Glencar and the Gap of Dunloe, or as others have suggested, around the loop of Beara. A bit more challenging, but well worth the effort.

ford2600

Go to Kenmare.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=79422041&postcount=14

If your feeling like a tough long ride try this
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/11612185

Be warned the lap of Caragh lake isn't exactly flat!

He has changed it from last year when it used to start in Killarney. Brook Lane hotel is bike friendly I think.

Sections of ROK are lovely but solo I'd be looking for something better

ILIKEFOOD

Thanks for the input folks,

What about this as a proposed route?

https://ridewithgps.com/users/649992/routes

cheers

edit: just seen the elevation on that - is that silly???? actually i was reading that as 8000ft somehow, its 2600..thats definitely more than ive done on a spin

manwithaplan

Just do 20 laps of Dublin Airport.

ford2600

ILIKEFOOD wrote: »

Thanks for the input folks,

What about this as a proposed route?

https://ridewithgps.com/users/649992/routes

cheers

km 15 25 is lovely but you can only walk it:)

ILIKEFOOD

ford2600 wrote: »

km 15 25 is lovely but you can only walk it:)

ha good to know :P

ford2600

ILIKEFOOD wrote: »

ha good to know :P

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/12712773

4 different roads to top of Molls. Climb at 148km is lovely

ILIKEFOOD

ford2600 wrote: »

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/12712773

4 different roads to top of Molls. Climb at 148km is lovely

That's brilliant, thanks a million.

Just checking it out on Google street view - looks stunning.

Bearhaven a good spot for a breather?

youtheman

I did the ROK solo last year, just got a 'mad fit' one day. Must say that at least 50% of it is pure boring, basically from Killarney all the way out to Waterville is absolutely featureless and nothing going for it.

If you are around Killarney then I would try go up Molls Gap and then come down through the Black Valley into Kate Kearney's Cottage. On its day is absolutely beautiful.

ILIKEFOOD

thanks for the advice folks, decided not to do ROK and went for route suggested by Ford. Had to shorten it a bit, really enjoyed it, Kerry is just simply breathe taking! The rolling hills from adrigole to bearhaven killed me. Wasnt as quick as I thought I would be, but really enjoyed myself all the same. Molls and Healy Pass was some craic,
https://ridewithgps.com/trips/8334883