Suggested trails for MTB newbies

54and56

Hi,

Myself (47) and my son (15) both have entry level 29 inch hardtail MTB's with hydraulic brakes and live in the Sandyford/Stillorgan area. Up until now we've mostly used our bikes on fairly easy forest and beach trails (mostly on holiday in France the last couple of years) and for the odd weekend spin on dedicated bike paths or quiet country roads here but we'd like to get a bit more active with the bikes so are thinking of trying out the Ticknock loop and Ballinastoe but I'm unsure whether these would be too technical for us or not?

Are there any "intermediate" trails which would be a good stepping stone from the type of easy riding we're used to in order to prepare us properly to tackle Ticknock or Ballinastoe and which one of the two would be the best for us to try first?

Thanks in advance.

Macy0161

I've never really got beyond beginners level, but I think ballinastoe have the easier "built" trails of the two IMO.

You could also look at doing a beginners lesson with biking.ie, presumably at either ballinastoe or ticknock. Definitely in ballinastoe anyway - I found it useful when I was starting out.

nak

+1 for Ballinastoe, more beginner friendly now.


Ticknock is ok on the newer trails, descents are a bit more rocky and technical (doable, but bumpy and not that pleasant on a HT).

54and56

nak wrote: »

+1 for Ballinastoe, more beginner friendly now.


Ticknock is ok on the newer trails, descents are a bit more rocky and technical (doable, but bumpy and not that pleasant on a HT).

Thanks Nak, appreciate the confirmation that Ballinastoe is the better one to stay with.

I also read somewhere that there are some friendly trails around the Hellfire Club which might be worth doing to blow the cobwebs off before giving Ballinastoe a crack.

Can anyone confirm this?

Mr. Grieves

Massey's Wood, as mentioned, is all easy terrain. It's nice, just watch out for kids and dogs. Hellfire used to have a few easy trails but there's been a lot of logging lately and it's all gone

But really, you shouldn't be too worried about going to either Three Rock/Ticknock or Ballinastoe. They're designed to be reasonably beginner friendly. The hardest thing is the climbing! Go to Ticknock because it's closer and do the newer official trails, they're nice and smooth. If you do the full loop ( https://www.strava.com/segments/10877014 ) the first half is the newer stuff, then it gets rougher (but never steep). You can head down by the road at a couple of points if you've had enough.

54and56

Sorry advice Irish Cycle Sport and Mr Grieves, much appreciated.

I got the Thule two bike tow bar bike rack last week which pops on and off in a jiffy so hopefully with the stretch in the evenings we'll be able to head to Ticknock for some exercise, fun and fresh air as it's only 20 minutes from the house.

Thanks again for the advice, it's given me the confidence to have a crack.

FirstinLastout

Rostreavor is only a short hop up the road from Dublin, just across from Carlingford and is worth a visit. Castlewellan I'd only a few mind further and well worth spending a day up there.

Worth bearing in mind the possibility of break-in's when parling your car in Ticknock.
I'm a very infrequent visitor but when there, there has always been evidence of cars having been broken into and I've chatted to other cyclists that have had the cars broken into.

nak

FirstinLastout wrote: »

Rostreavor is only a short hop up the road from Dublin, just across from Carlingford and is worth a visit. Castlewellan I'd only a few mind further and well worth spending a day up there.

Worth bearing in mind the possibility of break-in's when parling your car in Ticknock.
I'm a very infrequent visitor but when there, there has always been evidence of cars having been broken into and I've chatted to other cyclists that have had the cars broken into.

Castlewellan and Rostrevor are great.

At Ticknock once a week and have never seen a break-in - usually always people around especially now the Biking.ie hut is there. I leave a change of clothes in the car, but nothing else.

54and56

Thanks FILO and Nak, great info.

Like you Nak I'm concious of leaving items on view in the car as it's an invitation to the scumbags to break your window. Wallets and phones will come with us in a saddle bag so the only thing left in the car will be some towels, a change of clothes and some sambo's.

ozzy jr

Haven't been to Ticknock in a while other than on the bike. Thinking of driving up tomorrow after work, with bike on the back due to lack of time.

Does the car park close at 8pm or later?

Is it safe. Last time I was up there someone was messing with my lock and the car beside had broken window. This was down at the first car park and the wooden hut that is there now wasn't there. It's probably 2 years since I drove up.

It's put me off driving up there unfortunately

saccades

Ballinstoe is a better built/designed trail for a trail centre as gradient isn't as steep, the tech bits are staggered properly and there are very few huge boulders waiting for you if you go off piste.

Ballinstoe relies on you going faster to be harder/more technical and you have to be v skilled/fit to get faster.

Ticknock is steep enough you can get real quick real fast without knowing as a beginner and there are no-where near enough correct runoffs to help you out and quite a few big bits of granite to not help you.

I'm not sure if I'm conveying what I mean very well.

I like it all (except metro 1 from the aerials) in ticknock but I'm familiar with it and probably not a newbie anymore. I've helped a few beginners occasionally and I prefer to take people around ballinstoe because of the above reasons.

tbf - both are newbie-ish trails as there is no/little mud and a very defined and armoured trail. Just be a bit aware of your speed doing the official trails at ticknock.

Another option is someone like madmtb/imbrc do beginner spins and it might be handy giving one of them a go.

There are other handy places scattered all around dublin and wicklow but the official coilte trails are worth a dig first.