Blessington lakes spin

secman

Going to venture out by Blessington some evening this week. It's probably 18 to 20 years since I last went around the lakes...used to know where the sheep dogs used to be lying in ambush mode ... the sprint sections.. what's it like now around there these days. The route will be from Blessington..to valleymount .. around the lakes up to Lacken. Probably back road to Manor Kilbride and then main road back to Tallaght.

Thanks in advance

crosstownk

It's a nice spin although I usually do it the other way around. Some nice little climbs but nothing to taxing. The climb out of Ballyknockan is probably the steepest but it's short.

The road surface is good (or at least typical). Traffic is light enough around the lakes with the busiest section from Valleymount to the N81.

There's nowhere to stop for a coffee or cake on the lake circuit so I usually wait until I get back to Blessington and I usually stop at the Rooster(?) in the shopping centre just off the main street.

It's a nice spin with great scenery. I leave from Terenure and it's a 75km round trip with about 600m of climbing.

secman

Thanks crosstownk I'm familiar with the route and the rolling climbs etc ...my question was more about dogs if I'm honest....

Secman

crosstownk

secman wrote: »

Thanks crosstownk I'm familiar with the route and the rolling climbs etc ...my question was more about dogs if I'm honest....

Secman

I've been around the lakes numerous times and never once have I had hassle from a dog.

That said, I've cycled the Lisheen Road from the N81 to to Manor Kilbride more times than I can remember and I was hassled by a dog for the first time last week.

stackerman

I do that spin regularly, and have not encountered a single dog "episode"

smacl

Also regular enough around the lakes including a good section last weekend, no dog issues to date. There's a sheep dog / rough collie on the road between N81 and Manor Kilbride that always gives me a bark and runs alongside on the inside of the fence through a few fields by the road, but seems to know well enough to stay off the road. Lot of bark out there, but not seeing any bite.

Red Kev

crosstownk wrote: »

There's nowhere to stop for a coffee or cake on the lake circuit so I usually wait until I get back to Blessington and I usually stop at the Rooster(?) in the shopping centre just off the main street.
.

Ok, I left Dublin about 4 years ago and haven't done that cycle since. But does that mean that the shop in Lacken is shut as well as the pub in Ballyknockan ?

Fian

me too, I decide how after valleymount whether i have time/am in teh mood to go over wicklow gap and home via roundwood/enniskerry or loop around teh lakes and head back via blessington/tallaght. Never had a dog incident, done it regularly. there is one old sheepdog i occasionally see in teh company of a farmer, no hassle from that

crosstownk

Red Kev wrote: »

Ok, I left Dublin about 4 years ago and haven't done that cycle since. But does that mean that the shop in Lacken is shut as well as the pub in Ballyknockan ?

I don't know about the shop in Lacken, but the pub in Ballyknockan looks like it is still open but it's usually closed when I pass early on a Sunday morning.

blackvalley

Can confirm that the shop in Ballyknockan has been closed for about two years
Correction " the shop in Lackan "

smacl

blackvalley wrote: »

Can confirm that the shop in Ballyknockan has been closed for about two years
Correction " the shop in Lackan "

Bit of a loss this as it was a lovely scenic stop for an ice cream break.

secman

Managed to get out for a spin this evening. Kilnamanagh to blessington..valleymount...around to ballyknockon..Lacken. back through blessington, main Road back your Kilnamanagh. 70.4km... ave 25.6km. Lovely evening for a spin. Saw what looked like a race , starting at old Brittas inn..

Oh and no dogs

crosstownk

I was out by Brittas myself this evening and saw a few different club heading that way. It's a regular enough spot for club races, AFAIK.

blackvalley

crosstownk wrote: »

I was out by Brittas myself this evening and saw a few different club heading that way. It's a regular enough spot for club races, AFAIK.

That is a Thursday evening league race involving several clubs including , Irish road club , Staggs , UCD , Orwell and possibly a few more . The start alternates each week between Brittas and Clonee / Blackbull .

crosstownk

blackvalley wrote: »

That is a Thursday evening league race involving several clubs including , Irish road club , Staggs , UCD , Orwell and possibly a few more . The start alternates each week between Brittas and Clonee / Blackbull .

I guessed it was something along those lines.

Not much has changed in 30 years. I remember when I was in the IRC in the late 80's (in the AMEV sponsorship days ) that we used to alternate between Clonee and Brittas - although I think we started at the Jobstown Inn and finished near Brittas.