Magic roads

ford2600

As a balance to the ftp/power meter fixated monsters ripping up the racing scene I thought I'd put up some of the nicest roads I've had the pleasure of riding over the last 12 months or so.

I came across a book lately on cycle route in Munster which had the following stat 12,000km of public roads in the province. Most of those are empty most of the time.

Wide tyre/wide rim go explore and find your own.

HINT: if you do a 30/40/50km spin your getting there when there is next to no segments/very few on your ride when you get back. Or don't bother recording it at all if you like.

https://www.strava.com/segments/2226915
https://www.strava.com/segments/5675425
https://www.strava.com/segments/14299128
https://www.strava.com/segments/9815598
https://www.strava.com/segments/12760147
https://www.strava.com/segments/2152376
https://www.strava.com/segments/7863066
https://www.strava.com/segments/11913255
https://www.strava.com/segments/7009320
Kiltegan-Glen of Imaal- Donnard-Holywood (couldn't be bothered making segemnt)
https://www.strava.com/segments/702417

As an aside our club has recently started having a deliberate go at using unused county roads on club spin and has been quite popular; a real mix of rider types

magicbastarder

i clicked into this thread thinking it was going to be about roads where if you stop pedalling, you seemingly start to roll uphill.

ford2600

magicbastarder wrote: »

i clicked into this thread thinking it was going to be about roads where if you stop pedalling, you seemingly start to roll uphill.

https://www.strava.com/segments/1069257 — Open Section Mahon Falls

Cattle grid and whitethorn tree is where the magic happens.

Don't laugh at the little people..

nilhg

Since my FTP seems to have magically disappeared I'm going to be on the lookout for a few of these roads over the next while.

A few to start off with.

Some of the smaller roads in the Blooms are nice

Tulla Gap is lovely in the spring/autumn
https://www.strava.com/segments/6797049

And while the Glendine is painful it's also quiet and peaceful
https://www.strava.com/segments/7238384

Still in Laois the Luggacurren/Wolfhill area is well worth exploring, not that many segments (or tarmac in places) but if you start with these two and wander after that you'll not be sorry
https://www.strava.com/segments/1249037
https://www.strava.com/segments/7916218

And in Wicklow you can't beat the Hollywood Glen, though I think this is part of what the OP was referring to earlier on
https://www.strava.com/segments/1236740

I'm sure I'll come up with a few more, will stick them up when I do.

smacl

Not on Strava, but another favourite near Hollywood starts here and is now my preferred approach to the Wicklow gap. Only other time I've met a cyclist on it he was wearing an Audax Ireland top. For magic that has more to do with the wicked witch than the good fairy, the back road from Greenane to Macreddin Village is a curse you'll repeat out loud on the way up as is this little fella slightly afterwards. Similarly, the climb out past Clara church in either direction always has me wishing for just one more gear. Away from the lumps and bumps, coming back towards Ballymore after a morning in Glen of Imaal - Donard, the back roads around Dunlavin have a far more chilled kind of magic about them.

Wishbone Ash

smacl wrote: »

..Similarly, the climb out past Clara church in either direction always has me wishing for just one more gear...

It difficult to appreciate the beauty there when the gradient feels like being repeatedly punched in the face. One of those climbs where the only thing that stops you doing the walk of shame is knowing that the bike will be rolling swiftly backwards before you get a chance to unclip.

cdaly_

smacl wrote: »

For magic that has more to do with the wicked witch than the good fairy, the back road from Greenane to Macreddin Village is a curse you'll repeat out loud on the way up

I remember one occasion as I started climbing that, a dog came out of the yard to the left. "Oh crap! Dog!". No barking or chasing. She just quietly walked up the hill beside me, casting occasional contemptuous looks as I gasped for breath. I got to the top, dog turned and trotted off...

Daroxtar

The Shay Elliot Westwards from Laragh. https://www.strava.com/segments/655123
Just as you go around the hairpin and look over to your left. It's a reminder of how very beautiful this country of ours is.
The road from Algour down by the Reservoir to the start of Cunard is stunning too. Mind you, there's a sense of dread attached to that one.