Royal Canal on a Road Bike

queldy

Hi guys,

thanks for this thread. Does a gps, strava, whatever map exist of the whole route?

lamaq

The greenway is not finished yet and in some places the greenway is on the opposite side of the Royal Canal Way walk. I don't know if they are going to change the signage once it's complete.

You can view the Royal Canal Way here - http://ra.osmsurround.org/analyzeMap?relationId=3466963

Strava mostly uses OpenStreetMap.org (OSM) for maps, which can be downloaded and used on Garmin devices.

tnegun

Cycled between Kilcock and Maynooth today and I think maintenance of the surface is going to be an issue. The hedges have been cut and debris has been left along the route extending about a foot from the hedges in places and rain run off has already washed away the loose stone topping in some places too

Greybottle

Cycled from Mullingar out to Furey's Pub (Moyvalley) yesterday. All done. Either tarred existing roads or new Limestone sand paths. Excellent surface, parking bays near most bridges, loads of people out and about. Proof that it does work.

I cycled the canal a few times over the years and this was one of the more difficult stretches. Nice to see it done up. Had a look over the fence at Moyvalley to see if the stretch towards Enfield has been done, but couldn't see anything. Looks like there's 2 Km of tough but easily walkable canal path here.

So, if I've got this right, almost all of >Maynooth-Clondra (Shannon) is done?

Carawaystick

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

"Clonsilla to Leixlip Confey Station - mix of grass and clay"

Worst section of the whole thing.

East of Porterstown is the worst bit, I abuse my road bike but I wouldnt do that.

Mercian Pro

Greybottle wrote: »

So, if I've got this right, almost all of >Maynooth-Clondra (Shannon) is done?

Yes, as you can see from earlier posts, there are still a few sections between Maynooth and Moyvalley to be completed but heading west towards the Shannon and the branch to Longford town are fine. Good to hear it's being well used.

mr spuckler

Mercian Pro wrote: »

Yes, as you can see from earlier posts, there are still a few sections between Maynooth and Moyvalley to be completed but heading west towards the Shannon and the branch to Longford town are fine. Good to hear it's being well used.

that's great, I'm planning on a spin from Dublin to Athlone during the summer and was hoping to use the canal in so far as possible, before jumping onto the old rail trail at Mullingar

loudymacloud

mr spuckler wrote: »

that's great, I'm planning on a spin from Dublin to Athlone during the summer and was hoping to use the canal in so far as possible, before jumping onto the old rail trail at Mullingar

Same here, usually jump on at the the Hill of Downs, but taking a risk there with that stretch of path as, assuming its still the same as last summer, covered in rocks. Tough enough going on a road bike.

goverfe

Re. Mercian Pro's very useful list of surface conditions (post of 2/4/18, above), on the sections just before and after Enfield:

1. "Cloncurry Bridge to Enfield - all done except for last 500m into Enfield which has gravel, not sure why this was left. 2.7 + 0.5km"
- update: the last 500m into Enfield has been completed and is now open;

2. "Blackwater aquaduct to Moyvally - have the foundations down and currently being worked on, looked like they were cutting back some of the trees. 2.6km"
- update: Enfield to Blackwater aquaduct (Meath/Kildare border) has already been done. A short section around/after the aquaduct has a foundation layer done (big stones) but no top layer yet. From there to Kilmore Bridge and for some distance beyond (towards Moyvalley Bridge) the towpath has been stripped back to earth and levelled off but no foundation layer has yet been laid. However, this stripping work has not yet reached the Moyvalley bridge area so if you look back towards Enfield from Moyvalley bridge you will not see any evidence of work done. There was some machinery around Kilmore Bridge last week (early May), so it seems the work is being actively progressed. I don't know how they will do the underpass at Moyvalley Bridge however, it looks complicated.

I saw all this when I cycled from Enfield to Mullingar and came back by train - very enjoyable. I cycled from Enfield to the Blackwater Aquaduct and walked the short distance to Kilmore Bridge, took the road to the right and cycled to the R148, turned left and cycled the short distance to Furey's Bar, where I re-joined the Canal. The walk and on-road detour took about 25 minutes, I think.

Thargor

Is this the Grand and Royal canal threads merged into one or do they both run through the same places or something? Ive cycled the Grand canal but not the Royal, planning on doing that in a couple of weeks.

Greybottle

Thargor wrote: »

Is this the Grand and Royal canal threads merged into one or do they both run through the same places or something? Ive cycled the Grand canal but not the Royal, planning on doing that in a couple of weeks.

This is the Royal Canal thread. They are totally separate waterways and don't join or meet anywhere.

MagicBusDriver1

Greybottle wrote: »

Cycled from Mullingar out to Furey's Pub (Moyvalley) yesterday. All done. Either tarred existing roads or new Limestone sand paths. Excellent surface, parking bays near most bridges, loads of people out and about. Proof that it does work.

I cycled the canal a few times over the years and this was one of the more difficult stretches. Nice to see it done up. Had a look over the fence at Moyvalley to see if the stretch towards Enfield has been done, but couldn't see anything. Looks like there's 2 Km of tough but easily walkable canal path here.

So, if I've got this right, almost all of >Maynooth-Clondra (Shannon) is done?

Would this section be suitable for a road bike on 25mm tyres?

Greybottle

MagicBusDriver1 wrote: »

Would this section be suitable for a road bike on 25mm tyres?

Yes. I did it on a bog standard road bike with 23's

mr spuckler

tnegun wrote: »

Cycled between Kilcock and Maynooth today and I think maintenance of the surface is going to be an issue. The hedges have been cut and debris has been left along the route extending about a foot from the hedges in places and rain run off has already washed away the loose stone topping in some places too

is it still doable on a road bike?

RebelButtMunch

mr spuckler wrote: »

is it still doable on a road bike?

Last time I did that route I was only just a little bit past Maynooth when the path was blocked for upgrades and we could go no further.

We'd don't done it before and one of us was on a roadbike. Bar the works it's doable.

brianomc

mr spuckler wrote: »

is it still doable on a road bike?

I was on it for a short trip yesterday and Kilcock to Maynooth is clear and a good surface (tarmac or fine gravel).

Maynooth to Carton House was a bit rough, stick to the worn path. I used the grass verge to give pedestrians loads of space as I overtook and ended up with a slow puncture. A thorny twig and it became a not so slow puncture when I removed it.

Carton to Leixlip was ok.

RebelButtMunch

brianomc wrote: »

I was on it for a short trip yesterday and Kilcock to Maynooth is clear and a good surface (tarmac or fine gravel).

Maynooth to Carton House was a bit rough, stick to the worn path. I used the grass verge to give pedestrians loads of space as I overtook and ended up with a slow puncture. A thorny twig and it became a not so slow puncture when I removed it.

Carton to Leixlip was ok.

We got caught with a thorn puncture too. When they cut the hedges the whitethorn bushes are all over the ground. Huge thorns on them.

mr spuckler

brianomc wrote: »

I was on it for a short trip yesterday and Kilcock to Maynooth is clear and a good surface (tarmac or fine gravel).

Maynooth to Carton House was a bit rough, stick to the worn path. I used the grass verge to give pedestrians loads of space as I overtook and ended up with a slow puncture. A thorny twig and it became a not so slow puncture when I removed it.

Carton to Leixlip was ok.

sounds like I might be best off joining in Maynooth then (heading west). is the access beside the train station?

mr spuckler

so I'm looking at cycling Dublin to Athlone on a road bike in the next couple of weeks, down 1 day & back the next.

from the last couple of pages I think the below is doable but would appreciate if anyone could correct / confirm. thanks!

Canal Greenway from Drumcondra to Castleknock
Road from Castleknock to Maynooth
Canal Greenway from Maynooth to Kilcock
Road from Kilcock to Cloncurry bridge
Canal Greenway from Cloncurry bridge to Enfield
Road from Enfield to Moyvalley
Canal Greenway from Moyvalley to Mullingar
Old rail trail from Mullingar to Athlone

RebelButtMunch

mr spuckler wrote: »

Canal Greenway from Maynooth to Kilcock
Road from Kilcock to Cloncurry bridge

Why are you hitting the road there?

mr spuckler

RebelButtMunch wrote: »

Why are you hitting the road there?

because my search for Blackwater aquaduct earlier sent me much further along and confused me! when I look up Kilmore bridge now I can see it makes sense to go that far and rejoin the main road there as far as Moyvalley.

so it becomes...

Canal Greenway from Drumcondra to Castleknock
Road from Castleknock to Maynooth
Canal Greenway from Maynooth to Kilcock
Road from Kilcock to Cloncurry bridge
Canal Greenway from Cloncurry bridge to Kilmore bridge
Road from Kilmore bridge to Moyvalley
Canal Greenway from Moyvalley to Mullingar
Old rail trail from Mullingar to Athlone

brianomc

mr spuckler wrote: »

sounds like I might be best off joining in Maynooth then (heading west). is the access beside the train station?

We were on the other side of the canal from the train station so I'm not sure if you can go all the way through the car park or if there's gates. Access is still from the Straffan Road though.

RebelButtMunch

mr spuckler wrote: »

sounds like I might be best off joining in Maynooth then (heading west). is the access beside the train station?

No access from the train station side.

Steoller

brianomc wrote: »

mr spuckler wrote: »

sounds like I might be best off joining in Maynooth then (heading west). is the access beside the train station?

We were on the other side of the canal from the train station so I'm not sure if you can go all the way through the car park or if there's gates. Access is still from the Straffan Road though.

You can go all the way through the railway station carpark from the straffan road bridge to Bond bridge, on foot or by bike. You can then use Bond bridge to cross to the greenway side of the canal.

RebelButtMunch

Make sure you're wearing some kind of shades/glasses. Cycling near hedges means lots of flies.
For eats I liked the flahavans oat cakes. Full of energy and relatively cheap. I also put an extra waterbottle carrier on my bike.

edit: oh, also it might be a bit naff but a bell is really handy when cycling along shared pathways.

mr spuckler

RebelButtMunch wrote: »

Make sure you're wearing some kind of shades/glasses. Cycling near hedges means lots of flies.
For eats I liked the flahavans oat cakes. Full of energy and relatively cheap. I also put an extra waterbottle carrier on my bike.

edit: oh, also it might be a bit naff but a bell is really handy when cycling along shared pathways.

I wear prescription sunglasses and am well used to cycling longish distances

cjt156

I did a quick run from Leixlip to the 17th lock (past Kilcock) 2 weeks ago. From opposite Intel to Carton House is rough dried mud; fine for a CX or mountain bike - a bit ropey on 23's.
From Carton, through Maynooth and Kilcock to the 17th the surface is fine compact gravel (I'm sure there's a name for it) perfectly fine on a roadbike with 23mm tyres.
At the bridges and other points there is excellent quality asphalt, in some places there are older flagstones too.
At the 17th you have to go back on road as the upgrade hasn't started yet, not sure where you pick it up again as I turned back there.
Hope this helps!

goverfe

mr spuckler wrote: »

RebelButtMunch wrote: »

Why are you hitting the road there?

because my search for Blackwater aquaduct earlier sent me much further along and confused me! when I look up Kilmore bridge now I can see it makes sense to go that far and rejoin the main road there as far as Moyvalley.

so it becomes...

Canal Greenway from Drumcondra to Castleknock
Road from Castleknock to Maynooth
Canal Greenway from Maynooth to Kilcock
Road from Kilcock to Cloncurry bridge
Canal Greenway from Cloncurry bridge to Kilmore bridge
Road from Kilmore bridge to Moyvalley
Canal Greenway from Moyvalley to Mullingar
Old rail trail from Mullingar to Athlone

Re: Canal Greenway from Maynooth to Kilcock and from Kilcock to Cloncurry bridge
You can continue through Kilcock on the Canal Greenway as far as Fern's Lock (17th lock)/McLoughlin Bridge and then by road to Cloncurry bridge.

goverfe

BTW, when I was cycling from Leixlip Confey towards Maynooth yesterday I whizzed by a sign which I think said that the towpath from Confey to Maynooth would be closed for works from 28 or 29 May. Sorry I didn't stop to read it fully, maybe someone else has more details?

Steoller

Having the Maynooth to Leixlip tow-path complete would be awesome. It would mean no more cycling on the Leixlip road for me.