Good spin near Centerparcs

iancairns

Off to Centerparcs with the family next weekend. Would anyone know of a nice 100k spin in and around there?

Thanks!

Ian

fat bloke

You think you can park up and just cycle out of the park???

flazio

Royal Canal Greenway is right beside Centre Parcs

mr spuckler

Pity we're a week apart Ian or you could join me for a spin! I'm heading Monday fortnight and am planning exactly the same if all works out ok.


Below is what I've planned, though I might try to use more back roads between Glasson & Ballymahon. That road is pretty busy and has pretty much no hard shoulder. I'm also not sure which direction I'll do it in! I've done almost this exact loop before though starting & finishing in Athlone. You're on greenways (Royal Canal between Ballymahon & Mullingar then Old Rail Trail between Mullingar & Athlone) for around 70km, both of them are absolutely fine for a road bike and the canal one has a real sirene beauty to it.

https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1047019?units=km

CramCycle

I had the same plan when I went a few weeks ago, if your going with family, enjoy the dream If you have a CX bike there are a few trails based on strava.

LennoxR

Circuit of Lough Ree perhaps?

iancairns

Ah pity. Thanks for invite. Legend for sharing route. I’ll more than likely give this a go and report back! Nice one!

mr spuckler wrote: »

Pity we're a week apart Ian or you could join me for a spin! I'm heading Monday fortnight and am planning exactly the same if all works out ok.


Below is what I've planned, though I might try to use more back roads between Glasson & Ballymahon. That road is pretty busy and has pretty much no hard shoulder. I'm also not sure which direction I'll do it in! I've done almost this exact loop before though starting & finishing in Athlone. You're on greenways (Royal Canal between Ballymahon & Mullingar then Old Rail Trail between Mullingar & Athlone) for around 70km, both of them are absolutely fine for a road bike and the canal one has a real sirene beauty to it.

https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1047019?units=km

Eamonnator

fat bloke wrote: »

You think you can park up and just cycle out of the park???

Coolmoney Army Camp.
Glen of Imaal, Co. Wicklow.
Or am I mixing this up with another movie?.

drunkmonkey

Take plenty of your own food, it's not great there any expensive for what you get. Bring your own pancake mix as the kids will definitely want them after passing the pancake house, Aldi's rib steak burgers and there broche buns are miles better than you'll find on-site.

CramCycle

Definitely bring your own food to cook, shop is reasonable and I thought price wise they were ok for restaurants, my issue was that what I'd cook myself would be better. If I get takeout or go to a restaurant I expect it to be better than my own cooking. Also don't order anything with Guacamole in it, not sure what they use but it's not guacamole.

1882

A lovely holiday with your family to centre parcs for a few days and you want to f'off on them for a 100k spin !

Give that man the father of the year award...

CramCycle

1882 wrote: »

A lovely holiday with your family to centre parcs for a few days and you want to f'off on them for a 100k spin !

Give that man the father of the year award...

I know plenty of people who do this, head off bright and early, be back just before the kids are normally out of bed. My comment on the good luck was because I was exhausted the first few days, the swimming really took it out of me more than I expected. I normally sleep very little but there I fell asleep at the same time as the kids and woke only minutes before them.

marvin80

A mate from the cycling club said there's a trail/path from Newcastle Woods (where Center Parcs is based) linking it to the Royal Canal.
Then head upto Mullingar on the canal, jump onto the Old Rail trail from Mullingar to Athlone and then Athlone back to Ballymahon.

Wouldn't be far of 100km I'd say. The last 20km from Athlone are on the road, otherwise all off-road and something different.

fat bloke

1882 wrote: »

A lovely holiday with your family to centre parcs for a few days and you want to f'off on them for a 100k spin !

Give that man the father of the year award...

It's exactly that getting out for a spin which will ensure a lovely holiday with the family.

It's a healthy example for the kids, it's good for Daddy's health, and a damn sight better than throwing fanta and taytos at em while sinking pints over a premiership match.
Would you be similarly damning of a Mother of the year spending a couple of hours at on site spa treatments?

eeimcaw

For road bike.
Head to lanesborough, Roscommon, athleague (cafe petite tarte for stop), curraghboy, Athlone, ballymahon. About 90k.

Head to Longford first then lanesborough would add 20/30k extra

KevRossi

Take this route from Athlone to Ballymahon/Centerparcs. The N55 is a shltshow; narrow, cars driving too fast, blind hills and blind bends. The route here is one I've cycled loads of times and is quiet and relaxing.

https://www.google.ie/maps/dir/Old+Rail+Trail+Greenway/Center+Parcs+Longford+Forest,+Newcastle+Road,+Newcastle,+Ballymahon,+Co.+Longford/@53.5332642,-7.8519474,12.25z/data=!4m19!4m18!1m10!1m1!1s0x485c497ab87bd591:0x648d909d0e0f1646!2m2!1d-7.8999583!2d53.4224231!3m4!1m2!1d-7.8578237!2d53.5190309!3s0x485c35aa52d5e469:0x8f92703a7be56299!1m5!1m1!1s0x485dcba8ca0eae15:0xad670344d3bb7cb5!2m2!1d-7.7169273!2d53.5553582!3e1

Another route is this one along quiet backroads; then back along the canal to Center Parcs. About 70Km all in. Tarmonbarry has a couple of excellent bars for food.
https://www.google.ie/maps/dir/Center+Parcs+Longford+Forest,+Newcastle+Road,+Newcastle,+Ballymahon,+Co.+Longford/Cloondara,+County+Longford/@53.7138362,-8.0101388,11z/data=!4m24!4m23!1m15!1m1!1s0x485dcba8ca0eae15:0xad670344d3bb7cb5!2m2!1d-7.7169273!2d53.5553582!3m4!1m2!1d-7.9415885!2d53.60871!3s0x485c322a0a988d67:0xdb707cfbeec37da!3m4!1m2!1d-8.0117107!2d53.6990739!3s0x485c2eeffbf56e59:0x1fdbf52dacbfd493!1m5!1m1!1s0x485c2c84ad305add:0xa00c7a9973175a0!2m2!1d-7.9043919!2d53.7311034!3e1

Or for a 90 Km spin, this one to Roosky and back to Cloondara, then back along the canal. https://www.google.ie/maps/dir/Center+Parcs+Longford+Forest,+Newcastle+Road,+Newcastle,+Ballymahon,+Co.+Longford/Cloondara,+County+Longford/@53.7475673,-8.0530042,11.54z/data=!4m34!4m33!1m25!1m1!1s0x485dcba8ca0eae15:0xad670344d3bb7cb5!2m2!1d-7.7169273!2d53.5553582!3m4!1m2!1d-7.9415885!2d53.60871!3s0x485c322a0a988d67:0xdb707cfbeec37da!3m4!1m2!1d-8.0117107!2d53.6990739!3s0x485c2eeffbf56e59:0x1fdbf52dacbfd493!3m4!1m2!1d-8.0231976!2d53.8082101!3s0x485c29e638550a8f:0x19ff19d575e2bf4b!3m4!1m2!1d-7.92974!2d53.82688!3s0x485e80264a008c63:0x9efe9d652faabf43!1m5!1m1!1s0x485c2c84ad305add:0xa00c7a9973175a0!2m2!1d-7.9043919!2d53.7311034!3e1

I know these roads very well, they're quiet save for local traffic and tractors. Gorgeous in summer. Some of them are flooded at the moment though.

tigerboon

Some nice sections of the canal around Abbeyshrule to Ballynacarrigy as part of a route

un5byh7sqpd2x0

Eamonnator wrote: »

Coolmoney Army Camp.
Glen of Imaal, Co. Wicklow.
Or am I mixing this up with another movie?.

That’s the Great Escape, doesn’t look like The Glen

Eamonnator

Florence Faithful Freshwater wrote: »

That’s the Great Escape, doesn’t look like The Glen

You're quite right.
What film am I thinking of? War movie using Coolmoney army camp as a German P.O.W. camp. Made in 60s or 70s.

bazermc

Knowing how Center Parcs operate they’ll probably charge you to leave on a bike, especially one not rented by then to you.

un5byh7sqpd2x0

Eamonnator wrote: »

You're quite right.
What film am I thinking of? War movie using Coolmoney army camp as a German P.O.W. camp. Made in 60s or 70s.

The McKenzie Break?

Eamonnator

Florence Faithful Freshwater wrote: »

The McKenzie Break?

Thanks. It was cracking' me up.

Hurrache

bazermc wrote: »

Knowing how Center Parcs operate they’ll probably charge you to leave on a bike, especially one not rented by then to you.

They're grand to deal with, plenty of non rented bikes of all ranges all over the place.

CramCycle

fat bloke wrote: »

It's a healthy example for the kids, it's good for Daddy's health, and a damn sight better than throwing fanta and taytos at em while sinking pints over a premiership match.

As a Longford person, we let them play pool and have a miwadi an hour, only one bag of Tayto in any sitting as dinner will be waiting for them when we get home, while we debate the great moral issues of our time (or the weekend) over a few pints.

fat bloke

Really tis the forced premiership viewing I'd be most offended by. Paris Nice coverage now and they could TK Red Lemonade the day away

1882

fat bloke wrote: »

Would you be similarly damning of a Mother of the year spending a couple of hours at on site spa treatments?

No I wouldn't. I understand it's a loaded question you asked with loads of comebacks, but in my circumstances; on holidays I like to give my wife a break as much as possible as an appreciation for all she does on a daily level, which is much more than me.

Effects

1882 wrote: »

On holidays I like to give my wife a break as much as possible as an appreciation for all she does on a daily level, which is much more than me.

Well surely you should realise not everyone has the same parenting style as you.
Or we could sit back and take pot shots at you for thinking you can pay for a holiday every now and then because you feel guilty about not being around to raise your kids properly.

1882

Effects wrote: »

Well surely you should realise not everyone has the same parenting style as you.
Or we could sit back and take pot shots at you for thinking you can pay for a holiday every now and then because you feel guilty about not being around to raise your kids properly.

Great reply well done. Try and go easy on the sherry there darling.

fat bloke

1882 wrote: »

No I wouldn't. I understand it's a loaded question you asked with loads of comebacks, but in my circumstances; on holidays I like to give my wife a break as much as possible as an appreciation for all she does on a daily level, which is much more than me.

Well fair play to you in that respect but to be fair you did imply that your circumstances were everyone else's. That's not the case obviously. Plenty of Dads shoulder the bulk of the domestics and plenty of Moms go out to earn the primary shilling, so maybe Mom wants time with the kids and maybe Dad deserves a spin on his bike. It is a holiday for everyone after all.

Anyway, from what I hear Centerparcs has plenty to keep everyone entertained and is a solid, if a little pricey, family holiday destination. -Bonnes vacances to the OP.

Macy0161

fat bloke wrote: »

Well fair play to you in that respect but to be fair you did imply that your circumstances were everyone else's. That's not the case obviously. Plenty of Dads shoulder the bulk of the domestics and plenty of Moms go out to earn the primary shilling, so maybe Mom wants time with the kids and maybe Dad deserves a spin on his bike. It is a holiday for everyone after all.

Plenty that do fairly 50-50 as well (well probably not, but I do try!).

fwiw, last summer on the holiday, I was waking at my usual time - couple of hours spin, home with the pastries (and some days a shop in panniers), back to the tent just as everyone was stirring. Worked out great, and actually ended up scoping out the area for day trips, and taking some of the "boring" stuff out of the day.

cletus

1882 wrote: »

Great reply well done. Try and go easy on the sherry there darling.

What a beautiful example of ad hominem

mr spuckler

KevRossi wrote: »

Take this route from Athlone to Ballymahon/Centerparcs. The N55 is a shltshow; narrow, cars driving too fast, blind hills and blind bends. The route here is one I've cycled loads of times and is quiet and relaxing.

https://www.google.ie/maps/dir/Old+Rail+Trail+Greenway/Center+Parcs+Longford+Forest,+Newcastle+Road,+Newcastle,+Ballymahon,+Co.+Longford/@53.5332642,-7.8519474,12.25z/data=!4m19!4m18!1m10!1m1!1s0x485c497ab87bd591:0x648d909d0e0f1646!2m2!1d-7.8999583!2d53.4224231!3m4!1m2!1d-7.8578237!2d53.5190309!3s0x485c35aa52d5e469:0x8f92703a7be56299!1m5!1m1!1s0x485dcba8ca0eae15:0xad670344d3bb7cb5!2m2!1d-7.7169273!2d53.5553582!3e1

Thanks for that, I knew a route via the back roads had been posted before (possibly in response to a request of mine) but couldn't find it. My only recent experience of that main road was at 8am on a Saturday morning when it was fairly quiet. Would definitely be best avoided if going later in the day.

fat bloke

Macy0161 wrote: »

Plenty that do fairly 50-50 as well (well probably not, but I do try!).

fwiw, last summer on the holiday, I was waking at my usual time - couple of hours spin, home with the pastries (and some days a shop in panniers), back to the tent just as everyone was stirring. Worked out great, and actually ended up scoping out the area for day trips, and taking some of the "boring" stuff out of the day.

Absolutely yeah. You can make it work for sure. We had 10 days in Lanzarote over Christmas. Alternate days me and mrs - up and out at 7am, back at 11 ish. Kids are only stirring outta the scratcher, or finishing breakfast. The day is still there for all and Mom/Dad have gotten their exercise fix.

Dizraeligears

Avoid the Athlone Ballymahon road, its brutal for cycling.The alternative route put up bu KevRossi above will be far quieter.
Also you could try leaving the RailTrail at Moate and heading north by Ballymore/Moyvoughly/Forgney.

CramCycle

1882 wrote: »

Great reply well done. Try and go easy on the sherry there darling.

MOD VOICE: Attack the post, not the poster, one and only warning.

1882

CramCycle wrote: »

MOD VOICE: Attack the post, not the poster, one and only warning.

Sorry for being a Dick.
OP Have a ball on yer holliers. Kids will love it!

Wishbone Ash

1882 wrote: »

.... on holidays I like to give my wife a break as much as possible ....

Same here which is why I almost always bring a bike or rent a bike while on holidays. My family would be horrified if I was around all day spoiling their break.