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Irish Gravel Routes (Check out my Gravel Tips)

2456

Comments

  • #52
    Alek
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,520 ✭✭✭Alek


    I got a potential pass for half day, but for me it would be more like 80+km... can we meet past the Ballinascorney climb perhaps, as early as possible for you?

    (lets decide tomorrow / Friday whats the best day forecast-wise)


  • #53
    LennoxR
    Registered Users Posts: 414 ✭✭LennoxR


    Alek wrote: »
    I got a potential pass for half day, but for me it would be more like 80+km... can we meet past the Ballinascorney climb perhaps, as early as possible for you?

    (lets decide tomorrow / Friday whats the best day forecast-wise)


    Ok, we could probably cut out the Saggart loop to make it a bit shorter.


  • #54
    a148pro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,207 ✭✭✭a148pro


    LennoxR wrote: »
    Anyone else interested? Hypothetically even?

    I would be, but quite hypothetically - I generally go at last minute when I get free in work, weekends focussed on kids

    Plus meeting random internet types on lonely forest roads probably inadvisable; )

    But please post any routes you do and I will do likewise

    Ps the book above in the thread is excellent, and not just for gravel


  • #55
    LennoxR
    Registered Users Posts: 414 ✭✭LennoxR


    It turns out I can't do this weekend after all actually, sorry about that Alek. But will definitely come back on this.


  • #56
    Alek
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,520 ✭✭✭Alek


    No problem, it turns out my kiddos got ill and I'd better stay with them over the weekend... stay tuned though :)


  • #57
    SteelyC
    Registered Users Posts: 6 ✭SteelyC


    Great thread, thanks to everybody who has shared their suggestions of places to ride.

    I’ve just moved back home after living in England where I was spoilt by having a huge network of lovely bridleways to ride on, so it’s really useful to have these ideas of places to ride here, will be checking them out.

    I can’t contribute any suggestions here yet as I haven’t found much around Carlow yet (other than Coillte forest roads), but in case any of you are interested there are some great off-road sportive/races/events in the UK which are worth a look - last year I was at True Grit in North Yorkshire and it looked amazing (I only rode a short section as I had the baby in the trailer, but my other half did it and loved it) and I’ve just entered Dirty Reiver for next year, I’ve ridden on some of those forest roads in Northumberland and it is absolutely beautiful there.

    Anyway, thanks again to all the people who have put such useful info up here!


  • #58
    timmyjimmy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 494 ✭✭timmyjimmy


    This offroad event in the UK looks like mighty fun:

    http://www.bikepacking.com/event/surly-dorset-gravel-dash-2018/


  • #59
    a148pro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,207 ✭✭✭a148pro


    SteelyC wrote: »

    I can’t contribute any suggestions here yet as I haven’t found much around Carlow yet (other than Coillte forest roads), !

    Check out barrow tow path - think it goes past or certainly near carlow? All the way off road from thomas town to dublin. Probably very linear but I've heard its beautiful and hope to knock it off in due course.


  • #60
    De Bhál
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,937 ✭✭✭De Bhál


    a148pro wrote: »
    Check out barrow tow path - think it goes past or certainly near carlow? All the way off road from thomas town to dublin. Probably very linear but I've heard its beautiful and hope to knock it off in due course.

    yep The Barrow way goes through Carlow. The Barrow doesn't go through Thomastown though. The track starts in Saint Mullin's, Carlow and from there you could cycle the whole way to Dublin.

    I did Graiguenmanagh to Athy during the summer and loved it, so relaxing to be away from traffic and on the bike for for 4 or 5 hours.
    From recollection there were no gates to lift the bike over and getting through Carlow was a bit haphazard as there were no signs telling you which side of the river to follow but other than that a great day.


    DSC-0588.jpg



    DSC-0589.jpg


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  • #61
    a148pro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,207 ✭✭✭a148pro


    Might be best to take our posts and your pics down - keep it quiet!

    Route in the book suggests you leave the route and go to thomastown to get train back I think that's why I have it confused. Also says the bit to the end is a dead end but beautiful. Think you can also cycle over to the wexford - dublin line.


  • #62
    De Bhál
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,937 ✭✭✭De Bhál


    a148pro wrote: »
    Might be best to take our posts and your pics down - keep it quiet!

    That did occur to me when putting up the pictures but to be honest I met only about 4 other cyclists over the course of the day which is a bit miserable when you consider the brilliant resource available to people. Ok it's not a tarmac surface but you'd think more would use it.

    I also met a few walkers and a fair few fishermen.

    I rode the Royal canal a couple of summers ago from Phibsborough to Clondara and met very few cyclists on it. Again I suspect the surface of the track must be the reason for people not going on it.

    Compare that with the Waterford greenway, the day I was on that it was well populated.
    I'd prefer to see these tracks have people on them.


  • #63
    a148pro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,207 ✭✭✭a148pro


    And that, precisely, is the debate about the Barrow, whether to grit it or not. For me, I'd much prefer to see it wild, but then again I have an N+1 bought and maybe others not so lucky. But plenty of gritted greenways around and they are choc a block. Keep it pure imo. The nicest bit, and the bit with best wildlife on the stretch of the Grand out of Dublin that I've done is green. The concrete bits are urban, staid.


  • #64
    De Bhál
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,937 ✭✭✭De Bhál


    a148pro wrote: »
    And that, precisely, is the debate about the Barrow, whether to grit it or not. For me, I'd much prefer to see it wild, but then again I have an N+1 bought and maybe others not so lucky. But plenty of gritted greenways around and they are choc a block. Keep it pure imo. The nicest bit, and the bit with best wildlife on the stretch of the Grand out of Dublin that I've done is green. The concrete bits are urban, staid.

    I'd agree up to a point. I found the barrow way fine but energy sapping at times and I'm a relatively fit & strong cyclist. I'd say if you were to go on it now it must be very wet and mucky and impassable for most...(I could be very well wrong).

    To be honest i don't know much about the different sides of the argument to have the paths resurfaced so will keep my nose out of it, as a very infrequent user.


  • #65
    smacl
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 15,776 Mod ✭✭✭✭smacl


    De Bhál wrote: »
    To be honest i don't know much about the different sides of the argument to have the paths resurfaced so will keep my nose out of it, as a very infrequent user.

    I find one of the things I really enjoy cycling the Grand Canal is the mix of terrain, from fast crushed gravel all the way down to the mucky wilder sections. The variety stops it from being monotonous and I'd hate for it to be uniform all the way, even though it does make it tough in spots after bad weather.


  • #66
    SteelyC
    Registered Users Posts: 6 ✭SteelyC


    De Bhál wrote: »
    yep The Barrow way goes through Carlow. The Barrow doesn't go through Thomastown though. The track starts in Saint Mullin's, Carlow and from there you could cycle the whole way to Dublin.

    I did Graiguenmanagh to Athy during the summer and loved it, so relaxing to be away from traffic and on the bike for for 4 or 5 hours.
    From recollection there were no gates to lift the bike over and getting through Carlow was a bit haphazard as there were no signs telling you which side of the river to follow but other than that a great day.







    Apologies, only getting back to this thread now!

    Yep, have been riding the Barrow track a good bit, it’s fun. There are some pretty boggy bits now with all the rain, and some fairly long grass in patches which can be a bit of a slog, but that makes for nice variety, because there are some other fun bits where you can fairly put your head down and go hard!

    And I agree, it’s surprisingly quiet, or at least the stretch around Carlow is. Once you go more than about a mile either side of the town you rarely meet anybody, even at the weekend.


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  • #67
    a148pro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,207 ✭✭✭a148pro


    Alek wrote: »
    Roughly between 2km and 24km here:

    https://www.strava.com/routes/14112402

    :)

    Did a bit of this recently and managed to find a route over cruagh to the featherbeds, albeit with a lot of carrying. Hope to look at google earth and work out a route from massey cruagh and on up to kippure Summit mostly off road. If I manage it will post it up. And if there's a route almost all the way above guinness lake as described elsewhere here could add that in.


  • #68
    smacl
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 15,776 Mod ✭✭✭✭smacl


    a148pro wrote: »
    Did a bit of this recently and managed to find a route over cruagh to the featherbeds, albeit with a lot of carrying. Hope to look at google earth and work out a route from massey cruagh and on up to kippure Summit mostly off road. If I manage it will post it up. And if there's a route almost all the way above guinness lake as described elsewhere here could add that in.

    I've seen lads on MTBs do it but it would be well beyond my ability. From the main fire road in Cruagh coming from the car park you have a steep right up a gravel path on that takes you to another reasonably ok gravel path which loops back down to the main fire road via wooden sleepers. About 100m into this path going up a steep incline you'll see a tree on the left and a goat track used by walkers (and braver MTBers). Follow this to the edge of the trees and it goes uphill again and comes out on better path here which takes you out the Featherbeds here or via a much rougher route here. I've walked these routes and if I'm honest, if I had the CX bike with me I'd still walking the larger part ;)


  • #69
    a148pro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,207 ✭✭✭a148pro


    That's very helpful - thanks for going to the effort of posting it

    I went down the "much rougher route here" and it was grand on a diverge with 38 tires and front bar suspension. Fair bit of carrying prior to that but might be able to cut some out.

    Start of off road to Kippure looks pretty bumpy but hopefully doable, but then the track seems to go cold before the last bit might run it in advance


  • #70
    smacl
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 15,776 Mod ✭✭✭✭smacl


    a148pro wrote: »
    That's very helpful - thanks for going to the effort of posting it

    I went down the "much rougher route here" and it was grand on a diverge with 38 tires and front bar suspension. Fair bit of carrying prior to that but might be able to cut some out.

    Start of off road to Kippure looks pretty bumpy but hopefully doable, but then the track seems to go cold before the last bit might run it in advance

    That road towards Kippure (after crossing the Military road) is fine on a CX bike even with my pretty crap technical abilities (albeit dismounting for a few rockier bits), but runs out and leaves you in bog land at the bottom of the climb. There's another route from the back of Glenasmole the take you a bit closer, but also a dead end. To get a loop out of it, you could probably link it to the back of the Glassamucky track here but I haven't tried it.


  • #71
    a148pro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,207 ✭✭✭a148pro


    Hmmm, looks like a bit of a slog. There is of course a road up kippure but that's all a bit pedestrian. Ta for your help.


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  • #72
    Peterx
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,118 ✭✭✭Peterx


    a148pro wrote: »
    Did a bit of this recently and managed to find a route over cruagh to the featherbeds, albeit with a lot of carrying. Hope to look at google earth and work out a route from massey cruagh and on up to kippure Summit mostly off road. If I manage it will post it up. And if there's a route almost all the way above guinness lake as described elsewhere here could add that in.

    https://www.strava.com/activities/1684761023

    Up Kippure and over to Seefingan, Corrig and down the rough track to the back of the Reservoir. Maybe 10-15% walking on the way up Kippure.

    To be fair it's nearly off topic as it's an MTB spin on a really dry day.

    I think on a CX bike you are looking at too much walking and also sinking into the bog.

    The CX bike would get up masseys, cruagh and over to the military road and then you could join the DMW down to the Resevoir.


  • #73
    a148pro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,207 ✭✭✭a148pro


    That looks savage. Definitely going to give that a go, might run it first, did that route down from cruagh ok on the 38s, I'd say trail to kippure will be grand from then on it'll 'ev interesting.

    Thanks for posting.


  • #74
    Brendan Hennessy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 476 ✭✭Brendan Hennessy


    Hi all,

    Really enjoying this thread. Ye might be interested in our event the OldVelos Vintage Classic which while not off-road, does ride a patchwork of boreens around the Comeragh's and Curraghmore in West Waterford (as well as gravel in the Curraghmore Estate). Our motto is old bikes and old roads so you can take your pick!!

    [IMG][/img]46883011921_fa330f0d9e_z.jpgVintageClassic19 by Didawah, on Flickr


  • #75
    Fighting Tao
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,487 ✭✭✭Fighting Tao


    I came across gravelmap.com when searching online for routes (still have to get myself that gravel bike but will hopefully have one soon). Unfortunately, no one has uploaded routes for Ireland. If anyone feels like uploading theirs it would be appreciated.

    https://gravelmap.com


  • #76
    GravelBikeBlog
    Registered Users Posts: 3 ✭GravelBikeBlog


    Fighting Tao wrote: »
    I came across gravelmap.com when searching online for routes (still have to get myself that gravel bike but will hopefully have one soon). Unfortunately, no one has uploaded routes for Ireland. If anyone feels like uploading theirs it would be appreciated.
    I'm based in Galway and work out of a bike shop in Moycullen, just 12k out of the
    city. I have loads or routes mapped that use back roads and bog roads but most are linked together with main roads as a lot of them are dead ends, there's very few complete loops.

    There is also a group of us that cycle in the wind park near us. Nearly 70k of roads in there and more being developed. I'd love to put up some routes but a lot of them cross peoples land and our group has worked hard to keep local relations with land owners in the good books so that limits what I can post. Don't want randomers wandering through people back gardens.


  • #77
    cletus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,050 ✭✭✭cletus


    GravelBikeBlog wrote: »
    I'm based in Galway and work out of a bike shop in Moycullen, just 12k out of the
    city. I have loads or routes mapped that use back roads and bog roads but most are linked together with main roads as a lot of them are dead ends, there's very few complete loops.

    There is also a group of us that cycle in the wind park near us. Nearly 70k of roads in there and more being developed. I'd love to put up some routes but a lot of them cross peoples land and our group has worked hard to keep local relations with land owners in the good books so that limits what I can post. Don't want randomers wandering through people back gardens.

    Gravelbikeblog, do you have an actual gravel bike blog? I found your Twitter account, but I'm not a twitterer.


  • #78
    a148pro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,207 ✭✭✭a148pro


    a148pro wrote: »

    Start of off road to Kippure looks pretty bumpy but hopefully doable, but then the track seems to go cold before the last bit might run it in advance

    Ran this recently. The "Golden mile" section would easily be doable on gravel bike. However, as advised by previous posters the path runs dead then and there's no realistic way it could be ridden thereafter on a gravel bike unfortunately. Was snow when I went up it but don't think it would really be possible unless there was serious drought and you had exceptional bike skills.


  • #79
    GravelBikeBlog
    Registered Users Posts: 3 ✭GravelBikeBlog


    cletus wrote: »
    Gravelbikeblog, do you have an actual gravel bike blog? I found your Twitter account, but I'm not a twitterer.

    I've set up a website over the winter an am hoping to get it going with posts, routes and other content this summer when I can actually get out for long days.

    I have instagram and facebook pages called gravel bike blog and a facebook group called Irish gravel cycling set up. Only about 55 people in it but it's slowly growing.


  • #80
    cletus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,050 ✭✭✭cletus


    GravelBikeBlog wrote: »
    I've set up a website over the winter an am hoping to get it going with posts, routes and other content this summer when I can actually get out for long days.

    I have instagram and facebook pages called gravel bike blog and a facebook group called Irish gravel cycling set up. Only about 55 people in it but it's slowly growing.

    Thanks for that. Unfortunately not on either Facebook or Instagram, but looking forward to your blog


  • #81
    Effects
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,760 ✭✭✭Effects


    cletus wrote: »
    Unfortunately not on Instagram, but looking forward to your blog

    It's just a website you can view in a browser. Not that difficult.

    https://www.instagram.com/gravelbikeblog/


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  • #82
    cletus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,050 ✭✭✭cletus


    Effects wrote: »
    It's just a website you can view in a browser. Not that difficult.

    https://www.instagram.com/gravelbikeblog/

    Ok, thanks. I assumed I would need to create an account


  • #83
    Effects
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,760 ✭✭✭Effects


    cletus wrote: »
    Ok, thanks. I assumed I would need to create an account

    An account just makes it easier to track accounts you like.
    You can set up an account but still not post anything yourself.
    I like following certain cyclists and bike manufacturers.


  • #84
    Spelean
    Registered Users Posts: 21 ✭Spelean


    Hi all.
    Great thread and nice to see stuff from around the country.
    Lately I've been doing some trails around South Wicklow, starting near Knockanana and doing loops of the different tracks along the west side of Sliabh Maam. All up, you can get in about 60km of a circuit before you start including any out and back legs, which can be really nice in themselves.
    Some sections are a bit torturous at times with forestry harvesting and there can be a he'll of a lot of climbing in that too.
    It is super quite around there and feels very remote at times. There's good views, nice technical descents and climbs - well worth a look.


  • #85
    Spelean
    Registered Users Posts: 21 ✭Spelean


    Image


  • #86
    a148pro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,207 ✭✭✭a148pro


    Is there any app that works off someone else's gps or strata route and tells you to turn? Would be handy for this kind of stuff, voice commands in particular to save you spending the day fiddling around with your phone


  • #87
    Large bottle small glass
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,862 ✭✭✭Large bottle small glass


    GravelBikeBlog wrote: »
    There is also a group of us that cycle in the wind park near us. Nearly 70k of roads in there and more being developed. I'd love to put up some routes but a lot of them cross peoples land and our group has worked hard to keep local relations with land owners in the good books so that limits what I can post. Don't want randomers wandering through people back gardens.



    Isn't that the nub of the problem with developing a decent network of gravel type off road sections.

    What I ride is a mix of very quite back road, forestry roads and private farmland. It's just not possible to share the private sections and I'm not sure the forestry stuff is exactly save to share either.

    Currently there is a load of dairy farm roads being built; they are brilliant to ride but almost completely off limits. As far I can ascertain(via a thread in LD forum which I'll link below and a few informal chats with lawyers) the landowner has less exposure if he doesn't give you permission. You are then a trespasser rather than an invitee.

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=109801086

    The farming roads are brilliant though, see two images attached. One is the steepest road in Nire Valley and the only time in my life(other than mtb) I had to put a foot down.

    The areas I've done a bit of riding in include
    *woods south of Suir between Clonmel and Carrick
    *Nire and Glenahiry Valleys( a lot)
    *Northern area of Knockmealdowns between Newcastle and Clogheen
    *Southern area of Knockmealdowns, between forest roads, Mount Mellary( a farm but less likely to be shot!) and a few river tracks(Glensheelane and the one from Mellary bridge) this area has massive potential
    *Area west of Dungarvan running for Ring to Old Parish across towards Mount Steward/Clashmore (very little but I'll get it done)!

    Portlaw area of Waterford, has a lot of potential including an almost complete link to Greenway on an old estate road. A lot of Portlaw roads seem to be part of the large Curraghmore estate

    There is massive potential for events even audax if it wasn't for the permission issue. Although if I ever put the above areas into an 200km audax event it might end up like Henri Desgrange's ideal TDF route "one with only one finisher"!


  • #88
    Large bottle small glass
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,862 ✭✭✭Large bottle small glass


    https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30294547

    Since no other fcuker adds routes said I throw one up.

    8km of Blueway, including 2 lovely stone arch bridges( 2 mile and Kilsheelan), 40km of "roads"(grass up the middle, zombie tarmac etc) and the rest very lumpy forest road. About 500m of East Munster Way west of Newcastle is probably only walkable

    Did a lot of it yesterday and have ridden it all, and its as nice a place to ride a bike as I've been.

    If I can do the full ride it next few days I'll give Mayo a go


  • #89
    El Vino
    Registered Users Posts: 358 ✭✭El Vino


    looks great thanks for sharing, I will give it a go when I'm down that way for first 2 weeks of August.


  • #90
    Alek
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,520 ✭✭✭Alek


    I was preparing this route for some time, to submit as a permanent gravel/MTB 200 to Audax Ireland. I'm yet to list all the interesting places it goes through, and it will be a long list! It is a hardcore one though, endurance-wise, so be warned.

    I've preridden 98% of its parts but I'm just not fit enough to do it all at once at the moment.

    A few short bits have to be walked unless you're on a mountain bike or your name starts with Robin and ends with Seymour. (72>73km, 153>154km, maybe one more)

    Otherwise it is fine for gravel / CX bikes and I know a mad person that completed a big part of it on bald Vittoria Hyper tyres.

    https://www.strava.com/routes/19634128

    WARNING: this spin may kill you or cause severe hatred towards your beloved bike, or life, or both.


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  • #91
    smacl
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 15,776 Mod ✭✭✭✭smacl


    Love Strava's estimated moving time of 9:36. There's a full weeks worth a cycling in that for this poor mortal :pac:


  • #92
    cletus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,050 ✭✭✭cletus


    smacl wrote: »
    Love Strava's estimated moving time of 9:36. There's a full weeks worth a cycling in that for this poor mortal :pac:

    I dunno, I reckon I could do 9 and a half minutes cycling straight through, no breaks...


  • #93
    LennoxR
    Registered Users Posts: 414 ✭✭LennoxR


    Bit on the extreme side isn't it? Also quite a bit of unridable stuff in the first half there (e.g. Carthy's Castle to Hellfire, Crone Woods to Djouce, the path beside Lough Tay) And I see you've included Boranaraltry Lane, c.30%! when there's a much easier gravel road going the same direction. And I don't think there is a connection between the gravel track off Glencullen and Ballyedmunduff Road. That path is private property afaik.

    Anyway, good luck to you lads, but I won't be joining you on it!


  • #94
    smacl
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 15,776 Mod ✭✭✭✭smacl


    LennoxR wrote: »
    Also quite a bit of unridable stuff in the first half there (e.g. Carthy's Castle to Hellfire...

    Did Carthy's Castle to Hellfire a couple of weeks ago on my old hack MTB, tiring enough for myself being out of shape and getting on a bit, but all very doable. Weather is a huge factor here, dry ground is so much easier than sodden ground.

    Connecting up gravel routes is certainly a challenge in this part of the world.


  • #95
    LennoxR
    Registered Users Posts: 414 ✭✭LennoxR


    smacl wrote: »
    Did Carthy's Castle to Hellfire a couple of weeks ago on my old hack MTB, tiring enough for myself being out of shape and getting on a bit, but all very doable. Weather is a huge factor here, dry ground is so much easier than sodden ground.

    Connecting up gravel routes is certainly a challenge in this part of the world.


    The way I've done it, the last bit that connects Carthy's Castle track to the gravel roads of Hell Fire (jeez that sounds like a heavy metal song) is definitely hike a bike. But there may be another way I don't know about.

    There are a lot of gravel, logging and fire roads in west Wicklow that are much less technical and hike a bike/mtb style, you guys should look into them.

    But, in any case, as I say, the 200 km distance is way beyond my limit, especially off road.


  • #96
    Alek
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,520 ✭✭✭Alek


    Carthy's Castle to Hellfire

    Doable except for approx. 70m hike, due to gradient up. Perhaps you can power through it.
    Crone Woods to Djouce

    Rideable except for approx 200m, but fine for a ballsier individual. I walked it down due to lack of cohones, but its not really technical, rather steep.
    the path beside Lough Tay

    That's the only definite carry-a-bike fragment, maybe 250m, due to freshly logged forest.
    I don't think there is a connection between gravel track off Glencullen and Ballyedmunduff Road.

    There is.
    Boranaraltry Lane, c.30%! when there's a much easier gravel road going the same direction.

    Because it's fun! :D And the Wicklow way there (that I believe you're referring to) is kind a known and boring ;)


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  • #97
    Alek
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,520 ✭✭✭Alek


    There are a lot of gravel, logging and fire roads in west Wicklow that are much less technical and hike a bike/mtb style, you guys should look into them

    Ok, I get the Wicklow Way / Boranaraltry Lane suggestion.

    Can you think of more examples?


  • #98
    LennoxR
    Registered Users Posts: 414 ✭✭LennoxR


    Alek wrote: »
    Ok, I get the Wicklow Way / Boranaraltry Lane suggestion.

    Can you think of more examples?


    For some of the gravel in west Wicklow that I'm talking about, check out this ride, which I was on ( not my profile btw). https://www.strava.com/activities/2436323793
    Alek, I'm not having a go at you by the way. It's just too hard and technical for me that's all.


  • #99
    cletus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,050 ✭✭✭cletus


    LennoxR wrote: »
    For some of the gravel in west Wicklow that I'm talking about, check out this ride, which I was on ( not my profile btw). https://www.strava.com/activities/2436323793
    Alek, I'm not having a go at you by the way. It's just too hard and technical for me that's all.

    LennoxR, thanks for that. I've only started into gravel riding in the last few months, but there's not much where I am (or it's all dead ends so you have to double back) I like the idea of trying some routes in the Wicklow, but I'd have to drive there, so I'd prefer to have some idea, at least to begin with, of where to go, rather than bumbling around with the limited time I have. If you have more routes please post.

    Alek, while I enjoy looking at the routes you post, much like LennoxR, they are beyond me, and even if I had the ability, I think my wife might actually divorce me if I said I was going for a ten hour cycle.

    As an aside, does anybody know if I can export a route from Strava to throw it onto whichever device I might choose to use?


  • #100
    Alek
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,520 ✭✭✭Alek


    LennoxR, peace! I didn't take it this way, just forgot to use smileys I guess. I will consider your suggestion.

    The ride you posted looks very interesting, I will certainly give it a try. Its just that I specialize in East Wicklow myself so far :D

    Cletus, I fully admit Weevil as a single ride is not for everyone! A road-only 200k with similar elevation is insane enough...

    I just hope people here can draw some inspiration from the route, and give even a few parts a try.

    Im not sure re: exporting the route, my wahoo reads them directly from Strava. But i can send you a gpx file if that suits


  • #101
    LennoxR
    Registered Users Posts: 414 ✭✭LennoxR


    cletus wrote: »
    LennoxR, thanks for that. I've only started into gravel riding in the last few months, but there's not much where I am (or it's all dead ends so you have to double back) I like the idea of trying some routes in the Wicklow, but I'd have to drive there, so I'd prefer to have some idea, at least to begin with, of where to go, rather than bumbling around with the limited time I have. If you have more routes please post.

    Alek, while I enjoy looking at the routes you post, much like LennoxR, they are beyond me, and even if I had the ability, I think my wife might actually divorce me if I said I was going for a ten hour cycle.

    As an aside, does anybody know if I can export a route from Strava to throw it onto whichever device I might choose to use?


    Yeah here are few spins I logged manually, as I generally don't upload rides to strava (don't ask!).


    https://www.strava.com/routes/14641564


    https://www.strava.com/routes/17897320


    https://www.strava.com/routes/17302717


    https://www.strava.com/routes/12952681


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