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Irish Gravel Routes (Check out my Gravel Tips)

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Comments

  • #252
    Paddigol
    Registered Users Posts: 1,832 ✭✭✭Paddigol


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121602170#Comment_121602170

    It's a very Irish, narrow minded, short sighted, way of looking at things from Coillte and the powers that be. Every progressive measure over the decades seems to have to be dragged out of authorities kicking and screaming. We should be a world leader in outdoors, green tourism. Aside from the very obvious health benefits and prestige that comes with being a leader in any sporting field. But, "no". Just becuase.



  • #253
    Large bottle small glass
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,863 ✭✭✭Large bottle small glass


    1.4billon for some vague zero detail plan on a cycle network but a refusal for a simple stroke of a pen to open up an existing 3000km and more existing road network for events and general tourism.

    Linking up our local road network with Coillte and other random tracks is as good as cycling gets, but we can't promote it here because our politicians won't compel Coillte to actually comply with their own mission statement.



  • #254
    seanin4711
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,171 ✭✭✭seanin4711


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121603624#Comment_121603624

    everything you said -100% agree.



  • #255
    Large bottle small glass
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,863 ✭✭✭Large bottle small glass


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121605820#Comment_121605820

    https://www.fieldfisher.com/en-ie/locations/ireland/ireland-blog/changes-to-the-occupiers-liability-act#:~:text=Section%2040%20of%20the%202023,of%20eliminating%20the%20risk%3B%20and

    The primary legislation on which a claim can be made has been amended wtf is their problem.

    They allow uncertified hunters with rifles(who are then charged with erecting signs to warn the public) but not cycling events, it'd make your head spin.



  • #256
    Tenzor07
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,999 ✭✭✭Tenzor07


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121601002#Comment_121601002

    From what I see it's down to Insurance, so maybe Coillte can't get indemnity for events where guys are racing down coillte fireroads and knock someone down, not sure CI insurance covers that either so looks like that's why they've decided not to sanction any events on their managed lands...



  • #257
    dahat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,826 ✭✭✭✭dahat


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121606063#Comment_121606063

    So then if a CI registered rider is using Coillte lands solo his policy is n/a possibly?



  • #258
    Tenzor07
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,999 ✭✭✭Tenzor07


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121606150#Comment_121606150

    Have you ever heard of anyone making a claim off Cycling Ireland for being hit by a cyclist who was cycling on a forestry fireroad? I haven't.. but can't imagine it being successful... most likely the rider would get sued...



  • #259
    Weepsie
    Site Banned Posts: 20,686 ✭✭✭✭Weepsie


    I presume it's more that Coillte don't want self entitled arseholes like yer wan who slipped in Wicklow trying to sue them. 99.9 percent of cyclits using coilte forests would you think be sucking it up and saying that's offroad cycling if they had an injury.


    Bring in a strict no liability rule for Coillte or something and let people at it.


    And if it's an event, then people shouldn't be there to be knocked down. Coillte themselve have told people to stay out of a specific forest this weekend as they are shooting deer. If someone ignores that and gets shot, that should be on the person.



  • #260
    cletus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,051 ✭✭✭cletus


    Has there been any statement about what the actual issue is?



  • #261
    Large bottle small glass
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,863 ✭✭✭Large bottle small glass


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121606248#Comment_121606248

    The Occupier Liability has been amended, they already have that or as close as they are likely to get



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  • #262
    Macy0161
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,484 ✭✭✭Macy0161


    I wonder do these events need to move from Leisure to LC like MTB/ CX? Does that up the insurance cover?



  • #263
    df
    Registered Users Posts: 71 ✭✭df


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121603624#Comment_121603624

    8000km!



  • #264
    cletus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,051 ✭✭✭cletus


    Any update on this issue? I see that Gravel Grind West are still advertising their 2024 race, I would have assumed (without looking at the route) that they used at least some Coilte lands.

    On a separate note, I see figures of between 3 and 8,000 km of Coilte fire roads being stated above. Can anyone provide a link with the actual numbers?



  • #265
    nilhg
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,160 ✭✭✭nilhg


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121680019#Comment_121680019

    GGW are also affected:

    https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid021nHjTcnpcN2yh1aiTXaWSoKmJoawqG8nDWuCwVr68jw9H7Cu6YQX1qCMFEiWbHgyl&id=100063786560405&__cft__[0]=AZVCuTyiCnlxhfHiBjhttPadzWbPTUiFU0p1yg3-pHO6eZceA6XLHAD9_GHWzaEpPKhG4j9u8QG8E_oHdsDYGCqP6uJSM6-URP2KDwEebI65YrCQzYlNv9UuFuWTghAPqaG8BxbsW2CXoZ3Vm8UnEtd4MKB2IwzaHhDXLnG3pQs5U7mF2a5H27snHt3WuuXS1pk&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

    Only 1 route survives from the planned 3

    Meanwhile I see a new (to me anyway) event in NI in Gortin Glenn on 06/04, madness that we'll all have to head north for any gravel events



  • #266
    delynet
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 432 ✭✭delynet


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121680019#Comment_121680019

    I know the organiser and they managed to create a route avoiding Coilte properties.



  • #267
    Weepsie
    Site Banned Posts: 20,686 ✭✭✭✭Weepsie


    I saw a post that was advertising 7-8 gravel events in Connacht. Routes being determined.


    I imagine it's boreens rather than gravel, but there's probably plenty of them out there



  • #268
    df
    Registered Users Posts: 71 ✭✭df


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121680019#Comment_121680019

    “Between 1944 and 2021, 9,912 km of forest roads have been built in the public forest estate or on average 127 km annually”

    5.1.1 Public forest roading, Ireland’s Forests - Annual Statistics 2022



  • #269
    nilhg
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,160 ✭✭✭nilhg


    Update from David Flanagan today


    https://threerockbooks.com/gravel-cycling-in-ireland/


    Kinda disappointing but hardly surprising, all we can do is keep a squeeze on the politicians, we do have a Green minister for forestry, it has to be embarrassing for them to be trumpeting the amount of money spent on cycling amenities and then to have a semi state company bar cyclists for an existing cycling one.



  • #270
    Large bottle small glass
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,863 ✭✭✭Large bottle small glass


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121809302#Comment_121809302

    Department of forestry is up there with the most incompetent of our various departments.

    Between dieback, felling licence fiasco it's been a sh1t show for years.

    I can't get how Coillte are ok with deer hunting (with high powered rifles) and all access control being provided by hunter but regard cycling as this high risk activity that can't be entertained.

    With the current occupier's liability act amendment the duty owed to recreational users isn't onerous at all.

    I'm sure some cyclist will eventually cause a loss or insurance cost but in the general scheme of things the potential and upside to society in terms of recreation and tourism dwarfs and potential downside.



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  • #271
    Macy0161
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,484 ✭✭✭Macy0161


    People cycling and people walking are expected to share greenways and much of the new "active travel" infrastructure but can't share forestry fire roads in Coillte!?! fwiw I've never experienced any issue or complaint using fire roads on the Wicklow Way, or other forestry areas. Only self entitled (dog) walkers I've met have been on non-coillte trails where cycling is allowed in the byelaws (unlike walking your dog off lead!)!

    The document describes the signage that would be placed at the entrance to warn users that the area is multi-use and to remind cyclists of their responsibilities. It then lists a number of very reasonable criteria that a forest must meet to be considered as a FCA. These are listed below:

    The forest should not be a high-use recreational forest already under pressure from many other recreational groups.

    Forests with many developed looped or long-distance walks should not be considered. Similarly, where arrangements exist with groups to maintain the forest or other trails within the forest, consideration must be given to these in the first instance.

    The topography should be relatively gentle rather than challenging – forest cycling areas are intended to provide for cyclists with lower levels of experience in the outdoors.

    Forests with forecasted high levels of operations over the ten year period following the proposal should not be considered.

    Consider likely ways that cyclists could use the forest and the likely routes they would take. Descents on forest roads should be avoided but where unavoidable, should be mitigated by long clear sightlines and through use of warning signage – cyclists cautioned to control their speed, etc…. Any walking trails within the forest that do not allow for safe dual-use should be marked for walking use only.

    Finally, the document goes on to say that “Proposals for sites to be designated as Forest Cycling Areas will be assessed by the Recreation Unit in Coillte”.

    Although, if cycling was still banned in in non-FCA's, it would rule out a lot of the Wicklow Mountains!



  • #272
    Large bottle small glass
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,863 ✭✭✭Large bottle small glass


    https://gravelunion.cc/article/travel-gravel-gravel-riding-on-the-emerald-isle

    Might give people a few ideas.

    I might be to blame for the difficulty encountered in Tipperary 😀



  • #273
    Large bottle small glass
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,863 ✭✭✭Large bottle small glass


    https://ridewithgps.com/routes/47842246

    https://ridewithgps.com/routes/47842246

    A bit of wandering, porting and trespassing in the Knockmealdowns.

    70% off road.

    Got a dirty cut on my hand on the farm road section a few years back. Cycled into cord type electric fence. Nice bloody fork when I got home on the other side of mountain.



  • #274
    Large bottle small glass
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,863 ✭✭✭Large bottle small glass


    Time went against me so 35-46,km was cut( which is a lovely smooth section of gravel) and the trespassing in Mellary.

    Lovely really varied route. It's got a bit of everything except a bit of bog road.

    Nearly killed a grey crow, had buzzards overhead for at least an hour, met a rather flightly pony. Lost count of the pedestrian bridges. Two lovely ford crossings. Great spin all round

    IMG_20240804_173602.jpg
    IMG_20240804_173149.jpg

    IMG_20240804_172348.jpg
    IMG_20240804_163850.jpg
    IMG-20240804-WA0003.jpeg
    IMG_20240804_154917.jpg
    IMG_20240804_152326.jpg
    IMG_20240804_152047.jpg
    IMG_20240804_150902.jpg
    IMG_20240804_140149.jpg
    IMG_20240804_141658.jpg



  • #275
    kenmc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,277 ✭✭✭kenmc


    so we're not allowed ride our bikes in the woods, yet this, from the Irish gravel cycling facebook group. (allegedly a coillte forest)

    img_1_1722810010910.jpg

    the mind boggles.



  • #276
    Macy0161
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,484 ✭✭✭Macy0161


    Well in fairness they do the same for mtb, with the enduro I think in carrick?

    It is so frustrating - so much new active travel infrastructure is shared space, but apparently that's fine for me commuting but a massive danger at the weekend on the same bike (without the added weight of the work gear too!).



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