Coolaney National MTB Centre

Tenzor07 · 20-06-2019 9:09am

"from this first phase of construction."

I guess this means Winter 2019/Spring 2020 before we can go on our bicycles and enjoy the view...

fatbhoy · 20-06-2019 10:29pm

prunudo wrote: »

Saw this posted on Facebook last night

"Whatever you've heard about the Coolaney Mountain Bike Trail to date, forget it. We've been hard at work over the past month and are honestly now stoked to be involved and excited about the future!!

When this place opens it's going to be pretty special, where on earth would you get such a raw view of the Atlantic Ocean with a ribbon trail flowing down the open mountain. Its going to be incredible!!

Trail quality is looking great now, no flat sections, no straights, no loose gravel. Camera phone doesn't do the lads work justice, fair play to them. Blue trail pictured below.

We are working closely with all stakeholders, including the local mountain bike riders, to make sure we can get the best possible outcome from this first phase of construction.

Watch this space.

#bikinginireland"

https://www.facebook.com/139066222779824/posts/2562544043765351/

Sh1tetalk. It's muck.

FirstinLastout · 21-06-2019 12:13pm

fatbhoy wrote: »

Sh1tetalk. It's muck.

Have you been there... or is this based on poor quality online pics & hearsay from some keyboard warriors?

fatbhoy · 21-06-2019 4:06pm

FirstinLastout wrote: »

Have you been there... or is this based on poor quality online pics & hearsay from some keyboard warriors?

I haven't been there, but I've two eyes in my head that work.

Icyseanfitz · 21-06-2019 5:22pm

ill hold judgement until i get there and see it in person, videos and pictures never do mtb trails justice.

rizzodun · 21-06-2019 11:55pm

FirstinLastout wrote: »

Have you been there... or is this based on poor quality online pics & hearsay from some keyboard warriors?

It's not all hearsay. Some people have ridden it. That being said, hopefully this is the start of a real improvement on what's there already.

kingoffifa · 23-07-2019 10:45pm

hi all - any further update on this? Also, are they any trails open here currently? I have a friend nearby and would go for a wander up there if there were trails I am allowed to be on.

rizzodun · 23-07-2019 11:09pm

kingoffifa wrote: »

hi all - any further update on this? Also, are they any trails open here currently? I have a friend nearby and would go for a wander up there if there were trails I am allowed to be on.

Two blue trails in place and a red under construction. Officially not allowed on them yet.

Lemming · 23-07-2019 11:16pm

Trail work can take a while to bed in depending on the time of year, the general weather conditions over a period of time and the materials used + general ground conditions. Until the trails get the all clear I'd do the trails (and by proxy yourself & every other rider) a favour and stay clear, as tempting as it may be. Having done trail maintenance work in the UK, only to see weeks of snow + heavy rain come afterwards followed by ignorant sorts ignoring all the official signage saying trails closed for maintenance & any barriers erected at trail heads and then seeing much of the trail works undone as the softer surface gets absolutely destroyed only to need a return visit shortly thereafter, please don't.

kingoffifa · 23-07-2019 11:58pm

thanks for that lads. very quick replies!

I'm guessing ye are from that part of the world.

*slightly off topic (completely...)

how would a complete novice outsider get around union wood? i wouldn't be worried about the technical stuff. i'm quite capable of walking. just more so would i find my way around easy enough? i believe they are unofficial trail in there

rizzodun · 24-07-2019 12:51am

kingoffifa wrote: »

thanks for that lads. very quick replies!

I'm guessing ye are from that part of the world.

*slightly off topic (completely...)

how would a complete novice outsider get around union wood? i wouldn't be worried about the technical stuff. i'm quite capable of walking. just more so would i find my way around easy enough? i believe they are unofficial trail in there

Club trails ran by Northwest MTB. I'll send you a PM.

waterboy15 · 23-09-2019 10:38am

Any more news coming out about opening up some or all trails ?

covey123 · 20-10-2019 8:27am

Something for your Sunday morning....

https://youtu.be/sQgEkAkVQeU

Just subscribed to this guy, good footage and hopefully more to come

prunudo · 20-10-2019 9:01am

Some nice fast flowy parts but some of those rock gardens look awful, especially given they don't look like they're on a steep enough section to carry speed.

covey123 · 20-10-2019 11:37am

prunudo wrote: »

Some nice fast flowy parts but some of those rock gardens look awful, especially given they don't look like they're on a steep enough section to carry speed.

True, hoping some of them only put in for armouring.I like the use of that boulder on the berm around the 7.30 mark though

Lemming · 20-10-2019 1:12pm

covey123 wrote: »

True, hoping some of them only put in for armouring.I like the use of that boulder on the berm around the 7.30 mark though

Saw that and thought it a good incorporation of existing features into the track design. A fair few of the other berms left a bit to be desired in terms of how they appeared surfaced with a lot of visibly large, loose chipping sitting quite high onto the berms. Hopefully that'll correct with use and a bit of rainfall.

rizzodun · 20-10-2019 3:34pm

He could do with not locking the back wheel into every corner and dragging ruts into the trail though....

Tenzor07 · 20-10-2019 6:27pm

covey123 wrote: »

Something for your Sunday morning....
https://youtu.be/sQgEkAkVQeU

Good video by Sir. SkidsaLot..

However it looks like a standard Coillte "Cut & Paste" job, it could be Ticknock, Ballinastoe or Ballyhoura.. Boring narrow fireroad trails, featureless apart from a few rocky bits...

Great for say a stag party to hire an eBike and do something different...

Peter T · 21-10-2019 8:42am

Some nice bits in it but nothing that would make me take the 3hr drive up there

Tenzor07 · 21-10-2019 10:55am

Peter T wrote: »

Some nice bits in it but nothing that would make me take the 3hr drive up there

This is why the center won't see much use, it's too far from the main population centers, e.g. Dublin, Cork, Belfast, so people won't travel...

Maybe some passing tourist trade for the Bike hire shop beside the trails, other than that, no one from the UK or Europe will come over here with there bikes when they have much better ones on there doorsteps...

Peter T · 21-10-2019 11:02am

If you're based in Dublin you'd almost make it to bike park wales in the same time by plane and hire a car :pac:

Tenzor07 · 21-10-2019 11:18am

Peter T wrote: »

If you're based in Dublin you'd almost make it to bike park wales in the same time by plane and hire a car :pac:

I'd rather go to Gran Canaria, 3hrs45mins flight!

bogmanfan · 21-10-2019 12:34pm

Looks decent enough to me. 2.5 hours from Dublin, so around the same as Ballyhoura. I'd say it will definitely be worth a day trip.

I know it's not cool to say so, but those Coillte trails are great for winter training in my opinion. Totally ridable in all conditions, and better than totally destroying natural trails in winter time.

Lemming · 21-10-2019 1:32pm

Tenzor07 wrote: »

This is why the center won't see much use, it's too far from the main population centers, e.g. Dublin, Cork, Belfast, so people won't travel...

Maybe some passing tourist trade for the Bike hire shop beside the trails, other than that, no one from the UK or Europe will come over here with there bikes when they have much better ones on there doorsteps...

I don't think distance from main population centres carries as much weight given that people will travel greater distances if what is on offer is "good" (obviously a bit subjective). Happens every day here in the UK given that most of the big names are not anywhere near major population centres; the odd one out being BPI which even then can best be described as 'reasonably close' - and it's a park, not a trail centre if I want to get pedantic about it.

Last month I drove over 4 hours to get to Kirroughtree (one of the Seven Staines in Scotland) for an Enduro race. Drive time onwards to Glasgow from there was near 2 hours by virtue of it being twisty country roads for the most part. Went up to Fort William a few days later; another near 2 hour drive. Then did a 6 hour drive back to Sheffield. I take the ferry back home and spend days at a time at the GAP, Ticknock, etc. That's a 3.5 hour drive to Holyhead + ferry time + about 20 mins drive time from the family home to the GAP.

Travelling isn't an issue - and I'm probably the intended tourist demographic they want to attract, but I can't see myself doing that when I can scratch that itch closer to the famliy home (being Dublin). At least not for what's on offer thus far. Now they may unveil some awesome red/black trails at a later date but for now, no. Which comes back full-circle to the "if it's good" argument I made above. The trails just don't have any appeal from what I've seen so far as they look quite dull and uninspiring.

Edit: bogmanfan does raise a fair point regards all-weather trails. I still would be disinclined to travel to them unless I was living in Ireland.

covey123 · 21-10-2019 5:32pm

Lemming wrote: »

Last month I drove over 4 hours to get to Kirroughtree (one of the Seven Staines in Scotland) for an Enduro race. Drive time onwards to Glasgow from there was near 2 hours by virtue of it being twisty country roads for the most part. Went up to Fort William a few days later; another near 2 hour drive. Then did a 6 hour drive back to Sheffield. I take the ferry back home and spend days at a time at the GAP, Ticknock, etc. That's a 3.5 hour drive to Holyhead + ferry time + about 20 mins drive time from the family home to the GAP.

..... I'm not in the slightest way envious..... really,I'm not....

prunudo · 30-10-2019 6:58pm

Latest update from biking.ie Facebook page.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2835992979753788&id=139066222779824&sfnsn=mo

booooonzo · 08-11-2019 12:29pm

Lemming wrote: »

I don't think distance from main population centres carries as much weight given that people will travel greater distances if what is on offer is "good" (obviously a bit subjective). Happens every day here in the UK given that most of the big names are not anywhere near major population centres; the odd one out being BPI which even then can best be described as 'reasonably close' - and it's a park, not a trail centre if I want to get pedantic about it.

Last month I drove over 4 hours to get to Kirroughtree (one of the Seven Staines in Scotland) for an Enduro race. Drive time onwards to Glasgow from there was near 2 hours by virtue of it being twisty country roads for the most part. Went up to Fort William a few days later; another near 2 hour drive. Then did a 6 hour drive back to Sheffield. I take the ferry back home and spend days at a time at the GAP, Ticknock, etc. That's a 3.5 hour drive to Holyhead + ferry time + about 20 mins drive time from the family home to the GAP.

Travelling isn't an issue - and I'm probably the intended tourist demographic they want to attract, but I can't see myself doing that when I can scratch that itch closer to the famliy home (being Dublin). At least not for what's on offer thus far. Now they may unveil some awesome red/black trails at a later date but for now, no. Which comes back full-circle to the "if it's good" argument I made above. The trails just don't have any appeal from what I've seen so far as they look quite dull and uninspiring.

Edit: bogmanfan does raise a fair point regards all-weather trails. I still would be disinclined to travel to them unless I was living in Ireland.

Nail on the head!

okane1 · 28-11-2019 9:48pm

Anyone here lately. I'll be in the area over Christmas and plan on bring mtb with me. Worthwhile for a few hours to burn the Christmas diet?

booooonzo · 04-12-2019 4:21pm

It will be open for xmas so bring your bike.
It's a "soft opening".. ake from that what you will :rolleyes:

NW-Mtb will have some Stephens day spins if you want to join in

okane1 · 04-12-2019 9:20pm

booooonzo wrote: »

It will be open for xmas so bring your bike.
It's a "soft opening".. ake from that what you will :rolleyes:

NW-Mtb will have some Stephens day spins if you want to join in

Thanks for invite. I'll up in Mayo from the 28th. I'll bring the bike and check it out.

okane1 · 23-12-2019 7:52pm

Delay. Folks still riding it? Might try it out next week?

covey123 · 23-12-2019 8:24pm

okane1 wrote: »

Delay. Folks still riding it? Might try it out next week?

...Irish trail centres are like buses now, you wait years for one,then 2 come along at the same time...

rustynutz · 11-01-2020 1:28am

Has anyone been on the collooney trail yet, what's it like? Do you need to b a member of a club to use it?

Big Nasty · 11-01-2020 6:51pm

rustynutz wrote: »

Has anyone been on the collooney trail yet, what's it like? Do you need to b a member of a club to use it?

I would imagine you can just rock up with your bike and off you go

iwillhtfu · 12-01-2020 4:22pm

rustynutz wrote: »

Has anyone been on the collooney trail yet, what's it like? Do you need to b a member of a club to use it?

I don't think any of the trails are open yet

prunudo · 12-01-2020 6:59pm

iwillhtfu wrote: »

I don't think any of the trails are open yet

Yeah, if I remember correctly they were hoping to have it open for Christmas but there were trees blown over from a storm and they delayed the opening.

rizzodun · 12-01-2020 10:42pm

Trails are more or less cleared again but still snagging and finishing off to do. This storm tomorrow will probably take a few more down though, knowing the luck with it so far.

Opening date not confirmed, entrance is blocked off while they finish.

rustynutz · 12-01-2020 11:28pm

Ok, thanks for the replies, looking forward to trying it out

covey123 · 16-02-2020 8:10am

From the Coolainey FB page;

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2476788812572419&id=1541297972788179&__tn__=%2As%2As-R

Still no open date announced,anyone from the West hear anything on it?

iwillhtfu · 16-02-2020 9:27am

covey123 wrote: »

From the Coolainey FB page;

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2476788812572419&id=1541297972788179&__tn__=%2As%2As-R

Still no open date announced,anyone from the West hear anything on it?

Apparently the lads from North West MTB club are using it, I recall seeing a member replying to a post on FB saying it was open to their members

rizzodun · 16-02-2020 10:51am

iwillhtfu wrote: »

Apparently the lads from North West MTB club are using it, I recall seeing a member replying to a post on FB saying it was open to their members

It's not open to their members.
Officially it isn't open. People have been in on the trails though.
It's not finished we're told, but no work has been done up there in a good number of weeks.

rustynutz · 20-02-2020 9:11pm

I took a spin on one of the blue trails with the young lad a couple of weeks ago, looks very impressive so far

rizzodun · 20-03-2020 10:15pm

It's open.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2517521521832481&id=1541297972788179&__xts__[0]=68.ARCxbl33Ik4Pxc_xbKdryBp5tZG8-jzkH4EXGrvQZuJT__qJKLeH7EOIA-FOES0Wyvv19q5wBp_5tObumdbIP1sWaG-HubUxr-wLowAMocqFyKthzv1Dq82u2izO-CYpeUXy4BPAsn7sz2o2B-vjzzjZYnufRmXSHROFASlrU_tzmyXlFOgk0Te5yNvhhSWuPBqWDdC7r4heLXvGZuMvL1hlAS03ALH5u9VaejmIj3TH6vz7tAbO3OeTKRxJwrYT46_BwmbCGHEj9vNAu5HfzwuWfxR7sQ-Fz9iyR6Gnoto0zZwMY0CNr5HbsHFRF6k5v6q6DWgytOHmX0CG4ka2Ol4V4dfh&__tn__=-R

https://www.coillte.ie/site/coolaney-mtb/?fbclid=IwAR12iPm882RmbW0vb2X-lZRcaWkRsIqkV0XqZ6eoajUD345IrbULzwuXflw

covey123 · 20-03-2020 11:56pm

Excellent news

prunudo · 23-03-2020 1:34pm

Any reports or reviews on the trails? Similar style to other Coillte sites I presume.

iwillhtfu · 23-03-2020 2:33pm

Great to see some progress but can't help but think there might have been a better time to open.

covey123 · 28-05-2020 9:46am

Obviously works have taken on major delays at the moment,and could be a while until ok to visit,but has anyone heard what stage Coolaney is at?much time left for completion?

Biopace · 29-05-2020 12:22pm

covey123 wrote: »

Obviously works have taken on major delays at the moment,and could be a while until ok to visit,but has anyone heard what stage Coolaney is at?much time left for completion?

There's about a 16k loop fully finished, and there are 3 or 4 short loops near the carpark, trails are really well built and designed especially the red graded trails near the carpark which are proper good fun. They were making some changes to the access roads when I was there pre-lockdown in March but I don't think any further work will be done for a while.

justconrad · 24-07-2020 11:53am

Hi lads, looking to visit here early September. Just wondering if there are any reports about progress? Is there enough open to spend a full day here? Looking at staying in Sligo for 2 nights & travelling out to it each day. Any advice/info would be really appreciated! Thanks

prunudo · 25-07-2020 10:01am

justconrad wrote: »

Hi lads, looking to visit here early September. Just wondering if there are any reports about progress? Is there enough open to spend a full day here? Looking at staying in Sligo for 2 nights & travelling out to it each day. Any advice/info would be really appreciated! Thanks

Seems to a good bit open, check out singletracker on YouTube, he has a few recent vidoes up on it. I've seen people on fb mention its worth tying in with a trip to union woods when in the area.

Coolaney National MTB Centre

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