Good spin routes in Cork.

coolbeans

I find myself in Cork this evening with the bike and I fancy a spin. Does anyone know routes beginning and ending at UCC? I don't know the area at all and don't wanna cycle solo on busy, narrow, pock marked roads.
ROK ON you're in Cork aren't you. If you're about and proximate let me know.

thebouldwhacker

Shame, I was there last night... what distance are you looking for? do you want roads or streets?

ROK ON

coolbeans wrote: »

I find myself in Cork this evening with the bike and I fancy a spin. Does anyone know routes beginning and ending at UCC? I don't know the area at all and don't wanna cycle solo on busy, narrow, pock marked roads.
ROK ON you're in Cork aren't you. If you're about and proximate let me know.

Not in Cork, Kerry.
Stayed near UCC a few weeks back and I cycled from UCC out Western Road and took the turn off for Coachford and Dripsey and onto Macroom.
Stunning countryside by the Lee Valley. I did it early on Sunday morning and there were very few cras. Road surfaces were great.
From Macroom you can turn around and headback or head onto Inchigeela, Ballingeary and Gougane Barra - surreal countryside.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Western+Rd,+Cork,+Co.+Cork,+Ireland&daddr=Carrigrohane+Rd%2FN22+to:R618%2FStation+Rd+to:R618+to:R584+to:R584+to:R584+to:Unknown+road+to:Unknown+road+to:Unknown+road+to:R582+to:Unknown+road+to:51.926696,-8.729668+to:R579&hl=en&geocode=FTDaFwMdGmV-_ym7rMrTJJBESDEx3HMKFoq-PQ%3BFcbdFwMdNld9_w%3BFXAfGAMdGA97_w%3BFWfyFwMdUJ13_w%3BFWGtFwMdEVp2_w%3BFWsrFwMd2FVz_w%3BFcPyFgMdUFdy_w%3BFQ5uFwMdZKxy_w%3BFVLnFwMd9Qh0_w%3BFeA6GQMdzTV1_w%3BFYJdGAMdNrh2_w%3BFZxTGAMdPv15_w%3B%3BFQr1FwMdmCh9_w&mra=dme&mrcr=9,10&mrsp=12&sz=12&via=10,11&sll=51.932835,-8.729324&sspn=0.098011,0.307961&ie=UTF8&z=12

Would be a nice route.
One climb of note otherwise flat to rolling. Good quiet roads.

ROK ON

From UCC, you are really only about 15minutes from the countryside.

coolbeans

Thanks ROK. @ Bould I wanna get a bit of training in and I don't want to be too bothered by traffic.

thebouldwhacker

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/ireland/cork/923127204096112469

This will take you through some nice parts of town. When you get to Páirc Uí Chaoimh you take a right into the park grounds. Stay on the track and you will come onto the old railway which now has a perfect tar surface and you will have no cars but walkers and other bikes until the castle. This will take you to cork harbour where you take a left and around the head back to Blackrock Castle, from there through the leafy suburbs back to UCC. More of a leisure cycle than a training run though.

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/ireland/cork/392127204185025794

This is play on ROK's route. Follow the road Lee all the way back to Macroom. The return leg is on a very wide road which turns into dual carriageway (120km) before returning to UCC. To be honest if you have never cycled this road before I would turn around at Macroom and return the way you came as the views are amazing and are well worth a view from the other side. That said if you take the main road back it is fast and easy cycle, popular with runners and cyclists alike and in my view a safe road.

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/ireland/cork/194127204032067086

This is a shorter route if you are stuck for time.

I would do the second and if you are short of time turn back when you wish is a great road surface, not too busy and amazing views.

Best of luck!

coolbeans

Thanks bould. I'm off!

thebouldwhacker

No bother, enjoy. Post up to let us know how you get on, cracking weather for it! Very jealous....