Tough climbs in Dublin

velogalway

I'm doing the Etape in July, facing into 4500m of climbing. From Galway and have to stay in Dublin some weeks. Thinking of finding some tough climbs to repeat ad nauseum over an evening and would be grateful for some suggestions.

jon1981

velogalway wrote: »

I'm doing the Etape in July, facing into 4500m of climbing. From Galway and have to stay in Dublin some weeks. Thinking of finding some tough climbs to repeat ad nauseum over an evening and would be grateful for some suggestions.

You staying north/west/south/central Dublin ? a couple of loops of Howth head in both directions would be a good exercise, think the howth village side up to the summit is a category 4. Other than that you're probably looking at heading out towards Enniskerry and up to sally gap. There are some good rolling hills around Manowar and Balrothery a good 15/20k spin from Swords but I doubt anything that would test you.

wanderer 22

No need to go quite so far south as Enniskerry/Sally Gap -
Stocking lane, Cruagh road, 3 rock & Kilmashogue are all within a few km of each other
https://www.strava.com/activities/64763919

godtabh

colm18 wrote: »

No need to go quite so far south as Enniskerry/Sally Gap -
Stocking lane, Cruagh road, 3 rock & Kilmashogue are all within a few km of each other
https://www.strava.com/activities/64763919

Ever done that in the dark?

Hmmzis

godtabh wrote: »

Ever done that in the dark?

Yup, especially Cruagh. You would need lights there. Same for Ticknock and Kilmashogue. Not sure about Stocking lane, there might be some street lights there maybe.

godtabh

Hmmzis wrote: »

Yup, especially Cruagh. You would need lights there. Same for Ticknock and Kilmashogue. Not sure about Stocking lane, there might be some street lights there maybe.

I have lights. The Kong Blinder Road 2. Just not sure if they are good enough for some where like that. That's why I generally go toward Vico Road for night time climbing

wirelessdude01

There is a hill called Cupidstown near Kilteel that is horrible. Hits 23% near the top.

Brian?

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

There is a hill called Cupidstown near Kilteel that is horrible. Hits 23% near the top.

My favourite climb. It's agony.

sullzz

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

There is a hill called Cupidstown near Kilteel that is horrible. Hits 23% near the top.

Is that near " the lamb "

Brian?

sullzz wrote: »

Is that near " the lamb "

Cupidstownhill, Co. Kildare
http://goo.gl/maps/fpGIw

sullzz

Brian? wrote: »

Cupidstownhill, Co. Kildare
http://goo.gl/maps/fpGIw

How does it compare to lamb hill , I think it's located right beside it , I thought by your link it was the lamb , I think the lamb hits over 21% near the top , or maybe it has been Cupidstown hill I've been climbing

Fian

Cruagh hill, Military road, on up to sally gap, down to roundwood, then back to sally gap and down cruagh hill. If you are able you could always go back up cruagh again. Oh and there is a nasty looking very steep left after the second bridge on cruagh ("devils elbow?") that I have never been even slightly tempted to go up. At that stage the last thing i want is more gradient. Even if I stopped to take a break on the way up.

Apart from that there is the steep climb out of enniskerry. It is not very long but man is it steep. And when you get to the top you can turn left and come to the steepest part of the climb to the sally gap, albeit after a bit of a break.

That will sort you out for tough climbs imo. If you are into that sort of thing you masochist weirdo.

Edit: Just to be clear I have not done anything like the climbing advocated above myself. Stocking lane/Cruagh to sally gap and laragh then home via roundwood and enniskerry is my limit.

slap/dash

Just do repeats of rugged lane and summerton lane in the strawberry beds. Brutal

surball

Where exactly is the wall? Mentioned lots here but have never been able to see it on strava

sullzz

slap/dash wrote: »

Just do repeats of rugged lane and summerton lane in the strawberry beds. Brutal

Oh yeah , all around the strawberry beds is great for hill repeats

sullzz

surball wrote: »

Where exactly is the wall? Mentioned lots here but have never been able to see it on strava

Not too far from kildare town area , is part of the tour of kildare sportive

Don't Chute!

surball wrote: »

Where exactly is the wall? Mentioned lots here but have never been able to see it on strava

https://www.strava.com/segments/824925

Think that's what you're looking for.

Consey

Bohernabreena/Piperstown and a few round there are tough climbs, v close to Stocking Lane. Repeats of those were a staple of Etape training for me before.....

Daroxtar

Bohernabreena then Ballinascorney, couple of minutes recovery on the descent to Kippure estate then Sally Gap and on up to Kippure mast, recovery descent, featherbeds climb, down Stocking Lane. That's about 1000 m in 50km. https://www.strava.com/activities/272355655
You could do a few loops up and down to the viewing point via Cruagh or Stocking Lane for added hardship if you're on for it.

sullzz

black and amber wrote: »

https://www.strava.com/segments/824925

Think that's what you're looking for.

or this one ,
i thought this one was more common , this one is the one used in the TOK

https://www.strava.com/segments/715134

crosstownk

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

There is a hill called Cupidstown near Kilteel that is horrible. Hits 23% near the top.

Savage. Almost on a par with Kilmashogue.

EDIT: Interesting where the name 'Cupidstown' came from. Legend has it that it's named after Cromwell's gun (which he called Cupid). Cromwellstown is an adjacent village/townland. Sorry for the OT venture..........

El Kabong!

To 'train' for some alpine climbs I did repeats of Howth Hill, mostly from the harbour side but mixed it up a lot. Once I got to 7 repeats I felt I was OK. Depending on where you are coming from it might be nice to pootle out along the coast.

I also did Lambs Hill once... didn't stop but I was weaving a lot to stay upright.

terrydel

Never done stocking lane/cruagh/kilmashogue, how does it compare to Ballinascorney Hill?

wirelessdude01

sullzz wrote: »

Is that near " the lamb "

Cupidstown is the Kilteel side ascent and 'The Lamb' is the ascent from the N81 side. Both are horrendous

wirelessdude01

Is the main 'wall' oft referred to on this forum not the one near Enniskerry or somewhere down that neck of the woods?

sullzz

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Cupidstown is the Kilteel side ascent and 'The Lamb' is the ascent from the N81 side. Both are horrendous

Ah right , yep shocking climbs , I remember climbing the lamb with a mate and he came to a stop and had to unclip and put his foot down , he couldn't manage to start again so had to walk the rest of the way , when he got to the top he said it was just as hard to walk it as it was to cycle it .

sullzz

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Is the main 'wall' oft referred to on this forum not the one near Enniskerry or somewhere down that neck of the woods?

That's the one Black and Amber linked to

wirelessdude01

sullzz wrote: »

Ah right , yep shocking climbs , I remember climbing the lamb with a mate and he came to a stop and had to unclip and put his foot down , he couldn't manage to start again so had to walk the rest of the way , when he got to the top he said it was just as hard to walk it as it was to cycle it .

I've seen lads on club spins literally keel over into nettles near the top as they couldn't unclip in time. Newbies to it always drop down through the gears far to early and then have nothing left for the top bit.

neris

El Kabong! wrote: »

To 'train' for some alpine climbs I did repeats of Howth Hill, mostly from the harbour side but mixed it up a lot. Once I got to 7 repeats I felt I was OK. Depending on where you are coming from it might be nice to pootle out along the coast.

I also did Lambs Hill once... didn't stop but I was weaving a lot to stay upright.

Wheres lambs hill?

sullzz

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

I've seen lads on club spins literally keel over into nettles near the top as they couldn't unclip in time. Newbies to it always drop down through the gears far to early and then have nothing left for the top bit.

Yep , I remember my first time up it I was with 2 others who did it before , it was on the way home from a spin around the gaps , I thought I was doing great , the other 2 way behind , needless to say they never told me the gradient beforehand , I got laughed at about 3/4 the way up as they passed me by as I was puffing and panting .
I love that hill

wirelessdude01

neris wrote: »

Wheres lambs hill?

Cupidstown https://www.strava.com/segments/655142

The Lamb https://www.strava.com/segments/5890791

velogalway

Thanks to everyone for the very helpful suggestions. More than enough opportunities now.

neris

I know howths been suggested few times but going up through the village take the right at the church and follow the road up till you come to a V and take the right up the little ramp there

Koobcam

The Etape du Tour climbs are going to be steeper and longer than anything you would be able to find in Ireland. That said, I reckon you can do some good training to prepare. For the long climbs, there are basically only three I know of in Leinster, which all finish at dead-end summits at around 700m;
a) Kippure mast, you can get here any number of ways, Enniskerry to the Mast via Powerscourt waterfall is good as it's more or less uphill the whole way once you pass the waterfall (Other routes are longer but have descents mixed into the climbing). You can also go via Cruagh, stocking lane, Sally Gap etc. I would suggest trying the route from Powerscourt though as it is a long, continuous climb.
b) Turlough Hill. Probably best done from Laragh. It's a long continuous climb with a steep section in the middle of the gap and again at the start of Turlough Hill.
c) A third option in Leinster (though nowhere near Dublin actually) is to go to the top of the Mt. Leinster Mast. If you take the route from Bunclody, I think it's might be the only category 1-rated climb you can find on Strava in Ireland (the other two above are rated Cat 2. I have done the Mt Leinster climb before but never been up to the mast. I hear it's incredibly hard and steep.

So, suggested route might be as follows:
-Start from Enniskerry, go to Kippure mast via Powerscourt waterfall
-Descent past glenmacnass waterfall into Laragh and head up the Gap, to the top of Turlough hill.
-Go back down the same way for the descending practice and maybe stop then for a bite at one of the cafes in laragh.
-Make your way towards Bunclody and up Mt. Leinster, all the way to the mast. Go to Bunclody via Shay elliot & Slieve Mann if you really want punishment.
-Descend towards Bagenalstown and take the train back to Dublin

If you do those climbs, you'll also have the opportunity to practice long descents. Depending on what kind of rider you are, I would suggest not riding carbon clinchers on the Etape, though newer ones may resist heat build up better. You may wish to descend at speed but unfortunately, there will likely be so many people with you on the descent that you may have to brake more often that you would wish.

wanderer 22

Nice route Koobcam - as I'm off work sick and I'm bored I've done it up (roughly anyway) on strava - https://www.strava.com/routes/2148231

Koobcam

colm18 wrote: »

Nice route Koobcam - as I'm off work sick and I'm bored I've done it up (roughly anyway) on strava - https://www.strava.com/routes/2148231

Jaysus, when you actually do a map of that route, it looks brutal. I reckon that would be nearly as hard as the Etape itself. In fact, it has a bit more climbing than when I did the Etape in 2013. I might do that route myself before the end of this month.

Brian?

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Cupidstown https://www.strava.com/segments/655142

The Lamb https://www.strava.com/segments/5890791

I actually think the Cromwellstown climb is a better climb in some ways. It's longer with the steep kick in the middle. The descent down into Brittas is better too.

wirelessdude01

Brian? wrote: »

I actually think the Cromwellstown climb is a better climb in some ways. It's longer with the steep kick in the middle. The descent down into Brittas is better too.

Road surface is horrendous in places though and I actually think that the descent into Brittas is one of those that your constantly on the brakes for a few reasons, loose chippings at the side and middle of the road and also the chance of meeting a car/tractor. Twice i've nearly ploughed into a car on the descent.

Brian?

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Road surface is horrendous in places though and I actually think that the descent into Brittas is one of those that your constantly on the brakes for a few reasons, loose chippings at the side and middle of the road and also the chance of meeting a car/tractor. Twice i've nearly ploughed into a car on the descent.

It can be slippy due to oil on the road as well. But it's wider and safer than the others.

Daroxtar

colm18 wrote: »

Nice route Koobcam - as I'm off work sick and I'm bored I've done it up (roughly anyway) on strava - https://www.strava.com/routes/2148231

3d of it. Hard to get an angle with all the roads clearly shown but Mt Leinster looks evil

Derrydingle

Sounds like and my your link I think it may be the lamb or is it somewhere on the kilteel road?

Wishbone Ash

terrydel wrote: »

Never done stocking lane/cruagh/kilmashogue, how does it compare to Ballinascorney Hill?

Cruagh and Stocking Lane are fairly similar with no real steep bits. Cruagh is slightly easier in my opinion but others will disagree.

Balinascorney is much shorter although the gradient varies a lot.

Kilmashogue is also fairly short but brutally steep in places (20%+) - no comparison to the others. It's also a Cul de Sac and very narrow in places - if you meet anything larger than a car you'll have to unclip and pull in.

Glass Prison 1214

Toughest has to be Kilmashogue Lane. It is brutally steep and long enough to make it a proper climb.

Daroxtar

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Cruagh and Stocking Lane are fairly similar with no real steep bits. Cruagh is slightly easier in my opinion but others will disagree.

Balinascorney is much shorter although the gradient varies a lot.

Kilmashogue is also fairly short but brutally steep in places (20%+) - no comparison to the others. It's also a Cul de Sac and very narrow in places - if you meet anything larger than a car you'll have to unclip and pull in.

Ballinascorney from the cross at the Bohernabreena road is short enough but if you take it as a whole from the Dodder up it's a decent climb. https://www.strava.com/segments/652111

That other Bohernabreena road that I took yesterday has a nasty kick to it in a few places. The surface of the road adds a few % in effort too.
https://www.strava.com/segments/661071

terrydel

Daroxtar wrote: »

Ballinascorney from the cross at the Bohernabreena road is short enough but if you take it as a whole from the Dodder up it's a decent climb. https://www.strava.com/segments/652111

That other Bohernabreena road that I took yesterday has a nasty kick to it in a few places. The surface of the road adds a few % in effort too.
https://www.strava.com/segments/661071

I turn right at the Mill pub and down past the pitch and putt club on the left and on up. Is that the first link you posted? Seems a similar distance.
Tough climb imho, tho Im nearly getting up it in the big ring at long last!

Daroxtar

Ya thats it.
I'd say I'll get up it in the big ring when I get a cassette with 44
TBH, there's 2 ramps on the main road that really hit me hard although I start my cycle fairly close to the start of the climb so I'm not warmed up until I get to the turn. The top half has steep sections but it's so varied that I can get my breath back a little on the easier sections.

ckeego

Step Lane out of Stepaside?

Wishbone Ash

ckeego wrote: »

Step Lane out of Stepaside?

Bit short for training on or doing repeats.

Carawaystick

Daroxtar wrote: »

3d of it. Hard to get an angle with all the roads clearly shown but Mt Leinster looks evil

I know it's outside Dublin but borris to the mast of mt Leinster is more than half the tourmalet
I think it's the biggest climb in Ireland