My spin today...

covey123

Went out in the Ballyhouras on Monday,hike up Seefin then back down to join the Green loop.

Was my first time taking my new Meta Ht off of the official trails,have to say was well impressed with it. Great handling and no problems on the rougher stuff, great bike on the smoother flowy trails too, highly recommend if anyone is thinking of getting one.

Did have one off alright when bombing down a grassy trail,went over the bars after front wheel went into a hidden hole! Don't know how,but managed to clear the bike and stayed on my feet,running until I come to a stop!

Wailin

Wrong post! This site is just a mess since update.

steamsey

Went for a spin in Ballinastoe over the weekend. Trails in good nick, riding well. No one about really. They're doing some work on new trails. If anyone knows the trail that leads to the gulley at the bottom of Ballinastoe, it ends at the road and was Stage 3 I think on some of the Enduros there - that's being worked on and will go from unofficial to official. Good to see trails being expanded.

Wailin

I saw that too when I was there a few weeks ago, actually came down stage 3 to finish off in that gully but it was closed off due to building. They only seem to be doing the bottom section from the fireroad down to gully. I wonder will they do the upper section too later on? Lots of potential at Ballinastoe to turn the natural stuff into sanctioned trails and expand the trail network. Only problem is they tend to lose the nice natural features that make them great in the first place.

prunudo

Don't get too excited lads, thats going to be a new mellow climbing trail to bypass the chairlift climb. Snakes its way over towards start of cool runnings.

Wailin

Ahh, makes sense now when you see where it starts just up from the entrance gate. So we lost a nice natural trail there, one of my favourites to end the day.... :(

prunudo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118171404#Comment_118171404

Yep, unfortunately so. But there are plans for a black trail following a similar line to the most recent stage 4. I think there is also a red coming down from the top too, not sure on route though.

Coillte are having a webinar tomorrow, Tuesday, regarding the new trail networks around the country.

covey123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118172061#Comment_118172061

Do you know if there has been anything released from the webinar?

prunudo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118180347#Comment_118180347

Would you believe I totally forgot about it! Strange didn't see any links being shared on social media last night about it.

prunudo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118180347#Comment_118180347

My bad, its next Tuesday, the 23rd.

https://coillte.webex.com/ec3300/eventcenter/mobile/eventInfoMobile.do?siteurl=coillte&confID=210805345744747686&meetingKey=27313966505&backUrl=%2Fmw3300%2Fwireless%2Fmeetinglist.do%3Fsiteurl%3Dcoillte&t=a&MTID=e91136d583584e2733f3a06e533def4f6&rnd=0.2361150842401878&isIPADAsMobile=null&fromModernViewMobile=null

covey123

Good stuff,will try to catch that

prunudo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118183413#Comment_118183413

https://coillte.webex.com/recordingservice/sites/coillte/recording/750d83172ebe103ab5ff0050568293fb/playback

Its available on playback now, something weird going on with the Facebook link though, I can't seem to share it.

Hopefully thats it now.

covey123

Will give it a listen on drive to work tomorrow.Not sure if there is a reference in that recording but heard Ballyhouras have the go ahead for a new red/blue trail, planned to be up and running early next year

xxyyzz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118298050#Comment_118298050

Yeah they do reference the planned upgrades in Ballyhoura. You can tell Niall isn't impressed with what's there currently.

Plastik

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/116971406#Comment_116971406

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUsIgATOwoc

Making it look easy.

Wailin

It actually doesn't look too bad, up until that last section before it joins Irn Bru. Look forward to giving it a go....I think ill wait until it dries up!

Gerry

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118369064#Comment_118369064

Definitely wait till it dries. Did it once when it was nearly dry. Took about 5 minutes to talk myself into the drop in. Its awkward as you need to turn sharply on fairly steep slope. after that, the long chute was the toughest bit I thought, it was bit wet there and very hard to control speed. Rest was.. manageable, chuffed that I cleaned so much of it tbh. Awesome trail.

Wailin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118384524#Comment_118384524

I take it back Gerry, I saw another video of it during the week and it looks very very sketchy! Definitely will give this a go, but in dry conditions. The trail starts at 2:11 in this video.

https://youtu.be/xWQBC-PhJqI

Gerry

its hugely sketchy. I think that video shows the difficulty well. though still not the steepness. they manage their speed well. they are obviously a decent level of rider and you can see how gingerly they are taking it.

Wailin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118385012#Comment_118385012

I did Aylings trail a few weeks back, the next trail over from Irn Bru. Most people talk about Irn Bru being a monster trail and one of the hardest in Djouce but I found Aylings much tougher. Steeper with less grip and tighter turns on off camber roots...my nemesis! But what a trail it is, all those trails on that side of the waterfall are great and definitely ones to test your skill level.

prunudo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118385943#Comment_118385943

Its just a shame you have to go up the red road to get to them. I find it hard to remember them as I don't hit them frequently enough with the climb to get to them.

Wailin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118386039#Comment_118386039

Yeah true, its where an e bike shines I guess.

prunudo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118386127#Comment_118386127

They appear to shine brighter with each day I grow older and lazier 😂

Wailin

Haha yes, same here!

mr spuckler

I've only been getting back into the MTB recently and being based on the northside am a bit removed from decent trails. I headed down to Ballinastoe yesterday for the first time in years and loved it - although I realised very quickly how limited my skills are :( As is my fitness and as I got more fatigued I could feel myself making more mistakes on the descents. I was really surprised at how busy it was, we arrived while it was still dark and loads of people were parked up waiting for daylight to break through. Great to see though and really shows that if you build it they will come...

steamsey

Was up Ticknock on Saturday and I shouldn't be, but I was surprised at how busy it was. The weather wasn't great, but the car park was absolutely jammed. Had to do a few laps before we got a space. I thought maybe if I got there before lunchtime and seeing as the weather wasn't great that it wouldn't be so packed.

Plenty of mountain bikers around but mainly walkers.

Anyway - was just a quick spin to try out a towhee towing rope thing I bought. It works really well, and means that younger kids can get around the trails that bit more. Great exercise too for the one doing the towing.

Any new trails open at B-Stoe?

prunudo

Some nice new additions to existing trails in Ballinastoe rather than brand new trails (excluding the new climbing trail which I'm unsure about. Same with the new end to cool runnings, a bit meh imo). The new berms at the end of house bound are fantastic though.

Regarding the amount of people around, I've noticed a lot more walkers parking in Ballinastoe lately which can cause parking to become scarce even with the addition of the inner spaces at the weekends. But the first few weekends in January were always busy.

steamsey

Tried to go to Ticknock yesterday (Sunday). Got there at 10.30am, thought that would be beating the worst of the crowds - how wrong I was! Absolutely rammed. Even the road up from Kellystown was packed. Saw some poor guy who had tried to squeeze into a spot but his car fell into a ditch - he was up on three wheels! Hope he got out OK but I think it needed a tow. Did 2 furious laps of Ticknock in the car looking for a spot before leaving and going to Ballinastoe. Does anyone go to Ticknock in the afternoons on the weekend? What time does it even begin to empty?

Ballinastoe was pretty busy but nothing like Ticknock. Just had a quick spin - cycled up on the new trail - and can see they've blocked it off totally for descending with big logs across the old parts of it that head towards the gulley. The new berms at the end of house bound are good as prunudo says. Keen to see the new trails too once they've opened - they seem to be largely built and just "consolidating" now.

Alkers

Re: Ticknock you can park at Lamb Doyles if you think the carpark is going to be busy, means cycling up the main road or go up around the back way which is a tough climb too but at least off road

steamsey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118525185#Comment_118525185

Yeah - I think future spins on Ticknock will mean parking somewhere like that and spinning up - it's just not worth driving up these days.

prunudo

Was up there (Ballinastoe) again yesterday myself. Looking forward to seeing new trails in the coming months as they open up, just a shame its at the expense of the natural trails. There was never anything too hairy and it was great to mix up the trail centre and natural stuff for a mellow day.

Gerry

Yeah have been up to bstoe twice in past 3 weeks to get some training in for the blitz. on Saturday saw more clearing for new trail on the climb after the first or second trail.. pity about stage 3 as you say. but they must reckon they've still got 3 full runs as theres a gravity enduro running there this year.

anyway the existing trails are running well, ill add my +1 to those berms on house bound.. honestly think they are best I've seen so far

Wailin

Did the new berms for the first time myself there yesterday, nice and flowy. It will be interesting to see how the new trails are when finished. I wonder are there any blacks planned?

Recorded my run on housebound with the new berms, plus a detour to Big Vinnie.

https://youtu.be/_oFS-iWAjs4

prunudo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118538478#Comment_118538478

From the last drawing I saw there will be 3 new black trails and 2 new reds, but not sure if that is still the plan. This was on one of the webchats but not the most recent one.

From memory, there were to be 2 blacks from near start of pump and grind all the way to the bottom of expressway. A red from end of zipper (I think there is a short black link trail to expressway here too) to end of flatliner, which I presume is the one they are working on now.

Also a new climbing trail from middle of zipper to around start of stage 3/5 with a red and a black trail roughly following stage 4 to the end of flatliner.

One thing is for sure, they'll be great additions to Ballinastoe and will help to seperate the ability of riders as having people going for koms and kids barely off stabilisers sharing trails is a receipe for disaster.

Wailin

Looks like the chance to do the cliff trail is gone, coillte have churned up the place at the top of the red road. All the trails up there, Irn Bru, Disco Stu, Aylings etc look to be unrideable. Pity, they were class trails that really tested the nerves. Not too many of those around.

Gerry

Ah no. Is it the whole trails or the top sections?

I got out for first mtb spin post covid, took the hardtail to ticknock to try a fast lap in preparation for the blitz.

Ticknock was crowded as expected on a fantastic day. The trails were still wet in typical ticknock fashion. Did the first lap at a decent pace but what struck me is how some of the older coillte trails are really rubbish on a hardtail. Specifically eurosceptic descent.. and euroservices which is getting really worn. Metro 1 is great though!

Fitness seemed to be good, I flew up Toms and kept going without much in the way of stopping. on the second lap I decided to mix it up and tried shizzle/highline/homegrown which was eh, very wet and hence tricky. So after it I'm not sure if I'll bother with the blitz.

xxyyzz

My local trails are finally starting to dry out. Great spin yesterday.

Alkers

Did a solo GAP run yesterday on the ebike, first time I wasn't with anyone else so no hanging around.

Managed 32km with 1,150m of climbing in just over 2 hours, draining a 750Whr battery. In or around 12 pedals up (not always to the top and not always from the bottom). I could have got a lot more out of the battery if I hadn't used full power going uphill.

For comparison, the last time I had uplift I also did 32km and 1,150 vertifcal with 8 uplifts to the top in the three hours although I punctured twice that day.

Gerry

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118744522#Comment_118744522

wow, where is that?

xxyyzz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118746502#Comment_118746502

Killarney over Torc waterfall.

Wailin

Not the whole trails Gerry, just the entrances. Haven't been up there myself but I've heard they've made access very difficult to the point that no one is bothering to do them.

mad turnip

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118753917#Comment_118753917

I was up a couple of days after the work (It wasn't finished at this point). And its just the top sections, Disco Stu entrance is pretty churned up and wasn't possible to get into really. Irn Bru was still accessible but did require 1 minute of lugging the bike over some trees. I saw a ridelog from yesterday that did Irn Bru and they didn't seem to be wasting too much time getting in. They were no where near Aylings when I was last up.

I had the joy of going up todo disco stu and then had todo Irn Bru in its place in the soaking wet, was well sketchy. Theres a tree down on the first turn so watch out.

Wailin

Irn Bru is sketchy in the dry and bloody lethal in the wet.....class trail though, one to test the nerves. I've only done Aylings once and found it tougher than IB. Steeper with tight turns and roots in the places you don't want em...

Gerry

Am inclined to think Coillte going out of their way to put these trails out of action.

prunudo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118768442#Comment_118768442

Once they are incident free I think they'll leave the historic trails alone. On the flip side the felling gets the possibility of issues off their back so it could be a case of 2 birds, 1 stone.

Unfortunately given the age of many of the plantations around I think we're going to see more and more trails disappearing. The latest clearfell in Ballinastoe has more or less put an end to the natural options there.

Wailin

Where have they felled at ballinastoe? Haven't been there in awhile but some of the natural stuff had been closed off due to new coillte trails being built.

Wailin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118768442#Comment_118768442

I know they had issues with the "cliff trail" up beside stage 5 as there are birds of prey nesting in the cliff and coilte did not like the mountain bikers disturbing them which is fair enough I suppose.

Lots of other natural trails have been intentionally destroyed due to the increase of walkers eg mojave and a few others at Ticknock.

It will be a sad day when the likes of Dutch Gold and others on that side of Djouce are gone.

prunudo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118769771#Comment_118769771

Top sections of stage 1,3 and 5 now felled. But as you say, a lot of the lower sections had been closed due to the new trails so nothing really worth doing anymore, or certainly for the next while until the next gravity enduro creates some new options.

Wailin

Have they felled the XC trail Indriya highlighted above?

prunudo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118770038#Comment_118770038

No thats still there afaik. Well the lower section is felled but thats more than a year now