Places to park and ride?

[Kenny]

Hey guys, Firstly this is a great site!


I'm new to the mountain bike scene and I am looking for some areas to bike close to dublin. I know this is going to sound lame but I'm looking for trails where I can drive to the top and then bike down. It's not that I'm lazy, but recent medical problems make it hard for me to tackle too much up hill stretches. However don't want this to spoil my fun and would love to park at the top of a trail or section of trail and blast down it for an hour or two! Any of you guys know any locations that fit the bill? Any info welcome!


Thanks


Kenny

[Scrivo]

That is more or less Downhill mountainbiking. There are no places around that this is realistic really. There are uplift days (where everybody chips in for somebody with a trailer to take you up the hill all day) but these are on Downhill specific courses. (Would be very difficult)


How would you get your car at the top of the hill if you rode to the bottom?

[Karl]

Great idea Kenny, but you'll have to make your way back up the hill to your car...

[Martin]

Kenny one thing I got use to was there is always an up before or after a down! Hence climbs are hard to avoid...... take em slow, the decent is always better when you've earned it!


If your looking for something fairly level and only a small few climbs head out to B/stoe its on the Coilte website! or simple location is the Park / Masseys Wood. All manageable.


Hard to take the mountains out mountain biking! (as much as I've tried)


Martin

[Kenny]

Thanks for the replies lads, What I meant by park and ride was me and a mate going out for a spin, Leave one car at the bottom and drive his or mine to the top and spin down. Then drive back up to collect the car at the top. Standard practice in kayaking rivers and the like. I do get what your saying though. As you put it martin, ' Hard to take the mountains out of mountain biking' Maybe I was just being lazy!


I've looked at the Coilte website and have been to Balinastoe once before (prior to the new track)but didn't really know where I was going. Is it easy to find the track once I get there? Do I enter the woods from the eniskerry side?


Thanks for the help lads


Kenny

[Martin]

yup the sign posts are now up! :-)

[miguel]

its feasible in glen of the downs, but might be a bit short... its more of a downward sloping xc trail...

[Kenny]

I'll have a look into the Glen of the Downs run and try to find the route on an OS map. I'll definetely be making my way up to Ballinastoe again very soon.


Thanks for all the help lads, much appreciated. Just have to fix the rear hydraulics on my bike now and I'm away! Can't wait now to get going!


Cheers


Kenny

[ollietrex]

Glens of the downs can be found here:-


http://www.mtbguidebook.com/route/display/kindlestown_and_glens_of_the_downs


Ballinstowe:-


http://www.mtbguidebook.com/route/display/ballinastoe_trail_centre


Phoneix Park:-


http://www.mtbguidebook.com/route/display/phoenix_park_race_circuit


This is flat but can be a good laugh if you have a sadistic side.

[Martin]

sites looking good Ollie!

[ollietrex]

I will get around to enabling people to download route in the near future for the garmin's and stuff but if people want them emailing just give me a shout.

[Kenny]

Brilliant stuff Ollietrex! Much appreciated


Regards


Ken