Sunday's Kindlestown Ride
Last Sunday saw 10 riders out in Kindlestown for a day of super sunshine, and even better mountain biking. Welcome to newcomers Phil, Dave and Tadhg who were on their first outing with MAD.
The trails around Kindlestown and Glen of the Downs were superb. A looping singletrack snaking through the woods, with gentle, rooty climbs, fantastically built corners to hold speed, and occasional drops and jumps thrown in for good measure. Conditions were perfect, the ground was dry, but not too hard. The loops are also not too long, so this is a great place every level of rider.
After having a wonderful start here, we headed across the N11 to the Jaysus Gully. This is a (very) steep, (very) narrow track, with a surface of scree and loose stones, and gorse either side. There's no real way to start or stop mid way, so either you're riding it, or you're not. Needless to say, most of us didn't. Well done to Shane and Andy, who probably had the best shot at it, having made their way down without rotating either wheel.
After this, some of the group headed off, while the rest decided to give the Sugar Loaf a try. This involved another serious climb (in the sweltering heat). The climb was worth it though, with a very fast singletrack twisting down the south side of the mountain.
Memorable moments from the day :
1. Mick stopping dead and falling off a 5 foot ledge into the bushes...
2. That pitch black tunnel in the middle of GOTD : point at the light and pedal!
3. Andy haring round the whole lot in flip-flops(!)
4. The drop by the road in GOTD : well done to all with the guts to ride it
5. The pint in Kilmacanogue afterwards...
The trails around Kindlestown and Glen of the Downs were superb. A looping singletrack snaking through the woods, with gentle, rooty climbs, fantastically built corners to hold speed, and occasional drops and jumps thrown in for good measure. Conditions were perfect, the ground was dry, but not too hard. The loops are also not too long, so this is a great place every level of rider.
After having a wonderful start here, we headed across the N11 to the Jaysus Gully. This is a (very) steep, (very) narrow track, with a surface of scree and loose stones, and gorse either side. There's no real way to start or stop mid way, so either you're riding it, or you're not. Needless to say, most of us didn't. Well done to Shane and Andy, who probably had the best shot at it, having made their way down without rotating either wheel.
After this, some of the group headed off, while the rest decided to give the Sugar Loaf a try. This involved another serious climb (in the sweltering heat). The climb was worth it though, with a very fast singletrack twisting down the south side of the mountain.
Memorable moments from the day :
1. Mick stopping dead and falling off a 5 foot ledge into the bushes...
2. That pitch black tunnel in the middle of GOTD : point at the light and pedal!
3. Andy haring round the whole lot in flip-flops(!)
4. The drop by the road in GOTD : well done to all with the guts to ride it
5. The pint in Kilmacanogue afterwards...
Labels: spins
posted by Mick O'Dowd @ 8:00 p.m.
2 Comments:
At 11:45 p.m.,
Morgan said…
I'd recommend parking in the car park up the road from the Yellow House (corner of Butterfield Ave. and Grange Rd.) - better than annoying the Sunday mass goers. I can only take one more person in the MAD team car since it seems to be the only model of car that bike racks won't fit on. If anyone else can provide seats it'll help a lot. Should be a good spin - we can head up the Sugarloaf if the wind dies down.
At 10:11 a.m.,
Morgan said…
Getting there:
The Kindlestown car park is just past the G.o.t.D. Golf Club:
"Take the Southbound Carriageway of the N11 following signs for Bray, Wicklow or Wexford. Continue Southbound through Stillorgan, Foxrock, Cabinteely, Loughlinstown, then by-pass Shankill and Bray. After the village of Kilmacanogue, continue Southbound for 2.5 miles and take the Delgany / Greystones exit on the left and take the first main left up a steep hill, before the Delgany Inn. Continue for approximately one mile and when you pass Kindelstown Forest at the brow of the hill you will see the Golf Course. Entrance on the left."
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