Dublin Weather Forecast, Ireland

Accommodation is booked for the 9th of November in the Glendalough Hotel, Glendalough, Co. Wicklow.

         

We are aiming to arrive at the hotel at 10am on the 9th.  Just as a guide, it is approx 1h20mins drive from Enfield (either via Naas, or M50...both work out around the same time).

This might seem very early, but our intention would be to be on our bikes at 11am sharp, which gives us plenty of time to enjoy the amazing scenery of Co.Wicklow and still be back by mid-afternoon.

The hotel has advised that they will do their best to have all rooms available for an early check in.

We have several route options for the weekend - obviously we are heavily dependent on the weather conditions, so everyone can decide closer to the time which routes they would like to take, and the groups can decide which route to do on which particular day.
The 11am start should work in our favour if the mornings are cold and frosty, and still leave everyone plenty of time to complete the routes.

Here is the most popular website for checking the weather ahead of the weekend, so this might help you decide what to pack :)  http://www.yr.no/place/Ireland/Leinster/Wicklow/hour_by_hour.html

As we are on a social weekend as much as a cycling weekend, the pace of the spins will not be too intense, and people can choose to go at a pace that suits them - in fact, for those of you who want to do something a little less energy sapping, there are lovely walks/hikes around Glendalough. Basically you can do what you want. Don't feel as if you have to go for a cycle!
So - let's assume we will have nice weather for the weekend - this would be the plan:



SATURDAY:

Route-1
56k (aprox 2h30m)
This route heads south from Laragh, through Rathdrum, along the stunning Avoca River valley, down through the town of Avoca, on then to Woddenbridge and follows the Aughrim River across to the village of Aughrim.  From there we head north back towards home.
The route is mostly flat for the first 30km, and then has two hills on the way back (hopefully with a nice tailwind).  The first hill is a gradual climb of approx 200m elevation over 10km, and the second is approx 150m elevation over approx 3km, so both would be very manageable for all levels of ability.
From the top of the second clibm (at 43k), it is mostly downhill then back to the hotel.

Here are the route details, which you can download directly to your GPS device so that you don't have to memorise the route! :)

http://connect.garmin.com/course/4985040



Route-2
72km Mountain Route (approx 3hrs)
This is the more advanced advanced option, and would need a good level of fitness from everyone choosing to take this route.
We head out north through Roundwood, and take in some of the classic mountain climbs, leaving the other classics for the next day:
 - LuggaLa
 - Sally Gap
 - Balysmutten
 - Lacken
 - Ballyknocken
 - Wicklow Gap

Here are the route details:  http://connect.garmin.com/course/4984379







SUNDAY:

Route-1
40k (approx 1h45m)
This route takes us out in an easterly direction, through the village of Annamoe over to Ashford before turning back towards Roundwood, and taking in the scenic route around the Vartry Resevoir, through Roundwood and back towards Glendalough via Annamoe again.
The course is almost flat for the entire route, except for a 10km section in the middle (5km down, then 5km up).  Then , the last 10km are pretty much all downhill back to the hotel.

http://connect.garmin.com/course/4985080




Route-2
74km Mountain Route (approx 3hrs)
Heading out over Wicklow Gap (this time straight from the hotel), we take in the climbs of Hollywood, down then to Donard, Glen of Immal, and finishing off then with the infamous Shay Elliot climb before descending back down to Laragh village.

This is the route we plan to take: http://connect.garmin.com/course/4984430









SATURDAY EVENING:

After the spins, or walks, or whatever you feel like doing, dinner is served from 7pm.  If there are any specific dietary requirements please advise the hotel.

On the Sunday we have organised 2 rooms (late checkout), so we can use the shower facilities when we come back from our Sunday morning cycle or indeed if there are some sore heads from the night before, you can use these rooms to get a few more hours kip! 

 

In relation to payment, each person can pay their €70 on arrival.

 

The hotel website is HERE, and their number is 0404 45135