Was it tough?
Yes.
Would I do it again?
Yes.
Yes.
Would I do it again?
Yes.
This was my ambition for quite a while now. Ride the Wicklow Way, start to finish. Having a weekend to myself, I decided, now is the time. Originally I planned to start on the Friday, but due to work commitments, I had to postpone it till Saturday.
So Saturday morning I got a lift up to Marley Park and at 8:15 I was on the bike. After a quick ride around the park, I decided to alter the start of the journey, and I climbed Three Rock instead of Kilmashouge. I joined the Wicklow Way and the end of euro trail climb, from there on, I stuck to the marked route pretty much all the way.
After Ticknock, I knew that my paste was way to fast for a long journey, so was trying to find the speed that would allow me to maintain my average speed of 10km/h. It took a bit of getting used to, but with strava, it was easy to keep an eye on the average.
After a first few descents, I had to attach my tent to the backpack.
When I set off, I had it tied to the frame, but during downhills, it was moving too much. Having a full suspension bike and a dropper post, there's not many places you can attach things to the bike, so backpack had to do.
Even though I took as little as possible with me to carry, the bag was heavy enough. I'm used to biking with backpack but this was bit different. First of all heavier load on the bike meant, earlier braking and more speed adjustment on the downs. Also had to up the pressure to the fork and a shock to accommodate the extra weight. Another thing that was different from "normal " riding, was the height of the back pack. During the descent, with a post dropped and hips moved behind the seat, the bag would travel up my back, and hit the back of helmet, causing it to slide right onto my eyes. To conquer that, before every steeper descent, I had to loosen the shoulder straps to make the bag slide down my back more. After Ticknock and Ballybrack, I had all that under control ( more or less).
Prince William seat was quite mellow and picturesque, I met only few people there, everyone welcoming me on the trails, even some people helped me carry the bike over the gates.
Then there was Maulin and Djouce. It was hard at times, some sections I had to push up hill, but the weather was good, people where encouraging me to go on, and before long I was on top of Djouce (not exactly, I follow the WW, and didn't climb the peak).
After the board walks I touched on Ballinastoe and down towards Lough Dan. I was feeling a little hungry, and needed a big lunch soon, not just small snacks I took with me. I reckoned from there to Glendalough will not be too long.
I could not be more wrong!
That bit could be a spin in itself, but I really enjoyed it. That part of Wicklow Way is often skipped, but it's so worth doing. The climbs are tough but neat and dry, sometimes narrow, but the descents and the views are worth it!
I had my very late lunch in Larragh, and I set off for Mullacor.
I wasn't expecting that. The climbs out of Glendalough where killing me. The food was only in my stomach, so energy levels where still low. Steps, stones, lots of walkers all of that made it quite hard to climb, and I had to get off the bike quite often. I was on top of Mullacor around four o'clock, I think. Looking at the map, I was almost in Glenmalure, the halfway point.
I was expecting a nice grassy descent but again, surprise! It was like a staircase made out of slabs and stones. I tried to ride down, but gave up after twenty or so metres. It would be a great fun on a DH rig!
Then I finally reached Glenmalure, I started a small fire in the existing fire pit, to slow down the midgets, and luckily I had a spray, that kept most (not all) away. I also had a lovely dinner and a pint in the nearby pub.
The night went guickly and despite the nearby full blown camping/drinking party, I slept like a baby.
In the morning I had to light the fire again to keep the midgets away while I had a wash and a breakfast. It also gave me bit of a lift, watching the fire grow, it wasn't a warm morning at all and I was tired. I had a plan, to stop at the next shop for a lovely sausage sandwich. Little did I know that there's no shops for quite a while...
Of course as a rule of Wicklow Way, after a valley there's a mountain, and climbing Slieve Maan first thing in the morning was certainly not "easing back into it". It felt good when I eventually reached the top of it. I looked back and I could see the "big" mountains behind me, and the feeling that I was riding up and down most of them only yesterday gave me an extra kick.
At the top of Carrickashane, I could see Mount Leinster. It was very far, but it made the whole thing look very real. I descended towards Iron Bridge, and got a bit lost, but thanks to the map I was back on track in no time.
Sheilstown was lovely, steep climb and long fire road descent turning into small country roads. When I reached Moyne, was expecting a shop. I was hungry and my supplies where running low. I wanted coffee and my sausage sandwich. But no shops in Moyne. I checked with the map, next was Tinahely. I knew I could get something there, but it was 1,5 hours and 250m of ascent away, so I decided I chance nearby Knockananna. All I could get there was some Snickers bars, two black bananas and a bottle of water. It wasn't much but gave me bit of a lift.
Ballycumber Hill was nice, lots of riding on a narrow path, with high ferns on both sides, and a great view of the mountains ahead of me. When I descended into Tinehaly, Michael was on his way back from Ballinastoe, and scared the life out of me beeping the horn at me like a mad man :) After getting my(late again) lunch in there I started towards Muskeagh Hill. At that stage I was feeling tired, and could not wait until food I just ate, kick into play. Along this section of the Wicklow Way there are few lovely Boreens, sometimes quite soft , wet and with lot of loose stones, so I took it slow and easy along them pushing the bike from time to time. The backpack started to feel very heavy at that point.
After Muskeagh Hill, it was mainly small and narrow country roads. Some go up, some down but a pleasant ride with little or no cars. Again, met few people walking the Wicklow Way, some asking where I was going and where from. After Boley, there was a tarmac climb leading towards Stookeen Hill.
I'd say to lay tarmac on it, they had to pour it down the slope. It was steep.
That was the only time on the whole way I could have done with granny ring. I had to get off and push the bike half way up. Maybe some day I come back there just to see was it really that bad or was I too tired to ride up to the top.
After Stookeen there's only Ureland Hill, where someone forgot to put the signs up, and without the map you can be going around the forest in a circle.
And that's it, tarmac down to Clonegal and I was done. Tired, hungry but happy.
P.S.
For anyone looking for more photos, and strava links to this ride you can find it here:
I would like to thank Mad Elk Cycles for a great support with all bike relating gear and set up for this trip.
Also great thanks to Barry from East West Mapping for a great map / guide.
Most of all I'd like to thank family and friends for all the help and encouragement and continued support.
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