Open Mountain II - The sequel

[BrianM]

Right,

Fresh from yesterday's painful but enjoyable outing... armed with a renewed sense of adventure, a monkey bar and a Gpx file obtained in a dodgy late night car park deal I am heading for a spin around the Knockmealdown mountains this Saturday.

Departing near Clogheen around noon, the spin is just short of 33k with 1,150m of climbing.

I have wanted to try this spin for some time, have only briefly strolled around part of this area so will be winging it slightly.

The scenery around Clogheen, The Vee is very nice so if the day is sunny and clear it should make for an enjoyable outing.


*Weather permitting

[DavidC]

Sounds good Brian, won't be joining you this time but look forward to the report and maybe we'll have an away day there some time over the summer.

[DavidF]

nice one Brian

I have a vague idea to cycle form Carrick on Suir to Clogheen during the summer via the East Munster Way

The finish stretch I think is what you describe, so interested to hear how you get on, unfortunately I cant make it

[BrianM]

Yes I think I recall Barry mentioning something about a spin down this direction this summer. South Leinster Way to Carrick and then onto East Munster Way, now that would be a spin and a half !Ill do some recon and let you know how I get on.

[BrianM]

So after a few delays Saturday morning and a detour en route to Clogheen I ended up hopping on my bike just after 1pm. This is the route i set out to take:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=207 ... 2,0.154324

Due to some recent tree felling and a phone that kept turning itself on and off (after some poxy android update last week) I ended up taking a few slight detours from my planned route.
There are quite a few walkways around this area that are all reasonably well signposted but you need to be sure enough of your route as some of them intersect each other etc. The most technical the going got was probably similar to the tougher parts of John's Hill, the walkways are all mountain track/fire road/sheep trails so no excursions across heather were necessary. After a time consuming chain break and some nasty looking weather approaching across the Galty Mountains I decided to call it a day at around 4pm and head back down the tarmac to my start point. I never got to do the last part of the route (the nicest !)that takes you down through The Vee itself and around the Baylough.

All in all, an enjoyable afternoon on the bike, some fantastic views around this area but quite remote.. I didnt meet one other soul all afternoon. The weather was quite overcast but the sun did break through a few times. . I will definitely take another trip or two down this way over the summer and Is well worth checking out. Here are a few pics I managed to get before my phone completely died:

https://picasaweb.google.com/1046976390 ... 4217632370

[DavidC]

Looks very nice Brian. Definitely on my MTB bucket list

[DavidF]

we will have to start calling you Brian MacHenical, given your chain breaks and dodgy saddle..

[BrianM]

I have been having a run of it alright, time to buy a new chain for the cube i think... re the saddle, I have come to the conclusion that given its a racier bike, Giant intended its use for more of a whippet as opposed to Guinness drinker