Biggest climb in NI?

[aaron-bangor]

Where is the biggest non technical climb (for a mtb) in NI?

How long and what level of difficulty?

Want something to aim for!!

Aaron

[barry_kellett99]

I would hedge my bets on it probably being near rostrevor!

[trailfox]

I would hedge my bets on it probably being near rostrevor!
As in slieve martin (one with the big rock)?

[barry_kellett99]

As in slieve martin (one with the big rock)?

There are other good ones round there.

I remember Finlieve being a good grind to the top. I think its still only 350 meters of climbing to a 450meter peak on the route the non sunday runners took us on.

Slieve Martin is probably got more total altitude gain, but from the rock on up to the fence is loose stone and rock and would be technical enough for most. If you can get to the peak past the fence without getting off, you'll be going well.

[trailfox]

I went up from the caravan park, a bit of fireroad, some tarmac, more fireroad and then up the last wee bit of gravel/grass to the big rock... I think I went down the bit your talking about... Up in 2 hours (was with family, couldn't get any faster because of their fitness :( ) and down in 10 (stayed with them the first few hundred metres of trail, then belted it the rest of the way :D)
Twas a good days outing :-)

[Mac]

Lots down Rostrevor direction. 9.00am every Saturday morning or 6.30pm every Tuesday and you get to se a fair number of them over a few weeks riding.

[barry_kellett99]

Lots down Rostrevor direction. 9.00am every Saturday morning or 6.30pm every Tuesday and you get to se a fair number of them over a few weeks riding.

Or all of them on those special days :)

[madmickie]

was up leitrim lodge yesterday - that's a good grind

[D.J.]

As an alternative and to satisfy your request for a non technical climb check out the climb from Iniscarn Forest to the top of Slieve Gallion near Moneymore. First 65% or so is a landrover track with the remainder a very steep mountain road with occassional track options. In total I think its in the 350-400m category. A lung buster to all who try it.

[Darran@BOMB]

a good climb? is that not a contradiction? Climbing to the top of the champs course in Tollymore must be up there with the worst, it gets longer every time you do it

[Jonnyc]

a good climb? is that not a contradiction? Climbing to the top of the champs course in Tollymore must be up there with the worst, it gets longer every time you do it

You obviously haven't been to Rostrevor!

[aaron-bangor]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. My riding has been solely at Helens tower which is great but would like to go further afield!

Is Cave Hill rideable from the bottom?

Aaron

[timH]

Is Cave Hill rideable from the bottom?

yep

[johnh]

The climb from the bottom of Ballycarton forest to the top of Binevinah is about 300m and took me an hour. It's the longest continuous ascent I've done in NI. All on non-technical fireroads. Some excellent singletrack descents on the way down too.

[baz]

How about the Glenshane Pass?

[Mac]

Here's two of the best from Rostrevor, in one spin, GPS mapped and guaranteed to challenge a lot of people. Have a look at the route on the map player - some of the gradients on the second hill are above 20%!!

Castle Bog, Sally's Park (http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/588039)

I used it as a training loop for the Transalp.

[banjoboy]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. My riding has been solely at Helens tower which is great but would like to go further afield!
Aaron

Aaron, you need help - you need TrailBadger.com (http://www.trailbadger.com/)! :-)

[aaron-bangor]

Mac - thats a serious profile in the chart! What GPS do you use? Looking at getting a Garmin Edge 205. If I had a 205 would I be able to load your route onto it and use as my virtual guide?

Thanks for the Trailbadger link I check it out tonight!

Aaron

[Mac]

Mac - thats a serious profile in the chart! What GPS do you use? Looking at getting a Garmin Edge 205. If I had a 205 would I be able to load your route onto it and use as my virtual guide?

I was using a Garmin Summit for the GPS mapping. I think you will be able to download the route and all the other routes from the NTSR website to the 205with no problems.

[madmickie]

Mac - what direction are you going for the southern loop of your spin? - Up or down the mast road?

[Mac]

Mickie - Click on the map player to see the direction of travel. I went up the road to the mast. I'll see if i can get it mapped for you.

[madmickie]

Mac - Got the map viewer installed and see the direction of travel now - i'm liking that GPS thing! something for xmas perhaps. 35.5mph!! I guess i was doing something similar then. It's scary fast for shorts and a t-shirt. Highly recommended.