The Royal Canal 200/300/400 Permanent

Organiser: Seamus O’Dowd, Mobile: 085 1740747

E-Mail: seamusodowd10@gmail.com

Entry Fee: €5 by PayPal to paypal@audaxireland.org and Cycling Ireland Licence required, no One-days allowed.

If you want a flat Audax Permanent this is it, but that don’t mean it will be done as a Time Trial.   There has been much work done along the Royal Canal and all the grass and roots are now gone. Surface is Tarmac, fine gravel or hardpack but all smooth. You might get away with a road bike but a gravel bike or hardtail with an offroad tyre will give you grip when you most need it. I used a flat bar bike with 42c Smart Sam tyres when I was checking the route last week. It was a good workout. No E-Bike allowed !

Show courtesy to other users of  towpaths, don’t go without a bell on your bike.

There are lots of road crossings so watch out for traffic. There are a number of places where you change from one side of the canal to the other.

The GPS route for the 200 starts and finishes in Moate but can be started from any of the three controls, Moate, Cloondara or Mary Lynchs Pub.

The 300 extends the route to Maynooth and back with the extra control in Maynooth.

The 400k option is an extension of the 300km route with a loop towards Athlone and on to Shannon Harbour where the extra control is the Long Drop Toilet at 193.8km.

DONT FALL INTO THE  CANAL. ESPECIALLY AS YOU PASS UNDER THE MANY BRIDGES. SLOW DOWN.

There is an option to route via Ballymahon if supplies are required, distance is the same.

The 200km Ride with GPS route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31264238

The 300km Ride with GPS route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30945372

The 400km RidewithGPS route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46361564

The Royal Canal 200

If starting in Moate, head on to the Rail Trail towards Mullingar. Turn left after 28km at Newbrook, signposted Abbeyshrule. (Ballymahon is at 63km & 111km if required) You are along the Royal Canal all the way to Cloondara Control at 87km, The Richmond Inn Pub.  (Termonbarry is a further 1.5km if supplies needed).  Do a u-turn and head for Mary Lynch Control at 160.5km. 40km back to Moate.

There is a pub in Abbeyshrule that will do Coffee and a sandwich, and a pint of course.

Maxol service station in Mullingar at 149.7km. (11km from Mary Lynchs)

B&B is also available at Mary Lynch Pub.

The Royal Canal 300

The 300 is the same as the 200 but has a 100km loop from Mary Lynchs to Maynooth with Enfield Applegreen as a resupply if required.

FURY’S Bar & Restaurant is at 183km and 235km. (7km west of Enfield).

Maynooth is the additional control.

The usual proof of passage is required, Photo or Receipt at Controls.

All routes are done in a clockwise direction.

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