Cycle Touring In Ireland
Its easy to paint a romantic picture of cycle touring in Ireland, as its an idyllic way to experience the countryside. But one must also be realistic. At times you’ll get really sweaty. You might fall over and skin your knee. At times you may get so cold and wet. And you will definitely experience pain in places never imagined. Such is the mixed pleasures of cycling. Such moments of great elation must be earned.
Cycling touring in Ireland is by no means easy, nor is success guaranteed. But the rewards far outweigh the suffering. And with proper training, careful planning, and gear preparations, you’ll be laughing your way through the occasional rain showers. And your trip will be remembered much more by the downhill glides than the uphill grinds. Toward such ends, we've compiled the following helpful tips to set you on your way. Happy Cycling!
Train before you go! Part of what you bring home from a cycling tour is the satisfaction of having overcome the occasional adversities you’ll inevitably encounter. For a week long itinerary, the ambitious cyclist will likely cover up to 300 miles. What the map and itinerary table fails to adequately predict or portray are the double demons of hills and wind. Ten miles into a stiff head wind can seem like forty miles through still skies.
Such adversities will be far more easily overcome if you’ve done significant amount of riding prior to our trip. For maximum performance, start at least two months in advance. Make a point of cycling two to three days a week. Work yourself up to routinely cycling distances greater than 20 miles. You’ll be doing be doing yourself a favor and especially to others in the group who would otherwise be waiting, if you come prepared to take on the sizeable task at hand.
Weather, your fickle companion For those who happen to dwell in, say, the Sonoran Desert, the weather in Ireland is … shall we say, different! Truthfully part of the joy of traveling in Ireland is that weather is your constant companion. As long as you go with that expectation, you’ll not be disappointed. During the summers, daytime temperatures in Western Ireland typically range from the low 60's to mid 70's (16-22 celsius). But be forewarned. Things can change as fast as the spin of your crank. And there’s nothing colder than being caught in a nasty rainstorm while cruising a long downhill stretch. Expect everything from prolonged driving showers, with winds in excess of 30 mph, to intermittent sun breaks, and blazing warm sun, usually all in a day. The good news is that, after a trip or two to a good outdoor store such as REI, you will all be well prepared for such inevitabilities. Oh, the joys of gear shopping!
Dressing in Layers: Dressing in layers is the key to staying comfortable while cycling, especially in Ireland. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. Try to bring only what is necessary. At the risk of foregoing fashion, you should be will largely clad in synthetics: goretex, lycra and the like. As well pack a standard staple of casual clothes to slip into when our day’s work is done.
Quick Drying Clothes: the Key to Comfort The key to almost everything you put in your pack is Quick Drying. Should you encounter a prolonged bout of rain, you don’t want to weigh yourself down with a bunch of wet cotton. And while Ireland is a truly modern country, they seem not always to have dryers available, often relying on time-honored practices allowing the sun (or lack thereof) to dry clothes. You’ll be that much more ahead of the game if you avoid cotton whenever possible. Cotton is fine in warm, dry weather. However, once it becomes wet, it’s a killer, draining your body heat. Bring wool and synthetics such as Patagonia's Capilene or some other polyester base layers. Always test your clothing layers before a trip to ensure a proper fit, with all the necessary layers.
Travel Light for maximum pleasure! All cyclists touring Ireland, whether joining a guided service, arranging for luggage transport, or schlepping all their belongings-- should issue themselves a challenge: Travel light! Your belongings should fit in the equivalent space of a medium duffel bag. One good tip is to roll your clothes to save space and reduce wrinkles. Admittedly its far too easy to pack with frivolous excess. But traveling with bike, especially fully self supported, teaches one of the most valuable lessons of travel: going without. The travel experience is all the more enjoyable and poignant when we decrease the amount of clutter we bring along. Ounces add into pounds and pounds add into painful muscle aches in the posterior region, especially when trekking overstuffed bags across long tarmacs. Mind the essentials, but test yourself to see how little you actually need. When you finally return home, your tired old belongings will seem new again.
One of the easiest ways to cut weight is to break down shampoos and moisturizing crèmes into small, travel size containers. And no need to bring towels, with one possible exception. It wouldn’t be bad to have a small synthetic travel towel for drying off personal belongings, or body parts should you be brave enough to take a dip in the sea. Another great way to cut weight is to minimize the number of books you bring. You’ll find plenty of great reading materials along the way, especially readings unique to the regions in which we’re traveling. If you’re reading the latest John Grisham novel while traveling through Ireland you’re missing a brilliant opportunity to add depth and meaning to your explorations.
Buy stuff along the way: Don't obsess about bringing everything, down to full supplies of toiletries. Part of the fun of travel is improvising and having to make due, perhaps buying a few things along the way. Ireland is a very modern country. Chances are you’ll find toothpaste, film and sunscreen in every small town in Ireland. And you’ll get to experience another side of Irish culture otherwise passed by. You can familiarize yourself with some of the Irish institutions and practice some key phrases, such as: “can you point me in the direction of Boots?” Or “Sorry could you tell me when the Spar closes?”
Minimize Casual Clothing: As for casual clothing, be spare in what you bring. You’ll be well pleased, at the end of the day, to slip out of your bike clothes and into something more comfortable. But this doesn’t mean you’ll have six our seven such outfits, when a couple will do. Even the finest of restaurants in Ireland have a pleasant, casual atmosphere, which is to say you needn’t dress up for dinner. Lay out the usual amount of clothes you think you’d need and cut it in half. And then some. You’re going to be crunched for space as it is. And you’ll certainly want to be buying souvenirs along the way. With all the bike gear you need to carry, its the casual clothing that need to be cut back. Save some room for that Irish sweater you’ll certainly want to buy.
Bringing your own bike? This is the first question one confronts when planning a cycling trip abroad. It is a tough call. Both options have their merits. If you have a bike you are used to, and its suitable for touring, it’s always best to bring your own. If you’re decide to go this route, keep in mind the preferred style of bike to ride is a “hybrid,” one which incorporates the best of both a mountain bike and road bike. If you already have a mountain bike, you can fairly readily transform your bike into a hybrid by performing a few simple upgrades. The first is new tires, ones that provide a decent bead and efficient smooth ride. And second if you don’t already have them, bar extensions are welcome addition, allowing you to stretch out, relax and improve your aerodynamics.
If you plan on transporting your own bike, make arrangements with a local shop to borrow a sturdy bike box. Remove the front wheel, pedals and loosen handle bars so they can be turned parallel to the frame. Check ahead with the airlines, as they may charge for oversized luggage. Aerlingus, however, will allow you to travel with a bike, no charge, but it will be counted as one of your two bag maximum.
Plan B: Renting a Bike. If you go this route please drop down to your local bike shop and get fitted up for the proper size and email us the information. Alternative provide your inseam and overall height and we can ascertain accordingly. At Ireland Adventures we work with a couple suppliers who provide top notch gear: 21-speed hybrid bikes (for both men and women), toe clips, “bear claw” type, Rear rack, Water bottle cage and water bottle, panniers, and lock.
Essentials: Helmets, shoes, clipless pedals, and basic repair kits! Helmets are not required, but highly recommended! So you’d be best off to bring your own. Two other critical pieces of gear that will make your trip far easier: biking shoes and clipless pedals. Sure you could probably get away with using a sturdy pair of hiking shoes, combined with the “bear claw” toe clips (which will likely come equipped on the rental bikes). But if you can swing it and feel comfortable in riding with them, the combo of biking shoes and clipless pedals are definitely the way to go. Those stiff soles will save your feet after a long day of riding.
While we’re biking you’ll be primarily responsible for your own roadside maintenance, which basically means that if you’re tire goes flat or your chain breaks you’d better know how to fix it. Some of the better equipped guided tours offers roadside assistance via the "sag wagon." Still its far better to fix your own. I’ll be carrying a more extensive tool kit that includes spare tubes and other emergency items. Major repair work can easily be handled overnight by a professional mechanic, as most town in Ireland have a bike shop.
Cycling Safety: Cycling is an inherently risky sport. Riders should gather before the first leg to discuss safety issues and devise strategies (e.g. buddy system, mobile phones, leaders and tail riders, etc) to overcome them. And before every ride, everyone will be methodically prepared: checked out, loosened up, awake and aware and ready for action.
Ireland roads are notoriously narrow and winding. Since the Celtic Tiger took off in the mid nineties, the number of cars on Ireland's roads have more than doubled. This places a premium on good route selection. Avoid busy roads whenever possible, especially the National roads (designated with an "N"). The good news is Irish drivers are, in general, accustomed to driving under such extreme conditions and are largely patient and courteous lot, willing to share the road with the occasional cyclist. All that said, an unexpected encounter with a car remains the single greatest danger. To maximize your visibility, Wear bright colored clothing whenever possible, perhaps even a safety-yellow, reflective vest. And cycle defensively, expect that merging traffic doesn't see you.
Should you have a serious breakdown or other trauma, as a premium service, Ireland adventures provides its guests with mobile phones for any such emergencies encountered along the way. Cyclists are always advised to utilize the buddy system, routinely stopping especially at crossroads to make sure everyone is safe, fully functional and having a great time!
