Touring - Cycling in Ireland?

Does anyone have any experience with cycling in Ireland? Perhaps some links to sites that have good information.

http://www.cycletourer.co.uk/cycletouring/ireland.shtml

Stay at hostels (http://www.hostels-ireland.com/)

I was just there last fall. Make sure you have good rain gear....

Oh yeah -- also the Dublin airport has a small bike assembly area near the baggage pickup. Very convenient.

B&B's are plentiful and reasonably priced, and it's hard to go more than 20 miles and not find one. Most you can just roll up to and find a room. Camping spots are also abundant.
The roads are rough and narrow; a suspension seat post or sprung saddle would be recommended.
Be prepared for rain, the PNW has nothing on Ireland. Cold too.
The west coast is astounding. The Burren (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Burren) is gorgeous, and The Cliffs of Moher (http://www.cliffsofmoher.ie/default.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1) are not to be missed.
If you want to go to the Aryn Islands (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aran_Islands) (buy a sweater there if you do), you can get there by ferry from either Galway (http://www.goaran.com/) or Doolan (http://www.doolinferries.com/). Both can handle your bike rig.

It's one of the most beautiful countries you will ever travel, and a touring paradise.
Have fun.

--A

http://homepage.mac.com/awcg/.Pictures/PhotoForum/Irish-Fisher.jpg
Near Limerick last year.

I recommend it. Don't forget Northern Ireland. Very beautiful.

And yes, rain gear a must! And warm stuff. It's cold even in the summer, by Cali standards. I knew nothing of "evaporative cooling" before I came here!

I agree with AllenG. The roads are a little rough and 32mm or wider tires are in order. Make sure your spokes are properly tensioned. B & B's are wonderful! Beautiful country! Remember, the Irish drive on the wrong side of the road as the British do. If you have an Irish Consulate in your area they should have a lot of information. Also, the Irish Touring Board will send you a ton of stuff.

come on over .choose any part you will enjoy ,the weather is not as bad as people make out ,

The weather is pretty variable. If you look at an atlas with rainfall by month, it may actually amount to less days than where you live. For instance Toronto has more average days of rain according to the atlas I consulted than Dublin. Look at a rainfall map and you will notice significant regional variations. Of course a a day of rain in Toronto is probably a heavy shower in the afternoon, many days, not drizzle 24/7.

I have been in Ireland during summers with water shortages, and years in Belfast when it rainned 365+ days straight, according to the unhappy locals.

The only thing I would caution about the rain is that it doesn't stop people over there. We would go rock climbing on friction slabs in the rain, while over here in Ontario, people pack up their gear at the sign of the first drop. I got really browned off with the week of rain I got on local tour in '05. I tried to talk myself into it without much success. Last year I didn't make it out in the fall because the weather always looked awkward. I think I'm going to pick some rainy days for local tours so I can get back in the mindset I used to have when I lived in Dublin.

I was there in an April. The rain was not that bad but as I got to the northwestern/northern part it was fairly cold and really, really windy. I'd wait till May if/when I go back. I think it is a super-fantastic, bike-friendly, all around superb place to bicycle and explore. Obscure archeological stuff is not to be missed. Sometimes you may want to walk someplace, up a hill or whatever, that requires passing through farmland. If you seek out the farm house and ask permision you'll thereby get to meet some of the sweetest people in the world.

http://www.cyclingireland.ie/html/site/cyclingireland/links.jsp

Try the website above.

The weather can be a little unpredictable over here and some of the roads a little bumpy but an enjoyable experience none the less.

Good Luck