by Manu L

Created on: April 28, 2008

Ireland is a beautiful country, and touring it by bike seems like a great idea. It allows for just the right pace to discover many different areas and for taking the time to actually see things, and do some sight-seeing.

Although there are no high mountain formations in Ireland, there are many hills, especially along the coastline. It's therefore important to bear that in mind when biking. There are some very helpful maps that give you precise indications on altitude, which are the Ordnance Survey maps. However, because they are so detailed, you will have to purchase a lot of them if you are covering a large territory.

If you look at a general map of Ireland, you'll notice that some of the more mountainous areas are in the north: both in North Ireland and in Donegal (the north-west tip of Ireland, which is part of the Republic of Ireland).
However, there are also many hills along the western coast, but that shouldn't discourage you from biking there. It just means that you will have to train before hand.Allow at least a month of regular biking in hilly areas before doing a biking tour of Ireland.

It is possible to rent bikes in Ireland, with the added flexibility of renting the bike in one city (for example, Cork), and handing it back in another city (for example, Galway). Check the conditions for bike rentals, as it could be much easier than bringing your own bike on a plane, if you're from overseas.

An other important aspect to consider is the wind. Ireland is an island, therefore there is a lot of wind all the time, especially on the coast. The prevailing winds are from the southwest, so it's best to plan a journey going north, in order not to have the wind in your face while biking.

The rain is also a key feature in Ireland, so it's important to have the right gear. But, since there is a lot of wind, the rain comes and goes. Therefore, it's possible to keep on biking after the rain spell passes.

Concerning accommodation, there are many bed and breakfasts along the coast, even if the towns and villages you pass are very small. It might be a good idea to make a few stops in the bigger cities, to visit, and also for any bike problems that could occur along the way.

The roads in Ireland aren't always very convenient,because they are often narrow. When you can, opt for the biking and walking trails. But, always keep in mind that the Irish drive on the right side of the road!

If you would like to bike occasionally during an Ireland trip, there are some places where it's particularly pleasant, and that is in the Aran islands, off of Galway. The bigger island - Inishmor, has a bike rental, so that you can rent a bike for the day and see the whole island.

For more information, you can go to this very useful site, for first-hand experience: www.boblucky.com/biking.html

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