2 or 3 of us thinking about riding Mizen Head to Malin. Not going until next spring as some of the others needs a bit of time to train.
Anybody got any tips on where to find info about getting there, best route, cheap places to stay etc?
I'm thinking it'll take about 5 days? Is this about right?
What's the terrain like? Mountain bike with skinny tyres be ok? Or would road bike work best?
Cheers in advance for your collective wisdom.
Oh - and can you get any decent cider in Ireland, or is it all Guinness?
download "obsessive compulsive cycling disorder" author posts on here and it only costs £1, he did has an entertaining account of his trip. Best bike would be a tourer or any bike that takes a rack and has relatively skinny tires. Follow the western side of the country i.e. Cork, Kerry, ferry across Shannon, Clare,Galway, Mayo, Letrim, Sligo, Donegal and Derry. Slightly less direct but more interesting and less crowded. Haven't done it myself yet but hopefully next year. Independent hostels can be a good bet in Ireland, some really nice ones.
Go South to North of course because of Wind.
You're gonna get wet...
I did it a few years back on my cross bike with slicks on, herself took her mountain bike with slicks. Pretty much the route el vino said.
Cork and South Kerry, lovely and hilly
North Kerry, bit boring
Clare, beautiful and barren
Galway to Sligo on the N17, depressing
Sligo, lovely
Donegal, lovely again and got a bit hilly in places. Most friendly people we found
We did a 50:50 camp / b&b, didn't book anything. Took a leisurely 7 days with a whole day off in the middle to let herself have a rest and coz the weather was pish
Cider - If you like Magners then that is Irish and is widely available though just to confuse you it is branded as Bulmers over there (nothing to do with English Bulmers). Drink it with ice to look like a local.
El Vino - obsessive compulsive cycling disorder was part of the inspiration for doing this trip. Anybody not read it, download a copy. Excellent read.
Thanks for the tips on the route.
Cider choice not looking that great then....
Have driven over there (southern ireland) the week before last, all I can say is that they don't believe in road signs... really they don't have any, it's fricken unreal.
G/f's old work colleague said exactly the same before we went & when I got there all my family were amazed I'd made it so quickly, as again they agreed there bugger all signage... no signs and Sat nav doesn't work well... but the locals are very friendly 😀
Nowt wrong with Bulmer either BTW
BikeStyle_Billy - Thanks! And let me know if you need any help with the route as I still have it somewhere I think.
Dave - OCCD Author