Circular Tour of Ireland

briceryant

Hello all,

I'll be arriving in Dublin about June 1 and looking to take a short loop around Ireland, arriving back in Dublin about June 7. On that note, I'm looking for a good place to rent a touring bicycle in Dublin. It needs to be decent quality (also large - I'm about 2 meters tall) and a reasonable price.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Caroline_ie

If you dont stop you can do Dublin-Dublin in 3day, 3hrs in 25 minutes ( that's racing it 24/24 though )

http://www.goireland.com/dublin/bicycle-hire-in-dublin-county-page1.htm for some rentals from google.

thebouldwhacker

Hey Brice,

Welcome to Boards. What kind of distance would you hope to do per day, how many rest days? Also are you planning on camping or staying in hotels/B&B's?

Where are you coming from?

briceryant

I'm meeting my family in Dublin, and they're going to do a car-rental tour, whereas I'm going to follow on my bike - basically this means I'll be meeting them at their hotel each night. The itinerary is a bit messed up because the first leg is Dublin-Galway, which I'm not sure is easily doable in a single day. After that it gets easier:

DAY 1 DUBLIN
DAY 2 GALWAY
DAY 3 CLARE
DAY 4 TIPPERARY
DAY 5 KILKENNY
DAY 6 DUBLIN

So, I suppose I could just take 2 days getting from Dublin to Clare, ie. find a place to stay in-between on my own. I used to be in quite good cycling shape but I've suffered a lot over the winter; Dublin to Galway is about 200 km even on the highway, so I have no idea what it would be on bike-friendly roads.

As to where I come from, well, I'm American however I live in Saint Petersburg and I've thought about bringing an old touring bike I have stashed in Berlin. Packing bikes for airplanes (and reserving spots/paying fees) is just such a pain though...

blorg

I would bring your own bike. I have flown with my bikes all over Europe and it is not a major hassle. I don't bother packing my tourer, just hand it to the airline. Never had a major problem. You could find it quite difficult to rent a good tourer I think, although you should have no difficulty renting a hybrid with rack and mudguards if that would suit you.

The distance from Dublin to Galway is not significantly longer using minor roads but you really need the route in a GPS IMO- signage on smaller roads in Ireland is virtually non-existent. I did a mini tour a while back that covers some of the ground you plan on following, as far as Clare- there are links on that thread to Google Maps with the exact route I followed.

To an extent I would suggest that your route is going to be a bit uninspiring- the middle of the country where you will spend most of your time is not the best cycling territory (nothing wrong with it but simply put, it is quite boring.) The better regions for cycling tend to be around the coast, particularly in the west. The Wicklow mountains to the south of Dublin are also very good cycling territory. You should hopefully get to cycle along the coast in Clare (the Burren) which is spectacular.

dayshah

briceryant wrote: »

I'm meeting my family in Dublin, and they're going to do a car-rental tour, whereas I'm going to follow on my bike - basically this means I'll be meeting them at their hotel each night. The itinerary is a bit messed up because the first leg is Dublin-Galway, which I'm not sure is easily doable in a single day. After that it gets easier:

DAY 1 DUBLIN
DAY 2 GALWAY
DAY 3 CLARE
DAY 4 TIPPERARY
DAY 5 KILKENNY
DAY 6 DUBLIN

So, I suppose I could just take 2 days getting from Dublin to Clare, ie. find a place to stay in-between on my own. I used to be in quite good cycling shape but I've suffered a lot over the winter; Dublin to Galway is about 200 km even on the highway, so I have no idea what it would be on bike-friendly roads.

As to where I come from, well, I'm American however I live in Saint Petersburg and I've thought about bringing an old touring bike I have stashed in Berlin. Packing bikes for airplanes (and reserving spots/paying fees) is just such a pain though...

You should take in Waterford. There is a lovely cycle along the coast. Also Waterford people are incredibly friendly, handsome and modest.

During the Tall Ships Race would be a particularly good time to cycle along the Waterford Coast.
http://www.waterfordtallshipsrace.ie/

Captain Havoc

dayshah wrote: »

Also Waterford people are incredibly friendly, handsome and modest.

ROFL

feck sake lads

a great modern book to buy would be by tom cooper cycle touring in ireland , a cicerone guide.
no idea about the bike, renting one would require you leaving your passport from whoever you hired it until you returned .and i reckon it would cost you a lots of bucks.
yeah take your own bike with you reckon that's best .
anyway hope you have a great time here in our wonderful country ,if you get the weather you will have a ball.;)

petethedrummer

feck sake lads wrote: »

if you get the weather you will have a ball.;)

Bring a rain jacket or two. Hasn't been too bad lately but it is Ireland.

kincsem

You could use the AA Rodawatch route planner to get a rough idea of the distances and towns on the route.

Dublin to Galway avoiding motorways is 143 miles, so about ten hours on a bike minimum.

http://www2.aaireland.ie/routes_classic/

kincsem

On June 1 sunrise is about 5 a.m. so if you wanted you could start early.

http://www.gaisma.com/en/location/dublin.html