Have any of you ever done cycling tours (guided or self-led) through Ireland? If so, which company did you go through? Was it a good experience? Any particular areas of Ireland you'd recommend over others (many of the tour companies seem to gear towards the west and southwest coast)? Lastly, do any of you know when the best time to go is, and if there are deals or specials to be had at specific times of the year?

I'm thinking about doing something like this with my sister, hopefully next year. Online, I'm seeing self-led tours starting around $975 for a week, and guided tours as high as $2375 for a week. That doesn't include airfare. I'd like to keep my trip around $1500 if possible. Feel free to tell me if I'm being unrealistic on that price or not.

Hey Dana,

I was in Ireland last September and loved it. Biking there I am sure would be a very fun and breathtaking trip. We only drove by ourselves out in the country for three days, and that is where you would see the bikers. The most main thoroughfare that we went on was a two lane highway that went from Galway on the west coast, to Dublin on the east coast. Seriously it's more like 1.5 lanes per side as people pull over to let others pass. And right near Dublin it was 2 lanes in each direction. Off of those roads, it can get very skinny. Sometimes only a single car can pass at one time. The upside being that there were few cars on the road. Signage is very poor. Many times you would only see a sign when your turn onto a new road, and then not again until you came to another roundabout. Out in the country there are many roads with no signs. We drove down one that was a nice shortcut and unmarked even on a county map.


Our trip had us mainly in the midlands. Middle portion of Ireland, which was not very hilly, but very picturesque. Lots of black-faced sheep and ruins. On the east coast around the Burren area it is stunningly beautiful, Barren on the hillsides, and more lush in the valleys. Lots of traffic and tour buses here. South of Galway around the Cliffs of Moher, it was very much like you would picture Ireland to look. Terraced hills, small towns, skinny roads, and pubs.

We didnt get to the Southwest of Ireland which is supposed to be stunning. Ring of Kerry is here, etc.

Traveling from the Midlands to Waterford area it was nice rolling hillsides, lots of farms and ruins. This would be from the middle of the country, to the south and east a bit.

We didnt go anyplace along the east coast besides Dublin, which was awesome, but I read there are very nice areas both north and south of Dublin.

This only scratches the surface of what you can see here. For a country the size of Wisconsin, there is so much to see. And every place you go, the people are nicer than you can believe.

It is expensive. Be warned. 8 euro lunches seem cheap but thats $10.50 US before tip and a tap of Smithwicks per person. After two weeks it adds up.

I did a fair few day rides when I lived in Dublin, but can't speak to the touring experience. There's a lot of nice stuff just south of Dublin and you might consider the route the Tour de France (I know, beats me) took from Dublin down to Cork; it's a nice ride if you've got the time. West of Ireland is lovely but tends to be wet, and in the less wet seasons, crowded. If you want west, rather than the Shannon-Galway route I personally would go Galway - Achill Island, through Conemmara. Nice rides, great scenery, a couple of nice B&Bs and backpacker hostels.

People are pretty friendly if you get in a bind--why do you need a tour, per se? What are you hoping they'll provide for that $975-2375?

I could probably do without, but my sister doesn't ride nearly as often as I do-- in fact, I'd be willing to say she probably hasn't ridden a bike in 5 years. I also like the idea that food/shelter would be provided for (on the more expensive tours) and gets rid of the headache of us trying to find places to stay... although I'm sure it'd be more economical if we did. Also, haven't decided if I want to ship my bike over for this either, and most of the tour groups include the price of a touring bike with the package.

I've never been to Ireland before, but my sister has, just not on a trip like this. I figure if I go, I might as well see it as naturally as possible!

If you're that mismatched, maybe you should get a bob trailer to slow you down

Is she going to get in some training before you go? Could be a heck of a shock to the system, otherwise.

Rural ireland is pretty much covered in B+Bs, or at least it was when I lived there. Food and shelter shouldn't be tough to come by, but the luggage etc support is certainly reassuring. You'll meet more people without a group--with the exception of your fellow americans on the tour, of course. Either way, it sounds like a blast.

dana, where are you looking online? i'm going to italy next year and would consider a long weekend tour through tuscany.

http://www.cyclewest.com

they also do tours in Italy.

Hey, I'd go to Italy for a bike ride. Always meant to when I lived closer.

bump for ayah, so all the obner womenfolk can go cycling together in europe some fine day

i'm there but we have to let todd come, too. he loves food and i hear he even cries once in a while.

wouldn't that be fun! We could blow all those y-chromosomes off the road with our goddess-like speed and grace.

If he promises to cry, sure. I mean, he's practically one of us then.

<---short on speed and grace, but kidding myself that I'll have some lined up by next year.

uh-oh. i'm in trouble with the grace thing.

grace... this is coming from the girl who took a digger on a test ride a couple of weeks ago.
<---------------

now that had to hurt in so many ways.

one week on the trainer = my ass is killing me.

I think I am the only fella to respond to this thread.
How often does that happen.

Going to look at cruisers with the wife today...) Big, Fat, Old School Rides.

a great company is Steve Bauer Tours.
www.stevebauer.com

although they don't really do Ireland, they do custom tours.
(which could get expensive)
along with Italy, Tuscany and France.

But they really know they're stuff. Steve Bauer is a tour of France champ...