Are we accompanied by a guide?
Although the guide will not be cycling with you, he or she will be driving the support van and will make a sweep to ensure that all is well, and offer lifts to those who want a break. If at any point you need to contact the guide, you will have the telephone numbers of the guesthouses where you will be able to leave a message. This provides a sense of freedom in that you can travel at your own pace in the security that the guide is there for you in the event that you might need them. The guide will recommend places to eat and try to find out where the best entertainment is each night.
Most importantly, the guide sets the right tone, to make you feel welcome to the country and to help you in whatever way possible so that each day you are free to leave your worries behind.
Do we have to carry our own luggage?
No, your luggage is carried in the support van to your next hotel or guest house.
What will the weather be like?
Because we are an island located near the gulf stream,
Ireland has a very mild climate making it ideal for
cycling. Although there are occasionally wet days, the
rain never usually lasts very long and you are soon
free to enjoy a clear view of the magnificent scenery
once again. The temperature range during the summer
is between 15 and 22 degrees centigrade (60 to 72 degrees
Fahrenheit).
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Do I have to be super-fit?
Other than young children, whom we discourage from attending,
people of all ages and abilities come on the tours,
so do not worry if you are not super-fit. You have all
day to cover the recommended route, and while Irish
roads rarely follow a straight line, there are few really
high climbs. Sore bottoms are an occupational hazard
on a cycling tour, but a pair of padded cycle shorts
or a gel saddle cover can work wonders. Complete beginners
might also take a few practice rides before coming on
the tour.
What bikes do we get?
In 2010 we will be using GIANTS 3.0 CRS city bikes for our
tours. They come equipped with 24 speed grip-shift gears,
carrier, mudguards, water bottle carrier and a small
pannier bag. If you wish to use toe clips please bring
your own pedals with toe clips which we can attach to
our bikes. (The pedals on our bikes do not accommodate
toe clips.) We give out maps along with route directions
and historical details at the start of the week.
What kind of food and accommodation should I expect?
We stay in a combination of small family run hotels
and guesthouses. The standard of such accommodation
in Ireland is very high, with the vast majority having
en-suite bathroom and other excellent facilities. We
try to pick places with character; your home for the
week can vary from a Victorian townhouse, a remote lakeside
hotel, a farmhouse by the sea, an attractive harbour
guesthouse, or an old style family hotel in the middle
of a bustling market town.
Breakfasts are included each morning, which in many
cases will keep you going for the day! Our rooms are
allocated on a twin-sharing basis. Unfortunately, we
are very limited in our ability to provide any single
rooms.
Fortunately, the days when Irish vegetables are cooked
for an entire week are long gone. Most people are very
impressed at the quality of new Irish cooking. While
people are free to do their own thing in the evening,
our guide will recommend a place for lunch and dinner
each day that will hopefully cater to everyone's taste
and budget.
1 dinner is included on our 7-night group and self led
tours
(please note that dinner is not included
on Wicklow 7 night self guided tour)
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What should I bring?
As we transfer the luggage each day, you are free to
bring a ballgown and tuxedo should you wish to. However,
we find that more experienced travelers arrive with
one compact piece of luggage, and look on with amusement
at those who have to drag their kitchen sink along airport
corridors. Do bring a comfortable outfit for the cycling,
and a pair of padded cycling shorts if you have them.
We keep a limited stock of cycling helmets in our van,
but you are advised to bring your own, which should
be more comfortable.
Where do we meet, and how do we get to our safari?
We are happy to advise you on any travel arrangements
into and around Ireland, and about additional accommodation
or other services. Each of our safaris starts close
to bus and railway stations, so they are all accessible
by public transport. While we encourage you to give
your car a holiday for the tour, we can help to arrange
parking for those who have to arrive on four wheels.
On booking, we can send you more specific information
on the travel arrangements to and from each starting
point.
Each safari starts on a Saturday evening at 6.30pm,
and finishes the following Saturday morning. Although
most the tours finish where you start, some are a little
different: check with each tour. Our office can usually
make separate arrangements for those arriving late or
having to leave early.
What degree of difficulty can I expect on the tour?
We grade both Irish and European tours as follows:
A – leisurely cycles – although
no tours are completely flat, these tours have few hills
and are ideal for those who enjoy gentle exercise and
who cycle only occasionally
B – moderate cycle: these tours are perfect for those
who are not put off by undulating terrain and someone
who cycles quite regularly
C – challenging cycles – to get the most out of these
cycles it is advised that you are a regular cyclist,
relatively fit and enjoy the views heading up hills
as well as down them
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