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boobyis


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bike trip...four more weeks!
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Hi Everyone!


Well, it's four more weeks until I leave on my trip! I picked up my Lonely Planet Cycling Ireland the other day, and have slowly started gathering my cycling gear together. Picked up the panniers a couple of weeks ago, and realized how sad it's going to be living on a couple riding outfits, and a couple pairs of jeans. Don't even get me started on the one pair of back up shoes!


I'm starting to fine-tune my route a little. I would love to get up to the north, but am starting to think it could get a little much, and I don't want to be riding every day. So I think I'll fly into Dublin around the 7th of October, head south, then west along the coast, and up the west coast to Connemara, flying out of Knock on the 7th of November. This way I think I'll have more time to relax (as it is a vacation!), and maybe base myself out of a town, here and there, for a few days, and do little day trips.


I get laid off next week, so I'll have 2 weeks to make as much of my silver jewelry as humanly possible (to pay for my Guinness habit!), and train a little bit more on my bike!


Any ideas for my out there?


Thanks,


Barb.



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Michele Erdvig


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Barb,


Sorry to hear you are getting laid off. I hope it doesn't impact your trip too much.


Your plans sound good. Don't worry about the limited wardrobe. Who will know but you? The locals are used to seeing tourists in jeans. There are plenty of launderettes all over Ireland for washing what you have brought. I hope you have rain gear? You will most likely need that. Anything else you need can easily be bought in Ireland.


You will have to save the north for another trip. Besides, most attractions are closed up there in the off-season.


Michele


 



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Anonymous

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I've done 3 bike trips in Ireland.  I have a few tips for you.  The best way to pack is to put each item in it's own zip lock baggy, grouping together small stuff like your underwear in one bag, socks in one bag, etc.  This helps keep everything dry, and easier to find.  Unless you can't live without them, jeans aren't a good choice.  They're very heavy and hard to wash and dry in a sink.  Some kind of lighter fabric is much better.  Wrinkle-free microfibers are the best, if you can afford them.  Microfiber tops and bottoms will wash and dry pretty easily even in a wet climate.


It's hard to imagine that you wouldn't have thought about raingear, but it is a necessity.  Rainpants and gortex shoe covers are great, but if you don't have them, you really need 2 pairs of shoes, because they will get very wet!  Usually I try to keep my cycling clothes completely separated from my street clothes, and never wear the street clothes on the bike.  That way, the street clothes (including shoes) don't get dirty much and are presentable.  You can wear the same thing day after day, even though you will get a little sick of it.


It's likely to be cool, so a very effective technique for layering while riding is to use leg warmers and arm warmers.  They're light and save bringing extra warm clothing while riding.


What kind of bike do you have, and how do you plan to pack it for the plane?


 


You'll have a great time!



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boobyis


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Don't worry, I've thought of raingear!!! My mom's bringing me a pair of Gortex pants,and I'm off to get a jacket today. Never thought about that with the jeans taking so long to dry, but I just can't imagine being without them. I live in jeans. Maybe I'll just take one pair, and another pair of easy-dry pants. It's not like I have to wash my jeans after every wear. It'll be like when I was in Australia 12 years ago, hmmm...should I wear my red shorts or my white shorts?


Yeah, definitely no street clothes on the bike...nevermind the dirtyness, it's just not comfortable, especially on days with longer rides.


I've got a mountain bike (I have no idea what kind). Air Transat sells bike bags for $5 Can at the airport, and they fly it for free. Just picked my bike up from it's tune up yesterday, and the guy taught me how to turn in my handlebars. Now I just have to figure out how to remove the pedals, and I'm good to go!


Michelle, got laid off a little earlier than expected. I work in a restaurant, and they're tearing it down to put up a hi-rise. We thought we had one more week, but it's been pretty quiet, so they closed down last night. And because I'm leaving the country, I can't collect EI. Oh well, being a waitress, that wouldn't have made that much of an impact! As for it affecting my trip...definitely not. If the restaurant didn't close, I wouldn't be going. My plan for after we closed, was to get into making and selling the silver jewelry, and going to Ireland! So nothing has changed there! I'll even have more time to make more jewelry to bring with me and pay for my Guinness habit!



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Michele Erdvig


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Barb,


Good info from Anonymous, who has done a bike trip in Ireland. At least you won't have to pay for gas (petrol) since you will be self-powered! I was reading that Hurricane Katrina will affect petrol prices in Ireland.


Try the Smithwick's as well as the Guinness. It is my favorite brew in Ireland. And ask them how to pronounce it when you are there!!


Michele



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"Ireland Expert"  Michele Erdvig

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Mark D


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We just got Smithwicks here in Vermont !!!


I stopped by RiRa's, and there it was !! YEAH !!!!!!


The bar manager used to be employed at Quays Bar in Galway.


Maybe that had something to do with it !


I'm sure after the first day you will be pronouncing it like a local !


Cheers !
Mark D.



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Michele Erdvig


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Smithwicks!
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Mark,


That's great. We have had it in Atlanta since before March. Bill out in Colorado reported that they have had it there since early this year. It is getting around the US. I understand many Taco Mac's in the US have it on tap. Enjoy!


Michele


 



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"Ireland Expert"  Michele Erdvig

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boobyis


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RE: bike trip...four more weeks!
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Ok, here's a question for you out there...


I've been looking into flights from Gatwick to Dublin, Knock to Gatwick. The thing is I'll have my bike with me. So...is there anyone that has experience flying Ryanair with a bike. I've heard good and bad.


With Ryanair, including the flat rate of 17GBP each way for my bike, it'll cost about 60GBP total return. I've also found with British Airways a flight for 80GBP, but it's return from Dublin. It's not that big a deal leaving from Dublin, it just means cycling across to Dublin from the west coast. I'm waiting to hear from Brit Air as to what they charge for excess baggage (I have no idea how much my bike weighs!)


Thanks!



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Michele Erdvig


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Barb,


Why don't you wait till you have the info from BA? You could consider taking a train across the country also instead of biking if the BA ticket works out best for you. You would have to add in the cost of the train ticket to make a good price comparison. Just a thought.


Michele



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"Ireland Expert"  Michele Erdvig

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Anonymous

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Oh man, I had the time of my life. Thankfully, my bike managed to make it the whole way. I kept telling her "baby, you get me to Galway in one piece, and I'll get you the best tune-up ever when we get back to Vancouver."


I started in Dublin, going through the Wicklow Mountains to Glendalough. Now that was one hell of a hill, with pouring rain, and winds blowing me backwards, but it was only Day 1, and the view from the top of the Glenmacnass Falls was worth the struggle. From there, I went to Wexford, Tramore, Youghal, Cork, Clonakilty, Schull, Kenmare, Waterville, Killarney, Dingle, Tralee, Kilkee, Doolin, Kinvara, Galway, Inishmor, and back to Galway for a few days before flying home.


Everyone keeps asking me what my favourite spot was, and I can never come up with an answer. It always stunned me when somebody would tell me it was only going to get more beautiful with the route I had planned, and always it would.


The Guinness was fantastic after every long ride. And I love that it's time for all the Xmas baking now that I've gone down a pant size from all the cycling!! Thanks for all the info before my trip!


Barb



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Michele Erdvig


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Barb,


Welcome back! Thanks for letting us know how your trip went. If you get the time we would really enjoy hearing all the little details on the "Trip Report" section of the forum. Congrats on losing a size. There are some compensations to braving the Irish weather on a bike! Everyone was happy to add their 2 cents worth to your trip. I'm glad it worked out for you.


Michele



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"Ireland Expert"  Michele Erdvig

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Anonymous

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Glad you had a good time.  I'd love to read a more detailed account.

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