"Cycling Ireland 1990" Ireland by birvine

I started in Belfast on one quiet Sunday morning expecting, due to the media at home, to be a little nervous due to the issues. Well, I could not have asked for a friendlier people or a more beautiful experience.

The entire ride was from Belfast westward to Eire and across to Sligo before turning south to Kerry and then to the southeast before taking a ferry to France.

For anyone contemplating a trip to Ireland, be not afraid - Do it! Do it! Do it!

I was very fortunate that I actually had no problems with my bike, a one-year old Diamond Back Apex, with Deore DX components, an aluminum rack on the back with simple panniers. When I pack I go VERY light, of course, so have to wash my clothes daily, but this means the bike is not too cumbersome.

Though not terribly hilly, there were a number of climbs, and with the panniers and gear, I am glad I had the triple chainring in the front.

For anyone who has cycle-toured, you will understand when I say that any and all foods are good on a bike trip. That being said, being in Ireland, I found that my first goal once I had dropped the bike at a B&B was to get to the nearest pub for a pint of... what else, but Guinness, of course. Was it to numb the pain of a full 6-8 hours of riding, or was it to cap the end of a great day of cycling? I think a bit of both. So the pint with a biit of pub grub was the cat's meow.

Breakfast was similar. Once I went to bed I was craving more food. Morning could not come too soon for that glorious breakfast of bacon, eggs, cereal, toast, tea, sausage, tomatoes and a repeat on half again!