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E-mailJoin Lance Armstrong on your own cycling tour of Ireland
View our cycling in Ireland photo gallery
Excellent bike adventures (though perhaps not of the “Bill & Ted” variety) are all over Ireland waiting to be explored by cyclists or anybody looking to hop on a bike and see some great sites.
From the challenging mountain bike paths to the guided, leisurely cycling tours, Ireland has a route to gratify cyclists of all levels.
In fact, Ireland's cycling routes are so good,that cycling champion Lance Armstrong plans to compete in the Tour of Ireland this August. Armstrong, who last competed in Ireland in 1992 said he is looking forward to returning.
Hey, if Ireland's roads are good enough for Lance, they're good enough for any cyclist. So zip on over to the Emerald Isle, grab a bicycle, and get ready to LIVESTRONG.
Cycling Routes
If your adventurous self intends on cycling parts of Ireland on your own, you’ll need to rent a bike. Bicycle hire is easy to sort out in most towns and villages around Ireland, and some will even allow you rent in one place and drop off in another. Helmets and other gear can also be rented. And if carrying your load on the back of your bike seems like too much hard work, then no worries – lots of companies can arrange baggage transfer, too.
Bike hire is available from around $70 a week. Hire generally includes lock, pump, repair kit, mudguards and carrier; and insurance cover is given with all rented bicycles. Children's bikes are also available, but remember to book well in advance and ask about helmets, especially in high season (spring and summer).
Northern Ireland offers exceptional cycling with about 800 miles of safe and scenic routes, mostly on quiet, winding country roads. Individual cycling routes in the North bring you through beautiful parklands, peaceful forests and sandy beaches.
To choose a specific cycling route in Northern Ireland, visit www.cycleni.com.
Beautiful Irish bike routes extend to the Republic as well.
Ireland’s West Coast offers countless isolated country roads and seaside routes that are accessible to both novice and veteran cyclists. A popular cycling tour in the West is the Connemara Loop, a gorgeous region in northwest Galway. You can rent a bike and take a self-guided cycling tour (there are bike rental shops throughout Galway), or you can take a directed tour (see www.cyclewest.com).
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