Search found 244 matches

by mcallaghan
18 Nov 2015, 7:38pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring in Ireland
Replies: 109
Views: 9201

Re: Touring in Ireland

I basically followed the main road along the North shore (did a counter-clockwise loop on the Sheeps Head) and had to choose between the goats path and one that seemed to follow the shore a little more before turning bag and zigzagging up the hill. I took the more direct Goats Path, which does as the Welsh do - goes straight up the steepest point. I remember being happy that since this was a day excursion for me, I left the panniers at the B&B I was staying at - otherwise I may have started to roll back down!
by mcallaghan
17 Nov 2015, 7:39pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring in Ireland
Replies: 109
Views: 9201

Re: Touring in Ireland

I did a tour down the West Coast of Ireland and back a couple of years ago, starting at my Aunts house just outside of Galway. It was my first solo-tour and I wasn't quite in shape for it but - a few things I learned:

1. Ireland is beautiful, even in the rain. Very rugged landscape in places, but riding the Gap of Dunloe and Molls Gap in a misty rain was probably the highlight of the tour (sans breaking my sunglasses at the top of the Gap of Dunloe...wind blew them off of where I had placed them to take some pictures and I must have stepped on them).

2. The roads in Ireland, well, they're pretty rough in a lot of places. My Surly Disc Trucker as a spare-spoke holder, but I did not hear mine fall off due to the constant rumbling. You notice when you hit a freshly paved part of road due to the sudden silence/smoothness. Lots of large chipseal and potholes in places. I was expecting more of the same on my tour of Wales this year, but was pleasantly surprised how well the roads in Wales were (minus the near vertical pitch of the 25% gradients encountered). Nonetheless, not every road is that bad and the places I was riding were relatively traffic free!

3. Rain gear is a must. Acts as a windbreaker too.

I would recommend the Sheeps Head Peninsula - some great views from its end. I did not make it out along the Beara Way (the next Peninsula to the North of Sheeps Head) as that was the lowest point of my trip, but I did do the Ring of Kerry (the next one up) which was pleasant too.

Trains/Buses mean that if you need a day-off, its easy to keep on track.
by mcallaghan
17 Aug 2015, 8:50pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Wales: Lost Tour details
Replies: 15
Views: 4149

Re: Wales: Lost Tour details

I am not sure if you can see this image or not, but this is the 'nice' part of the Taff Trail, looking back at the way I came. You can see its a dirt road but it gets a lot rockier further down. Otherwise, the rest of Wales and NCN 8 was fine. One or two roads with some loose gravel down the middle, but the overall quality of the roads was much better than I expected. Irish roads were terrible - pot holes, gravel, large chip-seal, very rough to ride. The Welsh apparently like having nice smooth roads. Since the roads are on quiet country lanes, I only had to squeeze my vehicles a few times but there are usually small indentions in the hedges for cars to pass eachother periodically along such lanes.

Image
by mcallaghan
16 Aug 2015, 5:16pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Wales: Lost Tour details
Replies: 15
Views: 4149

Re: Wales: Lost Tour details

That route is almost identical to mine, with many familiar pictures. I will post mine relatively soon, but it looks like you were wise and avoided the two biggest hills on either side of Machynlleth. Those were real leg burners. You also had much better weather than me - overcast, windy, wet was my typical day.
by mcallaghan
14 Aug 2015, 4:46pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Gwynedd CC proposal to close Barmouth Bridge to cyclists
Replies: 77
Views: 11338

Re: Gwynedd CC proposal to close Barmouth Bridge to cyclists

Having ridden across it about two weeks ago on my tour, it seemed to be a major access point from Barmouth to the Maddwach Trail (sp?) for both Pedestrians and Cyclists - I passed a lot of walkers heading towards the bridge once I crossed it, and passed lots of people - both walkers and families on bicycles - heading towards Dolgellau along the path.
by mcallaghan
1 Aug 2015, 8:00am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: LLC and Wales Questions
Replies: 137
Views: 21937

Re: LLC and Wales Questions

Looks like its a Cardiff Castle day today. Maybe go see a movie this evening too. St Fagans is only partially operating today (checked the website) so may save it for tomorrow. What else should I think about doing while in Cardiff? Specifically things open on a sunday.
by mcallaghan
31 Jul 2015, 7:02pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Briwet Bridge closure
Replies: 77
Views: 63009

Re: Briwet Bridge closure

deliquium wrote:
mcallaghan wrote:Sounds like they are closing the bridge again as they did not make the road wide enough...which means they are going to shrink the sidewalk which was pleasant enough to ride on as it kept me well away from the traffic.


Does this "sounds like" information have a source?

The carriageways on the bridge are wide enough for me to prefer cycling on the road and NOT on the 'pavement' that zig zags around a questionable 'lay-by??' on the Penrhyn side?

The land lady and hostess at the place I stayed at in Harlech were talking about it after breakfast.
by mcallaghan
31 Jul 2015, 6:31pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: LLC and Wales Questions
Replies: 137
Views: 21937

Re: LLC and Wales Questions

Well I made it. I was not very fond of the Taff Trail until around 12 miles out of Cardiff. The part that went up through the trees around the reservoir was terrible - logging road more suited to a MTB. It would have been unridable in the rain, I think, so was glad for the sunshine today.

Because of that, I stuck to the roads the rest of the way around the Reservoirs. Including that sharp incline you mention - though I powered through it. It did make me wonder if NCN 8 avoided that down then up bit, but when I saw the turn for NCN 8 taking me back ontro gravel, I told it to sod off..

The Taff Trail was terrible. I to lost in one or two places since the usual fork in the road wasn't marked, had some steep pitches when crossing over the river, and for some reason I had to walk my bike down a long set of stairs despite being on a cycling route. Not to mention more gravel and dirt road more suited to a MTB and a lot of the parts that were paved were really rough or felt like going over speed bumps for miles on end. Things didnt smooth out until about 12 miles from Cardiff.

Also, the gates are terrible. They are either the cattle herding type where you have to slow down only drop-handlebars are narrow enough to fit through, or they are the walking kind, too narrow for a loaded tourer to turn through. I lifted the bike over the lower rung on these (which I think is meant for pedestrians).

Luckily, it was mostly all flat or slightly downhill, so a long day at 55 miles but I made it. I was honestly hoping for a sweeping view of Cardiff or even a view of the castle, but that wasn't the case at all.

Figuring our plans for the weekend now. Quite knackered so dont think I will ride the bike to St Fagans, so will have to see what public transport is like (as an American, I never use public transit so this will be interesting).
by mcallaghan
30 Jul 2015, 4:58pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Briwet Bridge closure
Replies: 77
Views: 63009

Re: Briwet Bridge closure

deliquium wrote:
PDQ wrote:
deliquium wrote:Unawares of that (probably) futile battle :(


Shame, it needed more onboard.
As to futile, well if a things worth doing, then it's worth having a decent go at.
And maybe the convoy was in part due to pressure from CTC's Ray Spilsbury and adverse press. After all the points raised were really not that unreasonable.



All is finally well now though :D Looking forward to a panad in Harlech this week :D

Sounds like they are closing the bridge again as they did not make the road wide enough...which means they are going to shrink the sidewalk which was pleasant enough to ride on as it kept me well away from the traffic.
by mcallaghan
30 Jul 2015, 4:57pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: LLC and Wales Questions
Replies: 137
Views: 21937

Re: LLC and Wales Questions

james01 wrote:Regarding the weather, you have my sympathies! We're used to mixed conditions even in summertime, but the wind and rain at the moment is unusual (honest :D ).
Edit: just read some of your blog. You're buying bottled water? :shock: Tap water is safe in the UK, and it's free. Ask for it in restaurants and they usually don't charge, but don't let them add ice or lemon etc as this gives them a reason to charge.

I always seem to get unseasonable weather when I do my cylce-touring. In Ireland, it was the wind and rain - so bad that they couldnt let the cows out to pasture etc because the grass wasn't growing, just getting burned away by the wind. Of course, the weather shifted when I shifted, so I had a lovely headind the whole time.

I am in Brecon now, after a 30 mile ride from Rhayader involving another big hill and the 2nd 25% gradient sign I have seen - the other was outside my lodging in Harlech though I did not have to ride up it!

Glad to finally see the sun, though it takes its time deciding to come out - not until 1AM and I only went on for another hour before reaching Brecon. Did do a little walkaround town but sore legs require rest, especially with my longest mileage day tomorrow - 60 miles including crossing the Beacons! I am honestly a little worried I won't be able to make it the whole way, given how the legs are starting to feel (sore back especially) but will see how the day fares out. Will be a PITA to sort out the lodging situation if I break early.

But - all explained in my blog! Not really sure how many people are even reading but I won't have photos up for another week at the earliest - probably not until next weekend when I am back in the US.
by mcallaghan
23 Jul 2015, 10:13am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: LLC and Wales Questions
Replies: 137
Views: 21937

Re: LLC and Wales Questions

And I am in Chester! I start riding in less than 24 hrs.will be updating blog rom here on out.
by mcallaghan
22 Jul 2015, 5:39am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: LLC and Wales Questions
Replies: 137
Views: 21937

Re: LLC and Wales Questions

And I am off! Embarking in roughly 11 hours and arriving Thursday Morning!
by mcallaghan
20 Jul 2015, 11:31pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: LLC and Wales Questions
Replies: 137
Views: 21937

Re: LLC and Wales Questions

Two days to go so probably my last post on here. I'll hopefully get my first blog update done on Thursday at some point (all of Wednesday will be traveling, plus the 7 hour time jump thrown in). So...I'm off! Hopefully all goes to plan and nothing unexpected occurs!
by mcallaghan
20 Jul 2015, 9:20pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring - worst fear?
Replies: 56
Views: 8764

Re: Touring - worst fear?

Injury...especially when riding solo in a remote area in a foreign country.
by mcallaghan
15 Jul 2015, 9:25pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: LLC and Wales Questions
Replies: 137
Views: 21937

Re: LLC and Wales Questions

I would love to think so, but my financial situation isn't going to improve anytime soon and then before you know it, I'll be 40! Certainly much harder for me to get fit. Ideally I need to lose 20 or so pounds (get down to around 160) in which case I'd consider myself fit and not lugging around an extra tire or two. A may do a local Rockie Moutain tour next summer...but the climbing involved in the dry heat and carrying camping gear makes me wonder if its feasible.