Cycling UK Forum

Heltor Chasca wrote:Hi. I would recommend kiddies' trailers. There must be piles of 2nd hand ones on eBay. No problem for your terrier but you could reinforce the base for your retriever with a piece of carpet.

The only difference between kids' trailers and dog trailers is the price. As soon as an item is marketed towards pets, they add on W.A.T. They think we are stupid. [emoji849]

Thanks for the idea. Have looked on ebay for dog trailers, but not kiddie trailers. The only dog trailers are new - I'll check out the kiddie ones.

Ive actually got a Burley Nomad in which I shoved a piece of hardboard so I could carry my rotavator to my allotment, so I'm thinking of taking them out in it on a trial run. It doesn't have a roof unfortunately, so would not be suitable long term, and I would have to get a different floor. The Nomad is a brilliant trailer btw, sturdy and stable, (but with a soft floor and no top other than a rain cover)

Paulatic wrote:A couple of years ago I met a guy touring with a Jack Russell. Carried in an orange box attached in front of handlebars. Could suit the Patterdale but not the Retriever.
Wasn't slowing him down any either. Two days from Kings Lynn to Moffat complete with camping gear.

Yes that is a possibility for the Patterdale, I reckon she'd love that. She's 13 years old so not too fiesty any more. As rfryer suggests, she might not like a trailer too much, but a box in front - well, now we are going somewhere. Thanks.

Hi Everyone. Has anyone had any experience with dog trailers. We have decided to take our pooches with us on tour, as we cant find anyone to look after them and kennels are not an option. I have seen peoples' tour blogs who have used the Cycle Tote trailers and love the look of it, but as we don't know yet whether our pooches will take to a trailer, I am loath to spend that sort of money just yet. I have been looking at the various types available in the UK, but have yet to see one in the flesh as there are no suppliers close to us. As such, I find it hard to gauge the sturdiness and suitability for our dogs. I have a golden retriever and an aging patterdale terrier. I am inclined to buy a cheaper trailer and practice with it for a while, but am totally undecided as to which to get. Ideally, I'd like to get both dogs in one trailer, but recognise that for a tour they will probably need their own. I have been looking at the Trixie large dog trailer on Amazon, which seems to have good reviews. Any ideas or experiences would be greatly appreciated. If anyone has one for sale, I'd be interested.

Thanks for your post Mrs HJ. Loved your pictures - I'll make sure we've got waterproofs lol. Now that we're on the right side of Christmas and spring is round the corner, I can start thinking about our trip again. Did you use public transport at all (thinking trains)??

Sorry guys and gals, not looked at the post for a week. Lots more good info, thanks to all for tips and links. The book certainly looks good Norman H, and I note your point about the missed sections. I am actually spoilt for choice as to where to go now. I take it from what some of you have said, that it is easy enough to get public transport with bikes should we run out of time and need to get back quickly. I'm actually debating whether to get transport straight across to the West coast and then cycle back on a southern route, taking in the peninsulas, then across to Cork and back to Dublin or Dun Laoghaire. We intend doing more than one trip to Ireland, but I think I would like to cycle at least part of the Wild Atlantic Route on this first trip.

Haven't looked at your site yet Farawayvisions, but I will do, thank you.

Just bought one, thank you.

Thank you Peter, for the link. According to the website, the guide is now available in English, Looks really interesting.

I find the thought of getting my bike anywhere by plane a bit daunting. would love to haul it to the USA, but as you say, these things cost money, and it's hardly worth going all that way for a short tour I wouldn't think. I'll have to save the pennies and just bite the bullet one day I think.

Thanks for all your advice everyone, might see you all in Ireland next year.

Oh yes - love the link. I just returned from the States, not cycling, but went to Idaho and also to Yellowstone - brilliant. I'd love to do the transam too

I love touring - partner is hubby - been together nigh on 38 years so I guess we know each other pretty well by now - I'm the boss anyway. Originally bought my Hubba hubba to do the Great Divide Ride in the USA, but never made it to do it. One day - perhaps. I also belong to Adventure cycling - an American cycling organisation . They've just started doing guided rides along the Great Divide again after a 5 or 6 year gap. You'd need to be with someone - too dangerous alone, all those bears and things that go bump in the night. At least we don't suffer from such things in the UK and Ireland, or most of Europe.

Thanks Jags, camping is certainly our preferred accommodation - always need to keep costs down. Have got an MSR Hubba Hubba (2 man) - brilliant tent - quick and easy to put up. Has withstood high winds, torrential rain, and just enough room under the fly sheet to store our gear outside the sleeping area. Opens both sides too so no climbing over a sleeping partner in middle of night. They are a bit pricey, but we got ours in USA - much cheaper than here and weighing in at 3 1/2 lbs is pretty light. There is also a one man - the MSR Hubba. Now I'm rambling - and I'm not Irish - my grandmother was tho so it must be in the genes.

Like your blog "robing". I use a Caxton too - but now I've got the new one that will do up to 22 currencies - saves having different cards for Europe, USA and anywhere else.

Beara peninsula certainly looks interesting. Lots of history there, and scenery. Think its a must.

Like the bit about the farmers - thanks - that appeals to me.

Thats ok - I'm enjoying the dialogue. I'm not too hot on hills , but - hey - that's what I've got gears for, nice low ones. In fact, the lowest is so slow it's hard to stay upright lol. Bike's quite heavy - Thorn Nomad - but an ace bike. I have got a trailer for it now too, altho I haven't used it for touring. I use it to haul my rotavator to and from my allotment and to go shopping. Have thought about touring with it - less dead weight on the bike.

Love the pic, can't wait to be there. Always got waterproofs - just as well, the day we set off from Bordeaux one year, in August, it was p'''ing down and cold.

Thanks for the offer gordonyoung - might take you up on that if we pass thru Limerick. Thanks to vjosullivan too for the link. Lots of nice places to visit now - definitely going to warrant more than one trip.

Is there a law about camping wild in Ireland. We have camped wild in Germany when we couldn't find a campsite - but I know it's acceptable over there. I'd prefer to be somewhere with amenities obviously, but if we get stuck.......????

Thanks, I'll certainly look into the hostels and have noted the good campsites.

I think we are going to have to have several tours in Ireland to get to all the places you good folks have told me about. Loads of super info, thank you to all. I love the bit about the train plus ferry being cheaper than just the train - how daft is that. Thanks for the accommodation note "wheel71" - duly noted. It looks as tho we are going to head south for our first trip and see how far we get just pootling along in 2 weeks. We were planning on camping, which is what we usually do when touring, but I note some of you say there are not that many campsites. so I guess we'll just have to play it by ear and use BnB if we have to. Probably going to go to Dun Laoghaire (thanks iviehoff) if it gets us on the right side of town to set off.
It's all very exciting - something to look forward to through the long winter months.

Thanks for all the info people, especially about the places to go and those to avoid. I'll look into that route Jags, thank you. The car is staying at my sisters in Anglesey My original idea for next years tour was to cycle from East Kent to Anglesey, but I really didn't fancy the busy roads of the SE when trying to pass around London, plus the fact that it is quite a long tour for the time available, so we wouldn't have time to stay long with relatives. I then thought we should perhaps go to Ireland, as neither of us have ever been, despite the fact that we originate from N Wales. So it looks as though that's what we are going to do now, especially as the info you've all given me indicates good riding and the possibility of an excellent tour. Thanks for the diary notes bikerpacker.

Tangled metal - We have also thought about the Danube, as I believe there is a hotel that caters for cyclists who wish to have safe car parking. Maybe in 2017. Have done the Mosel a couple of times recently - absolutely brilliant - can highly recommend it. Mosel - Hunsruck - Rhine - Mosel and also Mosel - Bitburg - then NE back to Rhine - Mosel. Look up River Valley guest House in Zeltingen Rachtig - run by Mike and Lyn - Brits. Excellent value and Mike and Lyn will bend over backwards to be helpful. We stay with them and leave the car whilst we go off touring.
The bike bus is worth thinking about too. We took it to Bordeaux, then cycled the Dordogne to Dom, went south to join the Lot, SW to the Garonne and Canal du Midi to Toulouse where we met bike bus.

Thanks for the posts and route ideas, Sounds as though you've both enjoyed Ireland. I have family living in Anglesey (I'm in Kent) so would combine a visit with leaving the car at their house to tour Ireland, hence the Holyhead route (although I haven't thought to check if bikes are ok on the ferry). It's always a worry finding somewhere to leave the car - we usually find a friendly guest house or hotel, stay the first night and the last and pay them to keep the car in their car park. They often let you keep it there for free. Failing that we have found that a good looking residential area is a pretty safe bet. Hope you get to Ireland Tangled Metal, you never know, we might even bump into you. We hope to go end of June into July.