Clothing to Bring on Bike Tours in Ireland

 

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When you go on a self-guided bike tour in Ireland, it is crucial to come prepared. You wouldn’t want to suffer from the start till the end, would you? We have some good news for you. You don’t have to.

Our fully supported Cycling tours in Ireland can be exceptionally magical if you decide to come well-prepared. In order to get you started, the team from Ireland Walk Hike bike have created a very useful cycling checklist. In addition, you can use the following 5 tips regarding clothes to get ready for a trip of a lifetime on some of the best cycle routes in Ireland.

1. What cycling clothes do I need in Ireland?

The number one advice that helps you to make the most of your cycling experience is to wear good quality cycling clothes. Ideally, you would wear light weight and breathable clothes with a tight fit.

Your cycling shirt should be easily visible for other traffic. Always use bright colours or even high visibility clothing.

Wearing a pair of padded tights instead of regular underwear may sound a bit weird, but it is the best way to prevent chafing of the groin area. Please be aware of the fact that men and women need different shapes of padding. Therefore you should use a gender specific pair of shorts.

It is up to you whether you prefer long sleeves or short. If you are indecisive, you could combine shorts and a short sleeved shirt with arm and leg warmers. They are easy to put on or take off at any point of the route. These items are small and light weight making them easy to stow away.

2. How important is rain gear when cycling in Ireland?

Waterproofs are your key to happiness when it comes to cycling in Ireland. Of course it would be best if you could leave them in your panniers the whole trip and take out suncream instead. Unfortunately, we can’t promise you anything…

When you have to cycle on a cold, rainy day it is just wonderful to know you have brought your waterproofs. They will be your best friend on days like these. Not only will they protect you from the rain, they will also prevent the wind to become a huge chill factor.

As rain goes hand in hand with darker days, we recommend that you use a high visibility waterproof jacket for safety. A hood is not necessary, as you will be wearing your helmet.

If you would like to know more about waterproofs, please go to the cycling checklist , where you can watch an informative video on this subject.

3. Do you need sunscreen biking in Ireland?

Have you ever heard someone saying that there are four seasons in one day in Ireland? It is the truth. Therefore, you need to make sure that you can protect yourself against all weather conditions.

One item not to forget is sun cream. Imagine cycling the Ring of Beara and burning your face, arms and legs on day one. We can assure you, that is not a good feeling… Sunglasses and lip salve are other items to protect you from the Irish sun during the day.

Another thing to keep in mind is the fact that your sweaty body will cool down immediately at the moment you stop for a break. Especially when you let the wind do its work.

In order to avoid hypothermia, it is advisable to wear an extra layer of clothing when you have a break in the outdoors. You wouldn’t want to miss out on the numerous opportunities to quietly enjoy the countryside from a bench, would you?

Furthermore, a warm hat and gloves can protect you that extra bit in cold and wet conditions.

4. What should I pack for the evenings after my daily cycle?

Dressing up fancy in the evenings is probably not a top priority when you prepare for a cycling vacation in Ireland.

Whereas looks may be of less importance, the prospect of changing into clean clothes could be exactly what you need after a long day’s cycling. Therefore we would advise you to bring some nice, comfortable clothes and shoes for the after-cycling-hours.

Each location on your tour will have options to go out and enjoy some great food, and of course a refreshing pint of Guinness (to replenish your iron levels!!😊)

Don’t worry, you won’t need to drag these evening clothes with you up the mountains. Ireland Walk Hike Bike provide luggage transport on every self-guided cycling trip they offer.

5. Do I need to pack my own helmet? What about cycling shoes?

To finish up this list of useful tips, we would like to take your head and toes into consideration.

Safety is a main concern for us at Ireland Walk Hike Bike. Not only do we want you to utterly enjoy your cycling holiday, but also we want you to come home safely. Therefore it is mandatory to wear a well fitting helmet whilst travelling on your bike.

If you have a helmet at home, you are more than welcome to bring it. It gives you the comfort of your own helmet, which you know is perfect for you. When you don’t feel the urge of travelling to Ireland with your beloved helmet, we will be happy to provide you with one of ours.

Another thing to keep in mind are your shoes. The bicycles that Ireland Walk Hike Bike provide you with have basic, flat pedals. You don’t have to worry about clipping in and having to bring the right shoes.

A firm pair of runners or low walking boots will do the trick for you. Make sure the sole of the shoes is not too smooth in order to prevent slipping off your pedal.

If you do feel more comfortable using your own clip-in pedals and shoes, please feel free to contact the team of Ireland Walk Hike Bike and bring your gear.

If you want to avoid wet feet, you may want to consider waterproof overshoes.

Ready? Get set… Go cycle!

Now you have got your clothes covered, you are nearly ready to go on your cycling trip. In our next week’s blog we will tell you all about additional gear you need to bring on your adventure of a lifetime.

Whether you would prefer to check out the beautiful scenery on the Dingle Way, tackle the mountain ranges along Ring of Kerry or ride through the barren landscape of the Burren we have a tour for you. Check out all pf our Wild Atlantic Way coastal routes self-guided cycles on our website .

The only thing you need to do is book the trip (and peddle). We will do the rest to make your cycling holiday in Ireland a trip to remember.

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