Crank and Cog

December 15, 2016

Books to read before, during and after a cycle tour

I’ve been asked ‘What do you think about when you’re cycle touring?’ on quite a few occasions, or ‘You must have so much time for self reflection while on the bike?’. In truth, I actually don’t think about a lot! Usually I’m either cursing the persistent head-wind or dreaming of chocolate coated swiss-rolls and king sized snickers! Life on the bike can be very simple! Your main concerns are getting from A to B, food, water and shelter. This leaves room for appreciating, observing and focusing on what happens along your journey. Enjoying the moment as it happens. Your surroundings, the weather, the people, the hills, they all remain with you long after you’ve stopped cycling. It’s great fodder for travel writing with many great books written on cycle journeys.

There are certain books that encourage you to dream of cycle adventures ahead; authors whose words keep you company during your trip; and books that allow you to reflect philosophically on bicycle travel.

One day cycle trip, ireland. Watching the Atlantic waves.

December 4, 2016

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Local Loops, One Day Cycle Trips in Ireland

Ireland has almost 100,000 kms of roads. Some of these roads are a pain to cycle on (particularly urban roads) and others are a joy. Cycle far enough from cities and towns and you’ll find grassy roads, naked of any road markings or signs. Roads lined with bramble ditches, fuchsia and hedges. These are the magic roads sought by sauntering cyclists like ourselves.

It’s almost a year since we returned home to Ireland. Winter has robbed us of the will to camp overnight, so instead of multiple days on the bike we’ve shorten our trips to single days. Over the course of the next few months we will write about a series of cycle day-trips around the country. The lesser known local loops!

As we are now based in Sligo in the beautiful north west of Ireland, we will start here.

November 18, 2016

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Dandelion Coffee

Coffee and cycling go hand in hand. For some, cycling to a café for a rewarding caffeine hit is enough of an excuse to hop on your bike, for others cycling the country lanes, garden trowel in hand, looking for a weed to brew is motivation enough!

Dandelions (pissy-beds if you’re from Ireland!) are a very common plant and are widely found all over the world. Nowadays, it is considered an invasive weed to be stamped out but in the past it was used for cooking, medicine, and drinks. There is evidence to show that it was cultivated in many medieval sites.

November 4, 2016

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SLNCR Greenway Demonstration Launch Day

A great day of celebration and achievement in Dromahair, Co.Leitrim for the opening of the demonstration stretch of the SLNCR greenway. SLNCR stands for Sligo, Leitrim, Northern Counties Railway. The demonstration is an indication of how the proposed cycle-way linking Enniskillen to Collooney in Sligo would look. It was very obvious from the turn out and enthusiastic support for the opening of this stretch, that the longer proposed greenway linking Enniskillen and Sligo would bring local involvement, pride in locality, and a green, healthy outlet to be enjoyed by all.

September 19, 2016

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Preparing your Bike for the Winter.

It can be difficult to justify the costs of keeping a car on the road. The spiralling road taxes, fuel prices, road tolls, extortionate insurance prices, servicing and maintenance charges all add up.

The argument for the car is the comfort, speed, convenience and ‘status’ it offers. Understandably for some it’s hard to argue otherwise particularly here in Ireland with the inevitable wet and wild winter weather along with the shortening days and lack of safe cycling lanes. Added to this, the distances people are travelling nowadays to and from work are increasing as high rents force people further away from their work.

Two Surly LHTs at Killary Fjord, Connemara, Ireland

September 12, 2016

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Connemara, Ireland by the Wild Atlantic Way. One Day Cycle Trips in Ireland-Local Loops!

Connemara Loop Map

Cycle touring fully loaded and laden down with gear has it’s time and place… heading off with bike, tent and sandwiches in tow, for a light leisurely jaunt should have it’s place too!

The West Coast of Ireland is a great destination for light cycle touring…if you can get the weather for it! The Wild Atlantic Way offers unrivalled landscape, unpredictable weather, and unpredictable, stubborn sheep!

The length of the Wild Atlantic Way stretches from Cork in the south, to Donegal in the North, a length of over 2500km! We decided to sample 100km of it over the course of three days. You could probably complete the loop in a day if you don’t stop in every pub and cafe along the way!

Ireland is strikingly green for a reason- the rain! If you’re coming, bring rain-gear!

September 5, 2016

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Bog Salad!

*In the video; Crowberry rather than juniper.

When I was a kid, the mere mention of ‘the bog’ brought out the best in my creative use of excuses. There are many things a 12-year-old would rather do than spend a day turning turf, while being the main course for hungry bugs with a penchant for disgruntled kids!

Yet, as an adult, I find myself returning on my bike to explore this desolate place and sample the culinary delights hiding there.

August 30, 2016

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How to clean pots with no water

Tips and Advice for Cycle Touring.

Check out my updated page on cycle touring advice.

Lots of tips, including…

washing up after meals

Bike Security

and…

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Bike stands!

August 26, 2016

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Bog Myrtle and Wild Mint Tea

The beautiful Killary Fjord in Co.Mayo, Ireland.

Hopping on your bike and heading off into the wilds is a great way to connect with and appreciate the countryside. Stopping to have a cup of tea at any opportunity should never be overlooked either!

Of course, there are times when you may forget to pack the tea bags or don’t have enough change to buy a cuppa. What then?! Head off to the bog of course!The remaining wild bogs and wetlands of Ireland have many edible and healing plants that would have been commonly used for culinary and medicinal purposes in the past.

August 5, 2016

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Foraging along the way

The beauty of the bike is that there is no barrier between you and your surroundings.

The slow pace of travel, panoramic views, and lack of metal and glass encasing you in an air-conditioned bubble allows you the opportunity to spot things you otherwise would miss if travelling by car or the like.

Things. Free things. Food. Free food!! Bilberries!

Bilberries are small, black, delicious berries, similar in appearance to blueberries, that grow as a low lying scrub scattered across bog land, forests and hedges. The berry ripens in Ireland around the end of July and beginning of August.