Just back from trip to Ring of Kerry and Skerries 100
Discussion
Just thought you might be interested in my Ireland trip. Five of us did 1300 miles in four days of riding (which is a lot on a RRW) and one day race watching. Had a blast.
From south east England we took in North Wales, Wicklow Mountains, Ring of Kerry and then back up to north of Dublin in time to watch the Skerries 100. We came back via M40 and M25 (yawn) with all the rain and Grand Prix fans.
The highlight had to be the views in Ireland and the ride over Wicklow as well as the racing. Nothing can prepare you for the intensity of road racing (if you've not seen it before go and watch one!). The riders are amazingly quick, brave and skillful (and mad?). As a spectator you can watch from almost any hedge/ditch/bridge as they fly past (average lap speed is 105mph and only 1 minute 40 a lap...I think). Truly inspiring and more of an involving experience that the TT IMHO ("I love the smell of two-stroke in the morning")
The biggest let down (and please don't tell me you all could have told me before I left!!!) was the quality of the roads on the Ring of Kerry. Terrible. Almost to the point I would think twice if you were planning to go there...and it rained...a lot.
Needless to say the craic was great as was the Guiness and the Irish. Sad note was that a Skerries spectator was badly injured and still in hospital - hope he improves soon.
Next year, we will do less miles and take a day longer. Only 357 days to go!
Be safe and consider watching a road race if you can!
From south east England we took in North Wales, Wicklow Mountains, Ring of Kerry and then back up to north of Dublin in time to watch the Skerries 100. We came back via M40 and M25 (yawn) with all the rain and Grand Prix fans.
The highlight had to be the views in Ireland and the ride over Wicklow as well as the racing. Nothing can prepare you for the intensity of road racing (if you've not seen it before go and watch one!). The riders are amazingly quick, brave and skillful (and mad?). As a spectator you can watch from almost any hedge/ditch/bridge as they fly past (average lap speed is 105mph and only 1 minute 40 a lap...I think). Truly inspiring and more of an involving experience that the TT IMHO ("I love the smell of two-stroke in the morning")
The biggest let down (and please don't tell me you all could have told me before I left!!!) was the quality of the roads on the Ring of Kerry. Terrible. Almost to the point I would think twice if you were planning to go there...and it rained...a lot.
Needless to say the craic was great as was the Guiness and the Irish. Sad note was that a Skerries spectator was badly injured and still in hospital - hope he improves soon.
Next year, we will do less miles and take a day longer. Only 357 days to go!
Be safe and consider watching a road race if you can!
Didn't get to the Skerries but just got back from a week in the South West of Ireland. Fantastic week but know what you mean about the roads, the Ring of Kerry was generally one of the better stretches of road we were on, the only really bad bit is the south coast road, the north west bit of it was fantastic. The scary bit is when you round a corner on a damp road to find the tarmac has developed a lump right on the apex. Definatly an area more suited to road bikes than sports bikes, we had a local guide on an R1 who was getting toasted by TDM's with half his power because he was skipping sideways while we just glided round the corners 
I'd reccomend Ireland to anyone.
Roads vary from this
to this
in the space of 500 yards (both on the connor pass between Dingle and Castlegregory), but views like this from the top make even the worst road worthwhile.
If you get further off the main roads you find stuff like this
and then if you're a Father Ted fan...
I'd reccomend Ireland to anyone.
Roads vary from this
to this
in the space of 500 yards (both on the connor pass between Dingle and Castlegregory), but views like this from the top make even the worst road worthwhile.
If you get further off the main roads you find stuff like this
and then if you're a Father Ted fan...
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