Cycletouring in Ireland

Cycling Northern Ireland have put a short blog piece up for me ...
http://www.outdoorni.com/blog/cycling/#

Daydreams of a cyclist

The office and the city outside fade away and vivid cycling memories flash past in colours as bright and clear as the view of the Scottish coast from the Torr Head Road in April.

Gorse flowers yellow under a cobalt sky and fills the air with a faint scent of coconut. Then I am speeding downhill surrounded by blackthorn hedges, full of blossom, birdsong and the promise of summer to come. Next on I'm riding around Rathlin Island with my dad or skimming past the lakes and country houses of Fermanagh. Then there are the roads kissing the edge of Stangford Lough, it's drumlin studded waters as blue as the Adriatic in the afternoon sunshine.

If I'm feeling energetic, a climb across the lonely passes of the Sperrins or the Mournes might follow. Otherwise I might be sharing a Sunday afternoon train from back Portstewart with a gaggle of homeward-bound cyclists. We brag of miles ridden and summits conquered while remembering lying in the heather, bike cast aside, searching the cotton wool clouds for the tireless Skylarks.

Come to think of it, why am I dreaming about all this, rather than actually getting on my bike? There are so many choices for great cycling in Northern Ireland - from multi-day epics to gentle afternoon freewheels - and there are some brilliant ideas on this site. Using the Belfast-Londonderry rail line can seriously extend your range by opening up new starting points or offering a pedal-free return route. And if you are not lucky enough to live in Ireland the ferry and air connections are excellent.

This is a fantastic time of year for cycling, so I'll see you out there, making some new memories!!!

Tom Cooper is the author of Cycle Touring in Ireland. To buy the book, priced at £14.95, please click here.