Tandem Tours - Guided Tandem biking vacations, cycling all through the west of ireland. Ireland's premier tandem operator

FAQs

The weather....! Our accommodations....? The terrain....! Evening wear....!

We do get asked all sorts of questions and we welcome them all. I would like to run through a few of the most common.

The most common thing were asked about is the weather. So let me address this issue. It rains a lot less in this country than people generally think. We can literally ride our bikes 365 days a year.

June & September are statistically the driest months of the year. November is the wettest.

On all of our tours this year we had no days where the weather was too bad to ride, only one where it was a very heavy downpour, and we had sun on about 70% of the days. People are always pleasantly surprised at just how little rain they see on our tours. But one does need a little bit of rain during the tour, for that authentic Irish experience.

Ques 1. What kind of accommodations can we expect?
Ques 2. What kind of food can we expect?
Ques 3. What clothes need we bring?
Ques 4. Will we manage to down the odd pint of Guinness along the way?
Ques 5. What kind of level of fitness do I need to have?
Ques 6. Whats the terrain like?
Ques 7. ATMs?
Ques 8. Lunches?
Ques 9. What bikes do you use?
Ques 10. Will we have fun?

Ques 1. What kind of accommodations can we expect?
Answer.
One of the things people often email us about after they leave is just how happy they were with our accommodations. From the 255 year old, Foyles Hotel in Clifden, to Belleek castle, Markree Castle the places we stay are really quite special. Expect private bathrooms every night, very good beds, and laundry service everywhere we stay. You will not be disappointed with our accommodations.

Ques 2. What kind of food can we expect?
Answer.
When we say we have had people actually take pictures of their dinners in some of our hotels we stay at were not kidding. Expect to eat very well on our tours. We'll work you hard during the day, and feed you well at night. And thats a promise. But seriously, expect some spectacular Atlantic salmon, seriously succulent beef, organic home grown vegetables, and some other treats along the way. Dinner on our tours is more an occasion than just, dinner.

Ques 3. What clothes need we bring?
Answer.
For the riding you'll just need your normal everyday cycling wear. Nothing too heavy as it never gets too cold. We have lots of extra gear in the Jeeps anyway, if you found you didn't pack enough. No problem there. For evening wear, we do stay in some nice places so bring some nice stuff. Nothing too stuffy though. Casual.

Ques 4. Will we manage to down the odd pint of Guinness along the way?
Answer.
Definitely.

Ques 5. What kind of level of fitness do I need to have?
Answer.
We have had people on our tours from the ages of 14 to 76, and every age in between. (You will find the 76 year olds email address on this site. Mas Kinoshita from Lodi, California. Been with us three times now, rode every mile, and put some of us to shame on more than a couple of occasions.).

Whatever distance we do we take the whole day to do it, one can ride at whatever pace one feels comfortable with. We always have the Jeeps nearby if you need a ride. Some people like to hammer along at a fair old rate of knots, and thats fine, Ill ride with them. Some like to take their time, take lots of photos, stop for the odd pint of strength and experience the whole day. We encourage this. For those who like to do a little more we have extra loops on almost all our routes and we often have a few people in each group that like to do this so no problem there.

Ques 6. Whats the terrain like?
Answer.
Gently undulating, is a term I like to use. Although this term does get me in trouble with my guests on a regular basis. Okay, some of our undulations might be a little more severe than gentle, but theres no hills on our tours that are more than ¾ of a mile long, nothing very steep, and sure isnt the wind always at your back when youre in Ireland!

Ques 7. ATMs?
Answer.
Lots. (Except in Gweesalia. Population - 54. Three pubs, a church and a post office....)

Ques 8. Lunches?
Answer.
Look forward to them. We at Tandem Tours Ireland pride ourselves on having found some of the nicest lunch spots in Ireland, (so much so that even one of our, friendly competitors asked could they use one of them this year. We said yes). When we tell you we will be having lunch right on the top of the highest sea cliffs in all of Europe we are not lying, (Sleive League, Donegal).

Ques 9. What Tandems do you use?
Answer.
'We use Giant Tandems. Quite simply, you will not find fault with them. Not that you'd be looking for faults or anything. They are very comfortable to ride and never give a minutes problems.

Ques 10. Will we have fun?
Answer.
I guarantee that you will have more fun on a week with Tandem Tours Ireland than you have ever had in your entire life! And if you dont have an amazing experience in the west of Ireland with us, check yourself for a pulse.

All photography taken in the west of Ireland on Tandem Tours Ireland tours!!!
Celtic Trails, Suite 1. Lordello Lodge. Lordello Road. Rathmichael, Co. Dublin, Ireland.
Tel: +353 862656258 Fax: +353 1 2722323 tours@irishtandemtours.com