I was digging through old emails for something completely unrelated, and came across my post to the old “Phred” mailing list (of cycle tourers) with an analysis of the trip data from Ireland 2006. Figured I’d include it here. Photos from that trip are also on-line, with the highlights available here.
Last week I returned from a 3 week cycling trip to Ireland. I’ve done a lot of solo touring in Europe (about 7 months cumulative I think) , but this time I tried something different. I talked my wife into going, as well as another couple we know who had never been touring. The plan was the other couple would cycle with us for 9 days, and then fly home. My wife and I would continue onwards for another 11 days.
Given that there were people going who’d never toured before, I put a lot more effort before and after the trip documenting information.
Route:
Shannon** > Limerick >(bus) Cahir > Cashel* > Carrick on Suir* > Kilkenny** > Carlow* >(bus) Limerick (other couple flies home) > Shannon*
> Corofin* > Doolin** > Kinvarra* > Athenry > Aughrim* > Roscommon > Knockcroghery * > Athlone > Clonmacnoise * > Banagher * > Roscrea > Banagher * > Portumna > Mount Shannon* > Shannon *
* Spent night
Distances:
So some mileage statistics (or actually kilometer statistics). They’re slightly inaccurate, because I cycled additional distances more than once (2 days that my wife took a rest day, as well as extra miles one morning before everyone was up to return to something from the day before).
Rick’s Odometer (In kilometers):
| Cycling Days | All Days | |
| Avg distance w/ other couple | 40 | 30 |
| Avg distance w/o other couple | 74 | 60.54545 |
| Avg overall distance | 60.4 | 47.68421 |
| Avg w/o other couple – wife’s odometer | 56.8 | 46.5 |
Note that the increased distances without the other couple does NOT mean that they were slow or holding us back. My wife was in much better shape as the trip progressed, and we were starting to figure out how to feed her. We were also in the central region of Ireland that required farther distances to get to things. Also, the first part of the trip had very specific destinations in mind from before we left, and was planned to be shorter.
Generally really short distances. But then again, Ireland’s not that big 🙂
Cost:
(there are some quirks in the math here due to the day we lost on the way out (Go Laguardia)).
Irksome that, either with ATM card or credit card, I was paying about a 1.2/1 conversion rate, and then a 7% exchange fee (or 1.3/1 with no fee, which is about the same). That’s a significant increase in fees. Grf. I’ve divided up costs, like my mileage estimates, into separate categories of with other couple, not with other couple, and combined. I’ve also split out daily cost for airfare, because that changes depending on how long you stay 🙂
| Total p.p. | Days | per day | airfare p.d. | total p.p.p.d | |
| with other couple | $425.08 | 8 | $53.14 | $84.09 | $137.23 |
| without other couple | $475.98 | 11 | $43.27 | $61.16 | $104.43 |
| Total | $901.06 | 19 | $47.42 | $35.41 | $82.83 |
So for the original 9 days, it would have been $478 + airfare per person. For the next 11 days it was $475 (we did a lot more camping then) + airfare. For the trip in total for my wife and I (barring Laguardia) it was $948.4 + airfare. [ Looking back, I think that’s $47.42 as a total daily expense for myself and my wife, not $94.84 per day].
My Gear Weight (any shared gear, I carried):
- Bike: 28.5 lbs
- Front panniers (packed, no food): ~3lbs each (6 lbs total)
- Rear Panniers (packed, no food): ~6 lbs each (12 lbs total)
- HB Pack: ~2.75 lbs
- Tent (rear rack): 5.0 lbs
Extremely detailed equipment list:
Prime location 2nd location
Bicycle (unloaded) Litespeed Blueridge
Bike 2 water bottles and cages
Bike cateye rear led light and two AAA batteries
Bike cycle computer
Bike Presta carbon fiber tire pump
Bike blackburn rear rack
Bike Rear Rack Sierra Designs Lightning 2 man tent (w/ titanium stakes and groundcloth)
Bike Rear Rack 2 Lone Peak P-100 panniers
Bike Rear Rack nylon adjustable strap with clips
Bike Rear Rack U-Lock
Bike front rack (the old Old Man Mountain design – don’t like the new one)
Bike Front rack 2 Lone peak P099 Panniers
Bike handlebar pack Bushwhacker Diablo
HB Pack
HB Pack motorola FRS radio (5 mile range) specific to group trip. And 3 AA batteries
HB Pack map case
HB Pack compass
HB Pack Maps (Ireland East, West, South)
HB Pack Map (Independent Hostels)
HB Pack Map (Irish Heritage)
HB Pack Credit card #2
HB Pack 2 small zip lock bags and kitchen trash bag
HB Pack Petzl headlamp (plan as headlight replacement) and 2 aaa batteries
HB Pack small notebook/journal
HB Pack paperback book
HB Pack Swiss Army Cybertool 34
HB Pack Copy of CC #s and CC Phone #s
HB Pack Spare U Lock Key
LR Pannier
LR Pannier Western Moutaineering Down Highlite Sleeping bag (and stuff sack)
LR Pannier Kitchen kit
LR Pannier Kitchen kit 2 plastic forks
LR Pannier Kitchen kit 1 plastic knife
LR Pannier Kitchen kit 2 plastic spoons
LR Pannier Kitchen kit small bottle (sunscreen)
LR Pannier Kitchen kit small bottle (dish soap)
LR Pannier Kitchen kit small bottle (laundry detergent)
LR Pannier Kitchen kit small plastic case (salt)
LR Pannier Kitchen kit small bottle (veg. Oil)
LR Pannier Kitchen kit small sponge
LR Pannier Kitchen kit small wisk (with most tines removed)
LR Pannier Kitchen kit small lighter
LR Pannier Cookset Gaz Stove (250g)
LR Pannier Camping Gaz CV270 fuel cartridge (post flight)
LR Pannier Snow Peak Titanium Multi Compact Cookset
LR Pannier Tool Kit
LR Pannier Tool Kit 2 zip ties
LR Pannier Tool Kit 2 velcro strips
LR Pannier Tool Kit Spare tube
LR Pannier Tool Kit 4 Allan hex keys
LR Pannier Tool Kit spare brake cable (precut to longest length)
LR Pannier Tool Kit spare derailleur cable (precut to longest length)
LR Pannier Tool Kit 4″ crescent wrench
LR Pannier Tool Kit Kevlar fiberfix
LR Pannier Tool Kit 2 spare spokes (in rear pannier)
LR Pannier Tool Kit plastic tire lever
LR Pannier Tool Kit tube patch kit (glue, patches)
on Fanny pack
on Fanny Pack Konica Diimage x31 3 mp camera (w/ 2 lithium AA batteries and 512 Mb card)
on Fanny Pack 2 spare LI AA batteries
on Fanny Pack Passport
on Fanny Pack U Lock key
on Fanny Pack Wallet (cleaned out of random cards, like library, SAMS, etc.)
on Fanny Pack SPF 15 chapstick
on Fanny Pack 2 earplugs (plane)
on Fanny Pack notebook/journal
on Fanny Pack click ballpoint pen
on Wallet
on Wallet
on Wallet
RR Pannier
RR Pannier Bath Kit
RR Pannier Bath kit Pack towel
RR Pannier Bath kit soap disk w/ half bar soap
RR Pannier Bath kit toothbrush (handle cut and drilled, w/ cover)
RR Pannier Bath kit small tube toothpaste
RR Pannier Bath kit comb
RR Pannier Bath kit 2 disposable razors
RR Pannier Bath kit dental floss (small)
RR Pannier Bath kit baby fingernail clippers
RR Pannier Bath kit 4 earplugs
RR Pannier Bath Kit Deodorant (half stick)
RR Pannier Bath Kit small sewing kit
RR Pannier Bath Kit Small amount of TP
RR Pannier Photocopy of Passport
RR Pannier 2 synthetic t shirts
RR Pannier 1 pair warm socks
RR Pannier 1 pair cycling socks
RR Pannier 1 pair poly underwear
RR Pannier 1 pair long pants (zipper shorts)
RR Pannier long cycling tights
RR Pannier beach sandals
RR Pannier bandanna (tradition)
RR Pannier Cocoon silk mummy liner (to help compensate for EXTREMELY lite sleeping bag)
RR Pannier First Aid Kit
RR Pannier First Aid Kit small bottle of rubbing alcohol
RR Pannier First Aid Kit small container (14 Aleve)
RR Pannier First Aid Kit small container (6 pepto tables)
RR Pannier First Aid Kit small container (9 tylenol)
RR Pannier First Aid Kit small container (multivitamins)
RR Pannier First Aid Kit 3 neosporin ToGo packets
RR Pannier First Aid Kit iodine prep pad
RR Pannier First Aid Kit 4 lactaid packets
RR Pannier First Aid Kit 1 alcohol cleaning pad
RR Pannier First Aid Kit 1 antiseptic cleaning hand wipe
RR Pannier First Aid Kit 1 strip thermometer
RR Pannier First Aid Kit bandage 3″ x 5 yards
RR Pannier First Aid Kit small spool adhesive tape
RR Pannier First Aid Kit 2 4×4 bandage/sponges
RR Pannier First Aid Kit small pack moleskin
RR Pannier First Aid Kit 4×4 gauze pad
RR Pannier First Aid Kit 4 2×2 gauze pads
RR Pannier First Aid Kit 1 ouchless 2×2 pad
RR Pannier First Aid Kit 4 large bandaids
RR Pannier First Aid Kit 4 small bandaids
RR Pannier First Aid Kit 4 small butterfly bandaids
RR Pannier First Aid Kit small blistek packet
RR Pannier First Aid Kit 4 bandage strips
RR Pannier First Aid Kit 4 medium butterfly bandaids
RR Pannier First Aid Kit 4 q tips
RR Pannier First Aid Kit 4 safety pins
RR Pannier First Aid Kit ear plugs
RR Pannier Credit Card #3
RF Pannier
RF Pannier Patagonia Puffball jacket (and stuff sack)
RF Pannier Red Ledge Rain pants
RF Pannier 8×11 padded envelope
LF Pannier
LF Pannier 8×11 padded envelope
LF Pannier Goretex Countdown rair jacket (and hood)
LF Pannier 3/4 ultralight thermarest and stuff sack
LF Pannier drivers license
4 kitchen trash bags (lining panniers for waterproofness)
4 kitchen trash bags (spares)
As weight 2 packs of 6 Bagels
As weight 1 jar peanut butter
As weight 8 granola bars
As weight 2 foil packs of tuna
As weight 500g pasta
on synthetic t shirt
on 1 pair poly underwear
on Cannondale cycling shoes
on cycling shorts
on 1 pair cycling socks
on Timex Ironman watch (includes contact info for people)
on cycling gloves
Hope someone other than me finds that useful/interesting.