We would like to go on a family bike tour of Ireland (Connemara tregion) this summer. we have two adults,two ten year olds, and a grandmother who will not bike, but is willing to go ahead each day in a van. Has anyone biked in Ireland with a family? what tips can you give us? We are thinking of using Killary Tours.

I used Killary Tours for a trip in Connemara-but not with a family. They are pretty good, but check your bike thoroughly before they leave you. Also, make specific arrangements as to the time they will pick up your luggage each day. One day they showed up at 8:00 am and we weren't close to being ready. <BR><BR>Connemara is beautiful and not too hilly. Plan on taking it slow with the ten year olds.

We travelled to Ireland in 2000 with my avid biker husband and four kids. When the weather is nice (which we mostly lucked out with) the biking is great. Be flexible enough to have alternate plans when the rain hits. Connemara is gorgeous, but is a biker's nightmare when windy and wet--long stretches of road with no cover, no pubs, no clearnace from oncoming splashing cars. With such young children, short half-day bike trips combined with other stuff might be better. PS We're from Oregon, so we're not weather babies.

franny: With just two adults this would be great. But add a non-riding adult and two little ones, and I have to agree with gaelen. Don't try a "Bike Tour" - but rent bikes locally day to day. <BR><BR>The weather is too iffy, the roads pretty (very) scary in some areas, and the roadside services too scarce. Instead, do a driving trip and on nice days rent bikes if you are in areas where the roads are "bike friendly" - most towns and large villages have places that rent bikes.

Be aware that road cycling in Ireland can be dangerous during tourist season, because there are so many tourists who are used to driving on the opposite side of the road. I had a cousin who was an Olympic cyclist; he was killed 4 years ago by a couple of German tourists who came around a bend going the wrong way.