The Mersey Tri Eight!!! Yes 8 of us are off to the Emerald Isle next Sunday 23rd May to bike around the beautiful South East coast and attack the Wicklow Hills! We plan on cycling approximately 40 miles per day, two or three see swims during the week and some running to round off each day.
Day 1 is all about the travel and logistics. We are starting off from Liverpool on Sunday – with some of us cycling the 100+ miles to Holyhead – and the rest of us making our way in a car and a van with the luggage and the bikes. We will be catching the ferry to Dun Loaghaire, arriving in Ireland at about 7pm. We will then cycle the short way out of the port to Bray, with the luggage van following on behind.
Day 2 will see the real start of the training week. Bray is right on the east coast so we will start the day by donning our wetsuits and taking a quick dip for a sea swim. After that, we will be biking along the flat, quiet roads from Bray through to Wicklow. The more energetic of us will have the opportunity to continue riding through the quiet roads or putting our trainers on and going for a run.
Day 3 will find us going for another sea swim in the morning, followed by a ‘rolling ride’ down to Avoca, Arklow. Once again, those with the energy and the inclination can stay on their bikes and find some hills or go for a run in the beautiful countryside.
Day 4, Day 5 & Day 6 will see the mountain stages arrive! We will be biking from Avoca into the heart of Wicklow cycling country – the Wicklow Mountains National Park! Hopefully the legs will have been warmed up by the previous days in the saddle – because this is where it will get tough! We will be staying in the National Park for the next three nights to enjoy the scenery and really put our legs to the test!
We will leave the National Park on Day 7 and will cycle up to Enniskerry which, after the previous days efforts, will be a relatively flat route. Once we arrive at Enniskerry, we will take in a bit of Irish culture and reward ourselves with a couple of pints of the black stuff!
Day 8 will be our Champs-Elysees, covering the short trip from Enniskerry to Dun Loaghaire whilst reflecting on our efforts, before our ferry home.
