RIDE CLUB - COUNTY MAYO
The next in our continuing series of our favourite rides we head west to the emerald isle and County Mayo, a stunning contrast of surf, mountains, fjords and flatlands.
The Wild Atlantic Way runs along the western coast of Ireland and offers way signed routes if you are heading north then your side of the ride will have the symbol and an N and if you are heading south it will have an S, all pretty self explanatory.
The starting point for this route has a stunning view over Clew Bay - starting from almost sea level, climbing up and up to one of the finest views of the ride. It’s an easy enough to roll to this point from Westport and then back there at the end, plenty of time to get the legs warmed up rolling to the start.
Turning your back to the sea it’s a case of following the signs to Drummin, where the road varies from fine tarmac to surface dressed tracks, almost feels like riding on UK main roads - only with exceptional scenery!
It climbs, it drops, and you find yourself skirting around the back of Croagh Patrick (the Reek), Ireland’s holy mountain, where St Patrick fasted for forty days in the fifth century. It is still a site of pilgrimage with up to 40,000 people visiting on the last Sunday for July for Reek Sunday. I presume most of those don’t ride aero wheels in gusty winds though. The small chapel on the top of the mountain offers commanding views over Clew Bay.
This road around the back of Croagh Patrick creeps up on you, it’s pretty solid climbing with the odd drop then it ramps up and then ramps again, by the time you reach the highpoint the lungs are heaving but yet again the view quickly makes you forget the effort. Well, perhaps not forget, but appreciate.
Dropping down from here to Drummin offers a mixed bag. The view of the road snaking away into the distance invites tucking in and descending like Froome however the road offers a different reality. A mixture of grass down the middle and patched potholes makes for a twitchy descent and the question being asked in the head “why did I bring the aero bike, a gravel bike would be better”. During the entire descent there is a strong nagging wind coming from the right hand side, always knowing that in a few miles I’ll be turning head on into it, block it out, block it out.
Upon reaching Drummin it’s a right hand turn onto the L1824 and into the wind for a few miles bobbing along single carrriage lanes, all the while with the Sheffrey pass looming large on the horizon. It is here that I encounter a Belgian on a bike. I presume he’s Belgian, he’s setting a steady (slow) pace with a Belgian cycle tour mini bus driving behind him with lights flashing offering support. My initial reaction is “ooo he must be pro” this thought soon disappears when I catch him.
The ride from Drummin to Sheffrey is in the face wind, whistling down the valley. And then you see the winding road of the Sheffrey Pass, it’s not the longest nor the highest but the way it hugs the side of the mountain conjures the feeling of an Apline pass, possibly one not suited to a Belgian classics rider.
The climb starts and the wind drops, the shelter of the hill on your right hand side is welcome but there is a constant reminder that once you hit the top it will be there! Perfect end of summer weather on the west coast of Ireland!
Over the top and it’s time to descend into the wind, keeping one eye on the road, the other on the sheep and all your other senses battling the wind.
Battling into the wind is never fun. The only saving grace is you know as soon as you take a right hand turn at Doo Lough onto the R335 it will be wind behind and the homeward stretch. This is where the fun started, being a larger fella the climbing is always a chore. However smashing along the side of a Lough with deep section Knight 65 rims, an aero bike and wind on your back makes for some quick, fun riding. Swings and roundabouts!
This is where the ride gets really busy and congested, I saw a car and was stuck behind a tractor for a few miles, that was it, pretty hassle free cycling. To be fair even when faced with traffic on busier roads in Ireland the drivers are nothing but courteous, being very continental in putting themselves out into oncoming traffic rather than driving too close.
Next it’s Doo Lough straight into Louisburgh for a bit of Ride Recovery Chapeau X Irish style:
With the wind still behind but the sun making a welcome appearance it’s down to the beach at Old Head for a roll onto the pier and a look over to the Reek in all it’s glory, it’s then a case of back up the hill and roll back to the start or a 10 mile roll back into Westport. It’s not the longest ride, but one packed with enough sights challenges and smiles to make it seem longer — in a good way.
How to get there?
Westport is around 3 hours by car from Dublin, it’s pretty much one of the furthest west towns in Mayo. Or it’s around 50 minutes to Knock Airport (Ireland West).
Download the GPX file of the ride here.