BMC Bikefest 2022

29/05/2023

Saturday's Ride Out will begin here :
Aghadoe View Bed & Breakfast - Parkavonear, Co. Kerry,

It's on the N72 Ring Of Kerry Road.

If u want to make a note of it..

And if you're on Google Maps the general idea for Sunday is Kilarney / Tipperary / Kilkenny and then Eniscorthy. Eniscorthy is supposed to be quite pretty so it'll be nice to get there before dark..

29/05/2023

Phil's set up a FB chat group - if you'd like to get on it - it makes the trip a lot easier if we get split up in the evenings ( or daytime ! ) or u find a strip joint far better than the one we'd be currently in. Or Chinese or bar etc.

On a more serious note .
If you are on medication - or have to take regular daily medicines - or have a long term illness / injury it's important that you let either Michael or myself know.
If you are taken ill ( or God Forbid ) - have an injury and require medical assistance we can relay this information to the medical teams.
This information will remain private and confidential and it's best to message us directly - as they'll be fewer chance of spelling mistakes on the pill names ! - and then if required we can redirect this info to the medics via our phones.
The decision to let us know is totally down to you - we don't mind either way but speaking from experiance this procedure does work.
And finally as the weather looks to be well hot please pack some bottle water / drinks and energy bars / chocolate etc and a hat and sun / moisturising cream. Now u may think this is a load of *ollocks, but on the road in this sunshine you will get wind burnt and you will need to take on fluids and a snack - even with our planned stops. If you get dehydrated it will effect your concentration and subsequently your riding. Even if you say I had a cuppa at breakfast and don't want to drink as I'll have to keep stopping for a p*e - I'd rather stop for a p*e rather than picking you up from a hedge 'cos u forgot which way the corner went..

Cheers !

24/05/2023

Final Timings :

Meet Thursday am Penllergaer Services Lorry car park for 6.30am for 7.00am depart.
Route via Carmarthen ( 7.30am collect Di - McDonalds / Garden Center ) and then up the coast etc to Holyhead.
We have to be there for 1.00pm latest - but have allowed 3 x 20 mins stops for fuel / cuppa etc.
If we are ahead of schedue we have a plan B to ride through Blaenau Ffestiniog and then the A5 - will decide when we get close.
On arriving @ Dublin Port it'll be a 45 min ring road / motorway ride to the hotel with a approx arrival @ 6.30 /6.45pm.
Michael and I have worked on Saturday's ride - it'll be the Ring of Kerry - with a twist and hopefully it'll be dry this time.

Other odd bits - make sure u speak to your phone provider for European coverage and bring your GHIC medical cards

Apart from that I think we're there. If a couple of people can help Michael and I with a bit of Road Crew that would be great - we'll share it about over the few days.

ta

Alan

18/05/2023

If u all check your message box's I need some monies in for hotel(s)

As it looks at the moment it'll be a Thursday 7.00am depart from Penllergaer Services as we have to be at the port for 1.00pm
It'll be a straight Carmarthen / Lampeter / Carnarfon - straight up the coast. Google Maps says 4.5 hrs so if we allow 6 it'll sort the stops out. Weather at this stage looks OK.

Those who want to meet up on the way let me know

Not long now !!

ta

28/04/2023

Just thinking ahead - those booked for the Westgrove Thursday night - I've secure the bill on my c/c so u lot pay when we leave.

I'll need to have some £'s in for the Sunday night Enniscorthy about 20th May as the bill's due a week later - am watching the exchange rates so will confirm the exact amount. Michael Morris we need to settle Kilarney B&B @ the same time.

On a slightly different subject when travelling abroad we found this Chase Bank card absolutley brill - worth a look and they pay all but 4% on a savings account. No currency transaction charges and possible cashback - Dead easy to apply / set up even for OAP's like us - just got to find some £'s to put into the a/c...

Welcome to Chase, the bank that makes every day rewarding.

24/04/2023

Irish Ferry tickets have been E mailed out to you - pls check.
Routes from Port Of Dublin to the Westgrove Hotel and Fridays ride are being worked on
We'll be eating @ the Westgrove Thursday night - it was very nice last year so we'll run with it

Cheers

24/04/2023

New Ferry for the last leg home !

Irish Ferries is pleased to announce the addition of a new cruise ferry to its fleet. The ship, originally called the STAR, was built in 2007 in Finland (at the same dockyard as the ULYSSES) for Tallink Grupp.

14/01/2023

2023 Update 3
Final parts of the jigsaw are now complete.
I've had conformation from The Westgrove Hotel ( Thursday night ) that they'd love to have us back again and will keep rates as per last year - £135.00 double room and £125.00 for singles. Those who were on last years visit will remember they looked after us very well and they've told me that there's a big wedding that night so bring your dancing shoes..

As of tonight I've reserved rooms @ The Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford for the Sunday night. Doubles are £143.00 and Singles are £159.00. I've asked them about an early breakfast ( 40 mins to the Port ) and secure parking so will advise further.

Now there are a number of you who said you wanted to come - on the original thread - but I've not heard anything further. The Riverside rooms reserved tonight are only for the members who've further confirmed so if u want me to add you then please let me know. I'll also have to add you to the Ferry's and Westgrove bookings.

Cheers
Alan .

13/01/2023

2023 update 2

After many conversations and research today this is the plan :

Irish Ferry - I'll do group booking

Dublin hotel - Thursday 1st June - I'll do group booking

BUT Please book your hotel / B&B etc for Kilarney yourself. Due to the prices and current avaiability it's best you decide. From experiance if you choose to stay outside of Kilarney then there are plenty of Taxi's and they're not all called ''Dick Turpin's Cabs''. For a small inconvience you could save a lot of £'s or stay in Town.

Ideally Book for 2 nights - Friday and Saturday as...

Depart Kilarney Sunday am

For a gentle cross country ride via Tipperary / Kilkenny and ending up Waterford / New Ross / Wexford area. We'll decide exactly where depending on weather.

Overnight stay :
Then catch the early ferry back to Pembroke Monday morning.

OR
Catch the late evening ( 8.45pm ) Roslare ferry back to Pembroke if you want - to save a few £'s but it'll be 2.00am in Swansea.

So all I need you to do is sort your digs out for Kilarney - 2 nights / let me know if u want digs Sunday night and I'll sort the ferry's

Rough Costs :
Ferry return - £120.00 inc pillion
Dublin hotel £160.00
Kilarney hotel x 2 nights £350.00
Optional Sunday night hotel £160.00

Total £790.00

Cheers

Alan.

12/01/2023

Dublin Hotel - Well, just ouside..

Nestled in the village of Clane, Westgrove Hotel is perfectly located to tour Irelands Ancient East. Easily accessible to all local Kildare amenities.

12/01/2023

2023 update :

Dublin hotel - we've stayed there before and it's very nice with very secure parking for the bikes.

Having trouble with Killarney Digs as the prices have gone through the roof and very poor availability. Therefore I propose the following :

2 nights - Friday and Saturday - checking out Sunday morning and then traveling back to Roslare - Route TBC and then catching the night ferry back to Pembroke - u'll be back in Swansea about 2.00am Monday morning - This is the cheaper option as u save on a extra night digs - to pay for the high prices in Killarney - but it's a long ride.

Or Sunday travel back towards Rosslare to Wexford / Waterford area ( via Cork and the coast ) and then catching the Monday morning ferry back to Pembroke. Wexfords around the corner but Waterford's a good 1 1/4 hrs to Rosslare so need to be gone by 7.00am

Or stay in Killarney 3 nights Friday / Sat / Sunday and use it as a base do ''Ring of Kerry'' Sat and then somewhere else Sunday and then travel back Monday to catch the late ferry etc etc

Thoughts please..

05/06/2022

Arrived safe and sound not too much rain. Hotel stunning been made very welcome no cuts just tuxedo for dinner

04/06/2022

Dying out !

04/06/2022

For dublin leg not doing bike parade so meet at haven Apartments 10.00am for 10.30 depart ta

04/06/2022

04/06/2022

Morning all we'll have a go on the ride out . 10.45 for 11 at haven Apartments v93 a3vx ta

28/05/2022

And I need to confirm with the hotel in Clane ( Dublin Leg / Sunday night ) all the names and total numbers. There have been some changes but those who've not made their mind up yet - well the clocks ticking. Needed by Monday night.

I'm away Monday / Tuesday so pls let me know.

Kevin, Phillip , Gerald , Peter ( and your lot )

ta

28/05/2022

Evening - Getting close now !

I'm messaging you all individually the ''Final Information'' for the Bikefest trip. There's a fair bit in it and if you have any question please drop a line here

ta

Alan .

25/05/2022

Guinness Storehouse visit - Monday 6th June.
For those on the Dublin leg and fancy a trip around the Storehouse it's advisable - as its a Bank Holiday to pre book your tickets.

There is no group booking discount ( tight arses ) and I've checked the availability and prices tonight (26 euros' each...as it's a BH) so please use this link to book - for the 11.30am time slot please.

We will be leaving the hotel @ 10.30am for the Storehouse and at the end of the day need to leave Dublin by about 3.30pm to get down to Rosslare for the ferry home. It gives us 4 hours ( google says 2 hrs ) for a nice gentle ride and plenty of time for stops and a bit of supper.

If you don't fancy it then no problem we've got Phillip Lynott's statue to see and ''Murphy's'' the Harley boutique store on the agenda as well.

Or let us know what else u'd like to do !

ta

Alan

https://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en

Join us at the Guinness Storehouse to experience the history, heart, and soul of Ireland’s most iconic beer.

24/05/2022

Have had a reply back tonight.. they're awaiting us ...booked for 8.00am Friday 3rd June..

Happy Days

https://www.sidsdinerrestaurant.com/

Looking for fresh, homemade food? Come to Sid's Diner for the best full Irish breakfast in New Ross. We cater for all dietary requirements.

24/05/2022

If you've not got one or your old EHIC has expired you need to apply for a new one. These are European / Worldwide Health cards which provide you with limited free health care abroad. I'd advise you get a ''Global'' one instead of a ''European'' version.

They are free and u can add the missus in as well

The link is here : https://services.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/cra/start

Be careful as the official link is free - there are some unoffical sites that will charge you.

This doesn't replace any medical travel insurance you may have.

ta

Alan

There is no deadline to apply for a UK Global Health Insurance Card or a UK European Health Insurance Card. If you have an existing European Health Insurance Card, you can continue to use it until it expires.

03/05/2022

Saturday @ Bikefest - BMC Ride Out - 'Ring Of Kerry''
Weather permitting we'll have a little spin around the ''Ring Of Kerry''. Having done it a few times and it's a great ride with plenty of stops for the odd picture or two but as the Cafe's etc will be busy probably best to bring some sarnies and pop for lunch, we'll grab a cuppa when we can.
It's about 100 odd miles and time wise 4 hours inc stops.

Totally up to you if you fancy it or not.

If the weathers not good we'll have to come up with something else !

28/04/2022

Well, the Guinness Store's come back to me on the group booking question...and c**k all. They just directed me back to the main booking site. Rather a sour taste and that's not the beer.

So it's 22 euro's each and we're advised to book on line with an ''arrival / visit time''

I'll have a look at it closer to the time. We'll still go but will have to to look at the timings as I expect it'll be busy ( Bank Holiday ).

But having said that if anyone's got an other idea's or fancy something else then just put a post up.

ta

27/04/2022

For those on the Dublin leg : Ive' reserved all the rooms today @ the Westgrove Hotel and you'll be required to settle up when we arrive. Rates wise it's Single Room @ 125 Euro's or 135 Euro's for a twin / double. The deal includes a giant Irish Breakfast which should set us up for the day and they have offered us an evening meal - but we'll look at that closer to the time. ( 30 Euro's ). The hotel's about 40 odd minutes from central Dublin and about 1/2 the price..

The Guinness Storehouse ( 22 euro's ) haven't come back to me yet regarding a group visit booking but the girls @ Dublin HD have been very helpful with parking directions for their ''Murphy's Boutique Store'' smack in the center of Dublin. The main HD store is on our route but shut on the Monday, but Murphy's is open.

As of tonight I've 3 couples and 7 singles booked ( 10 bikes and 13 people ) but I can add more if needed.

Any questions just shout
https://www.westgrovehotel.com/

Nestled in the village of Clane, Westgrove Hotel is perfectly located to tour Irelands Ancient East. Easily accessible to all local Kildare amenities.

26/04/2022

26/04/2022

26/04/2022

BMC Bikefest 2022 - this site is for all BMC members (plus friends) travelling to Ireland on 3rd / 4th / 5th / 6th June 2022.

All the information will be posted here - travel times / tips / hotel details and general info - to make it a great event.

Once we get close to departure and over in Ireland if you want to meet up - say in a bar or for food - please post on this site - so everyone can see it and it saves you ringing every Tom, Dick and Mary.

At the same time those looking to travel on the Dublin leg - Sunday / Monday - all the details will be posted here.

Of course, if you have any questions please fire away - either I or some the regulars will attempt to answer them.

We will be organizing an official ''BMC Ring Of Kerry Ride Out'' - on the Saturday - it's totally up to you you fancy it. All fingers crossed for some decent weather, of course. Or you can just enjoy the sights and sounds of the Killarney Bars for 8 / 10 hours.

In the meantime please ''share'' this site.

Thanks for support and cooperation.

Alan Holland
Safety Officer
BMC Wales
Mobile 07968 208 132
E mail - [email protected]