Not about the bike

Dublin offers way more than just great riding

The brilliant thing about a ride like this is its proximity to one of Europe’s most celebrated cities: Dublin. So while a short pedal sees you hit the mountains, an even shorter walk takes you around some of Ireland’s most famous sites.

First up, of course, are Dublin’s pubs, in particular Temple

Bar on the south banks of the River Liffey, the Dublin district renowned for its teeming nightlife and restaurants. During the day, strolls around Trinity College and St Stephen’s Green are a must, the former a grand university housing among other things the Book of Kells in its ornate library; the latter a tranquil city park that’s the perfect antidote to the hustle and bustle of Dublin’s famous Grafton Street shopping area.

Other must-sees include Kilmainham Gaol Museum, which tells of Ireland’s brutal history – here the British government ordered the execution of the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising – and of course the Guinness brewery. Yet while brewery and distillery tours abound, for a fine slice of history meets bonhomie the Irish Whiskey Museum (irishwhiskeymuseum.ie) is a genuine delight… and that’s even before the tastings commence.

On terrain this loose and this endowed with double digits – I see 20% often – each and every metre is desperately hard won