ElectricBikeTrails.com

In recent years, Ireland has become obsessed with cycling. No matter your age, cycling is a pastime everyone can enjoy. Whether you prefer short loops or long, scenic cycles, there are lots of options wherever you are in Ireland. With lots of official routes being established all over the country, there is something for everyone’s cycling preferences.
If you’re interested in scenic cycle routes, the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland's Ancient East and the Lake Lands all have lots of different cycles that suit everyone. Or perhaps you’re more interested in a road cycle. Ireland has over 80,000km of surfaced local county roads. The moderate Irish weather means that you can cycle throughout the country year round. Whatever your preference, The Ocean Sands Hotel has gathered some of the best cycle routes in Ireland from the Kingfisher Trail to the Burren in County Clare. Let’s check it out!
 
 Have you cycled on any of these routes? Let us know in the comment section below! 

Now that the sun has finally appeared from behind all that winter cloud it is time to get out and enjoy the sunshine. There are lots of great benefits to getting out on your bike and here are some of them:

1. Cycling is a great cardiovascular workout.Regular cycling can cut your risk of heart disease by 50 percent. According to the British Heart Foundation, around 10,000 fatal heart attacks could be avoided each year if people kept themselves fitter. Cycling just 20 miles a week reduces your risk of heart disease to less than half that of those who take no exercise, it says.
2. Regular cycling can improve your sleeping patterns.Research at Stanford University have shown that regular cycling for 20 to 30 mins every other day can reduce by half the time required for insomniacs to fall asleep and sleep time increased by almost an hour.
3. Lose Weight in the Saddle.Cycling is a great way to lose those pounds and is kinder to your body. Think about it – if you go for a jog you are putting a lot of strain on your skeleton pounding the road whereas when you cycle the main weight of your body is on the saddle.  You can burn up 500 to 1000 calories when you cycle for 1 hour, depending on your weight and how fast you cycle.
4. Fight off Illness.Regular cycling can keep illness at bay. According to research at the University of North Carolina people that do 30 minutes cycling per day, 5 days per week take half as many sick days from work as those who don’t do any physical exercise. Moderate exercise makes immune systems more active and able to fight off infection.
5. Enjoy Healthy Family Time. Cycling is an activity that all the family can do together, even the very young using child buggies or child seats and the very old using electric bikes to help with the hills. Children are influenced by the exercise activity of their parents so you are sowing the seeds for great health living for your family now and into the future. So get out on your bike this Easter Break. Call 087 7386439 to book a bike.
6. Bike Hire available at 2 Great Locations. Electric Bike Trails have a full range of bikes for hire at Leitrim Village and Lough Key Forest and Activity Park. There is 14 Km of traffic free cycling along the Shannon Blueway starting at Leitrim Village, along the Lough Allen Canal. If woodland cycling is your choice get along to Lough Key Forest and Activity Park for a fun filled family cycle on 8 km of woodland paths in beautiful surroundings.  

"Big Day Out in Leitrim" Event made it to the top 5 Best Days Out in Ireland Contest by the Irish Times.

“Join Leitrim Landscapes Guided Walks for an hour-long guided foraging nature walk. Next let Adrienne and Graham from Adventure Gently help you explore the Shannon Blueway by Canadian canoe. Then cycle the easy way on a one-hour electric-bike cycle with Electric Bike Trails. Finish with a hearty meal, creamy pints and lively traditional music at Beirnes of Battlebridge.” 

 

The reason the Irish Times judges included this activity in the shortlist of almost 2000 entries is:

“The Irish Times verdict: “Leitrim is a timeless, undiscovered world waiting to be discovered. To experience it one really needs to get out and immerse oneself in nature and activities events – this package provides an ideal taster experience.”

See full article:
http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/travel/ireland/the-irish-times-best-day-out-in-ireland-contest-names-its-top-five-1.2249973

This week is BIKE WEEK so to celebrate Electric Bike Trails are offering KIDS GO FREE all this week when you hire 2 electric bikes for a 1 hour cycle from our Lough Key Forest Park Bike Hire Outlet up to 2 children ages 12 or under GO FREE (children's bikes, carts or child seats). Offer subject to availability and can be availed of by calling 087 7386439. So get out there in this lovely weather and enjoy a cycle with all the family.

 

We are also demonstrating the amazing Kalkhoff Electric Bike at Cloone GAA Pitch on Friday Morning as part of activities for Bike Week organised by Cloone National School so come along and see how easy they are to cycle and you might be tempted to experience cycling as you used to as a child – where you cycled up the hills with ease and enjoyed the thrill of freewheeling down the other side.

This lovely weather got us out on our electric bikes to sample the newly launched Shannon Blueway. Starting at Leitrim Village you cycle to Battlebridge on a regional road but if you prefer you can actually reach Battlebridge by using the footpath which takes you all the way there. Then you go through the gates of the Shannon Blueway walking and cycling route along the eastern bank of the Lough Allen Canal. With the River Shannon meandering to your left and the calm waters of the Canal on your right this is really a haven of tranquility. Surrounded by nature, with natural woodland on the opposite bank of the canal there is every possibility of seeing some wild animals and many varieties of birds (the kingfisher is common in this area). This is a short route so taking a slow pace is the best option to enjoy the experience. 7 Km round trip.

The canal is also a popular fishing location so you might be lucky enough to see a fish being caught or at least you might see a fish jump as we did – an actual pike raised its head. In the distance you get a fine view of the Iron Mountain (Sliabh an Iarainn), the legendary home of Tuatha De Danann. They were reputedly a race of small dark people who fled into the more inaccessible regions of the country. It is supposedly from these battle shy little people that the myth of fairies and leprechauns emanated.

When you reach Drumleague Lock have a look at this old style lock that was built in the early part of the nineteenth century as part of the Lough Allen Canal that was built to bring coal from the Arigna mines to Dublin via the Royal Canal. That trade did not thrive and, by the time of the Ardnacrusha scheme in the 1920's, there was very little traffic on the canal. However the lock is regularly used by cruiser traffic nowadays to get to Acres Lake and Lough Allen. There is lots of information about the lock and the surrounding area on notice boards at the lock and you can sit for a while at the picnic benches to enjoy a snack or picnic. Who knows but you might just be lucky to get to see a boat go through the lock, meet the lock keeper and have a chat with the skipper.

 

Its back on the bike and you can either return at a leisurely pace to Leitrim Village or explore further along the canal by foot or take a cycle along the quiet country roads that go in either of 3 directions from the lock so you could let your curiosity go wild for a further hour or so in this most peaceful countryside.
Visit the Shannon Blueway on the 2nd and 3rd of May and join in the fun at the Shannon Blueway Adventure Festival.
Cycle the Shannon Blueway. 

Valentine’s Break to the Shannon Blueway

1 night B&B, Electric Bike Tour along the Shannon Blueway and Candlelit dinner for 2 - Saturday 14th February.

Treat your Valentine to a special romantic getaway.

 

Arrive before noon to Electric Bike Trails, Leitrim Village where you will be kitted out with all you need for your leisurely cycle.  Experience the peace and tranquillity of the Shannon Blueway as you cycle with ease on Kalkhoff electric bikes from Leitrim Village to Drumshanbo. Pop in to an old world pub for a hot drink by a cosy open fire to warm the cockles of your heart before you return to Leitrim Village.

A warm welcome awaits you at your accommodation at Acorn House Guesthouse, Leitrim Village with Complementary Afternoon tea on arrival, all homemade goodies for you to savoir in this beautiful, warm and relaxing home from home.

Candlelight dinner is only a stroll away at Beirnes of Battlebridge. Relax in this cosy, family run Bar and Restaurant and enjoy a 3 course Valentine’s meal.

Price: €89 pps 

Pre booking required.

Phone: 071 9623609 or 087 7386439

e-mail: info@electricbiketrails.com

Take a Cycle Treasure Hunt starting at Electric Bike Trails Bike Hire Outlet at Quay Road, Carrick on Shannon
The Treasure Hunt is on the cycle paths and in the 3 public park areas of the town. There are a variety of clues to observe as you cycle around and the whole activity will take approx 2 hours from start to finish.

The activity can be taken at any time between 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily during the month of August(subject to availability) and is an ideal outdoor activity for all the family to enjoy.

At Electric Bike Trails you can hire a regular bike, child bike, child double buggy or child seat and you will be given all you need for the treasure hunt. Safety helmets also provided.

Have a Mum’s Team and a Dad’s Team or arrange for another family to compete against!
                                    Family Special Offer:
2 adults and 2 children €30 (includes bike hire). Call Electric Bike Trails for other family deals.


TO BOOK - Ph: 087 73864389    

Lots and lots of peace and quiet whether its cruising along on the River Shannon or the Shannon Erne Waterway or cycling over the many hills of this magical drumlin belt. You might just meet a local or two who will gladly stop for a chat and bid you the time of day.

Check out the many fantastic award winning restaurants such as The Cottage Restaurant in Jamestown or The Oarsman in Carrick on Shannon to mention but a few.

Have a creamy pint of Guinness at Rynn's Pub, Ballinagleara where you can post a letter, buy the milk and bread for the breakfast or lunch all without leaving the bar stool.

Visit the vibrant Farmers Market in Carrick on Shannon on a Thursday morning. Amazing fresh produce, delicious home baked bread and cakes, meat and fish and my firm favorite the wonderful wild flowers http://www.leitrimflowers.ie/

The Dawn of Hope - you might well ask what is this - its an amazing valley among the mountains overlooking Lough Allen. Take a 3 day self guide cycle tour on an electric bike from Electric Bike Trails, stay at Pink Apple Orchard and arrive back home refreshed and full of hope for the future of our great land. (See here for more details)