...... I FINISHED

Success ......... brilliant I finished. Standing in front of the Strule Arts Centre, Omagh
Wednesday 14th September 2011.

http://www.struleartscentre.co.uk/

Sponsorship:

Many thanks to everyone for their support and sponsorship. You have been very generous. So far the sponsorship currently totals :

                                Online:   £3,716.25

                                Of line:  £1,500.00 

                                Total:     £5,216.25 (so far)

All the money raised will be donated to the Omagh branches of Leonard Cheshire Disability and Multiple Sclerosis Society, both charities have supported my Mum and other Multiple Sclerosis sufferers over the years.

If anyone else feels this is a good cause and wishes to sponsor me or those of you who are still planning to “get around to it” (to quote a few people out there) it will still be possible for the next couple of weeks to donate via: 

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/cycletourofireland

The Tour:
On October 2001 I started fund raising for Multiple Sclerosis by running the New York Marathon. Ten years later, and after a few years of talking about a new challenge and many hours of organising, the cycle tour of Ireland started on the 22^nd of August 2011 from my Mum’s house in Omagh. Co. Tyrone.  

Over the next 20 days I would cycle through all 32 counties north and south of Ireland. In chronological order these were:

Fermanagh, Sligo, Letrim, Longford, Roscommon, Mayo. Galway, Clare, Tipperary (north), Limerick, Kerry, Cork, Waterford, Tipperary (south), Wexford, Kilkenny, Carlow, Wicklow, Dublin, Naas, Laois, Offaly, Westmeath, Meath, Cavan, Monaghan, Armagh, Louth, Down, Antrim, Londonderry, Donegal and Tyrone.

The main towns / cities I would cycle through were:

Sligo, Carrick-on-Shannon, Longford, Rosscommon, Castebar, Galway, Ennis, Nenagh, Limerick, Trelee, Killarney, Cork, Comel, Waterford, Wicklow, Kilkenny, Carlow, Wicklow, Dublin, Naas, Kildare, Portlaoise, Tullimore, Mullingar, Navan, Cavan, Monaghan, Armagh, Dundalk, Downpatrick, Belfast, Antrim, Derry, Lifford and Omagh

Completed Tour

To be honest it is hard to believe I have already finished my cycle tour of Ireland challenge.  It all seems to have gone past in a flash.

A few quirky facts about the tour:

-Total distance cycled was 1,495miles / 2,407km    …   equivalent distance would be cycling from Omagh, Co.Tyrone to Barcelona (or London to the south of Spain).
-Average 75miles per day  ...  equivalent to cycling from Omagh to Hollywood, Co. Down every day.
-A total of 107 hours in the saddle  ...  equivalent of flying from London to Melbourne 5 times (22hrs one way).



More words and photos to be added shortly.





Punctures – Final Count:

Over the last few weeks I have been on road finishes varying from smooth asphalt to sharp stones / glass / hedge cutting with thorns / pot holes etc and I am happy to report I have had NO punctures ….. yes that’s correct…. NONE.

This is thanks to Bontrager: H4 Hard Case Plus, Triple Flat Protection Tyres. Probably the best tyre for cycling around Ireland.

The only notable puncture was in Michael’s air bed. Not a happy bunny.

Thanks:

Thanks to everyone who has sponsored me so far and Michael for coming over and upping the cycling tempo over Stages 16 to 19. A much needed boost.

Last but not least……..many thanks to Beccy (+bump) & Darcy for their great support team work every day of the tour. Amazing stamina. The tour would not have come to a successful conclusion without you. Many thanks and lots of love.

Ian