Bike Ireland

In my teens I had been a cyclist but had only recently started again after nearly 40 years to help me get fit. As a supporter of Open Doors I read the article about a sponsored bike ride and thought what a challenge, a great way of raising money for the cause and a unique way of seeing a beautiful land.

So the training began, fortunately it was summer so an early morning ride of ¾ to an hour before breakfast wasn’t too time consuming, with a longer ride at weekends. I lost a stone in weight and met some lovely people. Sponsorship was going well, my initial target being £2000, I was almost there, flights to Ireland and back all booked, it was going well.

Three weeks before the event I rode into our cul-de-sac and met a car on the wrong side of the road at the junction and inevitably yours truly flew through the air smashed the windscreen rolled on the bonnet and off on to the road. I sat on the kerbside with my bruised side and arm, a finger which was pointing in the wrong direction (dislocated and broken) thinking, “you have lost it, the money promised, the training and the bike.” I spent a day in the walk-in centre and hospital. Don and Ruth visited and prayed, and gave me news that Mark was unlikely to take part through injury.

A cyclist friend provided a bike for £25 and within a week I made my first ride, and managed a couple of long rides. My arm was a little sore, but my legs were ok, sponsorship was heading for £3500, mostly from non-christians. A client and keen cyclist lent me his bike bags.

Day 1, 5am at East Midlands airport. I found 2 new friends, recognised by their large bags full of bikes. We arrived at Belfast and our carrier took us to Portrush. We arrived at 10.30 and proceeded to re-assemble our bikes. In the afternoon we went for a short ride to the Giants Causeway and Carrick-a-rede. It poured with rain all the way back and my two friends thought I was Lance Armstrong at the speed they were going. Bob Hamer (Aid International) explained all the procedures, timetables, etc. The organisation was excellent, with well marked routes, good mechanical back-up, first aid and good facilities at each break. We slept that night in the church room hall, it was my introduction to sleeping with 30 guys with at least 6 good snorers.

Day 2, Saturday. It was damp and cool as we assembled on the beachfront and after an outline of the morning’s ride, off we started. After just 5 miles I had the first puncture of the event! I started to change the inner tube and Eugene, the back marker, stopped to finish off. We rode together until we met the next puncture and then four of us rode together. Just before our midmorning break the heavens opened and we were well and truly introduced to Ireland.

Fortunately the tea break was indoors, with bananas for energy, peanuts to replace the salt, and biscuits, etc. We received this every morning and afternoon, it was certainly welcome that first morning. After lunch at Park and the pm break we started to climb the Gortin hill for 2 miles, into bottom gear and away we went, I even surprised myself. Some of the later hills were not so easy. We descended into Omagh and spent the night in a community centre.

Day 3 off to Sligo, passing through the lakes area with a good hill round Rosinver and rain off and on. Lunch was at Belleek. We had crossed into Eire. Can’t say I noticed the difference, it was still raining! After a shower, and an evening meal at a local pub we slept on the community centre floor.

Day 4, Monday. We left for Roscommon with lunch planned for Boyle. Lunches were amply provided by local churches and most days there was plenty spare. So often in the wet periods someone would provide us shelter for our lunch breaks. Great Irish hospitality and thank you Lord! Not too hilly today but the rain came and went. We used minor roads, almost agricultural, with potholes and poor surfaces. We only met one combine harvester, which resulted in a bad fall for William, with a smashed helmet, however he completed the trip.

Day 5. It’s not raining! Our lunch time stop was at Ballinasloe. We stayed at Birr in an outdoor pursuit centre with a proper mattress (heaven)! My inflatable was punctured the previous night, it was going to be a hard last few days! Most of the towns and villages we saw were lovely and tidy. The people take pride in their properties, were very hospitable and a few became sponsors!

Day 6, Wednesday. We left in good weather and saw the sun. Lunch was at Eagle’s nest bar and was excellent. Afterwards we rode into the Silvermine mountains and onto Thurles. We spent the night on the junior school hall floor, the ladies didn’t have a separate room so slept on the stage, there was no cabaret and it was a long night.

Day 7. On to Mitchelstown with lunch at Tipperary. It was dry and sunny for most of the day, some cloud late on along with a few hills.

Day 8, Friday. The last day and lack of sleep was catching up and we had a lot of climbs on this last section which wasn’t long in distance. The sun was out as we assembled at the top of the hill prior to our ride down to the harbour. At the bottom we gathered on the band stand, congratulated each other, had a celebration drink and posed for the photos, a few people were there to greet us. We had a celebration dinner at the Titanic restaurant, Cobh being the last land fall of the ill-fated liner.

At the end I had had enough and the thoughts were never again, but having had time to think, yes it was fun, we did raise some funds, we had some great fellowship and we saw some lovely country. I might be tempted to try the A to B route on the mainland, we will see.

My saga did not finish there. Our lunchtime flight to East Midlands was cancelled and we had to find our own way home. I flew to Heathrow, travelled on the tube to my daughter’s house with bike bag and clothes bag. My wife drove to London to pick me up and we returned home for Sunday morning.Two weeks later I celebrated my 60th!

We thank God for providing for us throughout our trip, keeping us safe (no major injuries), for the generous giving of our sponsors, the reasonable weather and the prayers of all who supported us.

Keith Rimmer

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