CYCLING CLUBS
A good way of picking up information about routes etc is to contact one of the local clubs. No surprise that there are an abundance of clubs. Like most they have club runs on a Sunday morning. All clubs welcome visitors along, just turn up at the designated point, introduce yourself and off you go. Below are some of the clubs that have actual web sites with an e-mail link. You can either contact the club for advice on routes or arrange to meet up for a club run.
ROAD CLUB LINKS
Fintona CC
The Island Wheelers
MTB ROUTES
Off-road cycling in Northern Ireland is in something of a transition stage at the moment, with CAAN’s ‘Review of Off-Road Cycling Strategy for Northern Ireland’ recently published and a number of projects in the funding or implementation stage. At present there are two official single track cross-country off-road cycling sites: Gortin Glen near Omagh and Moneyscalp near Tollymore.
IN BELFAST
Belvoir Forest park in South Belfast is another favourite with the locals, as is the Cavehill Country Park in the North of the city. These are unofficial routes but have high usage as do the following.
Rostrevor Forest, Mourne Park - Kilkeel, Sallagh Braes - Larne, Slieve Donard
Scan through the Cycling strategy below for more info on location of 'unofficial' sites that have a high usage, understand I'm not encouraging this type of activity!
MTB LINKS
NI Off Road Cycling Strategy (PDF)
Mountain bike Ireland (All Ireland)
MTB rider (Belfast/Northern Ireland site)
Away.com (Good article on state of NI MTB)
ANNUAL CHARITY CYCLES
A few well established supported events take place every year, allowing you to get a more intensive view of the country while raising some money for good causes.
Bangor 100K
The Border Trek - 7 Counties, 200 mls, 2 days
End to End - Malin to Mizen
PUBLICATIONS -
Cycling in Northern Ireland (request copy)
Belfast by Bike (pdf) (request a copy)
NI Cycling Forum - lots of stats
Ballycastle
to Ballyshannon
Lonely
Planet to Cycyling in Ireland
DIGBMX - BMX bible published in Belfast