Some say it takes a tourist to show you your own country; many visitors leave Dublin better informed than the lot of us. So it was with an open mind that we decided to investigate the city's latest tourism venture - Dublin Bike Tours - and possibly learn a thing or two.
Exploring the sights by cycle provide a novel introduction for tourists and locals to historical, cultural and contemporary Dublin. The company's director, Keara Robins, was inspired by similar tour groups in Amsterdam and Paris and left a successful career in the international oil business to come home and start peddling.
"I had decided I wanted a total change and was keen to get involved in the travel trade," says Keara. "After seeing a bike tour cycle past my house while living in Amsterdam, I thought this was something that could work in Dublin." However, it was more than a case of just two wheels good, four wheels bad: "With the way tourism is developing in the city, I was aware that cycling tours would be sympathetic towards the traffic problems - but the key objective was to provide an interesting way to see the city."
Based in the courtyard of the Harding Hotel opposite Christchurch, tours set out three times a day and its route includes Kilmainham, Collins' Barracks, Smithfield and Trinity College. The pace is easy and relaxed, with a dozen or so stops for the guide to fill in details and answer questions. "Travelling by bike means you cover a far greater range than say a walking or even on a bus tour," says Keara. "The other advantage is that you get a more intimate view of the city - right into courtyards of Dublin Castle and Kilmainham. When we go down Meath Street, people often shout and wave. You can see, hear and really feel the atmosphere of the whole city."
You needn't be another Sean Kelly to manage a cycle around the city. The bikes have a RollsRoyce feel and stops are frequent. Dublin Castle provides the first diversion; there's a longer break for refreshment once you reach the grounds of Kilmainham Hospital. Our guide, Ian so and so, certainly knew his history and was equally adept at telling good stories.
Dublin Bike Tours has been up and running for only two weeks or so, the sight of a bunch of cyclists with tall green flags mounted on the back of their bikes is still being greeted as a novelty. In fact, there were moments along the route when we felt more like tourist attractions rather than mere tourists. Anyone looking for an adventure outside of Dublin should get in touch with Irish Cycling Safaris, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this summer.
"It was the summer of 1989 when we first brought together a group of family and friends as volunteers to take a cycling safari in the west of Ireland," says founder and director Eamon Ryan. "Last week we had 64 cyclists here just for our Tour de France weekend and could have doubled that number if we had the space - so that gives you some idea how the cycling holiday has developed."
The company now has eight safari routes in different parts of the country ranging from west Cork and Co Kerry to the highlands of Donegal. Each tour lasts a week and covers about 30 miles a day. The accommodation is prebooked, a guide accompanies each group and the luggage is transferred by van to the next location each day, so all you have to worry about is enjoying the rolling countryside and stunning scenery that each tour takes in.
"There is a maximum group size of 20 people and while most of these come from Europe and the States, there is always a strong Irish interest also," Marion Ryan explains at the company's office, based in UCD. "Ages have ranged from eight to 80, so families or individuals are catered for. The tours are a real international experience and a social whirl as well as getting a real sense of what Ireland has to offer."
This summer the company has decided to go Continental and currently offers tours in France, Italy and Spain. It also designs individual routes for the more ambitious cyclists and specially-themed tours for occasions such as Easter weekend and last week's Tour de France. Once again, you don't have to be a super-fit cyclist and if you do end up collapsing on the roadside, the support van will be there to pick you up.
All this, of course, is good news for the Dublin Cycling Campaign. For the past five years or so this voluntary organisation has been planning and campaigning for better cycling facilities in Dublin. The main agenda is to improve and construct a network of cycle routes, increase sheltered parking facilities, develop practical measures to encourage employers to promote cycling to work (such as showering facilities in workplaces, safe lock-up areas) and general measures to improve the safety of cyclists in the city.
"Any of these tours will put bikes on the road and that's what we're all about," says Rachel Vaughan, an administrator with the campaign. "If more people get on their bikes for whatever reason then it helps our objective of increasing awareness and interest in cycling as an alternative, healthy and pollution-free form of transport."
It appears that there has never been a better time to enjoy cycling and touring at the same time. Still not convinced? Then get back on the bus.