The Irish end-to-end.  4/5 June 2024.

When I first saw this 600 event on the Audax Ireland website I just knew I had to do it. I did the Irish end-to-end back in 1992 over 3 days with my old club, Team Madigan but since then I have got into Audax and this was just the ticket I wanted. Organiser Joe Fitzpatrick has made the famous Mizen to Malin ride into a 600k Audax by starting it in Schull. This allows for accommodation the night before.

Getting a date that suited my friend was difficult so I decided to go for it by myself. I travelled on three buses between Belfast and Schull arriving the evening before and stayed in an AirBnB. I bagged the bike in case of an awkward bus driver but found that they were all helpful.

Up early for a 5am start, as usual with me I was running late. A quick ride from the AirBnB to Schull harbour using WhatsApp to register my start with a photo of me at the harbour. With the 40 hour limit this allowed until 9.10pm the following day to finish at Malin Head, the most northerly point in Ireland. Heading south towards Mizen Head, the most southerly point, was a hilly and windy 25k before returning the same road and heading north. Cork was hilly but Bantry arrived at 70k where I saw the Westlodge Hotel, hmmm, time for a second breakfast? €15 gets you a big buffet breakfast! I always try to find a hotel on long audaxes as the breakfast is good value and the washrooms are usually great. I even met an old friend in the hotel. He’s a coach driver and had a group touring Cork and Kerry. He was very surprised to see me in the breakfast buffet!

Onward again into a NW wind, I arrived at Millstreet at 141k. I found a covered sitting area nearby to eat my supermarket lunch. The weather was holding fine with no sign of rain so far.

Audax really is just an eating event with some bike riding thrown in.

Passing Limerick at 233k a McDonald’s appeared for dinner. I generally avoid fast food but when on the lookout for high calories in quick time it’s hard to beat.

The route so far was great and the traffic was light.

The route bypasses Nenagh at 270k. At this stage I was looking for a shop to load up for the night but nothing appeared. In hindsight I should have gone into Nenagh Town Centre. I was also getting worried about my water supply. As I passed a house at about 8.30pm I saw a boy kicking ball in his garden. I thought about asking for water but didn’t. Not seeing any other opportunities I soon turned back to ask him.  “No problem” he replied, “Where are you cycling to?” When I told him he returned with my bottles filled and his parents in tow. Asking all about my journey and amazed by the distance. They just had to get a photo of this madman to show their friends. It always amazes people outside the Audax community at how far we go. Maybe we are all mad! They kindly offered me anything else I might need but I just needed reassurance that the next town had a shop. I arrived shortly after in Borrisokane at 284k but the shop had just closed at 9pm. Luckily there was a Pizza place to fill me up for going into the night.

At 1am I was passing Athlone at 339k and started thinking of a sleeping spot. Around 370k I found a field. I shone my light to check for animals- it looked clear. I rolled out my bivvy and wrapped up. Within 10 minutes I heard loud sniffing getting closer. Light on again and there were 5 young cattle edging closer to me. I tried to shoo them away but they were having none of it, I was on their turf! I quickly packed up and rode on looking for a field with the silage removed and gate open so no animals in it. Success at last! Once again I settled down but didn’t have the best sleep as it got very cold.

I got up before 6am and had a tin of creamed rice for starters. I always carry a mini tin opener and spork to make sure I can always get something into me at odd times. The rice is easy to digest.

Up, packed and on the road for 6am, I was soon in Longford for a McDonald’s breakfast at 385k. After that I kept a hopeful lookout for a hotel for a second breakfast buffet but I was disappointed not to find one.

Day 2 was sunny and warm at times but the forecast was for heavy showers later.

I eventually reached Enniskillen, 460k, at 11am, time for lunch, I went for a KFC this time. I Love the KFC gravy!

Heading for Kesh now the road was busy. Starting to feel exhausted, I stopped in Kesh for a supermarket sandwich. Leaving Kesh I was surprised by the number of relentless steep hills for the next few miles. Next up was Castlederg and then onto Cladybridge to cross into Donegal. There followed a great new bike path, lovely smooth surface with picnic areas and a bike tool stand. It only lasted so long before a sudden stop and it was back onto the road. It was very busy here up past Strabane and Derry into Muff. It was now the evening rush hour so it got even busier. The Muff Road past Derry had another great new cycle path but once again came to a sudden end. It took several minutes to get onto the road due to the amount of traffic. At Quigleys Point it turned inland for another steep climb towards Carndonagh. My wife met me there for a quick chat and I unloaded some of my gear for the last push to Malin Head. I knew the end was in sight but it seemed never ending. Eventually the Malin Head signs started to appear and with that a heavy hail shower. I had to stop and shelter at a high hedge as it was so fierce. After about 10 minutes it passed and I pushed on, checking my time all the way as it was starting to push the limits. Just to really hurt some more there is the last steep climb up to Malin Head to completely finish you off! It was great to finish, a real feeling of achievement!

I was met by my wife still questioning why I do these mad events. Finish time 8.35pm so a total time of 39h25m.

Actual riding time was 29h15m so that was 10h10m stoppages for sleep, food etc. I’m sure I could improve on the stoppages. Moving average was 20.6km/h.

I really enjoyed this Permanent Audax and thanks to Joe Fitzpatrick for planning it all. If anyone fancies doing ‘MizMal’ as it’s known, I can definitely recommend this route. Details are on the Audax Ireland website named ‘Ran out of Road’ 600k Audax Permanent.

Andy Beattie, Audax.ie

Ran out of Road 600

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