The tour runs for seven nights across the west coast of Ireland, with the route built around Norman castles, the Burren in County Clare, coastal views and villages in Connemara, County Galway. John and his guides bring each site to life — ask them about the stone walls, Neolithic tombs or the wildflowers of the Burren and you get an answer from someone who lives there.

What sets this apart from a catalogue cycling package is the guiding. John has led every tour for 27 years, is a fully qualified bike mechanic, and rides with the group as an outrider, helping at junctions. Ambrose and Igney are farmers who know the geology, culture and weather of the region first-hand. They can fix just about anything and tell stories until the cows come home.

The safety setup is unusually thorough for a leisure tour: three fully equipped support vehicles create a corridor of safety around the group, alerting traffic ahead of and behind riders. You take very few junctions without the outrider's help. GPS devices give spoken directions, and the group is encouraged to spread out along the route rather than ride in a tight bunch.

Distance is your call each day. Two support vehicles travel with the group so a lift is always at hand, and e-bikes are available on request, with extra batteries carried so you can ride on maximum assistance all day. The stated aim is that irrespective of your cycling ability, you will be able to do this.

The price of €2,990 per person sharing covers seven nights in hotels and guesthouses, typically four-star, with breakfast and a four-course dinner every evening. Your bike, daily luggage transfers and site visits are included, as are transfers from Shannon Airport or Limerick train station at the start of the tour, and to Galway city or Shannon Airport at the end. Every advertised date is guaranteed to run, so flights can be booked early.

What's included

- Seven nights in hotels and guesthouses, typically four-star - Breakfast each morning - Four-course dinner every evening - Your bike for the tour - Daily luggage transfers - Site visits to castles, monastic settlements and ancient landmarks - Excursion to the Cliffs of Moher - Ferry to the Aran Islands - Transfer from Shannon Airport or Limerick train station at the start - Transfer to Galway city or Shannon Airport at the end - Three fully equipped support vehicles - Motorcycle outrider riding with the group - GPS devices with spoken, turn-by-turn directions - E-bikes available on request, with extra batteries carried

What's not included

- Flights - Travel insurance - Lunches - Drinks and personal expenses - Anything not listed as included