[QUOTE=Caroline;446226...., It rains a lot in Ireland and last winter I broke bones on the icy roads so I though off roads on wet/icy days could be a good idea.

Thanks[/QUOTE]

PS...I travel to Ireland fairly frequently (or I used to before the Euro went nuts) to buy horses and import them... I always think what great roadbiking....until I go around a corner and encounter a farm tractor or whatever and fear for my life in the CAR. I LOVE my trips to Ireland, the people are so incredibly nice and funny and always willing to buy me a drink (sometimes at 8am) and have such nice horses...but you do really have to acclimate to the Irish driving technique. Bicycling seems like it might be hazardous!
And, a few years ago, it snowed on me while I was out on the Curragh.