Sleep easilyDublin's a tough town for two wheels – and we're not talking about mere potholes and abrupt endings to cycle lanes. Ash Senyk, of Cycleways on Parnell Street, says most cable locks are no match for the city's thieves.
“The pin locks are tempered steel, but they snap at speed: if they yank the bike hard enough the pin just snaps. I was too late today to stop a kid from doing it to a bike right outside the store; he was about 10 years old.” Solid U-shaped locks, such as the German-made Trelock (€30, www.cycle ways.com) are more of a challenge.
* Hmm. Is that Rome restaurant packed because it’s great or are tourists fighting for seats because it’s within a lion’s roar of the Colosseum? Ireland’s army of Apple fans will have the answer at their fingertips thanks to Lonely Planet’s city guides for the iPhone and iPod Touch (£9.49, www.apple.com/ iphone/appstore). Twenty guides are available, with the usual suspects – New York, Rome, London, Dublin – and a few up-and-comers, such as Dubai. Interactive maps are viewable offline, which is lucky, or you could spend €20 on roaming fees to research a €1.50 espresso.
* The Therm-a-Rest sleep system is a step up from the tried-and-trusted sleeping bag and air mattress combo – mattress (€80), fitted sheet (€23), tech blanket (€50), down duvet (€150) and expandable pillow (Great Outdoors, www.greatoutdoors.ie). It all clips together with pop studs, and compresses down to fit inside a daypack. It’s a bit bulky to carry on a long trek but perfect for five-star festival camping.
aharvey@irishtimes.com