Callander to Killin cycle event 21st May,

[jackthelad]

Guys was hoping to do this event on Sat with the wife ,I believe you go along the cycle path passed strathyre,up to Balquhidder and onto glen Ogle.
I was wondering which type of bike for this route,Is a sports hybrid with 28 All Condition Armidillos ok for this route or would you need to change tyres to marathon plus, or is it more a mountain bike route with 2.1 tyres,
and would it be more suited to the bigger tyres.Thought I would put it to the forum to see if anyone had done this event or went along this route in the past and could pass on useful info

Ps it states 50 miles to Killin there and back,but I was allways under the impression the route was 34 miles there and back,maybe someoen could clarify

the event,
http://www.cftrust.org.uk/help/events/callander

Thanks

Jackthelad

 

[rualexander]

You should be ok on 28's, most of it is reasonably good condition compacted 'sustrans style' fine gravel, with a few sections of lesser quality surface. There's a couple of steep sections which are too steep for some, especially without good low gears, but they are only a couple of hundred yards long so you can walk up if need be.
I would say that 50 miles return is an accurate distance for this route, on the way back from Killin, once you are at the top of Glen Ogle there is a lot of downhill so it's a fairly easy ride.

Here's some pics :

Coming down Glen Ogle


Looking back up Glen Ogle


Down Glen Ogle


Hairpins on track above Lochearnhead


Track alongside Loch Lubnaig


Track near Kilmahog

 

[jackthelad]

Ruale thanks for the pics,and info regarding the route,greatly appreciated

Jackthelad

 

[Telemark]

We cycled along this route (from Killin to Aberfoyle) pretty much a couple of weeks ago!
Both on hybrids, with my husband on 28s, and me on 35s, both with rear panniers.

Here is a write up with some photos (the Glenogle track was being resurfaced, nearly finished when we rode it, made 1st tracks on a short stretch of it ), more photos here. This route map has a profile with altitude on it, if you you scroll the mouse along the profile, little distance markers appear along the route, where you can read off the distance of the bit between Callander and Killin - I make it pretty much 25 miles each way.

It's a lovely part of the country, enjoy!

T

 

[jackthelad]

Telemark thanks for posting,I have looked at your blog and found it really interesting so have added the blog to my favorites.I really liked the collection of pics,and thought this is what I would have glanced over quickly,but found myself reading the whole blog,as the history started to get really gripping.I am sure I will go back to it time and time again for additional reading.

Thanks again for a very interest post

Jackthelad

 

[HJ]

You should be ok on 28's, most of it is reasonably good condition compacted 'sustrans style' fine gravel, with a few sections of lesser quality surface. There's a couple of steep sections which are too steep for some, especially without good low gears, but they are only a couple of hundred yards long so you can walk up if need be.
I would say that 50 miles return is an accurate distance for this route, on the way back from Killin, once you are at the top of Glen Ogle there is a lot of downhill so it's a fairly easy ride.

Here's some pics :

Coming down Glen Ogle
[attachment=3523MG_3039.jpg]

Looking back up Glen Ogle
[attachment=3518MG_3042.jpg]

Down Glen Ogle
[attachment=3519MG_3046.jpg]

Hairpins on track above Lochearnhead
[attachment=3520MG_3050.jpg]

Track alongside Loch Lubnaig
[attachment=3521MG_3056.jpg]

Track near Kilmahog
[attachment=3522MG_3057.jpg]

Good pictures they give a good idea of much of the route, the only thing missing is the hairpins on track above Loch Lubnaig, which is total stupid for a touring route (I don't have a photo either). I wrote about our trip here.

 

[Telemark]

rualexander - great photos! Thanks for posting

T

 

[Coco]

Nice write up HJ.

 

[rualexander]

Good pictures they give a good idea of much of the route, the only thing missing is the hairpins on track above Loch Lubnaig, which is total stupid for a touring route (I don't have a photo either). I wrote about our trip here.

Here's a couple of pics of the Loch Lubnaig hairpins which I agree are ridiculous on such a route (as are the Lochearnhead hairpins up to the Glen Ogle section)

Loch Lubnaig


Loch Lubnaig zig zags


Above Loch Lubnaig

 

[Telemark]

Ice on the loch!!! brrrr ...

T

 

[HJ]

Nice write up HJ.

Thanks