Harry_Palmer79
Guru
- Location
- Wet coast of Scotland
I'm happy to meet you all at Glasgow Central whenever is easiest for those travelling from further afield... I just have a wee bimble into town, so I'll go along with whatever suits!
Scotland : Argyll, Isles & Loch Lomond Chat for CC Ecosse Islay Cycle Tour 2014
- Thread starter Fubar
- Start date
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I'm happy to meet you all at Glasgow Central whenever is easiest for those travelling from further afield... I just have a wee bimble into town, so I'll go along with whatever suits!
That would be fine for me, I wouldn't have to travel at silly-o'clock. I'd say the 11:05 or the12:30 ferries would be the ones to go for, still gives us loads of time to ride to Lochranza in a more chilled and relaxed manner than I did tonight.
That was 35 miles in 2.5hrs with hills with the tour bike carrying some extra load. I only made one mistake which was to go up two hills that I'd never been to before. The first was a mile long, ramped up to near 15% a few times and needed 2 stops. The second was half as long but ramped up to nearly 20%. I walked the second one after halfway.
I'll have a look at how trains might work for me, but I suspect it's just easier for me to drive to Ardrossan and meet you there.
8am train will be peak time = less room, more/other commuter cyclists and more £££.What does the Eastie - @Scoosh think about travel arrangements on the Friday - in my plan I have us getting the 11:05 ferry (arrives Brodick 12:00), which means getting the 09:18 train from Glasgow Central, which means getting the 08:00 from Edinburgh Waverley!
Following this so far???
Sooo, is everyone happy to meet up at Edin Waverley for the 8am train ...
The next ferry(s) are 12:30 (arriving 13:25) or 13:50 (arriving 14:45) so would give us a bit of leeway with getting to Ardrossan, and we can't check into the hostel until 5pm anyway.
Thoughts....?!?
What later train(s) could we take and not need a TTT to reach the hostel in reasonable time ?
Thoughts ?!?
Louch
105% knowledge on 105
- Location
- Kingdom of Kinnard
Depends which which way you take the island, going anticlockwise could be at Lochranza in just over an hour, clockwise itd be about 3
BURN THE HEATHEN
There is a... third... way. Legends speak of a secret route through the mountains; "The String Road". The old maps suggest that if it truly exists, then it would emerge near the Standing Stones of Machrie Moor, where the fabled Tearoom Lady will greet you with cake and Lucozade.
OP
OP
Fubar
Guru
Should this road really exist how might those of a more... "pedestrian" nature fair?!?
Louch
105% knowledge on 105
- Location
- Kingdom of Kinnard
This seems to be @arranandy s preffered route, and he has survived to tell the tale
While the Book of CycleChat would suggest that it is "mostly flat, some bumps, no real hills", the Oracle of Strava suggests that it starts off at 15% and then eases into a 5-7% for the remaining 2km.
The northern way that Louch speaks of is longer, more gradual but gains similar elevation, but beware, it is haunted by the ghost of a B'Twin Triban 3.
P.S. Louch, you've just described a 4 hour lap of Arran which is overwhelmingly not touring pace.
OP
OP
Fubar
Guru
If we aim for the 12:30 ferry (arrives 13:25) the train from GC is at 11:18 - train from Edinburgh Waverley at 10am (off peak after 09:15) gets us to GQS at 10:49, 30 mins to transfer stations which should be plenty time. The next train from Edin gets in at 11:06 which I think would be cutting it fine.
Arriving Brodick at 13:25 still gives us 3.5 hours to make our way to Lochranza for 5pm, so doable whichever route we take.
I would suggest if it is a nice day and all goes to plan we take the (longer) more leisurely route - if it is horsing down and/or we encounter delays we plan a shorter route on the boat - just need to bear in mind all the differing abilities of our group.
So 12:30 boat from Ardrossan - sound fair?!?
Louch
105% knowledge on 105
- Location
- Kingdom of Kinnard
Take off the hour stop for lunch and that's out usual time around. Anti clockwise gives one half hour ascent tops, against the many ups and downs of clockwiseWhile the Book of CycleChat would suggest that it is "mostly flat, some bumps, no real hills", the Oracle of Strava suggests that it starts off at 15% and then eases into a 5-7% for the remaining 2km.
The northern way that Louch speaks of is longer, more gradual but gains similar elevation, but beware, it is haunted by the ghost of a B'Twin Triban 3.
P.S. Louch, you've just described a 4 hour lap of Arran which is overwhelmingly not touring pace.
I did Arran as a lap in ITT mode in approximately 3 hours 45 when I was considerably fitter than I am now...
A triathlete friend and I did Brodick to Lochranza as part of the five ferries challenge and it took us 58 minutes - we were riding very hard to catch the ferry (in fact we rode with sufficient effort that I wrecked my knee.)
Louch
105% knowledge on 105
- Location
- Kingdom of Kinnard
All in tho, to go anti clockwise is far shorter and less bumpy than clockwise fir those looking to make a later start/ of the heavens are open when you arrive 
If it's a nice day, the clockwise tour is lovely and since we can't get into the hostel until after 5 anyway, why not amble round with lunch stop at the golf club. I thought we were intending to go this way in the first place?
If it's raining, then the more direct route has a certain attraction and we can stop for dinner at the distillery cafe instead.
If it's raining, then the more direct route has a certain attraction and we can stop for dinner at the distillery cafe instead.
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