Scotland : Argyll, Isles & Loch Lomond Chat for CC Ecosse Islay Cycle Tour 2014

[Pat "5mph"]

Nope, most trains from the east coast terminate at Queen Street, Ardrossan train leaves from Central.
FWIW I've seen a dozen bikes on the Ardrossan Harbour train. It's kind of expected.

Just like the Balloch line then, nobody bothers about the number of bikes on the train.

 

[Telemark]

The Ardrossan/Largs/Wemyss Bay trains are fine with lots of bikes
There don't seem to be any official limits on SPT trains heading out into the sticks from Glasgow, unlike the Scotrail ones between Edinburgh/Glasgow/Stirling etc where I've heard of people having to wait for the next train occasionally ...

This time next week you'll all be sitting in the hostel lounge with full bellies, enjoying the company & the views, or possibly wandering along the beach

T

 

[MikeW-71]

Now that I am officially on holiday for two weeks (YAY! ) I can pay a bit more attention.

As far as food at Lochranza goes, if there aren't any shops there I'd favour eating out TBH and then we can get food in to cook on Islay. Saves hauling heavy food all the way round Arran. Seems the Distillery restaurant is now open in the evenings on fridays and wednesdays from 6:30pm

Tommorrow I have a new saddle coming for the tour bike, which will be quickly fitted and thoroughly test-ridden while there is some nice weather. It looks like we will be bracing ourselves for some showery weather on the tour.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

@MikeW-71 my tentative googling has revealed no places to eat in Lochranza apart from the Hotel, pricey and often fully booked, according to what I read, while there are quite a few on Islay.
Where do you get your info about the distillery from, and should we book?
I'm all for not carrying stuff around needlessly
We'll also need to make sure @Ellebells dietary requirements are met.

 

[Louch]

If you are starting later, blackwaterfoot has a pub, maybe hang out there, have dinner, then cycle the hour from there to Lochranza?

 

[MikeW-71]

@MikeW-71 my tentative googling has revealed no places to eat in Lochranza apart from the Hotel, pricey and often fully booked, according to what I read, while there are quite a few on Islay.
Where do you get your info about the distillery from, and should we book?

I found it here: http://www.arranwhisky.com/news/casks-cafe-evening-opening

Could well be worth a booking for any that want to try it.

@Louch 's suggestion also has merit

 

[Pat "5mph"]

So, if we find ourselves in Blackwaterfront, that means we do Arran cycling through the middle? While I think @Fubar meant for us to ride anticlockwise?
Just saying, like
Anyway, whatever way we go, it seems there are feeding options, so no need to carry ingredients for a meal for 10 ... only need copious snacks
If we decide on the distillery, I think we should book in advance.
Does anybody think we gonna get soaked? In that case, we should not linger in the pub wet, but maybe do a quick stop then carry on for the hostel, have our dinner later.

 

[MikeW-71]

Blackwaterfoot is on the coast road, we go through it if we take the clockwise route

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Blackwaterfoot is on the coast road, we go through it if we take the clockwise route

Be patient with my poor orientation skills got my pal google maps in the next window
Now, @Fubar gave us this spreadsheet with distances and timings, remember?
It says on it "Brodick to Lochranza" cycling approx 25 miles.
So he means anticlockwise?
How many miles would it be instead if we do it anticlockwise? [insert suspicious smiley here]
I'm on hols too, paying attention like you wouldn't believe

 

[MikeW-71]

I was sure that going clockwise to Lochranza is more like 40 miles. I'll have to check though. Going anticlockwise it's 15-20 miles.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I was sure that going clockwise to Lochranza is more like 40 miles. I'll have to check though. Going anticlockwise it's 15-20 miles.

Yes, that's what my poor map reading skills suspected
Very hilly all the way, I guess?

 

[MikeW-71]

The bit at the south end is a bit bumpy, most of the west coast is flat.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

The bit at the south end is a bit bumpy, most of the west coast is flat.

Cool then, doable by Pat 5mph?
Let's go for it, but I'm not telling @Ellebells until we are half way through it!

 

[MikeW-71]

Easily doable by @Pat "5mph" Only a couple of short steep climbs, others are just long drags.

 

[Edwardoka]

Cool then, doable by Pat 5mph?
Let's go for it, but I'm not telling @Ellebells until we are half way through it!

If Lochranza Hotel is fully booked and/or expensive, the Catacol Bay Hotel is 2 miles away - considerably closer than Blackwaterfoot. It's where I usually stay when I'm doing my Arran based-jaunts.
I understand that the action plan re: route was to see what the weather was doing then come to a consensus... There are no easy routes on Arran