new cyclist looking for advice to get me started

[HLaB]

As to restriction I've only used SPT trains a few times, there's no restriction on bikes of any size but on some services there's not a dedicated cycle space. On First bus and most other buses you can't carry bikes unless its a folder, some coaches let you put a dismantled in the luggage area but this is not often or practical and a few buses have racks on the front but this is rare in Scotland.

 

[jim55]

iv done glasgow cumbernauld a few times and id say do the first part (paisley-glasgow )by bike to start off with ,,and do the second bit by train ,,that way you can cool down a bit on the train and not arrive at your work a sweaty knackered mess ,,and do the reverse coming home (train from c,nauld into glasgow ,,bike it from there )and after a while when u get fitter,used to it,, do the whole thing ,,theres a direct train from queen st to cnauld ,,there is not a problem (i dont think )taking ur bike on the train ,maybe diff down south ..but up here should b ok ..get a bike with 700 wheels (much btr than 26"for commuting )the route itself is quite straightforward at both parts ,,straight along prw into town ,,and when ur upto it straight up from queen st through royston and right out takes you to stepps/cnauld,,since they built that new mway its much better for cycling on the road out by mollinsburn and stuff,,theres a couple of hills but nothing major(no granny ring stuff) ,,quite a nice cycle all in
tenn outdoors and decathlon is good for gear(decathlon do a good road bike as well ,,,thisd b ideal),,,id say a road bike proper will make it a bit easier (its all tarmac i think (well the route im talking about is )),,,just enjoy the cycle and dont try for a pb straight away

 

[redcard]

Thanks for the info, Jim.

I was looking at doing the Paisley to Glasgow leg by bike, cooling down on the bus to Cumbernauld, just leaving the bike chained up at Buchanan St or something.

Do you know the cycle path that goes from Canal Station to up to Bells Bridge? I think I'd rather try that for starters, and avoid the hell that is PRW until I get a bit more confidence on 2 wheels.

 

[jim55]

if it was me id cycle and then get the train ,,not the bus (much less hassle and poss get your bike on the train no bother ,,im not sure about the cycle path ,,as far as im aware iv just been on the sustrans site and using the cycle paths theres no direct route (i know this for a fact ,,as u need to cross over the clyde at some point ),,theres a fair bit of tooling about on wee side streets and through schemes and parks and stuff if u try and go the cycle route way(theres not really a cyclepath,,just part cyclepath and part rd )it adds a few miles onto yr journey as well cos some parts of the "path"are heading away from the direction you wana go in !!! id agree the prw is busy but unless you are willing to go the sustrans route theres not a lot else ,,thinking about it ,,id go prw till cardonald library ,,then go right through mosspark and through dumbreck and into tradeston and from there over the bridge into town (i used to stay in mosspark and worked in the town ,,iv cycled this way a lot i n the past ,,,it avoids a lot of traffic ,,and through quiter bits ,,the down side is theres a few bumping /crossing bridges /pavements that sorta thing ,,just mtfu and go prw all the way into town lol

 

[redcard]

Probably a good idea. i'd be heading off around 6.30am so would miss the worst of the traffic.

I'll give it a go one Sunday morning once I get my gear sorted.

Only reason I prefer the bus if that it gets me a bit closer to work, the office is a bit of a trek from Croy and Cumbernauld stations, bus gets me that bit closer

 

[jim55]

yeah but the idea is to cycle once u get off the train,the last wee bit to yr work ,,but as far as im aware the bus with a bike (unless its a brommy )is a non starter,,get a good road bike ,,itl b worth it when u need/want to cycle ,,,if u leave at that time itl b pretty good and relatively quiet ,,just remember the fire at the old co-op in tradeston and the roads shut there ,,if ur going prw ,,main rd up till the district bar(in ibrox) and left over the squinty bridge is the best way into town (and pretty quiet at that time)
good idea to cycle in ,,and u could get the train back (rem itl b central station coming back),,sorted

 

[jim55]

btw whereabouts in paisley is it you stay ,,is it easy to get to prw,glasgow rd

 

[redcard]

Yeah, I used to work up by by the SECC, and know the cut off by the district bar.

I'm 2 minutes up from Gilmour Street.

The plan is cycle to Glasgow, bus to Cumbernauld, bus back to Glasgow, and cycle back to Paisley. Intend to do this 3-5 days a week.
Only really want to get the bus as I get a free bus pass, gotta pay for the train, else I would take the bike on the train and cycle the last few miles from Croy.

Chaining the bike up at Buchanan St I think is a good compromise of time, distance, fitness and cost!

I don't care if my journey on the bike is a few extra miles, would rather that and avoid the busy roads.

 

[AnythingButVanilla]

Is this the cycle route that you were thinking of?
http://www.cycle-route.com/routes/NCN7_Glasgow_to_Paisley-Cycle-Route-129.html

I've never actually done it myself since I only took to cycling once I moved to London but I've been told that it's relatively flat and well used. I did notice the last time I was home that the Scotrail trains were great for carrying bikes and had dedicated sections for them and even stickers on the outside of the doors to tell you which carriages to put them in. The trains down here could do with that and I loved not having to worry about taking up the space for a pram or wheelchair.

 

[redcard]

Is this the cycle route that you were thinking of?
http://www.cycle-route.com/routes/NCN7_Glasgow_to_Paisley-Cycle-Route-129.html

I've never actually done it myself since I only took to cycling once I moved to London but I've been told that it's relatively flat and well used. I did notice the last time I was home that the Scotrail trains were great for carrying bikes and had dedicated sections for them and even stickers on the outside of the doors to tell you which carriages to put them in. The trains down here could do with that and I loved not having to worry about taking up the space for a pram or wheelchair.

Yeah, that's the route I'm looking at. Can't really see much about it, bar the page you linked. Thought I would have saw some reviews / pics etc, but not coming across much.

 

[jim55]

right then in that case as before ,,prw upto library (or district bar )and from there across various bridges into the town and buchanan st ,,i was thinking of taking the bike with you ..but locking it up is easier ,,they have a waiting room and good toilets there so u can get changed there and just take your gear in a rucksack with you on the bus ,,lock ur bike up well though !!

 

[jim55]

thats the route i seen ,,its not direct at all and a lot of it is on rd ,,theres no kida bridleway all the way itd b a mtb or a cyclocross bike for that ,,ud b as well just sticking to the road

 

[redcard]

thats the route i seen ,,its not direct at all and a lot of it is on rd ,,theres no kida bridleway all the way itd b a mtb or a cyclocross bike for that ,,ud b as well just sticking to the road

Yeah, I suppose the only thing is to give it a go, just thinking that I'd rather avoid as much of PRW as I could, but probably wouldn't be that bad once I got out there and did it a few times.

 

[jim55]

my thoughts exactly ,,for the hassle and poss dodgy surfaces ,,id stick to the main rd and just branch off as reqd

 

[boydj]

Paisley to Glasgow, best to just use Paisley Road. I've been doing that run for the last 6 years. NCN 7 is a meandering faff and hillier. PRW is good - very direct, two lanes wide most of the way and not that busy until you get right into town. You can cut over at Bells Bridge or Squinty Bridge, then Broomielaw / Hope St to get to Buchanan St / Queen St. The Paisley Canal Line has bike spaces on the trains - the main line is just too busy at rush hour - if you do need to take the train into town.

Can't help with the Cumbernauld leg, but if you are planning on parking up the bike, then get a good lock and don't leave any kit that easily removable. I'd check Queen St station for bike parking.

+1 for mudguards.