The "Photos From Today's Ride" thread...
Discussion
theboyfold said:
Do you have a pint every time you ride? I've never done it as I'm not sure it's the wisest decision. Do you not feel that your decision making is slightly impacted by it?
Yes, and no, it’s one pint, it’s never caused me any issues.Edited by GOATever on Saturday 27th October 16:29
Today’s post industrial ride. Missus due any day now so did a mostly off-road loop around where I live. Road over the site of five pits and two chemical plants (all long gone). At least Thatcher can rest easy knowing she’s left us some where to ride, bless.
And yesterday’s. Wellbeck ex pit, opencast and now a landfill site. For the rail enthusiast the site of Goose Hill Jct is just to the left of this picture (out of shot), at one time the main route from Leeds to London
And yesterday’s. Wellbeck ex pit, opencast and now a landfill site. For the rail enthusiast the site of Goose Hill Jct is just to the left of this picture (out of shot), at one time the main route from Leeds to London
Edited by demic on Sunday 28th October 21:26
RapidRob said:
millen said:
Returned Sunday from an 8 day self-supported tour of West Scotland and a few Isles, starting Glasgow and finishing Inverness.
Route took in Ardrossan, Arran, Kintyre, Oban, Mull, Mallaig, Skye, Torridon, Gairloch, Ullapool, Achiltibuie. Stayed entirely at youth hostels which were fantastic for our group of 3 boys and 2 girls. Could eat in at the remote ones and they all had far better washing/ drying facilities than a B&B would offer. Also we were able to juggle bookings at one day's notice when we realised our plan to overnight on Harris + Lewis would be thwarted by weather (as was our proposed ascent of Bealach na Ba with 75 mph winds on top!).
Weather very pleasant first few days then degenerated into typical autumn gales and winds. One of us was blown over onto a grass verge, another fell backwards off the new wooden 'pods' at one hostel on the final evening, making the 85 mile last leg stressful. We all learned a lot about our kit in those conditions, and the need to carry provisions as cafes and shops are few and far between in the remote areas, and to have a 'Plan B' at all times. Just one midge was spotted - my Smidge canister must have warned them off!
That sounds and looks great- are you planning to do a more detailed write up? I for one would appreciate it, and I'm sure others would too.Route took in Ardrossan, Arran, Kintyre, Oban, Mull, Mallaig, Skye, Torridon, Gairloch, Ullapool, Achiltibuie. Stayed entirely at youth hostels which were fantastic for our group of 3 boys and 2 girls. Could eat in at the remote ones and they all had far better washing/ drying facilities than a B&B would offer. Also we were able to juggle bookings at one day's notice when we realised our plan to overnight on Harris + Lewis would be thwarted by weather (as was our proposed ascent of Bealach na Ba with 75 mph winds on top!).
Weather very pleasant first few days then degenerated into typical autumn gales and winds. One of us was blown over onto a grass verge, another fell backwards off the new wooden 'pods' at one hostel on the final evening, making the 85 mile last leg stressful. We all learned a lot about our kit in those conditions, and the need to carry provisions as cafes and shops are few and far between in the remote areas, and to have a 'Plan B' at all times. Just one midge was spotted - my Smidge canister must have warned them off!
Scottish West Coast and Islands trip September 2018
Planning
Germ of the idea formed in January; main planning and booking was complete by February. Three blokes and two ladies from our local cycle club, age span 52 to 73! We all knew one another to some extent and are well matched for pace and endurance. I’m the only one who hasn’t done a LEJOG. 5 proved to be a good number for group dynamics; often we started together but finished the day riding as a 2 and a 3. More than 6 would complicate accommodation (sparse in remote areas) and risk more delays for mechanicals etc. [Tip: a WhatsApp group helped keep us in touch when we separated, though reception was patchy. Brilliant for sharing group photos also.]
Route involved several ferries – always planned for the start, not end, of the day to avoid the stress of rushing for a last ferry.
Accommodation almost entirely in Scottish Youth Hostel Association hostels (no age limit!) in two private rooms for the 5 of us at typically £20 per head. This proved ideal – most offered continental breakfast and basic dinner (hiking fraternity tend to cook their own grub in the well-equipped kitchens) and crucially had commercial washing/ drying machines with warm drying rooms for our shoes - not something found in your average B&B; we did a group wash each night for £6. Secure cycle rooms were also the norm though we met few other cyclists. Only drawback was throughout the trip we never had a bath to soak our weary legs.
Our baggage arrangements varied considerably; my Lomax saddlebag and frame bag were almost minimalist while R suffered on the hills with the bulk and weight of his two huge Ortleib panniers.
Fri 21 Sep [28 ml; 1030 ft]
K and I took an early flight Gatwick to Glasgow with our bikes in cardboard bike boxes. [Tip: BA generally allows a bike to travel cheaply as a single hold bag (while Easyjet charges more for ‘large sports equipment’) though you should phone a few days before flying to confirm they’ll have space.] Found a quiet space near Glasgow airport terminal exit to reassemble our bikes. Several interested passers-by stopped to chat. Left luggage office reluctantly took our boxes for disposal.
Plan was an easy ride to Saltcoats (nr Ardrossan) along the largely tarmac NCR7. A stressful start as it involved a few miles mixing it with trucks and heavy traffic on the A737 dual carriageway with minimal cycle lanes before we hit the start of NCR7; routing to the north of the airport might have been preferable. Weather generally sunny with just one downpour. K practiced her favourite saying “If you don’t like the weather in Scotland just wait 10 minutes.” The two of us overnighted in a comfortable B&B after a fine Weatherspoon’s dinner to await the other 3 next morning and start the trip proper.
https://imgur.com/a/zb4h9og
Sat 22 Sep [50 ml; 3880 ft]
Early start to catch Calmac ferry to Brodick on Isle of Arran. M joined us with a few minutes to spare at the ferry departure hall having taken the train from Glasgow where she’d been partying till 2.00 a.m. after a friend’s wedding reception. [Tip: to avoid carrying extra clobber on a bikepacking trip she had the day before bought ‘disposable’ party clothes from a charity shop!] Gutted to receive text from A + R saying their overnight sleeper from Kings Cross had broken down. A rescue engine had been despatched to take them to Motherwell, then a new train up to Glasgow and a further train out to Ardrossan. Consequently they would catch a later ferry.
Disembarking at Brodick, K suggested we leave our bags at a local cycle repair shop so we could ride lightweight initially. Beautiful scenic clockwise coastal route in brilliant sunshine, with stunning views to Holy Island and Ailsa Craig.[Tip: most roads hugging the Scottish coast, and lochs, are decidedly choppy with multiple rolling climbs and descents of 300-400 ft.] Turned inland at Blackwaterfoot to head east over The String – a long steady climb followed by my hottest ever descent. Strava claims 55 mph though Wahoo pegged out at a more credible 52.4 mph. Whatever, Fun while it lasted! Arrived back at Brodick in time to collect our bags, discover that the shop owner used to live only 5 miles from our home town down south and encounter the only midges of our trip, so Smidge spray etc was dead weight for rest of the week. Resumed northwards up Arran’s east coast around 5 pm. Another long ascent north west from Sannox Bay, this time carrying full gear, then a final fast descent to arrive at our first hostel at Lochranza, an imposing former hotel, just as the sun was setting. Meanwhile, A + R had already checked in following their shorter ride from Brodick after their delayed arrival on Arran.
https://imgur.com/a/tatXTXe
Sun 23 Sep [85 ml; 4230 ft]
Ferry from Lochranza to Claonaig on Kintyre. Headed north to a late morning cake stop in Ardrishaig. We’d planned to continue up the A816 into Oban, but K and I branched off to take a more scenic back road hugging the east side of Loch Awe (recommended by the hostel duty manager the previous night) while the other 3 stuck to the direct route. Truly stunning views and magnificent double rainbows and a long chat with a local ensured we made far too many time-consuming photo stops. This impromptu diversion added over 25 miles to the route as it took us east and meant entering Oban from the north east, not south, while my first puncture cost us further time. Hunger was getting the better of us - no food shops anywhere, other than a basic petrol station on the A85. We hammered the final 20miles, arriving at the Oban hostel just after dark, to find the other 3 heading out on foot in search of fish & chips. A satisfying day and the weather gods had again smiled on us. [Tip: it’s hard to take a wrong turning in Scotland given the paucity of roads but before any major route departure it does pay to calculate the extra distance and time required!]
https://imgur.com/a/gSfnd2A
Mon 24 Sep [71 ml; 5580 ft]
Fulsome Wetherspoon’s breakfast in Oban awaiting delayed ferry to Craignure on Isle of Mull. Short hop on Mull to the delightful-sounding Fishnish for a second brief ferry ride to Lochaline on the mainland. Long climb (over 900ft) to Loch Sunart which we rounded to the east then headed west through Strontian (home of Strontium 90, reputedly) then coast road north through Lochailort and onto Mallaig. Light showers morning then sunny afternoon, but a longish day given the two ferries. SYHA hadn’t been able to accommodate us at Mallaig so 4 of us stayed at a basic backpackers’ hostel (only night that we had to share a dorm room with a complete stranger, poor girl) while K found herself a room in a small B&B.
https://imgur.com/a/ZkrwyeO
Tues 25 Sep [48 ml; 3470 ft]
Early start to buy provisions from local Co-op for makeshift breakfast on the first morning ferry to Ardvasar on Isle of Skye. Headed north to Broadford then Kyle of Lochalsh road bridge back to mainland – thought I was still dreaming when awoken by sight and noise of 14 McLarens powering towards us from the bridge! Weather gods stopped smiling on Syke as winds strengthened to a gale – quite challenging on the high point of the bridge – followed by driving rain. Following a long mid-morning coffee stop at Lochalsh we collectively admitted defeat and persuaded Scotrail to allow our 5 bikes with ‘the train taking the strain’ up to Strathcarron, cutting some 20+ miles from our route while the weather inland marginally improved. We’d hoped to ascend Bealach na Ba (over 1800 ft) but reports of 75 mph gusts at the summit kyboshed that plan. Longish lunch stop at Shieldaig – near impossible to stand in the wind outside the café. Eventually steeled ourselves for the final push round the lochside to Torridon. By far the windiest conditions I’ve ever ridden! R was caught by a gust and toppled sideways onto a fortunately soft verge; a while later R, K and A reportedly collapsed in a heap due to the crosswinds. M and I battled on ahead – at one point on a steep but steady climb my Wahoo was swinging between -14% and +21% gradient within the space of a few yards, presumably a function of the wild wind and pressure changes; never seen anything like that before. Oppressive dark clouds were building by mid-afternoon; mercifully the rain held off but boy were we glad to swing into the Torridon SYHA after that workout! A huge modernist timber, concrete and glass 1970s construction in a stunning position at the head of the loch. After a council of war and poring over weather forecasts we reluctantly decided to abandon our original plan of pushing on to Ullapool tomorrow for a day and a night on Harris & Lewis (a 3 hr ferry crossing each way) and managed to get a next night booking at Gairloch SYHA.
https://imgur.com/a/H66V0FK
Wed 26 Sep [33 ml; 1520 ft]
After a hearty and leisurely breakfast we reluctantly go outside – only to discover that someone had forgotten to put K’s bike into the bike shed. No harm done – the Scots are an honest bunch. Forecast for today had been for persistent rain after a dry start with lighter winds than yesterday – and so it transpired. After a short hilly pootle exploring west of Torridon we headed north along single-track A-roads to Kinlochewe then along the south side of Loch Maree (stunning on a fine day) and into a late lunch/ coffee stop at Gairloch where we stayed till chucking out time at 4 pm, ineffectively trying to dry our wet kit and warm up just a little. Gairloch SYHA is some 3 miles north of the town, a rather bleak older building but amply compensated by the friendliness of the duty manager and his wife. A truly varied guest list that night – a motor biker, an earnest young Highland walker who’d been given the Bothy Bible as a present and was doing his best to tick them all off, and a gaggle of talkative young Chinese girls. And our motley crew.
https://imgur.com/a/FoQbgNS
Thurs 27 Sep [58 ml; 4220 ft]
Day started grey but soon brightened up with less wind. Followed coastal road to Laide with views- to-die-for across Guinard Bay and Island (the infamous “Anthrax Island” from the 1940’s until it was decontaminated in the 1990’s). Clouded over with light rain late morning following A832 along the south bank of Little Loch Broom. Minimal traffic and sadly not a café to be seen. K enterprisingly rang the doorbell of the only establishment we passed, the Dundonnell Hotel. They were officially shut, and due to close for the season tomorrow, but the manager kindly made us hot chocolates and coffees to accompany our meagre energy bars and brought 5 bin-liners to protect his plush leather lounge chairs from our damp butts – top bloke! He reassuringly said there was nowhere to eat on the road to Ullapool other than a possible mobile food van (which we later passed…… shut!). Afternoon involved our biggest grind of the week – 1,100 ft over the ridge out of Dundonnell Forest and down to Braemore then finally a long gentle descent along the north side of Loch Broom and into Ullapool SYHA. Another charming building – 4 terraced houses on the harbour front all knocked through into one. A delightful bustling little port with plenty of pubs and eateries. Saw the ferry that would have taken us over to Stornoway – a big beast – but no real regrets at having abandoned Plan A given the conditions.
https://imgur.com/a/vXazNcA
Fri 28 Sep [31 ml; 2210 ft]
Slowish start after a breakfast in Ullapool as the leather part of M’s Brooks saddle was working loose – eventually bodged with a bootlace. A very pleasant day for a short ride, north up the undulating A835 with bewitching views towards the big mountains, then the minor road past the imposing Stac Pollaidh and round the headland to Altandhu with glorious deserted sandy beaches. It felt like the edge of the world! Finally tracked south through Achilitibuie (another village with seemingly just one general stores) to a late lunch at an artists’ café. Remainder of the dead-end road had stunning views over the Summer Isles and ended with a signpost to the Acheninver Hostel, down a 300 m muddy, winding, stony track alongside a stream. The rocks would have been a challenge even on a hybrid so no way were we riding our road bikes down there. Reached the hostel – an ancient cottage with 2 ft thick stone walls and outside privy. We were staying in a collection of 4 uber-modern wooden ‘pods’ sitting on stilts that the owner had installed in the back yard this summer. Wonderful contrast with all mod cons including underfloor heating and a super power shower. I repaired a slow puncture, K did likewise, then R and I pedalled 3 miles with more photo-stops back to stock up on beers from the general stores – R’s gigantic panniers finally justified their existence! – while A and M sauntered down to the deserted sandy beach. We were able to stash our bikes under the pods, such was the ground clearance. Meanwhile the manager had kindly pre-arranged a food delivery so we could cook dinner in the cottage.
We’d got the log burner going and had just sat down to eat when K stumbled in silently (unusual for her) and immediately slumped into a chair. Transpired that in the twilight she was pulling the door of her pod closed, lost her footing and fell 3 ft backwards onto the ground. Luckily it was a soft landing on grass, just missing a stony path. A put his first-aid training to good use and established there was no memory loss or concussion, just a lot of painful bruising and grazing to bum, shoulder, arm and elbow. Rather subdued meal given the circumstances, particularly as the last weather forecast we’d seen for tomorrow had been pretty diabolical and we were unable to get any updates as no signal or WiFi in this remote area.
https://imgur.com/a/MaboPZ2
Sat 29 Sep [83 ml; 4670 ft]
Precious little sleep that night as the gale gathered strength and in bed we could even feel the pods rocking in the wind. Sounded like an enormous quantity of rainfall also (which in hindsight was the nearby stream cascading over rocks). Up early to cook breakfast at 6.00 am (first porridge of the week!) Planned to hit the road by 7.00 am as K, M and I had a hard deadline of reaching Highland Bikes in Inverness by closing time, as they were due to pack and FedEx our bikes back home and would be closed the next day. Uh-oh moment just as I was clipping in my bags when I discovered the rear had deflated overnight. Frantic tube change in the warmth of the dining room – only for the sleep of the other guests in the upstairs dorm to be shattered by my inner tube exploding! More haste less speed……. [Tip: best to carry out tyre check when there’s still time to spare.] Second tube held and we headed up the stony path 20 mins late. Riding conditions initially atrocious as we battled extreme headwinds round the exposed headland reversing yesterday’s route. After barely 2 miles, heard a shout from K behind me – she’d hit a rock and had a blow-out. Miserable experience fixing a flat in that wind and driving rain; R and I stayed while M and A rode on. Now almost 40 minutes behind schedule.
Finally good to go; I rode on to catch M and A on the minor road past Stac Pollaidh. Re-joining the A835 towards Ullapool was hell. We rode as a 3 and a 2; at one exposed bay the 2 elected to walk 200 m due to the strength of the crosswind coming directly off the bay. I made a break for it 4 miles from Ullapool to find a shop to replenish our dwindling supplies of inner tubes while M and A rolled in to grab a café for our planned 2nd breakfast – not quite so easy as the town was chocka for a weekend music festival.
Formed a broad plan that the 3 of us with the deadline would press on in case of further mechanicals. That didn’t quite pan out, so K and I forged ahead, up the unrelenting A835 climb through Braemore and Loch Drum where the exposed terrain plateaued out at over 900 ft for 6 or 7 miles. My Wahoo was reading just 6C, not allowing for wind-chill, and my core was cooling fast despite wearing all my layers, especially once the long fast descent off the plateau started. Luckily traffic was light for a Saturday A road. Eventually reached the hamlet and railway junction of Garve, towards the end of the long descent. At this point K was really feeling her bruises, the painkillers having worn off, and decided to bail and await the next train to Inverness (Garve had always been noted as a potential rescue point). I continued solo, borrowing a spare jersey from K, after a 15 min stop in a layby for my remaining energy bars and nuts and a now-squashed hard-boiled egg that I’d stuffed into my jacket at breakfast.
Finally, by 3.00 pm, well to the east of the hilly plateau, the wind dropped, the sun broke through, the temperature rose by 7C and at last the pressure was off. Time to appreciate the very different landscape of East Scotland as I followed the route through Contin, Muir of Ord, north bank of the Beauly Firth, eventually connecting with the A9 cycle lane over the impressive Kessock Bridge into Inverness. Really welcomed the solid guard rail separating the cycle lane from the traffic, given the strength of the gusts aloft! Arrived at Highland Bikes just as K had finished handing over her bike and we walked to our final SYHA hostel at Inverness – a very different character to the other hostels (almost a Travel Lodge) but absolutely fine for our needs. The next day, after an enormous full Scottish breakfast, R and A cycled off to the station for their train back home while K, M and I caught a taxi for our EasyJet return to Gatwick. Seemed strange to pile on the calories after the cycling was over…..but we had a need to feed! And so ended a ‘character building’ trip. [Tip: I was unprepared for the lack of food outlets in N Scotland and the extremes of cold and wet. Should have researched better.]
https://imgur.com/a/cFYsggm
yellowjack said:
Fluffsri said:
Nice little bimble around my local woods. Big smoke on the horizon. 
t Ceasers. Hows the leg?
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