An Island Challenge?

[Slick]

I still consider myself relatively new to this cycling thing, but feel slow steady signs of improvement are ongoing and am now a firm believer in the old adage, winter miles means summer smiles. Most of my cycling is done solo commutes, but I do a number of training runs with a few different guys but none more intense than with my own brother. He is just back from a failed attempt to cycle round Arran, as one of their group just wasn't up to the challenge. He now is keen that we both go over and tackle it one day but I don't want to be the one that disappoints him again if I can't make it. As with most trying to get their fitness level up, hills are a bit of a nemesis although not as bad as I once was. I was doing a bit of googling about and found this.
http://www.cycle-route.com/routes/Arran_Circular_(clockwise)-Cycle-Route-730.html
Some of the reports have made me even more concerned but I suppose it's all relative. I suppose my question is, has anyone here done the route round Arran, and is it something an overweight ex smoker could achieve in one Shift?

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

I went for option 3 as you have not supplied any information regarding how far you commute, for how long have you been doing it, how far and how intense are your training rides.

But, I haven't cycled for about 3 years and reckon I could ride round Arran

 

[zizou]

Go for it, its a tough 55 miles but a great day out. Get the early boat and have a couple of cafe stops and that will break the ride up into more manageable chunks. Clockwise tends to be easier than anti clockwise unless there is a northerly wind

 

[bruce1530]

I did it in November last year. Report here: https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/your-ride-today.173254/post-4566618

At the time, it was my longest trip.

Easier in summer, and not just cos weather better. There are more ferries, so can start earlier and/or finish later.

 

[Grant Fondo]

Sounds like a nice ride

 

[Globalti]

What's the height gain in those 55 miles?

 

[bruce1530]

Height gain is about 1200m

Sorry for the mixed units

There are 3 climbs of about 400ft in the first 10 miles or so, and the biggest climb 600ft is near the end

 

[Dogtrousers]

Sounds fantastic. Go for it. Find some nice rides to beforehand with a few hills to get you into the swing of things. Don't think of it as "training" (training is exercise that you don't enjoy) think of it as going for a nice ride.

 

[Slick]

I went for option 3 as you have not supplied any information regarding how far you commute, for how long have you been doing it, how far and how intense are your training rides.

But, I haven't cycled for about 3 years and reckon I could ride round Arran

I've worked hard all my life so I've always been strong but maybe lacking aerobic fitness. I've been cycling 2 years now, my current commute is 15 miles each way and I've done 50 miles before and I've done a few hilly training runs but reduced mileage, maybe 30 at most. I can keep up with most over a distance but I'm usually left behind on the hills although I have now learned to recover on the bike. Does that help?

 

[Slick]

Sounds fantastic. Go for it. Find some nice rides to beforehand with a few hills to get you into the swing of things. Don't think of it as "training" (training is exercise that you don't enjoy) think of it as going for a nice ride.

Not much chance of that with who I'm going with, it's the training bit he loves, I'm more a bit in between. I think your right about a couple of nice hilly rides to get me in the swing of things though.

 

[Slick]

I did it in November last year. Report here: https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/your-ride-today.173254/post-4566618

At the time, it was my longest trip.

Easier in summer, and not just cos weather better. There are more ferries, so can start earlier and/or finish later.

Great report and pictures. I reckon that I might give it a go, but it won't be on a day like you did it.

 

[Crackle]

I've done the complete round a long time ago as part of a tour I was doing. Left the bags in the hostel and went round the island. Since then I've done bits on return visits. I don't think I did a particularly fast ride and the south of the island is the hilly bit, nothing long but constantly up and down. The big long hill is over to Lochranza and that's manageable, it isn't stupidly steep. So yes, you can do it. Take your time, it deserves an appreciative ride, it will be a big day out for a 56 miler but there are lots of places to stop for food and to admire the many views and that takes some of the pain away. Go for it.

 

[Saluki]

Having read some of the comments and looked at the route, I would like to amend my vote from the third one to the first one. I reckon you can do it. Nice stop in a pub for a breather, coffee, cake etc in the middle and you should be fine.

 

[GGJ]

It's not as bad as all the reports you've read. Yes the climbs are there but they're steady, nothing too steep so just pace yourself and you'll be fine. First time I did it was a November day and had snow, sleet, rain, hail storm, excessive wind causing the sea to batter me on the road out of Sliddery. Last time I did it I added two passings of the String, one in each direction giving me a total of 76 miles and 5000 feet of climbing which took me 5½ hours to complete. Go on a day when the weather is kind and you'll have a great time

 

[si_c]

If your gearing is low enough, then its more about can you sit in the saddle for 5 or 6 hours.

As said above, break it into three sections with cafe stops and it just becomes a nice day out. You probably don't want to do it super fast anyway as the scenery will be great.