An Island Challenge?

[Pro Tour Punditry]

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?

You'll breeze it.

 

[bruce1530]

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.

I had hoped to do it in 3 sections - but I went in winter, and most of the south and west of the island was shut :-)

but yes - go for it - it's definitely do-able

 

[Slick]

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

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Wow, your definitely a glutton for punishment. Your route is what my brother expected to do with his pals but that was planned over 2 days in near perfect weather. I think the circular will do me just fine for now. I think your right about pace, so as long as we go early enough it should be doable.

 

[furball]

If you have any reservations about your ability I would suggest you aim to stay the night at the end of your ride in Brodick. That way you have all day to get round and you can have as many stops as you like. The distance and the hills are doable but if the wind is blowing in the wrong direction you can be blown to a standstill. Keeping going in the wind is very draining. There is nothing worse than getting to Sannox feeling exhausted and seeing the last ferry approaching Brodick and being unsure if you will make it or not.

 

[Slick]

If you have any reservations about your ability I would suggest you aim to stay the night at the end of your ride in Brodick. That way you have all day to get round and you can have as many stops as you like. The distance and the hills are doable but if the wind is blowing in the wrong direction you can be blown to a standstill. Keeping going in the wind is very draining. There is nothing worse than getting to Sannox feeling exhausted and seeing the last ferry approaching Brodick and being unsure if you will make it or not.

Yeah, good tip but I don't think that would work for my brother, he's a no surrender type of guy which is why I started the thread. If he plans to do it in a shift, he'll do it in a shift and I'll get dragged round one way or the other. The early boat should give me enough time, and I'm also aware of the effect the wind could have on any trip. I would need to plan any trip round the weather as I know I couldn't fight the wind and the hills at the same time.

 

[Banjo]

If your commuting 15 mile each way and ridden a 50 miler before you will get round no problem.
Tip for any long ride is take it very easy for the first hour or so eat and drink lots and enjoy the day.

PS I am jealous ,wish I could join you.

 

[Slick]

If your commuting 15 mile each way and ridden a 50 miler before you will get round no problem.
Tip for any long ride is take it very easy for the first hour or so eat and drink lots and enjoy the day.

PS I am jealous ,wish I could join you.

Unfortunately, I've never needed a second invitation to eat and drink lots, which is one of the reasons I got a bike in the first place.
Certainly as good a reason yet for doing it.

 

[bruce1530]

And my tip for that particular ride - if doing the loop “clockwise”, you turn left immediately after coming off the boat and straight into a 4% over 3km gradient. The day I did it was really cold, and I had been hanging around the ferry car deck for 20 mins before getting off. If I was doing it again in those conditions, I’d spend more time inside the warm bit of the boat, and not freeze on the car deck waiting for the cars to move. And I’d probably do a few hundred yards on the flat to warm up the legs.....

 

[Slick]

And my tip for that particular ride - if doing the loop “clockwise”, you turn left immediately after coming off the boat and straight into a 4% over 3km gradient. The day I did it was really cold, and I had been hanging around the ferry car deck for 20 mins before getting off. If I was doing it again in those conditions, I’d spend more time inside the warm bit of the boat, and not freeze on the car deck waiting for the cars to move. And I’d probably do a few hundred yards on the flat to warm up the legs.....

Nice, I'll remember that. I assume clockwise is the normal?

 

[Crackle]

I did it anti-clockwise but I started in Lochranza and it was a windstill day.

 

[Slick]

I did it anti-clockwise but I started in Lochranza and it was a windstill day.

Not factoring for the wind, is that not considered more difficult?

 

[Crackle]

Not factoring for the wind, is that not considered more difficult?

If you're going from the ferry, then you've a 10ish mile flat run before the biggest hill of the ride over to Lochranza. Then you've another largely flat run down to just before Blackwaterfoot before it gets lumpy, so it is, in many ways an easier introduction but the hard parts are at the end of your ride, as opposed to the beginning on cold legs. As others have said, I'd look at the wind direction. It would be a tough ride down the coast from Lochranza to Blackwaterfoot in the wind, I know I've done that and there's no shelter on that coast and slightly more shelter on the other coast where the road is more inland.

 

[bruce1530]

clockwise is usual - it means you get the lumpy stuff over with first, and hopefully have the prevailing wind behind you on the more exposed west coast

 

[GGJ]

Just back from an anti-clockwise ride round Arran, the last 15 miles were tough because of the wind, but I knew it was going to be like that before I started off so can't complain. I've done the clockwise a few times now so wanted to go in the opposite direction keeping the lumps until last... ouch. The sun was out and temperature around 16C, just the blooming wind that was wrong. Take a bag with a change of clothes and leave it at the ticket office in Brodick for £1.00, lets you change into something warm for the trip home. Great day out and I've topped up my tan lines quite a bit

 

[Slick]

Looks magic, felt like a perfect day for it today where I was but obviously there's nothing to shelter you from the wind over there. How long were you on the island for?