An Island Challenge?
- Thread starter Slick
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
Arrived on Arran at 12:05pm with SWMBO. I did the ride whilst the boss went for a spot of sightseeing then we met at 5:00pm and went for dinner before leaving on the last ferry at 7:20pm. My ride took just under 4 hours, I wasn't in any hurry as we had arranged for 5:00pm to go for dinner
snorri
Legendary Member
- Location
- East coast, up a bit.
OP
OP
Slick
Guru
I wish. My father in law was a fisherman and model maker, he sailed aboard this particular boat in my home town in the 60s. I always admired it and was stunned but delighted when he gave it to me. He passed away a year or two later and it has become one of my most prized possessions.Off Topic, but I like your avatar.
Did you build it yourself?
snorri
Legendary Member
- Location
- East coast, up a bit.
Thanks Slick, a beautiful memento to have
.
OP
OP
Slick
Guru
Sure is, looks much better in the flesh.Thanks Slick, a beautiful memento to have
OP
OP
Slick
Guru
Can't believe nearly 5 months of so called summer have gone by without really doing this or any other ride of note. My brother called last night, looking to do this on Sunday but the forecast was poor with wind and rain. It looks to have improved somewhat with very light winds coming from the south west, so no more excuses. Hopefully the Glasgow to Edinburgh Pedal for Scotland will be a breeze after this. 
OP
OP
Slick
Guru
steverob
Guru
- Location
- Buckinghamshire
Let us know how you get on. I'm going to be on Arran in a few weeks, but unfortunately won't be able to take my road bike with me, so doing the full island isn't going to happen for me. I know there's a place I can hire a hybrid in Brodick and if the weather's good I'll head north on the flat roads to Sannox, then I might see how far up the climb to Lochranza I can make it before having to turn back!
OP
OP
Slick
Guru
Finally. My brother and I finally got a chance to give this challenge a go on Sunday morning. We went for the first boat which was around 9.45 from Ardrossan. The forecast was changing every day, and I knew that if I really needed this to be in our favour if I was to keep up with a much fitter and leaner brother. My first surprise of the day was waiting to board the ferry, when I realised just how many other cyclists had the same or similar idea. I reckoned another 60 cyclists were waiting to board the boat, of all shapes and sizes and I assume ability. The second surprise was that Cal-Mac have stopped dealing with left luggage on the island now due to the apparent security alert of the country. It was a bit of a nuisance, especially as we hadn't seen any sign of Isis since we passed through Greenock.
We stopped in at the bike hire place in Brodick and met a marvellous lady who had no problem helping us out and reckoned she was going to look into doing something a bit more official for other cyclists in future.
The cycle itself started pretty good. The winds were light but we still wanted them at our back on the west side so we tackled it clockwise which meant a bit of a climb out of Brodick but nothing we couldn't handle on fresh legs. Once we got over the first climb, the road opened up to a good up and down stretch between Lamlash and Whiting bay, looking onto the Holy Isle.
We then pushed on passed the Ailsa Craig and the Pladda light making great time until we reached the Velo Cafe at Lagg. What a cracking place this is. Brother filled up on a baguette but I held back playing safe on the flapjack. This was the most beautiful homemade flapjack I've ever tasted. The service was first class and the owners appeared genuinely interested in hearing a bit about us. I can't speak highly enough of our visit, go for yourself and see what I mean.
The next 20 mile or so was some of the most enjoyable cycling I've done. Looking on to the old home country of Kintyre kept my mind of the burning legs and as I suspected we kept a good pace going throughout. We did meet one particular group coming at us at some speed chainganging their way round the island the opposite way from us. The noise the bikes made as they came crashing downhill towards us at a very impressive rate of knots, was a thing of beauty. I reckon these guys came on the island on the boat after us and left on the boat before us.
That took us more or less to Lochranza where I was ready for a bit of a rest. Tea and sandwiches all round and a bit of a chinwag with some other riders and we thought we'd better make an attempt at the biggest climb of the day.
As soon as we started, I realised my legs had already gone. As ever, my brother went for it and agreed to meet me at the top, even though I knew it would take me some time. I won't lie, probably the toughest single thing I've done outside of work in my life. All I could do was lowest gear and spin, even then I had to stop twice as first the right quad cramped then left calf. I eventually made it and was rewarded with this ride down.
View: https://youtu.be/7nCOR0HzV1o
Once that excitement was over, it was a long slog back to Brodick on empty legs but a quick change and a bit of time to kill soon brought the strength back.
All in all a great day and a worthwhile challenge for my level.
Check out “Lunch Ride” on Relive! https://www.relive.cc/view/1155128916
We stopped in at the bike hire place in Brodick and met a marvellous lady who had no problem helping us out and reckoned she was going to look into doing something a bit more official for other cyclists in future.
The cycle itself started pretty good. The winds were light but we still wanted them at our back on the west side so we tackled it clockwise which meant a bit of a climb out of Brodick but nothing we couldn't handle on fresh legs. Once we got over the first climb, the road opened up to a good up and down stretch between Lamlash and Whiting bay, looking onto the Holy Isle.
We then pushed on passed the Ailsa Craig and the Pladda light making great time until we reached the Velo Cafe at Lagg. What a cracking place this is. Brother filled up on a baguette but I held back playing safe on the flapjack. This was the most beautiful homemade flapjack I've ever tasted. The service was first class and the owners appeared genuinely interested in hearing a bit about us. I can't speak highly enough of our visit, go for yourself and see what I mean.
The next 20 mile or so was some of the most enjoyable cycling I've done. Looking on to the old home country of Kintyre kept my mind of the burning legs and as I suspected we kept a good pace going throughout. We did meet one particular group coming at us at some speed chainganging their way round the island the opposite way from us. The noise the bikes made as they came crashing downhill towards us at a very impressive rate of knots, was a thing of beauty. I reckon these guys came on the island on the boat after us and left on the boat before us.
That took us more or less to Lochranza where I was ready for a bit of a rest. Tea and sandwiches all round and a bit of a chinwag with some other riders and we thought we'd better make an attempt at the biggest climb of the day.As soon as we started, I realised my legs had already gone. As ever, my brother went for it and agreed to meet me at the top, even though I knew it would take me some time. I won't lie, probably the toughest single thing I've done outside of work in my life. All I could do was lowest gear and spin, even then I had to stop twice as first the right quad cramped then left calf. I eventually made it and was rewarded with this ride down.
View: https://youtu.be/7nCOR0HzV1o
Once that excitement was over, it was a long slog back to Brodick on empty legs but a quick change and a bit of time to kill soon brought the strength back.
All in all a great day and a worthwhile challenge for my level.
Check out “Lunch Ride” on Relive! https://www.relive.cc/view/1155128916
Attachments
Thanks for sharing the experience.
I've got it pencilled in for next year. Spring or early summer. I know it's Scotland so it doesn't really matter.
Unlike other trips I plan on my head this one looks very doable.
Train from Glasgow Central and it looks like a fantastic day out.
I've got it pencilled in for next year. Spring or early summer. I know it's Scotland so it doesn't really matter.
Unlike other trips I plan on my head this one looks very doable.
Train from Glasgow Central and it looks like a fantastic day out.
OP
OP
Slick
Guru
It certainly a great day out, and so many choices on how to tackle it. I met a guy in Ardrossan who planned for 8 hours in the saddle as he had taken a book with him and he planned for a couple of prolonged stops somewhere but in the end even after a puncture he crested Sannox before I did so something changed for him. It's certainly worth doing.
Last edited:
