Scotland : Ayrshire & Arran Arran Discussion Thread

[Col5632]

I'm up for doing the 71 mile option, I'm guessing anybody who doesn't feel up to the full route can cut it short and we can meet them for the ferry? Looks a hilly one that's for sure

 

[Edwardoka]

Does Arran have any sportives on it?
that would make a cracking sportive route

Glasgow Green CC do what they call the Arran Sportive but I don't think it's a sportive in the traditional sense.
You're right though, it's almost like the island was designed specifically for it.

I was over a couple of weekends ago. Did the figure of 8 in just over 4 hours. Some of the road surfaces are cr@p. In fact 1 section on the west side between Corriecravie and Blackwaterfoot is going to be closed completely for rebuilding/resurfacing for 2/3 weeks in June

Chapeau! That's a heck of an effort. I snuck in just under 4 hours for the clockwise 55-miler from Catacol to Catacol a few weeks ago (it was that day with the ridiculously strong wind blowing from the south)
They were beginning to dig up some of the roads when I was there - the roads were in pretty bad shape, particularly in the southwest (around Lagg and Sliddery) but the rest of the way was tolerable. I adore the resurfaced Sannox to Lochranza road.

I'd be up for this, depending on dates, etc. I'm assuming there are campsites, b&b's, etc for anyone wanting to make a weekend of it??

Regarding accommodation, there's a youth hostel in Lochranza as well as a campsite. Most of the B&B style accommodation is in the Brodick-Lamlash-Whiting Bay area but you'll find the odd place dotted around the island.

I've never had any problem with accommodation; have stayed in Brodick, Corrie, Lochranza and Catacol. The Catacol is generally my go-to if I'm on a biking, hiking, or geocaching trip. If camping, I'll generally either wild camp in the north, or stay at Lochranza campsite.

Long post is long!

 

[edindave]

I'm up for doing the 71 mile option, I'm guessing anybody who doesn't feel up to the full route can cut it short and we can meet them for the ferry? Looks a hilly one that's for sure

It's more hilly than the Sportive Kinross black route if you compare the ratios of ascent/total distance
Kinross Black: 2,000m/142.6km = 1.40%
Arran (String Rd x2): 1,715m/115.5km = 1.48%

 

[Col5632]

It's more hilly than the Sportive Kinross black route if you compare the ratios of ascent/total distance
Kinross Black: 2,000m/142.6km = 1.40%
Arran (String Rd x2): 1,715m/115.5km = 1.48%

I better get more climbing practice in then

 

[Fubar]

I'm up for doing the 71 mile option, I'm guessing anybody who doesn't feel up to the full route can cut it short and we can meet them for the ferry? Looks a hilly one that's for sure

I'd be up for any route but would be concerned about holding the racing snakes up on the hills, especially if we were time-bound. So perhaps 2 rides would be best, though there's no point if I'm doing it on my own.

 

[Col5632]

I'd be up for any route but would be concerned about holding the racing snakes up on the hills, especially if we were time-bound. So perhaps 2 rides would be best, though there's no point if I'm doing it on my own.

Maybe see who wants to go and who wants to do what route, I certainly wont be racing up any hills, most likely be the most climbing ill ever do

 

[Rasmus]

I'd be up for either/any route, but I do think it would be preferably if we stuck together as a group for as long as possible.

 

[GBC]

I'm going to hum and haw for a bit longer on this one I think. To be honest, I'm not confident about the 71 miles route; 60 is the most I've done so far, and that was at a sedate pace with the present Mrs GBC. I'll see what I do between now and a date being fixed.
Mibees aye, mibees naw

 

[Seamab]

i`ll do that route

I'd certainly be up for a run to Arran provided i can make the date.

However just to be awkward i'd be doing an alternate route which includes the Ross Rd climb (SW corner) from Lamlash which is longer and has a higher average gradient than the String Rd climb. It's an unclassified road so may not be in great condition (probably never is?). So the route would be a figure of 8 something like this
Brodick - south down coast to Lamlash - Ross Rd (Glen Scorradale) - follow coast road round south coast and back up to Brodick - String Rd - Machrie - North round coast and back to Brodick.

Outside of Brodick where's the possible cake stops?

It might be possible to have two rides setting off south to Lamlash then splitting up to rejoin at Machrie (cake?) and then proceed together round the north coast and back to Brodick?

 

[zizou]

The Ross road was in decent shape Last time i was over it but that was a year ago. Very good climb from the north quite steep in places and a long more gradual descent down the other side.

The golf course at machrie is a popular cake stop with cyclists, that is about half way round if doing the circular.

 

[edindave]

I'd certainly be up for a run to Arran provided i can make the date.

However just to be awkward i'd be doing an alternate route which includes the Ross Rd climb (SW corner) from Lamlash which is longer and has a higher average gradient than the String Rd climb. It's an unclassified road so may not be in great condition (probably never is?). So the route would be a figure of 8 something like this
Brodick - south down coast to Lamlash - Ross Rd (Glen Scorradale) - follow coast road round south coast and back up to Brodick - String Rd - Machrie - North round coast and back to Brodick.

Outside of Brodick where's the possible cake stops?

It might be possible to have two rides setting off south to Lamlash then splitting up to rejoin at Machrie (cake?) and then proceed together round the north coast and back to Brodick?

I hadn't actually noticed the Ross Road on the map. Quite like the sound of that route

I've had a go at plotting it, does this look about right?

Arran Ross-String
107.7km (66.9mi) / 1,741m (5,713ft). (Ascent/total distance = 1.62%)

 

[tug benson]

Can we take rollers on the ferry for a warm up?

A bitch of a climb to start with......bring it on

 

[Seamab]

I hadn't actually noticed the Ross Road on the map. Quite like the sound of that route

I've had a go at plotting it, does this look about right?

Arran Ross-String
107.7km (66.9mi) / 1,741m (5,713ft). (Ascent/total distance = 1.62%)

Yes that's the route i intended. Bit of a roller coaster. Looks fairly flat after the String Rd. Sounds like Machrie golf course will be a perfectly timed cake stop.

The Ross Rd climb comes in at no 5 in terms of average gradient in the pocket book "Cyclists guide to Hillclimbs on Scottish Lowland Roads" , The String from Brodick is no. 10. It doesn't include every climb out there just a selection.
No. 1 is the climb up East Lomond near Falkland "Purin Den" avg grad 10%. I got that one out the way a couple of weeks back (in fact the day of the Kinross sportive). Pretty tough going! Fantastic view from the car park at the top.

 

[tug benson]

This hill seamab?..

http://app.strava.com/segments/948479

shockingly i`ve never been up the hills over at the lomond hills

 

[Fubar]

I'm going to hum and haw for a bit longer on this one I think. To be honest, I'm not confident about the 71 miles route; 60 is the most I've done so far, and that was at a sedate pace with the present Mrs GBC. I'll see what I do between now and a date being fixed.
Mibees aye, mibees naw

You and I could stick together and enjoy the ride at a leisurely pace! So we have two groups, one fast one slow and meet up for lunch/cake? Or we do the shorter route.