West of Scotland.

[Garry Lee]

To put this trip on the record for someone's future research.
I did a 747 m trip in Scotland recently.
Cycled to Ardrossan from Glasgow. Should have got train (I know that now).
Ferry to Arran.
Cycled south and around Arran to Lochranza. Beautiful but VERY HILLY. You
need tiny gears for Scotland.
Next day, Lochranza to Kintyre by ferry, minor road to Campbelltown. REALLY
HILLY but lovely. Then to Southend to see Ireland and back to Campbelltown.
Dead town but lovely cycle.
Next day in superb weather cycled up North side road to Kilmelford. Scenerey
as good as anywhere in the world. Not too hilly.
Next day to Oban, Mull and Fionnaphort and Iona. Big hill inland. Hilly
enough cycle into wind. Good scenery. Iona lovely as is Fionnphort.
Next day back 17 miles and minor road over mountain onto coast. This until
within 4 miles of Salen is the finest road I've ever cycled in 40 ish bike
tours. Then headed back along west coast. Big climb and great view
initially. Then scenery deteriorated and spin got harder and harder. Started
to rain. Eventually reached Tobermory a broken man.

Next day to Ardnamurchan. Gorgeous but TERRIBLY hilly as far as Arasaig.
Then to Mallaig, Skye, Broadford, out to Elgol. Tremendous scenery at Elgol
and Blaven. Stayed in Broadford. Next day out to Trotternish and around edge
of peninsula, as I'd seen the Quiraing before. Good scenery, but HILLY
around edge.
Then Tarbert on Harris, a bit north and left up coastal climb. Did not go up
Stornoway climb. Back and round west coast to Leverburgh. Great beach
scenery. Very like Donegal.
Then next day to Uist and 67 miles into gale to Lochboisdale. People lovely
in Hebrides but Uist is a scenic clusterfuck.
Back to Oban in ferry, up to Ballachusish, visiting the gorgeous Port Appin.
Then through Glencoe and cycled 8 miles into the must-see Glen Etive. Then
to Tyndrum. Next day down via Loch Lomond. Much ado about nothing. Train
from Dumbarton to Glasgow.

Lessons.

Kintyre is well worth visiting. Uist isn't, at least not to me and I speak
some Gaelic and good Irish. Glen Etive is fabulous.
You REALLY need tiny gears for West of Scotland as you will regulary meet
10-15% gradients, ALL DAY!

[Roy Zipris]

"Garry Lee" <gl...@iol.ie> wrote

> To put this trip on the record for someone's future research.
> I did a 747 m trip in Scotland recently.

So, tell us, was your trip hilly?

My 50th birthday present to myself was a 2-week golf trip to
Scotland--11 rounds in 12 days. I wasn't a cyclist then, but now I
ride my bike, don't play much golf. My dream is to do a bike tour in
Scotland for my 55th or 60th birthday. Should I carry my golf clubs on
my back or a trailer? :)

No, really, I'm envious. The Scottish landscape is absolutely lovely,
and I hope I can (1) afford to go back inthe not-too-far-off future,
and (2) can become a strong enough cyclist to cope with the terrain.
--Roy Zipris

[Garry Lee]

"Roy Zipris" <lrzi...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:9d828b4.02100...@posting.google.com...

> So, tell us, was your trip hilly?

What gave you that
idea?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

> No, really, I'm envious. The Scottish landscape is absolutely lovely,
> and I hope I can (1) afford to go back inthe not-too-far-off future,
> and (2) can become a strong enough cyclist to cope with the terrain.
> --Roy Zipris

you don't need to be very strong but you REALLY need gears.
I've cycled in lots of places and the worst for repeated short steep hills
are
West of Scotland, Donegal in Ireland, some of Brittany and the Hoch Taunus
region of Germany which is the worst of all.
Corsica while hilly has only one hill I've come across which is really
steep. That is the eastern side of the Col de Bavella. A killer.

[Sergio SERVADIO]

On 8 Oct 2002, Roy Zipris wrote:

> My 50th birthday present to myself was a 2-week golf trip to
> Scotland--11 rounds in 12 days. I wasn't a cyclist then, but now I
> ride my bike, don't play much golf. My dream is to do a bike tour in
> Scotland for my 55th or 60th birthday. Should I carry my golf clubs on
> my back or a trailer? :)

Sir, you are kidding yourself: a bunch of excuses to sightsee
Saint Andrews.

I have cycled over there on a borrowed student's bike.
That can be done, too!

Sergio
Pisa

[Paul D.]

Wow! About 15 years ago, I did a tour of Scotland that was approx. 2/3 the
same as this one. The description of Uist made me laugh out loud - very
true. Arran and Lewis were particularly beautiful. Thanks for bringing
back some great memories!

"Garry Lee" <gl...@iol.ie> wrote in message
news:ugvo9.7086$cP3....@news.iol.ie...