Orion M.C.

A number of us with a collection of road, hybrid and mountain bikes headed over to Arran. The Brodick Highland Games were
unfortunately being held the same day which meant that the ferries were full to capacity. This resulted in Jon, Claudia and
Findlay missing our ferry Those that did get on the ferry were Neil, Graham, Silke, Carmel , Julian, Gordon, Ruth and myself.

We arrived in Ardrossan with a light drizzle falling which persisted for about the first hour, although the weather steadily
improved until it was eventually a fine day

We started off heading south and on reaching half way round the island at Blackwaterfoot, we split into two groups with Neil,
Graham and myself heading off to do the full island circuit of 57miles, while the rest headed over The String road back to Brodick.

On arrival back at Brodick the three of us were victoriously pipped in along the front road by the massed bands

And we met up with Jon, Claudia and Findlay at the ferry terminal finding that they had got the next ferry over after us.

Silke, Neil, Gordon and Ruth early in the day with light drizzle falling.



Lunch stop at Blackwaterfoot



Graham on the road up the west coast



Deer down on the shore at Lochranza



Neil with Lochranza Castle in the background



The three of us at the top of the 200m climb at the north end of the island. Photo take by fellow cyclist.



Highlight of the day for me was seeing a Peregrine trying to take out a Rock Dove. Fortunately for the Dove, it took last minute
evasive action and saved it's life.

A great trip, really enjoyed it even though I am still knackered sitting here half asleep in the office. The southern half was good fun with lots of hills with twisty descents and the section from Blackwaterfoot onwards up to Lochranza a real blast right along the coastline, but the hill up from Lochranza was a reality check for me, I mean I couldn’t find a low enough gear and I was the one on a mountain bike ! I was so slow Neil and Scott were wandering around taking in the sights and Scott was even cycling backwards (showboating as I call it) at one point to let me catch up. The last stretch along to Brodick was a drag and I was bloody knackered by the time we arrived at the ferry terminal. Good to be out with everyone again though.

Sorry Graham, but I'm probably doing 30hours plus in the saddle every month (and not holding back on the speed) whilst Neil has a super-duper road bike and has done some big road trips this summer. So I wouldn't feel embarassed, you did after all get round the full 57miles.

To top it all you've hardly done any excercise over the last six months due to the knee injury. I think you did bloody well

My fav bit of the Arran cycle was the long flats between Blackwaterfoot and Lochranza. Best scenery and great for spinning the pedals and zipping along...Neil and I managed 13 miles in under 50mins along part of this stretch, including two stops to try and repair a wee rattle from my bike

By the way, did anyone get a picture of the burd in the leotard dancing along the roadwith the pipers? Was she drunk or was she just mental?

If she had been 40 years younger and a little less heavy I would've taken a photo Think she was both drunk and mental

I thought the peleton may split into two ....

Would be nice if some of the others that were there could bung a few pics up...

Looks like a great trip! Could you have not bluffed your way onto the ferry by claiming you were highland games competitors in a new event...tossing the mountain bike?

Wish i could have made it!!! Grrrrrrrrr

I loved it, thanks to Scott for all the organising. I have only got photos of (ahem) the pub at Kilmory and the ferry home. Will posty them if I can ever figure out how. (have to Bluetooth them to laptop, upload to Flikr and then post on forum, I have given up already just thinking about it.

Brodick was a bit pure-mad-mental right enough. We met the island's and surely Scotland's most torn-faced waitress whom I think was so harrassed that she couldn't add up our bill. Still, that cold cider, douyble burger and salty chips tasted SOOOO good after the climb up the String Road (3/4 hour) and whizz down the other side to Brodick (5 mins, eyes streaming).

So where can we go next????

Graham at the summit of the hill after Lochranza


The citizens of Brodick celebrate our return


But probably best not to miss the last ferry....

Very funny

Well how about these two routes...

Glenelg/Skye at 38miles a bit shorter than the Arran run, but two major hills Bealach Ratagain 390m and Bealach Udal 280m. Scenery would be fantastic. See link. http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Gl ... f-Lochalsh

And Glen Lyon/Loch Tay, one I put on the forum some time ago http://orionmc.freeforums.org/breadalba ... -t626.html

That`s why not

Too far away.Wot about a combined 25 mile run with a coastal walk and a few wee hills on Bute.

A liesurely trip up and down Lismore. Only 20 miles but bag some trig points,great views and a great wee coffee shop.

Bute, done it loads of times. Lismore too short for a serious day out.

What about Mull - Craignure to Glenmore to Balevulin to Salen to Craignure 50 miles. Ferry from Oban, obviously, possible going up the night before maybe even camping at Craignure and setting off sharpish on the bikes on Saturday am. Can leave the camping gear there.

The Mull one could be easily done in a day trip...if I was going up overnight I'd want to do a two day cycle and take in just about every road on the island or have a day on the hill bagging the island's one and only corbett

As regards my two suggestions above Fester, the attraction for me, obviously apart from the scenery and quality of the runs, is actually that they both have big climbs. I actually dig hills

Have checked with Neil. He actually did the Glenelg/Skye one earlier this summer, but would be up for the Glen Lyon/Loch Tay one.

Loch Tay etc sounds good too, sorry I missed the original posting.
Mull can be extended to do the north loop of the island too. I coud not be persuaded for any earthly reward to go down to Fionnphort and back just for the hell of it, because it would be hell. The north loop in the other hand has very many feathures to commend it. The south loop i mentioned is about 50 miles, adding the north loop is I think another 30, too long ofr one day unless you were starting already on the island, hence my comments about Craignure. Count me it as long as I (i.e. Abigail and Heather) get a bit of warning.