Sitting on MV Clansman reflecting on how nice slow travel is.
Mr & Mrs LB annual 'big' holiday.
Cycled up to Oban from train station at Helensburgh via Kilcreggan and Gourock. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday as didn't want to waste the scenery (and ourselves!).
Then onto Tiree early last Thursday.
Average speed has stayed at 10.5 mph. Not that it matters really ;-)
Due to quite windy and wet weather we lost a day of touring island. However always nice to do some bike assisted walks.
Met a couple of other cyclists with a 4x4. One with electric bike which could 'defeat' some of the headwinds.
Reclined tandem though worked fine. Especially over the many cattle grids due to the many crofts here.
Bird watchers/listeners would enjoy the common sound of Corncrakes. Oystercatchers everywhere.
Skerryvore lighthouse exhibition at the Stevensons old base at Hynish very interesting.
Shops and cafes are easy to avoid as not so many.
Some pics coming later as ship wi-fi intermittant.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Leisure
Meanwhile on Tiree
(9 posts)-
Posted 7 years ago #
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Some shots from our 'Not just a cycling holiday'.
As usual (for us) it was interesting to see how easy it was to not use a car and enjoy 'slow travel' assisted by trains and ferries.Train to Helensburgh was no problem. Folded bike just sat in general space. One other cyclist who was on return leg to Partick after his early morning cycle to Edinburgh 'for fun and health'. No booking required. Rail guy even took a picture of us at terminus.
Ferry from Kilcreggan - ferry to Dunoon - ferry to Tiree - all easy to use and no charge.
Train back from Oban. Booked twa bike spaces and bike was tidy on floor not blocking anything with corridor free. Only one other bike, a pram and electric scooter in bike area.
Guard came round and insisted that bike most be hung up otherwise we would be off at next stop. This of course was possible to do although I was struggling to loosen one hinge bolt. Rear brake has cable splitter and Rohloff click box is easy to remove (set in gear 1 or 14). Unplug lighting internal cable. Easy to do normally but not on bumpy train.
This I think was the final warning that we aren't to use West Highland services again. Even when this was carried out he still said it didn't meet the exact regulations and could present a health and safety risk. Guard could have barred us entry onto train so it could have been worse. Two years ago the Fort William guard had similar attitude.We changed trains at Dumbarton Central and managed to get bike put back together again as normal folded bike, in 20 min wait. Guard didn't even look at bike.
Despite this we feel we had a great varied 7 day holiday but would try and come back via Helensburgh on a larger electric train where guards seem fine. We used a direct train to Kilwinning two years ago. A good way to get close to Ardrossan without changing in Glasgow.
Cairndow, Kilmartin, Oban and Tiree tour by LaidBackBikes, on Flickr
Cairndow, Kilmartin, Oban and Tiree tour by LaidBackBikes, on Flickr
Cairndow, Kilmartin, Oban and Tiree tour by LaidBackBikes, on Flickr
Cairndow, Kilmartin, Oban and Tiree tour by LaidBackBikes, on Flickr
Posted 7 years ago # -
The Quetzal eats cattle grids for breakfast!
I think 10.5 is a decent all day/week speed - we have tried caning it round the Innerleithen loop on ours. A loop that I can do at 18mph on the Fuego if I try hard, we managed just under 13 mph at full power on the Quetzal. Might go up a bit as my wife gets stronger but you definitely have the recumbent power loss on hills combined with tandem power loss on hills combined with mixed ability tandem team thing going on...
As you say though, it's much more about lying back and thinking of Scotland - it's such a great way to get around the country and to share the experience in such comfort with your other half is what its all about for us.
Glad you had a good time and looks like you got some decent weather. You cannae beat the west coast in the sun.
Posted 7 years ago # -
more about lying back and thinking of Scotland - it's such a great way to get around the country and to share the experience in such comfort with your other half is what its all about for us.
Hurrah!
This I think was the final warning that we aren't to use West Highland services again.
Booo!
Posted 7 years ago # -
Dangly bike space designers have no concept of the need to hang a recumbent bike, nor the constraints the owners have to deal with. Like their train operating companies, they would really rather all bicycles and their owners would just go away and never come back.
Posted 7 years ago # -
they would really rather all bicycles and their owners would just go away and never come back
Did I ever mention the ban on trailers? Classed with pianos, kayaks and hang-gliders.
Posted 7 years ago # -
you can't take a fish supper on the bus unless you give the driver a chip?
Posted 7 years ago # -
Cover it with a big sheet and put it on Citylink coach - just getting round to getting system for space reservation (for fee - probably same fee as you pay for using Saltire Card or open return as no standing on coaches, and they prefer to have all all passengers with seat reservations to avoid disappointment
Someone might want to test Clause 56 and take covered bike on 900 service along M8 earlier and later services than train
Coaches are 2.55m wide and you can get a tandem across the width of the hold.
Remember too that Stagecoach (Clause 7) permits bikes on coaches and some buses. Reported that X7 was carrying 40+ bikes/week Perth-Aberdeen via Dundee.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Interesting to think that buses might be the answer. We have Saltire cards so that would be cheaper of course.
Years ago we took our childback Thorn tandem and our EBC solo bike in the hold of bus from Tarbert up the Clisham hill towards Stornoway. Paid a fare but was worth it.
Here's our bike trying to meet the exacting standards of carriage.
Posted 7 years ago #
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