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ISLE OF MULL CYCLING CLUB

The Best Ride of your Life!!

Round Arran

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Barry
Starting Member

United Kingdom
9 Posts

Posted - 07 June 2009 : 00:16:48

From home in Neilston (south side of Glasgow) cycling to Ardrossan was easy enough, just over 20 very flat and windless miles with the sun shining and roads pretty much clear all the way. Ardrossan at 8.00 in the morning doesn't offer much for the cyclist so waited at the slipway and talked mince to any passers-by that would listen.

I decided to go clockwise around Arran, considering the wind thats always blowing a gale on the west coast. coming off the ferry at Broick I met another cyclist, this guy was 78 and still goin strong. When I told him I was going round the island, his reply was rather worrying.
"You know your goin the wrong way then?"
"But there's only one road round the island" I replied.
"Aye but this way your on the outside of the road all the way round so its longer."
I laughed and said ta for the advice but the 100 yards I would double back would mean I wasn't worth it and I pushed on.

Roads on Arran are great for cycling, there is constantly changing views over vast expanses of silver water holding Ailsa Craig, or bordered with seaside towns of Largs, Troon and Saltcoats or the rugged scenery of the Mull of Kintyre. The climbs are long and gradual and downhills last forever and almost always on a velvet road surface. I stopped every 10 miles or so for a drink and a snickers (the ultimate energy bar)and had lunch at Lochranza distillery followed by a few free samples of local whiskey on the basis that "it'll help you up the hills son".

Refeshed with the water of life I bashed on back to Brodick for the ferry. The wind finally picked up during the final 20 miles home and the bike slowed down but with no ferries to catch I dropped a few gears and cruised home. It dawned on me I'd only covered 96 miles so I took a small and agonising detour to break the mileage into 3 figures and got home a bit tired, pretty sunburnt and ready for a bath.

Well reccommended.

Gordon
Administrator

United Kingdom
60 Posts

Posted - 07 June 2009 : 17:48:35

Barry, what a great story and by all accounts it was a great day all around. LOL! Its a brave man who does not listen to an aged old cyclist..... I am just wondering if it was Jim in disguise!