Author Topic: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018  (Read 50350 times)

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
« Reply #125 on: 25 April, 2018, 01:00:29 pm »
Foolishly, I didn't book a room at the Oban SYHA when I had the chance .

Erm, I have just booked two nights at Oban SYHA. I guess there must have been cancellations. I booked through Booking.com, same price as non member, with free cancellation up to 29th May.

Nuts! I only tried to book via the SYHA website, didn't think of trying any other sites. No places left on booking.com now - you must have nabbed the last ones. None on other comparison sites either. I'll keep checking back in case any more become available.
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

IanDG

  • The p*** artist formerly known as 'Windy'
    • the_dandg_rouleur
Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
« Reply #126 on: 25 April, 2018, 01:44:46 pm »
Story so far -

January went well until I fell and cracked ribs on the last day of the month resulting in reduced mileage during February.

Completed my first 1000km/month and my first 200km since August 2015 in March  (horrendous rain and wind for most of the 200).

April is heading to be another 1000km month (and I completed my first 300km since 2014 in gusting 30-40 mph winds - the rain held off).

I've got a Carradice Nelson on the way (so that I can expand on the kit carried in my Barley) and I have a few minor alterations to make to the bike.

I've also got a 200/400 back to back planned for the w/c 07/04 and then easy miles until the event.

Just got to sort travel out now - I have a son in Embra so have a floor to crash on before/after the event.

Good to have the stress of work (that have impacted negatively on my health for the last few years) behind me and be moving on to new things.

Whether I'm fit enough for 1000km remains to be seen?

IanDG

  • The p*** artist formerly known as 'Windy'
    • the_dandg_rouleur
Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
« Reply #127 on: 25 April, 2018, 01:46:10 pm »
Really sad, but I'm going to have to withdraw from this. Was really looking forward to it, but unfortunately pressures of work and a big project that's slipped by a few weeks means I'm not going to be able to commit to a few days off work at the end of May.

Maybe next time ...

:(

Shame - I did notice that you've had a busy few weeks away from the bike recently.

LEL 2021?

Phil W

Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
« Reply #128 on: 25 April, 2018, 02:05:25 pm »
Between Claonaig - Campbeltown (Leg 5)

There is a bar and restaurant you pass on the left at Carradale (about 293km) that opens at 11am.  If you turn left down the B879 road ( by the bar and restaurant) into Carradale there is a tea room about 400m down the road on the left  that opens at 10am.

Phil W

Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
« Reply #129 on: 25 April, 2018, 02:53:07 pm »
At Tayinloan (345km) between Campbeltown and Tarbet (Leg 6)

There is a shop just off the A93, take the ferry road.  Continuing on, at the ferry terminal there are toilets, and a tea room. Tea room open 10am till 7pm.

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
« Reply #130 on: 25 April, 2018, 03:07:14 pm »
Just perusing the routesheet. As someone more used to riding in Southeast England, I love the fact that there are long sections with very few instructions, eg Campbeltown to Oban, four lines to cover 139km.  :thumbsup:
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

Phil W

Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
« Reply #131 on: 25 April, 2018, 03:22:26 pm »
Just perusing the routesheet. As someone more used to riding in Southeast England, I love the fact that there are long sections with very few instructions, eg Campbeltown to Oban, four lines to cover 139km.  :thumbsup:

Yes it does make for compact instructions.  If you are primarily using the GPS track I would advise one thing.  Break it up so you do not have sections of track that overlap each other. On the Wild Atlantic Way a few of us went wrong where the tracks criss crossed on a loop and we took the wrong option.  In my case it added about 3 hours extra riding; by the time I had retraced back on the track I should have been on.

Day 1 -  I have split into Edinburgh - Campbeltown and Campbeltown - Oban
Day 2 - I have split into Oban - Lochailort, and Lochailort - Oban
Day 3 - Did not need splitting as no criss crossing of the track.

Phil W

Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
« Reply #132 on: 25 April, 2018, 03:30:41 pm »
There is a hotel / bistro at Kimelford, 431km if you are running late for getting food at Oban on the first day.

Phil W

Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
« Reply #133 on: 25 April, 2018, 04:04:03 pm »
Coop (opens at 7am) in Ballachulish, 515km,

Service Station / Shop (opens at 7am) at Onich, 543km, before you catch the Corran Ferry. Right that is enough food resupply hunting for now.

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
« Reply #134 on: 25 April, 2018, 04:17:17 pm »
If you are primarily using the GPS track I would advise one thing.  Break it up so you do not have sections of track that overlap each other. On the Wild Atlantic Way a few of us went wrong where the tracks criss crossed on a loop and we took the wrong option.

Funnily enough, I was already thinking of doing the same, for exactly the same reason. Sound advice.

Only difference is I was going to put the break in Day 2 at Acharacle.
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

Phil W

Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
« Reply #135 on: 25 April, 2018, 04:37:30 pm »
If you are primarily using the GPS track I would advise one thing.  Break it up so you do not have sections of track that overlap each other. On the Wild Atlantic Way a few of us went wrong where the tracks criss crossed on a loop and we took the wrong option.

Funnily enough, I was already thinking of doing the same, for exactly the same reason. Sound advice.

Only difference is I was going to put the break in Day 2 at Acharacle.

That's where the hotel with nice food is, isn't it? Yeah might move the split there once I have got that far looking through Day 2 and plotting food spots. Could be a good plan for a lunch stop and change tracks whilst there.

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
« Reply #136 on: 25 April, 2018, 04:55:02 pm »
What's the deal with crossing the A90 at Craigiehall? Maybe Google Street View is out of date but I can't see an easy way from one side to the other. Is there a new cycle bridge or something?

That's where the hotel with nice food is, isn't it?

That's a bit further on at Glenuig, according to the info sheet. There is a tea room in Acharacle though, and a fish & chip shop.
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

Phil W

Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
« Reply #137 on: 25 April, 2018, 05:13:44 pm »
What's the deal with crossing the A90 at Craigiehall? Maybe Google Street View is out of date but I can't see an easy way from one side to the other. Is there a new cycle bridge or something?

See Route sheet leg 1 for details.

Shortly after "Miller & Carter" Cramond Bridge turn L thro underpass (care) and follow L to join new bike path by slip road on A90

Pingu

  • Put away those fiery biscuits!
  • Mrs Pingu's domestique
    • the Igloo
Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
« Reply #138 on: 25 April, 2018, 06:01:34 pm »
At Tayinloan (345km) between Campbeltown and Tarbet (Leg 6)

There is a shop just off the A93, take the ferry road.  Continuing on, at the ferry terminal there are toilets, and a tea room. Tea room open 10am till 7pm.

That's seriously off-route  ;) A83, shirley.

Phil W

Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
« Reply #139 on: 25 April, 2018, 06:06:03 pm »
At Tayinloan (345km) between Campbeltown and Tarbet (Leg 6)

There is a shop just off the A93, take the ferry road.  Continuing on, at the ferry terminal there are toilets, and a tea room. Tea room open 10am till 7pm.

That's seriously off-route  ;) A83, shirley.

Indeed, fat fingers

Pingu

  • Put away those fiery biscuits!
  • Mrs Pingu's domestique
    • the Igloo
Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
« Reply #140 on: 25 April, 2018, 06:08:46 pm »
At Tayinloan (345km) between Campbeltown and Tarbet (Leg 6)

There is a shop just off the A93, take the ferry road.  Continuing on, at the ferry terminal there are toilets, and a tea room. Tea room open 10am till 7pm.

That's seriously off-route  ;) A83, shirley.

Indeed, fat fingers

Don't call me fat fingers.

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
« Reply #141 on: 25 April, 2018, 06:15:02 pm »
See Route sheet leg 1 for details.

Shortly after "Miller & Carter" Cramond Bridge turn L thro underpass (care) and follow L to join new bike path by slip road on A90

Oh yes! Simples.  :thumbsup:
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

Bairn Again

Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
« Reply #142 on: 25 April, 2018, 08:10:38 pm »
What's the deal with crossing the A90 at Craigiehall? Maybe Google Street View is out of date but I can't see an easy way from one side to the other. Is there a new cycle bridge or something?

That's where the hotel with nice food is, isn't it?

That's a bit further on at Glenuig, according to the info sheet. There is a tea room in Acharacle though, and a fish & chip shop.

Burnshot flyover has been closed for many months as it was declared unsafe and has in fact recently been removed entirely.  Hence the underpass has been pressed into action for cyclists and pedestrians.  It makes the stretch out to Kirkliston largely traffic free  :thumbsup:

Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
« Reply #143 on: 25 April, 2018, 08:46:54 pm »
Shame - I did notice that you've had a busy few weeks away from the bike recently.

Aye, work's been pretty sucky lately. C'est la vie ...

LEL 2021?

Looks like it may well have to be. And I'll just have turned 50 ...
mibbes aye, mibbes naw

Phil W

Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
« Reply #144 on: 26 April, 2018, 11:43:18 am »
Leg 11 : Lochailort – Oban

Cafe (and toilets) at the National Trust visitor centre, Glenfinnan, 637km. Place open 9am till 6pm but not sure of cafe opening times within that.

COOP at Corpach, 657km is open 6am till 11pm.

As you turn right at the A82 roundabout (by distillery), 661km, towards Fort William; there is a BP garage to the left that is 24 hours.

Pier Head Take away, Fort William will be open till 1am.

IanDG

  • The p*** artist formerly known as 'Windy'
    • the_dandg_rouleur
Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
« Reply #145 on: 26 April, 2018, 12:37:35 pm »
Thanks Phil :)

Phil W

Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
« Reply #146 on: 26 April, 2018, 01:05:23 pm »
That's a bit further on at Glenuig, according to the info sheet. There is a tea room in Acharacle though, and a fish & chip shop.

As yes.  Acharacle is a control, so I will be needing to get a receipt anyway, I have now resplit the track there.  Notice there is also a hotel and shop there, so can top up supplies at same time.  Will make for a nice stop since it will be about 140km into day 2.  Then it would be about another 40km to the National Trust cafe at Glenfinnan to take on more supplies / calories; which will then see us into the evening. 

Excellent.

 

Phil W

Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
« Reply #147 on: 26 April, 2018, 01:15:25 pm »
Thanks Phil :)

I went through a similar exercise for the Wild Atlantic Way in 2016.  I then put a list of the all the controls, and food resupply points, with distances, into a striped table in Excel; that was printed onto A4, folded and put in a sandwich bag in a pocket.  My audax campaigns are organised around food and drink.

Bairn Again

Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
« Reply #148 on: 26 April, 2018, 01:22:52 pm »
Once the event has closed to entries I plan to email riders with a file of 16 individual tracks, one for each leg of the event.

Ive also updated the draft routesheet (the one available via the auk website) with a few tweaks, and have made it a Word version rather than pdf. 

Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
« Reply #149 on: 26 April, 2018, 04:15:09 pm »
Thanks Phil :)

I went through a similar exercise for the Wild Atlantic Way in 2016.  I then put a list of the all the controls, and food resupply points, with distances, into a striped table in Excel; that was printed onto A4, folded and put in a sandwich bag in a pocket.  My audax campaigns are organised around food and drink.

What, no beer?