Inverness 1200

[ianrobo]

After advice from locals I will be doing that but been told it is spicy there with locals !

[Ajax Bay]

I've just been routing and looking at the A82 on google maps. Wondering if a reroute through Dumbarton and the Renton on the B857 may be more pleasant.

Like this line, perhaps, through Alexandria, Renton and then join the A814 through Dumbarton?
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28872782
(at 900km)

[FifeingEejit]

Was at the rest today on the Argyll alps 200, there's traffic light Control on the a83 route due to mountainside movement mitigation works.

Looked like a fairly lengthy light section which may be problematic, military road route had the usual hurdles despite being ncn...

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[Clemo]

Was at the rest today on the Argyll alps 200, there's traffic light Control on the a83 route due to mountainside movement mitigation works.

Looked like a fairly lengthy light section which may be problematic, military road route had the usual hurdles despite being ncn...

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Thanks for the heads up,

Where is the military road bit?

[FifeingEejit]

Was at the rest today on the Argyll alps 200, there's traffic light Control on the a83 route due to mountainside movement mitigation works.

Looked like a fairly lengthy light section which may be problematic, military road route had the usual hurdles despite being ncn...

Sent from my BKL-L09 using Tapatalk

Thanks for the heads up,

Where is the military road bit?

It's marked as a white on the OS map, the routes diverge just before the gradient increases on the A83, the military road waits a bit then sends you up at a greater rate so only worth it if you're there and traffics proper rubbish

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[Ajax Bay]

Was at the rest today on the Argyll alps 200, there's traffic light Control on the a83 route due to mountainside movement mitigation works.
Looked like a fairly lengthy light section which may be problematic, military road route had the usual hurdles despite being ncn...

Thanks for the heads up,
Where is the military road bit?

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=223002&y=707450&z=120&sv=223002,707450&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=676&ax=223002&ay=707450&lm=0

[Clemo]

Was at the rest today on the Argyll alps 200, there's traffic light Control on the a83 route due to mountainside movement mitigation works.

Looked like a fairly lengthy light section which may be problematic, military road route had the usual hurdles despite being ncn...

Sent from my BKL-L09 using Tapatalk

Thanks for the heads up,

Where is the military road bit?

It's marked as a white on the OS map, the routes diverge just before the gradient increases on the A83, the military road waits a bit then sends you up at a greater rate so only worth it if you're there and traffics proper rubbish

Sent from my BKL-L09 using Tapatalk

Thanks, found it I need to scroll in further to see it.

[Clemo]

Was at the rest today on the Argyll alps 200, there's traffic light Control on the a83 route due to mountainside movement mitigation works.
Looked like a fairly lengthy light section which may be problematic, military road route had the usual hurdles despite being ncn...

Thanks for the heads up,
Where is the military road bit?

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=223002&y=707450&z=120&sv=223002,707450&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=676&ax=223002&ay=707450&lm=0

Thankls, vastly more obvious on the good old OS mapping rather than Google.

[FifeingEejit]

Was at the rest today on the Argyll alps 200, there's traffic light Control on the a83 route due to mountainside movement mitigation works.
Looked like a fairly lengthy light section which may be problematic, military road route had the usual hurdles despite being ncn...

Thanks for the heads up,
Where is the military road bit?

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=223002&y=707450&z=120&sv=223002,707450&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=676&ax=223002&ay=707450&lm=0

Thankls, vastly more obvious on the good old OS mapping rather than Google.

Google mapping is designed to only be of use when using Google directions on a Google slab while eating Google Confectionary.
It'll also happily send you on a walk up tower ridge on the Ben if you're not careful... Locha er MRT are loving that

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[Deano]

I've just been routing and looking at the A82 on google maps. Wondering if a reroute through Dumbarton and the Renton on the B857 may be more pleasant. The National Speed limit Dual carriageway, with narrow lanes at times and no shoulder looks a bit spicy!

You could head out to one of the ferries from Gourock to either Kilcreggan or Hunters Quay, then up the lochs. There's an old railway line from Paisley which is pretty ridable and takes you to Port Glasgow.

[FifeingEejit]

No need to use the dualer in either direction, Erskine to hellensburgh there's cycle paths and town roads and Balloch to Erskine you can ride through the schemes... The dualler may be safer...

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[Ajax Bay]

You could head out to one of the ferries from Gourock to either Kilcreggan or Hunters Quay, then up the lochs. There's an old railway line from Paisley which is pretty ridable and takes you to Port Glasgow.

See the FW 1000 thread posts #19, #20 and #25 for discussion/factors on the ferry options west of the Erskine Bridge. Entirely doable and the audacious choice, provided a rider's schedule means they won't have to wait for the first ferry of the day - which I think is at the 22 and 1/2 hours point (ie after 0800 Fri) having ridden (and slept) 340+km.

[FifeingEejit]

First Western Ferry on a Saturday is 0730, Paisley shuts 0759 for 1000ers so it's a bit close to time for adding the distance.
It would of course allow the dodging of the Rest and Be Thankful.

It doesn't work on the return at all due to the need to control in Crianlarich.

[Deano]

You could head out to one of the ferries from Gourock to either Kilcreggan or Hunters Quay, then up the lochs. There's an old railway line from Paisley which is pretty ridable and takes you to Port Glasgow.

See the FW 1000 thread posts #19, #20 and #25 for discussion/factors on the ferry options west of the Erskine Bridge. Entirely doable and the audacious choice, provided a rider's schedule means they won't have to wait for the first ferry of the day - which I think is at the 22 and 1/2 hours point (ie after 0800 Fri) having ridden (and slept) 340+km.

Bloody hell, John, I'm not reading all of both threads

[Rod Marton]

First Western Ferry on a Saturday is 0730, Paisley shuts 0759 for 1000ers so it's a bit close to time for adding the distance.
It would of course allow the dodging of the Rest and Be Thankful.

It doesn't work on the return at all due to the need to control in Crianlarich.

First ferry from Gourock to Dunoon is at 06-20, which makes this route a little more practicable. For fast riders the last ferry on Friday evening (OK Saturday morning) is at 01-00, which means 340k in 17 hours. I was toying with the idea of using this route, but I don't think I'm quite fast enough for the last ferry and don't really want to wait for the morning one.

[FifeingEejit]

Never thought to check the calmac timetable, Argyll Flyer and Ali Cat have a reputation for being unreliable, they also don't have much deck space.
Which makes it odd the Gourock - Dunoon timetable doesn't have the "Groups of 6 or more" caveat.

[alexberry]

Think my plan is really ready now. Thanks Ajax for the route, i have updated it to include the leg from Paisley to Lytham in a single file. Comes in at 1250km - link here:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30443970

I will be camping at Inverness on Saturday here:
http://www.invernesscaravanpark.com/
and Abington on Sunday night here:
https://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/campsites/uk/lanarkshire/abington/mountviewcaravanpark/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwpPHoBRC3ARIsALfx-_IeM3V-G8tWH7sfL80fKB0i7tzULtZY6RTcbpvSbni5Io3HvCNOG0gaAg8KEALw_wcB

i was going to wild camp at FW but the midge forecast has put me off completely, hence camping in Inverness and will ahve a few beers / pub lunch, hopefully hook up with the Pan Celtic lot and have a laugh.

I think theres plenty of space available at these locations, so let me know if your also going to use these spots.

Lastly, im riding over from Manchester at around 4pm on Thursday, if anyone else is heading over let me know and we could hook up.

[Ajax Bay]

Best of luck for the ride, everyone.

[ianrobo]

Thanks Ajax and finally after much dithering my final set up - May try and squash it even more !  But time to stop tinkering !!

[Phil W]

Have fun all

[alexberry]

I'm all ready too...hipflask packed!

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[ianrobo]

 Nice bike !

[Andy Corless]

Thanks to all those that entered and volunteered to help out for the inaugural Inverness 1200 that's taking place right now! 37 riders started at 08:00 am yesterday morning, and there's at least 30 still going! I'll be catching up with them all at Paisley tomorrow! 25 started the Fort William 1000 being ran concurrently.

Some pictures from the start posted on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/audaxuk/

Andy Corless

[Andy Corless]

First rider back at Paisley (910 km) 2nd time through. 27 out of 37 starters still going!

Andy Corless

[Bikeabilityman]

I’m enjoying the sightseeing and food, and have just enjoyed pasta with pesto and a cornetto at Crianlarich, whilst watching another rider stop and go.