West Highland way for charridy

Shaggy3821
Shaggy3821 Posts: 37
edited November 2009 in Routes
Never done a ride like this before but in training fitness wise at the moment. Both riders are of average skill technically but any tips for safely completing the trip would be greatly appreciated. Doing the ride at the end of May next year for the Donna Louise Trust in Stoke on Trent if any one local (or otherwise) has heard of it.

http://www.justgiving.com/West-highland-wheelie

Comments

  • sniper68
    sniper68 Posts: 2,910
    The section from Inversnaid to the top of Loch Lomond is unrideable.Take the ferry across and take your chances on the A82 8)
    Lynskey R480

  • Shaggy3821
    Shaggy3821 Posts: 37
    Heard that from a lot of sources, but the challange is to follow the West Highland Way so it looks like we'll be carrying/pushing the bikes for that section.

    Never say die!!!

    Cheers

    Shaggy
  • sniper68
    sniper68 Posts: 2,910
    Its the only section that "they" ask bikers not to use...and for good reason :roll: We got bit to shit by the midges on our 1st WHW,used the ferry on our 2nd 8)
    Lynskey R480

  • Shaggy3821
    Shaggy3821 Posts: 37
    If there are any midges around i seem to attract them anyway so fully expecting to be bitten. A lot of people say Avon Skin so soft is good but i've never tried it, apart from to make my skin soft. Didn't work for that so i can only hope its keeps the little biting gits away. Talked over the rough patch today with my riding partner and we have decided we are definately going to do it. No pain no gain and I wouldn't feel right claiming to have done the ride if we skipped the hard bits.
  • sniper68
    sniper68 Posts: 2,910
    Take it from me it isn't a hard bit,its just a pointless slog with the bike on your shoulders and depending on how busy it is with walkers could take a few hours :roll:
    Best left to walkers and its only 6ish miles out of the whole ride.
    Lynskey R480

  • simmo3801
    simmo3801 Posts: 486
    Shaggy, Avon Skin so Soft works. It doesn't keep the midges away as you can still feel them crawling on you but it stops them biting you which is a bonus! I used it in July at Glen Coe and it was very effective.

    Good luck with WHW. Did it years ago. First part hard going as I remember due to lots of gates that we had to lift laden bikes over :( Other than that enjoyable :D
    Giant Anthem X3 2013
  • Shaggy3821
    Shaggy3821 Posts: 37
    Thanks for the warning with respect to the early part of the ride. Luckily we have some good support so only actually riding with what we need for the days riding. Hopefully some of the gates have gone by now. If not will have shoulders like Garth by the time we get to the first stop.
  • lochussie
    lochussie Posts: 276
    I wouldn't ride the A82 up Loch Lomond if I had a choice, I drive it a lot and it's not a safe road. What's so bad about that part of WHW?
  • sniper68
    sniper68 Posts: 2,910
    lochussie wrote:
    I wouldn't ride the A82 up Loch Lomond if I had a choice, I drive it a lot and it's not a safe road. What's so bad about that part of WHW?
    Believe me the small section of road is 10 times better than that bit.Its just the section from the Hotel at Inversnaid to the far north of the WHW its basically 90%unridable.All the guides/ books etc ask Cyclists to miss this section and with good reason.It spoilt our 1st attempt so we missed it out on our 2nd go and the ride was 1000% better for it.
    Best left to the walkers.
    Lynskey R480

  • Stoo61
    Stoo61 Posts: 1,394
    I rode it from Inversnaid down the way then off toward Balloch, was decent fun.
    THE Boardman
    Pink Orange 224
    Humble but Defiant Roadie
  • sniper68
    sniper68 Posts: 2,910
    Stoo61 wrote:
    I rode it from Inversnaid down the way then off toward Balloch, was decent fun.
    The bit South of Inversnaid towards Balmaha is ok,it the northern bit thats a trudge :roll:
    Lynskey R480

  • jackthelad
    jackthelad Posts: 89
    guys just looked at this post and I am also thinking of doing whw.

    Am I correct in saying you get to inversnaid then take the ferry to Tarbutt and then ride up to crianlarich.If anyone could clarify, it would be greatly appreciated

    jackthelad

    Ps mate wants to do it in a day, is this possible if missing all the walking with bike
  • sniper68
    sniper68 Posts: 2,910
    IIRC we rejoined near Inverarnan it all ridable from then on.It was around there somewhere we went over a small bridge to cross the river and rejoin the WHW.
    Lynskey R480

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