T
the.Mark
Guest
We drove up to the B&B at Lonbain on the Friday night, Windcheetah and
Rockhopper in the back of the car. After watching the sunset over Raasay,
Rhona and the Isle of Skye we went to sleep tired after the long journey.
During the night the wind and the rain lashed at the house making us wary of
the day ahead. Next morning the sun was shining so after a good breakfast of
porridge followed by eggs, bacon, mushrooms, tomato and venison sausages,
with some tea and toast, we set off.
The first and steepest hill was right outside the B&B which took us up to
the main road to Applecross 7 miles south. The road was undulating with a
good long 10% drop just before the village. A good warm up for the main
feature, the Bealach na Ba or Pass of the Cattle an old drovers route.
Now at sea level we started the big climb, only 5 and a half miles to the
top 2030ft up. It was a hard climb from the start and quickly our speed
dropped every look at the computer showed a depressing 4 or 5 mph. At least
the sun was still shining although there were some ominous signs in the
clouds behind. The closer we got to the top the steeper it got with the road
starting to zigzag up the hill and the computer reading 2 or 3 mph. We
finally reached the top 2 hours 45 minutes after setting off just as it
started to snow where we got our picture taken at the top by a motorcyclist.
We left the top without a break as the cold was biting and the snow got
heavier. I had planned to video the descent over the spectacular looking
hairpin bends on the south side of the pass but the cloud was too thick. A
few hundred feet down the clouds cleared so I got the camera out and in the
90 seconds of filming I caught 4 cyclists heading up the hill[1], the only
other cyclists we saw all day[2].
We reached sea level again 5 and a half miles from the top and joined the
A896 to head for Shieldaig where we had planned to stop for lunch when it
started to drizzle and soon turned to heavy rain. It was only 8 miles to
Shieldaig but it was into the wind and quite a slog. We passed the
motorcyclist who took our picture, with his buddies, going round the loop
the opposite way who gave us a friendly wave which we returned. Coming into
Shieldaig the rain started to ease which was just as well as my feet were
soaked through and numb with the cold.
Our stop at the pub in Shieldaig was timed perfectly the rain had stopped
and the sun was back out. We both had soup, Helen had some tea an I had
coffee. It was just what we needed to warm us up. On leaving the pub some
young lads had gathered round the Windcheetah all wanting a go. Having to
disappoint them as we were a bit behind our schedule we left Shieldaig to
shouts of cool bike mister.
The roads on the north coast of the peninsula may not climb as high as the
pass but it must have about the same amount of ascent some of it as steep if
not steeper. There would be a steep descent followed by a steep climb
followed by the same again, usually started with a blast down hill gaining
as much momentum as possible to get up the next, the last part of each
ascent being done in lowest gear. Some of the ascents were so steep that
Helen had to get off, I'm just glad the Windcheetah had 3 wheels. A few
miles to go and we passed the 4 cyclists we passed earlier. We finally
finished the circuit as the rain started again.
We passed few cars and a lot more motorcycles, everyone on the road was
friendly we got and gave waves to all. One driver stopped and asked Helen if
it was us she saw on the pass, when she found it was she said well done.
The cycle computer said 48 miles but autoroute says 45. My top speed was
48mph, maybe it was really only 45 (I must recalibrate the computer).
Overall it was a good day out.
--
Mark
1x1 wheel, 3x2 wheels & 1x3 wheels.
[1] If you're reading this - Hi Guys.
[2] I must try to get the video on a web page some time.
Rockhopper in the back of the car. After watching the sunset over Raasay,
Rhona and the Isle of Skye we went to sleep tired after the long journey.
During the night the wind and the rain lashed at the house making us wary of
the day ahead. Next morning the sun was shining so after a good breakfast of
porridge followed by eggs, bacon, mushrooms, tomato and venison sausages,
with some tea and toast, we set off.
The first and steepest hill was right outside the B&B which took us up to
the main road to Applecross 7 miles south. The road was undulating with a
good long 10% drop just before the village. A good warm up for the main
feature, the Bealach na Ba or Pass of the Cattle an old drovers route.
Now at sea level we started the big climb, only 5 and a half miles to the
top 2030ft up. It was a hard climb from the start and quickly our speed
dropped every look at the computer showed a depressing 4 or 5 mph. At least
the sun was still shining although there were some ominous signs in the
clouds behind. The closer we got to the top the steeper it got with the road
starting to zigzag up the hill and the computer reading 2 or 3 mph. We
finally reached the top 2 hours 45 minutes after setting off just as it
started to snow where we got our picture taken at the top by a motorcyclist.
We left the top without a break as the cold was biting and the snow got
heavier. I had planned to video the descent over the spectacular looking
hairpin bends on the south side of the pass but the cloud was too thick. A
few hundred feet down the clouds cleared so I got the camera out and in the
90 seconds of filming I caught 4 cyclists heading up the hill[1], the only
other cyclists we saw all day[2].
We reached sea level again 5 and a half miles from the top and joined the
A896 to head for Shieldaig where we had planned to stop for lunch when it
started to drizzle and soon turned to heavy rain. It was only 8 miles to
Shieldaig but it was into the wind and quite a slog. We passed the
motorcyclist who took our picture, with his buddies, going round the loop
the opposite way who gave us a friendly wave which we returned. Coming into
Shieldaig the rain started to ease which was just as well as my feet were
soaked through and numb with the cold.
Our stop at the pub in Shieldaig was timed perfectly the rain had stopped
and the sun was back out. We both had soup, Helen had some tea an I had
coffee. It was just what we needed to warm us up. On leaving the pub some
young lads had gathered round the Windcheetah all wanting a go. Having to
disappoint them as we were a bit behind our schedule we left Shieldaig to
shouts of cool bike mister.
The roads on the north coast of the peninsula may not climb as high as the
pass but it must have about the same amount of ascent some of it as steep if
not steeper. There would be a steep descent followed by a steep climb
followed by the same again, usually started with a blast down hill gaining
as much momentum as possible to get up the next, the last part of each
ascent being done in lowest gear. Some of the ascents were so steep that
Helen had to get off, I'm just glad the Windcheetah had 3 wheels. A few
miles to go and we passed the 4 cyclists we passed earlier. We finally
finished the circuit as the rain started again.
We passed few cars and a lot more motorcycles, everyone on the road was
friendly we got and gave waves to all. One driver stopped and asked Helen if
it was us she saw on the pass, when she found it was she said well done.
The cycle computer said 48 miles but autoroute says 45. My top speed was
48mph, maybe it was really only 45 (I must recalibrate the computer).
Overall it was a good day out.
--
Mark
1x1 wheel, 3x2 wheels & 1x3 wheels.
[1] If you're reading this - Hi Guys.
[2] I must try to get the video on a web page some time.
