Cycling UK Forum

Some useful stuff here on LFGSS.

http://www.lfgss.com/thread26852.html

I've cycled that road on several occasions and never had a problem. It probably helps that I ride a smallish frame and I only weigh around 56 Kilos.

It's interesting that the incidents that you experienced were two years apart. From your other long running thread I presume you were somewhat heavier on the first occasion.

I can't help much with an explanation but I'd be interested to know what hill west of Schull you're talking about. I'll be riding my road bike that way next week and I'll be back later in the year for some loaded touring.

Dave W wrote

Most people are of average height or fall into particular size catagories so sizing should be fairly standard.

Fit isn't the only consideration. Modern off the peg frames, with compact geometry and sloping top tubes, can usually be made to fit “Mr Average”. But what about geometry? braze on fittings? tyre and mudguard clearance? How about concealed wiring? A custom paint job? A good frame builder will also mix and match tubes to suit the weight of the rider and intended use. I'm on the small side and most otp frames in my size are overly stiff.


Most custom builders have a wealth of knowledge and experience which they are willing to share but they're not clairvoyant. Many people visit their frame builder and are happy to be entirely guided by them. Such an approach will probably not leave them disappointed but it's much better to visit your chosen builder with a fair idea of what you want. Discuss your ideas with them and, between the two of you, you should end up with a frame that you will enjoy for a lifetime.

Have you noticed that almost every chippy you come across is the recipient of some “ Best Fish-N-Chip Shop” award

When we cycle LEJOG almost every chippy we passed was voted “Best Something or Other”.

Not wishing to hijack your thread but having no knowledge of chip shops on your route, it would be nice to start a list of good Chippies anywhere in the country.
To add to those that have already been mentioned I can recommend Na Mara Restaurant at Gairloch. Not strictly a chippy but does an excellent Fishermans Supper. Also the Kishorn Seafood Bar. Not surprisingly on the shores of Loch Kishorn.

quackers wrote

I don't get it.

If you're confused try this one.

https://maps.google.co.uk/?ll=51.746549,-0.472648&spn=0.002149,0.005295&t=m&z=18&layer=c&cbll=51.746481,-0.472468&panoid=p23x_BW5g3cgxR_643-aRg&cbp=12,244.62,,0,0

It's in Hemel Hempstead. I believe it was the first of its kind in the country and was quite famous for a time.

You can still only turn left on it though.

[XAP]Bob wins the prize.

He wrote

Turn left to join, left to depart

You can't make a right turn on a roundabout.

I must admit I'm feeling a little bit dizzy with this roundabout discussion and I imagine that the OP is too.

Would someone explain, how is it possible to turn right on a roundabout?

With regard to the OP, I've always found it's safest to proceed on the assumption that they're not going to stop.
Always try and make eye contact.

nosmarbaj wrote

From Ballachulish Bridge to FW is the worst bit

That just goes to show how opinions can vary.

We had no problems with this section. Of course that may have been due to the fact that by then the sun had come out, whereas Rannoch Moor had been into horizontal rain and the downhill descent of Glen Coe was into a headwind that required pedalling all the way.

You could take the ferry across The Corran Narrows and proceed on the other side of the loch (A861) but you need to check the timetable of the Camusnagaul Ferry to avoid being stranded on the wrong side.

http://status.calmac.info/Timetables/summer-camusnagaul--camusnagaul-fort-william.pdf

It's a long ride round via Loch Eil at the end of a long day.

Incidentally, if you're heading up the Great Glen, from Fort Augustus, I'd recommend the old General Wade Military Road on the south side of Loch Ness. A bit of climbing to begin with but spectacular views and very quiet.

MickF wrote

No complaints from me going via Callender BTW. Lovely route, I just wonder why you're wanting to go that way on an End2End.

Well, a lot of people take the Arran route to avoid Glasgow and the Callander option is just another way of achieving this. Also in my case I stayed overnight with a friend in Balfron.

Your route from Callander to Fort William looks to be very similar to the route we took in 2010 – A84 ,A85 to Crianlarich then A82 across Rannoch Moor and Glen Coe. I notice you are using the off road alternative up Strathyre and Glen Ogle to Lix Tol. I've no experience of this. To be honest we found the road option to be fine with a fairly steady gradient up to Lochearnhead and then a steady pull from there up to Lix Tol. The A85 from Lix Tol to Crianlarich had been “resurfaced” at some time (chippings on top of tar) and was awful on 23mm tyres. It may have improved since 2010. Many Lejogers, I know, avoid the A82 across Rannoch Moor. Timing is important. At the height of the season it can be quite busy especially at week-ends. I did have a plan B, from Tyndrum to Connel bridge on the A85 and then north on the A 828 to the bridge at Ballachulish but its about 20 miles longer.

I can't comment on your route to Callander. Have you got accommodation booked at Biggar?
Our route from Carlisle and Gretna followed the B7076 (the old A74) to Happenden and then cut across country to Lanark (accommodation New Lanark YH). We then took minor roads to Kilsyth via Shotts and Airdree. From Kilsyth a long climb took us into the Carron valley, where we headed west alongside the reservoir to Fintry, then north via Lake of Montieth to Callander. It's a route that I would recommend to anyone wanting to avoid Glasgow. From Kilsyth onwards the roads were very quiet with good scenery.

Another advantage of the Callander route is that it would also be possible to head east from Lix Tol along the shores of Loch Tay towards Pitlochry and pick up the old A9 route. I'm thinking of doing LEJOG again next year and may well try this option.

I'm not a local and I'm not familiar with The Loch Glashan Cycle route but I imagine it's on forestry tracks.

I have travelled the road along the southern shore of Loch Awe (B840). We were heading north to south from Cladich and camped overnight by the shores of the loch. I would have thought it would be a more pleasant option than the Lochgilphead route and much the same mileage.

Norman H wrote

provided you fit hinge pins to protect the hinge side

Some confusion there.

The correct term I should have used is “Hinge Bolt”. Either the type incorporated into the hinge as linked to above or the metal dowel type which are inserted into the hinge side of the door and enter a pocket drilled into the door frame as the door closes.

Thirdcrank wrote


IME, the most likely type of opportunistic attack on your door would be an attempt to use either bodily pressure - shoulder-charging the door or kicking it in.

+1

Outward opening doors are obviously more secure against this type of attack than inward opening ones, provided you fit hinge pins to protect the hinge side. If you can, fit a 1 inch door stop, preferably screwed and glued. I would be inclined to fit a mortice lock at boot level and a mortice latch about two thirds of the way up.

What on-line mapping sites are we talking about?

Provided the maps are using Mercator Projection, a line drawn between two locations will cross all meridians at a constant angle. The angle that the line makes from true north will represent the true bearing between those two locations.

In the absence of any on-line tools to measure that bearing, the simplest way to achieve this would be would be to print a copy of the map and use a protractor to measure the angle. There are various navigational protractors available. One that I find the simplest to use is The Douglas Protractor.

http://geologysuperstore.com/geological-field-equipment-tools/measuring-equipment/douglas-protractor-5inch-125mm.html

As you are aware in order to follow that bearing using a magnetic compass you would need to apply a correction for magnetic variation

Some navigational software packages like Memory Map have a simple tool to achieve this with a couple of mouse clicks.

The Steady Auto has the USB charging facility. It's beneath the grey cover on the mounting arm.