How to transport e-bikes from Oban to Ardrossan?

[JonMercer]

We are doing the Kintyre - Oban section of route 78 in May, and will need to get our 2 e-bikes back to Ardrossan (where our car will be) from Oban.
The Oban to Glasgow train does not seem to offer any bike spaces, and Scotrail didn’t have any further info when I phoned them.
Can any one help? Is it possible to take a bike on the Oban train? It seems very surprising if not, Oban being a major Calmac ferry port?
Any info or other ideas gratefully received!

[irc]

The Oban Glasgow train does carry bikes.
Perhaps the bike spaces don't show up until within the usual 12 week window for booking tickets?

In fact I just tried a dummy booking for March 1st and there are bike spaces available.

They can be popular I would advise booking as soon as they are released.

[Will]

Bike spaces are currently only available for booking until Friday 24th April on ScotRail. This is usually updated every Friday (after 9am) and is a 12 week window.

ScotRail services between Oban and Glasgow are operated using Class 156 trains. These trains have 6 bike spaces. See this page for a video about taking your bike onboard:

https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-jo ... bike-train

The high hooks are not ideal when travelling with a heavy e-bike.

ScotRail also operate some services with an additional Class 153 carriage that is designed to carry bikes (known as the Highland Explorer). Unfortunately the departures from Oban are not ideal:

Monday to Friday: Departs Oban at 05:17 and 14:41
Saturday: Departs Oban at 05:17 and 17:44
Sunday: Departs Oban at 16:11

There is a page about this service here:

https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-jo ... d-explorer

Will

[Morzedec]

Park your car wherever you like, and just ride both ways - it's less than 100 miles one way, and on e-bikes?

Alternatively, buy two second-hand Dawes Galaxy from Facebook (there are plenty for sale), and really enjoy yourselves!

[JonMercer]

Thanks all for the useful info!

[Cyclewala]

I presume you’re leaving your car in Ardrossan because you’re catching a ferry to Kintyre via Arran?

If so, check with ferry company: CalMac. They’re upgrading their fleet and cancelled quite a few services last year and many are cancelled until Spring (at least) this year.

I had to catch a Citylink bus from Glasgow to Campbeltown last May. It takes bikes (foc) but is a 6 hour joirney.

[JonMercer]

Yes, we're taking ferry across Arran via Brodick and Lochranza (to Claonaig). We've already got the ferry booked via the Calmac app, hope not disrupted nearer the time........

[pjclinch]

Park your car wherever you like, and just ride both ways - it's less than 100 miles one way, and on e-bikes?

Alternatively, buy two second-hand Dawes Galaxy from Facebook (there are plenty for sale), and really enjoy yourselves!

If you drop Oban to Ardrossan into Cycle Travel (that optimises cycle routes for off-the-beaten busy road) then over half is on "busy roads". N/W Scotland doesn't have much in the way of nice back roads, they just have the main roads for the most part. And those are frequently not much like fun to ride on, and thus not necessarily great for "really enjoying" oneself. Those are the sorts of roads I'll ride to get somewhere if I don't have much choice, rather than roads I ride on to have fun.

Pete.

[Nealc]

As has been said above catching the train is the sensible option.
However, if you've plenty of time there is the mini cruise option !

Ferry oban- colonsay
Ferry colonsay-islay
Ferry islay-kennacraig
Ride kennacraig- claonaig 5km
Ferry clonaig-lochranza
Ride lochranza-brodick go the opposite way than you're outward leg.
Ferry brodick- ardrossan.

[st599_uk]

There's also the 5 ferries challenge cycling ticket on CalMac and a nice t-shirt as a prize.