Renting a car to support cyclists - any suggestions

[mnichols]

I'm doing a lap of Scotland in May with a friend, and my wife and kids (2) have decided to come along in a car as its a good opportunity to see Scotland. So my wife will drive the car with the kids and their luggage and we will see them in the evening. We were going to be self supported but now that they are coming they will also carry our luggage. We are planning to do around 170 miles per day, and if we have a mechanical or other problem we also want the option of putting one or both us in the car. I also have a few days at the beginning and end of the trip when I'm not cycling and will just be sight seeing in the car.

Flights and hotels booked, but car hire for Scotland in May Bank Holiday is very expensive. Also not sure best way to carry bikes. Any ideas?

Currently Im thinking of driving my wife's car up and back as this has a roof rack, but as we live in Bath this isn't ideal.

Any ideas?

[Heltor Chasca]

Wow! 170 miles a day? How many hours a day are you planning to be in the saddle? These hills in Somerset have made you mega fit [emoji6] looking forward to your trip report...b

[eileithyia]

That was my thought, 170miles a day in Scotland.... wow.

You need a reasonable sized vehicle, an estate car or a crew style van. Can't help over costs, it is what it costs, check out Enterprise, they are one of the cheapest I know of.

I admire your wife also, large distances of driving with fidgety kids.....

[irc]

Given that the Plan A was no support. Then any vehicle to carry luggage is a big step up. Use your wife's car with roof rack. If all goes well it will only we your wife and the kids using it anyway. If there is a mechanical which can't be sorted with a car based toolkit then you have transport for at least that bike and rider.

Both cheaper and less hassle than dealing with car hire.

[rmurphy195]

Given the passenger/luggage mix you are suggesting, unless you plan to carry a bike rack which - with the car owners permission -you can mount onto the hire car, complete with lighting board - its a tall order even for an estate. A fair-sized van - with extra seats - or a minibus, now, might be more like it.

From Bath - just take your normal car, it will work out much, much cheaper. Especially if you scratch the hire vehicle while putting bikes in it or on it!

[ambodach]

My sympathies are with your wife. With 2 children and some of the roads you will be using this is going to be quite a trip.In the tourist season other traffic can be a problem as well. Hope they are not prone to car sickness.
For you it will be just a physical challenge for her it will I suspect be a bit of an ordeal

[greyingbeard]

Is it fair to expect the kids to sit in the car all day every day ?

[mnichols]

Hi, thanks for the advice. Fair point about the journey for wife and kids. The kids are 16 and 12 so not tiny and usually happy with an iPad, but you're right it's a long day in a car.

Thanks for confirming my thoughts about driving my wife's car up, I just wanted to check that I wasn't missing an option

[gaz]

.

[profpointy]

perhaps too late now, but is it actually quicker to fly? Bath to Glasgow maybe 6 hours' drive. Flying - an hour flight, an hour to get to (bristol) airport, plus at least an hour's buggerment/queing time each end. And you've got to set off at exactly such and such time which probabky costs you more time. Coming back you have to drop the car off and get back to glasgow with enough margin of time so probably takes longer the just driving home.

[borisface]

Why?

[Mark1978]

As said a proper support would be a van. But, a van and Scottish single track roads don't really mix well.

Can't help thinking it's not a great holiday for the kids. And that's Steven Abraham levels of daily mileage, mental.

[TrevA]

Do you want them to follow you all the time or just meet you at points during the day? If the latter, then that will give yor wife and kids the opportunity to tourist things during the day. 170 miles is going to take you 12-15 hours a day, but it's only 4 or 5 hours driving for your wife.

The chances of a disabling mechanical are fairly small, if your bikes are well maintained and you fit new tyres, cassettes and chains before you go.

What is your current car? You may struggle if it's a small hatch but a family saloon or estate with a roof rack would be OK.

[Ben@Forest]

I'm doing a lap of Scotland in May with a friend, and my wife and kids (2) have decided to come along in a car as its a good opportunity to see Scotland. So my wife will drive the car with the kids and their luggage and we will see them in the evening. We were going to be self supported but now that they are coming they will also carry our luggage. We are planning to do around 170 miles per day, and if we have a mechanical or other problem we also want the option of putting one or both us in the car. I also have a few days at the beginning and end of the trip when I'm not cycling and will just be sight seeing in the car.

Flights and hotels booked, but car hire for Scotland in May Bank Holiday is very expensive. Also not sure best way to carry bikes. Any ideas?

Currently Im thinking of driving my wife's car up and back as this has a roof rack, but as we live in Bath this isn't ideal.

Despite all the various suggestions I don't really understand this post. You mention you have flights booked but then wonder about driving the car up. There are five of you (you, friend, wife, two kids) and for some of the holiday you'll all be in the car (with two bikes on the roof rack presumably). That sounds crowded. Who's flying up? If it's you and your friend are the bikes going with you? Does a hire car need to be able to transport the bike(s) except for an emergency mechanical?

Your luggage can be carried by your car from A to B but do you really want to depend on your wife and kids for support? It'd be pretty annoying to be halfway round a castle licking an ice-cream to get a phone call saying you''re needed at Drumnadrochit to sort out a mechanical or physical ailment - and anyway you'd have had to have sorted this out alone under Plan A wouldn't you?

I've not really done much of this type of 'dual' touring but where I have it's been a case of - 'you enjoy your day, I'll enjoy mine' - see you at the endpoint. I think it's fairer to the other party. Of course your wife and kids may hate castles and want to be a support team!

[irc]

Thought the OP covered that -

wife and kids (2) have decided to come along in a car as its a good opportunity to see Scotland

The family get to see Scotland while also seeing dad in the mornings and evenings. I'd assumed the support would be as a last resort for breakdowns or injury, carrying luggage, and perhaps a daily pre-arranged lunch meet. Not too onerous for the support crew.

In fact the sort of arrangement I'd consider offering my services for. Someone provides a car and lets me drive about Scotland with most of the day to myself. What's not to like?