A82-how busy

[crazyferret]

hi im cycling the lejog this summer and im having some problems deciding on a route for northern scotland. It all comes down to how busy the A82 is and would it be fine to cycle on it. I don't realy want any lorries driving past me.

Thanks

[mill4six]

All depends on the time of day, I hated this road and the logging lorries give no quarter. We had a particularly bad overtake the lead rider saved himself only by bailing into the hedge. However others have posted that they had no problems so see what they say too. It's a beautiful road too in places but if it gets busy you need to keep your wits about you particularly approaching blind bends where those logging trucks will just pass you anyway We went in mid May.

[Craigsmith]

We rode the A82 from Glasgow to just outside Inverness and had no problem, this was at the beginning of September last year. We had read reports about this route but thoroughly enjoyed it, fantastic scenery and a fairly quiet road.

[cycloret]

I found the A82 unpleasant on last year's Lejog because of the lumber lorries and nearer Loch Ness the coaches. At least the road is wide enough in most places for vehicles to easily overtake a cyclist. It's just that the lumber lorries seem to thunder past. Unfortunately going this way there aren't many alternatives. I turned off the A82 to Drumndrochit and not all the way to Inverness as some do.

Lower the risk by wearing high viz clothing and have a flashing rear light. Don't cycle two up. If you are that concerned, can you arrange to do this bit of the journey over the weekend? There may be a more coaches but fewer HGVs

Having a rear view mirror can be useful. Here's the one I've fitted to all my bikes-
http://www.bike-eye.com/

[cmlstratton]

Michael, thank you for the reminder to buy a mirror! I had been debating which one to get and if that one is good enough for you to have on all your bikes I am sure it will do me. Found on eBay postage free.

Could you kindly remind me if you cycled the Clunes Forest trail? I have 700x32 which I am sure would be fine however my companions have narrower road tyres and I am worried about them on this stretch. So debate is reasonable speed on the A82 on the East side of Loch Lochy or ploughing a trail on the East /Great Glen Way. Any others have comment?

[vernon]

I've used the A82 for LEJOG and JOGLE and have often wondered what all of the fuss is about. I never felt threatened, intimidated or in any danger while cycling on it and found it to be far less busy than the roads that I habitually use in West and North Yorkshire. It's all a matter of perspective - if a cyclist is used to very quiet rural roads and Sustrans' routes then the A82 will appear to be a very busy road.

[cycloret]

Charlie, a word of caution about the Bike Eye mirror, it's not likely but I don't know if the rear view is obstructed by panniers or a large saddle bag. I tried other mirrors but the Bike Eye was best. The type that fits in a handlebar end was for ever getting knocked.

I didn't use the Clunes Forest trail because I was on road bike with 700c x24. I think some of the pictures that I've seen of the trail look reasonable but I didn't want to chance it. It's no fun if you find that you have to cycle over totally unsuitable terrain.Even some of the Sustrans paths elsewhere in the country are a challenge for a bike with narrow road tyres, parts of the 65 from near Howden to Selby spring to mind.

It was mainly the lumber lorries on the A82 I disliked. They're large, wide and often pulling a trailer. I expect they'll know the road well so drive in a spirited fashion. I felt more threatened by them that other HGVs.

[cmlstratton]

Hi Michael, as I am going to be supported (by loving daughter) I am only using a bar bag for camera/first aid/energy bars and then a small under saddle bag for spare inner tubes/tools also vision should be OK.

My companions are prepared to try the Forest trail if it is dry however if the ground is damp or its raining we'll risk the A82 with Hi-Viz & flashing lights as you recommend. I am debating changing down to 28's from my 32 SportContacts however they are comfortable.

Loving my Rohloff which is a lot easier/quieter 250m later.

Happy Easter to all reading this.

[robgul]

Charlie, a word of caution about the Bike Eye mirror, it's not likely but I don't know if the rear view is obstructed by panniers or a large saddle bag. I tried other mirrors but the Bike Eye was best. The type that fits in a handlebar end was for ever getting knocked.

The Bike Eye is great for a bike without luggage - sadly useless if there is luggage as the line of sight is obscured.

My mirror of choice is a Blackburn one that fits to the brake hood with a velcro strap - has no effect on riding on the hoods, and is easy to transfer to the left hand side for overseas riding

Rob

[ambodach]

I have tried to resist commenting on the A82 but have had to give in. I use this road quite a lot as a driver from mainly Oban to Glasgow. Mostly ok for cycling but bits are pretty bad. The A82 is the main road to the western islands and Skye as well as Fort William and Inverness on the western side. Between Tarbet on Loch Lomondside and the foot of Glen Falloch is narrow and winding.This carries traffic constrained by ferry timetables and therefore not too patient at the best of times. I have frequently (and I am a cyclist) heartily cursed some cyclist who will not pull over and let traffic overtake on this section which is too narrow and winding to overtake safely otherwise. In the past I cycled this route regularly but not nowadays. Further north between North Ballachulish and Fort William there is the same problem. Narrow road with lots of traffic and difficult for anything bigger than a car to overtake. I personally would not attempt to cycle here. Having said all that it depends on what you are used to and also on time of day and time of year.Even at 0600 tho' you find people like me clogging south to make deadlines which all commercial traffic has to meet and also to make the last ferry home. You may be lucky and strike a quiet time but be prepared for heavy and impatient traffic which you can help to avoid by making an effort to let larger vehicles overtake.The purists will no doubt shout at me for this approach but it is realistic and avoids potential problems. Most of the rest of the A82 is less of a problem but you have to be prepared for sometimes heavy and continuous traffic.As I said earlier it depends on what you are used to.

[irc]

I've cycled the Corran Ferry to Fort William section late in the day in spring outwith the weekend and holidays and found it fine. It is narrow and twist but at least the speed differential between a bike and other traffic is not huge.

But then I've cycled short sections of the A82 between Glencoe and Tyndrum and found it uncomfortable. The problem is I'm cycling along at 15mph and the car approaching from the rear is frequently doing 70mph and leaving it until the last second to decide if he can overtake me before the next oncoming car or whether heavy braking is needed to get down to 15mph behind before overtaking.

IMO the road in the Glencoe section is too narrow in many places for a car to safely overtake a bike in the face of oncoming traffic so I need to ride in primary which I find uncomfortable when the overtaking traffic is at near motorway speeds. But most of my cycling is either on 30 or 40mph urban roads or low traffic rural roads. Anyone used to cycling on high speed busy A roads may be untroubled by the A82.

On the basis that I go touring to enjoy myself I'd rather go a longer route with lighter traffic than ride the length of the A82. On my LeJog I went Glasgow - Callander - Killin - Pitlochry , then the old A9.

[Mick F]

I'm with ambodach on this.

I've driven the A82 many many times, and cycled much of it too.

I would avoid it by bike nowadays, and it's no fun in a car any more either.

[irc]

We rode the A82 from Glasgow to just outside Inverness and had no problem, this was at the beginning of September last year. We had read reports about this route but thoroughly enjoyed it, fantastic scenery and a fairly quiet road.

The A82 has huge variations in traffic volume. A traffic study in 2004 found that the section south of Crianlarich had traffic flows over 12 hours varying from a weekday in May at 2800 to 7700 for a weekend in August. At the higher figure that is a car passing every 6 seconds or so. The numbers show the benefit, if using the A82, of going on a weekday outwith July/August.

At summer weekend volumes of 7700 over 12 hours that is a vehicle passing every 6 seconds. Not quiet IMO.

http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/fil ... rch_06.pdf

[adorey]

Last week I rode on the A82 from Tarbet (Loch Lomond) to Fort Augustus on my LEJOG and it was brilliant!

Seemed like lots of it had been re-surfaced very recently as it was very smooth and I could still smell the fresh tar-mac!

Was busy from Alexandria to Tarbet but there is a good cycle path that runs alongside it by Loch Lomond.

I would recommend it

[cycloret]

Just a note about panniers blocking the rear view of a Bike Eye mirror. I've got Ortlieb Front Rollers at the back and I've just repositioned the mirror to give a mostly unobstructed rear view. Usually I fit this mirror in head tube / down tube angle but by moving the Bike Eye to the angle between the head tube / top tube, the panniers aren't obstructing my view.
It is though a 25" frame and I won't be carrying anything directly on top of the of rear rack.