Hello all,
I spoke with the Duty Manager of Scotrail Central station this morning. He’s informed me that the Ardrossan line train from Central isn’t running for the next 4 weeks due to maintenance and that the return trains from Weymss Bay are generally busy with commuters (I did notice that last year). Due to this, he stated that we’d probably be refused onto the trains as there won’t be enough space for passengers & bikes.
So, for the folk that still want to attend the ride, we need to drive & car share. There are two options for this;
1. Park at Ardrossan for 9.15am – it means an additional 18 miles down the A78 from Weymss Bay at the end of the journey. Taking the total miles to 70.
2. Park at Weymss Bay, ready to leave for 7.30am prompt – it means cycling the 18 miles at the very start of the journey.
I favour option 1 and I’ll be driving, I have places for 2 & bikes in the car. So please let me know if your interested. I can pick you up in Glasgow at 7.45am as it’s an hours drive to Ardrossan. I know there are also folk favouring option 2, so there will be a group to head down with from Wemyss Bay in the morning if that suits.
Please post up if you have space in the car or if you need a lift and please arrange to help each other out.
Please remember that this is subject to weather, personally, light rain is ok but heavy rain/strong winds isn’t worth it. It looks ok now, but I’ll post again on Friday afternoon once we have a clearer forecast and decide from there.
Timetable: (new additional journey miles not listed below)
Link to earlier post containing printable map & timetable http://glasgowmbc.wordpress.com/2011/08/11/5-ferry-challenge-map-timetable-ms-word-doc/
| miles | time | ave. speed r’qd | ||||
| Ardrossan | Brodick |
9:45:00 AM |
10:40:00 AM |
|||
|
14 |
01:20:00 |
10.5 |
||||
| Lochranza | Cloanaig |
12:00:00 PM |
12:30:00 PM |
|
||
| every 30 mins | 1.15pm | 1.45pm |
|
|||
|
10 |
00:45:00 |
13.3 |
||||
| Tarbet | Portavadie |
1:15:00 PM |
1:40:00 PM |
|
||
| every hour | 2.15pm | 2.40pm |
|
|||
| 3.15pm | 3.40pm |
|
||||
|
19 |
01:50:00 |
10.4 |
||||
| Colintraive | Rhubodach |
3:30:00 PM |
3:35:00 PM |
|
||
| every 30 mins | 4.30pm | 4.35pm |
|
|||
| 5.30pm | 5.35pm |
|
||||
|
8 |
01:10:00 |
6.9 |
||||
| Rothesay | Wemyss Bay |
4:45:00 PM |
5:20:00 PM |
I will be doing Option 2, weather permitting. Two of us are leaving East Kilbride 0615 and driving to Wemyss Bay. A very early start, but the Adrossan to Arran ferry trip is an hour and does a good breakfast. I don’t fancy getting off the ferry at 530 pm at Wemyss Bay (very earliest, assuming no problems during the day) and riding 18 miles down the coast to Ardrossan..
Dawn and I may well be doing the same, I’ll confirm later in the week.
Wondering whether we could drop a car/cars at Wemyss bay, drive down to Adrossan with bikes, and at the end drive down to Adrossan to collect the car(s) used in the morning. Would take a bit of organisation.
To be honest, I don’t mind the extra miles at the end, it’s my excuse for a warm down. It would take some organisation for the ferrying of cars/riders/bikes. I will assist if that’s what the majority want, but it means getting out of bed a lot earlier!
I might change my plan to option 2 to mirror Iains if need be as it sound’s like it’s gonna be a group ride down. Again, I’ll post up later in the week.
Thankfully I don’t have a rode bike, so need no excuses for getting up that early!! I hope it stays dry(ish) for you though….
I will accompany any riders heading from wemyss bay in the morning, I can ride down and meet you at the station.
Eilidh – can you bring a bag of fresh bacon rolls for us at the start too ? 🙂
haha, nice try iain 😉 I think I’ve got to take all the advantages I can get to have any chance in this one! Fueling my friendly competitors with bacon rolls at the start could be a vital mistake!! 🙂
Hey. I will hopefully get a lift with barry. So is it a chilled out touring style ride… not a race from ferry to ferry!!
I think I will do the Wemyss Bay start – and also happy to be involved in ‘car ferrying’ can take about 3 bikes and bodies (myself included) down to Ardrossan – provided I can get a lift back to car at end 🙂 However – more than happy to form a peleton and cruise down to the ferry from Wemyss Bay.
I also have space in car for 1 or 2 people leaving from Crookston / South Side area – I’d suggest leaving at 6.30am from here.
I will go with the flow on this – looking forward to it. I assume there is munchies available on route – just going to stuff some energy bars into pockets and avoid a pack.
I have 1 space left in the car. I’ll be heading straight to Ardrossan for 9.15am and cycling back from Wemyss Bay later. If anyone would like a lift, please make yourself known and you’ll need to get yourself to the Arnold Clark Crow Rd Volkswagen garage in Jordanhill for 8am.
I can take 2 plus bikes. Leaving from Canniesburn toll (next to the BP garage at the furthest West part of Maryhill Road. Could also go via West end to pick up people. Not decided on option 1 or 2 – willing to take suggestions.
One thing I would say is that the A78 may be a bit more pleasant first thing in the morning given the narrowness and high traffic volume of the road later on. Sort of erring towards the W bay start. Maybe.
Hi,
can we share lifts? Im up at Bearsden and I think your idea of the WB start is good. Weather doesnt look too bad either. What time are you thinking about leaving?
Chris
The Met Office is forecasting a blanket of heavy rain across the entire route! I’ve just ordered a set of mudguards ;~)
Yep, no problem. Thinking maybe 6.15 – 6.30 between That should get us to Wymess Bay bewteen 7.00 and 7.15 . What dou you think?
I am planning on being at Wemyss Bay ready to ride at 730 which should be time enough to get to Ardossan (18 fairly flat miles) for around 915, in time to get tickets, and a bit of allowance for delays enroute.
Definately agree with Barry that decision on whether to go or not should be on Friday once there is some weather confidence….fingers crossed !!!!
Timing seems fine, Ian must be planing on riding faster or faffing longer. Weather doesn’t seem to be improving though, so let’s wait till Friday for a final decision.
Chris, you still in? Weather looks not great first thing but getting better so I’m guessing it’s a goer – just about to stick some mudguards on though!. If so want to come round to mine just before 6.15 (1 Maryhill Road, G61 1QP – The Granny flats beside the garage). My number’s 079 8181 5082 for any last minute changes.
Hi Guys
weather doesn’t look too bad, if a little grey, but I am going to have to pass on this one, sorry
Chris
Thanks for letting me know – if you change your mind drop us a text – I’m still going.
That’s the two spaces snapped up I’m my car folks. If anyone is choosing option 1 for the Ardrossan start & wants to head down in a convoy, we are leaving from the Arnold Clark VW garage on Crow Rd at 8am.
Now, just fingers crossed for the weather, because at this point it doesn’t look 2 promising. I’ll post again on Friday afternoon. So as a back up, If it’s gonna be a washout, we could mtb? and try again the following week? See Sam’s post re: alternative ride option.
Hope the weather is OK – I am keen to do this, got the bike all shiny and everything! I plan to be there at 7.30 too – Iain I will bring the GMBC top.
I still have space if anyone wants a lift from Crookston, Southside or anywhere before I hit the motorway at Paisley!
Hope it’s not windy… the ride home was brutal yesterday – 20 miles into a headwind, about 12 mph average speed.
Stephen / All,
I’m up for the lazy 9:15 start. Leaving from Southside / Erskine at 08:20. Can take 2 or 3 in my car if anyone’s willing to get to Renfrew / Paisley / Erskine. Or even pick me up in Erskine on the way past!
TTFN,
Gav
Hope the weather is crap, as I am working on Sat morning, then have night out on Sat night and was really wanting to do it. If it was changed to the weekend after then I could go.
Not that I am wanting it to rain or anything like that…….. ;¬)
Planning on the Wemyss Bay meet-up, where is parking and start of the ride from here?
Cheers, Stephen
Hi Stephen, I reckon the meeting point is at the pier/train station, if I remember correctly from last year, I’m sure there’s a car park there. Someone who’s meeting there will post up to confirm. Weather looks promising, but will post final confirmation tomorrow afternoon. B
wemyss bay station has a car park – a small fee for all day parking last time I was down (which you might be able to get refunded when you purchase ferry tickets… not sure if this will work for our journey, but it used to be the case for trains). If everyone is parking there it will be easy enough to see everyone, but I’m going to suggest to meet at the ticket office area, as it is sheltered 🙂
Gav
Fancy cycling from home to Ardrossan? Its only 28 miles.
26 miles home from Wemyss Bay or scrounge a lift?
Tim
Sitting with streaming eyes and a ripping sore throat so my presence is looking unlikley. Going for a wee spin early evening to see if i can actually breathe on a bike…
MTFU.
Can we have a show of hands this evening on who’s still going and from where and when?
I’m in: a W-bay starter. Now driving solo from Bearsden both ways – so have 2 spaces for any last minute mind changers!
Wemyss Bay @ 7.30am
Dawn and I should be joining the posse setting out from Wemyss bay. Current forecast looks as though it might be a rather wet 18 miles :~/
This is assuming that I can drag myself out of bed at 0500 *wince*; failing that, I’ll drive to Ardrossan for the late start.
I am in…. going with barry in car. Zoe
You guys are going for the Ardrossan start aren’t you?
It’s definitely a go for tomorrow, weather looks to be ok, with a tailwind for most of the journey. I’m taking Zoe & Reuben in zee car to for Ardrossan start. Due to be there for 9.15am.
Iain, I know how u feel, I’ve been loaded with the cold all week, started feeling better yesterday, and I reckon there’s not many more dry days left this year to be doing this run. I hope u make it but understand if u don’t. Or as Pete says MTFU!
Remember it’s 2 different types of Hopscotch ferry tickets to ask for at the terminal in Ardrossan (can’t remember off hand, see my original post, it’s £18.95). See u there. B
I’ve just checked the CalMac website and it’s the Hopscotch 4 & 5 tickets we need. £8.70 and £10.25 respectively, so as Barry says: £18.95.
Tim,
I’m up for the bare minimum number of miles and the maximum amount of time in bed – that’s the way I roll! I.e. I’m driving to Ardrossan. So if u want a lift…..
07734308518
00gav
Be at Wemyss Bay for 7.30 (leaving Crookston at 6.30 so should be on plenty of time), got an empty car so room for 2 more if required – can pick up on way (i.e. toward Paisley Rd, through Paisley direction, or Hillington etc.)
My mobile is 07748 157223. Looking forward to the ride 🙂
I’m heading to WB for 730. Iain also txt’d me to say he’s feeling no too bad and should be there in the morning too.
Do i get the prize for earliest bail ? Against my better judgement decided to gove it a go while loaded with the cold. I lasted 2.5 wet soggy miles……..
So of anyone who missed it fancies it on sat 17th post up…
Cheers
Photos uploaded to my wordpress blog 🙂
Click on my name or…
http://eilidh89.wordpress.com/five-ferries-03-09-11/
Hope you feel better soon Iain, you suffered the worst weather of the day!
great Pics Eilidh – certainly brightened up.
stuffed with cold here -( never mind, hoping to do in 17th weather permitting !