Thursday 25 June 2015

Bike ride to Skipness Castle

Lots more long bike rides and most are very hilly but this is not an issue with the help of the electric battery on the bikes.  Climbing up hills is still work, but nothing like it would be on a regular bike.

Tuesday we rode to Skipness Castle which is in the Kintyre Peninsula across from the Isle of Arran (a future bike trip).  The castle has parts of it that are early 13th century, other parts are 16th and 18th centuries.  


This was our shortest ride so far - 28 miles.

Lots more photos of bike rides
























Saturday 13 June 2015

Long rides on our bikes

Danny and I have pedal-assisted electric bikes and have been getting a lot of use out of them on the recent sunny and warm days.  The bikes are too heavy to put on our bike carrier, so we transport them inside the back of our Picasso with the back seats removed.

The batteries are charged at home and last for at least 70 miles even when the ride includes a lot of hills. They can last as long as 120-130 miles. The hills are much easier to climb with this battery. Some people have assumed electric bike means you don't have to pedal, but this is not the case.  The battery just makes it easier and gives you an extra boost when you need it.

These runs are all in our beautiful county - Argyll & Bute.   Cycle network - some of which we rode on

Since I'm on a perpetual diet these long rides have enabled me to have some guilt-free treats like large, homemade chocolate chip cookies at the Port Ban Holiday Park, and a large fruit scone with butter at The Rumblin' Tum Cafe in Ardrishaig, and the homemade shortbread at the cafe in Crinan, and the pints of beer at several places.

Click for lots more photos

Tuesday, June 9th - Isle of Bute

We parked the car near Glendaruel and rode to Colintraive where we caught the ferry to the Isle of Bute. We biked for a total of 45 miles.


















Weds, June 10th - Crinan Canal bike route

We drove about 20 miles to Portavadie and took the ferry to Tarbert.  We rode our bikes to Ardrishaig and then on to the Crinan Canal bike path.  The bike trip was 42 miles in total.



















Thurs & Friday - June 11 & 12 - Kilberry bike route - Kilmartin - Crinan Canal

Early on Thursday morning we returned to Ardrishaig having booked a B & B there for Thursday night.  The Kilberry route was simply stunning!  The total miles on the bike Thursday were 52! Friday was a light day going only 36 miles!  The Kilberry route was very hilly, but not a problem on our bikes!

Kilberry bike route

Kilberry bike route

Kilberry bike route

Kilberry bike route

Kilberry bike route















































































Kilberry bike route

Templewood stone circle, Kilmartin

Netherlargie burial cairn, Kilmartin