Training for the Trip

The major variable of the trip is of course my fitness and that so far has become the major issue for me at the moment. Getting hold of the hardware is easy , you just buy it or borrow or whatever. The only way to up the fitness is to get out and ride every day rain or shine and I am very lucky in that respect as I can choose to cycle to work over the hill. But that’s where I am finding it a problem as when I look out the window at 5 in the morning and its blowing a “Hoolly” I sneak into the car and off I go another day only 1 day. That’s where I am going to have to motivate myself some how, some how. A now the ground is covered in snow so the inclination to go out is even less. it's looking as though as I will have to go to that horrrible place... Sweatshop ... otherwise known as The Gym. At least the new wheels have arrived

New frame For the adventure

Over the past couple of days I have managed to purloin a new frame for the trip. It was nice and cheep off the net. I was able to utilise most of the bits off the NRS for it too. It rides very nicely and has survived a battering round the foothills of the Cairngorms last weekend . Nearer the trip I think I will shave a few more pounds of it by fitting nice rigid forks and a nice new true set of wheels for it..

New Frame for the Adventure
by freehighlander @ 2008-10-26 – 15:01:40
Over the past couple of days I have managed to purloin a new frame for the trip. It was nice and cheep off the net. I was able to utilise most of the bits off the NRS for it too. It rides very nicely and has survived a battering round the foothills of the Cairngorms last weekend . Nearer the trip I think I will shave a few more pounds of it by fitting nice rigid forks and a nice new true set of wheels for it..

A Hebredean Adventure

A Hebridean Adventure.

Captain slows adventure

The first chills of autumn have just begun and I am already dreaming of some challenge to look forward and help get through the bleak winter months.

Inspired by Euan McGregor and Charley Boarmans Long Way round Trips I want to plan and execute a trip of my own. Neither my wife nor the bank balance would stand a round the world trip but I’m sure she would let me off for a week treading the tarmac of the Outer Hebrides. So As I dream of what I could achieve, a plan formulates in my mind and its time to sketch down a few notes. Where will this lead I do not know but now I have something to occupy my mind for the coming winter months.

The first part of the plan is to decide which way I will do it and what to include on my trip. North or South.
The latter decision is already confusing as, on one website it suggests a south North run due to prevailing winds being South Westerly. But my brother says he recalls the prevailing winds to be Nor westerly which would suggest a North South Run. I would prefer to get the more mountainous crossing of Lewis and Harris over at the beginning of the trip but further research is required on this aspect that’s for sure.
The other main consideration is Ferries and timing arrivals at the appropriate terminals this is by the far simpler choice as I only have one carrier to choose from good old Caledonian MacBrayne .
The whole trip does not look so hard when viewed from a fairly small scale map as the one shown here.

The other consideration is that I find road cycling quite boaring and so feel that I need to challenge myself to do that what I actively try to avoid at all costs, cycling on roads. So where better than the stunning Outer Hebrides.

So where am I in the Plan?Well I have A Route.....I think

Stornoway Callanish Tarbert Leverburgh.

The Uists

Barra

In that order

When?? Probably Mid May 2009

Time Frame:6 to 7 days

Well I was going to use my long suffering Giant NRS but after considering I think it would be more prudent to use a Hard tail as I will be pulling a Yak trailer for the Gear. I will post up soon what I end up with as I find Frame Wheels and other bits to build my Hedridean Steed.

Accommodation

Camping where possible.

That's the plan lets see how it changes over the coming months