A Liesurely Cycle in Sleat with Company

Fishing Boat at Isle Oronsay Pier

This is a bit of a delayed post about a ride with my mate Grodon last Sunday (11th October).  We drove down to Armadale and took the bikes up the Sleat road to Drumfearn and back.  The weather was far from what was forecast, with us execting a decent dry morning with a NW breeze.  However, there was no breeze and it was pretty wet at times, although we did end the ride dry, so no complaints.  I was on my road bike, built largely from spare parts and a cheap frame, and Gordon was on his mountain bike, quite heavy for the long drag up past the distillery at Toravaig.  I honestly thought I might lose him to the attractions of a dram or two, especially as it was raining at the time.  My bike perfomred reasonably well but the gears were constantly slipping.  When I got home I realised I had used an old 8-speed chain instead of the required 10-speed, of which I did not have a spare.  So, I have now bought a new 10-speed chain and it all looks like it is working.  The truth will be told tomorrow morning when I plan to get out for a ride up to Killilan again.

I didn't take too many photos on the trip as the weather and the light did not really lend theselves to it.  The above one of the boat is a composition I have shot many times but without any real success.  I also took one of Grodon by the bikes, just to prove we were there with the bikes...and no beer or whisky in sight despite being just outside the pub!

Gordon & the Bikes at Isle Oronsay

The ride was pretty relaxed with plenty of stops.  A total of 39.94 km (just under 25 miles), and 386 metres of climbing, including the first two categorised climbs (if you accept that Map My Ride has Category 5 climbs).