toolfreak

Finally, i`ve got pics from my tour in Scotland!
I`m already home for a week, but it took long to get the photos stored on a cd-r.
I started my tour in Newcastle, from there i cycled to Fort William, (Scotland) and back to Newcastle.
It was not the best time of the year, but the weather was not that bad, had three really bad days with snow and terrible hard wind, besides that, the weather was good for cycling!

I`ve met really friendly and hospitable people including Willic, Chewa and miss Chewa.
It was my first tour, so it was nice to meet some people who did care about this mad wintercyclist
In Fort William i celebrated my Hogmanay (really good one!!!) and climbed the Ben Nevis (highest mountain in UK, 1344m.)

After that i slowly returned to the south, spent two days in Stirling and one in Edinburgh, to get some rest and check out the local lemonade

On my way back to Newcastle it wasn`t possible to ride in my second ring because off the wear.
It cycles not that good in your granny gear, i can tell you that!
I enjoyed touring, and i hope to make my second tour in the summer.

You can check my photos here

blwyn

You've got to be pretty hardy to be touring in Scotland this time of year.
I couldn't bring up your photos with the link.

chewa

I couldn't get the photo's to fire up either Mark. Glad we could help anyway.

p.s. We did think you were mad (Glencoe road in that weather!!!)

Richard D

Glad to hear you weren't assaulted by any wild haggis

I can't get the pictures up either

Richard

toolfreak

Sorry guys, i forgot to set the photoalbum to public, hope it works now.
If not, i`m gonna ask my brother to set it up for me, in trade for some maintenance on his bike

Richard D

Sorry but i'm still getting a 'this album is empty' message.

Richard

toolfreak

Tryed again, i think this will work, if not; i`m gonna kill my computer

chewa

Liked the photo's Mark. You obviously loved Edinburgh Castle!

Louis

Breathtaking, wish I could visit.

Richard D

Nice photos.

How did you find the snow cycling?

Richard

toolfreak

Snowcycling is really fun!, but obvious heavier cycling then tarmac.
I didn`t use studded tires, (i had one in case of ice roads) but the normal tyres did really well.
I think if you gonna push the limit in the snow, you do need studded tyres to improve grip in steep parts and downhills.

RainmanP

I didn't see any reference to your tours of the many single malt whisky distilleries you must have visited. I know at least Richard D and I would be very interested.

Richard D

Interested ? me ?

toolfreak

Too bad, i didn`t visit any distilleries, but i did visit The Whisky Heritage Center in Edinburgh...........

I regretted coming by cycle as i entered the Centre Shop!!!

I hope to do a sort of whisky tour at one of the Isles in the west the next time i visit Scotland.
Willic mentioned one Isle with more then ten distilleries!! Cheers,

roy

Love the pics, Im well impressed cycling up there in the winter , I have traveled up that road many times but always in a car for skiing. Looks as though you did well with the weather. What are the wee off roads like? I see you have a yak bob or some thing similar you are the inspiration keep it going.

toolfreak

Thanks Roy and welcome to the forums,
i`m sure Chewa and Stever are pleased to see another Scot who likes cycling :thumbup:

Csson

Nice pictures! Would like to tour Scotland myself someday, but preferably during summer. I get my fair share of snow already...

/Csson