Triumphrat

Hiya guys(and girls)
Has anyone done the big ride on a tiger yet,coz guess what im going to do it in 2 weeks so any info welcome. i usually average 300 miles per day at weekends and i want to know if it could be done in 2 days i'm starting from Brixham(family holiday)then i m going to go to lands end from there then start my rideand ride north,if anyone has a suggested route i'd give it a try,(just email it to me at gerard@fitzpatrick279.fsworld.co.uk
But to be honest i will read any info anyone has that will help

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Ged

bigD

Hi nice idea the end to end thing. I did it acouple of years ago as part of a charity run. Couple of tips for you.

Take a bit longer than the two days if you can (see the scenery & chill a bit) you can do it in one day if you really want to "Iron Butt" it. the roads from one end to the other are good all the way. about 830 miles or thereabouts if you take the shortest route.

If you want to join the End to End Club get yourself signed in at Lands End before you leave & then signed in at John O'Groats when you arrive, then you can claim a certificate to prove you did it.

If you have time & can work out a route that dodges the motorway for as much time as possible its far more rewarding.

If it was me & short of time I would work my way up the west side of the country as far as Glasgow (M5, M6, M74) then head for Stirling (M80) then perth (M9) & follow the A9 north to Inverness then North again (A9) to Wick then J. O'G.

As I said if you have time take some detours. Or perhaps straight there & wander home. Some brilliant routes home through Scotland (Slight Bias here but not kidding). Turn right when you come out of J. O'G & head for Wick keep going right along the north coast of Scotland reasonable road but not too wide & not too fast for a lot of miles, ok some of it (from just beyond Wick to Durness) is moreor less single track as you travel west but the scenery is brill & when the weather is good its hard to beat. After Durness you start to head south again to Ullapool this streach has some of the best roads I have ever ridden. Then from Ullapool head for Inverness another brilliant (fast, well constructed) road & turn right onto the A82 & head for Fort William. Or part way down the A835 pick up the A832 & A890 and head for the Kyle of Lochalsh. then take the A87 to InverGarry, another beautiful run. this picks up the A82 & head for Fort William. Heading south again keep on the A82 & head for Glasgow, takes you through Glencoe & across the Ranoch Moor & down Loch Lomond side. Or at the Ballachulish Bridge take thew A828 & go to Oban. From Oban you can either take the A85 then A819 to Inverary then the A83 joining up with the A82 at Loch Lomond., or go south to lochgilphead & pick up the A83 then head for Inverary. Once back to Glasgow either head south west into Ayrshire & head for the border that way or go east to Edinburgh & hit the border towns of Galashields & Hawick & places like that.

Sorry got carried away there, try any of these roads & you will not regret it (watch for the speed cameras on the A9 & around the central belt though).

The rest you can work out for yourself.

D (Advocate for Scottish tourism on two wheels)

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Big D

If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

tango

bigD,

you've just given him the creme de la creme of roads, I've lived in most of the areas you've mentioned, and as roads to be ridden on a bike, I would argue, they are as good as anything you'd find in Europe. (apart from the A9 in summer).
Beware, unmarked cars on the A82 and A9 are EVER present, and occassionaly an unmarked blackbird, well it was last year.

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davie.

I,ve got a mountain of dreams to climb.

Do unto others as they are doing unto you.

A big thumbs up for all the help so far,I've not made my mind up as to how long it will take me i might take in some of the roads you mentioned(i have a free week thanks to Trish(Mrs judgeged). I have permission to wander around alone for a week if i want to. I really want to thank you guys for your help and friendly warnings and as soon as i get back i will write a report including all roads traveled and weather etc etc
GED
PS the tiger alone has instilled the confidence to do this journey at such short notice although i only ride 300 miles per play day at weekends I still have no problem with undertaking this ride which will be at the minimum 2000 miles
To TRIUMPH "DO NOT CHANGE A WINNER"
when i come to change Lilly for a new one it will be another Tiger every time
So if you see a black 04 tiger wandering north please give a wave to a wandering loony

BigStripey

Doctor!.....quick, another hopeless case of Tiger fixation! :-D :-D

The usual symptoms are: A daft grin on the face after every ride, Terms of endearment for their beast, Free association with known sufferers and the overwhelming feeling of wanderlust. :razz:

If it's any consolation, there is no cure, it only gets worse the more miles you travel on the beast. I have been suffering for 4 years now. Welcome to our world!

Infectiously yours,

Jim

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Big Stripey

I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw

djr

word of warning.

If using the A9 be very aware of unmarked police cars (they have been accused of baiting bikers in the past). Keep very much to the speed limits on that particular road.

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David
My Photo Album
My Tiger pages

nehpetsthegrey

thanks to those posting. I am/ was seriously planning a blast around the highlands for a few days and the A9 did figure in the grand plan. I will now revise in the light of your much appreciated warnings. ~Ta everso

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nehpetsthegrey.
as grey as gandalf but not quite as old

bigD

nehpetsthegrey

Don't let the tales of the A9 put you off coming up to auld Scotia for a blast round the pointy bits (hills) But revising your plans to avoid the A9 would be a good idea, it is not the most inspiring of roads anyway, good for getting from A to B but can be a bit boring. Perhaps that is why the speed can wander up over the limits so easily.

D

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Big D

If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

bigD

nehpetsthegrey

Don't let the tales of the A9 put you off coming up to auld Scotia for a blast round the pointy bits (hills) But revising your plans to avoid the A9 would be a good idea, it is not the most inspiring of roads anyway, good for getting from A to B but can be a bit boring. Perhaps that is why the speed can wander up over the limits so easily.

D

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Big D

If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

tango

The trouble with the A9 is that it has short stretches of dual carraigeway but mainly just two way traffic. Which in turn causes frustration, so cage drivers start taking missjudged chances causing horrendous head on collisions, hence the big police presence.

Also, it is a favourite route for European tourists, who sometimes forget to drive on the left, instead they turn out of junctions heading straight for oncoming traffic with obvious results. Whole families have been wiped out like this.

Having said that, the further north you go the better the road gets, with less traffic.

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davie.

I,ve got a mountain of dreams to climb.

Do unto others as they are doing unto you.