SKINNY TYRES !
ESSKA biennial Congress Cycling Tour May 2018 The Trossachs and Highland Perthshire provide the perfect backdrop to a road cycling trip in Scotland.
Skinny Tyres aims to provide the best cycling experience for you with attention to detail that goes beyond a guided ride. About Skinny Tyres Skinny Tyres have been providing cycling trips, coaching and event logistics in Scotland since 2009. Our intimate knowledge of road cycling routes around Scotland allows us to create a very personalised trip that takes in the best of what Scotland has to offer. We pride ourselves on creating a package that covers every aspect of a great cycling trip from tailor made GPS route files and turn by turn notes to unparalleled support on the road.
Guide Support Over many trips we have refined our guiding support to providing vehicles on the road. Traditionally road cycling tours have on-ride guides as well as vehicle support, but we feel our provision of vehicle support only allows us to provide a high level of support that you expect. All our guides are fully trained and qualified.
SKINNY TYRES !
Vehicle Support To provide high quality support and ensure all the riders on the road have all of their needs met we provide one vehicle per 12 clients. This means we can support the group in a safe and effective manner. Our vehicles provide: • Day - bag support - Riders will be invited to use a day bag that they can carry additional items they feel they may need during the day. These bags will be transferred, as required, between vehicles as the day progresses. • Evening - Hotel bags will be transferred to that evening’s accommodation and put in riders rooms ready for their arrival. • Nutritional Support - Each vehicle will carry additional food and water to support riders as they ride throughout the day. Vehicles can stop when requested and will also have prearranged meeting points to provide feed-stations for riders. As riders arrive at the hotel they will have access to post-ride refuelling products. • Full mechanical support - Each vehicle will be equipped with equipment and spares, including spare bikes, to cover the majority of mechanical mishaps and get riders back on the road quickly. • Full first-aid support - Each vehicle will carry a full first aid kit to cover any incidents. • Navigational Support - All riders will be given access to GPS files for navigational devices and a daily written copy of turn-byturn navigation. However the two vehicles will be able to provide support and will cover “easy-to-miss” junctions. • Ride at your own pace - Larger groups of riders benefit from two vehicle support as it means that individuals can cycle at a pace that suits them and still be supported. Faster riders do not need to stop and regroup and the vehicles have the ability to move around and ensure that everyone is receiving the same level of support. • Trip Transfers - Riders arriving at Glasgow Airport will have the option of meeting our scheduled transfers to the hotel in Glasgow. Riders who are joining us for only a few days of riding will be transferred to their original start locations at the end of their planned riding schedule.
SKINNY TYRES !
Organisational Support Skinny Tyres will cater for every aspect of the trip and ensure that it meets the requirements of all participants. The trip will be fully organised by Skinny Tyres with a fully-inclusive package that includes accommodation, food and drink and we can offer advice on extra options that participants may like such as distillery tours and visits to historic sites .
The Cycling Day • Breakfast between 07:30 - 08:30 • Set off between 09:00 and 10:00. We advise those wanting to take a more leisurely pace to set off earlier and faster riders later - this allows us to offer a good level of support to all riders on the road. • Lunch - We will stop at a recommended lunch stop en-route where lunch will be provided. • Arrival - the first riders will general start arriving from late afternoon. • Evening Meal from 19:00 • Evening Briefing from 19:45
Route Finding • We will provide you with colour maps of the route for each day’s riding. These maps will contain altitude and distance profiles as well as detailed route notes and other information you will require for your day on the saddle. Our guides will also be on-hand support you with route finding as the day progresses. • If you have a GPS device please bring it with you. Before your arrival we will provide you with tailored GPS files that take you from hotel to hotel, so all you have to do is ride your bike. We will provide .GPX and .TCX files for uploading to your GPS device as well as instructions on how to do this.
Safety when riding • We will provide a full safety briefing prior to the start of the ride as well as short evening briefs of the day ahead. • Many of the roads in Scotland are narrow so we recommend that riders do not ride in large groups. Our unique two vehicle support allows groups to split and ride in safe and smaller numbers whilst still being fully supported during the day.
SKINNY TYRES !
Tools/ Bike Issues • You will have access to a comprehensive tool kit including torque wrenches and track pumps, so there is no need to bring your own. • We can also supply threaded CO2 canisters, tyres and inner tubes for you to buy • We can provide spare bikes in the event of a mechanical issue that means you can’t ride your own bike.
What to bring • We will provide a comprehensive packing list that details what you will need to bring with you on your trip.
Hire Bikes • If you would prefer not to take your own bike we can provide road bikes for hire at a cost of £30 per day.
Bike Boxes • Your bike boxes will be stored at the hotel in Glasgow. We will provide support where required for building your bike on arrival at the hotel.
SKINNY TYRES !
The Trossachs and Highland Perthshire - Day 0 - Friday 4th May 2018 Details
• Meet at Village Hotel, Pacific Quay, Glasgow • Airport Transfer can be provided where required (including transfer of bike boxes). We will provide set transfer times during the day. • Transfer time from Glasgow Airport to hotel is 20 minutes
The Trossachs and Highland Perthshire - Day 1 - Saturday 5th May 2018 From
To
Distance
Climbing
Glasgow
Dublane
88km
1039m
Details
This route quickly takes us north out of the busy roads of Glasgow and into the hills of the Campsie Fells. Our big climb of the day will be the Dukes Pass which takes us to the heart of the Trosssachs and “Rob Roy” country. Part of Loch Lomond National Park this area is stunningly beautiful with big forests, soaring mountain peaks and deep glens filled with fresh-water lochs. We then head east along the southern edge of the Highland boundary line towards Dunblane which will be our destination for the evening.
SKINNY TYRES !
The Trossachs and Highland Perthshire - Day 2 - Sunday 6th May 2018 From
To
Distance
Climbing
Dunblane
Pitlochry
86km
977m
Details
Today we are riding through the hills of Highland Perthshire towards the beautiful and bustling town of Pitlochry. We start with gently undulating riding past Gleneagles and on towards the Highland town of Crieff. From their we climb toward the dramatic Sma Glen and then over the hills towards Aberfeldy, nestled in the stunning Strathtay. A short ride from here takes us on towards Pitlochry.
Additional Routes We can provide additional routes for riders looking for a more challenging day. Highland Perthshire is blessed with a large network of relatively traffic free roads and there are numerous options for riders to choose a “Challenge Option�. Riders choosing this option will be given additional route notes and GPS files and they will be supported by our team.
SKINNY TYRES !
The Trossachs and Highland Perthshire - Day 3 - Monday 8th May 2018 From
To
Distance
Climbing
Pitlochry
Callendar
110km
1546m
Details
Today is the jewel in the crown of this trip with the stunning ascent of Ben Lawers, the 10th highest mountain in the UK. The ride to get there is equally stunning with a delightful cycle along the southern shore of Loch Tummel and a climb over the shoulder of Schiehallion. We drop down to Coshieville and towards the deep depths of Glen Lyon. We will stop at Bridge of Balgie for lunch before climbing the winding road ascent of Ben Lawers. A fast descent will take us back down to Loch Tay where we head to the Falls of Dochart at Killin and then on towards Glen Ogle, Loch Venacher and our stop for the night at Callendar.
SKINNY TYRES !
The Trossachs and Highland Perthshire - Day 4 - Tuesday 9th May 2018 From
To
Distance
Climbing
Callendar
Glasgow
92km
688km
Details
Today we head back into the Trossachs with a route that takes us back into Glasgow. We head south towards the Campsie Fells again, aiming for the climb of the Crow Road that, once ascended drops us back into towards Glasgow. We will then head towards Pacific Quay from Milngavie. Once back at the hotel our guides will support with the dismantling of bikes.
SKINNY TYRES !
What is included in the cost: • 4 nights accommodation • 4 days of guided road cycling in Scotland • All meals including snacks and drinks mid-ride, but excluding lunch • One Skinny Tyres guide per 10 riders on trip • Full vehicle support during the trip (One vehicle per 10 riders) • All transfers to and from airport and transfers for riders joining us on selected days. Transfer times will be set to specific times and decided upon when travel details are finalised. • All route notes, GPS files and pre event communication • Mechanical support • Full event coordination and client communication, including booking of hotels. * Optional Extras: • Single room supplement - £30 per person per night • Road bike hire - £30 per person - hire bikes will be maintained and checked daily by our guides. What is not included: • Alcoholic drinks and beverages at accommodation • Lunches each day • Individual travel insurance - This is compulsory. You should have adequate travel insurance to cover cycle touring, medical cover and repatriation. Anyone who arrives without suitable insurance cover will not be able to take part in the arranged activity and will forgo all monies paid. • GPS Devices - we only provide route files to download to your own device.
Total Cost
£885* per person For additional options please contact Scot Tares for details *See above for bike hire and SRS options