Buelligans ride to Harris

January 3, 2008 on 10:17 pm | In Uncategorized |

The strong easterly wind means the roads were dry but it was bitterly cold. So after climbing into all the warm gear we owned, the bike is taken out from under the covers in the barn and woken from it’s winter hibernation, growling into life like a disturbed grizzly.

The Buell XB9R Firebolt (Link to technical bumf) is a great bike for the roads of the Outer Hebrides, it has loads of torque and is a little forgiving. The road from Stornoway in Lewis to Tarbert in Harris with the new surfaces and the two lane all the way, is a 35 mile blast. I have ridden may miles in a previous life as a dispatch rider and this is a very special piece of road. The set of bends through the Aline Forest are close to perfection.

I think I overtook three cars on the way and two on the way back, so it was busy. Puncuated with tea in the Harris Hotel, it was an afternoon of pure unadulterated pleasure stolen from Höðr.

I can’t wait for an excuse to ride to Inverness or even better to Fort William through Skye …

Tim Pickering
http://www.canoehebrides.com
My regular mantra - Everyone should visit the Outer Hebrides, it is the extreme outdoor capital of Scotland. CanoeHebrides.com - Sea kayaking Expeditions BikeHebrides.com -Quality Mountain Bike Hire