MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
So, we've apparently booked a couple of weeks in Scotland. Looking forward to it actually. Few days in Edinburgh (well, Leith), then Kincraig, then Loch Awe, then Loch Lomond.
Should I bring the bikes? The rest of the family like biking (to various degrees!), but not to the same extent. We're in the south of England, so 1000 miles with the bikes on the roof, worrying about their safety whilst out doing other things, decimating the MPG etc
Or can I hire them up there? I'm assuming there are sites that do, but will they have stock (should I have reserved months ago?). If we were to use the bikes say 10 days out of 14, I'd bring them. I fear it'll actually be a day or two of actual use, and surely I can rent them for that? Especially as most of it will be on the flat trails en famille ; lovely, but the bikes may be over specced.
Purely from a safety point of view I wouldn't bother!
I would imagine hire would be readily available, if not directly at the trail head then somewhere close by.
the safety is my main concern to be honest; they're not the most expensive bikes of course, and the better ones would be staying at home, but it would be a pain for them to get nicked
For a day or two of use, I'd not bother
More faff with storage/safety and then mpg
Its a bit of a tough choice, there will be loads of opportunity to bike at the various locations you are heading to.
If it was a biking holiday primarily, take them. but I suspect in this instance renting would be preferable, as long as there is availability.
Spoken as someone who has carted all the family bikes round various holidays where use did not justify the faff!
(note, I do normally take my own bike, selfishly, for early morning blasts. esp Kincraig)
grand. Thanks all. It does kinda confirm my thoughts.
just need to convince the wife now!
On the taking bikes front - I've had a few holidays where I've not used the bikes many times
BUT, going somewhere and not having to worry if they have the right bikes (do they fit the kids, kids seats etc) is good, and the real benefit is having a bike to get out in the evening or early morning on your own. I've had a few trips where having a bike meant I explored the local area which I would not have done without having my bike there - and that's created some fantastic memories
(just to counter my point above...)
the kids should always fit the hire bikes....one is 17 and the other 15.... One of them especially may throw more of a hissy fit than a two year old though
And yes, an early cycle, by myself, getting lost in a vain attempt to explore, sounds ideal. But, is it enough?
Who cares if it's enough. Option 1 is no bike and you're leaving too early or late to hire, or it's too much faff. Option 2 is you get to ride
Option 2 also means you need to ride enough to justify it, so that's at least two excuses to get out on your own with a map or a GPX
If you’re in Edinburgh, “Ricky” does a good bike tour with hire bikes.
i am tempted for the bikes....surely tempted. But we've done similar before (bikes to Ile de re, holland, wales, etc), and never used the things together!
I do then force myself out, and then feel guilty for leaving the family for a time. Family holiday after all!
Don't take them, but hire from Bothy Bikes when you are at Kincraig for a family ride Aviemore > Loch an Eilean > Glenmore > Aviemore.
https://www.bothybikes.co.uk/bike-hire-aviemore-in-the-scottish-highlands/
now that looks ideal - thank you (And thanks for the Edinburgh recommendation as well)
Just to throw a spanner in the works - I reckon it you lock them to the roof they've less chance of getting nicked in Kincraig, or Loch Awe than if you leave them at home whilst you are away! Edinburgh and Loch Lomond may be slightly more vulnerable but not enough to give me sleepless nights with even a £30 lock and 4x £1000 bikes.
Going to Aviemore its essentially mandatory that you ride the Rothiemurchus (Loch an Eilean) route mentioned above. Does 4x bike hire cost more than the fuel cost?
Everywhere is going to be busy this summer. Depending what you are hoping to do if you are aiming to get "away from it all" you may find that's far easier by parking somewhere and riding for 2-3 miles than just going where cars go. If the rest of the family consider a holiday requires "doing things" rather than "escaping things" then it may not be so worth bringing all the bikes. Depending where you are it can still be useful to have a bike with you for trip to pub/shop etc rather than having to get in a car everytime. We sometimes just take my wife's bike as we can all manage on it - and with 2 weeks stuck together we would probably want the freedom at some point.
I wouldn't leave a bike on a rack in Edinburgh, never mind the people's Republic of Leith.
https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2020/10/police-scotland-issue-advice-to-bike-owners/
If you want to hire bikes in Aviemore then book ahead. Bothy. Aviemore Bikes and Tiso were all out of bikes at the weekend. There's also Nash's shop in Boat of Garten.
You need a van
I wouldn’t leave a bike on a rack in Edinburgh, never mind the people’s Republic of Leith.
I agree, definitely don't leave bikes on a rack or inside a car in Edinburgh. I read this week of someone having a fine-looking Santa Cruz ripped off their roofrack outside Decathlon while they were in store.
You need a van
I do, but I may struggle to get one as a legitimate holiday expense. Maps and Smidge maybe....van, no chance
I do, but I may struggle to get one as a legitimate holiday expense. Maps and Smidge maybe….van, no chance
I've cunningly disguised my van as a Vauxhall Zafira. We're taking our bikes to Scotland in summer 🥸😎
I agree, definitely don’t leave bikes on a rack or inside a car in Edinburgh. I read this week of someone having a fine-looking Santa Cruz ripped off their roofrack outside Decathlon while they were in store.
I'm assuming when the OP said:
"they’re not the most expensive bikes of course, and the better ones would be staying at home,"
they weren't fine-looking santa cruz!
I've heard stories of bikes being nicked in very visible locations like that - I'm always a bit sceptical when they say they were locked. I know you can cut most locks easily, but you need tools, and take risks. I wonder if this is what people tell insurers rather than reality! I've never heard of anyone who had a bike nicked from a roof in a visible place with a proper lock attaching frame and wheels to the roof. In fact, I've only known one person who had a bike nicked from a roof at all and it wasn't locked even with the cheap lock on the roof bars. Inside a car with a blanket over them would worry me even less especially if you locked them together.
Of course its possible they get nicked, but its possible they get nicked from home anyway.
Small probability of major inconvenience if they do get nicked v's high probability of spending lots of time on holiday calling hire places to find stock for the day(s) when the weather forecast matches other plans.
Get up to Edinburgh, well Leith, and steal a bike based on a few Strava trail ends. Enjoy it while you are on holiday and then dump it.
Good bike, little chance of getting caught and no cost.