Ardrossan to Largs & Great Cumbrae Island

Event introduction

This 43-mile ride including 400m of ascent is being jointly led by Douglas and James. It is suitable for intermediate and advanced cyclists. If you have recently completed a 30-mile cycle ride you should be well suited to complete this ride.

The event will mostly take place mostly on quiet roads, cycle paths or shared use pavements alongside busier roads. Starting from Ardrossan South Beach Station, where there are trains from Glasgow every 30 mins, we head up towards Dalry past the windmills and reservoirs then turn left and take the back road to West Kilbride turning off down towards Fairlie and onto a cycle path. We follow the path along the seafront until we get to Largs Marina and past the Largs Pencil Monument where we head to the Ferry Terminal and catch the ferry over to the Isle of Cumbrae. An easy 10 miles round the island, perhaps stopping at the Crocodile Rock, we catch the ferry back over to Largs and then back along the Cycle path. We head through Hunterston Estate, past Hunterston Castle and down to Portencross for spectacular views over to the Island of Arran. Finally heading back to Ardrossan to finish. Those who don't feel up to the whole trip can leave us at Largs (after 26 miles) where there are hourly trains back to Ardrossan and Glasgow.

A map of the route including elevation can be viewed and downloaded at: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/37034334

If you have a GPS device or navigation app on your phone, please feel free to download the route for use on the event. This is optional and not required.

Please note: All our bike rides are primarily social events, rather than focussed on speed; therefore we always cycle at the pace of the slowest rider. The finish time is  always estimated and could finish later than planned. Please bear this in mind when paying for parking or booking trains etc.  

Who's welcome on the event?

In a nutshell, everyone, as long as they are respectul of other attendees. PRiDE OUT is an LGBTQ + cycling group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex and asexual/ace people. We also welcome allies.

COVID19

We ask that all riders respect social distancing guidelines wherever possible. We encourage riders to bring masks and hand sanitiser, just in case you need them before, during or after the event.

First event?

We know it can be nerve-racking joining a new group or event where you haven’t met anyone before… even for the most confident of people. We’ve all been in the same boat before, so we want to make everyone feel welcome. If you’d appreciate chatting someone before the event or having a buddy to meet you prior to going to the start point, please let us know by sending an email to hello@prideout.co.uk with the subject line ‘request a buddy’.

Pace of the ride

The purpose of the ride is to get some easy exercise at a moderate pace while being able to socialise in a relaxed environment. We will regularly stop to allow people to catch up. We never leave people behind.

Terrain and potential hazards

This bike ride event will be travelling on a mixture of quiet roads and traffic-free paved cycle ways, but we will try to stick to the roads with least traffic.

Hazards you may need to watch out for include one or two steep hills, loose gravel and potholes. Bear in mind that most of the off-road paths are shared with pedestrians, dog-walkers, joggers, wheelchair users etc to whom we must always give way, particularly on narrower sections of the path, and alert with our bells when approaching from behind.

What bike should I use and what condition does it need to be in?

This event is most suited to road bikes or hybrids but should be manageable on most types of bike that are in good mechanical order. Please have your tyres pumped to the correct pressure and with oil on the chain etc. We highly recommend you carry out an 'M Check' before coming on the event to ensure you and your bike will be safe - watch this 4 minute video to see how to do this.

Refreshment breaks

There will be a lunch stop either on Great Cumbrae Island or possibly at the famous Nardinis café in Largs so bring some money and a lock to keep your bike safe!

What else should I bring?

We advise you wear a helmet for your own safety, but it's not compulsory. You should also consider bringing some of the following: spare inner tube and tyre levers, any special tools your bike needs, some food or snacks for energy, bottle(s) attached to your bike and plenty of water, bike lock and glasses can be useful to prevent grit or insects getting in your eyes. Please wear/bring waterproof or warm clothes dependent on the time of year and weather forecast. Bring lights if you are likely to be travelling in the dark or wet weather is forecast. Please have footwear that is appropriate for your bike. Don't forget suncream (if it's summer) - you just never know with the UK weather!

Meeting point description

Meet outside Ardrossan South Beach station at 10.00. There is a half-hourly rail service from Glasgow Central (leaving at 08.49 and 09.18) and street parking nearby.

Any finally…

Have fun on the event. We promise to make you feel welcome and we’re sure you will meet some amazing new people. Please try to avoid cancelling at the last minute - it could deny someone else the opportunity to attend the bike ride. If you have any queries or need assistance, please email hello@prideout.co.uk and we will put you in touch with the event leader.