What is it?
It’s a social bike ride not a race.
Organised by the Johnstone Wheelers Cycling Club to raise funds for Erskine Hospital for Disabled ex-Servicemen and Women (http://www.erskine.org.uk), the Erskine Century Ride is an annual cycling event covering some of the best cycling roads and climbs the West of Scotland has to offer along with like-minded cyclists who enjoy the sociable side of cycling.
This year the event will be limited to 150 entrants.
Western Ferries (The Short Ferry Crossing) www.western-ferries.co.uk have confirmed their continued fantastic support of this event in the form of a number of return tickets across the Clyde.
All entries received by the 31st July 2008 will have their ferry tickets included in their entry fee. |
Where is it?
 The Event HQ, Erskine Hospital, is conveniently situated by Erskine Bridge, about 30 mins west of Central Glasgow.
By Car - From Glasgow, follow the M8 West. Take Junction 30, signposted M898 Erskine Bridge. Just before the Bridge, bear left, signposted Bishopton. Go straight on at the next roundabout, following signs for Erskine Garden Centre. The Event HQ is opposite the Garden Centre.
From the north, cross Erskine Bridge and take the first exit signposted Bishopton. At the roundabout, turn left. At the next roundabout, turn right and follow signs for Erskine Garden Centre. The Event HQ is opposite the Garden Centre. |
The Ride
The route is basically Erskine to Gourock, take the Western Ferry to Hunter’s Quay. Loop round the Cowal Peninsula via Loch Tarsan, Loch Striven, Glendaruel and Strachur, returning to Hunter’s Quay for the Western Ferry to Gourock and then back to Erskine.
There will be additional options en-route for those looking for that bigger challenge.
- The first option is the steep climb over Ballochandrain to Otter Ferry and then the coastal road (B 8000) along Loch Fyne to Strachur (additional 7 miles).
- The second option, on the return from Strachur, is the steep climb from the Whistlefield Inn on Loch Eck over Glen Finart to Ardentinny and then the coastal road along Long and the Holy Loch to Hunter’s Quay (additional 7 miles).
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| Sounds simple so here’s some more detail - |
Base Route (approximately 80 miles).
Leaving from Erskine Hospital the run will make its way through Bishopton to the Westferry roundabout and then follow the A8 through Port Glasgow and Greenock before joining the A770 main road to Gourock and the Western Ferry at McInroy’s Point for the crossing to Hunter’s Quay.
On leaving the ferry terminal, turn right and follow the coastal road (A815) to Sandbank. Turn right through Sandbank and then turn left onto the B836 signposted Colintraive. Follow the B836 past the Tarsan Dam before dropping down to the round the head of Loch Striven. |
Otter Ferry Option (addition of approximately 7 miles).
Climb out of Loch Striven before dropping down to the T-junction on the A886. Turn right and follow the sign post for Strachur. Turn left onto the C11 and climb the steep winding road over Bealachandrain before dropping down to Otter Ferry. (Note that this section of road has steep sections and tight hairpin bends.) Turn right and follow the coast road north along Loch Fyne before re-joining the A886 and the base route into Strachur. |
Base Route Climb out of Loch Striven before dropping down to the T-junction on the A886. Turn right and follow the sign post through Glendaruel to Strachur.
The Bay Cottage Tearoom is on the left hand side on entering Strachur. |
Ardentinny Option (addition of approximately 7 miles).
Leave Strachur on the A815 towards Dunoon. After approximately 6 miles, turn left at the Whistlefield Inn following the signpost for Ardentinny. Follow the steep winding road over into Glen Finart before dropping into Ardentinny. (Note that this section of road has steep sections and tight hairpin bends.) Follow coast road before re-joining the A815 and base route at Kilmun. |
Base Route Turn right at the T-junction and follow the A815 along the side of Loch Eck. Turn left at Sandbank following the A815 Coastal Route to Dunoon until reaching the Western Ferries terminal.
On leaving the ferry, turn left onto A770 in direction of Gourock. Follow A770 through Gourock onto A8 through Greenock and Port Glasgow to Newark and Woodhall Roundabouts. Continue along A8 dual carriageway to junction 31, signposted Bishopton. On entering Bishopton, branch left onto Old Greenock Road at Bishopton Inn. At crossroads, turn left onto Ferry Road - B815 (signposted Erskine and Bridge). Continue through small roundabout at Hewlett Packard and turn left at next roundabout into Erskine Hospital grounds. |
To ensure early registration for the ride, complete the short entry form below. |
When is it?
Sunday 3rd August 2008
Event registration is from 7:00 am on the day.
You don’t have to wait on the bunch, the first of which will be set off from 8:00 am. Just turn up, register, and set off if you wish. The ferries leave McInroy’s Point, Gourock (a good hour’s cycle away) at 7:30 am, 8:30 am, and every half hour thereafter. |
How to enter?
There are three ways to enter -
Option 1 - Fill in the short form below. Once you have completed your entry, a page will appear automatically which will allow you to pay your entry fee of £8.48 electronically via the Wheelers' Paypal account. This sum includes the PayPal fee which we would respectfully and gratefully ask you to pay if using this method - otherwise the charity has to pay it.
Option 2 - Fill in the short form. Print the form and send, with a cheque to the value of £8.00 made out to Johnstone Wheelers with Erskine Century Ride clearly marked on the rear, to the Event Organiser: Kenny Steele at 12 Ladymuir Circle, Erskine PA8 6HD
Option 3 - Turn up on the day. Pay your £8.00 and ride your bike. However...
Remember that the event will be limited to 150 riders.
Also keep in mind that entries received before the 31st July 2008 will have their ferry tickets included in their entry fee.
 The reason for this? - We are trying to maximise the amount of money that we raise for Erskine Hospital. Western Ferries have been very generous in donating a number of tickets for the event. When this number of tickets has been reached the Organiser will buy more tickets from Western Ferries. This will be done on Monday 1st August. If we don’t know you are entering we can’t buy your tickets. Normal return journey tickets on the ferry will cost you around £3.70. |
Event SafetyGenerally, the event will be held on a a mixture of road classes ranging from sections of dual carriageway between Bishopton and Gourock to single carriageway and single track once on the Cowal Peninsula.
Please familiarise yourself with the event risk assessment document on the following link Erskine Century Ride Risk Assessment 2008.
If the download does not start automatically when you click the link, RIGHT-click on it,
select "Save Target As...", save it to your hard drive, and open it from there. |
Event Insurance The event will be covered by Third Party and Public Liability Insurance provided by British Cycling / Everyday Cycling. |
After Event
Tea and coffee available at the start with story telling, reasonably-priced snacks, and / or BBQ (weather permitting) 'til 6.30pm to raise further funds at the finish. |
For more information, contact Kenny Steele on 07879.890985 or by e-mail here (please don't change the Subject line). |
While out on the course, riders should travel in groups of no more than 15-20 and follow the Highway Code at all times.
Although the use of a safety helmet is not compulsory, we strongly recommend that you wear one at all times throughout the event.
Each participant is responsible for the maintenance of their bike and we would recommend that you carry a spare tube or puncture repair kit.
Cyclists below the age of 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. |
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