Cycling powerhouse heads for the islands
WOMEN’S cycling powerhouse The Adventure Syndicate has announced Ride the Highlands, a self-supported tour of the Scottish Highlands and Islands, with the dual purposes of promoting active travel among remote communities and launching their new race team, The Quad.
Athletes Lee Craigie, Rickie Cotter, Emily Chappell and Paula Regener will leave Glasgow on their bikes on the Wednesday May 3, and follow a 500-mile route that takes in the Caledonian Way and the Hebridean Way, visiting schools and communities in Oban, Fort William, Inverness, Stornoway, Harris and Uist.
Having ridden to Oban and carrying camping equipment for the week, the four will be hosted by Oban Cycles next Thursday May 4 for an inspiring evening of films, and a question and answer session.
The following day, they will visit Lochaber High School before arriving in Inverness on May 6. The team will then host an overnight adventure by bike for girls aged 13 to 16 in the Inverness area, in collaboration with Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland and Velocity Café and Bicycle Workshop before riding over to Ullapool and starting their journey south through the Western Isles.
Scaladale Activity Centre will co ordinate mountain bike sessions and film showings in Stornoway (May 8), Harris (May 9) and Uist (May 10) As well as being athletes at the top of their game, The Quad are skilled communicators and are passionate about increasing awareness of the physical and emotional benefits of cycling. Their school visits will include a showing of Escape, a short film produced by Sustrans and starring athlete Lee Craigie, followed by an inspirational talk and a workshop around how to travel self-supported by bike, and in some cases an accompanied ride-out and overnight camp.