Circuiting Britain, Am I Crazy?

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Hi everyone.
I'm planning to cycle around the UK & Ireland, including most of the major islands, such as the Orkneys, Shetlands, Outer Hebrides etc.

I've never done touring before, & have probably never ridden more than 30km in a day! However I'm in pretty good shape from work, obviously it will take a while for my muscles to adjust but that's fine.

My bike will be a recumbent, after being inspired by a book called Off the Rails, about two Aussies who rode 10,000km across asia, from Moscow to Beijing on recumbents. I'm leaning towards the HP Velo Streetmachine but that's a subject for the recumbent forum I guess.

So I've painstakingly drawn a route around Britain on an AA map & then measured the distance. It comes to approx 11,600kms!! I've avoided the blue & green (major roads) as much as possible but sometimes they are unavoidable if one is trying to ride near the coast.

Ironically(?) the major roads that are hard to avoid are mostly in sparsley populated Scotland. Has anyone had experience with the A9 between Clashmore & Wick, the A835 Ullapool - Braemor, A87 on Skye, A830 Mallaig - Lochailort, A816 Oban - Lochgilphead, A83 Lochgilphead - Campbeltown, A77 Turnberry - Stanraer, A487 Aberystwyth - Llanarth. Are they cyclable or too risky?

Or if you feel like offering any tips in general, please go ahead!

Also I'll be happy to share the journey part or all of the way if there's anyone keen! Oh yeah to give you an idea of time frame, I'll be heading North from London in April.

happy cycling
Nathan

Hi Nathan,

Not sure if it's of any help, but I know a number of people with recumbents here in Cambridge who I think would happily let you have a ride, if that helps with making a choice. Afraid I have no idea what they are, but could easily ask for you. Also 'Airnimal' based here and I remember having a play on a Titanium recumbent - much to their obvious unease! Anyway, I think your ride sounds excellent and would be interested to join up for a bit of it at least. PK