Hebridean Hopscotch holidays including our own cycle hire. If you already know all about some subjects covered here, please forgive us for clarifying them so that so that riders of all experience can enjoy their holiday with us. Please treat the bicycle with the same reasonable care as you would with your own bike. You will be travelling in areas where technical assistance may be a long time coming. If you respect the bike, then there is no reason for you to expect any difficulty or delay. Important Many parts of the bicycle are manufactured using modern alloy materials. If making adjustments, please note how tight bolts are before loosening them as this will guide you as to re-tightening. Do not overtighten any bolts. Bicycle size. Please contact us as soon as possible to let us know the height of riders, so that we can allocate bikes of suitable size. If a rider has legs that are much longer or shorter than average for their height, it’s also useful for us to know. You should find it simple to fine tune the bike to your fit, as there is plenty of adjustment in both saddle and handlebar heights. Your luggage Each bicycle is supplied with good quality panniers and carrier. Minimum total pannier capacity is 40 litres. We suggest that you arrive with your luggage in an unframed rucksack or soft bag, so that you can transfer it into the panniers, then fit the empty bag to the carrier platform using the bungees supplied with ‘twin’ panniers. Some ‘triple’ panniers have an additional top bag, which covers the carrier platform, so you can put your empty bag into the top bag, or pop it under the attached elastic cords. Panniers attach to the carrier by a simple 3 point quick release system (pockets at the rear). The lower hook MUST be fixed over the lower part of the carrier (from the rear) and the two top latches should be pushed firmly down over the top bar – ensure that they click fully into position. To remove, after unlatching, you can lift the pannier by its handle. The panniers are water resistant but we cannot guarantee them to be completely waterproof. A fluorescent rain cover is concealed in an upper pocket of each pannier and for extra weather protection, you may wish to bring some large poly-bags with you. Collecting/returning your bikes Collection: The cycles will normally be at your first night’s accommodation, awaiting your arrival, so you should take a taxi or bus to the accommodation from the ferry or airport. If any other collection arrangement is necessary, we will advise you in good time. Return: In Barra, please leave the bikes with the host at your final accommodation and take public transport to your departure point. In Lewis, please take the bikes to the reception office at the Caladh Inn and take public transport to your departure point. Helmet A helmet is supplied with each bicycle and must travel with it, whether you choose to wear it or not. This is because the helmet will be needed with the bike, by the next hirer. Before returning the bike, please clean the helmet straps, etc., using the antiseptic wipes supplied in the tool bag. Instructions for fitting the helmet are on the reverse of this sheet. Punctures Before riding a bicycle in remote locations, it is reasonable to expect that riders will familiarise themselves with the procedure for repairing punctures. To help avoid punctures, do not ride with your wheels at the extreme edge of the road. If mending a puncture (especially on the rear wheel) we recommend that you do so with the wheel left attached to the bike. Just let any remaining air out and the tyre will be easy to lever

off the rim to one side. This will avoid having to realign the wheel and possibility of needing to adjust gears. Puncture repair kits are supplied with the bikes, but Hebridean Hopscotch Holidays is not responsible for the cost of calling out technical assistance for puncture repair or a replacement tyre should you damage the tyre casing beyond repair. If you ride on a surface or in a manner that is likely to result in punctures or tyre damage, you do so at your own risk. Pump To use the pump, push the nozzle firmly over the valve and LIFT the lever to lock it. If the pump nozzle is not pushed far enough over the valve, it will not inflate – if necessary, you can slacken the nozzle ring a little to help it fit, then re-tighten after use. Tools and mechanical assistance A basic tool kit is supplied for adjustment and emergency use. This comprises Allen hex-keys, universal spanner, pump, self adhesive puncture patches and tyre levers (no glue required). Saddle and handlebar stem height are adjusted using hex-keys. Note that the handlebar stem has a maximum height marker, above which the handlebars may not be safely set. If you need additional mechanical assistance during your holiday, for example, should a tyre be damaged beyond repair, if possible, please contact Hebridean Hopscotch first (numbers below). Otherwise please note the following contacts who should be able to assist: Barra: Barra Cycle Hire, 29 St. Brendans Road, Isle of Barra, HS9 5XJ Tel: 01871 810284 In the Uists, from Eriskay to Berneray: Tommy Macdonald, Rothan Cycles, Howmore, Isle of South Uist HS8 5SH Tel 01870 620283 Mobile 07740 364093 Lewis and Harris: Hebridean Hopscotch Office, Stornoway, 01851 706611 during office hours, otherwise 01851 702740 (this is the Caladh Inn, where the receptionist or night porter will be able to contact the duty Hebridean Hopscotch out of hours advisor. Water A standard bicycle bottle cage is fitted but, for hygiene reasons, the bottle is not supplied – we leave it to guests to bring their own. Local rules of the road Traffic is light in the Outer Hebrides, drivers are generally considerate and you should not have any difficulty. When on single track roads, if there is insufficient space for a motor vehicle driver to overtake you, you have the right of way and should not feel obliged to ride off the road surface until you reach the next passing place. If you’re travelling particularly slowly (uphill perhaps) you may wish to pull in to the side and stop, if safe to do so. Gears Derailleur: This is the type which requires you to keep turning the pedals while changing gear – release pressure on the pedals a little, before changing. There are three front rings on our derailleur equipped cycles, changed by the left hand triggers and 7 back cogs, changed by the right hand. There are up and down triggers for both sets of cogs. For efficient use of the gears, to avoid having the chain come off and to avoid damage to gears, please do not use the smallest front ring with larger rear cogs or the largest front ring with smallest rear cogs. Front fork adjustment You can stiffen the front fork suspension on some biles, by rotating the adjuster knob in a clockwise direction. For road use, the stiffest position is usually the most efficient.