controlx, Author at Skinny Tyres

Getting dropped

controlx on April 1, 2025

Getting dropped on a bike is every cyclist’s worst nightmare.

It was bound to happen at one point. Last weekend, on a sunny Sunday ride with my son, I realised today was the day. He was finally faster than me on a bike – and he made sure to rub salt into the wounds he dealt me by sending me a photo of me struggling to keep up.

“Getting dropped” is one of those things that cyclists have nightmares about. The phrase is not, as it might suggest, a barely disguised euphemism for falling off or crashing your bike. Instead, it is suffering the ignominy of being unable to keep up with your fellow riders, thus hinting at a lack of fitness and/ or riding ability compared to your fellow riders. There are varying degrees of getting dropped, each with its level of self-directed shame and embarrassment attached.

The elastic snaps

Whatever the situation, most riders will experience the “snapping of the elastic”, that moment when they have no energy left to pedal, and they finally “drop off the back” of the group ride. The fact that there are so many idioms and synonyms for the phenomena suggests that it is an all too common occurrence among cyclists. Perhaps one of the problems is that, as a friend once told me, “If you have two cyclists riding together, then you will likely have a race”, as they egg each other on and the pace slowly creeps up until one rider can’t hold on any longer.

It is never as simple as just not being able to keep up. The analogy of elastic snapping paints the picture perfectly. A “dropped” rider will go through many stretches and contractions of the “elastic” before it finally goes. It might be a hill that initially sees them losing ground to their fellow riders. They get to the top and fight back to gain lost ground, and a few minutes respite behind the wheel in front of them, before the next rise appears. The timescale will vary tremendously from rider to rider, but eventually, there will be one gradient too many and the effort of chasing to get back to the riders in front will be too much and “ping”, the elastic pops and the ignominy of getting dropped occurs.

Three friends cycle on road bikes along the west coast of Scotland — Cycling friends, as long as they all take their turn at the front.

One hill too many

The benefit of a rest, sitting on, at the back of a group, can never be underestimated. The sanctuary from the wind offered behind even just one rider can be enough to allow recuperation and may be the difference between hanging on for one more hill, or a lonesome ride home. There are problems of sitting at the back of a group too (not just getting called out for being a “wheel-sucker” if you stay there too long). Depending on the pace of a group it can also be a very tiring place to be. On a straight and flat road there aren’t too many problems, but throw in a few corners and suddenly, the back of a group becomes a “hanging-on-by-your-finger-nails” place to be.

I remember one of my first ever road races, many years ago. It was a high-speed, mid-week event around Tullybaccart and Lundie at the back of Dundee. In the middle of group, I was doing fine, but I slowly found myself jostling for and losing position, and finding myself at the back of the group. My error became apparent as we started to hit junctions and corners. At the front the speed going round a corner dipped only a few miles an hour, but at the back an “accordion-effect” was taking place and the speed would drop from 25mph to 13mph as the riders braked and bunched up from riding so closely together, then would shoot dramatically back up to 25mph again. By the time I had realised my mistake I had no energy left from the constant pace changes to get back into the middle of the bunch. Sprint, brake, accelerate, repeat was the order of the day, and it wasn’t long before my lack of experience and ability became apparent, the leastic snapped, and I found myself making my lonesome way back to the race HQ.

It can happen and has happened to the best of us, spurring us into a self-flagellating regime of more training and promises that it will never happen again. But then, even that sometimes isn’t enough to avoid being dropped. A lot of it depends on how you are feeling that day, who you are riding with and the terrain you are riding on. Jens Voigt, the colourful German ex-pro rider with a droll sense of humour, had written on the top-tube of his bike when he broke the World Hour Record in way back in 2014, “I go so fast I even lap myself”.

Now that would be a tough wheel to hang on to.

Scot Tares

Bicycle race, bicycle race 🎵

controlx on February 5, 2025

Ready, steady, go

Bicycle race - A young girl lines up at the start of a cross country bike race in Scotland

The two riders lined up at the start line of the bicycle race; one at the left of the grid and the other at the right. Between them and behind them other riders crowded, jostling for position, all ready with their race-faces on, but this race was going to be about the rider in the black and the rider in the yellow. The commissaire shouted “Go!” and the mass of riders sprinted to get into the first corner, which was wide enough for only two riders side by side. The rider in black reached the corner first, closely followed by a rider in yellow and then the rider in red. They disappeared into the trees and onto the narrow, winding single-track course.

The battle

When they re-appeared a few minutes later, the rider in red had passed the rider in yellow, but the rider in black now had a lead of around 15 seconds. It seemed too much for the rider in red to make up and it looked like the bicycle race had been lost in the first lap.

Bicycle race - A young girl races cross country on her mountain bike in Scotland — Photos © Raymond Leinster Photography

They disappeared into the trees again and the next time they reappeared the rider in red was a few seconds closer but had been snarled up behind some riders that had been lapped. On lap three the rider in black re-appeared with the rider in red only a few seconds behind. The rider in black looked tired and the rider in red looked hungry. It became apparent later that both riders had been in a battle royal in the trees, passing and then being passed and then passing each other again, only to reappear in the same position as before.

The sprint

The last lap was going to decide it and as they disappeared into the trees again the crowd held their breath. Emerging from the trees for the last time the rider in red was stuck behind three lapped riders, only just managing to pass them before entering the final corner. Now she was right on the tail of the rider in black and triumph in sight. She screamed from the depths of her soul and accelerated around the corner and the rider in black. Ahead was the finish line and victory. The rider in red sprinted with everything she had, crossing the line collapsing over the bars of her bike and struggling to catch her breath. She had won.

Bicycle race - A young girl sits on a chair exhausted after winning a cross country mountain bnike race in Scotland

The over-zealous parent

I have always said I would never be a parent who got over-excited at my children’s sporting achievements, but it was my daughter in the red of the Tay Titans Cycling Club who sprinted for victory. I couldn’t contain myself. I yelled her name louder than I think I have ever yelled and I am sure I was the subject of several raised eyebrows from other parents, but I didn’t care. I was the proudest Dad on Earth. Yes, it was only a regional, under-10s mountain bicycle race, but I knew what it meant to her. She had raced since the age of five and only been on the podium twice before, but had spoken of one day winning a race. Today was her day and as far as I was concerned, if she never raced again, the memory of her huge smile on the podium would be enough.

Bicycle race - A young girl gets her medal after winning a cross country mountain bnike race in Scotland — Photos © Raymond Leinster Photography

The proud dad

Many years later my daughter still talks of that bike race. Reflecting on that race today, I know it was not the winning that made me the proudest. It was the fact my daughter had pushed herself to her limit and then dug a little bit deeper. I had never seen her empty the tank so completely. It is amazing what we can do with enough determination and looking at my daughter now I can see that strength of character still stands her in good stead today, and not just in sport.

I am a passionate advocate for getting young people active and involved in sports and physical activity. The reasons for this are obvious, but I also believe getting them involved in sports at an early age goes far beyond mere health benefits. It teaches them about respect, determination, commitment and hard work alongside many other valuable traits that will stand them in good stead as they mature into adults.

Both my kids still participate in lots of different sports and, thankfully, they still enjoy the odd bike ride or race on occasion too. As a parent, it is hard not to confuse their choices with my excitement at getting them involved in bikes. Over the years I have taken the view of not pushing, but providing the opportunities and helping out when needed, but letting them follow their paths.

Want to find out how to get young people involved in bicycle races?

There are lots of cycling clubs that welcome young people. You can find out more details here.

Adventure your soul

controlx on January 30, 2025

Winter cycling adventures are a tonic for your mind and soul

As a kid growing up in the 1970s and 80s, I always felt different to my peers. Perhaps they all felt the same, but no one was brave enough to admit it. So everyone just went with the flow. We played football in the park, went shopping with our parents at the weekend, then watched ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ on TV. Not that there was anything wrong with any of this. My friends and I played outside whenever we could. We built dens and climbed trees, but I knew there was more adventure out there, I just didn’t know how to access it.

Scot Tares of Skinny Tyres standing on the summit of a snow capped mountain looking out over Rannoch moor as the sun rises — Looking out over Rannoch Moor at sunrise earlier this year Photo ©T Tares

A world of new adventures opens before me

It wasn’t until I participated in the Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE) that things became clearer. Instantly, I could see a different path ahead of me. To this day, everything I did as part of that award has had a major impact on my life. From the 18-year career in social care that I started whilst volunteering on the award scheme, to the career I have now in cycling as I joined my first cycling club as part of the DofE award. Through participation in the award, I gained skills and the confidence to push beyond my lack of self-assuredness and crippling shyness and try new activities. One of the key aspects was the independence I gained. I discovered sports such as hill-walking and cycling that I could enjoy without having to be part of a team. I could just head off into the hills with my thoughts. I found I had abilities that my peers lacked, such as navigating with a map and compass. I went from being the person no one wanted on a team to being the one that everyone wanted in their Cairngorm hiking expedition group.

Scot Tares of Skinny Tyres stops to admire the beautiful scenery as he rides a mountain bike across a grassy, shrubby area towards a rocky hill. The grass is clearly wet and the early morning mist can be seen in the background. — Taking time out of route marking an event course in Wales to enjoy the silence

Everywhere you go, you always take the weather with you

Cycling adventures and heading out for walks into forests and up hills still gives me this sense of freedom and release from the world around us. Increasingly, technology, pressures from work, family commitments, and day-to-day life can become big grinds on our mental and physical health. The opportunity to escape all of that, even if only for an hour pays huge dividends. I have other motivations to ride my bike, such as fitness and work, but taking time to cycle just for myself is a tonic for my soul. It doesn’t even really matter what the weather is like. When the sun shines, it is nice to feel its warmth on my face but, equally, I have pedalled through dark and dingy forests where the mist has hung heavily in the air and I have felt just as uplifted. I don’t think I am alone in this feeling. Of course, many of you will read this and recognise the same feelings, but I believe many would not identify, or even welcome a cycle ride out in the rain and mud, or inclement weather.

Cycling in the snow on a Trek Crockett gravel bike — Riding through the southern Cairngorms

Longing for solitude

I don’t want to philosophise too much here, but I believe we are heading so far from our basic instincts that our health is suffering. We are constantly surrounded by artificial stimulation. Many of us live, work, and play in large towns and cities and never get opportunities to be on our own, away from everything with just nature around us. I know when I have been in situations like that I get increasingly stressed and angry and long for the isolation and solitude of a mountain or a forest. The song by Crowded House, ‘Everywhere you go, you always take the weather with you’, I believe is about life being what you make of it. If you are continuously surrounded by noise and stimulation then your life is going to head in a similar trajectory.

Finding solitude in the mountains, looking towards the high summits in Glencoe Photo ©T Tares

The physical benefits of exercise are well documented and knowledge about improving mental health and happiness is increasingly linked with being out in the natural world. We tend to fret a lot about our physical health, but perhaps it is our mental health that should come first. Rather than heading to the gym for a spin on a static bike, take a cycling adventure into a muddy forest, or mountain trail instead.

Trust me, you will not regret it.

Get out and ride

controlx on January 24, 2025

Don’t make excuses, just get out and ride.

Sometimes it is easy to sit back and excuse ourselves from doing something because it is too difficult, or too painful. But sometimes all we need to do is push a little bit harder and we may just find ourselves a little farther up that hill than we might have expected.

Scot Tares and Matt Baker accompany a young rider on the BBC Rickshaw Challenge. Their gheads are down as the battle into a storm with horizontal rain coming from their right side. Get Out and Ride — Scot Tares and Matt Baker flank a young cyclist on the Children in Need Rickshaw Challenge.

The Children in Need Rickshaw Challenge

Over the last 12 years, I have had the privilege to be involved in many cycling events for BBC Children in Need, including the BBC One Show Rickshaw Challenge. Each year, six young people pedalled the rickshaw and their positivity belied the emotional life story each had to tell. As the week progressed and tiredness set in, the riders became more emotional but, despite the difficulties that confronted them, they got up each morning, put on their cycling shoes, and rode the rickshaw with a huge smile on their faces.

For my part, it was an emotional journey too, and a bike ride like no other that I had experienced. For a start, we were travelling at an average of five miles per hour, (the rickshaw is very heavy). This meant that most days were around 15 hours on the road with breaks and rider’s change-over factored in. The epic days often meant starting on the road at 5 am, with one day in particular being a 2 am start. Despite these early starts crowds still lined the roads, even at 4 am, with some still in their pyjamas. I was also blown away by the generosity of the crowds lining the road. I had expected donations, but the team spent a considerable amount of time out on the route collecting tens of thousands of pounds from well-wishers.

Meet a challenge head on

The time I spent with the rickshaw team is filled with great memories and emotional times, but perhaps the one that stands out the most for me was with Erin from Sauchie. Throughout the challenge she was quiet and unassuming and it was hard to tell if she was in pain from the juvenile arthritis that she has.

She kept her emotions very well hidden.

The moment wasn’t dramatic, or as emotionally charged as many were on this event, but it struck a chord with me.

As I cycled along with her one day we came to the foot of a climb. It wasn’t steep and was relatively short compared to many others we had encountered. Previously, on such climbs we had supported Erin by taking a bit of the weight off the rickshaw by supporting it from behind as we rode up.

This time I left her. As we climbed I could see she was suffering and in pain. I said to her to let me know when I should help.

She said it was okay.

I rode with her in silence.

As we reached the top she asked “Did I just ride that?”

I replied that she had.

“I mean, did I ride it without anyone holding the rickshaw” she countered.

Again I replied that she had.

She nodded her head with a smile and said “I’m glad I did that. I needed to do that.”

For me, it was an understated but powerful moment that summed up the daily challenges these young people face. It exemplified how they find an inner strength each morning.

I found that humbling and something we can all learn from.

Find out more about Skinny Tyres by getting in touch

“You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice” – Bob Marley

Cycling Ben Lawers

controlx on December 31, 2024

Ben Lawers – wherever he cycles in the world, Scot Tares finds Scotland is hard to beat

Cycling is a numbers game

As I rode, numbers raced through my head: four miles to go to the top; my average speed was 12 miles per hour, giving an ascent time of approximately 20 minutes; my pedal cadence was 80 revolutions per minute, giving 1600 pedal strokes needed to get to the road summit; my heart was beating at 155 beats per minute, not in the red, but close to it, and it would beat another 3100 times before levelling out as I rode over Ben Lawers.

Climbing by bike

I was cycling on one of my favourite climbs in Highland Perthshire, if not the UK. It has many qualities of an Alpine ascent, from the moment it breaks from the steep initial ramp to the panoramic vista that opens out before you as you climb higher above Loch Tay. For me, that is one of the key points that sets it above its giant Alpine cousins. Where the Alps offer longer ascents, the lack of distance on Scottish climbs, such as Ben Lawers is more than made up for by the view.

Looking towards Lochan na Lairige below the summit of Ben Lawers

In the Alps, the wider view is often blocked by the view of the towering mountain in front of you. Although the setting is always spectacular, I would rather have a ‘grand view’ to take my mind off the numbers racing through my head. And so it was with Ben Lawers. I broke out through the trees, my mind instantly forgot the computer on my handlebars that spewed out a list of figures that served only as a reminder of the pain ahead and instead, it filled with the pleasure of riding my bike in one of the best cycling countries in the world; our very own.

Wherever I cycle in the world, I return to ride through Breadalbane and Glen Lyon and over the shoulder of Ben Lawers. It is a place that reminds me of what makes cycling in Scotland so wonderful. I often wonder why I would want to ride anywhere else.

Scot Tares

Where to Ride? – Ben Lawers: The ascent over Ben Lawers, the tenth-highest mountain in the UK, is just one of the many highlights of this classic circular route.

Map	OS Landranger 1:50000 51
Grid ref	Start – NN741 470 (Fortingall)
Details	31 miles 1693ft of ascent Ben Lawers climb: 4 miles
Description	Starting at Fortingall head south towards Fearnan, before turning onto the A827 south-west. After 11 miles, turn right onto the climb of Ben Lawers, which initially climbs through trees, but breaks out onto an Alpine-style mountainside. The climb starts to level out as you approach Lochan na Lairige, but then kicks up steeply once last time to take you to the top of the dam. A long winding descent on single-track road takes you into Glen Lyon; care is required for this descent. If required you can stop for refreshments at the bike-friendly café at Bridge of Balgie, before riding back via Glen Lyon. The Glen is perhaps one of the highlights of this route as it is slightly downhill and if you have a tail-wind then you are in for a treat as you ride through the historic steep-sided “longest, lovliest and loneliest” glen in the country.

Get in touch to find out more about our cycling holidays to Scotland.

Scot also wrote about Ben Lawers in his article in the Dundee Courier here.

The end of the road

controlx on December 30, 2024

A year in 20 photographs 20/20 – the end of the road on the Hebridean Way

The Butt of Lewis is quite literally the end of the road on the Hebridean Way.

A couple reach the end of the road on the Hebridean Way
at the Butt of Lewis and Stevenson Lighthouse

Over the last 20 days, I have posted photographs from many of my adventures this year. It has been great fun looking through these photos and choosing what to write to accompany the images. A recurring theme has been friendship. Riding a bike is an activity suitable for all ages. Throughout my life, I have had many solo adventures, but many of the most memorable times have been shared with others.

In all aspects of my cycling career, from coaching to guiding, I have made many friends. Every cycling holiday that I guide on I come away with new memories. It may be a brief conversation with one guest at dinner, or something funny, or dramatic that has happened during the week. Sometimes, it is things like sharing a sunset over a beach or sitting with others on a shore watching otters play on the rocks. Often it is long-lasting friendships. Looking through all these photographs from cycling adventures in 2024 has been a pleasure and even more so being able to share them with you.

To each and every one of you, whether you ride a bike, support me in my cycling ventures, or just enjoy following what I do through the pictures I take, I wish you all the best for 2025.

Bliadhna Mhath Ùr

Riders from our Hebridean Way holiday in May 2024 at the start on the island of Vatersay

Riders from our Hebridean Way holiday in July 2024 reach the finish at the Butt of Lewis

Find out more about our cycling holidays to the Outer Hebrides

Visit the Outer Hebrides

A kiss with my red, red rose

controlx on December 29, 2024

A year in 20 photographs 19/20 – a kiss on The Hebridean Way

Kirsteen and I walked down the aisle at Kinclaven Church on 29 December to the melody of A Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns.

Cycling guide Scot, who runs cycling tours and holidays in Scotland shares a kiss on the Hebridean Way.

The next chapter in our lives was ahead of us and I could not have had a better person to share it with.

A single woman enjoying cycling through the mountains on Harris on the Hebridean Way cycling holiday in Scotland. — No matter how big a climb was ahead Kirsteen always had a smile on her face

Kirsteen is the reason Skinny Tyres is where it is today. She has supported me with every pedal stroke of the journey. It was her enthusiasm for my initial idea that pushed me forward. Each time I felt overwhelmed by the mountains ahead, she was there to get me to the top. In 2020, it looked like everything was falling apart because of Covid. I was working any job I could find; from deliveries to working on a checkout in a supermarket. Kirsteen was always positive that it would all turn out well – and it did. Her enthusiasm for life, kindness, and willingness to be there for everyone is incredible.

Despite all her support over the last 15 years of Skinny Tyres, Kirsteen had never been on a cycling holiday, let alone a Skinny Tyres cycling holiday. So, 2024 was the year to remedy that. Kirsteen joined us on a Hebridean Way trip. The Outer Hebrides holds a special place in her heart. Her enthusiasm for the islands led me to start running trips there several years ago.

Kirsteen joined our tour in July 2024 and at the end of the week, we celebrated her completion of the Hebridean Way with a kiss and whisky.

Today is our 21st Wedding Anniversary and I think we will again celebrate with a kiss and a whisky.

Cycling guide Scot, who runs cycling tours and holidays in Scotland with his wife at the end of the Hebridean Way.

A Red, Red Rose
O my Luve is like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June;
O my Luve is like the melody
That’s sweetly played in tune.
So fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry.
Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi’ the sun;
I will love thee still, my dear,
While the sands o’ life shall run.
And fare thee weel, my only luve!
And fare thee weel awhile!
And I will come again, my luve,
Though it were ten thousand mile.
By Robert Burns

Join Skinny Tyres on a cycling holiday in Scotland

The One Show Challenge Squad

controlx on December 28, 2024

A year in 20 photographs 18/20 – friends

Around the time I was establishing Skinny Tyres in 2009, a cycling friend and I also set up the Tay Titans Junior Cycling Club in Perth.

A group of cycling coaches from the Tay Titans junior cycling club and friends of Scot Tares, of Skinny Tyres cycling holidays in Scotland, join him on the BBC One Show Challenge Squad event 2024.

Learning skills and making friends

We wanted to start a club where young folk could learn skills, have fun cycling, and make new friends. I was a shy and introverted youth but when I discovered that I was good at cycling, it boosted my confidence in other areas of life. Likewise, it brought me out of my shell and I made new friends. As an adult, I wanted other young people to experience something similar and, importantly, have fun on a bike.

Although I stepped back from the club several years ago, it is still thriving thanks to the hard work and dedication of volunteers and parents. The club won the Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland club of the year in 2023 and many of its members race in various disciplines at all levels. It has even had an Olympian and World Champion rise up through its ranks as Tay Titans was the first cycling club that mountain biker Charlie Aldridge joined.

I am extremely proud of the achievements of the Tay Titans and to have been able to play a small part in its history. I am also grateful for all the friends I have made through the club and for all the times I have worked with them in other cycling arenas.

Today’s photo is of the Tay Titans coaches and friends who joined me on the BBC One Show Challenge Squad in November this year. I was tasked with creating a team to support Grace in her challenge. Choosing those team members from the experienced and competent coaches at the Tay Titans was easy and they rose to the challenge.

Join Skinny Tyres on a cycling holiday in Scotland

A passion and pride for Scotland

controlx on December 28, 2024

A year in 20 photographs 17/20 – the Quiraing on the Isle of Skye

Two cyclists on a Skinny Tyres fully supported road cycling holiday in Scotland pass The Quiraing on the Isle of Skye. A passion and pride for Scotland.

When I started Skinny Tyres in 2009 I didn’t have a plan. I was naive to the intricacies of business and no one I knew ran their own business. I just dived in at the deep end. What I did have, was a passion for cycling, and, more than that, a love of, and a real pride for Scotland.

The idea of running cycling holidays in Scotland had popped into my head after returning from a cycling trip to the French and Italian Alps. I joined my local club for a 100-mile ride around Highland Perthshire that weekend. It was a stunning day and I realised that the mountains and landscapes I craved to cycle in were also just on my doorstep. I had been riding through them for years, but the familiarity had blinded me to their charms. It took a few more years until I plucked up enough courage to leave full-time paid employment and just go for it, but I was determined that I would start a business where people from around the world would come to Scotland to ride their bikes and see what a beautiful country we live in.

A passion and pride for Scotland is the driving force for Skinny Tyres

Fast-forward 15 years and this photograph of cyclists ascending the Quiraing on the Isle of Skye encapsulates my passion and pride for Scotland and why I started Skinny Tyres all those years ago.

We have had our ups and downs, both physically and mentally. No one told me that running my own business would be such an all-consuming affair, that I wouldn’t be able to clock out at 5:30 pm and go and relax with some family time. I have also made many life-long friends, ridden in amazing places – and cycled through the Channel Tunnel! – and learnt a lot about myself and my family.

My love of Scotland and my desire to share that love with others has sustained me through all these years. There are still so many amazing areas in Scotland we need to cycle through and I cannot wait to share these places with you.

Ride the Quiraing on the Isle of Skye on our Hebridean Island Hopper cycling holiday in Scotland

Responsible tourism

controlx on December 26, 2024

A year in 20 photographs 16/20 – supporting local business

Two cyclists riding on the hebridean way cycling holiday in scotland stop for some food at the Wee Cottaage Kitchen on North Uist — Hungry cyclists enjoying cake and coffee at the Wee Cottage Kitchen on North Uist

One of the many things that we are proud of at Skinny Tyres is our customised vans. We use these to support our riders during their cycling holiday in Scotland so we equip them with everything that they, or our guides, may need whilst on tour.

A solo cyclist in bright winter gear on a Skinny Tyres guided road cycling holiday in Scotland passes the fully customised support van just before the Stevenson Lighthouse at the Butt of Lewis on the Hebridean Way. — Support van at the Butt of Lewis

This includes sustenance for hungry cyclists and our spread is substantial. However, we are conscious that we visit areas with limited resources. Therefore, to support this fragile economy, we encourage our riders to stop at local cafés for coffee, cake and lunch. One such area is the Outer Hebrides where numerous cafes are scattered along the route of The Hebridean Way.

Skinny Tyres is a small family-owned and run business, so we recognise the benefits of mutual support from other small businesses. We are part of the Outer Hebrides Tourism (OHT) group that actively promotes The Hebridean Way as a recognised route through the islands. OHT and its members realise that visitors contribute to the local economy by patronising local businesses. These businesses include self-employed taxi drivers, cafés, accommodation providers and local artisans. They are all part of working communities which are largely dependent on the influx of tourists to boost their income. So when we visit, we make a point of supporting them. Consequently, over the years we have made many friends on the islands.

We respect that tourism needs to be sustainable and beneficial to places in environmentally sensitive areas. Furthermore, we are mindful that tourism can have negative impacts on communities and landscapes. Thus, we constantly look at ways to improve our interactions with regards to supporting local businesses by working in partnership with them to address environmental and socio-economical concerns.