Etape Caledonia

jimbo43

Does anyone know if the Etape Caledonia is definitely taking place on Sun 24th June? I paid my entry fee months ago and haven't heard anything since.

Jim

jimbo

Brian B

Contact them via the email link on the website. You'll know if its on as you need to be there on Sat 23rd just to register. Thats why I wont be taking part - its a bloody con!

Brian B.

neil_pcp

summary of my conversations with them

<font color="black">Hello there,

I and three others who live in Edinburgh will be travelling up on the morning of the event. Do we all have to travel up the previous day to register in person or can one of us do it and register all four of us. The first option seems excessive and a waste of time. Grateful for your input.</font id="black">

<font color="red">Reply

It is possible for someone to register on behalf of another person, however it is the bikes that need to be approved and therefore in your case, it might require 2 people to bring up the 4 bikes for inspection.</font id="red">

<font color="black">I am curious, why do you need to see our bikes? I have ridden sportives in France, Italy and Ireland and no-one has been remotely interested in looking at my bike (normally I am quite chuffed if someone wants to look at my bike). These foreign events having much stricter regulations re medicals for riders etc. Registration for the Marmotte can be done by one person for as many individuals as you like as long as you have the right paperwork.

Anyone with tribars etc knows they will get pulled at the start or during the ride. What exactly has to be approved re our bikes? 2 wheels handlebars? Already one of our party is considering cutting his losses as this is becoming too much hassle.

Or is this as I suspect another attempt to make it necessary for people to stay overnight in the area as I believe you are of the opinion that we are all "people who have, by common consent, a fairly high disposable income." (Quote from Kevin Stewart) I can see the logic in asking people to sort out registration the day before the event but I cannot see the logic in asking 2 people to cart 4 bikes up to Pitlochry to register for 4 people then cart them down again for no apparent reason. We live in Edinburgh all of us have young families with whom time is precious, and overnight stays are not an option in any case. This is taking away our enjoyment of the event and causing myself to have an increasing jaundiced view of it.

Thank you </font id="black">

reply

<font color="red">It is an event regulation under the guidance of British cycling association, we hope this doesn't create too much of an inconvenience for you.</font id="red">

<font color="blue">Is this true? is this something you have experienced at other sportives? can anyone from the BCF clarify re this regulation?
thanks </font id="blue">




Neil

Noodley

It is bull***. A money-making scheme...it is shocking.

There are no grounds or rules that I am aware of re any other sportives demanding bikes are checked. It is shambolic.

Should anyone wish to ride a proper route on 23 June I shall be riding the Snow Roads 300k audax route, taking in some well known climbs, and not some "marketing hype" route. Cost for the route sheet? œ2. And if you want to check the climbs - Cairn O'Mount, Cabrach, the Lecht, and Cairnwell, as well as the Angus Hills and Glen Isla.

I hope those who ride the Etape Caledonia enjoy it [:)] (but, I cannot help feeling cyclists are being ripped off yet again by marketing).

kathomson

The official Etape Caledonia site states the total ascent is 1949m but there is a route on Bikely.com which gives the ascent as 949m! Any comment?

I got the impression that some of the entry fee would be going to charity. Can anyone confirm this?

Noodley

Bikely is not too good at measuring ascents - the route I mentioned earlier has almost 5000m of climbing and bikely shows it as below 2000m!

neil_pcp

Rode it last week garmin said 1200m of climbing which is what it felt like

Neil

BenPcp

I rode the course this morning. My Polar C600 gives a total ascent of 914m and my forerunner 1140m, both readings well below the stated 2000m.[V]. One thing I can say is that the front runners will be completing this very quickly. I was hoping for something more challenging.

nwallace

I too have heard bugger all from them (signed up for the intermediate distance)

Doing the Edinburgh -> St Andrews this weekend, considerably cheaper.

Peter Main

I have just downloaded the event information and there is no mention of any requirement for a bike inspection during registration on the Saturday. This contradicts earlier information given out by the organisation so I have emailed them asking if they need to see the bikes on Saturday.

We only live 40 miles away and it is a pain in the neck to have to go down on Saturday to register, think about the carbon emissions. Why can't locals be allowed and early Sunday morning registration, other events can do this no problem.

Finally, how many entries did they get? There does not seem to be any kind of start list available. Why, are they struggling to get enough to run it? It would be interesting to see who the 'opposition' is going to be.

pete-the-bike

Peter Main

We rode the course on Tuesday, we did 84 miles and 3850 feet of climbing. I reckon my altimeter is accurate to +/- 10%. I notice the course has changed slightly from the original as it now misses out fearnan and the main rd on the north side of Loch Tay and takes a minor rd that misses the trunk road.

We stopped at the cafe at the caravan site just past the top of the big hill and had excellent soup, carrot cake & coffee, highly recommended. The proprietor said that many of the locals are pretty angry about the road closures as the event was promoted before they were consulted. However it will be good to see cyclists rule the road for a few hours.

I thought the course was easy compared with the Dales Etape or the Bealach na Ba, should be good for a quick time.

pete-the-bike

KeithG

Hi Peter, stayed at your bunkhouse in the past.
You're right about the change, well spotted. I did the original on Sunday and it is a little longer.
The local paper here had a very positive article (from local businesses and inhabitants) about the etape so I would say that local opinions are mixed but then that is sort of what you'd expect.

Incidentally, has anyone heard about their seeding yet?

Also the bike shop in Pitlochry has some more details about the road closures and it looks like the start will be at 7.30am and later. A bit earlier than my understanding and it's going to be an early start for me to get there on time. Also early morning temperatures have been pretty low lately (6 C this am in Perth) and I think I'm going to need to be prepared to bring arm and leg warmers in case.
Looking forward to it though, should be good fun.

nwallace

If I don't need to take the bike up on Saturday I would get the train up, considerably cheaper than 120 miles worth of petrol twice (60 miles from Dundee). The regs don't say anything about Scruitineering.

My aim is to beat the 20kmh minimum average.

Peter Main

Does anyone actually know how many riders they have got for the Etape Caledonia or is it a big secret?

pete-the-bike

nwallace

At least 7.....

Seems it's working on the basis of everyone who entered remembering to check their webiste and downloading the Event Information Booklet.

Which states that non-standard bikes have to be presented to officials for approval. But they have just confirmed to me what they have told everyone else all bikes must be presented before.

Not very competent of them.

The Mechanic

Why not go for the Katrine Kapers audax instead. 200k, Dukes Pass, Crow Road, Campsies and Trossocks and a beautiful view from the Erskine bridge on the way home. What more could you want for œ3.50 entry fee.

24th June from Johnstone Wheelers clubhouse.

Don't worry the man said, things could be worse. And sure enough, they got worse

Peter Main

I phoned the Etape people yesterday and they insist they must check all bikes on the Saturday but they couldn't tell me why! The registration information does not mention the need to take a bike so there will be lot of arguments on Saturday. What are they going to do with all the people who turn up to register on Saturday without a bike, disqualify them before they start? I asked what would happen if my bike is checked and Ok on Saturday and it breaks and I get injured on Sunday, would they take responsibility. I got no answer.

hope I have a great day (and everyone else) but it'll be a nice Audax next year.

pete-the-bike

hevipedal

I'm doing the dragon ride; sounds a lot less stressed.



<b><font color="red"> Hevipedal </font id="red"></b>
Phrase of the week - <font color="red"><font size="3"><b> I've got a bike. You can ride it if you like.
It's got a basket, a bell that rings and
Things to make it look good.
I'd give it to you if I could, but I borrowed it.
</font id="red"> </font id="size3"> </b>
51yrs old and Proud of it - Made it to 87kg 2 more to go for the target.
Pedal to Paris Sept 2007

Youngfox

Hi Peter. I nearly did this event but couldnt be bothered with making it a 2 day with getting the bike checked. All seems daft to me.

Davy
Glencoe

Unknown

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">beautiful view from the Erskine bridge<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

your kiddin right? [;)]


Well. it looks like i'll be having to take the bikes then on the saturday. ho hum!

---

MTB eijit

gavintc

The event is receiving some negative press in Scotland regarding the affect on businesses in the closed roads area. I was slightly surprised that the journo covering the piece did not consider the increase in income for the other businesses in the area.

gillan1969

I am somewhat reluctantly paying to 50 bucks ansd seing what happens

if the qusetion is do we wantr a sportif on closed (and rather nice) roads in scotland where the best in the country can comptete on the same raods as punters then the answer is yes and they will get my support

however it is beginning to look like this may be a one off depending on success on the day

glad i looked on here as I was certainly not planning on taking the bike saturday

www.squadraporcini.com

Unknown

Bike check the day before - what a scam. Has anyone asked the purpose ?? Surely requesting competitors to arrive an hour early on the day for a bike check would suffice.

Any RR or TT I've ever done I've never seen a bike being checked , never mind having to take it the day before.


__________________

If it doesn't fit, force it
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KeithG

"requesting competitors to arrive an hour early on the day for a bike check would suffice"
difficult if there are several hundred competitors (they are stil saying 1500 on the radio today) and the first start is at 8am though.

jsmithfym

you have to provide photographic id as well bit of a **** carrying a passport in your own country

Brian B

I,ve got a good mind just to turn up on the day and just ride the course anyway. Its goes against all my morals but this sportive is a farce. You would think the organisers look at the way they are done in Engalnd and Wales and maybe just learn something from them as THEY know how to organise an event.

I was all for parting with œ50 but this day before malarky is just a con and thats all it is. I cycled up there 6 weeks ago and only 1 motorbike passed me on the main climb of the sportive and the rest of the roads were so quiet.

Brian B.

Tetedelacourse

The parent company organises the London triathlon. It just doesn't add up.

ps metcheck says rain all day in Pitlochry on Sunday.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Will it be treats with Pocket and Sweets? Is that where we should go?

Paul McG

Too much quibbling about the fee I reckon.
Surely they have their costs. Going there a day early means we spend money in the town,
so it brings some benefit to the locals.

nashcom

I had thought about entering when it was first announced, but I'm glad I didn't. Someone in the 'Ride' forum has posted the exact wording on the bike scrutineering, and they're not allowing fixed wheel bikes on the event - which would have ruled me out. I've ridden the Bealach-na-Ba sportives, and I've never before heard of fixies being unwelcome. I've entered the Newtonmore audax the following weekend - hopefully that'll be a bit more relaxed, and enjoyable...

gavintc

I was also considering this event, but opted for a weekend in Yorkshire instead and have entered the Ryedale Rumble on the North York Moors. I predict that next year's event will be on 'open' roads with less restrictions.

Brian B

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by gavintc</i>

I was also considering this event, but opted for a weekend in Yorkshire instead and have entered the Ryedale Rumble on the North York Moors. I predict that next year's event will be on 'open' roads with less restrictions.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

The ryedale will be a tad harder than the Etape Caledonia[:p]

Brian B.