Etape Caledonia 2009

2456789

Comments

  • Brian B
    Brian B Posts: 2,071
    fenski wrote:
    Found this:

    Event news on pkc website

    "Ideas currently being discussed for the 2009 event include:

    • A cycling festival based in Aberfeldy
    • A new endurance hill climb for cyclists up Glen Quaich (the longest sustained hill climb in the UK)
    • Further development of the event village at the start/finish location
    • A community event in Kinloch Rannoch."

    An endurance hill climb up Glen Quaich sounds interesting - but there's a bit of poetic licence going on there calling it "the longest sustained hill climb in the UK"... Living locally, I'm not even sure if it's the longest hill climb in Perthshire![/quote]

    Thats one of my favourite climbs(best from Loch Tay side) but your right it is defo not the longest climb in Perthshire. Bridge of Balgy up to the Reservoir is longer but not near as fierce though!
    Brian B.
  • BigG67
    BigG67 Posts: 582
    Not sure that the hill TT is happening. The event website has a questionnaire asking if people are interested in doing it on the Sat.
  • The Other McHoy
    The Other McHoy Posts: 161
    I've heard some conflicting info. regarding the course itself. Some friends say it is a mostly flatish ride with lots of very short hills while others reckon it is a deceivingly tough course and point to the 1900 metres of elevation.

    The map profile suggests little in the way of climbing and there is no indication of steepness of ramps etc. I'm assuming (dangerously?) that the 1900 metres is mostly lots of up and down stuff over bumps.

    Can anyone who has done it before provide an opinion?

    Thanks.
  • wakemalcolm
    wakemalcolm Posts: 908
    If last year's anything to go by, it's a couple of guys doing some work at the front and about 2000 people behind drafting. The course is kind/lame by Scottish Sportive standards with only the feature climb and a sharp rise a few miles before the end to really worry about.

    Definitely worth doing once though if only for the closed roads experience.
    ================================
    Cake is just weakness entering the body
  • The Other McHoy
    The Other McHoy Posts: 161
    wakemalcolm wrote:
    If last year's anything to go by, it's a couple of guys doing some work at the front and about 2000 people behind drafting. The course is kind/lame by Scottish Sportive standards with only the feature climb and a sharp rise a few miles before the end to really worry about.

    Definitely worth doing once though if only for the closed roads experience.

    Thanks - A good day out for some speedwork then . . . It looks on the profile like there are some steep ramps close to the start and then again around the 70-80 km mark but there is no indication if ithey are 5% or 25%.

    http://www.etapecaledonia.co.uk/Etape%2 ... %20pdf.pdf
  • cframe
    cframe Posts: 171
    Brian B wrote:
    fenski wrote:
    Thats one of my favourite climbs(best from Loch Tay side) but your right it is defo not the longest climb in Perthshire.

    Next time I'm up in Pitlochry (parents live up there now, which is handy!) I'm planning on going hunting for that route to see what it's like, would you say it's tougher than the road up the shoulder of Schiehallion Brian B?
    How's that for a slice of fried gold?
  • Brian B
    Brian B Posts: 2,071
    cframe wrote:
    Brian B wrote:
    fenski wrote:
    Thats one of my favourite climbs(best from Loch Tay side) but your right it is defo not the longest climb in Perthshire.

    Next time I'm up in Pitlochry (parents live up there now, which is handy!) I'm planning on going hunting for that route to see what it's like, would you say it's tougher than the road up the shoulder of Schiehallion Brian B?

    3 Times as tough - Glen Quaich from Loch Tay is apart from the Belach na BA is the hardest climb in Scotland. The first half of the climb is the worst - almost identical gradient to the Mortirolo in Italy and never dips below double figures.
    Brian B.
  • cframe
    cframe Posts: 171
    Brian B wrote:
    cframe wrote:
    Brian B wrote:
    fenski wrote:
    Thats one of my favourite climbs(best from Loch Tay side) but your right it is defo not the longest climb in Perthshire.

    Next time I'm up in Pitlochry (parents live up there now, which is handy!) I'm planning on going hunting for that route to see what it's like, would you say it's tougher than the road up the shoulder of Schiehallion Brian B?

    3 Times as tough - Glen Quaich from Loch Tay is apart from the Belach na BA is the hardest climb in Scotland. The first half of the climb is the worst - almost identical gradient to the Mortirolo in Italy and never dips below double figures.

    Woaf, that sounds pretty hardcore! I'm doing the short Bealach event at the start of May so I'll maybe have to do a few reps of Quaich to get ready for it in that case :)
    How's that for a slice of fried gold?
  • poucher
    poucher Posts: 102
    Hi All,

    Did this event last year and it was fantastic, beautiful weather and no cars to bother you at all, so as soon as I got back I entered for this year and booked a hotel in Pitlochry ( Not Loch Rannoch again as it took me ages to drive in due to the roads being closed, missed my start time by 25 mins, oops!! :oops: ) don't underestimate this anyone not staying in Pitlochry.

    One question, where can you find the link for the entrants list and start numbers for this years event, don't know my start number yet??

    Cheers,

    Poucher :wink:
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    I can't find the link for entrants list anywhere, except once - I can't remember how I found it but I do remember it wasn't on the website.
    Anyone thinking of doing this event should do - it may not be the toughest sportive (why, of course, my daily commute is harder) but you have to rate closed roads pretty highly.

    As for the gripes about the winners' tactics last year, I'm no racer so I don't fully understand all this, but if being beaten bothers people, doesn't that mean that they should be serious enough to work out some smart tactics of their own?
  • felgen
    felgen Posts: 829
    bompington wrote:
    As for the gripes about the winners' tactics last year, I'm no racer so I don't fully understand all this, but if being beaten bothers people, doesn't that mean that they should be serious enough to work out some smart tactics of their own?

    Good point - the guys who placed 1st and second are good TT'ers to ran a 2 man time trial to catch the group in front which I think is a great effort and therefore deserving. I guess the issue that the people had in the lead group was that they didn't know this had happened until it was too late - though perhaps they should have anticipated it and kept the pace up to avoid being caught. That however rewuires co-operation and I think they just didn't work together as if they had a group of 20 odd should have easily outpaced a pair of riders. So in summary because the lead group all sat in and didn't share the work they were caught and only had themselves to blame.

    To post fast times you need a group who are going to work together, not just sit in and wheel suck maybe that's selfishness, maybe inexperience...
    Steeds:
    1)Planet X SL Pro carbon
    2)Nelson Pista Singlespeed
    3)Giant Cadex MTB
    4)BeOne Karma MTB
  • The emu
    The emu Posts: 347
    felgen wrote:
    To post fast times you need a group who are going to work together, not just sit in and wheel suck maybe that's selfishness, maybe inexperience...

    ....maybe self conservation. :wink:

    If its as simple as you make it sound, each race would be a team TT, but its not, and most breakaways (on the flat) get caught by the peleton for a reason.
    The long grazed legged one
  • felgen
    felgen Posts: 829
    The emu wrote:
    If its as simple as you make it sound, each race would be a team TT, but its not, and most breakaways (on the flat) get caught by the peloton for a reason.
    In this case the peloton was in front - i.e. average effort per rider being lower, though I assume only a few riders doing most of the work, and therefore catchable by a pair of riders working very hard for a short period to catch the group in front and then sit in.

    I take your point - its not as simple as that though. Psychological factors must play a big part - its much easier to work hard in a group than on your own as you dont want to get dropped.
    Steeds:
    1)Planet X SL Pro carbon
    2)Nelson Pista Singlespeed
    3)Giant Cadex MTB
    4)BeOne Karma MTB
  • Foz72
    Foz72 Posts: 81
    Woaf, that sounds pretty hardcore! I'm doing the short Bealach event at the start of May so I'll maybe have to do a few reps of Quaich to get ready for it in that case :)[/quote]

    The BnaBa is a lot better graded - other than a 1km section, just before the hairpins start, it is a hill you can set a pretty steady tempo on. I'm aiming more for plenty reps on the Crow Road this year, as it feels like a similar gradient, possibly a little less.

    Wave when you pass me in May :lol:
  • grantus
    grantus Posts: 690
    Hey Foz,

    Give us a shout if you are going to do some training on the Crow Road - I have exactly the same thing in mind - or perhaps hill reps on Tak Ma Doon :?: :shock:
    www.westlothianclarion.co.uk
  • scapaslow
    scapaslow Posts: 305
    Brian B wrote:
    3 Times as tough - Glen Quaich from Loch Tay is apart from the Belach na BA is the hardest climb in Scotland. The first half of the climb is the worst - almost identical gradient to the Mortirolo in Italy and never dips below double figures.

    I did Glen Quaich last summer both ways and it is without doubt the hardest climb i have ever done. Nice to know it's the second hardest in Scotland. Its actually really hard coming over to Loch Tay as well although shorter.

    How much harder is the Bealach? How much harder the Mortirolo? I guess both are longer with the Mortirolo a good bit longer.
  • The emu
    The emu Posts: 347
    Does anyone have a map we can get our hands on that outlines the extent of this climb?

    Almost identical gradient to the Mortirolo as an average, or as a Max, and over what distances?

    Think mentioning the two in the same sentence might not be paying the Mortirolo the respect it deserves, but happy to be proved wrong.
    The long grazed legged one
  • felgen
    felgen Posts: 829
    Emu,

    Theres a few postings of the route on Bikely - with elevation profiles attached. As far as I can see its long long flat hoon, followed by big hill, followed by more flat hoon followed by a bit lumpy at the end.
    Steeds:
    1)Planet X SL Pro carbon
    2)Nelson Pista Singlespeed
    3)Giant Cadex MTB
    4)BeOne Karma MTB
  • The emu
    The emu Posts: 347
    I saw that, but thought I must be missing something given the ascent is less than 200m as opposed to the Mortirolo's 1300m :roll:
    The long grazed legged one
  • felgen
    felgen Posts: 829
    um... okay I am going to look again as well then and check my facts.
    Steeds:
    1)Planet X SL Pro carbon
    2)Nelson Pista Singlespeed
    3)Giant Cadex MTB
    4)BeOne Karma MTB
  • The emu
    The emu Posts: 347
    The way you described it sounded right, except the climb is hardly worth a mention, as its hardly bigger than box hill.

    Here's what I'm looking at...

    http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/SP ... onia-1870m
    The long grazed legged one
  • felgen
    felgen Posts: 829
    The one I saw shows a peak of just under 400 metres at the highest point.... but the total climb is only 200 metres height gained - so no mortirolo really, even if the gradient is the same it would be over a lot more quickly, which makes me a little happier as I can manage a Box Hill and a little bit extra type climb...
    Steeds:
    1)Planet X SL Pro carbon
    2)Nelson Pista Singlespeed
    3)Giant Cadex MTB
    4)BeOne Karma MTB
  • scapaslow
    scapaslow Posts: 305
    Not sure what you are looking at but i don't think it is Glen Quaich.

    This climb is not on the etape caledonia route. It is a climb from Kenmore at Loch Tay to Amulree and according to mapmyride rises over 500m in just under 5K with over 1K at 20% + gradient.

    I can assure you that it is tough! Even if it's less than half a Mortirolo. Now that must be one hell of a climb.
  • felgen
    felgen Posts: 829
    That climb is a much easier proposition than I initially thought, though it will come after a few k's (80ish) of riding so perhaps it won't be whizzed up quite as fast as Al likes to do it.

    You will have had some warm weather Aussie training by then, as will I, on some long and large climbs. :twisted:
    Steeds:
    1)Planet X SL Pro carbon
    2)Nelson Pista Singlespeed
    3)Giant Cadex MTB
    4)BeOne Karma MTB
  • pneumatic
    pneumatic Posts: 1,989
    felgen wrote:
    That climb is a much easier proposition than I initially thought, though it will come after a few k's (80ish) of riding so perhaps it won't be whizzed up quite as fast as Al likes to do it.

    You will have had some warm weather Aussie training by then, as will I, on some long and large climbs. :twisted:

    Again, Glen Quaich is not the hill on the actual Etape route. They were proposing to do the hill climb the day before and it is a different hill than the one on the route. However, I see no mention of the hill climb plan on the email I got from IMG today. There is just a family bike day in Aberfeldy on the day before the Etape.

    I have driven the Glen Quaich climbs (both ways) and they are severe by anybody's standards. Not of Alpine length but much sharper in gradient. I had to use 1st gear in the car going up from Kenmore - THAT kind of hill.

    Fast and Bulbous
    Peregrinations
    Eddingtons: 80 (Metric); 60 (Imperial)
  • pneumatic
    pneumatic Posts: 1,989
    If you want guidance on where Glen Quaich ranks in the list of hardest climbs in Scotland, go to:

    http://www.salite.ch/struttura/salite.a ... difficolta

    where it comes in at number 4, behind the Bealech (in each direction) and the lighthouse road at Mull of Kintyre.

    Don't be fooled by the average gradient, either, the standard deviation is huge! :D

    (By their scoring system, Mortirolo scores 167.4 compared to 68 or so for Glen Quaich.)

    Fast and Bulbous
    Peregrinations
    Eddingtons: 80 (Metric); 60 (Imperial)
  • The emu
    The emu Posts: 347
    scapaslow wrote:
    I can assure you that it is tough! Even if it's less than half a Mortirolo. Now that must be one hell of a climb.

    So it's tough but only half as tough as the Mortirolo :wink: :P
    scapaslow wrote:
    This climb is not on the etape caledonia route. It is a climb from Kenmore at Loch Tay to Amulree and according to mapmyride rises over 500m in just under 5K with over 1K at 20% + gradient..

    Jokes aside, am glad it's not in the Etape.
    The long grazed legged one
  • The emu
    The emu Posts: 347
    scapaslow wrote:
    I can assure you that it is tough! Even if it's less than half a Mortirolo. Now that must be one hell of a climb.

    So it's tough but only half as tough as the Mortirolo :wink: :P
    scapaslow wrote:
    This climb is not on the etape caledonia route. It is a climb from Kenmore at Loch Tay to Amulree and according to mapmyride rises over 500m in just under 5K with over 1K at 20% + gradient..

    Jokes aside, am glad it's not in the Etape.
    The long grazed legged one
  • Art Vandelay
    Art Vandelay Posts: 1,982
    Sounds like a good pre-Etape warm up. That and a pie supper :roll:
  • The emu
    The emu Posts: 347
    pneumatic wrote:
    If you want guidance on where Glen Quaich ranks in the list of hardest climbs in Scotland, go to:

    http://www.salite.ch/struttura/salite.a ... difficolta

    where it comes in at number 4, behind the Bealech (in each direction) and the lighthouse road at Mull of Kintyre.

    Don't be fooled by the average gradient, either, the standard deviation is huge! :D

    (By their scoring system, Mortirolo scores 167.4 compared to 68 or so for Glen Quaich.)

    That's a great little website pneumatic, straight in my favourites...but just for the record Mortirolo from Grosio is 167.4 but is 186.3 from Mazzo, which is the way the Giro goes over it and how most others looking for a killer climb take it on aswell.
    The long grazed legged one

Categories