Etape Caledonia 2009

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  • sam-antha
    sam-antha Posts: 11
    I drove over the Schiehallion Road today and there was snow on it in the norning, gone by the afternoon. It still lies well down on the hill though. West wind and it was strong.
    I dunno about the weather, last year I was swimming in May and the year before, sunbathing in April.
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    Looking good up in the hills, the Cairngorm ski carpark is just down the hill from this pic:
    3511865275_f84aa0c4f0_o.jpg
  • Art Vandelay
    Art Vandelay Posts: 1,982
    Some local knowledge required please.
    A group of us are staying in Kinloch Rannoch on Saturday before the 'race'. With the road closures we should be OK until we get to the last stretch of the B8019 into Pitlochry. From there is it possible to drive towards Blair Atholl and take the A9 into Pitlochry? Alternatively, is the back road via Foss on the south side of Loch Tummel a proper road?
    Don't fancy an extra 20 mile cycle at 5am :cry:
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    Art Vandelay wrote:
    Some local knowledge required please.
    A group of us are staying in Kinloch Rannoch on Saturday before the 'race'. With the road closures we should be OK until we get to the last stretch of the B8019 into Pitlochry. From there is it possible to drive towards Blair Atholl and take the A9 into Pitlochry? Alternatively, is the back road via Foss on the south side of Loch Tummel a proper road?
    Don't fancy an extra 20 mile cycle at 5am :cry:
    The road from Tummel bridge to Garry bridge (B8019) doesn't close till 0630, but at Garry bridge it turns onto the section that is closed from 0500, so you could go that way but just before the bridge go over the hill to Killiecrankie & then onto the A9 at the north end of the village. Bit of a faff though.

    The S. Loch Tummel road is fine, but is very single track (not in the MTB sense), and could be busy with people trying to avoid the closures.

    One alternative is to recce the route by taking the Schiehallion road from KR, follow the course past Aberfeldy then back to the A9 at Ballinluig.
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    Looking good up in the hills, the Cairngorm ski carpark is just down the hill from this pic:
    3511865275_f84aa0c4f0_o.jpg
  • Art Vandelay
    Art Vandelay Posts: 1,982
    bompington Cheers. Recce route sounds best. Scotland always gets it's best weather in May. I'm confident of blue skies and double figure temps :D :?
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    Art Vandelay wrote:
    Scotland always gets it's best weather in May. I'm confident of blue skies and double figure temps :D :?
    Yup, the sun's shining just now - no, it's gone - ah, it's back now - no there it goes again...
  • andy_from_embsay
    andy_from_embsay Posts: 343
    Still a long way away in weather terms (especially Scottish weather!) but ukweather.com has it as sunny intervals and 14 degrees.

    http://uk.weather.com/weather/10day-Pitlochry-UKXX1702
  • curlyrobert
    curlyrobert Posts: 150
    Question - If it is raining - which I expect it will be! I rarely ride with a rainproof coat. In fact I do not own one. I was going to grab one this week - needs to be stowable, breathable keep me dry and not cost the world (moon on a stick)

    Any suggestions before I make the trip from Surrey to Scotland?

    ps. please tell me the mozzies are not at large in may.
    the day I stop dreaming of upgrades is the day die!

    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3370/3261181810_727612440a_o.jpg My Stable
  • andy_from_embsay
    andy_from_embsay Posts: 343
    I have various cycling tops, but I now cary the Rab version of this:

    http://www.rockrun.com/products-Feather ... J-FSDL.htm

    Ridiculously light, shower- rather than water-proof, but if you're working hard it's fine.

    And with this offer, bloomin' cheap!
  • curlyrobert
    curlyrobert Posts: 150
    Cheers Andy, I was looking at cycling specific, but that makes sense, shame I am a skinny runt and the XL won't fit. Rock+ Run - looks like a complete rip off of Snow+Rock! funny

    Lets hope we don't need rain gear...
    the day I stop dreaming of upgrades is the day die!

    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3370/3261181810_727612440a_o.jpg My Stable
  • andy_from_embsay
    andy_from_embsay Posts: 343
    Rock+Run were the best fell running/adventure racing/climbing shop in the Lakes for many years with their shop in Ambleside - and in fact I think they may have pre-dated Snow+Rock by quite a while. They're internet only now and have some brilliant deals on from time to time. Those Montane tops are only about forty quid full wack - definitely worth a look.
  • The emu
    The emu Posts: 347
    Art Vandelay wrote:
    bompington Cheers. Recce route sounds best. Scotland always gets it's best weather in May. I'm confident of blue skies and double figure temps :D :?

    Al, theres a map now up on the website which includes all road closures and from what time. Would prove useful to take a look at that.
    The long grazed legged one
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    curlyrobert wrote:
    Question - If it is raining - which I expect it will be! I rarely ride with a rainproof coat. In fact I do not own one. I was going to grab one this week - needs to be stowable, breathable keep me dry and not cost the world (moon on a stick)

    Any suggestions before I make the trip from Surrey to Scotland?

    ps. please tell me the mozzies are not at large in may.
    1. It never rains in Scotland, I don't know what you're on about
    2. Mozzies are not your problem, midgies are, but no, they're not out yet - well, not that many of them anyway - and besides, they can only fly at 4mph so you should be able to keep ahead of them...
  • rendo
    rendo Posts: 194
    not taking part, but might take a run out with the camera,

    anybody and ideas for the best location, needs to be somewhere i can get access to and from during the event. will not be there for the whole day.
  • pneumatic
    pneumatic Posts: 1,989
    rendo wrote:
    not taking part, but might take a run out with the camera,

    anybody and ideas for the best location, needs to be somewhere i can get access to and from during the event. will not be there for the whole day.

    Loch side would be best. Have a look at the website for road closures and choose somewhere along Loch Tummel. That is the first bit to re-open and you can go back to Pitlochry for the finish (or wherever else you are off to).

    When you are taking pictures of me, make sure you use a narrow angle lens at just the right angle so that I don't look like the fat old man I usually seem to be in these action snaps. :cry:

    Fast and Bulbous
    Peregrinations
    Eddingtons: 80 (Metric); 60 (Imperial)
  • DaveMoss
    DaveMoss Posts: 236
    bompington wrote:
    Art Vandelay wrote:
    Scotland always gets it's best weather in May. I'm confident of blue skies and double figure temps :D :?
    Yup, the sun's shining just now - no, it's gone - ah, it's back now - no there it goes again...

    Yeah, Scotland gets more sunny spells than any other part of Europe. Pity they never last more than 5 mins.
    Sportives and tours, 100% for charity, http://www.tearfundcycling.btck.co.uk
  • johna101
    johna101 Posts: 21
    rendo wrote:
    not taking part, but might take a run out with the camera,

    anybody and ideas for the best location, needs to be somewhere i can get access to and from during the event. will not be there for the whole day.

    Kinloch Rannoch might be the place. You can get there from the south before 8:20am and can leave from the north after 9:15. There is a map on the information PDF on the web site at...
    http://www.etapecaledonia.co.uk/event_info.html


    You get two chances to watch as the massed pelaton :lol: scuds past heading west
    along the north side of town, then again as we they approach the Schiehallion climb later on the south side, fear evident in our (or just my) eyes.

    It also looks like they've stuck a feed station at the bottom of the climb this year, so a chance of lots of action shots as people crash into each other like at last years feed stations :twisted:
  • popette
    popette Posts: 2,089
    weather's looking a bit rubbish on the BBC and Metcheck forecasts - lots of rain!
    What are you wearing?
    http://www.2010etape.blogspot.com
  • aberdeen_lune
    aberdeen_lune Posts: 547
    Advice is pack for all weathers then make a last minute decision on the morning of the event. I'm thinking shorts, cycling top, gilet and arm warmers. Would be worth stuffing a lightweight rain jacket in the rear pocket. Will be cold at the start no doubt.
  • popette
    popette Posts: 2,089
    Aberdeen_lune wrote:
    Advice is pack for all weathers then make a last minute decision on the morning of the event. I'm thinking shorts, cycling top, gilet and arm warmers. Would be worth stuffing a lightweight rain jacket in the rear pocket. Will be cold at the start no doubt.

    yes, i was thinking the same - I'll have a base layer on too
    http://www.2010etape.blogspot.com
  • Floodcp
    Floodcp Posts: 190
    Knee warmers?? might be worth considering too.
  • johna101
    johna101 Posts: 21
    popette wrote:
    weather's looking a bit rubbish on the BBC and Metcheck forecasts - lots of rain!
    What are you wearing?

    It's the wind I'm worried about! Still a bit far out for me to make any decisions, but if it's going to be raining the whole way, then I'm probably going to be wet no matter what.

    My feet are my biggest concern. With overshoes = too hot. No overshoes = wet and numb.

    I'll nip into town on Friday to do a bit of last minute panic shopping. What's that they say about never tryng new gear on a big event? :roll:
  • popette
    popette Posts: 2,089
    johna101 wrote:
    popette wrote:
    weather's looking a bit rubbish on the BBC and Metcheck forecasts - lots of rain!
    What are you wearing?

    I'll nip into town on Friday to do a bit of last minute panic shopping. What's that they say about never tryng new gear on a big event? :roll:

    but it's precisely before big events that I want to buy more stuff :D

    Re your feet - have you tried toe warmers? I bought some today (ha!) - I don't want wet feet, but I don't want my endura neoprene jobs on. Hopefully, these will be a happy medium - going to test before Sunday.
    http://www.2010etape.blogspot.com
  • johna101
    johna101 Posts: 21
    Re your feet - have you tried toe warmers?.

    Tried them? Hadn't even heard of them until now. Thanks for the tip. I was toying with the idea of plugging the vent at the front of the shoe with some blu-tack, but I was concerned about the extra weight. :wink:
  • popette
    popette Posts: 2,089
    it looks even worse now - starting to think of winter gear
    http://www.2010etape.blogspot.com
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    Met office chart is now projecting forward to Sunday:
    http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/surface_pressure.html
    MWIS is excellent for mountain forecasts, needs extrapolated to lower level though:
    http://www.mwis.org.uk/mountain/SH.PDF - tomorrow will show Sunday's outlook.
    At the moment it looks windy (east) and cold (9° or so) with some rain but I really wouldn't be sure how much.

    So the good news is that it's not guaranteed to rain all day, hope that encourages you all.
  • aberdeen_lune
    aberdeen_lune Posts: 547
    You guys are a bad influence I've just ordered a lightweaight rain jacket to shove in my jersey pocket. Its from CRC so should get it tomorrow before I head to Pitlochry. I have never used knee warmers do you just roll them down to your ankles once you warm up?
  • johna101
    johna101 Posts: 21
    The BBC forcast can look very scary. They need to do something with their graphics for 'Light Rain' and 'Heavy Rain'. It tends to imply it will be p**ing down all day when in fact it means there will probably be some rain (or showers) at some point.

    On the bright side, yesterday, the BBC said 23mph winds for Sunday..now it says 14mph. If the trend continues it will be 18 degrees, blue skies and a tailwind all the way round. :lol:

    Does anyone know a site where you can get a good old fashioned forcast with isobars/highs/lows etc? I miss that a lot on the BBC. I find the current setup next to useless for cycling.
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    johna101 wrote:
    Does anyone know a site where you can get a good old fashioned forcast with isobars/highs/lows etc? I miss that a lot on the BBC. I find the current setup next to useless for cycling.
    As above:
    http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/surface_pressure.html
    http://www.mwis.org.uk/mountain/SH.PDF

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