Etape Caledonia sabotaged
Comments
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Sounds about right. Out of interest, given the new access legislation up there, have the signs and so on 'discouraging' cycling been taken down?Foz72 wrote:Take it you are talking about the Mar estate? First of all it wasn't passed into public ownership, it was given to the National Trust for Scotland - my dad left the NTS in anger at them accepting the conditions of the bequest.
Maybe, but I found that the prominent and often rather threatening signs 'discouraging' cycling that I found in many places up in Scotland completely spoilt my enjoyment of being there, not to mention being chased and physically threatened by farming and game-keeping types on quad-bikes. I also found definitive access information could be rather hard to find.Foz72 wrote:Almost anywhere you'd care to cycle at Mar (up to to White Bridge or Derry Lodge) are very well established, ancient rights of way. They could 'discourage' all they like but nothing they could do to legally prevent access. Those who knew their onions gave the finger to the signs at Linn of Dee and rode on regardless.Ever since I have made a point of spending my money anywhere other than in Scotland.
As I now live in the French Alps instead, I dont think so!Foz72 wrote:Your loss, sunshine, your loss.
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Sorry, 'English Ex-pat'.Graeme_S wrote:You can't possibly be an ex-pat Brit who lives in Scotland. It's a contradiction in terms 0 -
GavH wrote:Some of you guys need to look up Rule 5a on the Terms and Conditions (bottom right) pronto becuase I reckon you're well and truly in breach of it with these anti-Scottish comments.
This thread was suppose to be about the senseless sabotaging of the Etape Caledonia (by someone who might not even be Scottish, although more than likely fuelled or encouraged by this ACRE mob!). Instead one or two individuals appear to have taken is an opportunity to Scot-bash. Not on.
YIP...I really didnt like the term 'miserable scotch b*stards'....but the punter who put that in said the same things when all those Rangers 'fans' ramaged thru manchester...and he also terms anyone outside of Wales as Foreigners?
99% of lads/lassies on here know this is simply an act of sheer stupidity....that kind of mindless behavior could have caused serious dangers...complete eejit!....nothing to do with Scottish...but something to do with being idiotic...and theres tons of them all over the UK.
Can't beleive the movement against this event?....but the truth is that Cycling just isn't embraced in the UK....if you had closed these roads off for an open air concert or big Perthshire Festival I firmly beleive there would be very little opposition...?
I cycle this area very frequently....and TBH I reckon they could have a 'rolling' closed road....where sections get closed off during certain parts of the day and minimal disruption?....maybe that would please all?.....the roads are generally very quiet anyway....
Hope the police get this twat...and publish his name in the local paper...0 -
It is very sad that on a day when a major city centre is closed to traffic for a sporting event, no doubt creating huge losses and gains for various businesses, a few angry rednecks can ruin another sporting event, based in relative terms, in the middle of nowhere.0
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I think this is such an appalling act, but surely representative of the kind of small-minded, nasty, self-centred individuals which seem to pop up everywhere these days. What kind of moron would do something like this?
As an aside, I used to live in the south of France, in a rural area which was a regular on the Tour, the Tour de l'Aude, the odd criterium etc. All required road closures and it was impossible to get out of the village. Fortunately, the French take it in their stride and use it as an excuse to chill out, open the wine, have a long, leisurely lunch and enjoy the spectacle. Perhaps the locals could learn something?0 -
FWIW actions like these discredit ACRE, there may be less opposition next year following this attack.0
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It is because of such attitudes that I have moved to live in France. However, in the area I live there are an awful lot of English ex-pats, many of whom bring their hateful 'Daily Mail reader' attitudes with regards to cyclists with them, including a number of the people I work with, unfortunately. Where I live, if a car with French plates on should ever give you the horn, chance is it is Brit driving it!chegerty wrote:I used to live in the south of France, in a rural area which was a regular on the Tour, the Tour de l'Aude, the odd criterium etc. All required road closures and it was impossible to get out of the village. Fortunately, the French take it in their stride and use it as an excuse to chill out, open the wine, have a long, leisurely lunch and enjoy the spectacle. Perhaps the locals could learn something?
Whilst this 'tack attack' might be the work of a few 'extremists', it is clear that there is a significant movement opposed to the road closures and in turn those attitudes are doubtlessly fuelled by the high level of anti-cyclist hostility that unfortunately seems to exist right across the UK.0 -
gavintc wrote:We stayed in Aberfeldy last year and were not made to feel welcome in the pub. The landlady at the B&B briefed us that there was a degree of anti- Etape sentiment. Bizzarely, she believed that the issue was jealousy - that Pitlochry was getting the prestige (and the money)
There's quite a bit of old skool rivalry between Pitlochry and Aberfeldy, going years and years backHow's that for a slice of fried gold?0 -
RICHYBOYcp wrote:I cycle this area very frequently....and TBH I reckon they could have a 'rolling' closed road....where sections get closed off during certain parts of the day and minimal disruption?....maybe that would please all?.....the roads are generally very quiet anyway....
Hope the police get this fool...and publish his name in the local paper...
Isn't it technically already a rolling closure? Bits of the route open back up as soon as the riders are through. I guess the real problem is the back stretch after Schiehallion because the field is so spread out after that point and the climb that the roads have to be closed considerably longer than say on the exit of Pitlochry.How's that for a slice of fried gold?0 -
> Out of interest, given the new access legislation up there, have the signs and so on 'discouraging' cycling been taken down?
Not only have they been taken down, it would have been illegal under the Act to leave them up.
> Maybe, but I found that the prominent and often rather threatening signs 'discouraging' cycling that I found in many places up in Scotland completely spoilt my enjoyment of being there,
With respect, that probably says more about you than anything else. I have been hillwalking, cycling and climbing in Scotland for a long long time and the one thing I worked out access is that in 99% of cases, access has to be asserted. Quietly and subtly if at all possible, of course, but asserted none the less. If you wait to have it just handed down to you by the gracious hand of benificent landowners, you are just setting yourself up for disappointnment.
> As I now live in the French Alps instead, I dont think so![/quote]
Still your loss. Never say never. Vive la difference. They both have their places and the quality of light on the west coast is so different to the high alps, that it would be a shame to spend a lifetime missing it.0 -
This thread seems to have been quietly tidied up by the moderators which they have every right to do. However why has the original reference to 'miserable scotch...' been allowed to stay?
A bit of consistency please.
Anyway I think this thread is best left to those involved in the event today who were affected.0 -
Maybe it wasn't the signs in themselves so much, but the realisation that ignoring them and 'asserting' my right of way might result in some enraged farmer / gamekeeper type turning up at any moment and physically threatening me, as happened on rather too many occasions for my liking.Foz72 wrote:> I found that the prominent and often rather threatening signs 'discouraging' cycling that I found in many places up in Scotland completely spoilt my enjoyment of being there,
With respect, that probably says more about you than anything else. I have been hillwalking, cycling and climbing in Scotland for a long long time and the one thing I worked out access is that in 99% of cases, access has to be asserted.
If things have really changed that much I might review my policy and take an MTB trip up there someday. Can't see me entering any 'sportives' though! 0 -
I took part today and loved the first half of the race, some of my best cycling ever 2hrs 8 mins to the foot of Schallion.
However my day was ruined with no less than 4 punctures in 3 miles at the top section of Schallion (i was the angry looking one with a madone over my back). Had it not have been for a top boy called Donald my day would have been over.
I stayed with a friends parents in Strathtay and they love the event as it gives a sense of community spirit which has been taken away with so many of the homes in the area solely used as holiday homes.
i for one will be riding again next year as i want to support a charity that helped a family memeber through a difficult time and show these idiots that this is a unique event that must go on and continue to bring HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of POUNDS to a small Scottish community.0 -
Hi,
First time poster and a very sorry one at that.
As a Scot can I just apologise to all those who were affected by this "protest".
I do though, feel that it is just nimbys against cycling that would happen anywhere in the UK.
Why can't this country embrace cycling?
Here is a thought:-
What would happen if 3500 cyclists turned up unannounced on a Sunday morning when the roads were open?None of the above should be taken seriously, and certainly not personally.0 -
I'm just back
Three punctures. One more and I'd have had to have packed it in as no tubes left
Ride off Scheihallion was in deep depression, until hit the stretches with groups of locals all cheering us on and making us feel better, and welcome.
So - will I let some nasty wee banjo plucker, who probably doesn't even come from the area, stop me doing it next year?
No chance. The real 'locals' supporting the event and the charities shouldn't suffer for a couple of mindless eejits.
Soon as registrations open for next year - I'm in.0 -
"RICHYBOYcp wrote:but the punter who put that in said the same things when all those Rangers 'fans' ramaged thru manchester
Good point Richy, the same 'Rangers fans,' some of who when apprehened turned out to be from England?
I fail to see why anyone on here can assert that the idiot who perpetrate this crime can be anything other than Scottish? It is plausable, maybe even very plausable, but by the logic that it happened in Scotland thus the perp must be Scottish is like saying that every anti-Heathrow expansion protester comes from Staines (or nearby). Or that all the residents of the peace camp outside Faslane Naval Base are from Helensburgh. Or that every member of the Taliban comes from Afghanistan. I know for a FACT that in at least one of those examples people carrying BRITISH passports have been found after being killed and it wasn't at Faslane or Heathrow.
Whoever did this very possibly was local. But we cannot state that with any degree of certainty. I'd even go as far as to say that the individual(s) was either funded, assisted or just simply encouraged by this ACRE mob. But to state that they must be Scottish and then let the thread degenerate into a racist slanging match which I am amazed has thius far gone unchecked is just plain wrong. I'm even more amazed at the narrow mindedness of some of the forum users.
The only thing that is sadder is that ACRE has achieved its aim I feel. The coverage even spread as far as Eurosport during its Giro broadcast today FFS! Would I be inclined to enter next years Etape Caledonia on the offchance that it isn't disrupted and my entry fee and travelling costs aren't wasted - no chance. However, would it stop me visiting Scotland - absolutely no chance!
If the organisers are listening, take the event somewhere else in Scotland next year. The big attraction appear to be the closed roads rather than the scenery or route per se. There must be dozens of rural communities desperate for that kind of income over the course of the weekend.0 -
I flew in from Spain to do this event after receiving rave reviews from friends who did it last year. The expense of travel and accommodation was considerable and I would not consider doing it again after this debacle.
I was in the first group to leave at 7.00 am and we had a sizeable peloton moving along at speeds of around 35 - 40 kmph when we encountered the first section of tacks around the 42 km mark. It was unbelievable as rider after rider pulled off a narrow section of road cursing their luck. It then took another few moments before we realised that we all had tacks stuck in our tyres. As we were fixing those other groups started to pass through and were looking at us in bemusement without realising what was on the road. Little did they know that they too were likely to be doing the same within a few moments.
When I set off again I reckon there were people on the side of the road at least every 100 yards or so for the next 13 miles before reaching the top of the climb where the Mavic workshop was being beseiged. On the climb I punctured once more and a friend I was riding with did likewise. By that point our interest in the event had plummetted. What should have been a great day had descended into a farce. Seeing cyclists littered all over the countryside forlornly asking fellow-riders for spare tubes when they had used up all of their own was really sad.
One question I have for the organisers is how they came to the conclusion, after holding some people at the top of the climb for over an hour, that the road was safe to continue on? The road was not cleared of tacks manually or by machine and is probably still littered with them. Their colour blended in with the surface of the road and they were impossible to see while riding over them.
On the plus side, I thought the event itself was very well run and the marshallls and other volunteers did a great job. The route is terrific with plenty of rolling terrain and the weather changed for the better after a damp start. As others have noted, the public were very supportive and created a carnival-like atmosphere at the finish.0 -
I was in Pitlochry during Friday and Saturday helping out with the set up for the event. I live just south of Perth and consider myself fairly local.
I imagine Those who oppose the race do not rely on the local economy, maybe retired? Moved up to enjoy the rural life?
The locals in the shops, b&bs, hotels, bars, restaurants etc were enjoying one of the busiest weekends of their year. I spoke to a b&b owner who told me that he had talked his friends into opening up spare rooms as b&bs for the weekend! Everyone I spoke to was behind the event, The buzz in the local bike shop was fantastic.
450 people have signed a petition! My word! that's a tiny figure considering the area the event covers!
Aberfeldy isn't welcoming? My advice is stay in Dunkeld, it's far more friendly
Scotland is fantastic for both Road and Mountain riding, if you get a hard time grow a pair and stand up for yourself!
I was gutted that I hadn't signed up for the race, I will be riding next year!0 -
Harry-flashman wrote:I
I imagine Those who oppose the race do not rely on the local economy, maybe retired? Moved up to enjoy the rural life?
Retired with nowt better to do...just waiting to die0 -
The Prodigy wrote:Harry-flashman wrote:I
I imagine Those who oppose the race do not rely on the local economy, maybe retired? Moved up to enjoy the rural life?
Retired with nowt better to do...just waiting to die
And doing nothing for the local economy other than buying their petrol once a month to get to the church on sunday and a weekly bag of worther's original!
Perthshire is beautiful, but it's like Britain's elephant graveyard where we send our old to die!0 -
Best way to respond to this is to continue the pattern of the previous 3 years by doubling the number of entrants! 7,000 next year!
All of the people I encountered over the weekend were brilliant, from those giving up their personal time to organise and support the riders, to the local shop keepers, the owner of the campsite we stayed on, all the folks en route giving us encouragement and to the fellow participants who i talked to when I had any breath left!.
We can't let a few A-holes spoil this, it's just too good an event.0 -
For those interested, I've just uploaded todays track and compared it with the planned route. I reckon we skipped 12km by missing out Fortingall.0
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Word on the street is an arrest has been made!0
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Hopefully the local plods will use there skills to track the culprit. First stop the local hardware stores, to see if anyone has purchased an incredible amount of carpet tacs .
I have a few good mates who were doing the event today. All the long months of preparation and build up, blown up literally by some f wit.
I'm definitely going to sign up to do it next year .Come back with your bike or upon it.0 -
I agree with Coyote.
Sure France has great events. Do those too! Not "instead of"
I fully intend to do this event next year, whether it starts in Pitlochry or wherever.
My sense of injustice about today will simply not allow me to boycott the event as a result. It would be giving them exactly what they want!
Instead, let's piss the idiotic few off even more by turning up in HUGE numbers next year.
Come on!0 -
Should anyone like to express their displeasure at the actions of people potentially in league with ACRE there is an email address at the bottom of this link which might be useful...
http://www.commentonline.co.uk/general/ ... dRoads.htm<a><img></a>0 -
PeteinSQ wrote:Should anyone like to express their displeasure at the actions of people potentially in league with ACRE there is an email address at the bottom of this link which might be useful...
http://www.commentonline.co.uk/general/ ... dRoads.htm
Well done that man!
Unlike out breathern at ACRE I'll keep a cool head and wait until I've calmed down before sending my note..... :twisted:0 -
It's not worth it. That article refers to last years event and it's published by a business partner of the ACRE head honcho.0
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How about this...?
Dear Mr Hounam
I hope very much that you and your bunch of redneck, nimby idiots are not behind the tacks incident today.
If you are, all you have achieved is to have prolonged the closure of the roads for a couple of hours. The very opposite of your petty, small minded campaign.
Quite how you can claim that the economy of local businesses suffers by having the roads closed for a few hours is frankly bizarre. Ask the hoteliers and restaurateurs in the area (who have benefited from the influx of about 3500 cyclists). Or perhaps you dare not actually show your face to them. I dare say they are more angry with you and your pathetic campaign than are the cyclists. Of course, you are not actually local yourself in any case, are you?
Or if it is about the inconvenience of not being able to drive three miles to "kirk" perhaps these poor unfortunates might get off their arses and actually walk to God's house for once. Or is that asking too much?
Given that this event has reached the national news, you have actually set your "cause" back many years. The cyclists web forums are full of defiance. Look forward to twice as many of us next year.0 -
It was worse than just tacks. There was broken glass too.
Apparently anyone who bought beer in brown bottles in the last few weeks is a suspect. :?
The police are checking the carpets of everyone who bought tacks this month. Still I managed to auction a tube for £57.50 :oops: .
I said when shivering on top of Schiehallion that I wouldn't bother again. We waited for what seemd like hours and was probably half an hour for the road to be cleared. It took a while for me to get warmed up again, but then screaming along closed roads is fantastic. You can go right up to the right hand verge, and fly past, just like in a real closed road race. I loved going right across the road on the turns (only to be snapped up agin quickly). :roll:
And I didn't have a single puncture (conti 4000s).
Give it a try next year0
