Etape ~Caledonia

Robi45

Calling anyone who has recently completed the Etape Caledonia - advice, experiences, stories gratefully received.

I'm considering entering the Etape next year (hopefully there will be no repeat of the trye shredding antics of disgrunted locals like in 2009) but would like to hear first hand about the course and its severity.

I'm something of a Sportive novice having only done a couple of "easy" events so far so some guidance on what I could expect re the climbs and general organisaiton, and the amount of training required through winter would be really useful.

robmurr2000

hi robi,i have never done the etape caledonia but have entered for next year. I was up in pitlochry last weekend and took the chance 'recce' the route.I really only wanted to see what the big climb on schiehallion was going to be like.It turned out not to be too daunting but will still have to get training on more hills i think!! The rest of the route didn't seem too bad,great descents and scenery.

BigG67

I've done all 3.

Route isn't too hard as long as you've built up to 4-6 hours in the saddle (depending on your pace) and work out your feeding. Schiehallion isn't that hard a climb and other than the bumpy bits at the start and end is the only hill the whole way round.

Great day out and despite the tacks this year I committed for 2010 as soon as entries opened.

pneumatic

Like Big, I have done all three.

The course is not demanding, although perhaps because of that, the hills there are can be a bit unpleasant (but only a bit). You have to heave yourself up to Queen's view after about ten miles, you have to climb Shiehallion which is steep for a short stretch but nothing like a Wrynose or a Bealech; and you have to negotiate a brutal little unclassified road back into Pitlochry right at the end, which starts with a biting ramp.

Your biggest challenge is likely to be self-control as the combination of closed roads (brilliant!), a big field (inspiring!) and relatively flat terrain (tempting!) makes you want to ride flat out all the way around. I have never ridden average speeds over distance like it before or since. It can be a very fast sportive.

So, get yourself as fit as you can (it is relatively early in the calendar) and have a blast!

You won't see me next year, though. Three times and a lot of good memories is enough for me.

pedylan

I did first two years and I'm in for 2010.

It is a fast course with a terrain which is really just undulating as opposed to hilly (certainly not mountainous!). The main climb over Schiehallion is demanding though so make sure you build up some base miles and get some hill practice in.

What gear are you proposing? I did it in a standard double in 08 and a compact in 09 and did find I could tackle the main climb more easily with the compact.

The total altitude claimed by the organisers (around 2000m) is substantially overstated according to those who've ridden it with a Garmin.

As an introduction to Sportives IMHO it's an event set in wonderful surroundings, has a good, big mixed field of entrants and is a great bike ride.

BTW when can we expect to see the tack spreader in court?

Robi45

Thanks for the posts guys, you've quashed some of my nervouness about the course but I will certianly have to get some miles and some decent hill training in over the winter, coming from the soft south....

Re gear, I am actually running a triple so I hope the steep stuff shouldn't defeat. My biggest challenge might be keeping pace with those Im entered with, who are looking to do 5 to 5.5 hours. Could be a case of case of "see you at the finish boys"!

pneumatic

My times have been 5 (solo recce), 4.44, 4.55 and 4.25 (missing out a tacky bit) and I am NOT slim, young, fit or fast. You'll be fine.

As well as endurance over 80 miles and climbing legs, you might want to develop some experience of riding in traffic - it is busy and speeds are variable. It is good to be confident about overtaking at speed and sensitive to the flash bu88ers flying past you.

The Other McHoy

Agree with pneumatic - for a lot of people it is a new experience to go so fast in a big bunch and allthough the roads are closed they are mostly narrow. The organisers try to alleviate this with the staggered and seeded start times but there is still going to be a lot of fast guys further back who are on a mission to work through the traffic.

I'm not sure if there is any real way you can prepare for that type of bunch riding other than doing other sportives. Learning to go with the flow, learning to be easy on the brakes, learning to use the eyes on the back of your head, learning to expect the unexpected will all help. Good luck, I'll be there despite being a two-time victim of the tyre shredder last May.

daviesee

Hi,

I will apologise in advance for the length of this but I feel it is directly relevant.

I just did a recce yesterday to see what the route is like for the first time. I did it solo so I cannot comment on the bunch aspects but I would recommend a few club runs as practice.
Here are my thoughts.
It was cold when I left, 3 degrees and I warmed up nicely around the Killiecrankie turn off so was well prepared for any climbs. I also made the choice early on to limit myself to the small ring to ensure I didn't burn out too early. This meant at some points I was a bit frustrated by my lack of speed but I was glad of the energy reserve at the end. I may even employ this method on the day.
There are a few drains between Pitlochry and Queens View but nothing to worry about. No potholes that I noticed. Likewise for the stretch between Strathtay and Loierait. Otherwise the surface is fine. You may consider it a little rough if you are used to silky surfaces but it is as good as you can expect for single track roads.
There are the climbs up to Queens View and Schiehallion as you know. The Queens View one is fairly short with a few sharp inclines but nothing to worry about. Simply go for a low gear and trundle up. Just when you are wondering how far it goes there is a 100m sign and it levels out, job done. After this the sun came out and I was blessed by a beautiful, sunny if cold and wind free day and can only hope for similar in May.
There is a steep descent before Rannoch which is 14% and signposted. It is also indicated on the route map. The descent isn't that steep to worry about but there is a sharp hairpin just as you are reaching high speed. It is fine riding solo but I imagine you will have to pay attention to others braking or speeding round if in a group. The vast majority of the route is flat or rolling hills.
Schiehallion is not as bad as you may fear. There are some steep sections but they are short and well spread out. The hill is not as long as you may fear either and don't worry about reaching the peak as the road doesn't go close to that height. That said you will have to work and while it is not impossible it is not easy either. PS at over 14 stone I am no lightweight climber if that gives any idea of perspective. The hardest part for me was after the climb there are a few short rolling rises. They are not hard in themselves but mentally destroying when your legs are tired. The feed stop will be a welcome relief.
The Schiehallion descent was fun and I can only think the warnings are to be aware of other riders. Beware wind chill though. I was feeling hot on the ascent but on the descent I was glad to have not removed any layers. In a Scottish May any weather is possible so clothing choice will be critical.
I felt my legs starting to get a bit weary after 60 miles. Not enough to consider stopping but I had felt 100% fresh and fit up to this point. It was also at this point that I noticed a strange anomoly. On the stretch around the bottom of Drummond Hill there is a section that I would swear is downhill yet I had to peddle to maintain any speed on a wind free day :shock:
At Weem I caught up with 3 guys also surveying the route. I was going to go into the hotel bar to replenish my water bottle but they offered their excess so thanks guys, should you read this.
Now for the part you have to be made well aware of. The left turn out of Logierait comes up suddenly and is a fairly steep, if short incline. Prepare to drop a few gears before turning as you may get caught out. There are another 2 short steep climbs after this so remember to keep something in the tank for this section. After that it is a descent into Pitlochry and job well done! :P

All in all I think it is an excellent route and would recommend it to anyone and not just for the Etape either. Yesterday was probably my best day ever in the saddle. Oh, and no visits from the p-fairy either 8)

Now for the statistics. I took 2 bananas, 2 breakfast bars and 1 water bottle which was refilled twice. The food was fine but next time I will add an extra bar or jelly babies for the stretch before Logierait in preparation for the climbs. I emptied my water bottle so maybe a fourth would be advisable. Carrying one bottle and refilling at the feed stations may be enough but safer with 2 bottles.
As I was on a day trip I took a few detours, only one of which was a mistake :oops: and my total distance was 86.72 miles covered in 5:28 at 15.8mph average which was as expected. I hope to do it in under 5 hours on the day so still have a bit of work to do.
The bad news was the elapsed total time of 6:20 which is broom wagon pace but in my defence I did stop to phone the wife, take photographs and get lost.

I have only really done regular runs of 45 miles so if you are at this stage you have nothing to worry about. Just get fitter if you want to go fast, remember to pace yourself and you will have a wonderful day - weather dependant

themightyw

Excellent recce, sir! Thanks for taking the time to write it up. Will be doing next year's one also, so see you there.

Robi45

To DAviesee, fantastic post and as above, thanks for taking the time and effort to share your findings. I will take on board your advice and wish you the best for the event.

aberdeen_lune

The Etape Caledonia is indeed a cracking little event. I've entered it again next year. My training started yesterday. It took me 45minutes to fix a rear wheel puncture. I need to get that down to 8minutes. I'll be practicing over the next seven months. At least I have a decent pump now.

daviesee

Hi,

Glad my one finger typing was not in vain :P

You are welcome and good luck in May!

BigG67

IIRC - there were a few folks who posted recce times the first year that were wwaayyy over their time on the day. Something like 5hrs for the recce, 4.15 for the event.

With the numbers riding and the flat terrain you can get a pull from any number of peltons that go by, so the advice on practicing with a group is good.

For me? I usually ave around 15-16mph on a regular ride and I get up to 19+mph ave on the Etape C including the climb.

amaferanga

Does anyone think that the entry cost is a little steep? I was all set to enter and would do if it was £30 or even a little more, but can't bring myself to part with £56.

daviesee

I think the £56 is a bit steep but I entered as a protest about last year as much as anything.
I also consider it to be one of those events comparable to the London Marathon. A bit of a nightmare really but if you are into that sport it is something that has to be done, once at least.
If you do think it is over priced I would still recommend doing it sometime as it is a wonderful route.

Edit:- The recommendation was for the route itself, not necessarily the Etape.

lochindaal

My report from my blog of 2008 is here http://www.amateuretape.com/?p=96

I do remember I was in a bad way at the end from going way to fast for my ability at the time. I had only started cycling in February of that year.

In 2009 I gave it a miss as I felt it was too flat for my Etape du Tour training.

andy_from_embsay

I was one of the lucky few who got round with no stop and no punctures. I thought it was really good fun - what's been said about surprising yourself with how fast you can go in a bunch is spot on - I reached 40miles in just under 2 hrs and didn't feel like I'd been pushing it.

Schiehallion's fine - just one shortish steeper bit then a fair bit of gently uphill. Because I got over the top fairly early I did get to do the loop that goes west after the bottom of Schiehallion - found this fairly tough but that was maybe because I was on my own and the road surfaces aren't so good.

Agree with the comments about the steep little climb towards the end - I'd been warned and was in a low gear - a guy I was riding with missed his gear and lost a lot of ground.

Overall I took 4:11, so quicker than my hoped for 4:30 by some distance. It's a long way from being a tough day (and no worse for that) - I've done the White Rose Challenge and the Pendle Pedal this year and it doesn't compare with them for effort, but it's a great day out all the same. Well worth the trip.