Etape Caledonia

fnb1

only a week to go, shame to see the reports of the small minded 'objecters' but alas there are always some.

Would suggest take the valid points on board,

Keep litter in your pocket, bin it later !

If 'nature calls' ensure only nature can see you or use a WC.

Try not be be provoked and get on with enoying the ride, that is after all why we are all going

Have a good un

rokkala

Just got another email from organisers about the event.

One of the parts talks about the race numbers & stickers, timing chip etc. Goes on to say there is a timed split for the 'King of the Mountain'.

Anybody know where more info on this is? Or know where the split starts and finishes?

Dr U Idh

The split is the bottom and top of the Schiehallion climb. You'll see the timing mats as you pass over them.

Dr U Idh

To anyone worried about local reaction - don't be. Last year, there were kids out waving, folk cheering, pipers and some locals having their own wee barbecue parties with the Etape as a backdrop. Anyone you speak to in the area is very up-beat and pleased about the whole thing.

BlueScot

Having spent last weekend cycling the route in the wind and rain, I'm disappointed to read the article in the local paper. Our hotel owner in Pitlochry was delighted at having been fully booked for the Etape since October. Of course, Pitlochry has lots of escape roads for drivers and so won't be too badly affected. Sadly, ACRE even appear to be taking offence at riders using the route at other times. Thankfully we had no problems last week, maybe because most of the cars and drivers we saw on the route were dutch! (I wonder if ACRE take any action against the people camping by the lochsides? Where do the campers go to the toilet?)
Despite the weather and wind, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. Even as a newbie who bought his first road bike in November, I didn't find it that that tough, just the usual bits already mentioned in this thread. In fact, compared to the roads in the Campsies close to Glasgow, the road surfaces for the Etape are excellent. Looking forward to next weekend - my partner and I will be the newbies at the back trying to stay ahead of the pick up van!

fnb1

need to get with the lingo,

'Broom Wagon' or 'Voiture Balai' if you like,

A dreaded spectre I remember from taking part in Etape Du Tours

SparkyP

http://westlothianclarion.blogspot.com/

SparkyP

http://westlothianclarion.blogspot.com/

SparkyP

http://westlothianclarion.blogspot.com/

rokkala

Dr U Idh wrote:

The split is the bottom and top of the Schiehallion climb. You'll see the timing mats as you pass over them.

Yes, but by top of the Schiehallion climb do you mean after the sustained and steepest bit is out of the way, or is the finish mast right at the highest point(after all those little ups and downs)just before you join the B846 for the big descent?

Only ask as if it's the first way its about 2 miles, second way about 5miles!

bompington

Rokkala wrote:

Dr U Idh wrote:

The split is the bottom and top of the Schiehallion climb. You'll see the timing mats as you pass over them.

Yes, but by top of the Schiehallion climb do you mean after the sustained and steepest bit is out of the way, or is the finish mast right at the highest point(after all those little ups and downs)just before you join the B846 for the big descent?

Only ask as if it's the first way its about 2 miles, second way about 5miles!

It's at the junction, which is indeed the highest point.
You're quite right in your point that the hard climbing is all in the first bit, and it is true that "King of the mountains" is a bit of a silly title for one climb of less than 200m, but then no-one ever claimed (apart from the organisers, the publicity does seem to suggest you're climbing Schiehallion itself, not just the road that goes past it) that's it's like an alpine stage.
Here's the profile for the climb:

beinbhan

Article in courier today

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2010 ... 6753t0.asp

Basically the locals telling the ACRE protesters to get back in their box

kfinlay

beinbhan wrote:

Article in courier today

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2010 ... 6753t0.asp

Basically the locals telling the ACRE protesters to get back in their box

about time there was some balanced journalism to hear the real views of the majority of locals. Still agree that we should all do our bit to minimise litter and peeing in public.

rokkala

bompington wrote:

Rokkala wrote:

Dr U Idh wrote:

The split is the bottom and top of the Schiehallion climb. You'll see the timing mats as you pass over them.

Yes, but by top of the Schiehallion climb do you mean after the sustained and steepest bit is out of the way, or is the finish mast right at the highest point(after all those little ups and downs)just before you join the B846 for the big descent?

Only ask as if it's the first way its about 2 miles, second way about 5miles!

It's at the junction, which is indeed the highest point.
You're quite right in your point that the hard climbing is all in the first bit, and it is true that "King of the mountains" is a bit of a silly title for one climb of less than 200m, but then no-one ever claimed (apart from the organisers, the publicity does seem to suggest you're climbing Schiehallion itself, not just the road that goes past it) that's it's like an alpine stage.
Here's the profile for the climb:

Cheers for that Bomp, i'm starting near the back as i wanted to begin the event with some of my family who are doing it. So i'm not going to be able to go for a super-fast time or anything like those seeded at the front, trying to get a decent hill climb time would be a nice wee target instead. But with it including the rolling part after the main climb i don't think i'll be bothered.

Anonymous

Its a lovely climb, not difficult and very well graded....heres a link for the profile with a few photo's etc.....all worth the effort for the stomping descent down to Fortingal.

http://www.sportivecentral.com/index.ph ... =54&page=6

rokkala

RICHYBOYcp wrote:

Its a lovely climb, not difficult and very well graded....heres a link for the profile with a few photo's etc.....all worth the effort for the stomping descent down to Fortingal.

http://www.sportivecentral.com/index.ph ... =54&page=6

Thats the wrong climb your showing there tho Richy, unless your planning on taking a rather large shortcut on Sunday?

Anonymous

Rokkala wrote:

RICHYBOYcp wrote:

Its a lovely climb, not difficult and very well graded....heres a link for the profile with a few photo's etc.....all worth the effort for the stomping descent down to Fortingal.

http://www.sportivecentral.com/index.ph ... =54&page=6

Thats the wrong climb your showing there tho Richy, unless your planning on taking a rather large shortcut on Sunday?

Sorry, I'm not doing the event, I thought it was the same route as previous years...but I see you head over Schiehallion over 'Braes of Foss'...thats even nicer...a beautiful road with some steep wee ramps to start off with.....

Hope you all have a great day in lovely Perthsire....and have no halfwits with carpet tacks...

Dr U Idh

RICHYBOYcp wrote:

Rokkala wrote:

RICHYBOYcp wrote:

Its a lovely climb, not difficult and very well graded....heres a link for the profile with a few photo's etc.....all worth the effort for the stomping descent down to Fortingal.

http://www.sportivecentral.com/index.ph ... =54&page=6

Thats the wrong climb your showing there tho Richy, unless your planning on taking a rather large shortcut on Sunday?

Sorry, I'm not doing the event, I thought it was the same route as previous years...but I see you head over Schiehallion over 'Braes of Foss'...thats even nicer...a beautiful road with some steep wee ramps to start off with.....

Hope you all have a great day in lovely Perthsire....and have no halfwits with carpet tacks...

It is the same route as last year - and I though it had always been the same?

cframe

From memory, here's the route and profile for the KoM competition http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/368933

Also, apparently ACRE today (at their meeting in Perth) proposed having timing equipment in place around the area permanently and would help to organise a week's events once a year with timed events and stuff for families as well. (that's me paraphrasing what me Mum heard on the local radio earlier on)

rokkala

cframe wrote:

From memory, here's the route and profile for the KoM competition http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/368933

Also, apparently ACRE today (at their meeting in Perth) proposed having timing equipment in place around the area permanently and would help to organise a week's events once a year with timed events and stuff for families as well. (that's me paraphrasing what me Mum heard on the local radio earlier on)

Cheers for that cframe.

Why would ACRE offer to do that though? Presumably they would put on the event but not have the roads closed?

Thanks, but no thanks!

cframe

BBC News story on the new ACRE proposals - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tay ... 672308.stm

BigG67

I'm guessing they got the idea from the Fred Whitton, which IIRC has set up a timing system for the route so folks who can't do the event can do a "time". But that's in addition to the FWC not to replace it.

At least there's some common sense that they have stopped all protest until 2012, they can focus on the right to object to any new council plans then rather than disrupting the current event.

daviesee

From the BBC report:-

"They suggest using electronic tags to track the cyclists so they can race at any time starting from any part of the route. By dispersing the racers they claim no local roads would have to be closed. "

Bags I start just a few miles before Schehallion so I am warmed up but still fresh.

You can all start from the top so you are tired for the climb :twisted:

Not a clue :roll:

brin

Who is of the opinion that the Etape Caledonian is a race? it's a Sportive, once people start defining it as a RACE that is when the real problems will begin, and the council/police will start objecting, effectively playing into ACRE's hands.

daviesee

I think that depends on how you define a race.

The London Marathon is a race but for 90%+ of the participants getting round in what they consider to be a reasonable time is all they are after. I consider a Sportive to have a similar ethos.
That's my definition of the Etape but I will admit that it's not very definative

bompington

brin wrote:

Who is of the opinion that the Etape Caledonian is a race? it's a Sportive, once people start defining it as a RACE that is when the real problems will begin, and the council/police will start objecting, effectively playing into ACRE's hands.

:!: :!: Old chestnut alert! :!: :!:


As I understand it there's some legal nicety about a cycle race as opposed to a cycle event, but I haven't got a clue what it is - where's Spen when you need him?
Is there any valid reason for the difference, or is it a technicality that just needs to be ditched?

As for the council objecting, they've invested a lot of money (and political capital by supporting it strongly), I very much doubt that they're going to change their tune because of the exact wording used on a cycling forum.

cframe

What I found interesting is that they (ACRE) were now bringing up the fact that more and more people were out on the roads up there for training in the run up to the event and that this was now becoming in issue, in their eyes.

Surely that means they're still bringing more income to the area by coming up in advance of the event itself, assuming they're not locals.

Probably a fair enough point about the abusive thing though, sometimes there's no need for it and I know I've had the red mist descend when I'm out on a ride for a comparatively minor thing. Admittedly that's towards cars though, not other riders.

blorg

bompington wrote:

As I understand it there's some legal nicety about a cycle race as opposed to a cycle event, but I haven't got a clue what it is - where's Spen when you need him?
Is there any valid reason for the difference, or is it a technicality that just needs to be ditched?

As far as I am aware it is a LOT more difficult to get police permission for a race compared to a sportive. No way in hell you would be having a race with a field in the thousands either, they are generally limited to <200.

I both race and do sportives and they are very very different events. Races go much faster (38-42km/h in the ones I have done this year) with a smaller field but tighter bunches. You don't stop for cake Crash risk is higher. Riders are organised by category and need a racing license from their national federation. You are racing for a placing and your time is utterly irrelevant. There are prizes. It is a completely different sort of experience.

I think the comparison of a sportive to a marathon is a good one; they are particularly like this on the continent where the likes of the Etape/Marmotte/Gran Fondos are raced by the guys at the front but the majority are happy just to get around for their own personal time.

Alain Quay

I think the ACRE protesters coming out to protest one by one is an excellent idea.


Here are a fewt hings ACRE might be protesting about instead of their current sad,
sad, sad, sad, sad, pathetic, small minded, loopy, nimby concern:
- hung parliament
- future Uk government
- national debt
- climate change
- loss of biodiversity
- social inequality in UK
- lack of PR
- youth unemployment
- Palistinian state
- free Tibet
- human rights in China
- logging of Amazon
- hunting of endangered species
- funding for AIDS, cancer, malaria, etc
- sectarianism in Scotland
etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc. :x

Alain Quay

PS: I would happily invite Etape Caledonia to here in Edinburgh once a year
esp. if the unloved, annual Orange Order March here would go around the Etape circuit - all 81 miles.