Alternative to the Caledonia Etape

daviesee

Hi

I really enjoyed Sunday so much that I want to do it again.

But, variety is the spice of life.

I know it is the only closed road event but is there any other Sportive that compares in the UK?

Or am I looking at the Pyrenees/Alps/Dolomites? Bigger & better but more expensive.

thecrofter

you could try the Bealach Mor or one of the other events run by Handsonevents. Don't bother with the one in Ullapool though, I'm told it's bloody hard work and not hugely picturesque.

daviesee

thecrofter wrote:

you could try the Bealach Mor or one of the other events run by Handsonevents. Don't bother with the one in Ullapool though, I'm told it's bloody hard work and not hugely picturesque.

The Bealach would give a sense of achievement, that's for sure

How does it compare to the Etape?

Just want to make an early decision so I can book the Etape for next year before it fills up if necessary :P

thecrofter

I did the Bealach Beag (45 miles) last weekend. The route is definately tougher than the Etape route, if you like hills it's well worth a go. To give you an idea I did the Bealach in 3.15 and the Etape in 4.20.The Bealach itself just goes on forever, it gets steeper and steeper for 10K, 49m 18s of solid climbing. Then you've got a death defying decent, great fun. The remaining 30K or so is all short sharp ups and downs really testing. If the weather is good (like this year) the scenery is amazing, but be prepared for anything it was snowing at the top last year, I believe.

Wallace1492

Get yourself into the Trossachs Ton. Not closed roads, but does include a section round Loch Katrine that is private water board road and not open to public vehicles.

I have not entered yet, but am considering it......

LorneC

Trossachs Ton is a very good ride and this year has a choice of 100k or 100 miles.

I took part last year and found it to be very challenging - particularly on the Crow road after the 75 odd miles of riding to get to the base of it.

Wallace1492

LorneC wrote:

Trossachs Ton is a very good ride and this year has a choice of 100k or 100 miles.

I took part last year and found it to be very challenging - particularly on the Crow road after the 75 odd miles of riding to get to the base of it.

The Crow Road is my home patch, tough but I know it well enough not to fear it too much. Very tempted to go in for this..... will decide by next week, see what this weekend brings first.

thecrofter

I'm considering the 100k version myself.

Took the wife and kids along to Loch Katrine last year got the boat up the Loch then cycled back down the private road. Lovely wee trip for a family day out.

neilmacd

There's the Skye Sportive weekend on the 14th/15th August

Saturday 14th. August
Backing Budhmor Sportive starts Portree
75 Miles and 42 Mile options
Includes climbing the Quiraing for both options + Struan climb on 75 route
£12 Entry fee
Sunday 15th. South Skye loop starts Broadford
Over Skye bridge , Plockton, Shielbridge , Mam Ratagan climb , Glenelg ferry .
60 Mile no short route
£12 entry fee
Run by local club Cuillin Wheels

Pretty stunning scenery wise and pretty challenging terrain wise too.

thecrofter

neilmacd wrote:

Sunday 15th. South Skye loop starts Broadford
Over Skye bridge , Plockton, Shielbridge , Mam Ratagan climb , Glenelg ferry .
60 Mile no short route
£12 entry fee
Run by local club Cuillin Wheels

Pretty stunning scenery wise and pretty challenging terrain wise too.

Liking the sound of that, I've got family in Plockton so I'd be ok for accomodation and I cycled Mam Ratigan as training for the Bealach

neilmacd

Only ever driven over it and that was scary enough :shock:
Nearly killed my poor wee car so it did. Absolutely brutal climb and from memory road surface is keech too

daviesee

Oooohhhh - This is like it!

Just got to convince the other half.....



and myself

thecrofter

neilmacd wrote:

Only ever driven over it and that was scary enough :shock:
Nearly killed my poor wee car so it did. Absolutely brutal climb and from memory road surface is keech too

If you're refering to the surface on the Bealach, it must have been resurfaced since last year as it was fine last week. I saw a clip on You Tube from last years event and it looked keech.

AndyD2574

If you want vareity then get yourself into teh Fred Whitton Challenge next year.

Now thats a toughie!!

Did it this year................brilliant.

Also entered the Trossachs Ton.

Suppose I am doing teh vareity the other way as going to enter the Etape for next year!

fenski

thecrofter wrote:

neilmacd wrote:

Only ever driven over it and that was scary enough :shock:
Nearly killed my poor wee car so it did. Absolutely brutal climb and from memory road surface is keech too

If you're refering to the surface on the Bealach, it must have been resurfaced since last year as it was fine last week. I saw a clip on You Tube from last years event and it looked keech.

I think he was probably referring to the Rattigan climb which apparently is very steep in places.

thecrofter

fenski wrote:

thecrofter wrote:

neilmacd wrote:

Only ever driven over it and that was scary enough :shock:
Nearly killed my poor wee car so it did. Absolutely brutal climb and from memory road surface is keech too

If you're refering to the surface on the Bealach, it must have been resurfaced since last year as it was fine last week. I saw a clip on You Tube from last years event and it looked keech.

I think he was probably referring to the Rattigan climb which apparently is very steep in places.

Did Mam Rattigan in Feb it was fine too. Not as big as the Bealach but nearly as steep

DaveMoss

You can still enter the Bethany Sportive June 5th, 77 miles or 111 miles. Starts just outside Edinburgh, but is on mainly very quiet roads,. More hills than the Caledonia, but no really severe gradients.

Enter on www.entrycentral.com.

daviesee

Turns out SWBO is working the week of the Trossachs Ton so that's a go! :P

Edit:-

Turns out it is not a go. Too expensive.

I know it is £25 entry but a minimum sponsorship of £25 is also required.
As I have already used up everyone's goodwill for a while I will probably just go on club runs instead.

Oh well............