Etape Caladonia

thecrofter

d4evr wrote:

bompington wrote:

I know people who have completed it with no training at all and well inside the cutoff time too. Just do all the training you can, and go for it - you will suffer, but you won't regret it.
I'm in much the same boat, life in general and baby in particular mean that I've hardly got out at all for over a year, I'll probably have about 400 miles in total this year by the time the big day comes. I've even been on the exercise bike in the school gym, horrible bingo wing tamer that it is. I'm just going to go for it.

Cheers for the reply Bompington, that's made me feel a lot better about things. I really really want to do it, and you have now helped me make up my mind. I will just keep getting the miles in and on the day will give it my all, whats the worst that can happen? Well besides breaking another leg or other limb, being swept up in the wagon. I wont get anywhere near the event distance in training but I reckon a one off effort and the sense of occasion etc will help me along for a few miles? Anyway I have made my mind up I'm going for it!!

I may be back on here for more tips etc regarding hydration, energy bars, nutrition etc etc.

Cheers Mate!!

So long as you're out on the bike say three times a week, a couple of 15-20 milers in the week and say up to one 50 miler about 10 days before, you'll be fine. the week before take it easy just a couple of 12 mile runs to keep the legs turning. Make sure you eat properly that week, especially. For the day take two water bottles and whatever food you prefer make sure you eat regularly every half hour, little and often is the trick. Oh, and have a good breakfast an hour before you start. So long as the weather is OK you'll be amazed at how well you do, I was last year

daviesee

The cafe at the junction (Victoria's?) opens at 6:00 and serves porridge, cereals, rolls, coffee etc - from memory.
As I siad at the start of this, Fern Cottage does an excellent specific menu the night before but at @ £27 for 3 courses (from memory) although I thought it was well worth the money. The only downside is that they may be fully booked.
I targetted 5:30 and hoped for 5:00 last year. I got 4:50 and that was nursing round a (newbie) club mate who hadn't done much training at all and doubted he would finish. You will do much, much better on the day than you think.
Keep 2 water bottles topped up and nibble on energy bars and you will be fine.

Best of luck with the weather and - enjoy!

d4evr

Thanks Guys on everything so far. Could you possibly recommend any Gels, Bars, Energy Drinks etc.

Gazzetta67

Anyone still looking for hotels etc - There is a New travelodge in Perth it`s only 100 yards from the Big Roundabout on the M9 so it`s quick to get to pitlochry in the morning (25mins) and prob easier the night before to go into perth to get decent feed.

suzyb

That's the one I'm booked into. Guess I might see one or two other participants there.

daviesee

d4evr wrote:

Thanks Guys on everything so far. Could you possibly recommend any Gels, Bars, Energy Drinks etc.

Zipvit sponsored it last year. When you were registering you could try a sample of everything with a view to buying what you like/need. And they supplied the feed stations so you may not "need" to buy anything.

I won't recommend anything as everyone's tastes are different. Most people seem to like gels but I preferred the bars. And only certain flavours at that.
Make use of the sample method would be my advice.

d4evr

daviesee wrote:

d4evr wrote:

Thanks Guys on everything so far. Could you possibly recommend any Gels, Bars, Energy Drinks etc.

Zipvit sponsored it last year. When you were registering you could try a sample of everything with a view to buying what you like/need. And they supplied the feed stations so you may not "need" to buy anything.

I won't recommend anything as everyone's tastes are different. Most people seem to like gels but I preferred the bars. And only certain flavours at that.
Make use of the sample method would be my advice.

Thanks again Daviesee, I must have missed that. I will pick up some stuff for the event and use their stuff on the day, Cheers Again!!!

Gazzetta67

What time does the sign on, race numbers etc open and close at on the sat ????

bompington

according to page 5 of the info doc it's at 8pm

screebs

Doing my last long run before the etape tonight - planned a 56 miler around Stirling, Doune, Aberfoyle including the Dukes Pass.

Only 17 days to go! :shock:

bianchimoon

doing mine saturday 60 miles in North Yorkshire, having looked at the start times that are now out, i think our group has under estimated our ability, lots of picking through traffic methinks

suzyb

Got the email with the numbers and start times this morning. I'm in wave R so not too early a start thankfully but I think I picked the wrong option when I signed up. No way I'm doing it in under 5 hours 30

bianchimoon

we put down time for slowest in the group so we could start together at +5hrs 30mins, but at least 2 in the group will be sub 4hrs some sub 5hrs with 2 probably 6+ hrs. Starting in wave W so big mix of abilities even that far down the start list, looking forward to it

screebs

Wave Z for me! :oops:

bompington

screebs wrote:

Wave Z for me! :oops:

You're washing up breakfast then

I don't know what the effect of being in a later wave is in terms of traffic, which can get a bit dense on the narrow road back along the south side of Loch Rannoch. At least you won't get a lot of people overtaking you

I've got a fairly early start at 7:01 (wave I) which I'm quite happy about, there'll be quite few faster folk coming through and overtaking me :oops: but that helps keep me going, and as far as I'm concerned you can't have too many fast bunches to draft shamelessly.

bompington

oops double post

SFT

When I click on the 'Start Times' link in the email I get the message 'Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage'

anyone else having the same problem of is it just me

bianchimoon

yup same problem, go to the etape website and you can download from front page

Omar Little

I googled 'etape caledonia start times' and followed the link to the official website...had a panic when i couldnt find my name. Seems the start times for 2009 are still on the site as well as the 2011 ones

I'm in wave K

bianchimoon

Omar Little wrote:

I googled 'etape caledonia start times' and followed the link to the official website...had a panic when i couldnt find my name. Seems the start times for 2009 are still on the site as well as the 2011 ones

I'm in wave K

Is that K for Kwick? sounds like you're in a good position, am getting the feeling that our group should have put a quicker time down and not used slowest riders time as there would have been more faster groups to tag along with

d4evr

Well I am in wave Y so not that many to fly past me!

Steve_F

bompington wrote:

I've got a fairly early start at 7:01 (wave I) which I'm quite happy about, there'll be quite few faster folk coming through and overtaking me :oops: but that helps keep me going, and as far as I'm concerned you can't have too many fast bunches to draft shamelessly.

Same wave as me, see you in the starting pen!!

I started later last year, never seemed to have the right pace of group near me at the right time and had to fight through a lot of traffic at the start. Hoping the earlier time might solve both of these problems.

thecrofter

Wave F, 6:55. Feels like I'm over estimating my ability. But it does fit in with last year's finish. Maybe I'm not as bad at this as I think.

screebs

bompington wrote:

screebs wrote:

Wave Z for me! :oops:

You're washing up breakfast then

I don't know what the effect of being in a later wave is in terms of traffic, which can get a bit dense on the narrow road back along the south side of Loch Rannoch. At least you won't get a lot of people overtaking you

I've got a fairly early start at 7:01 (wave I) which I'm quite happy about, there'll be quite few faster folk coming through and overtaking me :oops: but that helps keep me going, and as far as I'm concerned you can't have too many fast bunches to draft shamelessly.

I'll bring my dish cloth!

At least i wont get dispirited with people overtaking me - albeit. looking over my shoulder for the sweeper bus might be daunting enough! :P

suzyb

Even if there are people overtaking you it isn't depressing as long as your overtaking others as I found out on last years pedal for scotland.

I know most of those folks were only there for a nice day out but I was still faster than them

SFT

sorted, so thanks

wave T, 7:38

going up tomorrow to ride the course; the weather looks fab so going to be a great way to avoid the wedding

Pigtail

I'm in wave T. I'm not sure about the times. My target has always been 5 hours but the only option was 4.30 or 5.30 so I picked 5.30.

I'm still building up, and hope to do my last decent run about a week beforehand.

d4evr

Hi again guys, I have just been told by someone today that if you dont finish the ride in the allotted time that you won't get a medal etc.
Now I am not that bothered about getting anything at the end to be honest, just getting round and doing it would be enough for me and my sponsors etc, but I found it surprising that this would be the case. As I say I do not know if this is the case or not, can anyone here shed any light on this? Thanks!

beinbhan

if you finish you will get a medal there is know way of knowing times until they are posted on the web site

d4evr

beinbhan wrote:

if you finish you will get a medal there is know way of knowing times until they are posted on the web site

Cheers beinbhan, the person who told me said if you have to complete it on open roads you will not get a medal, which I found a bit surprising and harsh if true. Thanks for confirming what I kinda thought, Cheers!!