A9 cycle path / LEJOG

unixnerd

I've been speaking to my MP / MSP / Sustrans / journalists / etc. over the last few weeks re the poor state of the A9 cycle path over Drumochter. I've had a good response to my query and there's a will to get Transport Scotland / Transerve to sort things out.

Have any of you done LEJOG and used the path? How did you find it? Did you cycle on the main A9 at any point instead of the path?

If you were doing it again would you use the A9 or A82 route?

Just trying to put some experiences together. All responses forwarded in confidence.

pdstsp

Did LEJOG last year and found this section truly bad!! We rode on the main carriageway most of the time as a result. At one point on the cyclepath we came across a local guy photographing the state of the path as his wife had come off a few days earlier and injured herself.

pangolin

I did LEJOG and used the A9. I tried the cyclepath for some of 1 day, and it was awful. Stayed on the A9 for the rest, which had it's bad points as well.

thegibdog

I chose the A82 and reading this I'm glad I did. Drove back from John O'Groats down the A9 and it didn't seem like it would be a pleasant road to ride on.

unixnerd

Thanks for the feedback. I'm trying to show there's a safety issue as the poor state of the path is forcing LEJOG cyclists onto the A9 and A82.

pdstsp

Good on you - the guy we talked to was livid that the path had been allowed to deteriorate so much when it was such a great concept.

cush123

Hi, did LEJOG last month and used the A82. Being Scottish we knew both roads fairly well beforehand and the A9 was never, ever an option.

arlowood

Hi Guys

My son works for Scotland Transerve who have responsibility for carrying out repairs and maintenance to satisfy the needs of Transport Scotland. Have just sent him a link to this thread to see if he knows of anything in the pipeline.

My guess is that with scarce funds, Transport Scotland would need a lot of pushing to devote cash to the cycle path.

Will keep you posted if I hear anything

unixnerd

My guess is that with scarce funds, Transport Scotland would need a lot of pushing to devote cash to the cycle path.

The problem is that it's been like that since it was built 12 years ago. A penny spent now will save a pound later where the path is concerned.

To be honest the biggie is the amount of grit on all 18 miles of it. If they took a pavement style road sweeper over it every spring it'd make a massive difference for little cost.

ShavenLegs

I wouldn't advise anyone to ride on the main A9. The main part of it between Stirling and Inverness is very busy and drivers treat it like a motorway (even where it's not dual carriage way). I drive on it regularly and I've seen a lot of cyclists, including LEJOGers, riding it this summer and I really worry that they are taking their life in their hands being out there. Seen a few occasions where riders are holding up queues of cars on narrow sections and some stupid overtaking ensuing.

I'm all for exercising your right to ride on the road, but pick your battles carefully where you're not going to come off second best. The cycle path isn't great, but there are alternative roads that are quieter and safer and probably more scenic too.

ajh18

I think everyone would be wholeheartedly agreed that riding on the actual A9 would be an extreme sport, likely to substantially reduce the life-expectancy of participants.

However, the A9 cycle path alongside it, much of it on old, essentially unused, paved road, is a completely different matter. Did LEJOG this way a couple of years ago and Perth to Inverness was honestly my favourite part of the journey. Mean to go back up there and have another go on a day when there isn't a ferocious headwind blowing down the pass.....

Certainly, some of the less road-y parts weren't perfectly designed and could do with smoothing out or widening. Has it deterioriated a lot in the heavy rain of the last 12 months or so?

unixnerd

Has it deterioriated a lot in the heavy rain of the last 12 months or so?

I'd say there's a lot more grit and stones on the track than in the recent past. It was always getting slowly worse but this year it seems to have really degraded.

unixnerd

A few pics from this weekend http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/a9path.html

AlunP

' Morning unixnerd

I have a Roubaix SL3 too - and am thinking about the LEJOG. I'd wouldn't want to trash it on that surface! My rockhopper looks a better choice...

unixnerd

It's easy to forget the Roubaix is designed for things even worse than a surface like this! Mine coped with no problems and has less robust wheels than a standard Roubaix (but with the Roubaix tyres). It wasn't uncomfortable to ride, but I'd never take my Cannondale CAAD5 up the path as I'd be shaken to bits.

In your position I'd use the Roubaix on the cycle path rather than risk the A9 or A82. Both are very dangerous to cycle on and most cars are well above the speed limit.

cougie

Those photos really don't make it look too bad at all ? I'd ride that on my best bike.
I ride much worse stretches every time I ride ?

Bikes are a lot stronger than you think.

unixnerd

What you can't see is the grit. It's murder to cycle on and really slows you down. In the wet you slide on it. Plus it's very bumpy, no way I'd do it on my Cannondale road bike.

If they swept the path it'd make a huge difference.

thecm

Good photos Unixnerd. It's a couple of years since I last rode this section and I agree with AJH it's one of my favourite bits from that trip (furthest south Highland distillery to furthest north (mainland) Highland distillery). I liked the old bits of the A9 especially the bit further N to Ralia Given the rain we've been experiencing this year it would be impossible to keep on top of the gravel being washed on. The road out of our village in Cumbria has been flooded a couple of time in the last couple of weeks and it takes a while for the sweeper to come out...and I guess it's quite a job getting one into some of the cycletrack.

Silly Old Hector

Great photos - why not send them to the P + J ?

unixnerd

There's going to be a press article about this very soon - I'll keep you informed :-)

Silly Old Hector

Tell us when 8)

unixnerd

The article is in the current copy of the Inverness Courier's magazine supplement Active Outdoors. Scottish Provincial Press have about 15 papers in the North of Scotland. I'll get a scan and post a link for you southerners!

Had a very positive conversation with a guy from Highland Council about getting the path swept every spring. But they only cover the top bit so I need to do the same in Perthshire now.

teulk

I did LEJOG two years ago and i don't recall it being that bad then, it was a bit rough for sure but not that bad

unixnerd

The last few winters were the worst in living memory and they really chewed it up. Plus the extra grit put on the roads has made its way onto a good chunk of the path.

unixnerd

Article from Scottish Provincial Press : http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/Feat ... 102012.htm

Scottish Parliament has just announced six million budget for cycling, let's hope some of it goes to looking after the path.

bompington

Well done UN for making the effort on this. The only way anyone with money (i.e. Scottish government, councils etc.) will do anything is if enough people nip their heids for long enough.
Don't know if any of the 6 mill will go very far north:

BBC wrote:

Scotland's cycle path network is to get a £6m revamp, which will include improvements to the Land's End to John O'Groats route.

The famous route will be upgraded from Barnton Junction to the Forth Road Bridge.

The money will also be used to create more cycle paths in Glasgow ahead of the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

Routes in Dundee, Kirkcaldy and Edinburgh will also be improved, as will the cycle path along the A90.

Presumably central belters think that Dundee is about as far north as you can go.

Heading up the A9 in the dusk on tues. at about 7pm I noticed a couple of riders, serious looking guys, going quite hard past Dunkeld (I passed what looked like a support team in a layby shortly before). On the road, like you say, as anyone wanting to go fast will be. Sadly I doubt the path will ever get made into something that you could cruise at 12-15 on, never mind 20.



* commuting to the family caravan at Blair - OT, but I just love the lack of synchronisation of school hols in different councils.

arlowood

Just an update to this relatively old thread.

My son tells me that Scotland Transerve have recently carried out repairs to the A9 Cycle Path between Dalnaspidal and Balsporran Cottages.

Not a huge stretch I admit but I suppose it's a start.

Will ask him to keep me updated if more work is planned or implemented

unixnerd

There was a meeting of all stakeholders on the 23rd of November at the path, this was called by Dave Thompson MSP who has been very helpful. Progress was made in identifying who was responsible for what and various parties were asked to produce action plans to improve the path. I'll update you in the new year when I learn more. It seems some progress is being made!

thegreatdivide

Well done unixnerd! One of the most positive threads I’ve read in a long time.

I don’t suppose you could get them to build a cycle and foot bridge over the A9 at Dunkeld as well ;-)

unixnerd

They certainly need to do something at Dunkeld as the current setup isn't suitable for road bikes. The signage could be better too. I've only done that section in the dry, I imagine that the offroad section isn't much fun in the wet.

The big problem with that small area is that it's geographically difficult. Had it been designed with a cycle route to start with it would have been much easier. Trying to graft one on is going to be very challenging.

Argyll2471

I'm cycling LEJOGS mid August. Are there any updates on the condition of the cycle path? Thanks!