Etape Caledonia 2013

12357…12

Comments

  • thecrofter
    thecrofter Posts: 734
    Rollemynot wrote:
    thecrofter wrote:
    Mate of mine is in AA, anyone beat that!

    AA...... I'm in therapy for heroin addiction - does that beat it?
    I see what you've done there :)
    You've no won the Big Cup since 1902!
  • thegreatdivide
    thegreatdivide Posts: 5,807
    There should still be snow on the hills. If it isn't overcast on the day it'll look very bonny :-)
  • RandG
    RandG Posts: 779
    57 miles today, longest ever, but, and it's a big butt, my ass is gonna struggle to go the distance with this. My thighs were aching, but my ass was agony :(
  • rollemynot
    rollemynot Posts: 436
    RandG wrote:
    57 miles today, longest ever, but, and it's a big butt, my ass is gonna struggle to go the distance with this. My thighs were aching, but my ass was agony :(

    On the assumption you had a few hills in your ride today,you will do better than you think.The sheer excitement and the adrenalin of riding with 5000 like minded nutters will see you through the day.

    Sorry for asking but what part of yer erchie was agony - could be seat position, poor pad in your shorts and not being used to riding for between 3 - 4 hours.
  • alan_a
    alan_a Posts: 1,587
    I've somehow blagged my way into group B @ 6.32am.

    Anyone else?

    I'll happily hang in the bunch with them until Schiehallion, but by the time they get to the top I'll be with the group D crew.
    http://www.3pistescycle.co.uk
    Twitter @3pistescycle
    INSTA @tourclownunder
  • d4evr
    d4evr Posts: 293
    RandG wrote:
    57 miles today, longest ever, but, and it's a big butt, my ass is gonna struggle to go the distance with this. My thighs were aching, but my ass was agony :(

    57 miles with a few hills? That will have you, in theory well over Schiehallion and on the return of the Fortingall loop. One feed station to go and with the end in sight you will make it. As has been said the camaraderie and adrenalin will get you home. You WILL suffer, but you WILL do it. As for sore @rse, plenty chamois cream, check seat position and possibly buy the best quality/reviewed bibs you can afford.
  • RandG
    RandG Posts: 779
    Yesterday was the longest I've ever been in a saddle. The position of it seems fine as it only started to be painful for the last 15 or so.

    Just going to have to suffer cause I ain't buying another pair of shorts, as the ones I had on yesterday were new, and came recommended, but I am not paying £150 for assos like a mate of mine has just done, feck that, I will suffer instead.
  • d4evr
    d4evr Posts: 293
    RandG wrote:
    Yesterday was the longest I've ever been in a saddle. The position of it seems fine as it only started to be painful for the last 15 or so.

    Just going to have to suffer cause I ain't buying another pair of shorts, as the ones I had on yesterday were new, and came recommended, but I am not paying £150 for assos like a mate of mine has just done, feck that, I will suffer instead.

    That's fair enough, I wouldn't buy them either or any others at that price. Don't get to hung up on the thought of not completing it. You WILL complete it, positivity and all that. Honestly, once you get up to Pitlochry you will get caught up in the vibe etc. and on the road I promise you there will be plenty much much worse of than you.
  • thecrofter
    thecrofter Posts: 734
    My rule of thumb for the Etape is if you can do 100k solo then you'll manage the extra 35 on the day no problem. The atmosphere and the cameraderie really do drag you along. And you'll be amazed at how quick you are.
    You've no won the Big Cup since 1902!
  • mountain chub
    mountain chub Posts: 4
    Alan A how do you know you're in wave B?
  • RandG
    RandG Posts: 779
    mountain chub wrote:
    Alan A how do you know you're in wave B?

    Just a guess, but he's probably read his name on the entry sheet start times. :wink:
  • mountain chub
    mountain chub Posts: 4
    Lol ok so I walked into that one BUT to be fair I don't know where to find that info - couldn't see it on the etape website

    EDIT:
    D'oh! Just logged into etape website and low and behold there's all the info I need - hurrah!
  • Omar Little
    Omar Little Posts: 2,010
    mountain chub wrote:
    Lol ok so I walked into that one BUT to be fair I don't know where to find that info - couldn't see it on the etape website


    http://www.etapecaledonia.co.uk/downloa ... 50413.xlsx
  • Gazzetta67
    Gazzetta67 Posts: 1,890
    Is the road into the car park pretty clear in the morning ? i presume its the big field kinda behind the finish line ? I will be driving up from my accomodation in perth.
  • Wardster00
    Wardster00 Posts: 143
    You will be able to get in the car park without a problem. I anticipated that there would be some issues last year and arrived really early. No problems at all resulted in me sitting in the car for 90 minutes before going to the start line!

    On a different note, the website is stating that there is 1,941 metres of climbing but Strava from last year's event states 1,140 metres. That's a big difference?
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    Wardster00 wrote:
    On a different note, the website is stating that there is 1,941 metres of climbing but Strava from last year's event states 1,140 metres. That's a big difference?
    This is a perennial issue. Pretty much everyone agrees that 1941m is a random figure plucked out of the air: people get various different figures off GPS, Google, and so on - I would certainly take Strava with a pinch of salt as its figures (especially for steepness, i.e. height climbed) often seem way out.
    I have managed to get a figure of about 1850m by carefully plotting the route on Memory Map - mapping software that uses OS data which is more accurate than the height fields that you get on Google maps.
    But then I've just checked the route out on Bikehike and it's come up with 1595m - I'm pretty sure it was way less than that last time I looked, work that out if you can. Bikeroutetoaster says 878m, by contrast - which is really odd because it claims to be using the same (Google) data...
    Presumably, the more accurate the map (or GPS) data, the more it takes into account little undulations in the road - and there are a lot of those on the Etape. An accurate height field might, for example, record a 100m stretch of road as having two 5m climbs on it, where it looks totally flat on a more basic map.

    But what really matters is that, when all is said and done, it isn't a particularly hilly route. Enjoy it without worrying about the stats!
  • d4evr
    d4evr Posts: 293
    Gazzetta67 wrote:
    Is the road into the car park pretty clear in the morning ? i presume its the big field kinda behind the finish line ? I will be driving up from my accomodation in perth.

    It's the rugby pitches on the left hand side, turn left on Ferry Road? at Victorias Coffee Shop and under railway bridge. When I left Dundee in previous years I leave in plenty time for MY start time and then some. Never had any problems, just an extra bit of hanging about at the start but at least I'm there and ready to go.

    No such worries for me this year though, static caravan this year for me! :D
  • thegreatdivide
    thegreatdivide Posts: 5,807
    bompington wrote:
    Wardster00 wrote:
    On a different note, the website is stating that there is 1,941 metres of climbing but Strava from last year's event states 1,140 metres. That's a big difference?
    This is a perennial issue. Pretty much everyone agrees that 1941m is a random figure plucked out of the air: people get various different figures off GPS, Google, and so on - I would certainly take Strava with a pinch of salt as its figures (especially for steepness, i.e. height climbed) often seem way out.
    I have managed to get a figure of about 1850m by carefully plotting the route on Memory Map - mapping software that uses OS data which is more accurate than the height fields that you get on Google maps.
    But then I've just checked the route out on Bikehike and it's come up with 1595m - I'm pretty sure it was way less than that last time I looked, work that out if you can. Bikeroutetoaster says 878m, by contrast - which is really odd because it claims to be using the same (Google) data...
    Presumably, the more accurate the map (or GPS) data, the more it takes into account little undulations in the road - and there are a lot of those on the Etape. An accurate height field might, for example, record a 100m stretch of road as having two 5m climbs on it, where it looks totally flat on a more basic map.

    But what really matters is that, when all is said and done, it isn't a particularly hilly route. Enjoy it without worrying about the stats!

    I did a pre ride of the route and my Garmin came in at 1041m from the car park at the sign in area. My ride on the day came in at 1195m - that included a lot of fannying around and started at the playing field car park.
  • Stedman
    Stedman Posts: 377
    d4evr wrote:
    Gazzetta67 wrote:
    Is the road into the car park pretty clear in the morning ? i presume its the big field kinda behind the finish line ? I will be driving up from my accomodation in perth.

    It's the rugby pitches on the left hand side, turn left on Ferry Road? at Victorias Coffee Shop and under railway bridge. When I left Dundee in previous years I leave in plenty time for MY start time and then some. Never had any problems, just an extra bit of hanging about at the start but at least I'm there and ready to go.

    No such worries for me this year though, static caravan this year for me! :D

    Having walked pass the main car park over the last four years, there always seems to be a long queue trying to get in. I would recommend adding an extra half an hour to your journey to allow for this delay.
  • d4evr
    d4evr Posts: 293
    Stedman wrote:
    d4evr wrote:
    Gazzetta67 wrote:
    Is the road into the car park pretty clear in the morning ? i presume its the big field kinda behind the finish line ? I will be driving up from my accomodation in perth.

    It's the rugby pitches on the left hand side, turn left on Ferry Road? at Victorias Coffee Shop and under railway bridge. When I left Dundee in previous years I leave in plenty time for MY start time and then some. Never had any problems, just an extra bit of hanging about at the start but at least I'm there and ready to go.

    No such worries for me this year though, static caravan this year for me! :D

    Having walked pass the main car park over the last four years, there always seems to be a long queue trying to get in. I would recommend adding an extra half an hour to your journey to allow for this delay.

    Yip, that makes sense. Last year I 'joined the queue' almost exactly under the railway bridge, 5-10mins later I was parked up and getting changed etc. They do have it well organised and it doesn't take that long to get parked once at the playing fields. From there a 5 minute leisurely ride to join the mayhem at the start :evil: :lol: It can get a bit congested and frantic here so have your wits about you and look out for YOUR wave letter being held up, even better follow the left and right pattern of the waves and get yourself onto that side of the road in perpetration as you move up the road.
  • RandG
    RandG Posts: 779
    Is it just a case of turning up and going ? I know that sounds simplistic but, get yourself to your wave, and go when it's time to go, like nothing else needs to be done on the day ?
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    RandG wrote:
    Is it just a case of turning up and going ? I know that sounds simplistic but, get yourself to your wave, and go when it's time to go, like nothing else needs to be done on the day ?
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    RandG wrote:
    Is it just a case of turning up and going ? I know that sounds simplistic but, get yourself to your wave, and go when it's time to go, like nothing else needs to be done on the day ?
    Pretty much, yes - assuming you're registered and have your timing chip on. If you haven't, of course, it's too late, but you can always turn up and go anyway.

    EDIT: "server error" --> reload --> blank post. Really helpful.
  • d4evr
    d4evr Posts: 293
    RandG wrote:
    Is it just a case of turning up and going ? I know that sounds simplistic but, get yourself to your wave, and go when it's time to go, like nothing else needs to be done on the day ?

    Your wave will be displayed in turn (alphabetically on the left and right hand side of the road) you make your way up to the approach of the start, your then funnelled left or right according to your wave where your held before the starter sets you off. Nothing more to it. You may (WILL :roll: ) have to say "excuse me" at least a dozen times to make your way up through the crowds though :lol:

    All that's left is to do is enjoy yourself cycling in some of the finest countryside this country has to offer! You will love it!

    You do have to pre register either on the Friday night or the Saturday remember, that's where you get your timing chip, number and goody bag!! Don't get to excited about the goody bag :lol:

    Ah beaten to it lol
  • bianchimoon
    bianchimoon Posts: 3,942
    d4evr wrote:
    Don't get to excited about the goody bag :lol:
    i thought they'd renamed it... a bag?
    All lies and jest..still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest....
  • d4evr
    d4evr Posts: 293
    bianchimoon wrote:
    d4evr wrote:
    Don't get to excited about the goody bag :lol:
    i thought they'd renamed it... a bag?

    A bag sums it up nicely :wink:
  • RandG
    RandG Posts: 779
    I take it it's going to be a bit of hassle getting thru the crowds if you're off anyplace near the front. It must be like trying to get to the front of the stage at a festival.
  • d4evr
    d4evr Posts: 293
    RandG wrote:
    I take it it's going to be a bit of hassle getting thru the crowds if you're off anyplace near the front. It must be like trying to get to the front of the stage at a festival.

    It's 'supposed' to work like, those in wave A at the front of the queue, then B, then C etc etc. however it doesn't and would never work like that entirely. People running late, others standing chatting, friends in different waves etc etc all perfectly reasonable actions on a day/event like this prevent this from happening as it would on paper.

    If I'm early I stand at the side of the street that my letter/wave will appear on letting others pass through who are off in waves before me. I then join in the mayhem a couple of waves before mine, it's never let me down so far.
  • Omar Little
    Omar Little Posts: 2,010
    RandG wrote:
    I take it it's going to be a bit of hassle getting thru the crowds if you're off anyplace near the front. It must be like trying to get to the front of the stage at a festival.

    Yeah can be a bit of an issue with groups of mates in wave Z wanting to wait near the front (with their bikes obviously) and thus blocking the way for riders in earlier waves to get through. Of course this means riders in wave Y start to panic then push their way in so they can get by the wave Z guys thinking it will take them too long to get through the crowd...then the wave X riders do the same and so on :lol:
  • Stedman
    Stedman Posts: 377
    d4evr wrote:
    bianchimoon wrote:
    d4evr wrote:
    Don't get to excited about the goody bag :lol:
    i thought they'd renamed it... a bag?

    A bag sums it up nicely :wink:

    Two years ago it got to the point where it was just a bag of advertising leaflets, however last year it did get slightly better with a small bottle and a gel. In reality these bags are yet another revenue source for the organisers.

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