Etape Loch Ness coming next May on closed roads
Comments
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Have you seen the plans for start times - fastest off first and the last/slowest riders immeadiately followed by the sweeper car doing exactly 13mph.
Er. Had they not seen the 200ft climb just after the start? It's no great climb, but I would've thought slower riders will struggle with that in time.
Shame they didn't decide to mix abilities up to spread out riders a bit. Starting early would give a 13mph rider an additional minute window to get up the main climb.0 -
Interesting idea... I might take my Gopro as there could be some interesting moments at the start.
Although the same company run the marathon and they have a similar system at the start. There are marker posts with estimated time so you all start with people at a similar standard. Fastest at the front slowest at the back.0 -
There will be less riders than at the marathon
I'm not sure what closed roads there are for the marathon - but I guess they won't be sweeping through quite close
Marathons are usually on the flat
Finally - this isn't a race - other than against the clock to finish whilst the roads are closed - so it makes more sense to let those who may be marginal off first and have fast riders at the back.
The instructions are to cycle on the left so there shouldn't be road blocking bunches of riders.
I hope they see sense as I'm supposed to be riding this with my wife - shes not fast and no mountain goat and 13mph is the target speed. Last thing we need is the sweeper car on our back wheel from the get go - I'd rather hand the timer chip in and ride it in our own time.0 -
The B862, South Side of Loch Ness is closed for 5 hours, if you're longer than that it's just a case of keeping in to the side.
The way I read it was, there is no need to get in the sweep car if you dont want to, it's just a case of being aware there will be cars passing you, and probably quite close on the A82.0 -
The 5 hours bit is fine - I think we'll be close to that anyway. Most of the downhill is in the second half - it's easy to pick up speed for that - you can soon catch up time. But not if you've been swept and your timing chip taken.
I understand the need for sweeping - no problem with that but the info on the website doesn't read well.
They want similar abilities to start together so we can ride in groups - well I have my own group and I'm happy with that. If I didn't think we couldn't have achieved the whole course at average 13mph I wouldn't have entered - but I was hoping for a bit of leeway to get the main climb in.
I've emailed them this afternoon - waiting for an acknowledgment and hopefully a reasonable reply. I'm not holding my breath though.
Perhaps I need to take a pole and flag an stick it on the bike so it makes cars give us a wider berth?
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I wouldn't expect them to ruthlessly enforce the 13mph thing right from the start! And don't worry, if it's anything like the Etape Caledonia people will just ignore their wave number and start as early as they can so the abilities will likely be very mixed anyway.Slowbike wrote:Have you seen the plans for start times - fastest off first and the last/slowest riders immeadiately followed by the sweeper car doing exactly 13mph.
Er. Had they not seen the 200ft climb just after the start? It's no great climb, but I would've thought slower riders will struggle with that in time.
Shame they didn't decide to mix abilities up to spread out riders a bit. Starting early would give a 13mph rider an additional minute window to get up the main climb.0 -
Ah. Good if we can ignore wave numbers
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So...who got closest to their target??
My tongue in cheek target was 3hrs39 and I came in at 3hrs33.0 -
3:46 for me, I did much better than I thought. 8)
1. Nairnster - 4 hours 30 (I erred on the side of caution in case my training doesnt go to plan)
2. Colinthecop - 4 hours 31 (I had no idea and figured an average of 15mph sounded about right)
3. Nweststeyn (Nico) - 3 hours 40 (that's optimistic though but a good incentive to train hard)
4. Unixnerd - 3 hours 40
5. ajkerr73 - 3 hours 39
6. thegreatdivide - 3 hours 15 (if I get into a fast group)
7. Garryboy - 3 hours 59
8. keirfergie - 4 hours 250 -
Did anyone else find it a lot easier than anticipated, or was it an easier field of riders? Wondering if there was a lot of fairly casual 'daytrip' cyclists just enjoying the lovely route and closed roads, not racing, hence I arrived well within the first third of riders home, something that's never happened before. Roll on the next one!0
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Colinthecop wrote:Yeah, I was a bit shocked about the start time too.
I guess that's the only way they got the roads closed -by being on them when everyone else is on bed. :shock:
Yes, but you should read the freaking out on some other forums that the A82 is closed for a few hours on a Sunday morning.0 -
Colinthecop wrote:3:46 for me, I did much better than I thought. 8)
1. Nairnster - 4 hours 30 (I erred on the side of caution in case my training doesnt go to plan)
2. Colinthecop - 4 hours 31 (I had no idea and figured an average of 15mph sounded about right)
3. Nweststeyn (Nico) - 3 hours 40 (that's optimistic though but a good incentive to train hard)
4. Unixnerd - 3 hours 40
5. ajkerr73 - 3 hours 39
6. thegreatdivide - 3 hours 15 (if I get into a fast group)
7. Garryboy - 3 hours 59
8. keirfergie - 4 hours 25
Target was 3:40, finished in 3:18. My actual target, revised since I posted it on here, was 3:15 though so I missed it by 3 minutes. Course was slightly tougher than I expected (more undulations than I thought there would be)... Needed my average speed to be 0.12mph higher and I wouldve made it
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I take it you didnt stop at any of the feeding stations...?0
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I didnt. It was odd being at the 'testosterone filled' end of the event, but couldnt make up the 15 minute gap to the front group! Going past the feed stations, they were all empty with fully stocked tables and volunteers looking a bit sad noone was stopping to enjoy their hard work.0
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I assumed (wrongly obviously) they'd be at the side of the route with the volunteers handing you whatever as you slowed down - like they do in Marathons.
No way was I stopping or deviating that far off the course when the clock was ticking...
Mind you, i've probably damaged my kidneys after holding in the weewee from Ft Augustus all the way to the portaloos at the finish.0 -
Colinthecop wrote:Mind you, i've probably damaged my kidneys after holding in the weewee from Ft Augustus all the way to the portaloos at the finish.
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