Good luck to those of you riding the Etape Caledonia on Sunday. Weather looking a bit dodgy but at least the very strong east wind looks to be calming down. I'm looking forward to 81 traffic free miles, well apart from the 3500 other bikes.
Good luck and enjoy.
3,500 bikes - surely a recipe for accidents? Best tactic is gonna be to stick to the front, aye?
Hoping for reasonable weather too. Loch Rannoch can be a bit dreich at the best of times.
Sticking to the front might be difficult as I'm one of the last groups to go. Obviously no one put over 5:30 in their seeding time. So there is either a lot of fit folk or a lot of optimistic folk riding it. Still gives me plenty of folk to chase down/hide behind 😉
I leave at 7.46. Bit confused by that but plenty of people to hide behind and chase down.
Bloody hell Gary-M's post must have subliminally affected me
You all go out for your wee pootle.
The real men are going out for a longer ride in Deeside. 😀
I'm off at 7:10. Remember to wave on your way past.
kevonakona freeky but I'm off at 7:46 too, rider number 3651.
No Smee, much as I'd love to. It's on the to do list but maybe in a couple of years.
Smee why has your 'are you doing the Marmotte' question disappeared?
Weather forecasts are currently all over the place. What's the scam on mudguards?
Good luck with it. I think it's fair to saw it's gonna be wetter than Atlantis out there on Sunday 🙁
I heard a rumour that Kevin Dangerous is doing a roaring trade in pedalos!
Waaaaaaaaah!
Good luck chaps. Can't be worse weather than Bealach Beag.
IMO no point going for mudguards, if you run them you'll get covered in other people's spray anyway so might as well not bother.
Gary, i'm 3717
and considering full wetsuit:-)
good luck , couple of guys from the club are doing it but call me tight , im not paying 50 quid to ride on the road ...
im off doing the deeside 200k audax with smee
Patches of blue sky spotted over Pitlochry direction. It might not be too bad.
Bit of a wind though
Some eejit has spread carpet tacks over the course and the event has been halted. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/8054215.stm
Tossers. I'm not riding it but my gf is - will wait til she's back to hear what happened from her point of view. Hope she's OK, she'll be really upset if her brand new bike has had its tyres shredded to pieces!
I rode the route with some folk off here (druidh, dgoab etc) a few weeks ago, the weather today is much better than it was then, it's actually turned out really nice.
FFS!
Just heard from her, she's OK but had to sit around on the road for 40 mins waiting for the police to sweep it then they were escorted through at 15mph. About the one saving grace is that they were sat in the sunshine rather than in the freezing rain!
She said a couple of people were injured falling off as a result of burst tyres though.
Whoever did it should just be hauled up in front of 3500 angry cyclists and asked to explain themselves - wonder how long they'd last...
I can see the point of the people who want the roads open to keep tourism flowing for the day but surely running the risk of seriously hurting people is a bit over the top.
I can see their point of view, no other Sportive runs on closed roads, but equally it's one day (actually about half a day...) a year and brings in thousands of pounds in tourism anyway since the EC organisers refuse to allow on-the-morning registration thus forcing most riders to stay over on Saturday night in the area.
London manages to close whole areas down several times a year for sporting events (Marathon etc) and things like G8 summit meetings...
If it was a militant member of the ACRE people in that link they've probably done themselves no favours.
This is horrible, someone could have been seriously injured! Not a good way to show displeasure at all!
It's obvious really..apart from the :roll:good few of us, this country hates everything to do with cycling. And always will.
> http://www.commentonline.co.uk/general/BattleContinuestoPreventMayClosedRoads.htm
br />
Nice balanced article there 🙄
Just got back home after this. Ended up only riding 60 miles as we were held at Kinnloch Rannoch for about 45 minutes then told it might be another hour before the road is open. So I and many others just headed back the road to Pitlochry. Pretty pissed off, was riding really well and on for a sub 4:30 time. Didn't bother going through the timing thing at the end or collecting a medal as it meant nothing. Up until that point I had a fantastic weekend up there. Some folk were getting buses back to Pitlochry which I found a bit daft.
BoardinBob - Member> http://www.commentonline.co.uk/general/BattleContinuestoPreventMayClosedRoads.htm
/p>Nice balanced article there
That's from last year. Loads of locals out cheering on the riders today.
How did you get on druidh? Did you ride the full route? And yes there were loads of locals out cheering and clapping, shame one idiot decided to ruin the day for so many people. We was robbed.
They held us for close on an hour. It was getting pretty chilly after the climb. Eventually, they rustled up a police bike and we did the descent behind it at a "controlled" pace. They then cut out the Fortingal loop (about 10 miles). I got back in 4:12, but tbh - I didn't really have it in my legs for a while after the long stop. My target was originally 5 hours, so I reckon I'd have made that with something to spare.
No punctures!
Word reaches me from Scotland that the local constabulary are following up "a positive line of inquiry" in to this. Which is good news.
What kind of nasty, selfish, spiteful berk does something like this?
Who are these people who object to closing roads? One ****ing event, one, and they act like this. Going on about 'loss to business', or some other such shite. It's one ****ing day, ffs! 🙄
If those responsible are caught, then they should be charged with criminal damage, as a minimum, and made to pay for new tyres of every single cyclist who suffered damage. A couple of hundred times £30 or so might make them think again.
The London Marathon causes far more 'inconvenience' for many Londoners; we just put up with it, and enjoy the event. It's only one day a year.
Just goes to show what small-minded parochial attitudes some folk have.
Salt their fields.
Let me first of all say that I don't agree with what was done, and that I hope they find those responsible and prosecute them to the full extent of the law (although I expect they will argue they never expected to hurt anyone, just disrupt the race?). From their point of view it presumably resulted in longer road closures and disruption so can't have been too effective unless the idea is to scare off the event for next year.
Whilst yes it does bring in good money for the local economy, in in particular parts of the tourist sector, there are other parts of the community who do suffer and presumably believe that any net benefit to the economy isn't reaching them. Imagine if you run an ordinary business that doesn't benefit from cyclists being in the area - you loose a days trade, or if you are part of the angling tourism industry that is popular in the area, you may loose a whole weekends trade etc. Now imagine if you live in one of the villages cut off for 3+ hours for the race to go through - this isn't London, if the roads shut there is no way in or out the village - you are a prisoner so that a bunch of skinny guys in fluorescent Lycra can rush through the village. Then you believe you've made your points to the local Council but they ignore them and close the road anyway (possibly, according to some reports, without following the legally required procedures).
The alternative of running it with the roads open actually seems even worse to me - 3000+ bikes on those roads would to all intents and purposes close the roads for hours anyway.
There may be better ways of managing it etc - but its a fairly remote area with limited policing/resources and few alternative routes for getting people and equipment around the course to control it.
Would we all be so outraged if it was a horse race or long distance run that was being disrupted / disrupting the local services.
How many people were inconvenienced and for how long? Given the disruption of the myriad events that shut down London and the amount of disruption caused, I think your point is rather a failure.
If it was a horse race or long distance run, or the Devizes to Westminster Canoe race, or even the world worm charming championships, yes I WOULD be that outraged.
A tiny minority of people were inconvenienced. That tiny number would have been able to plan ahead, prepare and deal with this, as all of those of us in central London have to do all so often, and to be honest, they should be grateful for the interest in their area as well as the tourist £££s that such an event bring in to an area where the economy is suffering.
Ok, how many people are 'seriously affected' by this event? A few thousand? Hundred? Dozen?
On Marathon day, in certain parts of London, were there to be a major incident, such as a large fire, the sheer numbers of spectators and competitors would mean that the emergency services would be severely hampered by the chaos that would surely ensue. Therefore, contingency plans are put in place.
Can country folk not manage this?
Imagine if you run an ordinary business that doesn't benefit from cyclists being in the area - you loose a days trade, or if you are part of the angling tourism industry that is popular in the area, you may loose a whole weekends trade etc.
Big deal. This event was on a Sunday, no? So, they've 'lost' how much? A tenner? 20 quid?
I see that locals might be concerned about safety/emergency service access, but to want to deny thousands of others their enjoyment, just so you don't lose a few quid, is just bloody selfish.
Salt their fields.
Burn their crops.
on brighter note ... at least the weather was good ... musta been a good headwind though
We had a cracker of a day, except the headwind from ballater to forfar ......
I don't think you're allowed to fish on a Sunday.
Now imagine if you live in one of the villages cut off for 3+ hours for the race to go through - this isn't London, if the roads shut there is no way in or out the village - you are a prisoner so that a bunch of skinny guys in fluorescent Lycra can rush through the village.
I'm sorry, I'm still not seeing the downside here? 😛
It might be those sort of arrogant London attitudes that upsets the locals.
Our small town (not in this area) is significantly disrupted 4 or 5 times a year which affects my ability to get about and my staffs ability to get to the office etc. I choose to live here and work here, and accept those inconveniences as those events are for the benefit of the community, most of them are events which have run for over a century.
So all businesses in the countryside only make £20 on a Sunday (bear in mind that in the enlightened North shops actually open on Sundays!)? Just as well you city boys are here to prop up the countryside, otherwise the whole country would go under.
I haven't seen any mention of emergency service concerns (as P&K Council would have required to consult with them anyway) - and actually there is probably improved police and ambulance service response times because of the event!
When you say a tiny minority of people were inconvenienced - measured from what total population? I suspect that most locals were inconvenienced to some extent although many were probably quite tolerant of it.
I'm not arguing the event shouldn't go ahead - I'm simply trying to help a few people here understand why some people are agreaved that it is allowed to.
Arguments about people coming to visit and bringing income only stack up for the beneficiaries. Otherwise your Council tax is just being spent on assisting the disruption and you see no benefit. A bit of tolerance and understanding is needed on both side of the fence!
Arrogant? Oh do shut up, would you?
Just as well you city boys are here to prop up the countryside, otherwise the whole country would go under.
I doubt RudeBoy's been outside Zone 3 for months. As for me, I prop up a large part of the countryside in the Hampshire/Wiltshire borders, including fishing oddly enough.
Arguments about people coming to visit and bringing income only stack up for the beneficiaries. Otherwise your Council tax is just being spent on assisting the disruption and you see no benefit.
Again, utter tosh. Those who benefit include pubs, who pay the wages of their bar and waiting staff who spend their wages in the local shop who employ shop staff who spend their wages in the local clothes shop who emply shop staff who spend their wages....(Get it yet?)
What about the people who live in Stamford? Do they get all up in arms when Burghley Horse Trials are on? (Ditto the Badminton region). No, of course they do not. They embrace it, the welcome it and the profit from it. There are countless other examples, but I suspect it would be without any worth to give them to you.
Give up. Please. Your arguments are devoid of any worth, really they are.
Talking to a couple at pitlochry today they have been in the area since tuesday doing the tourist thing so they could take part in the race today times that by 1000 other people that wouldn't be in the area if not for the race thats a lot of money for the local economy As for it stopping tourists getting to other areas I live in Perth there are very few tourist around at this time of year. I think the net benifit to the locals far outways the negitive
It might be those sort of arrogant London attitudes that upsets the locals.
Oh please. At least be a little more original than that.. 🙄
When you say a tiny minority of people were inconvenienced - measured from what total population?
Well go on then; how many people were 'inconvenienced' by this event? There were more people at the event, than signed the petition, ffs!
I just think it's an extremely selfish reaction, to try and ruin the fun for loads of other people, just because you feel you should have absolute freedom of movement at all times.
People who live in rural places should feel privileged, that they have the luxury of clean air, peace and quiet, and not feel threatened by others. And if others want to enjoy that, just for one day, then why shoon't they?
Salt their fields.
Burn their crops.
Slaughter their livestock.
I doubt RudeBoy's been outside Zone 3 for months.
LOL!
I was on the South Downs only last weekend, I'll have you know!
We propped up the local economy by buying beer. I'm sure they were very grateful, of the increased income...
I was on the South Downs only last weekend, I'll have you know!
They've removed the tag then? 😉
Heh! Using clever technology, based on mobile 'phone electronics, I was able to make it appear that I was at home all the time... 😉
I had to keep the muzzle on, though. 🙁
RudeBoy on his way to the trails;
[img] 
[/img]
😉
Hi Guys,
This is Chris from Escape Route in pitlochry, just want to apologies to all the riders who were disrupted by the events that went on today.
I will confirm that there is a strong lead on the individuals that have caused this, (buying a shit load of tacks from the same shop, idiots)
and considering that a few people had to be airlifted of the course there could be a serious prosecution.
And to top it off, the very thing that the individuals were protesting about was made worse by the roads being closed for LONGER while the P and K Council cleaned up there F*cking mess!
I hope that the events that went on today dont put you off the area and the people who stay there,
Regards Chris
I should have realised there was no point in trying to present the "other side" of the argument to the STW massive who of course all believe that cyclists are supreme beings and should be worshiped wherever they go.
As I said in my original post disrupting the event was wrong - and the method used particularly unsavoury - but I don't think it is unreasonable for people to hold a view about the event and be entitled to express that to PKC before the public highway is closed.
Poly, do you want a bigger shovel?
Chris, from what I've heard from people who were up there, it seems a great event, despite it all! (also heard good thins about your shop as well, by the way!)
Don't talk daft, poly. Do you really think that people like myself and Flashy are totally ignorant of rural life?
Flashy owns half of Wiltshire, and I once went on a primary school trip to Hainault Forest. Therefore, we are well versed in country ways.
Chris - thanks for the update. In addition to having the roads closed even longer, most folk I spoke to were determined to come back and do it again, so it's backfired twice 🙂
I have to say that it was great to have so many locals cheering us along on the route, especially given the time of day, the initial weather and what must have been a long delay while the race was suspended.
RudeBoy and Captain Flashheart meet, to discuss the price of fish:
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Im sure the tacks were put out by 1 or 2 fat chavs who were inconvenienced
cos they had to walk 150m's to the corner shop for their Buccy and Regals, so I wouldnt get so upset at the locals, who by the sound of it support the event. No matter what you do, some f##kwit will get upset, and think they are within their rights to disrupt what they dont like.
poly it seems to me that you and other locals are very happy to reap the benefits of the event but don't want to be inconvenienced in the slightest. We spent a load of money up there, spent money in the bike shop, the pubs, bought a couple of birthday presents when we were there, the hotel. Must have spent over £500. The owner of the hotel we were staying in was almost in tears at the thought of all the guests to the area thinking this was the way the locals behave. Personally I'm disgusted by it. The people who complain about the road closures obvioulsy don't see the bigger picture, 'I'm not lining my pocket so **** everyone else'. Selfish bastards.
The strange thing is the businesses in Pitlochry that could have been coining it on on Saturday night, all the wee gift shops, were shut at 5pm. Friday was great entertainment in the evening though when the Kingfisher pub and 4 other houses had a major drugs raid going on - police vans/dogs/cars all over the place.
[i]I'm sure the tacks were put out by 1 or 2 fat chavs who were inconvenienced[/i] I don't think that's the case at all, I would imagine it's some old spiteful bugger with nothing better to do with their time.
Hi Chris thanks for the update. I was in the shop on Friday night to buy a gilet and some gels. The service I received was fantastic, you really couldn't have been more helpful. It won't put me off coming back at all, I just hope the event goes ahead next year. Thank you for providing such a warm and friendly welcome.
I guess that some of the business [i]furth[/i] of Pitlochry aren't seeing any of that extra spending - at least not as a direct result of the Etape. Of course, if someone visits the are for the first time and has a good day, they're then likely to return and may look further afield.
Today was a great day, the weather worked out better than we could have hoped for considering the forecast. The locals seemed very welcoming and were out cheering.
Even though we were held up for 90 minutes and the course was cut a wee bit short we loved it and will be back next year. This stupid actions of some ****s have made this event stronger. As the chap on the megaphone said when he sent us riding again "Lets show these idiots that this will not stop our event".
Also, thanks for the update Chris - great shop by the way.
I think a bit of positive PR could help, show what benefits the Etape brings to the community - a tremendous amount of income for a start. Comments that it hinders tourism for those who wish to drive about - rubbish, iit's a very small price to pay for all the non locals who loved the area and will come back to visit another day.
I have absolutely no idea how I managed to not get a puncture!
Just uploaded the tracklog and compared it to the planned route. I make it a 12km difference.
With loads of bored people hanging around waiting for folk to finish, the locals totally missed a trick today. With most of the shops shut and even putting up signs that they were shut for Etape.
Hey ho, looks like a small town mentality to me.
But apart from the tacks malarcky, it was totally fab. Really well organised and hats of the marshals and emergency services for doing a stellar job.
Me old Pompino did the business up Shehallion, top job.
You all should have went on a proper ride. 200km round Deeside perhaps.
Did you hear much banjo music on the etape route? Anyone asked to squeal like a hog?
"Anyone asked to squeal like a hog? "
what like you were doing when we hit the first climb of the day ?
Similar, but higher pitched and audible.
as a semi local i have to say that i'm disgusted at the actions of a few inbred nimby locals who seem to think that it's acceptable to endanger the lives of others for the sake of their cause
it's been no secret that there are a hard core of anti etapists who would love to see the event abandoned, you only have to read the letters page in the courier.
imho the etape is one of the best things that has happened in perthshire and brings a significant and welcome boost to the tourism /guest house trade, not to mention all the follow on business from riders who rave about the scenery and how friendly and welcoming the locals ( well most of them) are
as usual i'll keep supporting my not so local LBS, who for all the years have done me a good deal and looked after me and my bikes
keep up the good work Kev, Chris, Malcolm and Pete
Dave B @ Dundee
Christ on a carbon fibre road bike. I though poly was very reasonable and well articulated on his/her point.
Arrogant? Oh do shut up, would you?
😆
Sorry to hear about the disruption. At least the sun shone! I'm tempted to sign up for next year even more now.
The Scottish Bus Museum didn't really cut it as a worthy alternative 🙁
Dab, may be you should point those inbred local nibys to the official at
Canterbury City Council who have on 2 occaions (1994 & 2007) shut down the city for the TdF. And on both occasions have reported and increase in
tourist income for the duration of the event.
At the bottom of the hill around 1,500 others were held at the village of Kinloch Rannoch for two hours, where, as one cyclist, Annette Welch, 42, told me later, the local fire brigade opened up the station and invited everyone in for a cuppa – despite only having 50 mugs. "It was real Dunkirk spirit," she said afterwards.
I didn't realise that another group had been held back at Kinloch Rannoch
grahamh,
i'd rather just tie them up and drag em behind a car for 5 miles
i really hope they get the book thrown at them for this, from what Chris posted it seems like it shouldn't be a difficult job to find the guilty party(s)
vive l'etape 😉
Yeh druidh I was held up at Kinloch Rannoch.
Gary, suggest you re-read my posts, I am not local (or certainly not local enough to be affected). I also happen to think the event is good and on balance probably good for the area - I was merely trying to explain why some others may disagree. Disagreeing doesn't make you evil - but putting carpet tacks down does.
Those who think this was "Chav's" or "inbred NIMBY locals" lets wait and see - my money would be on it being on someone who should be old enough to know better - and quite possibly an "incomer" rather than an "inbred local".
Were the claims of people being helicoptered out true? As the police and event organisers made statements along the lines of "fortunate no one was [seriously] hurt"
Speaking of the TDF; reminds me of a couple of years ago. Big chunk of Westminster closed off. Some twunt in a posh car, pulling out of the Savoy, argues vociferously with a policeman, who tells him it is not possible for him to proceed down the Strand, to Trafalgar Square. The bloke is demanding to know why not, and why on Earth he, as a taxpayer ('I pay more than most people do, you know?'), should not be allowed to continue on his chosen route. The copper politely tells him that several roads have been closed, because the Tour de France is on. 'Oh, a bloody stupid cycle race?'
Erm, it's one of the World's greatest sporting events, and a fantastic opportunity for hundreds of thousands of people to cheer on some of the planet's elite sportsmen.
'I don't care; how dare they close the road? It's bloody stupid, how am I supposed to get to Kensington?'
Well, you could always use the Tube, sir, as that is running normally...
'WHAAAATTTTT????'
How I laughed. He din't seem to appreciate that. What a prick.
someone who should be old enough to know better - and quite possibly an "incomer"
Got it in one poly.
Okay having reread your posts poly I see that you're not local, however you certainly gave that impression.
I also noticed this comment from you [i]you are a prisoner so that a bunch of skinny guys in fluorescent Lycra can rush through the village[/i]. If you actually knew anything about the event you would understand that whilst there is plenty of us lycra wearers there are certainly plenty of 'civilians' taking part. That comment does nothing to endear me towards you. Sounds pretty spiteful if you ask me.
As far as people being helicoptered out, yes I believe it is true but not as a result of any carpet tack incidents. I did pass a couple of folk on the ground getting cared for by a marshal.
I thought Poly was just playing Devils Advocate and that his/her words were to be seen in that context - i.e. what one of the disgruntled locals might have said.
I saw a couple of bad falls as a result of punctures. One guy was[i]really[/i] lucky not to hit a dry stane dyke on the descent from Schiehallion.
Just read somewhere else that the organisers laid on a minibus - with police escort - to take some of the church-goers to Fortingall.
Some of the old Aberfeldy/Pitlcochry resentment seems to be in play too. Was anyone at the Saturday events in Aberfeldy? I was wondering if these were at all popular and were helping to spread the "tourist pound".
[i]I thought Poly was just playing Devils Advocate and that his/her words were to be seen in that context - i.e. what one of the disgruntled locals might have said.[/i]
Perhaps, but this is the internet and it's not easy to get this kind of thing across.
This really was a very silly thing to do. I am glad to hear not everyone had their day spoilt by these pillocks.
The problem is BigDummy that most people did have their day spoilt. Although I rode 60 miles only 40 of that was on closed roads. I'm deeply disappointed not to have completed the route and if I'd hung about Kinloch Rannoch for another hour and then still not done the full course I would have been even more pissed off.
I had a fantastic weekend up to that point. I will ride it again next year but to be honest I'm more likley to limit my spending in the area.
OK, some completely local input here. I live directly on the route near Aberfeldy, and was out locally on the mountain bike with mates yesterday, including spending a pleasant hour at the Ailean Chraggan pub after the ride watching the ETAP come past.
Many people, including my wife who had to get somewhere, were a bit inconvenienced as there are often no alternative roads. Some facts:
1) Both of us, and everybody we know locally (including the non bikers), think that the event has huge benefits to the local area. The slight inconvenience for half of one Sunday a year is totally outweighed by the impact on the local economy which is heavily dependent on the tourist industry
2) We know personally many people who run local businesses (pubs restaurants, B+B's, bookshops etc, etc) and ALL OF THEM have seen big increases in business this weekend. ALL of them also believe that it encourages people to come back at other times in the year and again contribute to the economy
3) Everyone I know is totally disgusted with the actions of a couple of (probably) local ****s who have spoilt it for everyone.
poly suggest you don't try to extend your own prejudices based on your little world to an area an event you know nothing about