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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;
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😉
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
CM - what was the Saturday event in Aberfeldy like?
Thanks for your feedback CaptainMainwaring. Good to know we are wanted, as I thought, by the majority of the local population. Also very good to get the lowdown from someone who is actually local, rather than someone who bases their opinion of being local but isn't.
druidh, unfortunately I couldn't go, but a number of friends who took their kids along said it was really good. Danny MacAskill (spelling?) couldn't have been more encouraging and obliging. Demonstrations, workshops, bunny hopping competitions etc, and went on most of the day. Definitely to be repeated next year, hopefully on bigger scale.
[url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/8055240.stm ]'Not the end' for sabotaged race [/url]
I think it was down to the "wee free" personally.
Got to love this guy...
Paul Bright from Fortingall said: "How refreshing to see that the public has taken direct action to halt an unwanted event forced on them by the local county council.
Hmm, don't know of Paul Bright, but it is a fact that 80% of the houses in Fortinghall are holiday/weekend homes, so he is probably not even actually local. Also his comment on unwanted only refers to a tiny minority, not the majority.
I'd have to seriously consider taking part in that event if there's people prepared to do that kind of thing up there. I assume that Paul Bright is quite happy that I'll spend the £500 or more that it would cost somewhere else instead.
Wouldn't mid a crack at that one next year. When they catch the muppet responsible they should make them roll naked on a floor covered in tacks.
I'm another local'ish rider (originally from Gilmerton) and I can say that the whole area is shocked about this (including non-cycling public). A lot of local 'fun' riders take part in this for charities and the local press is raging about this today, 3 of our national papers have this on the front page. I'd go as far to say that we, the Scots, are embarrassed by this - especially as the Scottish government are totally pro-cycling and this being "the year of the homecoming".
This is going to be a swift criminal case - especially since there has been criminal damage to 2 police motorbikes and also the chief for perth & kinross police who is an active roadie himself, will be making sure they get convictions.
A chap in the office who was going for a top finish said they had to airlift some riders out although the mainstream media hasn't reported that. He got 2 front punctures and finished riding on a flat rear tyre. Another guy in the stirling bike club says he saw someone scattering the tacks on the road.
The organiser of the protest has had his wikipedia page 'added to' already: [url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Hounam ]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Hounam[/url].
Please come to Scotland mountain biking - you'll find a warm welcome and the best trails in the world.