http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Etape Caledonia en Tue, 26 May 2026 02:52:30 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803&page=2#post-263445 Sat, 14 Oct 2017 11:32:47 +0000 I were right about that saddle 263445@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>However, the toffs had already cleared the highlands before 1789</em></p> <p>Highland clearances usually reckoned 1760 to 1860? Communications determined by pattern of land ownership? Why is there no road from Braemar to Feshie Bridge? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803&page=2#post-263444 Sat, 14 Oct 2017 10:31:04 +0000 gembo 263444@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Pedal Scotland does this. The shorter Glasgow Edinburgh route closed. Or partially closed? The longer 100 miler completely open. But that one is never that busy.</p> <p>@Iwrats, with the toffs gone the boys from the Blackstuff could move on to public land? Is that what you are saying? Maybe. However, the toffs had already cleared the highlands before 1789, so no one lived there to connect via roads? Whereas rural France was and indeed might still be more densely populated though hamlets now mostly old folks.1789 date of revolution, roughly of clearances and birth of Mr Macadam, OK, give or take some decades.</p> <p>Secondly, rural south Lanarkshire and parts of west Lothian full of roads, they are a bit short and not such pretty scenery. This landscape was I think much more industrial and shale oil meant roads were built that now there is no industry I cycle on. Little traffic. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803&page=2#post-263443 Sat, 14 Oct 2017 10:27:08 +0000 Frenchy 263443@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>You'd think a Director of the Bike Station would understand that cycling can be a boon to rural business if it's done well. </em></p> <p>Is it just me that found it confusing that Perth and Kinross Council has a ward with the same name as a neighbouring council. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803&page=2#post-263441 Sat, 14 Oct 2017 10:17:31 +0000 HankChief 263441@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Why not make the Ben Lawers route open roads (or at least the main road bit)?</p> <p>If you can ride 100miles you can cope with a bit of Sunday morning traffic... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803&page=2#post-263440 Sat, 14 Oct 2017 09:44:38 +0000 I were right about that saddle 263440@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>they point out to people who think they own the roads that they do not own the roads</em></p> <p>Also shows just how few roads there are in Scotland. Look at a map of a similarly hilly bit of France and it is criss-crossed. Mostly because they had the good sense to execute and expropriate their aristocracy. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803&page=2#post-263439 Sat, 14 Oct 2017 09:42:06 +0000 I were right about that saddle 263439@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Highland SNP Councillor Mike Williamson said there was “great concern about the plan” as he questioned the proposals put forward.</em></p> <p>You'd think a Director of the Bike Station would understand that cycling can be a boon to rural business if it's done well. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803&page=2#post-263438 Sat, 14 Oct 2017 09:41:28 +0000 gembo 263438@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think the one correct point in this is that the main beneficiaries are businesses in Pitlochry. </p> <p>The idea that this is peak season for highland Scotland is a joke. When I did the sabotaged Etape in 2009 it was in biblongs and long sleeved thermals, it was Bally freezing.</p> <p>IMG promote the Etape. Wow. We did our own 100\120 miler following most of the route and encountered very little traffic. I much preferred that to the sabotaged Etape which I felt had too many mamils, then too many angry mamils.</p> <p>However, I do think closed road events are good. Essentially because they point out to people who think they own the roads that they do not own the roads. This is what I think the mad article in the courier is about. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803&page=2#post-263437 Sat, 14 Oct 2017 09:31:04 +0000 HankChief 263437@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Looks like the Etape Caley want a longer route bringing in climbing Ben Lawers from Bridge of Balgie. Surprise surprise the locals aren't happy.</p> <p><a href="https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/perth-kinross/521513/i-am-not-sure-where-the-benefit-is-etape-route-extension-sparks-concern-for-fragile-economy/" rel="nofollow">https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/perth-kinross/521513/i-am-not-sure-where-the-benefit-is-etape-route-extension-sparks-concern-for-fragile-economy/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803&page=2#post-7291 Sun, 23 May 2010 10:05:57 +0000 gembo 7291@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Probably too late for you now but a halfway house is to turn right after Water of Leith Visitor Centre, go thru longstone to big roundabout at Prison Officer's Social Club, take left then cycle past entrance to Hailes Quarry, take left again up to Polis Station then parallel to Canal until next left takes you up slight incline past vets to the Baberton roundabout take left again and another slight hill and you are on Juniper Green Lanark Road Gillespies Xroads, which of course you would then come off and go all the way back down to Long Dalmahoy at Currie - it is a bit convoluted but involves less climb than the Slateford to Gillespie Xroads hill with good descent to Long Dalmahoy and saves GillespiesX to Slateford for coming home. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803#post-7267 Fri, 21 May 2010 21:52:45 +0000 LaidBack 7267@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Did the map of the Etape Balerno ever get posted I wanted to check it out. Is the idea to head out the A71 / Calders and take left beyond Heriot Watt which would take you up to start of Long Dalmahoy then take this out past the quarry to Kirknewton then back on the A70.</em></p> <p>Never posted map but we are going to do a version of it this Sunday. See other thread.<br /> Yes - I prefer to stay low and avoid going up beyond Craiglockhart. I like that as downhill. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803#post-7265 Fri, 21 May 2010 21:24:33 +0000 steveo 7265@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I would usually go up Lanark road, to Currie down by the station and along Long Dalmahoy Road, maybe that's just the hard way, though its fairly quiet once you get to Juniper Green </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803#post-7257 Fri, 21 May 2010 19:19:00 +0000 gembo 7257@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>thebikechain - good time, shame about the urination length</p> <p>druidh - that is a remarkably good time, I think you are too modest as I find that if I get in with a fast group, pretty soon they leave me behind</p> <p>Did the map of the Etape Balerno ever get posted I wanted to check it out. Is the idea to head out the A71 / Calders and take left beyond Heriot Watt which would take you up to start of Long Dalmahoy then take this out past the quarry to Kirknewton then back on the A70. Seems fine, some busy bits but others nice and quiet. Long Dalmahoy was closed last week (or week before) but has re-opened at the Heriot Watt end. Watch out for the Quarry Lorries </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803#post-7096 Thu, 20 May 2010 07:45:18 +0000 Min 7096@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Min, there's your answer to the reason for the toilet queue. "</p> <p>lol!</p> <p>CURSE YOU BIKECHAIN! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803#post-7095 Wed, 19 May 2010 22:54:42 +0000 druidh 7095@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Since we're doing it... I was hoping for somewhere under 5 hours but did a staggering 4:12. I managed to get in with some fast groups and covered a fair bit of ground quickly coming off the Schiehallion peak at over 43mph. </p> <p>No stopping though. 1.5L of Torq energy, a couple of gels and a bar kept me going. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803#post-7082 Wed, 19 May 2010 16:50:42 +0000 cb 7082@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"20mins of that being spent urinating"</p> <p>Min, there's your answer to the reason for the toilet queue. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803#post-7081 Wed, 19 May 2010 16:44:44 +0000 thebikechain 7081@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I banged out my best ever time (bearing in mind this was my first ever event and the fact i have only done 4x50mile rides...) of 4h53m with 20mins of that being spent urinating in the fantastic facilities provided by the organisers. </p> <p>A great event! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803#post-7078 Wed, 19 May 2010 16:05:06 +0000 chdot 7078@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"You'll go out for two hours and tell them they've done 15 miles and they'll be astounded that they could possibly ride so far."</p> <p>Same with kids - a lot of them find it hard to believe they can/have managed even 5 miles.</p> <p>Though at primary school age it's never clear how much they understand about distance. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803#post-7075 Wed, 19 May 2010 15:59:05 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 7075@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A lot of the time people are surprised by how far they've cycled. You'll go out for two hours and tell them they've done 15 miles and they'll be astounded that they could possibly ride so far.</p> <p>And yet, you're right, suggest cycling 2-3 miles to someone who doesn't ride and they'll often say that's too far to cycle (despite the fact a VERY modest pace sees that covered in less than 20 minutes). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803#post-7074 Wed, 19 May 2010 15:54:58 +0000 chdot 7074@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<br /> "tis 54 miles of the West Highland Way in 20 odd hours"</p> <p>!</p> <p>Well I like a good endurance event as much as the next person but..</p> <p>"</p> <p>Personally I can do without the endurance. My trips are functional (places I want to go), educational (in the loosest sense - <a href="http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=623604" rel="nofollow">http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=623604</a> ) or organised around pubs/teashops.</p> <p>Clearly no-one on this forum <em>just</em> does 'sport' cycling - which is one of its strengths. </p> <p>What I still can't understand is the <em>masses</em> of people who seem to think they would be <em>unable</em> to cycle 2 or 3 miles. (OK 'traffic' is the 'issue' for some people - "I cycle when I go on holiday" - young/fit road safety person organising Cycle Training, a few years ago.)</p> <p>A <em>few</em> of the above will come out once a year/lifetime for the challenging/charity 65 mile cycle ride. SOME realise that they had so much fun that they'll 'take it up'. I suspect that all too many are persuaded that 'cycling's not for me'... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803#post-7071 Wed, 19 May 2010 15:33:56 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 7071@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I used to work with the guy who held the record for the Caledonian Challenge at 9h30m. Just incredible. Two and a bit marathons over rough and hilly terrain. He smoked and drank heavily as well - would, easily, have been an olympic marathon runner with proper dedicated training, but found it boring. It's unfinished business for me - made the 42 mile mark 9 years ago...</p> <p>As for the Etape, yip, I'm definitely going to be entering (as long as there are still spaces at the end of the month) just as extra training and a spur to get me out on the bike beyond the commute.</p> <p>In fact in the throes of planning a two day coast to coast with my brother in August... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803#post-7067 Wed, 19 May 2010 15:26:36 +0000 Min 7067@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"tis 54 miles of the West Highland Way in 20 odd hours"</p> <p>!</p> <p>Well I like a good endurance event as much as the next person but..</p> <p>"But I have form - I was third last man home on the Bealach Mor a couple of years back."</p> <p>I don't think that will be an issue in the EC unless you decide to walk that too. ;-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803#post-7041 Wed, 19 May 2010 11:26:22 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 7041@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Mainly it's an excuse to finally invest in a custom Mercian... :P</p> <p>As for quicker than 5 hours.... Hmmm... Maybe. Will be training for a big charity walk as well (was supposed to be this year, but one team member had to pull out - tis 54 miles of the West Highland Way in 20 odd hours) so fitness may well be a damned sight better than just now.</p> <p>But I have form - I was third last man home on the Bealach Mor a couple of years back. Harder route, granted (by all accounts, and 10 miles further), but I'm not counting any chickens till I've got some more miles under the wheels again. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803#post-7040 Wed, 19 May 2010 11:22:31 +0000 Min 7040@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oh you will do it much faster than that. I am going for 4.30 since I will definately concentrate on cycling next year. Almost definately.. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803#post-7034 Wed, 19 May 2010 09:30:36 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 7034@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My sister took part this year. She's not really a cyclist, but got in just ahead of the broom wagon at 6h50m. She was sick after ten miles, and at 20 a paramedic wanted her to stop. But there you go. Already signed up to do it again next year and wants to get under 6 hours.</p> <p>We're planning on making it a family affair., My brother fancies it, and based on the times of other members of his cycling club could manage a 4 hour time or so. I'm hoping that there are still spaces after pay day (it's £58!!! - tis a 3 birthday presented month in May) and sign up as well, with an initial aim of 5 hours. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803#post-7032 Tue, 18 May 2010 22:38:35 +0000 chdot 7032@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Etape pickup...</p> <p>Plan a route and estimate some passing times. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803#post-7031 Tue, 18 May 2010 22:29:02 +0000 Smudge 7031@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Etape Haymarket would be more inclusive ;-)</p> <p>(in the unlikely event I ever manage some free time... sigh :-/ ) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803#post-7030 Tue, 18 May 2010 22:07:39 +0000 druidh 7030@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Etape Balerno? But gembo and I live there so it would have to be start and end there, not including some wishy-washy run through town first ;-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803#post-7029 Tue, 18 May 2010 21:24:15 +0000 LaidBack 7029@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>'Will need to negotiate for the time'</em></p> <p>Suppose I should ask too if I'm allowed out. Could be breach of parole....</p> <p>Idea is to wrap ride in two hours with no long stops.</p> <p>So 10 to 12 or 11 - 1pm. MMW Compass start point.</p> <p>Anyway. Should we start a new thread. Etape Balerno? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803#post-7026 Tue, 18 May 2010 19:22:01 +0000 Min 7026@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I am. Will need to negotiate for the time though. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=803#post-7024 Tue, 18 May 2010 18:43:28 +0000 LaidBack 7024@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><strong>Kim</strong>'@LaidBack care to post up a map?' </p> <p>I will do when I get a chance. We (ie forumers) could do a tour out this Sunday if anyone's interested. </p>