Thanks fimm.
"still involves sharing a road with fast cars" as opposed to being separated from even faster cars by a narrow strip of grass, I presume.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
Is dualling the A9 really that bad?
(583 posts)-
Posted 4 years ago #
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@CycleCommuter, you're welcome. Here's the route via Nairn, only adds a few miles extra and would be more pleasant IMHO.
Posted 4 years ago # -
The road via granton on Spey is shared indeed with “ fast “ cars, oh and slightly slower but equally numerous large lumbering hgv
Posted 4 years ago # -
There's always the Gaick Pass.
Posted 4 years ago # -
"There's always the Gaick Pass."
I'm guessing this might not be suitable for my carbon road bike and 25mm tyres?
Posted 4 years ago # -
Depends how determined you are. Sustrans seriously considered it as a cycle route, presumably during an extended ibogaine trip.
Posted 4 years ago # -
It's probably no worse than the A9 cycle path though...
Posted 4 years ago # -
“
Looking at a map of Scotland one might wonder why General Wade did not use the Gaick, rather than the Pass of Drumochter, when planning his route north.
The Gaick is much the same elevation and is more direct. Possibly the reason was the threat of winter avalanches on the steeper slopes of the Gaick.
“
https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/the-gaick-pass-p316441
Posted 4 years ago # -
Good write up of the Gaick Pass here with photos:
http://dave.davebanks.com/route_8.htm
Key quotes:
"High levels of fitness are required only due to the distance involved."
"There is a faint track to the left that follows the line of the river bank that isn't shown on the map"
Posted 4 years ago # -
The fearless and determined could even take the Minigaig pass.
Posted 4 years ago # -
[grownup] Seriously though the Gaick is non-trivial in adverse weather. If the Edendon Water or, worse, the Allt Gharbh Ghaig are in spate you are not getting through.[/grownup]
Posted 4 years ago # -
Have only viewed it from the road but the new 7.5km of cycle path looks pretty decent. Far, far better than the bits at Drumochter.
Posted 4 years ago # -
The new path beside the A9 is interesting. I wonder if anyone will use it. It's so close to the dual carriageway that it puts you in the fumes, noise and wake of thundering HGVs, and this in upper Strathspey. If you're a tourist why would you do this to yourself and if you're a utility cyclist where are you going exactly?
It also dips down over every burn when the motorway is leveled on bridges, so your second-class status is underlined. You give way at every farm track.
When Keith Brown had himself photographed on it with two children my hackles rose.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Photo on Twitter of path by A9 at Kincraig clearly shows the imprint of HGV tyres through the soil on to the cycle path .... where's the safety audit there?
Probably done as an internal exercise by Transport Scotland? So a case of marking your own homework?
As I used to cover this area when working for BR and cycle/ski around it when not at work, AND had an input to the decision to use the substantial amount of the old A9 abandoned by each successive improvement (and a bit which is clearly Wade's original alignment) I reckon I do know a bit about this area.
I've also ridden through the Gaick - fixed wheel 116" on 37-633 tyres. No bridges at either end of the watershed Loch an Duin, so have to be forded, and sheep track on steep cross-slope between 2 fords. Sealed/graded & blinded 'roads' on Gaick estate but more basic at South end. Allow at least 3 hours, Ruthven-Calvine & check in/check out with someone or local YHA.
Biggest bit of kismet when riding through - only person I met, at South end of pass was walking with his dog, happened to be someone I knew, he ran the bike hire operation in Blairgowrie. Of all the places....
NB why on earth would anyone ride the section of path at Kincraig, when the back road gets you from Kingussie to Rothiemurchus on the other side of the strath, around 1Km away from A9
Only at 2 summits is your choice limited Druimoachdair, Slochd with a wider by-pass for Meallmore/Daviot.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Drumoch
People’s who might be more informed than lil ol me. On the road, A9, it’s the drumochter pass, but as you look across to the old wooden sign , next to the railway, it’s drumochdar. Is it actually two different places, or misinterpreted ? I might be being remarkably obtuse but it’s basically the same place is it not?
A silly old confused splitshift!Posted 4 years ago # -
Reckon o might have sussed that one out!!
Lowland Scots with English habits!!! Native Speakers please excuse my ignorance!!
Stupid anyway , why make a sign in English and no explanation !!Posted 4 years ago # -
The Gaelic is Druim Uachdair - easy to believe it's been Anglicised in a variety of ways over time.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Given as 'Drumouchter' on the Roy map of 1756. Probably the first time it was formally written down.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I knew someone on here would know !!
Posted 4 years ago # -
So, er, just how bad is NCN 7/NCN 77 from Perth to Aviemore? Probability of a puncture?
Posted 4 years ago # -
@Frenchy, did you find out an answer. From what I can tell it's unpleasant but rideable on any bike.
I'm assuming that the Gaick would be largely unsuitable for 28mm road tyres and the only option to return from Aviemore which doesn't go over the Lecht is to tolerate the noise of Drumochter.
Strava initially wants to route me directly through the Cairngorms to the west of Braemar and then with some tweaking over the Gaick. I'm inclined to ignore it on this occasion.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I didn't find a definitive answer, but have decided to find out for myself. Will report back in a few weeks.
Posted 4 years ago # -
A9 path fine on a touring bike. Bit sketchy on a racer I'd have thought.
The Gaick is a MTB route and not necessarily passable at all on the north side depending on the weather.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Thanks, I'm on a go anywhere (within reason) CX so the A9 (surface) will be acceptable. The real issue is that I will have done Glenshee and the Lecht the day before. I may yet accept a lift to Aviemore station.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Sorry - missed this the first time round. My experience (most recently last year) is that the A9 path is passable on 28mm slick tyres. It's very gravelly in places, with pebbles lying on top of the sealed surface, and incredibly frustrating as it goes up and down when the road doesn't and has lots of sharp-edged bridges at the bottom of the downs so that you have to slow down to avoid pinch punctures and there are some bits up by House of Bruar that are a bit rough and....
Passable? Yes. The standard you'd expect for the main route north in a country that was serious about cycling as a means of transport and tourism? No.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Did the A9 path last week. Fine on 28s,wouldnt want to do it on 23s. There's only a short stretch that's actually terrible terrible surface, and I really enjoyed it on my 38s, my mate on 28s less enjoyment but managed just fine. You just have to slow down when the middle strip is too narrow to be confident about staying on. Top tip is to put headphones in and blare some music whilst enjoying the view and tuning out the road.
Gaick Pass I did two weeks ago and it would not work on 28s. The stretch around one of the lochs didn't work on 38s, and I had to walk. Still an unbelievably great route though even with the walking a 35kg bike on rough singletrack with a bad knee.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Thanks all, very useful.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I should add it gets worse as you head north and get closer to Dalwhinnie. I was thinking the complaining was disproportionate, and then hit the terrible terrible surface section.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Lesley Riddoch RT of one riders experience. Confirms this is a fail for any serious touring and not going to get better with extreme weather.
https://twitter.com/LesleyRiddoch/status/1158405214464090118?s=20
Posted 4 years ago #
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