CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Sport

The North Coast 500

(236 posts)

  1. chdot
    Admin


    A petition to halt promotion of the North Coast 500 road route, which goes through Durness, has attracted nearly 1,000 supporters.

    https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/scottish-villagers-smothered-visitors-plea-help-nicola-sturgeon-2937081

    Posted 3 years ago #
  2. crowriver
    Member

    Interesting distinction between "dirty" camping and "wild" camping here:

    https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/scottish-villagers-smothered-visitors-plea-help-nicola-sturgeon-2937081

    Posted 3 years ago #
  3. neddie
    Member

  4. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    Just back from 2 weeks (housed) in Wester Ross. Incredible numbers of campervans and car camping in every layby. 20+ tents at the Ardvreck ruins on Loch Assynt the other evening, which strikes me as a likely midgy hell at the best of times. Some campsites aren't open at all, or only to 'self-contained' units ie with toilet facilities. Only saw one idiot with the NC500 car door stickers the whole time though, so not sure that is the proximate cause this year - more enforced staycation crossed with tragedy of the commons on steroids.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  5. the canuck
    Member

    Feeling a little guilty now, as we are tentatively planning to spend a September week in that area, by car (but in BnBs), with small local cycle rides.

    i do not fancy fighting idiots in rented campervans for the whole time.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  6. gembo
    Member

    Maybe a bit quieter in Sept.?

    Posted 3 years ago #
  7. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    @the canuck please do not let my observations put you off. We have been going to the same place near the NC500 for years and curiously I would say the level of traffic (never high) was less than usual and the standard of driving wrt cyclists was better than usual. The tourists, not unnaturally, seem to be wanting to spend the max time away from 'civilisation' and as such are doing less driving and at lower speeds. I would say the B&Bs & other local businesses would be delighted by your plans

    Posted 3 years ago #
  8. Kenny
    Member

    Feeling a little guilty now, as we are tentatively planning to spend a September week in that area, by car

    Same. I'd been seriously considering going up with at least one of my kids for a few days but wasn't sure about what would be open. Can't deny to being confused; we are being told to stay in the country for holidays, but then told to _not_ go there for a holiday.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  9. the canuck
    Member

    My take is, i live in Scotland, I can visit Scottish places. Those filthy Ingerlanders need to stay south of the Borders, thank you very much.

    We also think this may be our only chance to visit Skye without 1000s of other gawpers, so we'll head there too, unless lockdown sets in again.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  10. unhurt
    Member

    Yeah as long as you're paying for accommodation (or actually wild camping not "I parked on the verge and put the tent up ten metres away and lit a fire and tore down a tree" camping) and you're not pooping all over the place I think you'll be more than welcome.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  11. HankChief
    Member

    Someone is going for a sub 30 hour circuit this weekend...

    https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/inverness-cyclist-ready-for-record-breaking-attempt-at-north-coast-500-route-211518/

    Dot watching available here

    Posted 3 years ago #
  12. HankChief
    Member

    He packed it in at Dounrey. Given the weather I'm not surprised.

    Hope he takes solus from it being better to take on a challenge and fail than die wondering...

    Chapeau

    https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=380778459990871&id=101572007911519

    Posted 3 years ago #
  13. gembo
    Member

    Should have had a tailwind for half of it?

    But the wind dropped

    ThAT WASNT in the plan

    Posted 3 years ago #
  14. HankChief
    Member

    There is an Army lass going for the LEJOG record today as well.

    Started at 7am and scheduled to cross the FRB late afternoon tomorrow.

    https://twitter.com/2137Lejog/status/1303971838649872384?s=19

    Bon courage

    Posted 3 years ago #
  15. gembo
    Member

    Surely she found the wind?

    Posted 3 years ago #
  16. LEJOG record attempt also just been abandoned (due to niggling injury apparently).

    Posted 3 years ago #
  17. Another NC500 attempt this weekend. Josh Quigley from Livingston is the latest to be giving it a go:

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-54189824

    Posted 3 years ago #
  18. bill
    Member

    Another NC500 attempt this weekend. Josh Quigley from Livingston is the latest to be giving it a go:

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-54189824

    Exciting! Hopefully he won't get stuck behind motor homes. It looks like a very sunny weekend up north.

    Josh will not stop to sleep and will not take any breaks along the way.
    It is estimated he will burn over 20,000 calories during this time and will consume all his food and drink while on his bike.

    Surely he won't be carrying all of his food with him or will he?

    Posted 3 years ago #
  19. Cyclops
    Member

    Surely he won't be carrying all of his food with him or will he?

    I suspect he'll have a support vehicle (ironically, in all likelihood a camper van)

    Posted 3 years ago #
  20. gembo
    Member

    Is Josh the chap who was cycling the world but was victim of a hit and run driver?

    Posted 3 years ago #
  21. Is Josh the chap who was cycling the world but was victim of a hit and run driver?
    yes, he got hit in Texas at the end of last year. Quite badly injured so he's done well to be in this shape now. I think cycling has helped him tackle pretty serious mental issues in the past.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  22. gembo
    Member

    Cycling right through the night. I hope he is alright.

    Does climb more than height of Everest but he won’t get that t-shirt.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  23. ARobComp
    Member

    Looks like he's got a full support team. Definitely looks like he's been putting the training in and a mid August 500 miler came in at 29 hours 50 mins although a very different route profile, still plenty of climbing on that ride. All the best to him and be interesting to see the outcome.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  24. gembo
    Member

    Not yet confirm by Guinness but Josh appears to be six minutes inside the record

    Posted 3 years ago #
  25. bill
    Member

    @gembo indeed, 6min faster than the previous one. That's really close!

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-54226953

    How do people manage toilet needs on rides like that?

    Posted 3 years ago #
  26. ARobComp
    Member

    Short breaks is usually how they manage the toilet stops.
    Interestingly looking at the actual time in the saddle, the previous record holder James McCallum actually only spent 28hours 57minutes in the saddle. Josh spent 31 hours 11 moving so only 6 minutes off the bike total, but rode the actual route 2 hours slower than James. 6 minutes total off the bike in that time is pretty impressive in itself.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  27. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    I can't find it now but I watched a thing on C4 years ago about a four-yearly Indian festival of austerity and suffering. There were people who had themselves buried for the duration of the festival, people up poles and one guy who had kept his right arm aloft night and day since the last festival.

    They could learn a thing or two from Mr McCallum.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  28. steveo
    Member

    A wise man once said you don't go far by going fast; you go far by going long.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  29. fimm
    Member

    Pro cyclists can, of course, pee while cycling.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  30. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    Not just peeing for pros. Domestiques had to give the team leader their caps for number twos back in the day.

    Posted 3 years ago #

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