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Etape Caledonia

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Started 14 years ago by Min
Latest reply from I were right about that saddle

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Min
Member

Did the Etape Caledonia yesterday and it was brilliant. Weather could not have been better as it was cool and mostly cloudy with hardly any wind. Despite worrying* about the time I had put myself down to do I beat it quite comfortably keeping an average of just over 15mph which I thought was pretty good for me. AND I had to queue for 10 minutes to use one of TWO toilets (for 4000 people?) so could have been even faster. Definately want to do it again next year and hopefully get some proper training in other than my rides to work plus a road ride at the weekend if I could fit it in. Competative streak coming out! GGGGGGRRRRRRR!

*We got an email round a couple of weeks ago saying there was going to be a van following and machine gunning down anyone who was a bit slow. I may have made up the bit about the machine gun but I was worried anyway.

Posted 14 years ago #
LaidBack
Member

Well done, Min. I'd be very happy with that.

All the training must have paid off then?

In fact I'm keen to do some more fast(ish) outings on tarmac. The tour round Kincardine Bridge with Dave was good and nice to cycle with another low downer - although I'm up for any kind of cycling.
A good '2 hour' route is up to Kirknewton via Long Dalmahoy and back into town on back roads to Balerno if anyone is interested. Optional pub stop at Grey Horse!

Posted 14 years ago #
Min
Member

"All the training must have paid off then?"

Er yeah, all the training..

Next year though! I discovered that - as I suspected throughout the ride - my main problem seems to be going downhill or on the flat since my hill climb shot me up the ranking by some way. Lots of riding downhill then, yay!

Unfortunately cycling will have to go on the back burner for a couple of months as I have other fish to fry. Some good two hour rides could probably be managed though..

Posted 14 years ago #
steveo
Member

@laidback

funny you mention that route, its one off my preferred out and back fill the lungs routes.

@mim good going, i think i'd struggle to even finish!

Posted 14 years ago #
gembo
Member

@Min - I found the climb also propelled me up the rankings to 573rd, of course last year the race was then stopped (at least I was at the top on the restart). Many people then came past me on the downhill as I was keen to avoid blowouts at speed. I found the 3000 other cyclists a little off putting at times being passed on both sides at the same time etc but got used to it. After the etape last year I became involved with an audax in angus

http://www.aukweb.net/cal/index.htm

The routes are mostly traffic free, tarmac of very high standard, great scenery and a wee book to take round the bakeries of Perthshire/Angus/Aberdeenshire to prove you haven't taken the bus. They are a bit of a slog ~ 8 hours but you stop for lunch, scones etc some shorter 100Km rides and the massive 300Km Snow Roads - Cairn O Mount the hard way [too much for me] most around 150-200Km. Directions have to be followed carefully. Maybe 30 people tops involved

Posted 14 years ago #
Kim
Member

@LaidBack care to post up a map?

Posted 14 years ago #
Min
Member

"@Min - I found the climb also propelled me up the rankings to 573rd, of course last year the race was then stopped (at least I was at the top on the restart). "

Ooh good for you! No stoppages this year thank goodness. I didn't get passed on both sides as I kept to the left (apart from one chap who squeezed through a 3" gap to the left of me when he had the whole road on the right). A lot of people just sprawled all over the road, particularly on the climbs which was a bit annoying. I think having a silent bike doesn't help. Blimey but those gear lever shifters are noisy. I could always tell when someone was about to pass me because of the shotgun like cracks as they changed gear.

"@min good going, i think i'd struggle to even finish! "

Thank you but I bet you wouldn't! :-)

Posted 14 years ago #
gembo
Member

@Min - last year middle safer as less likely to come across a carpet tack. The tacks may have been a factor in a very quiet climb, passed by one guy and told the inflatable schoolboy joke to the only other person I met on the hill [he did not appreciate the joke suggesting that the carnage of the tacks, the toughness of the climb [mild cf. Cairnpapple IMHO] and the badness of the joke was spoiling his day, I thought best to be off at that point. Pushed on until I crossed the line and wanted to get my split at which point I realised it was stopped. I think the delay caused bunching of times etc as our lead cyclist finished only just ahead of us (just under the five hours and we were just over) he did it again the day before yesterday, I expect closer to 4 hours as he had a point to prove.

Posted 14 years ago #
Min
Member

"@Min - last year middle safer as less likely to come across a carpet tack."

Ah okay fair enough. I didn't have that excuse for going slowly downhill, I guess I am just too used to freewheeling!

"the toughness of the climb"

Huh yeah, I was so worried about that I went round the course a few weeks beforehand with a friend. We kept on going, wondering when the climb was going to start, then realised we must have already done it.

Posted 14 years ago #
LaidBack
Member

Kim'@LaidBack care to post up a map?'

I will do when I get a chance. We (ie forumers) could do a tour out this Sunday if anyone's interested.

Posted 14 years ago #
Min
Member

I am. Will need to negotiate for the time though.

Posted 14 years ago #
LaidBack
Member

'Will need to negotiate for the time'

Suppose I should ask too if I'm allowed out. Could be breach of parole....

Idea is to wrap ride in two hours with no long stops.

So 10 to 12 or 11 - 1pm. MMW Compass start point.

Anyway. Should we start a new thread. Etape Balerno?

Posted 14 years ago #
druidh
Member

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 ;-)

Posted 14 years ago #
Smudge
Member

Etape Haymarket would be more inclusive ;-)

(in the unlikely event I ever manage some free time... sigh :-/ )

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

Etape pickup...

Plan a route and estimate some passing times.

Posted 14 years ago #
Wilmington's Cow
Member

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.

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.

Posted 14 years ago #
Min
Member

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..

Posted 14 years ago #
Wilmington's Cow
Member

Mainly it's an excuse to finally invest in a custom Mercian... :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.

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.

Posted 14 years ago #
Min
Member

"tis 54 miles of the West Highland Way in 20 odd hours"

!

Well I like a good endurance event as much as the next person but..

"But I have form - I was third last man home on the Bealach Mor a couple of years back."

I don't think that will be an issue in the EC unless you decide to walk that too. ;-)

Posted 14 years ago #
Wilmington's Cow
Member

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...

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.

In fact in the throes of planning a two day coast to coast with my brother in August...

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"
"tis 54 miles of the West Highland Way in 20 odd hours"

!

Well I like a good endurance event as much as the next person but..

"

Personally I can do without the endurance. My trips are functional (places I want to go), educational (in the loosest sense - http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=623604 ) or organised around pubs/teashops.

Clearly no-one on this forum just does 'sport' cycling - which is one of its strengths.

What I still can't understand is the masses of people who seem to think they would be unable 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.)

A few 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'...

Posted 14 years ago #
Wilmington's Cow
Member

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.

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).

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"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."

Same with kids - a lot of them find it hard to believe they can/have managed even 5 miles.

Though at primary school age it's never clear how much they understand about distance.

Posted 14 years ago #
thebikechain
Member

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.

A great event!

Posted 14 years ago #
cb
Member

"20mins of that being spent urinating"

Min, there's your answer to the reason for the toilet queue.

Posted 14 years ago #
druidh
Member

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.

No stopping though. 1.5L of Torq energy, a couple of gels and a bar kept me going.

Posted 14 years ago #
Min
Member

"Min, there's your answer to the reason for the toilet queue. "

lol!

CURSE YOU BIKECHAIN!

Posted 14 years ago #
gembo
Member

thebikechain - good time, shame about the urination length

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

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

Posted 14 years ago #
steveo
Member

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

Posted 14 years ago #
LaidBack
Member

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.

Never posted map but we are going to do a version of it this Sunday. See other thread.
Yes - I prefer to stay low and avoid going up beyond Craiglockhart. I like that as downhill.

Posted 14 years ago #

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