Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Audax => Topic started by: Bairn Again on 18 September, 2017, 02:31:41 pm

Title: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 18 September, 2017, 02:31:41 pm
I thought it only polite to create a new subject for this event, its got a couple of references in the Mille Cymru one. 

Draft route here -> https://ridewithgps.com/routes/24929253 still subject to modest refinement. 

Its based on a combination of the Mull of Kintyre 600 from 2011 with the loop of Ardnamurchan used on the Daylight 600 thrown in too.  First and last 50km along the Forth estuary. 

Evening start, circa 20-00, with a suggestion that Oban is used as a sleep stop (at 450km and again at 720km).  The A85 isnt my idea of dream cycling but overnight Thu/Fri and again early doors Sunday should avoid seeing it at its worst. 

Great views of our new bridge.  And it goes to Comrie.   :D

Basic event, the only provision is a possible bag drop / collection at Oban over the weekend.  All controls including start/finish will be either commercial or info controls. 
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: mattc on 18 September, 2017, 04:21:51 pm
Very much interested :)  I was hoping to ride in Scotland next year, so this is perfect.

Evening start, circa 20-00, with a suggestion that Oban is used as a sleep stop (at 450km and again at 720km).

As Steve said elsewhere, an evening city-centre start is quite cool, as folk can get trains in, and could be very sociable. (what time is the last sleeper on a Sunday night??? Actually I'm not brave enough to book that, but I expect some will )

( I hope the start time doesn't slip later than 8pm - a 75h ride ends at 11pm, and I really hate finishing in proper night.)

Could be a tough week - the tinat.cymru rides are the following weekend  :o EDIT: no Matt, it's the same weekend you idiot  :facepalm: Shame ...
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Revolution9 on 18 September, 2017, 04:39:41 pm
This is one i'll be paying close attention too.

Having never finished a 1000k event before, it looks to have just the right amount of climbing to keep in interesting, without killing my knees

The ferry times will create natural  sleep stops too  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: rob on 18 September, 2017, 04:59:41 pm
Hmmm.   Half day at work Thursday, train about 2pm out of KX to get to Edinburgh for 6:30.   Sleeper back Sunday night.

Slots in the middle of some of my planned targets for next year as well.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 18 September, 2017, 07:42:45 pm
Hadnt thought about the time of the Sunday sleeper south but i suppose its a consideration for some. 

From memory and my owm use it leaves Edinburgh 2340 so im happy to arrange a start time that allows finishers to catch it.  Ive still to find some extra distance from the draft route anyway so the start could yet be Edinburgh Waverley. 
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 18 September, 2017, 07:57:11 pm
The ferry times will create natural  sleep stops too  :thumbsup:

The ferry times are pretty much a non issue.  The Corran Ferry runs approx 0645 - 2139 and when its not running the alternative using the  A82 via Ft William is within 1km for distance. 
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: αdαmsκι on 18 September, 2017, 08:35:21 pm
The sleeper from Edinburgh woud get into Euston too late in the morning to allow me to get into work on time. I'm wondering if I could get a train late Sunday afternoon, say 5pm or 6pm.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: billyam998 on 18 September, 2017, 09:24:44 pm
mmm, not showing on the calendar yet??
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: rob on 18 September, 2017, 09:33:08 pm
The sleeper from Edinburgh woud get into Euston too late in the morning to allow me to get into work on time. I'm wondering if I could get a train late Sunday afternoon, say 5pm or 6pm.

I have been known to sidle in a tad late looking rough on a Monday morning.   It's become accepted.

I've just noticed it's half term running up to the event so not sure if clearing off Thu lunchtime will work.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: αdαmsκι on 18 September, 2017, 09:38:46 pm
i have been known to sidle in a tad late looking rough on a Monday morning.   It's become accepted.

However being late doesn't work if there's a room full of kids waiting for you to babysit them for 50 minutes.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: hellymedic on 18 September, 2017, 09:54:26 pm
What about flying?
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: jsabine on 18 September, 2017, 10:03:50 pm
What about flying?

Bike transport becomes distinctly more of a faff.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: rob on 18 September, 2017, 10:05:20 pm
i have been known to sidle in a tad late looking rough on a Monday morning.   It's become accepted.

However being late doesn't work if there's a room full of kids waiting for you to babysit them for 50 minutes.

Pros and Cons to different careers.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: hellymedic on 18 September, 2017, 11:47:44 pm
What about flying?

Bike transport becomes distinctly more of a faff.

Indeed it does but timings might make Monday morning work feasible.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 19 September, 2017, 07:11:51 am
The ferry times will create natural  sleep stops too  :thumbsup:

The ferry times are pretty much a non issue.  The Corran Ferry runs approx 0645 - 2139 and when its not running the alternative using the  A82 via Ft William is within 1km for distance.
just in case you thought id lost my marbles this is in reference to the way back afyer Locahilort -where my concern is that slower riders dont get stuck. Therefore the use of the CorranFerry on the way back is optional and the alternative adds less than 1km. 

Of course on the way north the corran ferry is very much the shortest distance, though im not sure how many riders would get there before the first one on Saturday. 

However in order to give riders some more scope for "time in hand" i plan to tweak the route so that the loop round Loch Leven comes before the Corran Ferry rather than after. 

A force rest at Oban, or at least before the Corran Ferry wont do anybody any harm and i reckon that the ferry times will fit in with the plans of the vast majority pretty well.  Corrran ferry runs from around 0630 to 2130.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Revolution9 on 19 September, 2017, 09:03:20 am
The ferry times will create natural  sleep stops too  :thumbsup:

The ferry times are pretty much a non issue.  The Corran Ferry runs approx 0645 - 2139 and when its not running the alternative using the  A82 via Ft William is within 1km for distance.
just in case you thought id lost my marbles this is in reference to the way back afyer Locahilort -where my concern is that slower riders dont get stuck. Therefore the use of the CorranFerry on the way back is optional and the alternative adds less than 1km. 

Of course on the way north the corran ferry is very much the shortest distance, though im not sure how many riders would get there before the first one on Saturday. 

However in order to give riders some more scope for "time in hand" i plan to tweak the route so that the loop round Loch Leven comes before the Corran Ferry rather than after. 

A force rest at Oban, or at least before the Corran Ferry wont do anybody any harm and i reckon that the ferry times will fit in with the plans of the vast majority pretty well.  Corrran ferry runs from around 0630 to 2130.

Makes perfect sense now
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 19 September, 2017, 09:23:58 am
I'm liking the sound of this very much. The Mille Pennines/Mille Cymru are probably beyond my capabilities but the route for this one looks just as spectacular in its own way. Dates work for me as well, and I might even be able to tempt my wife to join me for a long weekend in Edinburgh... Hmmmm.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: pangolin on 19 September, 2017, 09:37:18 am
The route looks suspiciously flat. Is that just because it's largely near the coast and there are lots of short sharp hills rather than big ones?
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: whosatthewheel on 19 September, 2017, 09:46:39 am
I'm liking the sound of this very much. The Mille Pennines/Mille Cymru are probably beyond my capabilities but the route for this one looks just as spectacular in its own way. Dates work for me as well, and I might even be able to tempt my wife to join me for a long weekend in Edinburgh... Hmmmm.

The weather will probably make up for the "lack of vertical challenge". My only adventure in Western Scotland was 2 weather warnings in 4 days in early August... one for a storm with 60 mph winds and the other for 100 mm of rain in 24 hours. May could be worse than August
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 19 September, 2017, 10:02:55 am
The weather will probably make up for the "lack of vertical challenge".

I expect you're right but that doesn't worry me so much - I've yet to do a 600 that didn't include weather. The last WCW featured headwinds and rain for a lot of the time but I mostly enjoyed it, and got round ok. It's the ones that feature both weather and hills that I find really challenging - the Brimstone 600 had enough weather for a whole year when I attempted it.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: whosatthewheel on 19 September, 2017, 10:15:49 am
The weather will probably make up for the "lack of vertical challenge".

I expect you're right but that doesn't worry me so much - I've yet to do a 600 that didn't include weather. The last WCW featured headwinds and rain for a lot of the time but I mostly enjoyed it, and got round ok. It's the ones that feature both weather and hills that I find really challenging - the Brimstone 600 had enough weather for a whole year when I attempted it.

Dunno, doesn't look so flat to me, you've still got a lot of lumps there. It's not the rain per se... it's the volume of rain... and it's not the wind per se, it's the strength of the wind. That said, you might find 3 decent days
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: mattc on 19 September, 2017, 10:25:57 am
The route looks suspiciously flat. Is that just because it's largely near the coast and there are lots of short sharp hills rather than big ones?
Very much so - the east coast of Kintyre particulary so.

It's still about 10km climbing, so in some discussions that would be "hilly" - but it's flat compared to the Pennine or Cymru routes!

And you could make a tougher ride in Scotland, that's for sure. But why bother? The scenery will be fantastic, and 1000k is never easy - especially if there is "weather".
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 19 September, 2017, 10:33:14 am
Dunno, doesn't look so flat to me, you've still got a lot of lumps there. It's not the rain per se... it's the volume of rain... and it's not the wind per se, it's the strength of the wind.

You're absolutely right not to underestimate the challenge of this ride. I also imagine that late May in Scotland will be pretty chilly at night, even if the weather is favourable.

It definitely appeals to me though, and in relative terms will probably be easier than the Pennines or Cymru.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bagman on 19 September, 2017, 11:31:19 am
Interested - could be good prep for my LEJOG ( 7 x200) in August
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: D.A.L.E. on 19 September, 2017, 11:43:38 am
Keeeeen, I think.

Same amount of climbing as Borders of Belgium by my reckoning, just less Ardennes-y and more bastard choppy.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Paul D on 19 September, 2017, 12:43:27 pm
The weather will probably make up for the "lack of vertical challenge". My only adventure in Western Scotland was 2 weather warnings in 4 days in early August... one for a storm with 60 mph winds and the other for 100 mm of rain in 24 hours. May could be worse than August

May can be the best month in West Scotland; sunshine without the midges. Weather was great on the late May bank holiday 2010 https://issuu.com/audax-uk/docs/2011_may_arrivee/58
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 19 September, 2017, 03:49:01 pm
Same amount of climbing as Borders of Belgium by my reckoning, just less Ardennes-y and more bastard choppy.

Funnily enough, that's another ride I was considering for next year too. Highly unlikely to do both though.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Grandad on 20 September, 2017, 01:02:00 am
The Daylight 600 in a heatwave was a bit different. A ginger haired rider ended up with a very red face decorated with white lines in the shape of his helmet straps.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: mattc on 20 September, 2017, 10:34:09 am
The Daylight 600 in a heatwave was a bit different. A ginger haired rider ended up with a very red face decorated with white lines in the shape of his helmet straps.
I will not mention

(click to show/hide)

as that would curse May 2018 for us all!
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: cgg on 25 September, 2017, 11:16:06 am
What happened to the route? The link in the first post now points to a 404 error page.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bagman on 25 September, 2017, 12:15:50 pm
This my unofficial copy of the route

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/25403503 (https://ridewithgps.com/routes/25403503)
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: cgg on 25 September, 2017, 01:37:13 pm
This my unofficial copy of the route

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/25403503 (https://ridewithgps.com/routes/25403503)

Thanks! Now I just have to choose between this and one of the TINAT rides  ::-)
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: mattc on 25 September, 2017, 03:06:40 pm
Thanks! Now I just have to choose between this and one of the TINAT rides  ::-)
With a heavy heart I have to choose TINAT. It's an odd weekend to get two big rides - normally it's the bank holiday weekend that gets overloaded with audaxes. (and most folk riding this one will only work Tue+Wed, +maybe THu a.m. )

( Are there any biggies on 26th May? )
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 25 September, 2017, 03:10:08 pm
( Are there any biggies on 26th May? )

Brimstone 600, but nothing bigger than that.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 26 September, 2017, 09:06:29 pm
The route has been refined a bit with a few modest tweaks

This is the version thats been submitted with event registration this evening - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/25556906

With the loop round Loch Leven coming before the Corran Ferry, its now 550km to the events only mandatory ferry crossing (its recommended, but optional on the return). 

Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 26 September, 2017, 09:48:11 pm
Tempted.  Its not in July which is my no go month.  And I enjoyed the Mille Alba a few years back.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Feanor on 26 September, 2017, 09:50:28 pm
The route has been refined a bit with a few modest tweaks

This is the version thats been submitted with event registration this evening - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/25556906

With the loop round Loch Leven coming before the Corran Ferry, its now 550km to the events only mandatory ferry crossing (its recommended, but optional on the return).


Mrs F. is of the opinion that I should ride this. That's easy to say when you don't have to ride it yourself!
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: IanDG on 26 September, 2017, 10:32:51 pm
About time I stepped up from 600km. Way things are going I probably won't be working so should have time to do the training.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: hellymedic on 26 September, 2017, 11:26:02 pm
I would SO want to do this if I could still ride!
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 29 September, 2017, 12:27:29 pm
I see it's in the calendar now. Time to start planning in earnest... I've already floated the idea of my wife spending a long weekend in Edinburgh while I go off and ride my bike.

With the loop round Loch Leven coming before the Corran Ferry, its now 550km to the events only mandatory ferry crossing (its recommended, but optional on the return). 

Optional? I love a ferry crossing, especially if the alternative is adding a gratuitous extra 30km to the route...  ;D
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Revolution9 on 29 September, 2017, 01:31:06 pm
I see it's in the calendar now. Time to start planning in earnest... I've already floated the idea of my wife spending a long weekend in Edinburgh while I go off and ride my bike.

With the loop round Loch Leven coming before the Corran Ferry, its now 550km to the events only mandatory ferry crossing (its recommended, but optional on the return). 

Optional? I love a ferry crossing, especially if the alternative is adding a gratuitous extra 30km to the route...  ;D

its only 30k extra if you don't take the ferry on the way out, not on the return crossing
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 29 September, 2017, 01:40:27 pm
its only 30k extra if you don't take the ferry on the way out, not on the return crossing

My understanding is that the loop round Loch Leven is mandatory on the outward journey (to make up the distance), with a control in Kinlochleven to enforce it.

The ferry is then optional on the return leg, but it's 30km extra if you prefer to go round the loch.


Ignore me, I've completely misunderstood the route - I thought that was a ferry crossing at Ballachulish but on zooming in on the map I see it's a road bridge. (A particularly foolish mistake since I actually rode across that very same bridge on my LEJOG last year and remember it well.  :facepalm: )

I think I get it now - the 'optional' ferry crossing on the return leg is back across the Corran ferry, instead of going via Fort William along the A82.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: rob on 29 September, 2017, 02:38:28 pm
I think I'd like to do this but will need to make the calendar work around TTs.   CTT don't publish their list until first week of Jan. 

I rode the Daylight twice in the late 90s but haven't ridden North of the border since then.

I had a feeling this one might fill in line with recent patterns but it looks like there's no limit on rider numbers ?
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: marylogic on 29 September, 2017, 06:42:14 pm
Entries don't open until 1/1/18 so hopefully shouldn't be full by the time you get your CTT calendar
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Arry-R on 29 September, 2017, 10:50:30 pm


Ignore me, I've completely misunderstood the route - I thought that was a ferry crossing at Ballachulish but on zooming in on the map I see it's a road bridge. (A particularly foolish mistake since I actually rode across that very same bridge on my LEJOG last year and remember it well.  :facepalm: )



In the days of old we'd ride the extra 15 mls or so if the South Ballachulish to North Ballachulish Ferry had closed for the day.i think that the bridge was built in the late 70s or early 80s.  You can still see the parking area for the Ferry by the Hotel on the South side!
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Deano on 29 September, 2017, 10:52:43 pm
1975. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballachulish_Bridge

My dad built it so don't go wearing it out.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 30 September, 2017, 09:15:47 am
Now looked at the route.  It has so many roads I want to cycle along.  Time to starting building up the brownie point bank.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: tonyh on 30 September, 2017, 09:22:07 am
My dad built it so don't go wearing it out.

Your Dad did a good thing! There used to be a tricky choice: a long wait for the ferry or a tedious drive round.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Arry-R on 04 October, 2017, 08:33:19 pm
1975. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballachulish_Bridge

My dad built it so don't go wearing it out.


Thanks for full info,  we won't wear it out!
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 05 December, 2017, 03:44:56 pm
Hello there.  I've had a few emails about this event - mostly folk in a minor panic that they cant enter.

Worry not - the event opens to entries on 1 January 2018. 

Ive also updated the AUK web page http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/18-402/ with some additional information which might be helpful for folk thinking about entering (the info can be accessed via the "route sheet" link).

I plan to recce part of the route over Easter and aim to ride the thing myself the weekend before the calendar event.     
 

 
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Shaftesburybiker on 08 December, 2017, 07:35:15 pm
Very interested too. Had planned to do the Brimstone, but may save the Wessex SR for PB year instead, unless i do the Hellfire (again).  Fond memories of the last Daylight (bar the midges)
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: SimonS on 10 December, 2017, 06:22:11 pm
I see in the notes on the 'route sheet' linked to above that there is a recommendation to park at the Airport park and ride. This P&R is not open 24hrs and overnight parking is not permitted.  This is to stop it filling up with cheapskates flying off on their hol's.

See https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/ingliston

The recommendation on that page is to use the Hermiston P&R which is open 24hrs but is served by buses only.  It is however a short cycle ride to Edinburgh Park Tram stop (and railway station) by this route https://dunfermline.cyclestreets.net/journey/59977002/#balanced
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 11 December, 2017, 11:09:48 am
I see in the notes on the 'route sheet' linked to above that there is a recommendation to park at the Airport park and ride. This P&R is not open 24hrs and overnight parking is not permitted.  This is to stop it filling up with cheapskates flying off on their hol's.

See https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/ingliston

The recommendation on that page is to use the Hermiston P&R which is open 24hrs but is served by buses only.  It is however a short cycle ride to Edinburgh Park Tram stop (and railway station) by this route https://dunfermline.cyclestreets.net/journey/59977002/#balanced
good spot Simon ta.

You can tell how often I use the P&R!

I will update the information next time Im refreshing it. 

And its downhill all the way from Hermiston P&R
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 11 December, 2017, 04:41:07 pm
I see in the notes on the 'route sheet' linked to above that there is a recommendation to park at the Airport park and ride. This P&R is not open 24hrs and overnight parking is not permitted.  This is to stop it filling up with cheapskates flying off on their hol's.

See https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/ingliston

The recommendation on that page is to use the Hermiston P&R which is open 24hrs but is served by buses only.  It is however a short cycle ride to Edinburgh Park Tram stop (and railway station) by this route https://dunfermline.cyclestreets.net/journey/59977002/#balanced
good spot Simon ta.

You can tell how often I use the P&R!

I will update the information next time Im refreshing it. 

And its downhill all the way from Hermiston P&R

Amended and updated
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 29 December, 2017, 06:45:47 pm
Entries open on Monday for this event.

More details are provided on the AUK website but the event starts in Edinburgh 8pm with an overnight ride Thursday into the West Highlands. 

I expect a lot of riders will use Oban at 456km as a sleep stop Friday night (where there may be a bag drop), there's a beautiful 277km Saturday loop round Ardnamurchan (those who've ridden the Daylight 600 will know) back to Oban.  Finally there's 267km back into the Lowlands to Edinburgh via Perth on the Sunday.  A benign finish along the Forth from Stirling to Edinburgh includes a close up view of the splendid new Queensferry Crossing around 10km from the finish (cyclists get the old bridge to themselves!).

I'm hoping the full-ish moon and the long long Highland evenings will help riders. 

 

Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bagman on 29 December, 2017, 08:39:55 pm
Accommodation already booked in Oban - getting ready with finger on keyboard on Jan 1st
Looking forward to the ride, scenery is going to be stunning.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 29 December, 2017, 08:46:27 pm
What accommodation have you booked in Oban?

I'm mulling it over and considering carrying a bivvy bag for the flexibility of being able to stop when and where I need to, although the idea of a proper bed is quite appealing too.

I've got accommodation booked in Edinburgh for the Sunday night, at least.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 29 December, 2017, 09:21:07 pm
15+ entries will cover the cost of van hire for abag drop....c £200 for a Thu-Mon transit van. 
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: sorenlorensen on 31 December, 2017, 04:51:20 pm
OK ... so ... I've never attempted anything of this length before. I've done a fair few shorter rides, and a handful of 300-odd rides. I'm used to riding in the "challenging" conditions of the Outer Hebrides, so the weather doesn't really scare me. Just wondering if I'd be daft signing up for something like this, or is it just the new year gin talking that's saying go for it, it'll be fun ... ?
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bagman on 31 December, 2017, 06:44:24 pm
Booked into Corran House Guest House & Hostel
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: D.A.L.E. on 31 December, 2017, 10:40:09 pm
15+ entries will cover the cost of van hire for abag drop....c £200 for a Thu-Mon transit van.
You’ll be able to do it in a Lambo I reckon  ;D
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: IanDG on 31 December, 2017, 10:51:54 pm
I would have gone to bed 2 hours ago, but..................
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bagman on 01 January, 2018, 12:48:28 am
Still sober enough to have just booked a place - Happy New Year
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: sorenlorensen on 01 January, 2018, 02:11:52 am
Still sober enough to have just booked a place - Happy New Year
Me too ... booked. Not sober.

Sent from my Moto E (4) using Tapatalk

Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Feanor on 01 January, 2018, 07:37:31 am
I'm in.

But gallus talk on the Internet with a bellyfull of boozahol is one thing...
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 01 January, 2018, 05:55:29 pm
I'm in.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 01 January, 2018, 08:38:11 pm
I'm in.  Enjoyed the Mille Alba.  Now will start search for accommodation, probably in the Ballachulish area.

Accommodation now booked at Glencoe Youth Hostel.  Probably a bit further than ideal for the first day but should keep me focused through the first night.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Krad on 02 January, 2018, 12:11:18 pm
Booked and looking forward to this. Also book a bed/shower in Oban 1/2 Jun. Does anyone know where to stay Sunday night into Monday as I have a train at 7am Monday back. 
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: How Far on 02 January, 2018, 02:11:51 pm
I was planning on stopping in Oban on the Friday and Saturday nights.

 Oban backpackers or the Youth Hostel in Oban have already been recommended.

What are the best options? are they ok with someone arriving late with a bike?

Thanks Rich...

 
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: mattc on 02 January, 2018, 02:52:07 pm
[Oban] SYHA: I think a few of us [on the 'late' start] arrived crazy late on the 2014 event. They were cool about it, and it's a nice hostel.

Has a decent members kitchen, so you can heat stuff up etc and dine at a proper table. Instead of taking food to a shared dorm to eat  :facepalm:



Accommodation now booked at Glencoe Youth Hostel.  Probably a bit further than ideal for the first day but should keep me focused through the first night.
It's a gorgeous location! Might be a bit spooky if you arrive in the dark, but fun nontheless.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Dave_C on 02 January, 2018, 03:22:01 pm
SYHA: I think a few of us [on the 'late' start] arrived crazy late on the 2014 event. They were cool about it, and it's a nice hostel.

Has a decent members kitchen, so you can heat stuff up etc and dine at a proper table. Instead of taking food to a shared dorm to eat  :facepalm:

Oban SYHA is staffed and open 24 hours. You can phone to l;et them know you'll be late, and they are cool with this. They also have a secure cycle shed at the rear of the rear courtyard.

Dave C
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 02 January, 2018, 06:33:22 pm
Am in Crianlarich SYHA for the Saturday night.  Will probably book a Sunday night sleeper train back to London when the tickets become available.  And, if I'm organised a cross-country service Basingstoke - Edinburgh on the way up on Thursday morning, so I can get plenty of doze in the bank beforehand.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: MikeH on 02 January, 2018, 08:45:39 pm
I'm in :thumbsup:.  Maybe just Bivi, or maybe a couple of nights in Oban.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: drgannet on 02 January, 2018, 11:57:15 pm
Reasonably good prices on Premier Inns around Edinburgh for Sunday night at the moment; £36 in the centre or £31.50 on the West side.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: D.A.L.E. on 06 January, 2018, 03:08:00 pm
What SPF suncream is everyone thinking?
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: IanDG on 06 January, 2018, 03:50:04 pm
What SPF suncream is everyone thinking?
Very optimistic, what MPF midge repellent is everyone thinking?
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: jimmea on 06 January, 2018, 04:07:38 pm
What SPF suncream is everyone thinking?

There's a special type of cream you buy when on the west coast, When you go into shops etc look for factor weegie, offers the best protection for peelywally skin  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: sorenlorensen on 06 January, 2018, 05:55:29 pm
More to the point, Smidge or Skin-So-Soft ... ?
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: IanDG on 06 January, 2018, 06:16:31 pm
IIRC the effective ingredient has been removed from 'Skin So Soft'
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: sorenlorensen on 06 January, 2018, 06:24:13 pm
IIRC the effective ingredient has been removed from 'Skin So Soft'
Smidge it is then. At least that's an easy one.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 09 January, 2018, 09:38:51 am
My agent in the West Highlands (Fort William based mother in law) tells me that its generally 50/50 for midgies end May/start June.  Depends on what kind of winter weve had apparently.  Dry and cold keeps them away for longer Im assured but by mid/late June there is no escape.       

That said, if I were riding I would definitely bring a midgie net.    I recall one very unpleasant puncture repair near Connel on the Twilight a few years ago.

<goes off to update guidance for riders>
 
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 09 January, 2018, 05:18:03 pm
I had an 8 day hiking holiday in Inchnadamph in the far northwest in July last year and midges were not a major problem.  Having said that there are three things midges don't like - heavy rain, bright sun, and strong winds, and we generally had at least one of these - and the winds on one of the days were sufficient that you'd prefer the midges.  I also don't recall midges being a problem on the Mille Alba a few years back (but then we also had either rain or wind for most of that ride too....)
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Lee Killestein on 11 January, 2018, 11:35:28 am
15+ entries will cover the cost of van hire for abag drop....c £200 for a Thu-Mon transit van.

I'm in. Has the threshold been reached where a bag drop is possible/likely?
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bus Shelter Bertie on 11 January, 2018, 12:31:22 pm
15+ entries will cover the cost of van hire for abag drop....c £200 for a Thu-Mon transit van.

I'm in. Has the threshold been reached where a bag drop is possible/likely?

Yes it has Lee, when Graeme emailed me 3 days ago he had 69 entries from a limit of 100. He has confirmed that there will be an Oban bag drop.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Lee Killestein on 11 January, 2018, 01:13:18 pm
15+ entries will cover the cost of van hire for abag drop....c £200 for a Thu-Mon transit van.

I'm in. Has the threshold been reached where a bag drop is possible/likely?

Yes it has Lee, when Graeme emailed me 3 days ago he had 69 entries from a limit of 100. He has confirmed that there will be an Oban bag drop.

That's good news Bertie. 69? Better make my mind up over whether to book in somewhere in Oban or just bivvy soon then!

**Edit** Just found the email from Graeme in my Junk Folder!  :facepalm:
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: cgg on 14 January, 2018, 11:09:43 am
Signed up :)
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Andy Corless on 15 January, 2018, 06:08:56 pm
"Booked into Corran House Guest House & Hostel"

Just to advise if you don't know already of the check-in/out policies for this hotel.

"Hostel Policies:

Check-in
Check-in time starts at 3 PM

Check-in time ends at 10 PM

Minimum check-in age is 18

Special check-in instructions:

The front desk is open daily from 3 PM until 10 PM
To make arrangements for check-in, please contact the property at least 24 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation.
"

Andy Corless
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: cgg on 15 January, 2018, 08:40:47 pm
Looking at trains now. I see a cheap one arriving at 20:21 at Haymarket. Will the organizer hang around for a bit at the start?

Edit: I actually haven't received any confirmation about my entry, except the paypal receipt. Should I worry?
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Ajax Bay on 31 January, 2018, 11:48:42 am
I'm in and have booked a bed for two nights at the Oban SYHA. Very much looking forward to it. Kennacraig CalMac Ferries terminal (open 6am to 6pm) is within 300m of the route at the 264 km and 368km points, and has a warm waiting room. There are 0700, 1000 and 1800 departures which I 'might be waiting for'. Also on Kintyre, half way between Claonaig and Cambeltown, the Carradale post office and shop (opens at 9am) is on the route (with 20 hilly km to go to Cambeltown). Better info control site than Claonaig?
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: JonB on 31 January, 2018, 02:03:32 pm
Looking at trains now. I see a cheap one arriving at 20:21 at Haymarket. Will the organizer hang around for a bit at the start?

Edit: I actually haven't received any confirmation about my entry, except the paypal receipt. Should I worry?

I had an email on Jan 7 from the organiser, it might be worth contacting him and/or checking any spam folders
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Ajax Bay on 31 January, 2018, 03:52:03 pm
Graeme has said (on the calendar page): "Depending on the number of entries, I may have to limit places. These will be confirmed separately from the entry process and by email. I suggest that you only make travel and accommodation plans once your place has been confirmed. Submitting an entry along with payment does not confirm your place."
I look forward to his confirmation e-mail which will come in due course (no hurry - the relevant train advance tickets do not go on sale till end February).
Looking forward to the method he employs to "ensure that event starters will receive value for money on the event". Are we passing any distilleries?
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: cgg on 31 January, 2018, 04:22:37 pm
Looking at trains now. I see a cheap one arriving at 20:21 at Haymarket. Will the organizer hang around for a bit at the start?

Edit: I actually haven't received any confirmation about my entry, except the paypal receipt. Should I worry?

I had an email on Jan 7 from the organiser, it might be worth contacting him and/or checking any spam folders

All settled :)
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 01 February, 2018, 02:25:34 pm
Graeme has said (on the calendar page): "Depending on the number of entries, I may have to limit places. These will be confirmed separately from the entry process and by email. I suggest that you only make travel and accommodation plans once your place has been confirmed. Submitting an entry along with payment does not confirm your place."
I look forward to his confirmation e-mail which will come in due course (no hurry - the relevant train advance tickets do not go on sale till end February).
Looking forward to the method he employs to "ensure that event starters will receive value for money on the event". Are we passing any distilleries?
This was my get out clause in case there were hundreds of entries in the first few days.

im pleased to say that we are currently (as of 23-00 last night) sitting at 82 entries, so that means that everybody who has entered by 11pm last night is in. 

I think there are only a handful of entries (those submitted in the last few days) that haven't yet been acknowledged. 

A big van has been hired.  i'll have to have a think about the best start / finish location vis a vis bag drop.  Not sure network rail will take too kindly to us using their station concourse, perhaps theres a cycle friendly hostelry nearby that will accommodate us.   

18 spaces left, then the door closes.   
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 01 February, 2018, 07:00:05 pm
Thats everybody emailed up to and including those who entered up to 12 noon today.

Email me if youre in any doubt.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bagman on 26 February, 2018, 03:16:31 pm
This will be my first full overnight ride and I am just looking for some advice.

From approx 60km to 240km, 22:30 to 08:00 there are no 24hr garages etc.
I can carry an extra water bottle, 3 in total, and drop it off at the bag drop so I am not too worried about fluids.
I have been considering a very small meths bivi type burner and mug, so that I can have a hot drink or even hot food during this part of the ride. 
Again leaving it with my drop bag when I get to Oban.

Is this a sensible idea or any other suggestions?
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Ajax Bay on 12 March, 2018, 10:29:51 pm
Advance Single tickets for West Coast trains on 31 May) seem to have been 'released' today (Monday).
"Journey: Birmingham Stations to Edinburgh
Ticket type: ADVANCE
Route: Virgin West Coast & connections
Outward journey: 31 May 2018
departs Birmingham New Street at 12:15 travel by Train service provider Virgin Trains to station Edinburgh arrives 16:20 ( seats reserved: and space for 1 bicycle )"
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Ajax Bay on 14 March, 2018, 03:58:09 pm
Mighyt have done better to wait 3 days (precising MSE note):

Virgin Trains is having an up to 52% off sale across selected peak and off-peak trains for routes on its West Coast network – stations between London Euston and Glasgow Central, see https://www.virgintrains.co.uk/stations-destinations.
For 4 days from 00.01am on Thu 15 Mar until 11.59pm on Mon 19 Mar booked via the Virgin Trains site (http://Virgin Trains site). But if you're on O2, you can get access now via its Priority app. The sale will include one-way standard advance tickets between London and Birmingham for £5 each way, between London and Manchester for £11 each way, and between Glasgow and London for £18 each way. You can also get some cracking first class fares (see below). Tickets are for travel from Tue 3 Apr to Fri 1 Jun (so going north only)

For 'Smoke' dwellers, Euston (ie west coast taking 80 minutes longer) to Edinburgh is £18 (0843 or 1043 ex Euston, arr Ed 1419/1620). Otherwise it's £40 (selected trains ex KGX).
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 16 March, 2018, 01:08:06 pm
public service announcement.....

Given the lack of overnight facilities between Dunblane (60km) and possibly as far as Lochgilphead (234km) Ive booked the Church hall in Comrie (96km) so folk can get indoors and fill up the tanks.  Ive updated the blurb on the AUK site. 

Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bagman on 16 March, 2018, 01:48:08 pm
Thank you - that is good news.
Using Streetview on Google I had spotted a tap at the back of the garage at Tyndrum.
Also the Pine Trees Holiday Park @ 150km looks to have a few easily accessible taps - not sure how they would feel about then being used in the early hours of the morning though.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 20 March, 2018, 02:44:27 pm
Foolishly, I didn't book a room at the Oban SYHA when I had the chance in January and now they're full up.  :facepalm:

Looking at the Backpackers as a possible alternative. Does anyone know if they are OK with late check-ins? I suspect I'm unlikely to arrive before 10pm on the Friday.

Still also contemplating the bivvy bag option but I'm quite keen on the idea of a proper bed.

On the plus side, I've got cheap train tickets to and from Edinburgh booked, and bike places reserved on both.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Ajax Bay on 20 March, 2018, 04:28:57 pm
Backpackers Oban ask you to check in by 10pm but there's a phone number if it's a challenge. My experience of staying there  (?2013 summer weekday) was that things were just starting to get going at 10pm in 'throbbing' Oban so earplugs well worth taking.
Here's some info on our Saturday ride along the (Corran)Ardgour/Strontian/Acharacle/Glenuig/Lochailort road over Sunart and Moidart which by, then, we'll be looking forward to.:
https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/index.php?title=A861
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: trixie on 24 March, 2018, 01:14:43 pm
So, this is how far I've got with the West Highland 1000:
- Looked at the event through parted fingers towards the end of last year, thinking about how there was no way I was entering it.
- Got drunk on New Year's Eve and then paid my £18.50, thinking I don't have to actually ride the thing
- Realised that if I did decide to ride the thing I didn't want to sleep in hedgerows/bus shelters exclusively so booked a couple of nights at the SYHA in Oban
- Realised that cheap train tickets were on sale so booked to get myself and the bike to and from Edinburgh
- Read through this thread and been relieved to learn of a bag drop to Oban

I'm still not entirely sure I will be fit enough to ride it - worse case scenario I might just go for a nice long weekend in Scotland and cheer you all on as you come through Oban! The one obvious thing I haven't really done in preparation is very much riding (nothing over 200km this year, and not that many of those). But, apart from the obvious planning need of getting on the bloody bike, if I am going to have a crack at it is there something else I am missing that I need to get a move on with sorting? I already have a headnet for midge attacks :-)
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: D.A.L.E. on 24 March, 2018, 05:57:29 pm
So, this is how far I've got with the West Highland 1000:
- Looked at the event through parted fingers towards the end of last year, thinking about how there was no way I was entering it.
- Got drunk on New Year's Eve and then paid my £18.50, thinking I don't have to actually ride the thing
- Realised that if I did decide to ride the thing I didn't want to sleep in hedgerows/bus shelters exclusively so booked a couple of nights at the SYHA in Oban
- Realised that cheap train tickets were on sale so booked to get myself and the bike to and from Edinburgh
- Read through this thread and been relieved to learn of a bag drop to Oban

I'm still not entirely sure I will be fit enough to ride it - worse case scenario I might just go for a nice long weekend in Scotland and cheer you all on as you come through Oban! The one obvious thing I haven't really done in preparation is very much riding (nothing over 200km this year, and not that many of those). But, apart from the obvious planning need of getting on the bloody bike, if I am going to have a crack at it is there something else I am missing that I need to get a move on with sorting? I already have a headnet for midge attacks :-)

Suncream.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: pieeater on 26 March, 2018, 05:15:04 pm
Believe me, you are not alone Trixie !
I have fond memories of the Argyle Hotel in Campbeltown, from a golfing trip (17 !) years ago.  That is an interim target for me. After which, it's all (pretty much) downhill ?.....physical reserves, resolve, stamina etc. etc !!!
Still, it'll be a lovely weekend in wonderful countryside, what could possibly go wrong ?  ::-)
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: sorenlorensen on 16 April, 2018, 01:54:58 pm
Really sad, but I'm going to have to withdraw from this. Was really looking forward to it, but unfortunately pressures of work and a big project that's slipped by a few weeks means I'm not going to be able to commit to a few days off work at the end of May.

Maybe next time ...

:(
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 17 April, 2018, 08:39:13 am
just a reminder that entries close a week on Friday (and maybe earlier if he hit the max field of 100 - there are 6 places left)
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 17 April, 2018, 08:40:10 am
Really sad, but I'm going to have to withdraw from this. Was really looking forward to it, but unfortunately pressures of work and a big project that's slipped by a few weeks means I'm not going to be able to commit to a few days off work at the end of May.

Maybe next time ...

:(
<cough> Remember to email the organiser. 
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: sorenlorensen on 17 April, 2018, 08:43:45 am
Really sad, but I'm going to have to withdraw from this. Was really looking forward to it, but unfortunately pressures of work and a big project that's slipped by a few weeks means I'm not going to be able to commit to a few days off work at the end of May.

Maybe next time ...

:(
<cough> Remember to email the organiser.

... as if I'd forget to do something like that ...  :facepalm:
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Ajax Bay on 17 April, 2018, 12:31:39 pm
Sharing Kintyre preparation (and I've been updating this as we go along)
Inveraray (195k - control)
1) ATM (BoS) on L (in 'one way', after shops (10m))

Lochgilphead (235k and 397k)
1) Esso garage and Tesco Express on first roundabout - opens 6am (NB on way north would require 2km detour - see 3) below).
2) Crinan Cycles (Argyll St), 01546 603511 Open 0930-1730 - only cycle shop on Kintyre sfaik
3) Spar shop/garage on Oban road north from A816 roundabout 800m - open 6am-11pm

Ardrishaig (237k and 394k)
1) McColls (on route, land (!) side of road) Open 7am-10pm

Tarbert (256k and 376k)
1) Cafe Cadora opens 8am till 4:30pm. L off route, 200m, on R
2) Marine Bistro open 8 till 8 (? earlier opening Friday if asked), L off route, 80m, on R
3) Coop - on main road, on R (open 7am-10pm)

Campbeltown (316k)
1) Cafe Bluebell (0900-1630) - keep to lochside, L thro' bollards and 500m, just past roundabout, on R, overlooking harbour
2) Tesco Metro (larger version) 400m after road touches loch, past distillery (on L) and imm L (200m on R)

Glenbarr (335k) Cafe, Stores & Garden
www.glenbarrstores.com
The café is open 7 days a week from 9am – 5pm, serving breakfast, lunch, cakes and drinks.

Tayinloan (345k)
‘Big Jessie’s’ tea room (down by the ferry (to Gigha)
Friday & Saturday – Open till 7pm

Kilmartin (409k)
1) Kilmartin Museum Cafehttp://www.kilmartin.org/visit-us/cafe/ (http://www.kilmartin.org/visit-us/cafe/) on L
"Café is open from 10:00 until 17:00 with hot food served from 12:15 until 15:30"
2) Kilmartin Hotel (on R) - warm foyer (bar even) especially attractive if it's pissing with rain DAMHIKT

Kimelford (431k)
1) Village Stores (closes 1730) but above it:
2) "Room at The Top Cafe & Takeaway" planned to open summer evenings starting (!) 1 Jun ?1830

Oban (456k) !!!!
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 17 April, 2018, 12:40:24 pm
Good work.  :thumbsup:

I haven't even got as far as working out which bike I'm going to ride.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 17 April, 2018, 01:32:07 pm
Good work.  :thumbsup:

I haven't even got as far as working out which bike I'm going to ride.

Both the bikes I could ride in the event are broken at the moment - so you are one ahead of me!  Am regretting planning to get to the Ballachulish YHA on the Friday night, so will pack extra bonk rations and live by my wits.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 17 April, 2018, 01:43:59 pm
Good work.  :thumbsup:

I haven't even got as far as working out which bike I'm going to ride.

One ahead of you there but that is about it.  Most of my time so far has been spent riding and working on fitness.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 18 April, 2018, 09:38:41 pm
Im delighted to report that one of Edinburghs finest beer bars Montys http://www.montys.bar/ will host the Arrivee for this event. 

A splendid selection of beers and food (cheese / charcuiterie) will be available as part of the entry fee from 1230 until 2300 Sunday 3rd June where luggage from the bag drop can also be collected.

This boozer also has a outside seating area that can be used to park bikes or to actually sit in if the weather is nice (I plan to bring every bike lock I can lay my hands on from the house just in case)

Its a short way up a one way street against the traffic at the finish but is worth it. 

For those very interested in whats on tap follow Montys on twitter @montysedinburgh

Needless to say - all welcome. 
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: drgannet on 18 April, 2018, 09:44:28 pm
 ;D

This is going to be such a good event, and that is a massive incentive to finish within the time limit!
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 18 April, 2018, 11:05:36 pm
Fantastic news!
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 19 April, 2018, 12:42:30 pm
Ive updated a few bits and bobs on the event information on the AUK calendar page including a draft routesheet

http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/18-402/

G.   
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Ajax Bay on 19 April, 2018, 01:19:07 pm
Thank you, Graeme.
"You might wish to consider bringing some insect repellent and a midgie net (useful if you need to stop for a repair" and if they're around while waiting for the Corran Narrows ferry on the Saturday).
To add to the list of cycle shops:
Lochgilphead (235k and 397k): Crinan Cycles (Argyll St), 01546 603511 Open 0930-1730
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 19 April, 2018, 04:18:28 pm
Thank you, Graeme.
"You might wish to consider bringing some insect repellent and a midgie net (useful if you need to stop for a repair" and if they're around while waiting for the Corran Narrows ferry on the Saturday).
To add to the list of cycle shops:
Lochgilphead (235k and 397k): Crinan Cycles (Argyll St), 01546 603511 Open 0930-1730
ta

will add this to version [n + 1]

Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Krad on 24 April, 2018, 04:24:50 pm
Anyone else staying http://www.corranhouseoban.co.uk Friday - Saturday night?  Pondering about parking the bike over night {4hours} :)
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 24 April, 2018, 06:04:49 pm
Two haircuts till the event now. 

Was about to start planning food resupply points being it is the Highlands. Low and behold the information is in the routesheet notes.  That will save a bit of planning time.  Will start looking at route in more detail after my 8pm start 300 this Sat.  Looking forward to it.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 24 April, 2018, 08:16:53 pm
Wife went to gym so downloaded latest gpx track and have now mapped out the control locations and added waypoints with proximity alarms.

Noted that track goes the wrong side of the dual carriageway and roundabouts coming into Dunblane.  The roundabout is marked as a Control but given the time we will pass I presume Info?

Started marking food resupply points and bike shops with waypoints and will come back to that. Chippy in Campbeltown will do nicely and very near route.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: CarlF on 24 April, 2018, 10:08:41 pm
More bike shop options on Sunday:
A couple of miles off route, but Comrie Croft mountain bike centre has a shop (don’t know opening hours for the shop, but would think they’ll be open on a Sunday)
Alpine Bikes inside the Tiso outdoor shop at Inveralmond (edge of Perth) open 10:00 -18:00
Halfords, St Catherine’s Retail Park (middle of Perth) open 10:00 - 17:00
JM Richards (trad LBS) and The Bike Station (recycled donated bikes, might have that obscure part) both in Perth, both closed on Sunday but maybe useful if anyone has a nightmare and needs assistance on Monday...
Synergy Cycles, 171 High St., Auchterarder, open Sunday 08:30 - 15:00. Never been in, but looks OK.
There are a couple of bike shops in Stirling which could be useful on the outward leg but on the return there’s another Halfords in Springkerse Retail Park.
Sandy Wallace in Inverkeithing will be shut on Sunday, as will be the (further off route) LBS options in Dunfermline. Halfords again in Dunfermline but that’s all the way up at Halbeath so not very useful.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 24 April, 2018, 10:33:57 pm
Foolishly, I didn't book a room at the Oban SYHA when I had the chance .

Erm, I have just booked two nights at Oban SYHA. I guess there must have been cancellations. I booked through Booking.com, same price as non member, with free cancellation up to 29th May.  That will do for now till I do some proper planning on this next week.

Checkin up to 2300 and checkout from 0400. But with 24hr front desk sure you can checkout earlier.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Ajax Bay on 24 April, 2018, 11:25:18 pm
. . . Dunblane.  The roundabout is marked as a Control but given the time we will pass I presume Info?
Dunblane was the first control before Graeme organised the hall at Comrie.
Perhaps it will be replaced by Comrie (and via Dunblane is a fair route to Comrie, unless we climb the Ochil Hills), however:
From the Dunblane (Keir) roundabout (1st exit) it's 300m to the Coop which will have closed at 10pm but has an ATM outside, with two alternative ATMs a little further on, both on R (BoS and RBoS) the second a few steps walk down the one way street.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 25 April, 2018, 12:07:22 pm
. . . Dunblane.  The roundabout is marked as a Control but given the time we will pass I presume Info?
Dunblane was the first control before Graeme organised the hall at Comrie.
Perhaps it will be replaced by Comrie (and via Dunblane is a fair route to Comrie, unless we climb the Ochil Hills), however:
From the Dunblane (Keir) roundabout (1st exit) it's 300m to the Coop which will have closed at 10pm but has an ATM outside, with two alternative ATMs a little further on, both on R (BoS and RBoS) the second a few steps walk down the one way street.

Ah that would make sense other than in most cases the notes say what type of control it is.  Not to worry I have the location marked with an alarm and will add a note to it with ATM - 1st exit?
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 25 April, 2018, 01:00:29 pm
Foolishly, I didn't book a room at the Oban SYHA when I had the chance .

Erm, I have just booked two nights at Oban SYHA. I guess there must have been cancellations. I booked through Booking.com, same price as non member, with free cancellation up to 29th May.

Nuts! I only tried to book via the SYHA website, didn't think of trying any other sites. No places left on booking.com now - you must have nabbed the last ones. None on other comparison sites either. I'll keep checking back in case any more become available.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: IanDG on 25 April, 2018, 01:44:46 pm
Story so far -

January went well until I fell and cracked ribs on the last day of the month resulting in reduced mileage during February.

Completed my first 1000km/month and my first 200km since August 2015 in March  (horrendous rain and wind for most of the 200).

April is heading to be another 1000km month (and I completed my first 300km since 2014 in gusting 30-40 mph winds - the rain held off).

I've got a Carradice Nelson on the way (so that I can expand on the kit carried in my Barley) and I have a few minor alterations to make to the bike.

I've also got a 200/400 back to back planned for the w/c 07/04 and then easy miles until the event.

Just got to sort travel out now - I have a son in Embra so have a floor to crash on before/after the event.

Good to have the stress of work (that have impacted negatively on my health for the last few years) behind me and be moving on to new things.

Whether I'm fit enough for 1000km remains to be seen?
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: IanDG on 25 April, 2018, 01:46:10 pm
Really sad, but I'm going to have to withdraw from this. Was really looking forward to it, but unfortunately pressures of work and a big project that's slipped by a few weeks means I'm not going to be able to commit to a few days off work at the end of May.

Maybe next time ...

:(

Shame - I did notice that you've had a busy few weeks away from the bike recently.

LEL 2021?
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 25 April, 2018, 02:05:25 pm
Between Claonaig - Campbeltown (Leg 5)

There is a bar and restaurant you pass on the left at Carradale (about 293km) that opens at 11am.  If you turn left down the B879 road ( by the bar and restaurant) into Carradale there is a tea room about 400m down the road on the left  that opens at 10am.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 25 April, 2018, 02:53:07 pm
At Tayinloan (345km) between Campbeltown and Tarbet (Leg 6)

There is a shop just off the A93, take the ferry road.  Continuing on, at the ferry terminal there are toilets, and a tea room. Tea room open 10am till 7pm.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 25 April, 2018, 03:07:14 pm
Just perusing the routesheet. As someone more used to riding in Southeast England, I love the fact that there are long sections with very few instructions, eg Campbeltown to Oban, four lines to cover 139km.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 25 April, 2018, 03:22:26 pm
Just perusing the routesheet. As someone more used to riding in Southeast England, I love the fact that there are long sections with very few instructions, eg Campbeltown to Oban, four lines to cover 139km.  :thumbsup:

Yes it does make for compact instructions.  If you are primarily using the GPS track I would advise one thing.  Break it up so you do not have sections of track that overlap each other. On the Wild Atlantic Way a few of us went wrong where the tracks criss crossed on a loop and we took the wrong option.  In my case it added about 3 hours extra riding; by the time I had retraced back on the track I should have been on.

Day 1 -  I have split into Edinburgh - Campbeltown and Campbeltown - Oban
Day 2 - I have split into Oban - Lochailort, and Lochailort - Oban
Day 3 - Did not need splitting as no criss crossing of the track.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 25 April, 2018, 03:30:41 pm
There is a hotel / bistro at Kimelford, 431km if you are running late for getting food at Oban on the first day.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 25 April, 2018, 04:04:03 pm
Coop (opens at 7am) in Ballachulish, 515km,

Service Station / Shop (opens at 7am) at Onich, 543km, before you catch the Corran Ferry. Right that is enough food resupply hunting for now.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 25 April, 2018, 04:17:17 pm
If you are primarily using the GPS track I would advise one thing.  Break it up so you do not have sections of track that overlap each other. On the Wild Atlantic Way a few of us went wrong where the tracks criss crossed on a loop and we took the wrong option.

Funnily enough, I was already thinking of doing the same, for exactly the same reason. Sound advice.

Only difference is I was going to put the break in Day 2 at Acharacle.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 25 April, 2018, 04:37:30 pm
If you are primarily using the GPS track I would advise one thing.  Break it up so you do not have sections of track that overlap each other. On the Wild Atlantic Way a few of us went wrong where the tracks criss crossed on a loop and we took the wrong option.

Funnily enough, I was already thinking of doing the same, for exactly the same reason. Sound advice.

Only difference is I was going to put the break in Day 2 at Acharacle.

That's where the hotel with nice food is, isn't it? Yeah might move the split there once I have got that far looking through Day 2 and plotting food spots. Could be a good plan for a lunch stop and change tracks whilst there.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 25 April, 2018, 04:55:02 pm
What's the deal with crossing the A90 at Craigiehall? Maybe Google Street View is out of date but I can't see an easy way from one side to the other. Is there a new cycle bridge or something?

That's where the hotel with nice food is, isn't it?

That's a bit further on at Glenuig, according to the info sheet. There is a tea room in Acharacle though, and a fish & chip shop.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 25 April, 2018, 05:13:44 pm
What's the deal with crossing the A90 at Craigiehall? Maybe Google Street View is out of date but I can't see an easy way from one side to the other. Is there a new cycle bridge or something?

See Route sheet leg 1 for details.

Shortly after "Miller & Carter" Cramond Bridge turn L thro underpass (care) and follow L to join new bike path by slip road on A90
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Pingu on 25 April, 2018, 06:01:34 pm
At Tayinloan (345km) between Campbeltown and Tarbet (Leg 6)

There is a shop just off the A93, take the ferry road.  Continuing on, at the ferry terminal there are toilets, and a tea room. Tea room open 10am till 7pm.

That's seriously off-route  ;) A83, shirley.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 25 April, 2018, 06:06:03 pm
At Tayinloan (345km) between Campbeltown and Tarbet (Leg 6)

There is a shop just off the A93, take the ferry road.  Continuing on, at the ferry terminal there are toilets, and a tea room. Tea room open 10am till 7pm.

That's seriously off-route  ;) A83, shirley.

Indeed, fat fingers
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Pingu on 25 April, 2018, 06:08:46 pm
At Tayinloan (345km) between Campbeltown and Tarbet (Leg 6)

There is a shop just off the A93, take the ferry road.  Continuing on, at the ferry terminal there are toilets, and a tea room. Tea room open 10am till 7pm.

That's seriously off-route  ;) A83, shirley.

Indeed, fat fingers

Don't call me fat fingers.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 25 April, 2018, 06:15:02 pm
See Route sheet leg 1 for details.

Shortly after "Miller & Carter" Cramond Bridge turn L thro underpass (care) and follow L to join new bike path by slip road on A90

Oh yes! Simples.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 25 April, 2018, 08:10:38 pm
What's the deal with crossing the A90 at Craigiehall? Maybe Google Street View is out of date but I can't see an easy way from one side to the other. Is there a new cycle bridge or something?

That's where the hotel with nice food is, isn't it?

That's a bit further on at Glenuig, according to the info sheet. There is a tea room in Acharacle though, and a fish & chip shop.

Burnshot flyover has been closed for many months as it was declared unsafe and has in fact recently been removed entirely.  Hence the underpass has been pressed into action for cyclists and pedestrians.  It makes the stretch out to Kirkliston largely traffic free  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: sorenlorensen on 25 April, 2018, 08:46:54 pm
Shame - I did notice that you've had a busy few weeks away from the bike recently.

Aye, work's been pretty sucky lately. C'est la vie ...

LEL 2021?

Looks like it may well have to be. And I'll just have turned 50 ...
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 26 April, 2018, 11:43:18 am
Leg 11 : Lochailort – Oban

Cafe (and toilets) at the National Trust visitor centre, Glenfinnan, 637km. Place open 9am till 6pm but not sure of cafe opening times within that.

COOP at Corpach, 657km is open 6am till 11pm.

As you turn right at the A82 roundabout (by distillery), 661km, towards Fort William; there is a BP garage to the left that is 24 hours.

Pier Head Take away, Fort William will be open till 1am.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: IanDG on 26 April, 2018, 12:37:35 pm
Thanks Phil :)
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 26 April, 2018, 01:05:23 pm
That's a bit further on at Glenuig, according to the info sheet. There is a tea room in Acharacle though, and a fish & chip shop.

As yes.  Acharacle is a control, so I will be needing to get a receipt anyway, I have now resplit the track there.  Notice there is also a hotel and shop there, so can top up supplies at same time.  Will make for a nice stop since it will be about 140km into day 2.  Then it would be about another 40km to the National Trust cafe at Glenfinnan to take on more supplies / calories; which will then see us into the evening. 

Excellent.

 
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 26 April, 2018, 01:15:25 pm
Thanks Phil :)

I went through a similar exercise for the Wild Atlantic Way in 2016.  I then put a list of the all the controls, and food resupply points, with distances, into a striped table in Excel; that was printed onto A4, folded and put in a sandwich bag in a pocket.  My audax campaigns are organised around food and drink.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 26 April, 2018, 01:22:52 pm
Once the event has closed to entries I plan to email riders with a file of 16 individual tracks, one for each leg of the event.

Ive also updated the draft routesheet (the one available via the auk website) with a few tweaks, and have made it a Word version rather than pdf. 
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Krad on 26 April, 2018, 04:15:09 pm
Thanks Phil :)

I went through a similar exercise for the Wild Atlantic Way in 2016.  I then put a list of the all the controls, and food resupply points, with distances, into a striped table in Excel; that was printed onto A4, folded and put in a sandwich bag in a pocket.  My audax campaigns are organised around food and drink.

What, no beer?
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 26 April, 2018, 06:06:08 pm
Ha, beer comes under drinks as in energy drinks.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Krad on 28 April, 2018, 04:43:27 pm
Ha, beer comes under drinks as in energy drinks.

Like Erdinger  :thumbsup:

http://www.lifeinthesaddle.cc/2016/07/erdinger-alkoholfrei-isotonic-recovery.html
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 30 April, 2018, 05:15:48 pm
Ha, beer comes under drinks as in energy drinks.

Like Erdinger  :thumbsup:

http://www.lifeinthesaddle.cc/2016/07/erdinger-alkoholfrei-isotonic-recovery.html

Yuk!
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Ajax Bay on 02 May, 2018, 01:48:15 pm
In case anyone's still to find a Friday night bed, http://www.corranhouseoban.co.uk/ had 3 beds/bunks left, this (Wednesday 2nd) morning. And the SYHA now seems to have limited beds available, when I looked.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 10 May, 2018, 07:30:20 pm
On my overnight 300, just over 10 days ago, my bike frame broke. The good news is that the frame has a lifetime warranty. The other good news is that weather was cold and wet overnight giving a good test of the gear I will take on this ride. I did also at least cover 200km before needing to abandon the ride. If we get a heatwave, well gear can just stay in the saddle bag.

An appeal quickly secured me a bike to borrow.  So I will have had 4.5 weeks of riding the loan bike ahead of WH 1000.  Final bit of fettling today was to fit a shorter stem from my box of parts to fine tune position.  It is a bit of a Franken bike being mix of my components and the ones it came with. 

A test 200km DIY on the setup this weekend. Then just a series of short rides leading up to this event.

See you all at the start in three weeks.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: IanDG on 10 May, 2018, 09:25:40 pm
I've just sent my apologies to the organiser. After riding a 200/300 back to back earlier this week I realise that I'm not ready mentally for the distance and overnight riding. Recovering from a very stressful work situation (over the last 3 years) - the signs are clear that physical fitness is returning but mental resilience is a long way off.

I'll be cancelling my 2 night booking at Oban YH - but if anyone is still looking and knows if the booking can be changed let me know.

Ian
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 11 May, 2018, 11:12:49 am
Sorry to hear that, hope the recovery from the stress goes well.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: JonB on 11 May, 2018, 12:34:04 pm
See you all at the start in three weeks.

Yikes, that's sneaking up fast :o
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Mark Walsh on 11 May, 2018, 01:36:00 pm
Sorry to hear your pulling out Ian
The Golden Road and Standing Stones that you organised on 5 th July 2014 is one of my most memorable and enjoyable rides.
Hope you fully recover soon.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Krad on 14 May, 2018, 08:48:12 am
In case anyone's still to find a Friday night bed, http://www.corranhouseoban.co.uk/ had 3 beds/bunks left, this (Wednesday 2nd) morning. And the SYHA now seems to have limited beds available, when I looked.

I'm booked in here with someone else. Just email them to let them know we would arrive between 10pm and 11pm see what they say!
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: IanDG on 14 May, 2018, 12:07:42 pm
Midge forecast up and running - I get the feeling they're out earlier than last year. Have even noticed a few out here already.

https://www.smidgeup.com/midge-forecast/
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 14 May, 2018, 12:20:36 pm
Thanks for the warning. I've just ordered a bottle of Smidge spray and a head net.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 14 May, 2018, 06:28:46 pm
Thanks for the warning. I've just ordered a bottle of Smidge spray and a head net.

Hope you haven't ordered midge mating cream by mistake. A mate did this in the late 80's.  All the midges made a beeline for him whenever we stopped. Leaving tge rest of us alone.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: pieeater on 15 May, 2018, 09:30:52 am
With 1000kms in prospect, the midges are likely to be the least of my worries !
Does anyone know the "Midge Matrix" ?......which is a combination of the slowest speed you can ride, yet complete in time, whilst outpacing the little buggers !
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: How Far on 16 May, 2018, 09:14:31 am
This seems so far away and now all of a sudden it is very soon, too soon ;-)

I have 2 nights booked at Oban SYHA, does anyone know if late arrivals are ok and what the bike parking security is like?

Thanks Rich...
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Ajax Bay on 16 May, 2018, 09:40:06 am
Reception is manned 24 hours (01631 562 025)
From the websitehttps://www.syha.org.uk/where-to-stay/highlands/oban.aspx (https://www.syha.org.uk/where-to-stay/highlands/oban.aspx): "a secure bike store with racking".
Also see upthread:
SYHA: I think a few of us [on the 'late' start] arrived crazy late on the 2014 event. They were cool about it, and it's a nice hostel.
Has a decent members kitchen, so you can heat stuff up etc and dine at a proper table. Instead of taking food to a shared dorm to eat  :facepalm:
Oban SYHA is staffed and open 24 hours. You can phone to l;et them know you'll be late, and they are cool with this. They also have a secure cycle shed at the rear of the rear courtyard.
Dave C
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 16 May, 2018, 01:52:35 pm
Got back from 2 weeks holiday on Sunday, and have finally reconciled Paypal with the start list generated automatically on the auk website (those folk who pay for other riders dont make it easy!)

Anyhow yesterday I emailed everybody im still expecting on the start line (91 of you) with an update and a zipped file with 16 tracks one for each leg of the event.  These will help riders avoid confusion on the duplicated parts of the route and should also help folk home in on the info controls more precisely.  Id recommend using these rather than the gpx track for the whole event as they are more up to date.       

Ive updated the blurb on the AUK website (click on the routesheet link http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/18-402/) this morning.

A couple of folk have asked about the bag drop (chiefly concerned about my welfare I guess) over the availability of the van in Oban. 

I can confirm that I'll be accompanied in Oban by Martin Foley and we will take turn about stamping cards and looking after luggage - so the van will be available to riders continuously from the point that the Oban control (456km) opens on Friday at 16.16 until the Oban control (738km) closes on Sunday at 03.21 (or when the last rider has left Oban if this is later, subject to an absolute drop dead time of 0700 when the van will leave for Edinburgh). 

Thanks to Robert McCready who rode a recent 200 on the Kintyre peninsula we now know that the petrol station in Lochgilphead has a Tesco Extra that opens at 0600 [EDIT - with a coffee machine  :thumbsup:] and that the Marine Cafe in Tarbert (just off route by about 20m) opens at 0700 which will be good for all but the quickest.  They have offered to open early for us and once I know numbers better I will make contact.       

I was up in the highlands on holiday and can confirm that the garage at Tyndrum does indeed have a tap outside.       
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 16 May, 2018, 05:53:24 pm
Given we will pass Tyndrum in the night, likely both ways; is the tap obvious amongst the shadows? Near the pumps or outside the Green Welly entrance?
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: tally51 on 16 May, 2018, 09:50:33 pm
I had the pleasure of being up in Kinlochleven last weekend so checked out the tap at the Green Welly Shop.  The one I found was round the back of the main buildings.  From the road head to the right of the main buildings through the car park.  At the back is a block of toilets and the tap's on the outside wall of that building.

Picked up a bit of info on Kinlochleven opening times - the co-op (on the right as come into town) is open at 7 am, the cafe at the Ice Factor (on the right just before crossing the river) is open from 9am, and the Tailrace pub (on the left just after the river) serves breakfast from 8am.  Out of hours the cash point is on the wall of the Aluminium Story building, which is set back from the road on the right just before the Ice Factor.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 16 May, 2018, 10:03:27 pm
Given we will pass Tyndrum in the night, likely both ways; is the tap obvious amongst the shadows? Near the pumps or outside the Green Welly entrance?
it faces the road right next to the shop at the petrol pumps.  I say this to be proved wrong, but you cant miss it. 

Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 17 May, 2018, 07:01:53 pm
Great, I will try not to prove you wrong. It is on my list of planned top up points.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Ajax Bay on 17 May, 2018, 07:31:11 pm
Given we will pass Tyndrum in the night, likely both ways; is the tap obvious amongst the shadows? Near the pumps or outside the Green Welly entrance?
Tap is at the base of the 'Green Welly' access ramp outside (to the left of) the 'Snack Stop Cafe' entrance. There is another right round the back which tally51 found.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bagman on 21 May, 2018, 06:14:16 pm
Just to add to the fuel stops found these from Google maps and Street view:

461km Garage 24hrs
519km Garage 07:30
545km Garage 07:00
745km Garage 24hrs
806km Londis 07:30
824km Garage 07:00

Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Ajax Bay on 22 May, 2018, 10:29:11 am
Just to add to the fuel stops found these from Google maps and Street view:

461km Garage 24hrs
519km Garage 07:30
545km Garage 07:00
745km Garage 24hrs
806km Londis 07:30
824km Garage 07:00
Just to add location names to those:
461km Garage 24hrs Dunbeg (Esso) - see GW's info sheet.
519km Garage 07:30 Glencoe
545km Garage 07:00 N Ballahulish
745km Garage 24hrs Dunbeg (Esso) - see GW's info sheet (NB only 10km before Oban).
806km Londis 07:30 Crianlarich - see GW's info sheet.
824km Garage 07:00 Lix Toll (Killin road junction with A85)

Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Ajax Bay on 23 May, 2018, 10:49:35 am
Reposting the Midge Forecast link!"5" around Ballahulish/Glencoe [Spinal Tap: "these go to 11"]
https://www.smidgeup.com/midge-forecast/
Smidge is stocked on the Acharacle village store - the control at 593km.
If you have to wait for the Corran ferry (on the way back), from Ardgour, the pub overlooking the jetty is open (closed to midges) and serves food.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 23 May, 2018, 02:07:46 pm
Not long now. Getting in the mood.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1yYDuSf3C4
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Ajax Bay on 23 May, 2018, 02:42:20 pm
Not long now. Getting in the mood.
http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/18-178/
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 23 May, 2018, 04:18:14 pm
Been through the latest tracks supplied. Confirmed I had marked the controls correctly and only needed to move one waypoint to mark Oban van location.  Also noted final bit of track of Edinburgh has changed. I guess for a better route to pub.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 23 May, 2018, 04:41:04 pm
Been through the latest tracks supplied. Confirmed I had marked the controls correctly and only needed to move one waypoint to mark Oban van location.  Also noted final bit of track of Edinburgh has changed. I guess for a better route to pub.
Yes, the last leg has been tweaked to reflect the exact finish location and <edit> - to avoid - the hideous roadworks nr Haymarket.

I was out Sunday eyeballing the Dunning info control and the sad events below <might> come into play.  The diversion is well signed (its manned by Police Scotland) and adds 1.1km. 

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/major-police-probe-suspicious-death-12538256
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Feanor on 23 May, 2018, 06:10:09 pm
Hmm, s'pose I'd better start thinking about this shenanigans...
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 23 May, 2018, 06:29:02 pm
Not long now. Getting in the mood.

https://youtu.be/WzUlj6eTehA
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 23 May, 2018, 11:43:57 pm
Not long now. Getting in the mood.

https://youtu.be/WzUlj6eTehA

Midge Ure
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 24 May, 2018, 09:37:22 am
Just for fun, I put the route into weatherbagel.com, with an average of 14kmh to account for my anticpated schedule with planned sleep stops (YMMV, obviously).
http://www.weatherbagel.com/f/c8cf51f4-c42e-4ab2-8b75-a345e3cbca8a

On the plus side, it's saying no rain. On the other hand, we could have a nice headwind to look forward to riding back up the coast from Campbeltown to Oban... I don't take these things as being in any way reliable though, and will be packing waterproofs to appease the weather gods.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: rob on 24 May, 2018, 09:55:34 am
I wanted to do this ride but decided against it due to the close proximity of a 100m TT that I really wanted to focus on.

Said TT was cancelled last week due to roadworks.     
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 24 May, 2018, 10:02:58 am
I wanted to do this ride but decided against it due to the close proximity of a 100m TT that I really wanted to focus on.

Said TT was cancelled last week due to roadworks.     

Boo!

Though assuming you mean the KCA 100, it sounds like they were struggling to get enough marshals anyway.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Ajax Bay on 24 May, 2018, 10:07:03 am
we could have a nice headwind to look forward to riding back up the coast from Campbeltown to Oban... I  will be packing waterproofs to appease the weather gods.
This forecast suggests the wind up Kintyre will be a side wind:
https://www.ventusky.com/?p=56.26;-5.38;7&l=wind-10m&t=20180601/12
"Waterproofs" plural?
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 24 May, 2018, 10:12:09 am
On the plus side, it's saying no rain. On the other hand, we could have a nice headwind to look forward to riding back up the coast from Campbeltown to Oban... I don't take these things as being in any way reliable though, and will be packing waterproofs to appease the weather gods.

WAWA in 2016 the forecast the day before it started showed no rain in first 3 days i.e. 1000km.  So I packed my jacket in the 600km bag drop i.e. Pick up end of day 2.  It started raining about 10am day 2 and did not stop till pretty much end of day 3.  Day 4 was then dry.  Beware the forecast :-)
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 24 May, 2018, 10:14:24 am
"Waterproofs" plural?

Is it worth taking any chances? ;)
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 24 May, 2018, 12:06:51 pm
Route from Waveley to Haymarket start mapped out.  Route from finish to hotel mapped out.  Hotel booking printed.  Train bike reservations printed. Suppose I had best go get my train tickets out of the machine as bound not to be working next Thu.

My train gets in at 16:13.  Anybody arriving a similar time and planning on getting something to eat / drink before the start?  Aiming to ride down to Haymarket first and get something around there.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 24 May, 2018, 12:49:03 pm
My train isn’t due in until 18.22 but let me know where you’re heading and I might join you. Definitely intending to have a good feed before the start.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 24 May, 2018, 01:10:42 pm
No idea yet, I am thinking pizza or chinese or something.  Which station are you coming in to?
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 24 May, 2018, 02:06:29 pm
Waverley.

Just had a quick look at what options there are in the area. There's a Wetherspoons round the back of Waverley station. And it's Curry Club on Thursday evenings! Might just stick to that - Wetherspoons are usually a safe bet.

Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 24 May, 2018, 02:31:04 pm
Got an outside seating area as well by looks of things. Will consider. Suppose I could bring my kindle to read, then put in bag drop during ride.

Train tickets now collected.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: rob on 24 May, 2018, 02:51:40 pm
I wanted to do this ride but decided against it due to the close proximity of a 100m TT that I really wanted to focus on.

Said TT was cancelled last week due to roadworks.     

Boo!

Though assuming you mean the KCA 100, it sounds like they were struggling to get enough marshals anyway.

Actually I was riding the ECCA - which is a much faster course but not very pretty.   I have volunteered to marshall at the KCA instead but not heard back from the Org.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: pieeater on 24 May, 2018, 05:11:45 pm
I get into Waverley at 16:20 (same train ?) and The Booking Office looks like the nearest hostelry. It's also (almost !) downhill to Haymarket ! See whoever in there ?
Getting excited now !
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 24 May, 2018, 05:49:30 pm
I get into Waverley at 16:20 (same train ?) and The Booking Office looks like the nearest hostelry. It's also (almost !) downhill to Haymarket ! See whoever in there ?
Getting excited now !

Mine definitely gets in at 16:13 so different trains. But near enough same time.  Ok The Booking Office it is.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Feanor on 24 May, 2018, 06:01:57 pm
Waverley.

Just had a quick look at what options there are in the area. There's a Wetherspoons round the back of Waverley station. And it's Curry Club on Thursday evenings! Might just stick to that - Wetherspoons are usually a safe bet.

There's an indoor centre called the Omni Centre about 5 minutes walk from Waverly, and also about a 5 minute walk from Feanor Outposts, where I will be based.
https://www.omniedinburgh.co.uk/

It has all the usual chain eateries:
https://www.omniedinburgh.co.uk/Shopping?class=food

The Lloyds No1 Bar is a 'spoons:
https://www.omniedinburgh.co.uk/Store?id=1641
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 24 May, 2018, 06:32:08 pm
There's an indoor centre called the Omni Centre about 5 minutes walk from Waverly

Good to know. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 24 May, 2018, 06:50:02 pm
Choices , choices
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bagman on 24 May, 2018, 09:06:14 pm
I assume the Control @ Inveraray 195km is the ATM
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 24 May, 2018, 09:32:09 pm
I assume the Control @ Inveraray 195km is the ATM
its an info control
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 24 May, 2018, 09:41:50 pm
Waverley.

Just had a quick look at what options there are in the area. There's a Wetherspoons round the back of Waverley station. And it's Curry Club on Thursday evenings! Might just stick to that - Wetherspoons are usually a safe bet.

There's an indoor centre called the Omni Centre about 5 minutes walk from Waverly, and also about a 5 minute walk from Feanor Outposts, where I will be based.
https://www.omniedinburgh.co.uk/

It has all the usual chain eateries:
https://www.omniedinburgh.co.uk/Shopping?class=food

The Lloyds No1 Bar is a 'spoons:
https://www.omniedinburgh.co.uk/Store?id=1641

Given I will only be bringing what I call the pub lock I prefer eating somewhere I can keep an eye on the bike. Does the indoor place allow you to wheel you bike in to wherever you are eating? The Booking
Office appeals as it has a small outdoor section to sit in and eat near to bikes locked to railings.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 24 May, 2018, 10:25:07 pm
Just noticed that the ride has been awarded 9.25 AAA points. My highest annual AAA total to date is 4 points...  :o
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: drgannet on 25 May, 2018, 07:41:13 am
Just noticed that the ride has been awarded 9.25 AAA points. My highest annual AAA total to date is 4 points...  :o

An updated climbing figure of 10900 which sounds closer to the mark. I decided not to take the fixed a while ago...
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 25 May, 2018, 09:22:27 am
Just noticed that the ride has been awarded 9.25 AAA points. My highest annual AAA total to date is 4 points...  :o

The rate of climbing required for AAA is lower for longer events.  Plus I think we are just seeing more and more events get assessed for AAA; particularly if they are new.  I believe there is now some automated contour counting stuff run by the AAA man in the background.  The rate of climbing is equivalent to what you might get riding round Hertfordshire; though a 1000km round Hertfordshire might make you dizzy. 

Remind me, I said this, when my legs are tired.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Ajax Bay on 25 May, 2018, 10:49:20 am
The rate of climbing required for AAA is lower for longer events.  . . . there is now some automated contour counting stuff run by the AAA man in the background.
I think the AAA man has been busy. Careful selection, automated or not, of a 'start' and 'finish' point for the 'hilly' section seems key. The 'flattish' ACME Grand has recently been awarded 9 AAA points and even Ian H's Old Roads (tomorrow in Devon and across the Somerset Levels) has mysteriously gained 3 (note: AAA man is riding).
The (west coast) train arriving at 1620 at Waverley stops at Haymarket 5 minutes earlier.
The routesheet has Inveraray down as: 195   CONTROL - INVERARAY
cf the next control: 272   INFO CONTROL @ JUNCTION IN CLAONAIG
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 25 May, 2018, 11:03:01 am
Selection for AAA is automated as well I believe.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 25 May, 2018, 11:03:45 am
The routesheet has Inveraray down as: 195   CONTROL - INVERARAY
cf the next control: 272   INFO CONTROL @ JUNCTION IN CLAONAIG

Yep that works out correct

(https://www.dropbox.com/s/ojtrmeuk9jgnrft/HW1000.JPG?raw=1)
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Ajax Bay on 25 May, 2018, 11:21:38 am
Phil - I was not suggesting that the distances were in error. "cf" means 'compared with' and I used these entries in the context of description of type of control.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 25 May, 2018, 11:27:59 am
Phil - I was not suggesting that the distances were in error. "cf" means 'compared with' and I used these entries in the context of description of type of control.

In which case what was your point regards those controls; one being a receipt and one being an Info?
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 25 May, 2018, 11:50:25 am
Phil - I was not suggesting that the distances were in error. "cf" means 'compared with' and I used these entries in the context of description of type of control.

In which case what was your point regards those controls; one being a receipt and one being an Info?

Graeme mentioned upthread in reply to Bagman's query that Inverary is an Info. Might be nice to have confirmation either way in advance, but I'm sure it will all become clear once we get our brevet cards.

ETA: this is what it currently says on the calendar listing:
"Controls at Comrie, Campbeltown, Oban, Kinlochleven, Oban, Perth and Dunblane, plus 8 information controls."

So presumably the first Dunblane control, Inveraray and Acharacle are Infos, which is at odds with the routesheet. The rest seem to be in accord with the routesheet.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 25 May, 2018, 12:46:38 pm
Hi there.  Alll should become clear when brevet cards are dished out but in the interests of pre event clarity and consistency (which I know Id like if I were a participant) I've updated the routesheet to label all info controls as such

I was hoping some places like Inveraray might not need an info control but given cards had to be ordered a few days ago, I played safe by changing to Infos, and the routesheet hadn't quite caught up til now

Just to recap

The manned controls (other than start / finish) are
 
1.   Comrie White Church Hall
2.   Oban (north)
3.   Oban (south)

The 8  info controls are

1.   Dunblane (out)
2.   Inverarary
3.   Claonaig
4.   Loch Creran
5.   Acharacle
6.   Lochailort
7.   Dunning
8.   Culross

The 4 “commercial” ie get a receipt controls are

1.   Campbeltown
2.   Kinlochleven
3.   Perth
4.   Dunblane (back)

Of course I'll take a receipt as POP even at an info control (possible at all Info Controls with the exception of Loch Creran which struggles even for Info control fodder!) and if all else fails get a photo on your phone. 
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 25 May, 2018, 01:53:05 pm
Phil - I was not suggesting that the distances were in error. "cf" means 'compared with' and I used these entries in the context of description of type of control.

In which case what was your point regards those controls; one being a receipt and one being an Info?

Graeme mentioned upthread in reply to Bagman's query that Inverary is an Info. Might be nice to have confirmation either way in advance, but I'm sure it will all become clear once we get our brevet cards.

ETA: this is what it currently says on the calendar listing:
"Controls at Comrie, Campbeltown, Oban, Kinlochleven, Oban, Perth and Dunblane, plus 8 information controls."

So presumably the first Dunblane control, Inveraray and Acharacle are Infos, which is at odds with the routesheet. The rest seem to be in accord with the routesheet.

Ah, context is everything, got it.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 25 May, 2018, 02:00:39 pm
My waypoint prefixes for each control have been updated to reflect above.

CONTROL
INFO
MANNED
VAN

Plus I have updated my master list which includes the cafe, shop, water locations as well. I do plan to eat at a few of the info locations anyway as according to my calcs I should get there when a shop or cafe is open.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 25 May, 2018, 02:19:14 pm
I do plan to eat at a few of the info locations anyway as according to my calcs I should get there when a shop or cafe is open.

Yeah, same here - the Londis by the arch on the way in to Inverary opens at 7am. I doubt I'll get there any earlier than that.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Ajax Bay on 25 May, 2018, 03:35:21 pm
Cycle Shops (I've built on Graeme's list and added opening times)
Lochgilphead: Crinan Cycles, in the village: Argyll St (0930-1730) NB: Only one on Kintyre
Oban.  David Graham Cycles 13-15 Combie St, Oban PA34 4HN. 01631 562069 
Oban Cycles 87 George St, Oban PA34 5NN, obancyclescotland.com 01631 566033 Open 10am – 5pm
Ft William: Nevis Cycles (Inverlochy, R at roundabout just before Ft William, after ‘Gleaner’ filling station) (F&C shop round the corner from the shop) 01397 705555. Open till 5:30pm
https://www.neviscycles.com/
Fort William Off beat Bikes 117 High St, Fort William PH33 6DG offbeatbikes.co.uk 01397 704008
Opposite little pier and visible from the A82 ‘through road’ with convenient pedestrian crossing egress from fenced dual carriageway. Open till 5:30pm. Pierhead Takeway adjacent.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 25 May, 2018, 04:27:28 pm
Yeah, same here - the Londis by the arch on the way in to Inverary opens at 7am. I doubt I'll get there any earlier than that.

Funny enough, yeah that is one on the list of places to top up water and food after that first overnight section.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Roberto on 25 May, 2018, 09:00:33 pm
There is also a new co-op as you head out of Inverary which opens at 7am and has a coffee machine in store
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Feanor on 26 May, 2018, 09:57:15 pm
Mrs F has been in town today, and has come home with a "Compact Mosquito/Midge Head Net", F, For the use of.

I *really* need to start thinking about this ride, as it's only a few days away.
I've not even looked at the GPX tracks yet.
But I do have a fair idea where they go.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 27 May, 2018, 08:01:15 pm
New gear cables today. Not because I am being meticulous , just that rear cable on loan bike snapped yesterday.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Ajax Bay on 28 May, 2018, 12:12:39 pm
. . . will be packing waterproofs to appease the weather gods.
Take your pick. Yr.no suggests rain for parts of Friday but clear and warm (but not too warm) at the weekend.
https://www.yr.no/place/United_Kingdom/Scotland/Oban/long.html
Ventusky, on the other hand, offers the odd light shower here and there and some heavier rain for those who venture near Fort William mid Saturday afternoon.
https://www.ventusky.com/?p=56.17;-4.83;6&l=rain-3h&t=20180602/15
Given the generally light winds throughout, I'm surprised the midge forecast isn't more threatening (from Ballahulish north).
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 28 May, 2018, 12:39:42 pm
I'll take a bit of rain in exchange for warmth and light breezes.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 28 May, 2018, 02:37:25 pm
Today's excursion and the gears were shifting lovely. The difference fresh cables, bit of grease, and barrel,adjuster tuning can do.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 28 May, 2018, 08:36:11 pm
Went out to the garage to fettle the bike this afternoon and noticed this:
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1747/27545093137_6daff342a2_n.jpg)

Bollocks. Guess I'll be carrying both spare power banks then.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Ajax Bay on 28 May, 2018, 09:29:36 pm
Went out to the garage to fettle the bike this afternoon and noticed this:
Better to spot it now than have it fail at Tyndrum. With a bit of good timing and reasonable 'on the road' speed we should be able to spend the Friday and Saturday night dark hours in bed and just need a bit of light on Sunday evening (if full value).
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 28 May, 2018, 09:44:07 pm
It's only a minor inconvenience, fortunately. Lights are still working fine. And you're right - better to spot it now. Still annoying though.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: pieeater on 29 May, 2018, 12:21:01 pm
Given your notional ave speed (14kmh) then I shouldn't be too far away from you (at least earlier on !). You'd be welcome to top-up your power banks from my Igaro.  My "bollocks" moment was last year, and thence duly paid out on a new unit, which has been very carefully mounted !
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 29 May, 2018, 01:14:10 pm
Given your notional ave speed (14kmh) then I shouldn't be too far away from you (at least earlier on !). You'd be welcome to top-up your power banks from my Igaro.  My "bollocks" moment was last year, and thence duly paid out on a new unit, which has been very carefully mounted !

Very kind of you, thanks. I think I'll be OK though - I've got a 10Ah and a 16Ah power bank which ought to be more than enough to see me through. Only really my phone and Garmin that might need topping up.

I've got battery lights but they're backups to the dynamo lights, so hopefully I won't need them!

Changing the subject, I've just had another look at Ventusky and it's now predicting heavy showers on the west coast on Friday afternoon - as well as rain on Saturday afternoon around the Fort William area. Temperatures aren't looking too bad though, and wind is still promising to be very light.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: pieeater on 29 May, 2018, 01:31:28 pm
Cool, probably need it for charging my legs, let alone lights !
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 29 May, 2018, 02:46:32 pm
I have a £14.99 PAYG phone with 21 days between charging.  Otherwise phone can be turned off and just used for emergency use as needed. Never understood the need to charge a phone on a 3 day ride, unless you are doing lots of social media updates I guess. GPS is an Etrex so that just needs 6 AA batteries to last the course.

Just been sorting out bivvy options for the Sat night.  Since unless you intend to leave Oban on or after the deadline, you aren't going to get any much value out of booked accommodation.  I see there is a Wetherspoons in Oban open till 1am that can be used for skulking in before heading out into Sat night / Sun morning.

To do a 3 days ride in the Highlands of Scotland without some rain at some point would be unusual.  I am packing expecting rain for periods and anything else is a bonus.  Also do not underestimate how cold it may get below the forecasts temps  at night . 
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 29 May, 2018, 04:40:11 pm
Never understood the need to charge a phone on a 3 day ride, unless you are doing lots of social media updates I guess.

I probably could make my phone battery last the duration if I were careful, but I'd rather not be constrained to being careful. 

Quote
Just been sorting out bivvy options for the Sat night.  Since unless you intend to leave Oban on or after the deadline, you aren't going to get any much value out of booked accommodation.

Depends what you value. I'm not anticipating getting a full night's sleep on Saturday but a shower and a proper bed for at least a few hours will be very welcome.

Quote
Also do not underestimate how cold it may get below the forecasts temps  at night . 

Yes, I've been caught out by unexpectedly low night-time temperatures before. Not making that mistake again!
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Ajax Bay on 29 May, 2018, 11:43:24 pm
We have 267k to crack on Sunday. At 18kph that's less than 15 hours and even if you want to get to Monty's for 8pm, a 5am start will do (though I'll probably go for dawn), and I shall get 'full value'ish out of my second night in the YH. And I aim to be well rested and not mucking around at the dead of night in the cold trying to make things 'ard.
Title: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 30 May, 2018, 07:29:37 am
I was thinking along the same lines - 5am sounds like a sensible start time on Sunday, maybe slightly earlier. Dawn is 3.39am, sunrise 4.39am.

The lure of Monty’s will be a good inducement to not be too late out of bed on Sunday morning though.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 30 May, 2018, 09:42:27 am
You are both probably right but I find it hard to break my routine of leaving a sleep control with decent time in hand.  The navigation is easy on good roads, A85,A82, A85. There are hostels not fully booked at 2 and 3 hours further along the route if I am running well and do decide upon a bed. Failing that there are some unlocked shelters further along and just off the route (within a km) where I would be able to get a decent sleep for 2-3 hours with no one snoring or rustling; and leave still ahead of time limit.

But of course if you come across me asleep on the verge. Please give me a prod!
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 30 May, 2018, 09:59:41 am
You are both probably right but I find it hard to break my routine of leaving a sleep control with decent time in hand.

I am mindful of your vastly superior experience on longer rides - anything above 650km is unknown territory for me. A lot will depend on what time I get back to Oban on Saturday and how I feel by then...
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 30 May, 2018, 11:38:21 am
Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow evening. 

The last few days have been a bit hectic with much purchasing of food, double checking arrangements for van hire, key pick up, brevet cards, popping into Montys Bar just to check they still had our booking (honest!) as well as the inevitable flurry of last minute DNSs.  I've just printed the hard copy start sheet so no more DNS allowed now.   

Weather forecast looks almost as good as it could get, and my mother in law who lives in Ft William tells me that its been too hot and dry for the midgies to make an appearance.  If thats the case it would be a tremendous bonus.   

Im unlikely to post again here pre event so safe travels and see you at Haymarket tomorrow night. 

Graeme
       
EDIT - ps - take care on the underpass beneath the A90 just over 8km.  It looked potentially a bit slippy on Saturday and with a group of riders could pose a bit of a hazard.  take it easy. 


Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 30 May, 2018, 11:55:13 am
East Coast main line signalling issues and trains cancelled today. arghhh. Hope it is resolved / ok tomorrow.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 30 May, 2018, 01:43:05 pm
Keeping an eye on the live train times. Looks like trains from KX to Edinburgh are being delayed by about an hour but are getting through.

Fingers crossed it will be fixed by tomorrow.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 30 May, 2018, 01:53:56 pm
Been in touch with Virgin East Coast.  They will be publishing any service disruptions from 6am tomorrow.  I am not on the direct KX to Edinburgh till further up the East Coast line and have another connecting train first.   That other train got cancelled today.  But if up earlier enough I can hopefully still make the connecting station despite what may be happening. The alternate is to head south earlier to KX and catch the train from there. But will decide what to do when I know how disrupted it looks tomorrow.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: pieeater on 30 May, 2018, 02:08:22 pm
Turns out the train I'm actually on (the back-up train has now been cancelled !) arrives at 20 past 5. So see you in "spoons shortly thereafter !
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: D.A.L.E. on 30 May, 2018, 02:16:10 pm
I'm no longer playing out. Fell ill last week, spent too much time in bed, triggered recurring shoulder injury. FML.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Revolution9 on 30 May, 2018, 03:10:27 pm
Getting a bit nervous all of a sudden.

See you all tomorrow
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: How Far on 30 May, 2018, 04:29:51 pm
Getting a bit nervous all of a sudden.

See you all tomorrow

You re not the only one Getting a bit nervous ;-)

Just hope the weather is kind,

Rich...
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Feanor on 30 May, 2018, 06:04:20 pm
I haz 3 piles-o-stuff:

-What I plan to wear setting out;
-What I plan to take on the bike;
-What I plan to put in the drop-bag.

Plus a bag-o-stuff for taking to Edinburgh, not related to cycling, just normal stuffs.

I'm going to need to rationalise this a bit...
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 30 May, 2018, 07:26:41 pm
Ditto nervous.  Although slightly less so having spoken to Glencoe youth hostel, and confirmed arrangements for late arrival on Friday night, so that Plan A is back on track.  Also have 3 piles of stuff for 2 bags.  So will probably repack.  Will be the last great ride for my yellow Roberts before the Enigma machine arrives - 2 PBPs and a Mille Alba amongst a lifetime of Audaxing on it.  Then it's going to the shop for a strip down, repaint and rebuild and a little bit of a rest.  Also getting excited, about riding through the highlands through the first night and meeting dawn in the middle of nowhere.  Have climbed most of the Munros that overlook the route long ago, so hoping to bring back memories as well as make new ones.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bagman on 30 May, 2018, 08:11:07 pm
Just had a pub meal in Middleton Tyas. Then went to the crossroads I travelled through on LEL.
Tomorrow's drive is taking the LEL route from Edinburgh in reverse including Langholm where my adventure ended.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Maverick on 31 May, 2018, 08:54:44 am
Looking forward to meeting old and new faces at Comrie tonight. Safe travels to Edinburgh  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: How Far on 31 May, 2018, 09:58:02 am
Does anyone now roughly how many o us re setting o tonight?
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Jaded on 31 May, 2018, 09:59:00 am
Midges were out last evening.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: fimm on 31 May, 2018, 10:20:04 pm
I assume this is what all the guys with road bikes with (mostly) more luggage than standard were waiting for at Haymarket this evening about 7:30?
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Pingu on 31 May, 2018, 10:25:34 pm
Probly.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 01 June, 2018, 07:38:17 am
Midges were out last evening.

You weren’t joking.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 01 June, 2018, 07:38:30 am
I assume this is what all the guys with road bikes with (mostly) more luggage than standard were waiting for at Haymarket this evening about 7:30?

Yep.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: whosatthewheel on 01 June, 2018, 08:56:52 am
Weather warning on the first day... stay safe out there
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Maverick on 01 June, 2018, 09:44:59 am
A speedy first leg to Comrie for all riders last night meant we got the control packed up much earlier than expected so I had more sleep last night than I anticipated.  :thumbsup: Good to see a few familiar faces and a lot of new ones while stamping cards. 63 riders started out and 1 DNS before Comrie, so 62 riders out on the road. Thank you to all the riders for being so excellent last night.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: D.A.L.E. on 01 June, 2018, 10:06:57 am
Who’s winning?
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: D.A.L.E. on 01 June, 2018, 10:07:28 am
Midges were out last evening.

You weren’t joking.
Russell Carson has a great photo on Instagram  ;D
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 01 June, 2018, 11:24:34 am
just about to head to Oban.  Will try and get some action shots - any worthy pics I will post on twitter. 
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 01 June, 2018, 04:41:46 pm
First riders through Oban 456km at 1630. 

Ive popped some signs up but the luggage van is in the coach park in lochavulin industrial estate, nr Tesco. 
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: whosatthewheel on 01 June, 2018, 04:52:31 pm
First riders through Oban 456km at 1630. 

Ive popped some signs up but the luggage van is in the coach park in lochavulin industrial estate, nr Tesco.

20 hr 30 min to cover 456 km is pretty good going...  :o
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: marlan on 01 June, 2018, 08:42:26 pm
I’m cycle touring around the West Coast, saw a few riders at Tarbert this afternoon including Audax Club Bristol guys (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180601/0d9eefa793b213b73fd8616b187ccee9.jpg)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 02 June, 2018, 09:33:04 am
51 out on the road on leg 2.  Expecting nobody back in Oban til maybe 5pm.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 02 June, 2018, 05:54:26 pm
First rider back to Oban 1640 thats the 730km mark.  50 on the road now.  Expecting a few quick turnarounds overnight. 

Raining in Oban now after a sunny dry and warm day.  It doesnt look like more than a shower though albeit a heavy one. 
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: whosatthewheel on 02 June, 2018, 06:00:29 pm
First rider back to Oban 1640 thats the 730km mark.  50 on the road now.  Expecting a few quick turnarounds overnight. 

Raining in Oban now after a sunny dry and warm day.  It doesnt look like more than a shower though albeit a heavy one.

730 km in less than 45 hours... that is again very good going!!  30 hours to do the remaining 270 km is a pretty healthy margin, I would say... even if he was to sleep 12 hours tonight...  ;D
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 03 June, 2018, 05:32:44 am
Thats everybody now left Oban with around 270km to go.  Most are in surprisingly good spirits.

The showers of last night have long gone and its overcast and mild, 16 degrees at 0530 isnt bad. 
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 03 June, 2018, 08:37:26 pm
Well, I done it. Got back to Edinburgh about an hour ago and currently enjoying the excellent post-ride hospitality at Monty’s. Brilliant ride. Seriously tough but hugely rewarding. Astonished I completed it but somehow I did. Though I don’t think my knees will ever forgive me.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Hot Flatus on 03 June, 2018, 08:40:29 pm
Well done  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Feanor on 03 June, 2018, 08:47:18 pm
Got back about 2.30, as a group of 5 who had ridden much of it together.
Amazing luck with the weather, less so with the midges.
Off a 1.30 start in Oban today, we were too early through Perth for a beeakfast cafe, but we made up for it with ablow-out in Corrieris a bit further on.
That got our batteries back in the right way round for the final leg back to Embra.

Met a few OTP for the first time, including CET and Phil W.

Thanks the G and M for manning the bag drop van all hours in Oban, and to G for organising ans Sonya for stamping the cards at the end.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1614846092
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Mark Walsh on 03 June, 2018, 11:46:29 pm
Just wanted to thank M & G as well for running 4 hour shifts at the back drop van in Oban and for organising a ride through endless stunning scenery.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Oli L on 04 June, 2018, 08:35:09 am
A big thanks again to Graeme for such a well-organised event and to both him and Martin for dutifully manning the bag drop all hours. You can't put a price on fresh socks on the final day ;-)

I rode the event mostly solo (apart from a part of the night stretch where I met Chris Asher and a few others), starting later on Sat/Sun mornings to maximise sleep/recovery and then keeping a fast tempo, which worked out well for a 5pm arrivee despite leaving Oban at nearly 6am.

Highlights were of course particularly the scenery which photos don't quite do justice to, especially the stretch at Glenuig in the scorching sun. Also a proper Arrivee with food and drink laid on really leant the finish a sense of ceremony and I think added to riders' sense of achievement and was a wonderful opportunity to catch up with those we'd met out on the road and to compare stories.

Thanks again. And see you Saturday Martin ;-)
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 04 June, 2018, 09:13:14 am
I rode the event mostly solo (apart from a part of the night stretch where I met Chris Asher and a few others), starting later on Sat/Sun mornings to maximise sleep/recovery and then keeping a fast tempo, which worked out well for a 5pm arrivee despite leaving Oban at nearly 6am.

You must be the same Oli I rode with (very) briefly on Saturday morning when you caught up with me at the Loch Creran info. Not entirely surprised I didn't see you again!

Agreed about the scenery - I took a few pics along the way but mostly didn't bother because there's no way an iphone camera could do justice to the stunning views.

And yes, to echo everyone else, thanks to Graeme for organising such a fantastic event, and to Martin and Sonya for their support, and anyone else who was involved behind the scenes and at the Comrie control.

I ended up staying at Monty's until gone 11pm last night. I was waiting for the arrival of a few riders I'd spent time with on the ride - a couple of them had been struggling the last time I saw them so I was keen to see them make it to the finish. I needn't have worried, they all turned up with plenty of time to spare and in pretty good spirits. After that, I was just enjoying the good company, and the good beer (and, ahem, the excellent whisky). One of those riders was Ian of Four Corners Audax (don't think he is OTP) who was very good to me on Friday evening. We had both arrived at Campbeltown in a real state after that brutal stretch down the coast road and after struggling to get some food inside ourselves at Café Bluebell, made a pact to stick together for the ride back to Oban. We made good progress as far as Tarbert but then I started to fall apart while Ian seemed to be making a recovery. But he stuck with me all the way, waiting at the top of every climb, and keeping my mind off the suffering with an endless stream of anecdotes.

I believe the last three riders finished less than half an hour to spare, which I'm guessing was a deliberate strategy since from chatting to them briefly I think they must be very experienced riders who've done a lot of this sort of thing before. (I suppose that would also be why Sonya didn't seem at all concerned that they still hadn't arrived at 10.30pm.)

There's a lot more to say about this ride... might write up a full report later if I get round to it...
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 04 June, 2018, 09:36:12 am
Morning. 

Heres how it ended up

Entries : 101
Starters : 63
Finishers : 51

So, lots more DNS than other events I've put on, but fewer DNFs.  I was struck by how unfailingly cheery every participant was, even when clearly very tired.  That made it rewarding for us too. 

It was also great to give folk the opportunity to hang about at the finish and enjoy a drink and some grub, I managed to judge the bar tab just about perfectly so the books still balance this morning (just) largely thanks to a high number of DNS riders.   

Thanks to all the helpers whether at Comrie, Oban or at the finish.  The van turned out to be the wisest investment of all, it even doubled as a studio flat in the early hours of Sunday. 

The idea of using Oban as base at the end of legs 1 and 2 seemed to work reasonably well.  There aren't that many places in Scotland that hit the sweet spot of being big enough but not too big for that sort of thing. 

I'm looking forward to hearing your stories and Im very much looking forward to simply riding an audax event next Saturday.   

Graeme

Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 04 June, 2018, 09:37:54 am
Brilliant ride. Seriously tough but hugely rewarding.

On Sunday morning, I rode for a while with Bob of VC167 (I don't think he is OTP but I'm sure many of you will know who I mean). He was telling me about the Mille Alba, which on reflection sounds like it is far more deserving of being described as 'seriously tough'. This one was certainly challenging but most of the climbing was of the enjoyable kind, except for that road, which I'm just not talking about.

Quote
Astonished I completed it but somehow I did. Though I don’t think my knees will ever forgive me.

To give an idea of how woefully underprepared I was, my Strava log shows that with this ride I have more than doubled my total mileage for the year to date.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1616118769
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 04 June, 2018, 10:06:49 am
For those interested here's a rough breakdown of the events finances

In : Entry fees : £1784

Out (in descending order)

Monty's bar : £825 (a thirsty and hungry lot......:D) though I think I now qualify for platinum membership.   
Oban accommodation : £290 (we booked late and got ripped off, though we did need somewhere central to make the 4 hr shifts bearable)
Van hire and parking : £205
Food : £195
Comrie Hall hire : £68
Validation : £51
Brevet cards : £32
Postage : £25

I think that leaves about £100 that Im sure would have been spent on other stuff eg treating Martin to his lunch on Saturday, buying cable ties etc etc.

G



Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Rod Marton on 04 June, 2018, 10:10:49 am
Many thanks again for an excellent ride, challenging without being too challenging, and thoroughly enjoyable. A chance to visit some new areas and revisit others I haven't been to in a long time. It must be said that we were extremely fortunate with the weather, less so with the midges (though perhaps I have been lucky in the past) who seemed to enjoy their nocturnal meals from me immensely. So much so that the desire to stop and eat something was usually outweighed by the discomfort of stopping and being eaten.

I had planned to do a fairly fast ride, as the logistics of getting a train home on Sunday evening worked out much better than Monday morning (for some reason all the bike spaces were booked then). But I was surprised to be one of the first finishers. My thanks to Colin (I believe OTP) and his Garmin for guiding me through Edinburgh's cycleways, even if we had some problems finding the bar.

The only problem I found during the event was the Corran House hostel in Oban, which is definitely not Audax friendly with (among other issues) a loud bar until 2.30am, when I got fed up and left. This, of course, was completely beyond the control of the organiser, and I had only booked this as I had entered quite late and other more obvious places were full. The riders who went on to Glencoe on the first night probably had the better strategy, certainly pushing on to Crianlarich on the second worked well, even though it hurt a bit at the time.

As someone else has said, there's lot's more could be said about this event, but overall - excellent.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Redlight on 04 June, 2018, 10:11:39 am
Congratulations to the organisers and to everyone who completed this - it sounds like an epic and enviable ride. Citoyen - I'm looking forward to hearing your account next time we're on the gentle roads of Kent together.

It's sad, though, that there were so many non-starters, given that the event had reached its capacity some time back and there may well have been many others who would have liked to have ridden.  The organisers have obviously put in a tremendous amount of planning and hard work to mount the event and I can't help feeling a tad disappointed on their behalf.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: whosatthewheel on 04 June, 2018, 10:23:20 am
It's sad, though, that there were so many non-starters, given that the event had reached its capacity some time back and there may well have been many others who would have liked to have ridden.  The organisers have obviously put in a tremendous amount of planning and hard work to mount the event and I can't help feeling a tad disappointed on their behalf.

I think there is a case for having a two step system to enter these long events... pay a non refundable deposit upfront that gives enough to the organiser to put up the event (basically everything minus food, cards, validations and last minute costs), then pay the balance 3-4 weeks before the event. Balances unpaid open up new spaces for late entries
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Fidgetbuzz on 04 June, 2018, 10:27:45 am
Not dissimilar to the way that LEL works .. pay in full up front ... but admit to being a non starter a couple of months before the event .. and you get most of your entry fee back .. and your place can go to a reserve list person..   OK we actually take 10% extra entries at the beginning so there is no reserve list.. so slightly different .. but this goes a long way to making sure that you have the actual number of riders that you want.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 04 June, 2018, 10:40:56 am
It's sad, though, that there were so many non-starters, given that the event had reached its capacity some time back and there may well have been many others who would have liked to have ridden.  The organisers have obviously put in a tremendous amount of planning and hard work to mount the event and I can't help feeling a tad disappointed on their behalf.

I think there is a case for having a two step system to enter these long events... pay a non refundable deposit upfront that gives enough to the organiser to put up the event (basically everything minus food, cards, validations and last minute costs), then pay the balance 3-4 weeks before the event. Balances unpaid open up new spaces for late entries

DNS riders are a fact of life, only those that don't properly notify in advance are a hassle as it means I've forked out for a brevet card and possibly food unnecessarily.   

Other DNS-ers I see as a good way to spend more per head on those who do participate. 

A higher entry fee would perhaps have been a better idea.   

A deposit system with two stage payment and a second bite at entries nearer the event isn't appealing to me as an organiser.  It sounds like <lots> more work.

Im not sure that we could have coped with a field much beyond about 75 anyway.

Edit - the other thing I noticed is that I didn't see anybody using the hard copy route sheet.  maybe some folk had one in their bag as backup but I didn't see anybody using it as primary means of navigation.           


Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 04 June, 2018, 10:55:42 am
I’ve not had the best run at long hard events over the last couple of years and so approached this with some trepidation, especially as I’d booked a hostel in Glencoe, taking the distance to sleep stop up to 520km. However, having checked that I could arrive after reception closed, I stopped worrying and decided to let things happen as they will. 

Lasagne and chips at Wetherspoons set me up nicely and I stayed with the front group until Braco where I found myself in a team of three for the night section.  Some trouble with dozies near Dalmally. The air was thick with midges.  At one point weren’t sure whether the mist above a lochan was moisture or a cloud of wee beasties. Stopping for the info was perilous as there wasn’t time to get to a brevet card before the swarms descended.   We were too early for coffee at Tesco in Lochgilphead but there was a little shop in the next village which gave a much needed caffeine boost.  We got to Tarbert just before the cafe opened and had a full breakfast. Much needed for the roller-coaster from Clonaig to Campbelltown.  I got dropped at the roadworks and missed Chris and Steve in Campbelltown for cake and a toastie.  The thought of 200km still to go weighed heavily even though I was in good time. 

Much neede tailwind pushed me back towards Tarbert.  I caught up with Chris and Steve at a petrol station for another coffee, still struggling with lack of sleep. Hat got me into a good rhythm up the hills and, still thinking about the distance to go pushed on, thinking we’d meet up in Lochgilphead as I often take a bit longer at controls. But the route split from the outbound before that and I found myself in another cafe just as a couple of faster riders were about to leave. 

My lack of prep for the ride showed on the next section, which is mentally assessed as not difficult.  The hills were long and with more false summits than Trump and Kim Yong Un could manage. It was hot and I stopped for an ice cream in Kilmartin.  I was surprised to arrive in Oban at 5:45pm and know that I could get to Glencoe before reception closed.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Rod Marton on 04 June, 2018, 11:02:54 am
Edit - the other thing I noticed is that I didn't see anybody using the hard copy route sheet.  maybe some folk had one in their bag as backup but I didn't see anybody using it as primary means of navigation.         
[/quote]

I did! However on most of the route there wasn't a lot of navigation to be done. There was a R at T when it should have been L at T at one point, but it was an obvious mistake and I can't imagine anyone went the wrong way. The only other issue was coming through Alloa near the end where I lost track of the instructions - though this may have been 1000k brain rather than any fault in them.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: whosatthewheel on 04 June, 2018, 11:03:04 am

Edit - the other thing I noticed is that I didn't see anybody using the hard copy route sheet.  maybe some folk had one in their bag as backup but I didn't see anybody using it as primary means of navigation.         

I haven't seen anybody using route sheets in ages... last time was on the cover of Arrivee (134 I think...)  ;D
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Exit Stage Left on 04 June, 2018, 11:08:53 am
For those interested here's a rough breakdown of the events finances

In : Entry fees : £1784

Out (in descending order)

Monty's bar : £825 (a thirsty and hungry lot......:D) though I think I now qualify for platinum membership.   
Oban accommodation : £290 (we booked late and got ripped off, though we did need somewhere central to make the 4 hr shifts bearable)
Van hire and parking : £205
Food : £195
Comrie Hall hire : £68
Validation : £51
Brevet cards : £32
Postage : £25

I think that leaves about £100 that Im sure would have been spent on other stuff eg treating Martin to his lunch on Saturday, buying cable ties etc etc.

G





An interesting breakdown. It would be interesting to compare it with similar rides, especially the DNS's. Perhaps there's a role for the central organisation in insuring the event when everyone turns up.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 04 June, 2018, 11:21:54 am
Glencoe looked after us wonderfully. There were just two of us staying because we wanted to make an early start they left breakfast out for us specially and left the bike shed key where we could get it without disturbing them.  It was so warm I was down to shorts within an hour.  The hills around Kinlochleven caught me out; I naively assumed that the road around the loch would do just that rather than climbing halfway up a couple of mountains.  So I ended up on the third ferry of the day. 

Te next bit was so good that I can’t find words to describe it.  Brilliant roads in brilliant scenery with fantastic weather and no midges.  I felt like I was on holiday, just riding around.  The bakery in Acharacle, which given it was an info control I wasn’t expecting was excellent.  I met Dai who was tucking into a cooked breakfast having slept in the waiting room for the Corran Ferry. Leaving, the scenery got even better.  The sea mist blowing in and wreathibg the mountains gave an aura of majestic mystery.  Then the wind blew me back through Glenfinnan.

I decided to avoid the A82 through Fort William and take the road  through Ardgour.  It probably cost me 20 minutes but it was well worth it.  I felt hungry and had a great all day breakfast in Oinich.  I used large sections of the cycle path back to Oban to stay out of the traffic and the headwind.  Ominous clouds built up over the hills but it stayed dry.  I was back about 4:30pm and so in good time for a push across to the Crianlarich Youth Hostel. 

It started raining but nothing too unpleasant.  Hearing the tales of other riders I’m glad I didn’t set off early on Sunday and do this in the dark.  It all went well until I started to bonk on the false flat after the climb out of Dalmally but I made Crianlarich at 8:20 and had done time to chill with a Heather Ale whilst cooking the pizza I’d bought from reception.  There were three other riders staying but they arrived later, just as I was putting my head down to sleep.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 04 June, 2018, 11:28:15 am
Quote
Edit - the other thing I noticed is that I didn't see anybody using the hard copy route sheet.  maybe some folk had one in their bag as backup but I didn't see anybody using it as primary means of navigation.         

I did! However on most of the route there wasn't a lot of navigation to be done. There was a R at T when it should have been L at T at one point, but it was an obvious mistake and I can't imagine anyone went the wrong way. The only other issue was coming through Alloa near the end where I lost track of the instructions - though this may have been 1000k brain rather than any fault in them.

I used GPS as primary navigation but had a printout of the routesheet as backup. It found it valuable to have both towards the end, through Alloa and approaching the bridge, where the combination of the written instructions and the trail on my GPS screen helped make sense of the road layout I could see in front of me. Fatigue was definitely affecting my navigational skills by this point.

On the other hand, for large chunks of the ride, I didn't need either.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 04 June, 2018, 11:38:18 am
My plan was to leave Crianlarich at 6am but I woke at 4 and couldn’t get back to sleep so I left at 5. I felt stiff and sore but decided the best policy was to push on to Perth   I had a really good run, passing several riders who had slept rough or left Oban in the small hours. Perth was a bit of a desert but the BP garage had a cafe and I ate a sandwich and pork pies glad that the man at the till asked me where I was going and not where I’d been. 

The road over to Dunning was a delight, the rich farmland a contrast to the highland scenery of the preceding days. My legs continued to defy stiffness andsaddle soreness. Aided by another tailwind, I stormed to Dunblane and ended up in a cyclists cafe in Bridge of Allan, where riders from two separate clubs ignored them his scrofulous cyclist who wolfed down a full breakfast in ten minutes and hobbled crabwise back to his dirty yellow steed for the last leg. 

The traffic around Alloa was heavy and I was glad to make the quieter lanes and cycle paths to Culross.  I stopped on the Forth Road Bridge to take a photograph of my weary Roberts with the iconic rail bridge in the background.  This will be it’s last main event as my primary machine after 16 years of service.  Then it was battle with cycle paths and a bit of light rain to finish just before 2:30 and the group of 5.   Wasn’t expecting the free drinks and buffet and it was about 8pm before I headed for the hotel.  With so many riders staying Sunday night it was a great way to finish the event, whereas so often everyone disappears quite quickly leaving just a few biscuit crumbs in their wake. 

Congratulations Graeme and team for an excellent event. It was blessed by good weather but gave us the opportunity to explore some genuinely remote and special areas. I’ll be taking about this one for years to come. Well done!
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 04 June, 2018, 12:50:23 pm
I used the route sheet as backup navigation and also before stages just to get my head around distances.  But I did toe one rider to the finish whose GPS had got spooked going past Rosyth (mine also did something weird there too) so I would not want to do away with them if there wasn’t a route sheet I’d probably create a backup as electronic devices do occasionally fail.

On the DNS situation thank you for funding my beers 
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Rod Marton on 04 June, 2018, 02:08:37 pm
I used the route sheet as backup navigation and also before stages just to get my head around distances.  But I did toe one rider to the finish whose GPS had got spooked going past Rosyth (mine also did something weird there too) so I would not want to do away with them if there wasn’t a route sheet I’d probably create a backup as electronic devices do occasionally fail.

On the DNS situation thank you for funding my beers

That was me - and I didn't have a GPS at all! This may be rather Luddite, but I don't do enough Audaxes to feel I can justify getting one, and outside Audax I really don't need it. Though I do carry a smartphone and Google maps for emergencies.

Actually the only place I would find a GPS useful is where a course takes you through cycle paths, like going into Edinburgh. So I was quite happy to latch onto CET's wheel at that point.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bagman on 04 June, 2018, 07:41:43 pm
I use route sheets as a backup. 
I also mark any significant (to me) climbs in yellow and potential food stops in blue. 
Controls in dark green and infos in light green.
I use photographic paper which is waterproof.

By the way this was my first 1000km an din a word it was EPIC.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Revolution9 on 04 June, 2018, 08:48:44 pm
First 1000 completed here too.

Epic and awesome are two words that regularly get over-used, but i think you'll all agree that this event was both.

How lucky were we with the weather?  While the rest of the country was facing downpours of biblical proportions, we had wall-to-wall sunshine.  This did of course encourage the little biting beasties to appear en masse, but a combination of Smidge and Skin So Soft seemed to do the trick, just remember to cover all bare skin - Just ask Andy

(https://scontent.flhr4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/34395366_10214427662637333_8314835021793853440_o.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=86e1621d6c94857e96f1da5c6d249f19&oe=5BB71CA3)

Anyway, i'm not much of a writer, so i'll leave the reports to others, but i'd like to say a big thanks to all involved, from Comrie to Monty's via the white van in Ochavulin Industrial Estate, you all made it possible for me to get round.

Also thanks to fellow Audax Ecossians / Scottish Borders Randonneurs / ERC, Michael and Neil who helped me through the low points.
And lets not forget the famous 5 of VC167, you know who you are ;)


 
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bagman on 04 June, 2018, 09:57:44 pm
Just for my records does anybody have a sensible elevation gain for the ride, my sat nav only gives 4000m
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 04 June, 2018, 10:08:46 pm
Just for my records does anybody have a sensible elevation gain for the ride, my sat nav only gives 4000m

Your satnav is taking the piss!

ETA: I got 9,366m
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: drgannet on 04 June, 2018, 10:14:38 pm
Just for my records does anybody have a sensible elevation gain for the ride, my sat nav only gives 4000m

Garmin Etrex (with barometer) gave me about 9,500m. RWGPS for the recorded tracks gives just under 10,000.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Feanor on 04 June, 2018, 11:02:23 pm
Elevations recorded by GPS vary wildly, as do elevations calculated by route-planning websites.
Some GPS units have barometric altitude, and some don't.
Some websites will replace non-barometric with DEM-modeled data, some won't.

There's no 'correct' answer, as it depends on how long you running-average over as well as what the source of elevation data is.
A long 'flat' route can show zero elevation, or a whole bunch if it includes every one meter up / one meter down it *thinks*it saw.

The AUK AAA standard is to count contour-crossing on an OS map.
Go knock yourself out with that for 1000k...

I did notice the AAA had been adjusted for this ride, and it may be that the AAA man has used contour-counting software to do exactly this, I don't know.

FWIW, my edge 800 gave me 7561, and I consider that number to be as worthless as any other.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 04 June, 2018, 11:15:28 pm
A fast run to Comrie on the Thu night. My GPS was recording a 26.5km/h average at that point. The pace then moderated to something more sustainable for myself.  I visited my planned bivvy spots for the return on Sat night. These were the unlocked railway waiting rooms at Crainlarich, Tyndrum, and Dalmally. I discovered Crainlarich freshly psinted and that it had an excellent heater within. I decided on an hours sleep after having the heater on for 15 mins. This put me behind the field or certainly on my own for reat of the night.

I decided on the way to Oban on Fri night that I would ride through the second night to another potential bivvy spot I had identified. I knew that if I visited my bag drop at the Van my resolve would crack and i would end up using the YHA booking I had. So I went to the Wetherspoons (open till 1am) had a good nosh and doze, then carried on.

During Friday night I lost both my phone and one of my full finger neoprene gloves. I was glad I had decided to take a £14.99 PAYG phone for emergencies. No tears over the loss of an expensive phone. After numerous hills in the dark. Easier in a way. I found my bivvy spot a covered picnic shelter. One of the first ferry crossings and away.  Lovely circuit out west on quiet roads and even saw a train on the Harry Potter line. Had a second sleep in another open shelter I had researched.  Only 500m down an unsigned track off the route. Stopped at Acharacle plus  NT place for a feed. Spent most of the time taking photos or silly grinning selfies as I rode along. Does sublime cover it?  South and then at option decuded to go down north shore and caught ferry back on return. Nice quiet run and excellent option.

Back in Oban, ice cream, 15 mins and away again. Stopped at hotel on left in Loch Awe.  Had a good feed and a bitter shandy. Then had 30 min doze on comfy sofa. Stopped at pub on left after Green Welly shop in
Tyndrum. Then carried on another 5 miles to Crainlarich and my railway waiting room bivvy spot.

Left Crainlarich   a bit after 3:00am which was a mistake passing through Comrie 45 mins before the first shop opened. An extra hours sleep would have been better.  Passed through Crieff and onto Perth. Saw Tescos but thought Sunday opening and went straight past (duh it is Scotland), saw garage on right but wanted cafe food. Another mistake, centre was pretty much dead. Asked at a few hotels if serving breakfast to non resudents (no). In desperation took photo of bike in front of a Perth gardens sign, when leaving up hill, and carried on.

Rear tubeless was losing pressure slowly and needed pumping up about every 100km once the rims impacted on potholes.  Eventually got more frequent and put a tube in just before a 11% descent on a spray gravelled road to Dunning. Discovered rim tape was not seated properly in one place hence unexplained pressure loss.

Bought a hot steak pie, all day breakfast, ice cream, and mango juice here. After 100km from Crainlarich on a bag of Frazzles and half a bag of wine gums I was hungry.  Had a good stop here and met a few other riders.

Onto Dunblane which came up 30km sooner than I was thinking so a pleasant surprise. Ham and Cheese toastie with pot of green tea. Couple of other riders in here who left before I did. My saddlebag must have been 4 times the size of theirs. Then the final run to Culross (very pretty), met some more riders along here, over the old Forth bridge (brilliant) and on into Edinburgh. Wondered if going right way when cycle track went left saying 8 miles but gps track said straight on. Surprised how much greenery there was between the Forth Bridge and the finish. Once one cycle tracks I knew it was not far. In final run to finish a motorcyclist accekerated right across my path as I cycled down main road about 1km out. He had to brake as did I. What a tool. Onwards to Montys. Free beer and a mixed platter of meats and cheeses and bread, olives. Very moorish and very nice.

Followed tram tracks back to Waverley and on to hotel.  Shower, fresh non cycling clothes and flat shoes with no socks. Lovely.  Straight back out, in case fell asleep, tram back to Haymarket. Then trying to find a local to relocate bar. Not paying attention when I left earlier. Several more pints and nibbles and drunken conversations later. Then I left to return to my hotel about 9:50pm for a long sleep. 10am train home today.

Bloody excellent long weekend. Great route, scenery, event, vo,unteers and organiser.

Edited to add. I had not been wearing gloves during the day. When I lost a full finger one. I got my fingerless gloves out for the night. I thought I had two right hand gloves with me. So wore one upside down to fit the left hand, padding on top. It was not till Sat when stopped at a feed stop that I realised it was inside out and was indeed a left hand glove. Sometimes when you think your brain is working just fine...



Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 04 June, 2018, 11:35:32 pm
Quote
Edit - the other thing I noticed is that I didn't see anybody using the hard copy route sheet.  maybe some folk had one in their bag as backup but I didn't see anybody using it as primary means of navigation.         

I did! However on most of the route there wasn't a lot of navigation to be done. There was a R at T when it should have been L at T at one point, but it was an obvious mistake and I can't imagine anyone went the wrong way. The only other issue was coming through Alloa near the end where I lost track of the instructions - though this may have been 1000k brain rather than any fault in them.

I used GPS as primary navigation but had a printout of the routesheet as backup. It found it valuable to have both towards the end, through Alloa and approaching the bridge, where the combination of the written instructions and the trail on my GPS screen helped make sense of the road layout I could see in front of me. Fatigue was definitely affecting my navigational skills by this point.

On the other hand, for large chunks of the ride, I didn't need either.

Had route sheet in jersey pocket and mostly consulted it during tricky bits back into Edinburgh. Like do I really follow this cycle track up the side of the M90? Most of time I could just follow the signs and  once on a road that was it for a very long way just checking road signs as I went.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: pieeater on 05 June, 2018, 12:50:48 pm
Just like to add my heartfelt thanks to Graeme, Sonya, Martin et al, for a wonderful event (of which I made a particularly poor stab !) but nonetheless was memorable for the camaraderie, good spirits and (in Monty's case) good "spirits".
Thoroughly enjoyed myself, and the opportunity to visit parts of the country I've not been to in some years was much appreciated.
Talking of "spirits", there's a spirit amongst Audax events, which begins with the organiser, but is also apparent "on the road", and  reaches us all (fast or slow) as part of a community with the right approach to life,....rain or shine !
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 05 June, 2018, 07:53:51 pm
I should have added - Monty's bar - highly recommended.  They know their beers.  Apart from the ones on tap they had some extraordinarily good and different bottled beers and it was only concern about abusing a free bar that allowed me to walk and pedal away.  If there is such a thing as a platinum loyalty card all of me except my liver would be highly tempted to earn it.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 05 June, 2018, 10:01:27 pm
Ive also had some emails and the most effusive feedback has been about Monty's Bar as the finish venue (with an honourable mention to the transit van as runner up). 

Id rather imagined that folk would slump head first into their 2nd shandy but Im glad that was wrong as it was great that folk hung about (or got changed and came back).

Until about 18 months ago it was a pretty unremarkable boozer (known as Carters previously) but is now rather excellent.

Worth a visit when in west Edinburgh (Mrs , particularly enjoys the low alcohol Grapefruit Wheat beer).

It was the result of painstaking research  O:-)

 


Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Lee Killestein on 06 June, 2018, 11:54:41 am
As this was my first 1000km ride, in fact, the longest ride I'd ever attempted, I was uncertain how things would go. I'm pleased to say it was a complete success! Bivvying amongst a biblical plague of midges on Friday night was...interesting...didn't get too much sleep. The second leg out and back to Oban provided the perfect antidote to what I thought was a hard slog through midge-ville on the first leg. Gorgeous scenery, bright sunshine and a cooling rain shower in the afternoon!  8)

Many thanks to Graeme and his team for organising an event that will stay in my memories for a long time to come.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: ramcityrocker on 06 June, 2018, 08:21:30 pm
A cracking event blessed with good weather, stunning scenery and great camaraderie on the road. It’s lovely to be able to escape to Planet Audax for a few days every once in a while but that indulgence is only possible with the hard work, organisation and support of others so many thanks to Graeme, Martin and the rest of the team.

The open all hours bag drop van in Oban was genius and the fact that it was also used as overnight accommodation for a couple of the younger riders on the last night was wonderful and caused this old cynic to smile all the way to Edinburgh.

As someone whose luxury at Oban YHA was a chunk of Stilton and some water biscuits, I was almost in rapture at the beer, cheese and charcuterie Arrivee at Monty’s Bar so cheers to the unfortunate DNSers who made the free bar possible.

Finally, thanks to all the riders who gave the ride a lovely ambience particularly my colleagues from VC167 who got me round, the sharp-dressed, beautifully turned out men machines of the Scottish Borders Randonneurs and the charming man we picked up in a lay-by desolate about 200km from the finish.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 23 June, 2018, 08:49:05 am
Any news on when the results will be posted on AUK?
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: StevieB on 24 June, 2018, 03:09:09 pm
Did this event really happen? Was I dreaming?

Please will someone post some photos (links) -
I was tooo slow for stopping to use a camera!
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 25 June, 2018, 09:46:14 am
Any news on when the results will be posted on AUK?

Soon.  Had a busy few weeks since the event finished but will get finger out shortly.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Feanor on 26 June, 2018, 10:01:33 pm
Provisional results up now.
http://www.aukweb.net/results/archive/2018/listevent/?Ride=18-402
Thx ,
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 26 June, 2018, 10:20:44 pm
Cards heading off to Validation Towers tomorrow.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 27 June, 2018, 04:15:12 pm
 :)  Thank you.  With the Bunnik 200 now validated that's SR #14.  Beginning to feel like an old hand.  And still on track to reach 2 x UltraRandonneur before turning 60.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Feanor on 27 June, 2018, 08:05:14 pm
"HAYMARKET RAILWAY STATION, Edinburgh 1000"
Doesn't quite get the flavour of the event, does it?
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 27 June, 2018, 11:11:21 pm
"HAYMARKET RAILWAY STATION, Edinburgh 1000"
Doesn't quite get the flavour of the event, does it?

When it has gone through the full validation process the certificates should show the event title. So at least that bit will capture the flavour somewhat better. Mind if we had started from Monty's Bar the title would be Monty's Bar 1000 which captures a certain flavour of the event.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 28 June, 2018, 12:30:39 pm
"HAYMARKET RAILWAY STATION, Edinburgh 1000"
Doesn't quite get the flavour of the event, does it?

When it has gone through the full validation process the certificates should show the event title. So at least that bit will capture the flavour somewhat better. Mind if we had started from Monty's Bar the title would be Monty's Bar 1000 which captures a certain flavour of the event.

very good.   :thumbsup:  yes the choice of Monty's seemed to be something on an unexpected triumph.   

I was in there the other day. I think the "eau de randonneur" has now just about gone away.   :o

EDIT - ps the manager (James) was most complimentary about you all.  Id warned him of folk slumping into their beer and suchlike, but he reckoned we were better than most of his regulars.  Says were welcome back any time. 
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 04 July, 2018, 06:22:16 pm
Now passed through the validation team, just needs the ACP bit now.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 11 September, 2018, 08:53:43 am
Cards heading off to Validation Towers tomorrow.

Have you had them back yet? Sent back to riders? Don't want to sound impatient, appreciate it may be one of many items on the to-do list, just want to check to make sure mine hasn't gone missing in the post.

In any case, the card is a nice memento of the ride but not necessarily the most important thing. This, however...

Now passed through the validation team, just needs the ACP bit now.

ACP brevet numbers are up on the results list (probably have been for a while, tbh, not been checking regularly), so that means we're all sorted for PBP pre-qualifying.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Bairn Again on 11 September, 2018, 09:19:46 am
Cards heading off to Validation Towers tomorrow.

Have you had them back yet? Sent back to riders? Don't want to sound impatient, appreciate it may be one of many items on the to-do list, just want to check to make sure mine hasn't gone missing in the post.

In any case, the card is a nice memento of the ride but not necessarily the most important thing. This, however...

Now passed through the validation team, just needs the ACP bit now.

ACP brevet numbers are up on the results list (probably have been for a while, tbh, not been checking regularly), so that means we're all sorted for PBP pre-qualifying.  :thumbsup:

cards are sitting in my house awaiting me getting finger out and posting them.

Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 11 September, 2018, 09:48:03 am
cards are sitting in my house awaiting me getting finger out and posting them.

 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 17 September, 2018, 01:00:41 pm
Guess what turned up this morning.  My validated card.  Thanks very much.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 17 September, 2018, 01:50:23 pm
Mine too.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: bairn again on 17 September, 2018, 02:56:25 pm
Mine too.  :thumbsup:

Good to hear. + thanks for the prompt.  They'd still be sitting there now if you hadn't said. 

It all seems like ages ago!!
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Phil W on 17 September, 2018, 04:04:16 pm
Certainly does.  I worked on my fitness and speed early in the year ahead of the event.   Then let it slowly relax after the event as the heatwave took hold, just ticking over on RRTY stuff.   Suppose I should do some more build on the fitness over Winter before my first PBP qualifier.  But I have enjoyed the down time. 
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Ajax Bay on 18 September, 2018, 10:56:28 am
Thank you for my brevet.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: JonB on 18 September, 2018, 11:31:38 am
Brevet card received yesterday, thanks.  Its arrival prompted some reflections about the rides I've done this season and this one is a clear winner for me, route was excellent and whilst challenging in places (the coast road to Campbeltown in particular) the views were stunning, helped by some excellent weather. The city centre evening start and finish worked a treat and cycling through the first night bought time in hand for some good quality sleep on nights 2 & 3. Brilliant bag drop service in Oban and the arrivee food and drink was very welcome.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 18 September, 2018, 11:55:17 pm
Brevet card received yesterday, thanks.  Its arrival prompted some reflections about the rides I've done this season and this one is a clear winner for me, route was excellent and whilst challenging in places (the coast road to Campbeltown in particular) the views were stunning, helped by some excellent weather. The city centre evening start and finish worked a treat and cycling through the first night bought time in hand for some good quality sleep on nights 2 & 3. Brilliant bag drop service in Oban and the arrivee food and drink was very welcome.

+1
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Brad on 19 September, 2018, 08:35:46 am
After a DNF on Borders of Belgium last week, this was perfectly timed, i'm not usually one for keeping Brevets, but this one is going to be kept with a select few others. I've spent the last few months reminiscing about the ride, easily my best few days on a bike despite some low points!
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: John Stonebridge on 24 August, 2022, 09:59:42 pm
Its my sad duty to report that Montys Bar - used as this events finish control - will close its doors for the last time over the next few days.  Theyve posted on Instagram & Facebook over the reasons (increasing property rental costs it appears).

Sad times - its previous incarnation Carters was a grotty dump, and most of the places around it like Platform 5 & Malones are corporate chains so its a loss from Edinburgh's quality beer outlets.   

I'll possibly pop in for a farwell swally between now and then and try and get the lowdown from James on his future plans.   
 
The evening of Sunday 3rd June 2018 was one of the most enjoyable Ive had, chatting with finishers and enjoying some lovely beer.

  :'(
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Feanor on 24 August, 2022, 10:04:57 pm
Its my sad duty to report that Montys Bar - used as this events finish control - will close its doors for the last time over the next few days.  Theyve posted on Instagram & Facebook over the reasons (increasing property rental costs it appears).

Sad times - its previous incarnation Carters was a grotty dump, and most of the places around it like Platform 5 & Malones are corporate chains so its a loss from Edinburgh's quality beer outlets.   

I'll possibly pop in for a farwell swally between now and then and try and get the lowdown from James on his future plans.   
 
The evening of Sunday 3rd June 2018 was one of the most enjoyable Ive had, chatting with finishers and enjoying some lovely beer.

  :'(

Ah, bollocks.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Revolution9 on 24 August, 2022, 10:38:47 pm
My son is about to move in across the road, I was looking forward to visiting it more often as a result.
Bollocks indeed
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 24 August, 2022, 11:28:55 pm
Damn. That’s a real shame.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: JonB on 25 August, 2022, 10:24:02 am
Yes, sorry to hear that. Very fond memories of this ride and the excellent finish at Montys.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: Lightning Phil on 25 August, 2022, 10:33:22 am
There was plenty of ale consumed at the finish. The evening start, worked well for the evening finish.
Title: Re: West Highland 1000km. Thu 31 May 2018
Post by: citoyen on 25 August, 2022, 06:34:18 pm
There was plenty of ale consumed at the finish.

Not just ale... I'm glad I didn't have to do anything more strenuous the following day than sit on a train back to the south.