Fort William 1000

[ianrobo]

Weather forecast is starting to look good (cool and dry). Clothing choices are always difficult, but I'm guessing that Scotland on Saturday morning/evening will be cold enough to warrant taking the merino longsleeve along.

So far I have a gabba, long sleeve top, rain jacket and gillet ... with me sweating so much chill factor at night is an issue

[slugbait]

Weather forecast is starting to look good (cool and dry). Clothing choices are always difficult, but I'm guessing that Scotland on Saturday morning/evening will be cold enough to warrant taking the merino longsleeve along.

So far I have a gabba, long sleeve top, rain jacket and gillet ... with me sweating so much chill factor at night is an issue

Of course I'm also carrying all of those things (except the gabba) plus armwarmers and legwarmers. The biggest headache when it comes to packing is that for me it's a week long holiday (taking the ferry tomorrow), but all luggage is either on the bike or in the dropbag.

[jakemcree]

Andyp64, I noticed you've helpfully split the route into 3 on ridewithgps. Are you happy with these as will use them?

[FifeingEejit]

Here's the routes I've prepared:

Leg 1: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30382946
LEg 2: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30368002
Leg 3: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30424640

On the basis that:
Tourists eat their breakfast in hotels from around 0830
Tourist buses leave their hotels at 0900
Most early start hillwalkers will either have hostelled, camped or car slept
and the weather's not looking like it'll wake the weegie hoards up early

I've also prepared an alternative early departure from Paisley option on Leg 2: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30427217
That's straight up the A82 to Arrochar/Tarbet
I'll only use it if either I can't sleep at Paisley and so cracking on for a bivvy or I can get back out on the road before 5am

[AndyP64]

Andyp64, I noticed you've helpfully split the route into 3 on ridewithgps. Are you happy with these as will use them?

Hi Jakemcree, please go ahead, they are based on the routes drawn up by Ajax Bay and FifeingEejit. I am making some final adjustments but only minor stuff and nothing that will fundamentally alter the route.

[jakemcree]

Cheers both

[AndyP64]

Here's the routes I've prepared:

I've also prepared an alternative early departure from Paisley option on Leg 2: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30427217
That's straight up the A82 to Arrochar/Tarbet
I'll only use it if either I can't sleep at Paisley or I can get back out on the road before 5am

Good thinking  though not sure I will be away from Paisley by 5!

[Ajax Bay]

Andyp64, I noticed you've helpfully split the route into 3 on ridewithgps. Are you happy with these as will use them?

Hi Jakemcree, please go ahead, they are based on the routes drawn up by Ajax Bay and FifeingEejit. I am making some final adjustments but only minor stuff and nothing that will fundamentally alter the route.

I have looked at Day 2 of those and can find no significant error.

[jakemcree]

Here's the routes I've prepared:

Leg 1: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30382946
LEg 2: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30368002
Leg 3: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30424640

On the basis that:
Tourists eat their breakfast in hotels from around 0830
Tourist buses leave their hotels at 0900
Most early start hillwalkers will either have hostelled, camped or car slept
and the weather's not looking like it'll wake the weegie hoards up early

I've also prepared an alternative early departure from Paisley option on Leg 2: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30427217
That's straight up the A82 to Arrochar/Tarbet
I'll only use it if either I can't sleep at Paisley and so cracking on for a bivvy or I can get back out on the road before 5am

I'm carrying on from Paisley so would expect it to be late in the evening. Is the A82 likely to be faster than the A814?

[yanto]

I'm carrying on from Paisley so would expect it to be late in the evening. Is the A82 likely to be faster than the A814?

Talking from experience of having ridden both roads many times the A82 will be marginally faster, as there is less climbing and it's shorter, but as far as pleasantness goes the A814 is better (IMO).

[FifeingEejit]

I'm carrying on from Paisley so would expect it to be late in the evening. Is the A82 likely to be faster than the A814?

Talking from experience of having ridden both roads many times the A82 will be marginally faster, as there is less climbing and it's shorter, but as far as pleasantness goes the A814 is better (IMO).

Aye, A814 definitely more scenic, Loch Lomond is just a big loch, the Gareloch at least has hippies, Submarines and ship fueling bunkers 
Pleasantness it's dependent on your measure, if it's traffic, it really is a case of Day or Night, and most touring riders will be riding at Daytime where if on the A82 route I'd definitely tolerate the RCN40 over the road if insisting on going up Loch Lomond.

The camping ban has moved the Neds up to Loch Etive, so there's less chance of a pissed up weegie battering down the road trying to make Tesco before 10pm to get a cargo. Consequently you may get this on Glen Coe as they try to make Ballaculish Co-Op before Off-Sales end.

I think I've mentioned my journey across the A85/A82 at night before.

[mhodnett]

Just want to say thanks to everyone for plotting routes / general advice here and on the Inverness 1200 thread. I am coming over from Ireland, so cycling from Holyhead up to LSA on Thursday.

Looking forward to getting started!

[oggy]

Looking at the control at Crianlarich the shop is open until 7pm and opens again at 7am but the control closes at 6:40am so there might be quite a few of us looking for an ATM but I can not find one any where.

any suggestions

[FifeingEejit]

I e-mailed Andy about that but haven't heard back.

There is a post either in here or the 1200 thread where I stated the licensed hours of the Hotels and Pubs.

Last time i was in Crianlarich (this time last year IIRC) the ATM was in the shop (and charges you 1.50 for the pleasure of using it), so unless it's been moved outside...

IIRC On Saturdays
Shop shop shuts at 7
The hostel reception shuts at 10pm
The Rod and Reel is licensed to 11pm
The Crianlarich hotel is licensed for non-residents until midnight, it's a 3* so it's unlikely they have a night concierge/porter
The Ben more lodge bar is licensed to 1am

Bars should be open during their licensed hours, but in places like this no one's looking so they may shut early if it's quiet

[jakemcree]

Cheers all, really helpful.

[ianrobo]

Yes on this and the 1200 thread I have appreciated every bit of advice and everything said. I can not be more prepared or know what to expect and nervous as hell !!

Good luck everyone and no doubt speak to some of you !

[AndyP64]

I just want to get started now, feel like i have been planning this ride for ever!!

[FifeingEejit]

I had a thought while standing at Cartsdyke station the other day about the possibility of finding a clock in Crianlarich, sadly it appears there is no Platform Validator for smartcards which has a clock and location on the screen (would need to be a photo) if that's acceptable just as there's no ticket machine that could have been used to collect a train ticket for later (such as St Annes to Preston) where the collection receipt tells enough of the story (Printed date/time and Issuing office)

For anyone that knows they will miss the options at Tyndrum and Crianlarich, your last decentg supply stop before Alexandria Co-Op opens at 7am is at Ballaculish Co-Op which closes at 10pm.

If stopping in the Vale of Leven (or in fact most of "Weegie land"*), remember the answer to "Mind yer bike mister" is to cycle back up the road and return mob handed with other riders.
There is also a 24hr Esso and a big Co-Op (7am) a little further into the town.


* Also remember I'm from the east coast...

[Phil W]

Having slept in the waiting room of Crainlarich station during the overnight period you are talking about.

There is a platform clock, which shows the time as well as the time of the next train.
There is a plaque in the waiting room that identifies it as Crainlarich
There is the platform signage identifying it as Crainlarich

I am sure a photo of the first plus one or more of the latter with your bike or yourself in the picture would suffice as proof of passage.

[FifeingEejit]

Ta,

Where is the clock on the platform?
I've never noticed it but I'm usually making a beeline for the tea room or toilets.
Also can't see them in recent photos of the station buildings.

I've never been in the waiting room 

Edit:
Ah ha
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ash_67uk/40830595960

Even newer pictures indicate there's also a Sleeper Totem.

[aidan.f]

Andy has not  highlighted Lockerbie Lorry Park as a food  stop  - 3K North of Lockerbie@202Km on the route North.
good menu, fast service. Beds available for £24 - maybe a return option ?.

[Ajax Bay]

Best of luck on the ride, everyone.

[FifeingEejit]

Andy has not  highlighted Lockerbie Lorry Park as a food  stop  - 3K North of Lockerbie@202Km on the route North.
good menu, fast service. Beds available for £24 - maybe a return option ?.

Much better food than Gretna or Abington, the problem is at them once you've choked on the cost of a bottle of water for PoP and bottle top up at Smith (or even just of a Mars bar), the fast food outlets seem better value.

[Andy Corless]

Thanks to all those that entered and volunteered to help out for the inaugural Fort William 1000 that's taking place right now! 25 riders started at 08:00 am yesterday morning, and there's at least 21 still going! I'll be catching up with them all at Paisley tonight! 37 started the Inverness 1200 being ran concurrently.

Some pictures from the start posted on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/audaxuk/

Andy Corless

[ianrobo]

Nice to meet you Andy but sadly a had to DNF after all the prep I did !