Author Topic: Inverness 1200  (Read 56092 times)

FifeingEejit

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Re: Inverness 1200
« Reply #25 on: 17 September, 2018, 09:53:56 pm »

The hostel at Invergarry is decent enough, and the owner is a cyclist and coffee sorcerer; I say that but I can't stand the stuff so...
If the timing fits he may be worth contacting;


Any bothy's nearby?

hm, the MBA website has run out of map licences for the day; however if there is any suitable near the route chances are it'll be populated by the Tennent's swigging, double denim crew.
Probably better scoping out bus shelters on GSV if you're on a budget.

Re: Inverness 1200
« Reply #26 on: 18 September, 2018, 08:10:09 am »
Thanks.

Watching Griff Rhys Jones on the telly on his walk around the Highlands and he stayed in a bothy and it jogged my memory!

Bianchi Boy

  • Cycling is my doctor
  • Is it possible for a ride to be too long?
    • Reading Cycling Club
Re: Inverness 1200
« Reply #27 on: 01 October, 2018, 07:39:05 pm »
I have left this alone and it keeps coming back. Four days 300km per day. Start - Paisley - Inverness - Paisley - Finish. Looks very doable, I know the route and it gives a target that is not months away from the main Audax season.

Trying not to enter  :hand: :hand: :hand:

BB
Set a fire for a man and he will be warm for a day, set a man on fire and he is warm for the rest of his life.

Andy Corless

  • Doesn't take the p***, says it as it is!
Re: Inverness 1200
« Reply #28 on: 02 October, 2018, 04:13:13 pm »
Thanks to all those that have shown interest and entered. There's been a lot of interest in the Inverness 1200 and even more interest in the 1000. Everything's on course for a successful event. I've been inundated with people saying nice comments about the route. Some have said they'd prefer this to PBP, although I'm not expecting 6000 entrants. I'll be contacting all the entrants so far with the latest updates before I go off on holiday on Saturday.

Andy Corless
Organiser
Inverness 1200

Re: Inverness 1200
« Reply #29 on: 02 October, 2018, 04:14:13 pm »
I've entered!  Looking forward to the challenge!

Re: Inverness 1200
« Reply #30 on: 02 October, 2018, 04:35:49 pm »
Any ideas of accommodation around the 600km mark?  Seeing as the bag drop is way back in Paisley at 300kms chances are I probably wont have any bivvy equipment with me so I'm looking at somewhere in the warmth!

When is the route being published so I can scope this out?

TIA

FifeingEejit

  • Not Small
Re: Inverness 1200
« Reply #31 on: 02 October, 2018, 05:07:56 pm »
Based on the estimated control sequence

600km on the Inverness will be Inverness; loads of options but book early.

600km on the Fort Bill will be Tyndrumish?
Hostels at Glen Coe and Crianlarich, hotels and B&Bs at all 3.
There's also a few mountaineering huts along the way, Lagangrabh, Blackrock, Inverdannan (Crianlarich)

Andy Corless

  • Doesn't take the p***, says it as it is!
Re: Inverness 1200
« Reply #32 on: 03 October, 2018, 06:33:15 pm »
"When is the route being published so I can scope this out?"

This event doesn't use a mandatory route however, more often than not there's only 1 sensible way to go between controls and a route-sheet and GPX file will obviously be issued sometime before the event. A draft route-sheet will be issued sometime around early April but the final version, which won't be that much different from the first draft, will be issued in early June.

Andy Corless
Organiser
Inverness 1200

Andy Corless

  • Doesn't take the p***, says it as it is!
Re: Inverness 1200
« Reply #33 on: 02 November, 2018, 03:59:02 pm »
Just to confirm after a couple of queries that there's no SR or any other qualification required to ride this event and entries are being taken on a first come - first served basis! I've put a note onto the event website advising riders.

Andy Corless

Re: Inverness 1200
« Reply #34 on: 02 November, 2018, 06:08:32 pm »
"If getting run over is a preferable option. Cycling on the A82 is stupid."

The route doesn't take the A82 much after Paisley but the A814 through Helensburgh; A83/A819 past Inveraray. It uses the A82 between Fort William and the Erskine Bridge for the return leg by which time the riders will be well spread. I've ridden on the A82 many times myself and haven't found it that bad.

Andy Corless
I surmise that the route north will turn across the Connel Bridge (with no excursion to visit Oban). The route I've plotted (as far as Paisley for the second time) is 922km. "The south-bound route from Paisley back to Lytham is exactly the reverse of the northern route direction!"
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28872782?beta=false
Lytham St Anne's, Cockerham, Lancaster and A6:, Kendal, Shap, Lowther, Penrith, Carlisle, then //M74 via Gretna to beyond Abington, Kirkmuirhill west on B7806 via Strathaven and A726/A727 to Darnley, Paisley, Helensburgh, Inverary, Connel Bridge (N of Oban), Fort William, Inverness, Fort William, Tyndrum, Dumbarton, Paisley

Benderloch (@480km, just north of Connel) has a shop (and a cafe iirc), is 60 odd km from Inverary and you'd have 70km to go to Fort William, with only the last 20km on the A82 (some with cycle path).
Lytham St Anne's > Paisley 322km (D1 0800-0100)
Paisley > Inverness 324km (D2 0600-2300)
Inverness > Paisley 275km (D3 0600-2100)
Paisley > finish 322km (D4 0400-2100)
Assumes 19kph average during each day's riding.
Time in hand = 5 hours
Sunrise 0440 Sunset 2202, (almost new) moon till midnight

Re: Inverness 1200
« Reply #35 on: 02 November, 2018, 06:21:07 pm »
What're the numbers looking like for this? I'm waiting on a leave request, which is likely to take a while, before pushing the button!

FifeingEejit

  • Not Small
Re: Inverness 1200
« Reply #36 on: 02 November, 2018, 10:05:35 pm »
The shared use from the Ballachulish bridge to Corran ferry gets a bit narrow to use on a couple of narrow points in Onich.

If the road is truly horiffic, which would need an amazing day weather wise and and Weegie and English holiday combined (ridden up glen come on a day like that...) for the rubbish bit between Corran and Fort Bill it may be handy to know when the camusnagaul ferry runs and also consider the loop of Lochiall but that is a significant detour.

If its dreich you may be lucky and get only the odd local on a supermarket run to morrisons.

Sent from my BKL-L09 using Tapatalk


Andy Corless

  • Doesn't take the p***, says it as it is!
Re: Inverness 1200
« Reply #37 on: 03 November, 2018, 03:13:49 pm »
"What're the numbers looking like for this? I'm waiting on a leave request, which is likely to take a while, before pushing the button!"

About half of the places have been taken (which means there's about half of the places still left)! This is of course before the inevitable transfers.

Andy Corless

Re: Inverness 1200
« Reply #38 on: 04 November, 2018, 02:16:02 pm »
Just got my entry in, that's next years motivation sorted, thanks Andy!

Re: Inverness 1200
« Reply #39 on: 04 November, 2018, 08:33:52 pm »
Hi Andy, how many spaces left on the 1000?

Bianchi Boy

  • Cycling is my doctor
  • Is it possible for a ride to be too long?
    • Reading Cycling Club
Re: Inverness 1200
« Reply #40 on: 05 November, 2018, 07:14:53 am »
Hi Andy, how many spaces left on the 1000?
I have been thinking about the 1000. Where would the sleep be on the second day? The splits appear to be evenly spaced at 300km on the 1200.

BB
Set a fire for a man and he will be warm for a day, set a man on fire and he is warm for the rest of his life.

Andy Corless

  • Doesn't take the p***, says it as it is!
Re: Inverness 1200
« Reply #41 on: 05 November, 2018, 04:26:42 pm »
"Hi Andy, how many spaces left on the 1000?"

About half, subject to the inevitable transfers.

"I have been thinking about the 1000. Where would the sleep be on the second day?"

Plans and organisation is underway for a second control in the Fort William area, serving both events!

Andy Corless

Re: Inverness 1200
« Reply #42 on: 06 November, 2018, 12:47:48 pm »
"I have been thinking about the 1000. Where would the sleep be on the second day?"

Plans and organisation is underway for a second control in the Fort William area, serving both events!
Andy Corless
Lytham St Annes to Inverness (and back to Paisley)
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28889542?beta=false
Lytham St Anne's > Paisley 324km (D1 0800-0100)
Paisley > Fort William 216km (D2 0600-1700)
Fort William > Inverness 106 (D2 1800-2300)
Inverness > Paisley 273 (D3 0500- 2000)
Note route back from Inverness is about 50km less than outbound.
Paisley > finish 324km ? on D4
Assumes 19kph average during D1, D2 and D3 riding.
To finish in 90 hours so by 0200 D5.
Time in hand = ? hours

FifeingEejit

  • Not Small
Re: Inverness 1200
« Reply #43 on: 06 November, 2018, 02:04:35 pm »
Kipping in the bushes around the 365Km mark may not be advisable and I can't see any evidence of all the abandoned caravans that used to litter that road on GSV...  O:-)

Which is unfortuantely around the point I reckon I'd want to snooze.




Andy Corless

  • Doesn't take the p***, says it as it is!
Re: Inverness 1200
« Reply #44 on: 07 November, 2018, 04:41:22 pm »
"Kipping in the bushes around the 365 Km mark may not be advisable"

Just a reminder that plans and preparations are underway for a second control in/near to Fort William, serving both events.

We'll know more in early December when the next route check takes place.

Andy Corless

FifeingEejit

  • Not Small
Re: Inverness 1200
« Reply #45 on: 07 November, 2018, 04:55:31 pm »
"Kipping in the bushes around the 365 Km mark may not be advisable"

Just a reminder that plans and preparations are underway for a second control in/near to Fort William, serving both events.

We'll know more in early December when the next route check takes place.

Andy Corless

Aye, I reckon for me Paisley will be too early and Fort bill too late for sleep, but Faslane looks just about right!

Re: Inverness 1200
« Reply #46 on: 07 November, 2018, 06:50:08 pm »
What is the best way to get to the start (for those of us coming from the continent)? I'm in doubt between the ferry to Newcastle and the ferry to Hull. Both seem to be approximately 3 hrs by train from Preston, but I'm not quite sure whether Preston is the best train station to go to. I don't mind cycling 30-40 miles to go to Lytham St Annes, but prefer a hassle-free train ride (especially after the brevet).

Re: Inverness 1200
« Reply #47 on: 07 November, 2018, 08:01:11 pm »
"Kipping in the bushes around the 365 Km mark may not be advisable"

Just a reminder that plans and preparations are underway for a second control in/near to Fort William, serving both events.

We'll know more in early December when the next route check takes place.

Andy Corless



Aye, I reckon for me Paisley will be too early and Fort bill too late for sleep, but Faslane looks just about right!

At the peacecamp?

Re: Inverness 1200
« Reply #48 on: 07 November, 2018, 08:13:39 pm »
There is a branch line from Preston to Blackpool South calling at Ansdell and St Annes on Sea, both a couple of miles from Lytham, depending on where the HQ is sited.There are a few hotels in Lytham (not cheap) a bigger choice in St Annes or the south end of Blackpool. The cycle ride from Preston station to Lytham is quite simple, some bike path,and a quiet country route a good option,a decent hours flat ride.

FifeingEejit

  • Not Small
Re: Inverness 1200
« Reply #49 on: 07 November, 2018, 11:35:11 pm »

Aye, I reckon for me Paisley will be too early and Fort bill too late for sleep, but Faslane looks just about right!

At the peacecamp?

That was the abandoned caravans and getting lifted joke...