Kintyre Forum News wrote:russanros wrote:...and with a date set the next priority is tidying up the routes from the original suggestions so we are singing from the same hymn sheet.
The Routes as proposed:
1. ULTIMATE: Round Kintyre Challenge. 70 miles
- using East/West circuit via Clachan & Claonaig (clockwise/anticlockwise TBC, after further advice from Brian)
- aimed to appeal to serious 'road cyclists', who would do the other rides as warm ups!
MULL OF KINTYRE ROUTES: aimed to appeal to all types of recreational cyclists, on quiter roads & capitalising on scenery
.
-
2.CHALLENGE 40 miles this is the Learside/Mull of Kintyre (end of public road)/Dalsmirren route. Mostly on country lanes, but very hilly.
-3. INTERMEDIATE 35 miles, as above but omits Learside, straightdown the Southend B road.
-4. EASY 25 miles, this is just straight to Southend, by the B road and back by Dalsmirren, not going to the Mull.
5.CAMPBELTOWN LOCH FAMILY RIDE: 6-10 miles informal.
- as it suggests round the loch, on the quiter roads, we will seek permission for a coned off 'lane' as per the run, to avoid youngsters to coming into traffic on the esplanade.
Not trying to halt your enthusiasm here Russ but 6 cycle rides is alot to cover in terms of all the different roads etc?
I've just numbered the
Five routes to clarify.
THe
original idea of the 4 routes, the Ultimate is an addition. Was that they share common sections of roads and keep marshalling/signposting etc easy. This is 'tried and tested' from the Yorkshire events. Checkpoints/refreshments will all be at places passed by all 3 of the mull of kintyre routes. Except for one at the actual Mull to make sure everybody who said they were going to go there actually does
!
'Sweeping' (
making sure everyone is actually through a section) will be much easier without off-road sections as it can be done by car/motorcycle.
The other idea which works well is to colour code the routes, which I have done, then signpost the routes with the coloured arrows so that you dont have to have someone at every turn, this actually works pretty well.
Coming back to the 'Ultimate' - yes this throws in a whole new set of route again, but I think we
have to embrace it as it is both a good idea and getting the more serious cyclists in as Brian has already mentioned would put the event on the map nationally as well as locally- eventually if not in the first year. After further consultation with Brian it is recommended that this route be done 'clockwise' , again I dont see a huge need for a massive support team here, someone at Kennacraig to make sure they take the Carradale road back is absolutely essential, but other check ins could be added, according to how many people are willing to marshall.
The family ride just needs someone to 'lead' and someone to be a 'back-marker' - my family have done this on many occasions.
Therefore if we have to reduce routes I think it would be silly to throw out the Ultimate, and to knock out one of the Mull routes wouldnt actually save anything in organisational terms?
The ethos of this type of event is that people do need aware of their route and safety:
A couple of things that cropped up in the event we used to be part of,
- As part of the 'event pack' we provide safety info and a clear map
it is a condition that every one accepts responsibility for their own safety and liability in the event,
they undertake to wear sensible clothing and a cycle helmet,
if they have health problems to check with GP before attending.
The undertaking we do on navigation etc. is that whilst we do everything to sign and marshall the route to the best of our abilty there may be circumstances where signs have been interfered with, or marshalls have to attend an urgent incident
- fortunately these have always been mechanical trauma's rather than accidents!!
RusRos sorry you didnt get any reply to Macmillan website or phone number, i do know that they are closing some of the Regional Offices so unless they have changes numbers etc. Our Local contact for MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT is ...... if you need any help or information im sure she would be willing to help in any way with advertising etc.
Thanks for that, the email I got of the website went to a 'West of Scotland' office which I assume is not there anymore! it came back as an invalid address, the person you mention there sound local (Carradale number?) will try contacting tomorrow morn as on the late shift.