I hope this guy has plenty of cash available, because if found guilty, I am sure that there will be more than a few civil claims for compensation for damaged equipment etc...

Yeah, I could do with him replacing my new Pro Race 3s as I recieved 3 punctures during the event on separate occasions, its a reakl shame I did this last year and loved the event. you dont see people sabotaging Marathons that close roads in major cities!

Very narrow minded and dangerous! I hope his life is made impossible by other locals who see the benefit this event brings to their econmony for what is a road closure for a very small part of the day.

I had my Wife, two children and 3 friends there at the weekend if each cyclist had the same thats a lot of income to busniess, and i suspect next year will be a lot smaller entry now.

He should be givin community service building cycle lanes on the middle of the M8

He owes me two tubes

Floged once with each tube punctured - I have two in my garage that they can start with.

Selfish and stupid bloke.

What a loser this bloke must be. As a result of the suspension the roads ended up closed for even longer, how short-sighted! If you have a Facebook account log in and join the group "Etape Caledonia - Riders against the protesters" at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=81377399727

Hang on MattFaulkner, not all old farts are saboteurs. I cycle around Northumberland attacking hilly areas on my mountain bike. How old am I ? Why I'm 67 years old and I would be most upset if some old fart did the carpet tack stuff by me, not least because it shows all of us old 'uns in a bad light, not to mention put me in danger too!

Hopefully everyone will do a small claims against him for damages.

The attitude above is exactly why there is so much resentment over this event.

The cyclist is king on the day but we have cyclists all the year round, and they are not considered other than another road user, given every courtesy and consideration.

I don't believe in sabotage, but will have my say in the ballot box, councillors beware!

A cycle track has been provided at great cost to allow cycles to avoid the A9 but there are still some idiots cycle on this road. I have even met 4 numpties cycling north on the southbound dual carriageway, but I cerainly don't assume all cyclists to be of the same low mental capacity as to not understand the danger.

It has been published elsewhere that if Perth & Kinross council had donated the monies spent subsdising the Etape event to the MacMillan charity the expence would have been much more favouably received than the inconveniece to Hotelliers, Guesthouse, Shops, Resaurants, and Farmers, who all have to travel or depend on people travelling to keep their business interests attended to, especially when roads are closed in some places for 6 hours or more. I don't wonder that somebody was so frustrated to sabotage the event.

Pesonally if the event ever takes place again I hope that the roads are not closed but a speed limit of 30mph is imposed throughout the period of the event.

This being the legal limit for bicycles on a public road in any case, all of us could then enjoy the use of the road for which we pay dearly for anyhow

well said northumbrian 1

Obviously the action of the saboteur were cowardly and stupid in the extreme. Obviously some of the protestors are not quite in the real world and do not understand how things work in a representative democracy. And they are small minority in the local community. However, no smoke without fire, something must have been imperfectly handled in the consultation to have got to this point. I hope further consultations will be held, and perhaps some gestures made, to try and break the impasse before next year.

Thinking along those lines, I'd been wondering what the competitor response would be to running the circuit in reverse on alternate years and / or starting the event a bit earlier (6am anyone?!).

Maybe they should just give a goody bag to everyone who's house is on a closed road, as well as us. I'm sure some would really appreciate a muesli bar and a gift-bag of deoderants!

Anyway, I'll be entering next year for sure.

And good to see that there is now a visible local movement to show support for the event:

http://www.cyclehighlandperthshire.com/home/etape-caledonia/support-hp-cycling.aspx

After experiencing the group dismay at the top of Schiehallion, it's difficult to contemplate anything other than revenge on this Rotary Club eejit and his coterie of fools. But some dialogue and reciprocal arrangements must happen if the small minority aren't going to bully their way to injuring somebody next year - if the Etape is going to continue growing as a successful advert for the sport. Can't taxi-bikes be arranged for the few troglodytes if they really can't endure 4 hours of road-closure a year, on behalf of the greater good?

BumpkinHype - Love the Taxi Bike idea! Fabulous PR exercise too.

Prisoner - I am confused, where do you get the 'legal limit' for bicycles? It does not seem to be available on any government website. Also, I cannot understand why anyone legally using a road designed for road vehicles, such as a bicycle, should be considered an idiot. I do not know this road, but all road users should share the space where ever it is appropriate. Finally, I assume that the area of Scotland never has any village fettes or parades, because that would obviously mean closed roads. Shame that really, as I would imagine that it might be good for the communities!

Very good idea Bumpkin hype about the cycle taxis you should make your comments known to the organisors.Also as a early riser i would have no problem with setting of at 6am herioc leisure.

"Prisoner"'s astonishing ignorance is fairly typical of the small bunch who are protesting. A few samples:

"Roads closed for 6 hours" -> the closures ranged from just over 2 hours to (in one case only) just under 4 1/2 hours. Oh, except that some idiot made sure it was longer than that this year, of course.

"Have my say at the ballot box" -> quite right, you have had, and will have, that opportunity. And so do all the local people who would quite like the opportunity to boost the area's income, rather than turn it into a stagnant, inbred, poverty-stricken (apart from their cosy retirement/second homes) backwater. I wonder who'll be in the majority.

"It has been published elsewhere" -> Mmm, I wonder where that might be.

"still some idiots cycle on this road" -> granted, you have to be brave to cycle along a trunk road given some of the idiots driving cars, trucks etc, but actually, "Prisoner", it's still legal, and the preferred choice of anyone who dosen't want to have their ride interrupted every few yards by side roads, barriers, kerbs etc.

"I hope the roads are not closed" -> How long will it take these morons to realise that it is IMPOSSIBLE to have 3500 bikes travel along a single track road with any other vehicles around?

"[30 mph] being the legal limit for bicycles" -> A fairly clear demonstration of how ignorant you are.

Prisoner - Made yourself lots of friends here. I think your ignorance blinds you from this so I'll spell it out for you.

Not only have you written stuff that is factually incorrect. Use a road when there is a cycle lane? Well not only if the riders are experienced is it their choice also it is probably more dangerous to go on the cycle path if they are doing speeds above 15mph. Also yes a select few cyclists may make silly descisions, but there is a whole group set up (ACRE) to try and stop the road closure, hardly just one man and his dog.

Open roads, not a chance. On a sunday as well? It is barely as if this will harm the economy besides, opening the roads would have no positive effect as the cars wouldn't be able to get by. Its one day a year can you not see the positive effect, supporting a charity, boost to the economy? Can you only be so selfish as to think about yourself, in effect you are no better than the saboter.

Please do some research and never make a reappearence again, because quite frankly no one wants to here it.

I second everything Mc Smiley said!!

prisoner i can't type what i really think of you as there might be children watching this thread.

prisoner - tough luck. the cyclists and road closures are here to stay and we'll all be there next year. road tacks or no road tacks.

it's only for 6 hours of the entire year and you are given plenty of warning, so you will just have to grow up and get over it!

If it is this guy, his job being a Councillor you'll be able to email him direct with some choice views on the sudject about some compo!!!

A tragic story of a fragile ego feeling powerless in his kingdom where he thought he reined and resorting to the lowest and most vile behaviour? I pity him.

The residents of Highland Perthshire could not have been more welcoming, the pipers were superb, and yes, ladies near the Rannoch Station part of the course, the cyclist in the flowery skirt was a lot quicker than me!

Prisoner, we can all vote. I've already re-entered for 2010.

By the way prisoner, when you vote, & lose, will you accept that the democratic process has been carried out , and accept that the majority of people want this event to go ahead? Or will you continue to rant in the bitter, ill-informed & inaccurate way in which you do now?

@ Prisoner: "30mph [...] being the legal limit for bicycles on a public road in any case". Could you direct me to a link that shows this? Not that it's ever likely to be a problem for me, like. But just for reference purposes.

one of the main members of the ACRE organisation, probably responsible for Sundays debacle is the director of a chocolate shop in Aberfeldy.

this is the URL

http://grandtullybridge.com/default.aspx

Look - the fact is that we can all share the roads. I don't like the anti-car driver, anti-white van, anti-bus, anti-lorry stance any more than I don't like the anti-cyclist stance.

I rides tens of thousands of kilometres a year, be it training rides, cycling holidays, races, commuting, etc. I have more problems in the UK than I do in, for example France, Belgium and Italy, but the majority of drivers still are considerate and accommodating - even in my congested Central London commute zone.

The fact is, there are good and bad drivers, just as there are good and bad cyclists.

I love countries where the majority of drivers also cycle. It makes an amazing difference to how (and whether) drivers see us. Education is, in my humble opinion, the way forward.

Can I just say that this sabotage has brought the Etape event to the notice of more people than ever before. I shall attend next years!

"If it is this guy, his job being a Councillor you'll be able to email him direct with some choice views on the sudject about some compo!!!"

Not quite, but...

RannochCommunityCouncil@pkc.gov.uk

Alex Grosset, 62, from Pitlochry, has been charged with culpably and recklessly depositing carpet tacks onto the road.

He appeared in private at Perth Sheriff Court, made no plea and has been released on bail.

Easy,

I like the calmness of your thoughts! Strangely, I was one of the only people I came across on Sunday to have NO punctures - if I'd had any I would have been even more p+ssed off.

Education, communication, reconciliation, all from a position of un-smug superiority that we are the quiet majority, and we will return. the ACRE lot, and that tit of a counsellor will have to learn, or serve some time for endangering human life / causing criminal damage.

meanwhile, let's send lots of tic-tacs to Aberfeldy choccy shop. See if they laugh after the 500th delivery

Prisoner states:

"the inconveniece to Hotelliers, Guesthouse ... and Resaurants"

The hotels were full, what a terrible inconvenience for any hotelier!

The guesthouses were full, how dreadfuil for the landlords and landladies!

The restaurants were full, what a burden for the poor old chef!

Thankfully all the pubs and restaurants I visited during my stay were delighted to see me, as was the manager of my hotel who went to great lengths to secure my booking for next year.

Prisoner, you represent nobody's opinion bar your own, you silly fool.

Prisoner - respect for coming on a cycling forum to put you point of view. Not entirely successful though, I hope you've learned to make sure your facts are watertight otherwise you just devalue your cause.

Mr Grosset - much respect for generating national sympathetic coverage of a cycling event and the challenges we face - something only Sir Chris Hoy has managed to do. Seriously your achievement should not be underestimated or denigrated.

I suspect Mr Grosset's days as a Rotary club member may be numbered. Can he really continue in a club whose motto is "Humanity in motion" and whose logo is a wheel? Oh the irony!