Nice one topbikegirl-l

hey Prisoner Mr Grossets heading for jail hope you gonna visit him in your 4x4 now you watch out for them pesky road works & speed traps on the A9 .

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/8059601.stm

Everyone who suffered punctures should report the criminal damage to their property to the Tayside police on

http://www.tayside.police.uk/contact_form.php

They'll give you a crime number which will add weight to any subsequent small claims court action against anyone found guilty of this offence.

Let's face it, any criminal action against whoever did this is likely to be slap on the wrist stuff.

What will really get him is several hundred claims for the cost of a couple of tubes, plus court costs.

Check out the letters online in this highland rag that is used by the ACRE mob to stir it up...brilliant letter from a local councillor really putting the boot in.

http://blog.commentonline.co.uk/?p=44#comment-5400

In response to ACRE, I propose that fellow Etape cyclists form an action group called the 'Tummel' Tigers.

I am a local, living in Killiecrankie, I have always been in favour of Etape Caledonia right from the outset looking at the bigger picture seeing an event such as this brings massive benefits to the area. I run a tourist information business producing brochures and web site including www.CycleHighlandPerthshire.com. This year I can say that the event filled up all accommodation right across Highland Perthshire, anyone who wanted to host cyclists was able to fill themselves up over the weekend. I able to say this as I phoned them all up every couple of weeks as I updated availability on the Cycle Highland Perthshire web site leading up to the event.

I know that everyone in Highland Perthshire are ashamed that some one from this area could take such extreme action. (My phone and e-mail box have been going flat out since the incidence with locals saying how utterely disgusted they are that some one can do this). Those who are not happy having their roads closed for the Sunday morning of the event also have registered thier their condemnation.

It is rather ironic that one local told me that the back road Weem to Strathtay (used by Etape) has been closed all day on three occassions this month by the Waterboard and on one occassion they closed the road and did not do any work.

I was up at schiehallion feed station as the first cyclists came through, it became apparrent very soon that there was a major problem as there litterally hundreds (it would not surprise me in it was a thousand plus) of cyclists affected. We offered to go down and clear up the tacks but learnt the tacks were just everywhere.

I have to say that the cyclists were SUPERB and a GREAT CREDIT to their sport. They were good humoured, understanding why the race had to be stopped, there was great banter amongst them. They supported each other sharing and helping repair each others punctures. What a GREAT bunch of people!!

We look forward to 2010 and will continue to work to make the event a special weekend in the cycling Calendar.

Prisioner

you are indeed out of touch,closed roads are nothing new for cycling

the Scottish Milk Race in the 70`s and 80`s seen roads closed down for a few hours

City Centre Cycling in the 80`s seen Scottish town centres closed down for a few hours also

Then there was the 2007 Tour De France which closed central London down

and there is the current Tour of Britain which also sees roads closed for the event,all these events have went ahead without protest,and widly welcomed

why does it come down to a handfull of backwater idiots to spoil things for the many?

JW

'Tummel Tigers'or what about the 'Tackiban' eh yer just got to laugh

Mr Buf...Houn..am, spokesman for Acre, states that Perthshire is an economically fragile area and that businesses that were forced to close on Sunday cannot afford to lose several thousand pounds on a summer Sunday. How many Sundays in the year does Perthshire attract 10,000 vistors to the area. Also, the fact the alleged saboteur is a church elder suggests that the main reason they are opposed to the Etape taking place on a Sunday is on the grounds of religion.

So doe sanybody know what he was charged with?

I am the Councillor reagrding the comment blog and I felt that I should say something about the aftermath of the event and the man being charged with the tack attack. There have been very personal attacks on some members of the community who either oppose the closed road aspect of the event or people thought to have that view. These attacks appear mainly in the form of e-mails, which has been distressing to the recipients. I would like to reiterate my disgust at the person or persons responsible for the tack sabotage, but I would like to remind everyone that the accused man is just that. He remains innocent until proved otherwise and that there should be no retaliation whether physical or verbal to him or anyone else who opposes the event. If the accused is innocent then that means that there is sill a guilty party out there. and I would like to ask that anyone with any information about the incident to contact the Tayside Police to ensure that the correct culprit is convicted. The worst thing would be that the oppoonents of the event cite the retaliation to tar all bikers as being threatening and intimidating. Lets wait and see what transpires from the charges brought, before personal accusations are made.

I agree with Klyall

I took part inthe event and had 3 punctures, and I have entered next year.

I do feel that there is too much personal attacks on individuals from either other cyclists or not and this is taring the event and the cycliing community, making cyclist seem very agressive towards the local community in general, where this was one man (as far as we know) and even if other in the community are against the closed roads (not the event) they have in the past protested in a reasonable manner that did not affect the event.

I don't think anyone should be making personal attacks, and I believe in innocent till proven guilty, however, Mr Grossat has been charged, and the police would have to have strong evidence to be able to arrest such a prominent member of the community, and practising solicitor, in the early hours of the morning.

Mr Grossat has appeared in court but made no plea. That is his right and we need to await the trial to hear the facts. But if he is an innocent man why did he not plead "not guilty"?

Bravo altyteacher, What a fab Idea. Wait until the courts find him guilty, then all of you who suffered damage, loss or injury as a result of this moron take a private action against him. 1. you will win compensation. 2. He will suffer more inconvenience than the ride sufferd. and 3. Most importantly, you may just save someones life as this will make any other idiots think twice before carrying out such a dangerous act. Phone your solicitors NOW.

My friends and I were due to travel from Germany by minibus for the Etape Caledonia - a drive of some 14 hours. Unfortunately, one of our number - a popular, respected and talented rider - was killed on the A1 taking part in a TT race on May 3rd. It was a well marshaled and organized event. Despite this, a driver hit my friend from behind. He died before the ambulance arrived.

My minibus ride was to Wales for a funeral, rather than to a race. None of us had the appetite to come to Scotland this year.

I rarely ride in the UK. But the tempting aspect of the Etape was the promised warm welcome by our Scots friends and the CLOSED ROADS, which of course would make it all much safer.

I don't know this chap or his organization - the Etape Organizers made no mention of a local protest. But please, can anyone who knows this group pass on my thanks. Now I know the UK has no race which is not beset by ignorance and prejudice against cyclists.

Happy days: Blue Skies.

And by the way, my friend’s funeral was attended by hundreds of people. Not a dry eye in the house and a full Welsh male voice choir to see him off, along with dozens of men and women in uniform with more medals than a remembrance day service – most with medals from Iraq and Afghanistan. We can appreciate that the militants in Iraq and Afghanistan might leave us an explosive present on the road but I find it difficult, almost impossible, to fathom why someone in our own country would endanger the lives of free men and women, who only wish was to celebrate the fact that they are fit, vibrant and alive. All for the sake of a few hours – and as my God might say to you – could you not walk to church one day of the year? Hold your service by the roadside, come out of your cold, heartless halls and pray to the Lord!

I wonder what his "expences" account looks like. Anyone have a contact at the Telegraph?