http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Tag: Diarmid - Recent Posts en Sat, 26 Sep 2026 10:50:53 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=91#post-385904 Sat, 19 Sep 2026 12:29:43 +0000 gembo 385904@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>TookShandSkinnymalinky so yes classic road bike butstill a tight squeeze. Had Carradice Super. c on loan from Bill which worked well </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=91#post-385901 Sat, 19 Sep 2026 08:52:13 +0000 LaidBack 385901@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@gembo "coos being mooved"! :-)</p> <p>Did well getting on the TP train. Cupboards work ok for classic road bikes but unusable for offroad 29r's I think?</p> <p>Local economy got a boost it seems. Trycyclists mentioned will be of upright kind I assume? These need a lot of skill to ride I think.</p> <p>Wamphray - Mrs LB's mum lived in farm near there and went to the primary school before going to Lockerbie High. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=91#post-385896 Fri, 18 Sep 2026 20:34:39 +0000 gembo 385896@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Took the 0812 Manchester airport train this morning. Two bike cupboards. Four bike spaces in total. Alighted at Lockerbie. Took B723 out of the town, turned right before the M74 at the huge sawmill. Road to Boreland, five miles up that road hang a left sign posted Wamphray 5 Moffat 12. There is then some climbing for sure. Had to stop for coos being mooved. Descended to the old Carlisle Rd to Moffat, stopped for excellent Espresso at the Moffat Distillery which was on my route. Bought some rather pricey “whisky” for the great guy putting a new roof on the CTC hut. With anothe4 great mate of his both tricyclists. As was the chap the hut was built in honour of. There is a social media blackout tho there is a big CTC SIGN. Anyhow, great grind up beeftub and tremendous descent. Wind mental at Broughton. Main Biggar to Carnwath road shut beyond Liberton but options there. Laying New Tarmac is what is causing the south llanarkshire closures at the Mo. usual shit driving on the Whang. Many types of weather, mainly tailie. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=91#post-385828 Sun, 13 Sep 2026 21:44:46 +0000 Greenroofer 385828@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Murun - very true. Last time I did it involved pushing the bike up the final ramp (in the dark) because the wind was too strong to ride against. It didn't help that I had ridden from Edinburgh via Lowther Hill that day, so the tank was quite empty...</p> <p>I'm planning to start from Penrith this time (missing out Lowther Hill beforehand) so I hope it's a bit less of a battle. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=91#post-385826 Sat, 12 Sep 2026 23:16:40 +0000 Murun Buchstansangur 385826@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>GDF is a lot more brutal than Lowther Hill :( </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=91#post-385820 Sat, 12 Sep 2026 14:31:26 +0000 Greenroofer 385820@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I planned to go to Lowther Hill on Thursday and spent Wednesday evening prepping the bike, but woke up feeling a bit bleurgh and decided against making the trip. It was good decision: the weather was pretty grim.</p> <p>On Friday I was full of beans and decided to go for it, but had an appointment mid-morning, so didn't leave the house until noon. The weather forecast suggested a breeze in my face on the way there and a good tailwind for the return. I got as far as Colinton before realising that the 'prepped' bike didn't have any water bottles on it...</p> <p>I left the house for the second time (this time <em>with </em>water bottles) just before 1pm.</p> <p>I trundled to Lowther Hill on the usual route: A70 to Carnwath, Libberton, Quothquan, Thankerton, A73 to Abington, Leadhills, Wanlockhead. There was a headwind much of the way, but nothing too onerous. Coming into Thankerton, I caught up with a chap who opened the conversation by asking if he could get a tow off me (which was surprising as I wasn't going quickly enough for a tow to be worth having, and I definitely wasn't going quicker than him). We had a brief chat about my bike and where I was headed, and he turned right and I turned left.</p> <p>By now it was 4pm, and the A73 was less busy than I'd expected so the leg from Thankerton to Abington village, which I always find a bit stressful due to number and speed of passing trucks, wasn't too bad and passed unexpectedly pleasantly. I noted some very chunky bulls in a field.</p> <p>Through Abington it was a steady grind up to Leadhills and Wanlockhead and then a stiff climb up to the golf ball at the top of Lowther Hill. I took it as gently as I could, conscious that the top was only halfway through the ride.</p> <p>The view from the summit was the best I have seen there: the Southern Uplands faded off into the distant haze and lowering sun in shades of grey. As usual, I had the place to myself.</p> <p>Heading back down, having taken the obligatory photo and added a layer or two, I was surprised to hear a voice beside me. A Wanlockhead resident called Clive was on his way off the hill too, and we completed the descent together, while he talked how he'd been to a concert with songs in Cornish and Welsh. At the bottom he shook my hand and wished me luck for the return to Edinburgh.</p> <p>The 10-mile descent to Abington village wasn't as good as I remembered: I didn't need to use the brakes and had to pedal more than I expected, so there wasn’t much opportunity to recover from the hill climb. A sandwich stop in a bus shelter in the village came to an abrupt end when the midges found me.</p> <p>Heading out of Abington, I saw a rider coming towards me and prepared a conventional and courteous wave, but as they approached I realised it was @bill, on a mission (it later transpired) to review motorway service stations. (It also later transpired that @bill stopped to chat with me, but I didn't stop to chat with them. Sorry!).</p> <p>The rest of the ride home was very lovely. There was no headwind (and perhaps a gentle tailwind, but not the promised stiff breeze). The sun was setting and the traffic had died away. By the time I was back on the familiar A70 it was properly dark, but the passing traffic was all well-behaved and the bike (slowly) ate up the miles homeward and I pondered the infinite in a pleasant bubble aboard it.</p> <p>I was back home just before 10pm, tiptoeing in to a slumbering household after a very pleasant day out. Just over 100 miles, 6,000ft of ascent and Scotland's highest paved road.</p> <p>Great Dun Fell awaits... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=91#post-385435 Sat, 15 Aug 2026 14:40:57 +0000 gembo 385435@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Wind slightly. Gentler than yesterday when the block headwind back from Elsrickle to Carnwath was brutal. </p> <p>Went down Macbiehill from the west Linton Moor Road, that is what I call a. Descent. Then up Shiplaw to the Observatory Then along the cycle path which removes a horrible bit of road. The left at Eddleston and over the beautiful Meldons and along to Stobo and over Dreva to Broughton Stores. Then back via Biggar and Kaimend onto Lang Whang. Was a grand day out. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=91#post-382387 Wed, 10 Dec 2025 11:59:38 +0000 MediumDave 382387@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Cycling uphill in Holyrood Park yesterday evening was quite something. I used the cycle track (which I normally don't bother with) as steering was erratic due to gusts. </p> <p>Better up in Newington with occasional excitement at certain corners due to wind shear. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=91#post-382384 Tue, 09 Dec 2025 20:36:01 +0000 gembo 382384@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oh my giddy antlers that was a commute home. Blown to a standstill at times and blown sideways too. Was glad to get down onto the WoL Path. One tree down near Currie but passable </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=91#post-382354 Mon, 08 Dec 2025 01:18:39 +0000 bakky 382354@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>As a frequent LB / Joe's Bike Garage customer, this has been duly noted! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=91#post-382352 Mon, 08 Dec 2025 00:23:59 +0000 chrisfl 382352@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote>Was going to say ‘it’s SO secret that CycleStreets doesn’t know about it’.</p> <p>BUT it does.</p> <p>Which means that someone has put info on OSM!<br /> </blockquote></p> <p>mapped by drnoble who does sometimes post here as well, at least 3 years ago! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=91#post-382335 Sun, 07 Dec 2025 15:40:48 +0000 chdot 382335@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“Then along Rope Walkk to shop through pend to arrive at Viewforth Bridge.“</p> <p>Ah yes. </p> <p>Was going to say ‘it’s SO secret that CycleStreets doesn’t know about it’.</p> <p>BUT it does. </p> <p>Which means that <em>someone</em> has put info on OSM! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=91#post-382333 Sun, 07 Dec 2025 15:18:20 +0000 gembo 382333@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Cycled down to Aldi at Chesser for the ten pound champagne, on the way back where the much suggested Sainsbury Bridge might be built one day a crowd gathered photgraphing the river. A young otter kit was frolicking in the current. Smashing, </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=91#post-382332 Sun, 07 Dec 2025 13:38:49 +0000 chdot 382332@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“I note you avoided the zig zags by Megan/ ModaCity?“</p> <p>Usually use if going east, though 50/50 with Torphicen/Morrison. </p> <p>That’s the thing, ‘choices’</p> <p>More coming, as u say. </p> <p>Just not fast enough - or in much of a logical/prioritised way. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=91#post-382331 Sun, 07 Dec 2025 13:34:27 +0000 chdot 382331@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“we should be glad that it's not normal as only limited number of bike spaceson train and path network 'squeeze points‘“</p> <p>Yes/no </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=91#post-382330 Sun, 07 Dec 2025 12:21:46 +0000 LaidBack 382330@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@chdot - we should be glad that it's not normal as only limited number of bike spaceson train and path network 'squeeze points'!;-)</p> <p>I note you avoided the zig zags by Megan/ ModaCity?<br /> For some (families in particular) on standard bikes this is better option as they can get across Dundee St at crossing and up to Leamington. Then along Rope Walkk to shop through pend to arrive at Viewforth Bridge.</p> <p>Very soon there'll be a direct route from Leamington to bike crossing at Grove St. Handy for getting to Haymarket if you don't mind being out in traffic on Morrison St.<br /> The patchwork network is increasing which is good. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=91#post-382329 Sun, 07 Dec 2025 11:43:29 +0000 chdot 382329@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>According to the CycleStreets app (which allows multipoint route planning) I cycled about 15 miles around Edinburgh yesterday. (Used app afterwards). </p> <p>Mostly on road with use of convenient sections of NEPN. </p> <p>Fortunately I know Ed well enough to piece it all together in my head, but CycleStreets ‘knows’ complex (and unsigned…) routes like the one through the Dalry Colonies over the WGR to LaidBack. </p> <p><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54969023315_d9265b5bf8_c.jpg"></p> <p>I continued on to visit various shops and people in Morningside, Abbeyhill, Inverleith, Newhaven, Crewe Road South, then Waverley via Stockbridge. </p> <p>I’m fit enough do that (probably) <em>because</em> I cycle. And I have a suitable bike (which most people could have). </p> <p>I really couldn’t have done it by bus in any sensible time. </p> <p>No idea how long it would have taken in a car, but the amount of traffic I filtered past or avoided by routes not available to motors was significant. </p> <p>However</p> <p>I am well aware that ‘most people’ wouldn’t cycle because of ‘fears’/amount of traffic etc. </p> <p>As ‘we’ know, the cycling was fun, convenient and essentially ‘healthy’. </p> <p>I was the only person on the train with a bike - reinforcing the idea it’s not normal… </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=91#post-381845 Tue, 04 Nov 2025 16:13:30 +0000 gembo 381845@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Now is the time to get round from Thriepmuir to Harlaw Reservoir. All the potholes have been filled in and despite heavy rain, few puddles. I did it on a lunch time spin and what would have been a Woodstock style mudfest was very pleasant indeed </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=91#post-380516 Mon, 11 Aug 2025 22:04:13 +0000 chdot 380516@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>(Yesterday)</p> <p>Linlithgow to Bo’ness to Dalmeny</p> <p><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54713372398_a4b3a4c2e5.jpg"> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=91#post-380441 Fri, 01 Aug 2025 15:59:24 +0000 gembo 380441@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Update on the least used cycle path in Scotland. The path from Hyndford Brig up to the backroad to. Carmichael has been scraped of mud and grass etc and is easily ridden on a road-bike for the full 500 metres of its existence </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=90#post-379195 Sun, 06 Apr 2025 18:31:39 +0000 gembo 379195@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Came back from Ayr today. Easterly was Brutal. Though stopped west of Douglas and turned into SSW until just after the mad Carnwath Road works. Picked up again with Gusto after that. I am looking at the Nips of the Turbines and half pointing east half pointing west. So Two winds. But strong Easterly for my last hour., was fooled by Fake Tarbrax for five minutes [three mins when I thought I was at Tarbrax and two when I was denying I wasnt)<br /> Some really bad driving on Muirkirk Douglas road, thank goodness some laybys saved me.</p> <p>3 dead badgers but 4 live Buzzards and ONE SWALLOW at Tarbrax</p> <p>Douglas Bakery is my go to. But there is now a lovely cafe again in Sorn. With views of the river Ayr. THe Country Corner. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=90#post-379192 Sun, 06 Apr 2025 16:43:43 +0000 Frenchy 379192@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>For various reasons I've not cycled more than 20 miles in almost a year. Fixed that by taking advantage of a lovely afternoon to cycle out to Gullane and back. Helped by a tailwind on the way back, I also realised I'm not quite so out of shape as I thought, although there's a decent chance I'll be fairly stiff tomorrow. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=90#post-378657 Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:34 +0000 gembo 378657@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Not actually me but self confessed Hipster Twat - Ed Oxley the half owner of Hebtroco, with Brant who started Planet X, has just written up his Bullitt Cargo Bike ride from Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire where the firm is based to Northern Germany to buy buttons for their very expensive jeans and cycle them back to Walthamstow to the jeans factory.</p> <p>To. Get to. Ferry at Hull he was on roads but Holland and Germany all paths. Sounds like he came back via Lowestoft so he took ferries that would lead to better cycling. Took his coffee beans and a grinder and double sized aero press obvioulsy. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=90#post-377433 Sun, 24 Nov 2024 21:31:48 +0000 gembo 377433@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Order has been restored at the Big Puddle </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=90#post-377432 Sun, 24 Nov 2024 19:06:47 +0000 Greenroofer 377432@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I can confirm that, unsurprisingly, after the weather of the past 24 hours, the Big Puddle is now BIG.</p> <p>It's been a week since I rode round the reservoirs. It's now spectacularly muddy, and the tracks are very squidgy, presumably they have been lifted a bit by the frost.</p> <p>I saw something that was a stoat or a weasel or some other small brown mustelid. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=90#post-377344 Mon, 18 Nov 2024 15:46:30 +0000 gembo 377344@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Big Puddle Update - farmer has drivers through it so middle a bit churned. Mud on RHS of the puddle heading east. Is Nicely frozen so easy to get through.</p> <p>The farmer has also laid two large patches of slightly warm loose tarmac, Not so good for cycling through but better surface for his/her tractor. These patches are at the Poet’s Glen end of this farm track.</p> <p>Some bits of ungritted road had no frost but numerous patches of frost still there at 1230pmThe Green Bridge being most sketchy. . The WoL path worse due to more actual water? But hardly any wind just freezing cold. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=90#post-377338 Mon, 18 Nov 2024 11:26:33 +0000 gembo 377338@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Willl be frozen now might go see it at lunch time </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=90#post-377337 Sun, 17 Nov 2024 18:31:01 +0000 gembo 377337@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yes two amigos also took the middle route. It does disappear entirely if the summer is dry. There was discussion amongst the three amigos regards the ease of which the big puddle could be run off into the field and how Ruth farmer must prefer the big puddle to a wet field. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=90#post-377335 Sun, 17 Nov 2024 17:56:58 +0000 Greenroofer 377335@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@gembo - the big puddle is the smallest I've ever seen it. Today I rode through the middle of it (as there was no water there, just sticky mud). Every other time I've been through it I've always gone round the side and hoped that I don't get tipped in by one of the hidden rocks that are usually under the surface but today were high and dry... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=90#post-377323 Sat, 16 Nov 2024 14:06:43 +0000 gembo 377323@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Did the 7 Reservoirs and One Watermeadow route with he Three Amigos today (me,Tam and T.Rev)</p> <p>Say Balerno High School start then up Harlaw Road until it ends at the top of Kirkgate, round the back of the farm to the big puddle [quite smalll at the moment] then on to the cafe at Reservoir No1. - Clubbiedeans. We decided not to take the steep bike carry route at the Green Bridge and birled round to the alpaca land at the end of Torduff Reservoir. Over the breakwater / damhead and up up up to Bonaly Reservoir. Then Down to Glencorse. T Rev’s front wheel found a wheel sized ditch on the descent and he went over the handlebars. Also muddy compared to summer time. Anyway we made it down to Glencorse and tarmac to Loganlea then round Green Cleugh via the waterfall. And some nice gravel stretches. Then down beech avenue to Bavelaw marsh and then round to thriepmuir and Harlaw reservoirs. Then back down to the high school. Some sunshine, some wind helpful and otherwise - no other cyclists at all until Green Cleugh. Plenty runners and walkers. Some anglers And I assume wild swimmers. You wouldnt wear a dry robe unless you had to? Would you? </p>