http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: EEN: Scottish Canals: Paths for all walkers and cyclists en Mon, 18 May 2026 13:56:07 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=3#post-149440 Thu, 17 Apr 2014 13:29:42 +0000 I were right about that saddle 149440@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Then I shall engage in greeting Maximum Space Man. He is, as you say, a perfectly reasonable, though heavily encumbered, canal user. </p> <p>I keep expecting him to be towing a fairground organ or to be accompanied by a sea lion in the canal itself. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=3#post-149415 Thu, 17 Apr 2014 12:01:34 +0000 shuggiet 149415@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Haven't seen Rutger for a while, but I can confirm Gembo's strategy works..</p> <p>Maximum Space man always replies if you say hello. Also has liked to discuss his dogs (positively). They always seem well under control as Greenroofer mentions, even with the terrier off the lead. I remember he went through a phase of doing the walk shirtless, but haven't seen doing that for a while. He also walks a long way! Often see him out by Heriot Watt, as well as into Meggetland. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149413 Thu, 17 Apr 2014 11:46:08 +0000 SRD 149413@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Sounds to me like Rutger was trying to make a (not very subtle) point. But it only works once... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149411 Thu, 17 Apr 2014 11:41:09 +0000 Greenroofer 149411@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@IWRATS: I recognise Maximum Space Man. He's usually heading the same direction as us. He sometimes has a child with him.</p> <p>I think he's a responsible towpath user: his Border Collie is clearly a handful, but he keeps it on a short lead. The terrier is aged and predictable. For me it epitomises the word 'dogged': it just keeps its head down and trots along the path. I went through a phase of greeting him.</p> <p>There's another chap I see out by the Scott Russell Aqueduct who also has a Border Collie. It's never on a lead, and usually tries to round me up, which is a bit disconcerting. I say good morning to him (even today, when it wasn't) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149407 Thu, 17 Apr 2014 10:59:45 +0000 gembo 149407@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>IWRATS that is possible. Also I understand too much carlsberg special brew can affect short term memory. This is pure speculation, apologies if Rutger is teetotal. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149406 Thu, 17 Apr 2014 10:49:25 +0000 I were right about that saddle 149406@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Have you considered the possibility that Rutger is an Ent? They work on a different timescale and your multiple greetings may have counted as a single point in time to him. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149394 Thu, 17 Apr 2014 10:29:08 +0000 gembo 149394@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>maximum Space Man sounds quite tricky to pass.</p> <p>Rutger has a truly magnificent stare that he will fix on you. Ruddy complexion. </p> <p>What used to happen with him was that I would ring bell and slow down, he would turn slowly, stare at me, then step to side. I would trundle by and say thank you very much. Then he would say, that is the first time a cyclist has ever thanked me. However, after a few days of this I said no it isn't I thanked you the other day too. So now we nod respectfully and all is peace. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149391 Thu, 17 Apr 2014 10:18:03 +0000 I were right about that saddle 149391@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@gembo</p> <p>Not sure I know him. I'm a keen member of both the observer corps and the polite bell brigade. My current difficulty is Maximum Space Man. He is equipped with a combination of;</p> <p>1) Stick at a forty five degree angle<br /> 2) Shopping trolley<br /> 3) Border collie on a lead<br /> 4) Border terrier on the loose<br /> 5) Enormous ski gloves<br /> 6) Odd cuts on his head</p> <p>No eye contact. No words. We misunderstand eachother every day I fear. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149384 Thu, 17 Apr 2014 10:00:13 +0000 gembo 149384@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ah no, my man, who is a bit Rutger Hauer but a bit carlsberg special brew too, only walks, he is big and some say scary but I say easily misunderstood. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149380 Thu, 17 Apr 2014 09:46:23 +0000 I were right about that saddle 149380@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@gembo and the Daves</p> <p>There was an element of the Rutger Hauer Guinness advert about him, but I was going far too fast to see if he was steeped in canal juice or had any componentry in his hands.</p> <p>Nice green sit-up-and-beg bike. Coiffure uncertain, demeanour agitated. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149372 Thu, 17 Apr 2014 09:22:46 +0000 gembo 149372@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A bit off his beat either side of the aqueduct but was it the big man with the long straggly hair? If you slow down, give a jolly ring on your bell and thank him for making way he cheers up no end. Not seen him much beyond Burke and hare statue. Often has one carrier bag. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149363 Thu, 17 Apr 2014 08:44:50 +0000 DaveC 149363@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@IWRATS was he in the canal? Perhaps he wasn't waving, he was drowning? :0( </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149360 Thu, 17 Apr 2014 08:30:32 +0000 Dave 149360@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>He wasn't carrying a right hand crank / chainset by any chance? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149356 Thu, 17 Apr 2014 07:34:43 +0000 I were right about that saddle 149356@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oh, the irony. Coming home last night on the towpath some dude tried to cause me to slow down by means of violent arm flapping. </p> <p>As venue for his Velocipede Vigilante activities he'd chosen the stretch alongside the Wester Hailes Education Centre pitches. Long, straight, no junctions, no obstacles, nobody other than him.</p> <p>Let's just say that some people think that bicyclists are self-important for a reason. Regardless of whether or not I <em>was</em> going too fast, unsought advice from random punters is never going to go down well.</p> <p>I was actually trying to keep up with a guy on a ratty shopping bike three sizes too small for him with a flat back tyre. He was really hooking it, but slowed to a civilised pace just as soon as we came to the bridges and the peopled stretches of the path. As you do. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149327 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 18:48:58 +0000 gembo 149327@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Update on brooks</p> <p>They also do a pannier for €560 the pair. Also if you have that much money you are in for a treat as offer just now that adds a totally free handlebar bag costing €280.</p> <p>They also do a very snazzy tweed jacket €700</p> <p>Hilariously they happily post a comment from chap in Republic of Ireland who says that brooks are exactly the reason why UK should split up into the good countries. Scotland, Ireland and Wales. They reply This is a really nice jacket that nobody needs to buy. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149326 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 18:41:49 +0000 Kenny 149326@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I find myself wondering why Colnago and Felt are inappropriate, yet Trek are on the fence! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149295 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 15:26:19 +0000 Min 149295@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Jeez, I go off on holiday for a bit and by the time I come back, Dave has become both amply girthed <em>and</em> middle aged? I must have been away much longer than I intended. Boy am I going to be in trouble when I get back to work.. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149293 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 15:21:53 +0000 gembo 149293@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Unless he is wearing a fat suit? His girth is very modest. Also he is a fair way off middle aged. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149291 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 15:16:52 +0000 Greenroofer 149291@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The Dave I pass regularly on the canal is appropriately dressed, appropriately bicycled and not in any sense amply-girthed. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149286 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 14:58:39 +0000 Instography 149286@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Would anyone say that Dave qualifies as "amply-girthed"? If so, I'm in big (in every sense of the word) trouble and so inappropriately dressed. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149277 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 14:08:43 +0000 gembo 149277@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have foolishly cycled the forth and Clyde canal from cowcaddens to Falkirk wheel then the union canal on a heavy three speed (fine except at end when came off the canal and had to schlep up the hill after cycling in a river for thirty miles. It is very wet and can be a total slog. There are long stretches where you will never see another soul. Given how boring it gets taking these at speed does not seem unreasonable. at the slateford aqueduct I become a pootler. Some people pootle faster than me, I don't chase them. Once a chap came on to the slateford aqueduct too fast and ended up in the drink.</p> <p>Ideally cyclists should adjust their behaviour just before the slateford aqueduct if heading east. Come off and go on the road if speed of the essence etc. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149276 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 14:07:51 +0000 Greenroofer 149276@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Focus (to your earlier point) - you'd only need to hide from me if you met me on the towpath in Castelli. If we met on the road (and you knew who I was) then a cheery wave would be the order of the day.</p> <p>With my tongue out of my cheek, if you want to experiment with top speeds on the straight sections of towpath out to the west when there's nobody else about then that's fine with me. I might have done it myself once or twice too. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149271 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 14:00:05 +0000 I were right about that saddle 149271@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The first time I cycled on the road I was about fifteen. Borrowed my dad's bike to go and play snooker. Some bicyclist type shouted at me on the Five Roads roundabout in Aberdeen, and given that I'm a sensitive soul it's no surprise that I didn't cycle again until I was twenty one.</p> <p>I thought he was shouting about the line I'd taken. Never occured to me that he might have been Fashion Police having a go at my adolescent eighties outfit. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149269 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 13:54:28 +0000 wingpig 149269@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote><em>"Do we berate 10mph tandem riders or 15mph Brompton riders though?"</em></blockquote></p> <p>Depends how they're riding. If their doing something which warrants beration, berate away. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149268 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 13:52:16 +0000 Greenroofer 149268@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><strong>@KeepPedalling</strong>. Yup.</p> <p><ul><li>Doesn't matter what you ride, so long as you do.</li><li>Doesn't matter what you wear, so long as you do (please).</li><li>Doesn't matter how you ride so long as it's not dangerous or threatening to anyone else (and, ideally, so long as it doesn't give cyclists a bad name).</li><br /> </ul></p> <p>I'd only ever genuinely criticise someone on a bike for the choices they make about the third of those three. That's what the 'Rubbish Cycling' thread is for. The first two are their choice, and their choice (whatever it is) is fine by me. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149264 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 13:43:32 +0000 Focus 149264@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well said, <strong>KeepPedalling</strong>! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149262 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 13:40:43 +0000 KeepPedalling 149262@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><u>The bottom line</u> - Whenever I see any of the concerns listed above - I just think "<u>glad they left the car at home</u>". When you take an overall view - the most dangerous thing cyclists could do is take their car instead. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149257 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 13:27:41 +0000 Focus 149257@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@ <strong>Greenroofer</strong></p> <p>As a Castelli wearer, I suppose I will have to hide in the undergrowth if I ever see you coming (that's if I ever identify who you are of course!). Looks like I can scrape by on the bike front though.</p> <p>Inappropriate clothing would surely include anything that identifies you as a taxi driver, hedge fund manager or estate agent, or certain fancy dress uniforms which may previously have been worn by Prince Harry.</p> <p>On the subject of speed, I will <em>sometimes</em> take certain straight sections fast (far from TT speeds though, and my tri bars remain fixed to my static bike), but then I am alert to other users and will slow before reaching them. I know where the entrances are and won't speed past them either. And I like watching for wildlife so I would miss that (or rather I might <em>not</em>) if going too fast. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149252 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 13:13:32 +0000 i 149252@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Here's a blog <a href="http://conflictbydesign.wordpress.com/2014/01/23/union-canal-into-edinburgh/">post</a> that covers what's wrong with the union canal. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12591&page=2#post-149247 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 12:53:22 +0000 Dave 149247@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@wingpig I guess the operative question is "what poses a danger"?</p> <p>A tandem at 10mph will do significantly more damage to a pedestrian than a solo at 15mph. The tandem has arguably more to go wrong with two riders, while the solo rider has added incentive not to crash, because their injuries will be that much more severe. </p> <p>Do we berate 10mph tandem riders or 15mph Brompton riders though? (For tandems, I guess you could substitute amply-girthed middle aged men such as myself versus our more svelte roadie enemy from up-topic)... </p>