http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Bathgate Alps en Thu, 21 May 2026 11:09:58 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=3#post-313308 Thu, 29 Aug 2019 15:33:43 +0000 dessert rat 313308@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>ouch - my knees hurt just looking at that - at least 12 proper hills in there.</p> <p>I could do it is segments, over a month or so. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=3#post-313307 Thu, 29 Aug 2019 15:09:27 +0000 HankChief 313307@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My knee prevented me giving it a go but @themightysimmonite marked his return from injury with had a cracking ride at the weekend. Chapeau Sir.</p> <p>He even did a few more than I set as the challenge...</p> <p><a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/2647868909" rel="nofollow">https://www.strava.com/activities/2647868909</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=3#post-299225 Mon, 14 Jan 2019 22:15:59 +0000 amir 299225@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Could be tempted... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=3#post-299190 Mon, 14 Jan 2019 13:26:59 +0000 gembo 299190@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The little cafe up on the ridge at Beecraigs has kicker climbs all around it </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=3#post-299189 Mon, 14 Jan 2019 12:09:37 +0000 HankChief 299189@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>To quote someone who tried the 1st half on Saturday...</p> <p><em>"<br /> There are some climbs there that relegate Kingscavil to mediocre status!</em>"</p> <p>I also wanted to leave something tasty towards the end ;-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=3#post-299188 Mon, 14 Jan 2019 12:09:01 +0000 Frenchy 299188@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>You'd be better getting Kingscavil out of the way sooner than 75 miles in though... </em></p> <p>I'm assuming the plan is do it after a food/coffee break in Linlithgow. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=3#post-299186 Mon, 14 Jan 2019 11:55:44 +0000 Murun Buchstansangur 299186@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Good work</p> <p>You'd be better getting Kingscavil out of the way sooner than 75 miles in though... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=3#post-299182 Mon, 14 Jan 2019 10:21:11 +0000 neddie 299182@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Would be interested, if I'm fit enough by then... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=3#post-299181 Mon, 14 Jan 2019 10:06:21 +0000 Frenchy 299181@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>That is the image we need.</em></p> <p>"need". </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=3#post-299180 Mon, 14 Jan 2019 09:59:50 +0000 ARobComp 299180@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Was the postman's algorithm employed in the creation of this, or did you use another nodal algorithm? Alternnately were you trying to draw a persons face (far west) and a CDC (appendage south) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=3#post-299179 Mon, 14 Jan 2019 09:50:30 +0000 dessert rat 299179@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>its clearly a dog chasing some spaghetti </p> <p><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4861/39771960733_bc314a42b9.jpg"> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=2#post-299178 Mon, 14 Jan 2019 09:11:23 +0000 I were right about that saddle 299178@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Turtle?</p> <p>There's an electron microscope image of a sperm bursting on entering an egg somewhere but I can't find it. That is the image we need. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=2#post-299177 Mon, 14 Jan 2019 08:53:19 +0000 CycleCommute.CC 299177@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hi HankChief, I would be interested in doing this at some point </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=2#post-299175 Mon, 14 Jan 2019 00:16:43 +0000 unhurt 299175@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>What sort of turtles have you been seeing? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=2#post-299173 Sun, 13 Jan 2019 22:37:06 +0000 Snowy 299173@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Good piece of Strava art there. We shall call it The Wonky Turtle. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=2#post-299171 Sun, 13 Jan 2019 22:00:05 +0000 gembo 299171@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oooooft I know all the climbs and have done as many as four of them in the same ride. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=2#post-299170 Sun, 13 Jan 2019 21:22:12 +0000 Frenchy 299170@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Crackers. Absolutely crackers.</p> <p>I'm in. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=2#post-299169 Sun, 13 Jan 2019 21:04:32 +0000 HankChief 299169@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Winter evening can be well spent plotting adventures.</p> <p>Someone in West Lothian Clarion has mapped the <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?ie=UTF8&amp;hl=en&amp;msa=0&amp;ll=55.94223459805581%2C-3.573646999999937&amp;spn=0.214575%2C0.438423&amp;source=embed&amp;mid=1242rreRGmJ5rTM01UKZ9EUY1Ig4&amp;z=9">27 climbs</a> of the Bathgate Alps. (They even went as far as producing a T-shirt with them all on).</p> <p>So after a bit of topology I came up with a 100miler from Cramond Brig to tackle them all.</p> <p>Any one fancy it? <a href="https://www.strava.com/routes/16653830" rel="nofollow">https://www.strava.com/routes/16653830</a></p> <p><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2cNukT8"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7875/45814705825_ee7bcd4b1b_n.jpg"></a><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2cNukT8">All the Bathgate Alps</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/91842878@N03/">HankChief</a>, on Flickr</p> <p>And for those who want to practice, here are the <a href="https://www.strava.com/routes/16705602">1st</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.strava.com/routes/16705756">2nd</a> halves</p> <p>(I have vaguely agreed the 25th August to tackle this with the Cramond &amp; Cammo Cycling Club but I'm wondering about a reconnaissance mission before then) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=2#post-266239 Sat, 11 Nov 2017 17:23:54 +0000 gembo 266239@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yellow and black colours will be west Lothian Clarion. If you shout Boots at them they are supposed to reply Spurs, though some do not seem to do this despite it remaining Clarion UK rules. Dates as many may already know to when The Clarion (leftist newspaper) was delivered by horse. the Clarion is still the largest cycle club in the UK (amalgamation of all the smaller clarion a around the country). Though ERC might give them a run for their money these days? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=2#post-266234 Sat, 11 Nov 2017 15:52:53 +0000 rider73 266234@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>last second decision to head to the Alps today -- and was not as enjoyable as last time, not the Alps fault.....<br /> straight out the box my rear mech was playing up and could not get all my gears, jumping around too....plus for some really bizarre reason that i've never had before, my right foot at the base was tingling and really uncomfortable....felt in a grumpy mood ! :-/</p> <p>anyway route wise - took @Murun advice and went along southerly road from Winchburgh to West Binnie into the wind , Chapel hill, right onto Bangour Hill, the Johns Hill, Wall of Wairdlaw (excellent climb and views!) - stopped at 11.11am then down to the north side and turn back on myself to take in Hay Hill - during all this my gears and my general lazy legs feeling i decided to turn around and head into Linlithgo (which was busy today!) and speed along the B road back to Dalgety Bay via FRB</p> <p>some sections were frosty and icy, rear end stepped out a few time no a descent :( and some places were covered in mud from farm fields .</p> <p>not too many riders around, yellow and black club colours for 2 riders, and a couple of others about . </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=2#post-265645 Sun, 05 Nov 2017 19:53:08 +0000 gembo 265645@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>West bunny decent is a great we schlep </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=2#post-265640 Sun, 05 Nov 2017 18:11:17 +0000 rider73 265640@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>that @marun - will add it to the next ride :) :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=2#post-265636 Sun, 05 Nov 2017 16:49:19 +0000 Murun Buchstansangur 265636@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@rider73 the next road to the south of the one you were on (goes past Binny Craig etc) is even better. Together they make an excellent loop. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=2#post-265634 Sun, 05 Nov 2017 14:06:21 +0000 gembo 265634@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@rider73 we went along the road you describe in the other direction today around 11a.m. We had been in the newish cafe anth beecraigs visitor centre. Very nice. Before that we had very gingerly come down from cairnpapple lot of melting ice on the road and then in a particular dip a frost pocket at tricky spot but taken slowly was fine.</p> <p>Nowhere near as much ice in the Alps today as there was around the five sisters Bings or the back road from Balerno through the hamlet of Glenbrook. Given the state of these roads prior to the Alps we approached with trepidation but seems to have been a drier night up there than down in the valleys of west Lothain.</p> <p>You could see the Bass Rock from the cafe at Beecraigs, somclear was the mornng. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=2#post-265632 Sun, 05 Nov 2017 13:48:08 +0000 PS 265632@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>although i'm guessing they will get // retain black ice through the winter???</em></p> <p>The roads do get icy after a hard frost, but I haven't found that to be so common as to prevent me heading out that way. I tend not to go out on my bike if there is a reasonable risk of ice and I still get a lot of Bathgate Alps rides in over the winter. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=2#post-265629 Sun, 05 Nov 2017 13:04:46 +0000 rider73 265629@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>...so i'd only planned to go to the coffee shop in Lyn. today, but i felt so good and without a cough i went south at winchburgh, then west along the very long road taking in :-<br /> FAUCHELDEAN<br /> OCHILTREE<br /> HILLHOUSE HILL<br /> and down LINLITHGOW'S PRESTON ROAD</p> <p>as a first time Bathgater - these roads and hills were stunning - still some colour on the trees and sun on the face.....<br /> some icy patches around Hillhouse though :-/</p> <p>after dropping into Lyn and then back east along the B road to FRB my lurgy had returned a bit, so cruised back thinking of bacon butties back at the flat.<br /> thankfully post shower/lunch/coffee the chest is still clear</p> <p>will have to return to these Alps more - although i'm guessing they will get // retain black ice through the winter??? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=2#post-264987 Mon, 30 Oct 2017 12:31:39 +0000 rider73 264987@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>...there seems to be plenty of coffee options in linlithgo! :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=2#post-264978 Mon, 30 Oct 2017 11:01:26 +0000 panyagua 264978@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>An unusually large detachment of five Forth Bay Wheelers rode out yesterday from the Bay along to Kincardine Bridge and over to Linlithgow. I had push on without coffee as needed to get home for 12 ish, but the other four were in So Strawberry from about 11. Beautiful day with cyclists everywhere. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=2#post-264905 Sun, 29 Oct 2017 17:22:02 +0000 gembo 264905@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>We went east from torphicen along the ridge below cairnpapple passing group of three men cycling together. We did have to numerous singletons too. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12944&page=2#post-264899 Sun, 29 Oct 2017 14:18:10 +0000 rider73 264899@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>must have missed each other by 5 mins, max, may have waved to you as i headed back to FRB along the B road out of L/lgow.?? </p>