http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Best route to Stirling? en Wed, 13 May 2026 02:38:31 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1364#post-12874 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:25:59 +0000 druidh 12874@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The 6mph "limit" is only a request by the local British Waterways people, it is not legally enforceable. British Waterways do not have any national speed limit for cycling. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1364#post-12844 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:00:45 +0000 Dave 12844@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Being taken too literally - I don't expect any cyclists are riding at 6mph (I'm not sure I could actually ride the lowracer at that speed).</p> <p>However the point still remains that the speed limit for cyclists is less than even a casual jogger can manage. 6mph is a 10 minute mile pace, I can run a 6 minute mile (10mph) no problem, and I took up running this summer and do about an hour a week! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1364#post-12840 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:44:23 +0000 spitfire 12840@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>yeah I would pretty much ignore the 6 signs once outside of the city<br /> oh there are none<br /> ah ha ha ha... tell anyone who asks that you joined the canal after Wester Hells<br /> I would follow the canal as much as possible along this <a href="http://edinburgh.cyclestreets.net/journey/222102/">quietest route</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1364#post-12834 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:20:19 +0000 chdot 12834@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"At 6am I was happy to do 20mph on the open stretches."</p> <p>Watch out for sleeping swans... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1364#post-12833 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:12:21 +0000 cb 12833@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I find it hard to believe that some cyclists are doing 6mph because they think they have to keep to a speed limit. Are you sure they're not just cycling slowly and you are running quite fast?</p> <p>At 6am I was happy to do 20mph on the open stretches. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1364#post-12822 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:20:38 +0000 Smudge 12822@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Of course my bike computer having mysteriously stopped working as soon as I enter the canal towpath I have to estimate my speed to stay under 6mph, middle ring smallest rear cog should about do it I'd say... ;-)) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1364#post-12820 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:18:41 +0000 chdot 12820@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"without the ability to mount a bike bell on my body"</p> <p>Velcro?</p> <p>Or Bellcro? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1364#post-12819 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:17:15 +0000 Dave 12819@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>What irritates me is that when I'm jogging along the canal, I have to keep overtaking cyclists stuck at the speed limit and, without the ability to mount a bike bell on my body this can lead to quite a lot of aggravation! ;-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1364#post-12818 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:14:12 +0000 chdot 12818@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"i thought that sign was for boats.. *oops*"</p> <p>Easy 'mistake'. Not at all clear if it has <em>any</em> legality, and obviously unenforceable - can lead to increased conflict with pedestrians (NOT helpful).</p> <p>Crucial thing on <em>all</em> shared paths is caution, consideration, courtesy and care.</p> <p>Spokes has a campaign for that - <a href="http://www.politecycling.info/code.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.politecycling.info/code.html</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1364#post-12816 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:11:02 +0000 Smudge 12816@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"The problem with the canal is that it has a 4mph (or is it 6mph?) speed limit"</p> <p>Which appears to be neither signposted nor enforced and is justifiably then ignored by all except for older walkers! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1364#post-12815 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:07:49 +0000 ruggtomcat 12815@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>i thought that sign was for boats.. *oops*</p> <p>Thanks guys I think ill stay with the canal for a while then head cross country, and ignore the faffy sustrans route. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1364#post-12810 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:47:43 +0000 Dave 12810@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The problem with the canal is that it has a 4mph (or is it 6mph?) speed limit. So it would still be quicker to go out by the A90 (or A8), even if it was four times further... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1364#post-12795 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:59:44 +0000 cb 12795@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've done it twice, both times last summer.</p> <p>I'm on the south side and was starting early (before 6am) so I used the canal to get as far as Ratho.<br /> Surface and potential busyness aside I defy anyone to find a better route west out of Edinburgh (starting on the southside). With the extra tarmac out to Heriot Watt this route will be even better.</p> <p>After Ratho I headed to Newbridge then backroads to Winchburgh. From there I headed west on B and A roads to Falkirk where I turned north on to the A9. At Torwood I turned off the main road to take the back roads to the big roundabout at the services near Bannockburn. From there it's downhill into Stirling.</p> <p>This route is a wee bit hilly at the end but I failed to find a shorter option.</p> <p>One the way back on one occasion I took the NCN route along the north side of the Forth. I followed this religously which became an exercise in pedantry through Alloa. Also very muddy in places around the bonded warehouses to the west of Alloa. To the east of Alloa there is a wonderful 18-odd km off tarmac old railway line taking you all the way to Dunfermline.</p> <p>Going by the north shore of the Forth is probably about 20-25% further. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1364#post-12794 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:20:24 +0000 chdot 12794@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"more or less flat, all the way to Stirling"</p> <p>It's ages since I've cycled it, the flatness was slightly surprising - essentially Forth flood plain. </p> <p>Apart from route through city, big question is whether or not/how much you want to use the canal towpath (flat too). </p> <p>Worst bit I remember was village with very narrow road narrowings - with big lorry right behind. </p> <p>These <em>may</em> have been modified. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1364#post-12791 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 07:53:28 +0000 Dave 12791@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That's how I would go (and have gone). Although we went out the A90 to Kirkliston rather than all that monkeying around in town. From there it's straightforward and more or less flat, all the way to Stirling. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1364#post-12788 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:38:06 +0000 ruggtomcat 12788@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>been looking at the sustrans route (seems a faff) and this <a href="http://edinburgh.cyclestreets.net/journey/221656/" rel="nofollow">http://edinburgh.cyclestreets.net/journey/221656/</a></p> <p>any on the ground experience? I'm going with luggage. </p>