http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: The first place I ever cycled en Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:17:41 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=3#post-261123 Wed, 20 Sep 2017 09:23:17 +0000 AKen 261123@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>A few years up from me. I probably looked on them with awe as Big Kids!<br /> </em></p> <p>You were maybe too young to have used the home-made BMX track off Bonaly Road then? The fields across the road from the school were cleared for housing but then development stopped for some time - with the builders helpfully leaving piles of earth lying about that were made into jumps and abandoned bricks used to mark out the edges of the track.</p> <p>It's now Bonaly Wester. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=3#post-261094 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 20:48:05 +0000 gembo 261094@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@unhurt dems da breaks </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=3#post-261093 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 20:42:22 +0000 unhurt 261093@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@gembo re trikes - I'm the oldest of four kids. We're pretty closely spaced in age. So, when we had a back garden with a long strip of tarmac, and two trikes you could steer while standing on the back bar, it seemed logical to use spare bits of skipping rope to harness the younger two to them as horses in order that brother #1 and me could play Roman chariot racing. We thought this was an excellent game. Apparently it isn't so fondly remembered by brother #2 and wee sister. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=3#post-261087 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 19:30:01 +0000 gembo 261087@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Great breeks </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=3#post-261086 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 19:26:04 +0000 Cyclingmollie 261086@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well if we're going back to self-propelled transport with more than two wheels I debuted in the living room of the Bank Farm, Forth in about 1963.</p> <p><a href="https://flic.kr/p/9qQWoo"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5257/5531998378_10289ba4f7.jpg"></a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=3#post-261084 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 19:14:47 +0000 gembo 261084@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have a tricycle for a child, it has a brake worked by rods. They go up the way rather than in the way. Sadly the block has worn out so the brake does not work. </p> <p>I think I could probably still cycle it, such is the design. Also back axle Is worn at exactly where the wee brother or sister would have stood. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=3#post-261070 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 16:55:26 +0000 jules878 261070@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Does tricycling also count? </p> <p>If so here - <a href="http://www.tinyurl.com/yb2blj87" rel="nofollow">http://www.tinyurl.com/yb2blj87</a>. My first adventures on a bicycle would also be same/similar location! </p> <p>Photographic evidence, <a href="https://twitter.com/jules878/status/882625959521910786" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/jules878/status/882625959521910786</a>, plus my 1969 Cycling Proficiency Certificate earned perhaps 3-4 years after this photo! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=3#post-261068 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 16:51:26 +0000 unhurt 261068@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oh - just remembered the time stunts on the telly (potentially The Fall Guy?) had us taking turns on our bikes (and I think, less successfully, on rollerboots...) at jumping rows* of kids lying parallel to the short edge of an improvised plywood ramp. No-one was seriously injured (that I recall). Everyone had to have a shot at being part of the "jump" which probably help keep the jumps attempted within the realms of possibility.</p> <p>*three to five? More probably three or less or there would have been landings on bodies. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=3#post-261065 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 16:26:55 +0000 I were right about that saddle 261065@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Baldcyclist</p> <p>I have a strong memory of peering curiously at my own glossy white kneecap <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@57.1496634,-2.1244702,3a,75y,346.91h,71.39t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sZgdI01pdJ0O-kVs4XMVVOw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656">here</a> after some cycle antic went wrong. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=3#post-261059 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 15:58:48 +0000 unhurt 261059@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A few years up from me. I probably looked on them with awe as Big Kids! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=3#post-261053 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 15:23:17 +0000 AKen 261053@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>@AKen - would you care to reveal what years you were at Bonaly Primary (assuming you were)? Perhaps we overlapped? </em></p> <p>I didn't go to school locally, but my wee sister and brother started in 77 and 78. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=3#post-261044 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 14:28:22 +0000 Baldcyclist 261044@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I learned on the off road paths around <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@55.90623,-3.5189066,3a,49.3y,7.68h,85.45t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s2DdQB1MmZSQ8BA3jgTrqsQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656">here</a>.</p> <p>A few early memories of cycling are:</p> <p>Stabilizers coming off, and dad pushing me along the path next to the house on the right, and of me losing most of the skin on my left arm to the harling.</p> <p>Another occasion soon after learning, we were zooming down the path just behind the grey wall to the right, and having not mastered braking yet, and my toes not being efficient enough at stopping I hit the wall, went over the handlebars, and smacked my head off the wall. No such thing as helmets in those days, I remember that dull thud like it was yesterday. There were many tears</p> <p>We used to put a ramp at the bottom of the street at the kerb (before it was lowered, or the bolard wasthere), and used to race down the wee hill and jump off the ramp over people, my record was five. On one occasion I was going too fast, and somehow became detached from the bike, and landed on the road on my chin, resulting in an afternoon in Bangour hospital. Still have the scar on my chin now.</p> <p>We also used to race down the wee hill, straight out onto the road, and along to the end of the street, round the LDC (Livingston Development Corporation) office and back down. There were rarely any cars on that street, and I don't ever remember being told to be careful by any of the parents. Guess parenting was more relaxed in the 70s/80s (I often got brought home by the police at 3 after being found miles away on my tractor, loved the path network even then ;) )</p> <p>Almondell country park was also a frequent destination when we got a bit older, and had strikas and choppers that you could ride 5 or more miles on. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=3#post-261043 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 14:18:03 +0000 fimm 261043@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I don't remember clearly, but it must have been on the roads around <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/QvfChjGNXkH2">here</a>. I do remember I fall off into a rose bush. Or was that one of my sisters? Although I have written road I think we had to cycle on the pavements (this was the 1980s). </p> <p>We were never allowed to cycle on the main A696, even though it is allegedly 30mph there. When I went back with a bike as an adult it took a while before I stopped feeling guilty about cycling there! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=3#post-261042 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 13:53:46 +0000 urchaidh 261042@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It was known as '<a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@55.7797618,-3.9069074,3a,75y,302.23h,65.98t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s4jEsAr2NspW5akiDJQ2l8w!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D4jEsAr2NspW5akiDJQ2l8w%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D195.17487%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656">the turning place</a>', an area of tarmac at the top of our street used as a multi purpose space by the local kids. It had a row of spaced kerb stoned along one side which were used for slalom practice, or for bumping over. Once sufficiently experienced on the bike, you graduated to racing 'round the block'. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=3#post-261039 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 13:28:38 +0000 unhurt 261039@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@AKen - would you care to reveal what years you were at Bonaly Primary (assuming you were)? Perhaps we overlapped? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=3#post-261019 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 10:07:53 +0000 AKen 261019@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Draw the following Venn diagram</p> <p>CCE posters, people who grew up on farms, people who cycle regularly? </em></p> <p>I grew up across the road from a farm, does that count? In the 70s, Bonaly Farm had yet to be swallowed up by housing and was a giant, sharp-edged playground for kids from the housing estate taking shape next door. It was barely functioning at the time but was fun to explore the barns and byres - and climb over all the huts that had been erected in the pre-portakabin era for the workies building the estate. It's now gone but some of the more substantial stone. buildings are now flats.</p> <p>First cycling trips were taken on the streets of the estate, which were quite enough then to permit a regular game of football to take place on the road where the shop now is.</p> <p><a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@55.9015133,-3.2581992,3a,75y,341.49h,86.12t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sB-kQuY2aNrs_ogE3zdIMig!2e0!7i13312!8i6656">Streetview (western side of the road was the farm)</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=3#post-260988 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 22:17:50 +0000 acsimpson 260988@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@55.9326216,-3.179205,3a,75y,86.44h,81.51t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1srUOcQH-QfJ9QIKVMDMJYQw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656">Not a farm and not outside Edinburgh!</a></p> <p>I'm sure I must have ridden further back along the road but this is the spot I remember. The house we lived in had neither a driveway nor a tall privacy hedge when we lived there. The flats opposite the church in the background were a car garage when we lived there (at least latterly). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=3#post-260984 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 21:48:26 +0000 unhurt 260984@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Maybe <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/13+Baird+Dr,+Bearsden,+Glasgow+Metropolitan+Area+G61+4BJ/@55.9206378,-4.3454052,3a,75y,350.24h,94.63t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1spR3hC7A3I4X3iOta0buxyw!3e11!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fmaps%2Fphotothumb%2Ffd%2Fv1%3Fbpb%3DChAKDnNlYXJjaC5UQUNUSUxFEkAKEgmdHhrYY0WISBH5XBmFsdJAcxIKDa_QVCEVivBo_RoSCdUHl9BjRYhIEVC3pJnDqj3AKgoNr9BUIRWK8Gj9GgQIVhBW%26gl%3DGB!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x48884563d81a1e9d:0x7340d2b185195cf9!8m2!3d55.920657!4d-4.345432?hl=en">here</a> (Bearsden, P1)? Or maybe it was at my Gran's place <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/6+Gavins+Rd,+Clydebank+G81+6AA/@55.9222599,-4.4029377,3a,87.9y,255.56h,90.89t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1syUhbcS8-tfeBmBnqRVjkQQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x48884fb5da350193:0x7b4001bd57a8e521!2s6+Gavins+Rd,+Clydebank+G81+6AA!3b1!8m2!3d55.9222315!4d-4.4029627!3m4!1s0x48884fb5da350193:0x7b4001bd57a8e521!8m2!3d55.9222315!4d-4.4029627?hl=en">here</a>. My childhood memories are a bit disjointed and sometimes not easily approached...</p> <p>First definite memory of a specific place &amp; time on a bike is of going over-the-handlebars here: <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@55.9048279,-3.2388115,55m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en">a downhill stretch of the old road parallel to Redford Road </a>(just down from the Dreghorn Barracks) on a bike with solid rubber tyres (possibly called "Bluebird"?). I <em>think</em> got back up and rode down the same hill again.</p> <p>Later memories are mostly of having a stupid brown bike with pretty decals called "Amber" because my parents wouldn't buy me a "boy's bike". My wee brother got a blue &amp; yellow BMX. I was so. so. jealous! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=3#post-260982 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 21:35:47 +0000 LivM 260982@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@iwrats yes, thank you, maps weren't behaving for sharing streetview. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=2#post-260917 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 14:54:25 +0000 wingpig 260917@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>As there weren't any balance bikes where I lived up until I was 2¾ my release-the-grip-on-the-saddle moment was on Bloxham Road, outside where I lived from 2¾-6½. Just round the corner <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.0530495,-1.3418156,3a,75y,329.1h,79.19t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s4Q4wApNSPQNuiSXNqTXH5w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656">here</a> by the park was my first and only accidental over-handlebars event caused by incautious front brake use - later over-the-handlebar episodes were caused by bricks on the ramps or wheels detaching after getting stuck in boggy ruts on woodland paths. Later cycling memories from that area include tootling along <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.0522308,-1.345577,3a,75y,41.34h,97.75t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1spuLImy4-HZKCm48D972Y_A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656">here</a> humming the theme from CHiPs. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=2#post-260916 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 14:25:52 +0000 steveo 260916@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Indeed Rosie, Ironically its probably the one thing modern newbuild car centric Barret box estates have over 30's - 60's council estates. The level of permeability of places like Broomhall and Carrick Knowe have led to them being nasty fast roads between two major arteries probably not helped by real time mapping routing people through them rather than waiting in traffic. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=2#post-260914 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 14:21:06 +0000 Rosie 260914@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@steveo - Kids mucking around on their bikes on quiet residential streets should be a part of an ordinary childhood. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=2#post-260913 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 14:14:47 +0000 I were right about that saddle 260913@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@LivD</p> <p><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/@56.3345273,-2.7887682,3a,75y,70.61h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1spVIoPeF9m-fLxs_dOWJL5Q!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DpVIoPeF9m-fLxs_dOWJL5Q%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D57.590042%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en-GB">This yin here?</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=2#post-260912 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 14:14:27 +0000 steveo 260912@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Prior to that road block Rob's Loan was a terrible rat run, my mum would always walk us to school as it was the most dangerous part of a morning that included crossing Gorgie Road and Balgreen Road. After it was put in and probably coinciding with my being a little older I walked on my own*.</p> <p>Based on that one piece of infrastructure I'm of the opinion that all estates should be closed off in the middle so that kids can play in the street and the only traffic is local, residential and probably less mental, might actually encourage future cyclists and <em>much</em> cheaper than sending every child off to a farm!</p> <p>*note my memory time scales may be a little hazy </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=2#post-260908 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 14:11:07 +0000 LivM 260908@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://goo.gl/maps/1iZ85aum7cv">Woodburn Park, St Andrews</a> (specifically the low path). </p> <p>There was a super slide in those days that ran down the slope of the hill. Long and fast. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=2#post-260907 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 14:10:57 +0000 Rosie 260907@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Robb's Loan is on my Spokes delivery round.<br /> I always get lost round there. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=2#post-260905 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 14:07:07 +0000 I were right about that saddle 260905@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Turns out I have been to Robb's loan to pick up a suspension fork for Madame IWRATS' bike.</p> <p>But from the other end. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=2#post-260904 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 14:01:19 +0000 steveo 260904@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@iwrats: behold!<br /> <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@55.9321371,-3.2471437,3a,75y,154.77h,69.1t/data=" rel="nofollow">https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@55.9321371,-3.2471437,3a,75y,154.77h,69.1t/data=</a>!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDVTc_L9yqTSsAy8-DZlJhQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656</p> <p>As a child swooping down into Chesser Cresent at max speed was the greatest fun, don't think I ever encountered a car coming the other way. Thankfully, it would have probably ended badly! Though I did get shouted at by my dad as we intersected once for going a triffle too fast. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=2#post-260903 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 14:00:49 +0000 Ed1 260903@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It may be if lived on a farm as a child used to being outside as have to walk to the school bus also play lot outside. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18141&page=2#post-260901 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 13:54:32 +0000 Rosie 260901@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@IWRATS - Some of us know the fierce Robbs Loan from bitter experience. </p>