http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Highest asphalt in The Kingdom en Tue, 19 May 2026 18:42:27 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232&page=2#post-294688 Wed, 31 Oct 2018 18:51:04 +0000 amir 294688@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>It's these skin-tight jersey things with wee pockets in the small of the back which don't look very capacious, particularly when worn by people wearing shorts without pockets. </em><br /> I can get a surprising amount in my jersey pockets - it can look a bit odd though. Rapha do very expensive lycra shorts with pockets in.</p> <p><em>Do people still carry old newspapers with them to put down their tops on chilly descents, or has that been supplanted since the invention of the merino sheep?</em><br /> Merino sheep are quite heavy. You could use a roadkill rabbit instead </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232&page=2#post-294681 Wed, 31 Oct 2018 17:39:49 +0000 paddyirish 294681@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've done one HC (Kitzbuhelerhorn topping out at an annoying 1996m) and 4 cat 2s in the Tirol</p> <p>Lots of Cat 3s according to Veloviewer - the main Scottish ones I've done are Bathgate Alps, Cleish hill and the String and the Ross on Arran. They also say Gogar to Harlaw is a Cat 3 but I don't seriously believe that.</p> <p>I prefer going up to down - don't trust Scottish Road surfaces enough to really let go on descents. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232&page=2#post-294680 Wed, 31 Oct 2018 17:39:25 +0000 wingpig 294680@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote><em>"(and you can get an enormous amount in some pockets) "</em></blockquote></p> <p>I know - I can get a pair of trousers in one Humvee rear pocket and a spare jumper in the other, alongside all the usual phone, keys, cards, receipts, antihistamines, receipts, oatcakes and receipts in the other pockets. It's these skin-tight jersey things with wee pockets in the small of the back which don't look very capacious, particularly when worn by people wearing shorts without pockets. Do people still carry old newspapers with them to put down their tops on chilly descents, or has that been supplanted since the invention of the merino sheep? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232#post-294673 Wed, 31 Oct 2018 16:41:26 +0000 paulmilne 294673@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Sorry, but the descent is what makes the climb worth doing - for me that is. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232#post-294671 Wed, 31 Oct 2018 16:37:02 +0000 amir 294671@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>and don't have enough pockets in their special clothes to store more clothes</em></p> <p>I might point out that some humans who dress as sports cyclists are merely utility cyclists, using their bikes to transport themselves to wonderful places beyond the city limits. The sports clothing is just a personal choice that works for them. (and you can get an enormous amount in some pockets) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232#post-294655 Wed, 31 Oct 2018 14:17:48 +0000 LivM 294655@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@gembo re: tarmac/asphalt etc. My aunt who's a roads engineer uses "Blacktop" for generic description. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232#post-294652 Wed, 31 Oct 2018 13:00:15 +0000 jonty 294652@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@wingpig: perhaps I should have put 'for me' a bit earlier in the sentence. I'm referring to people who don't get that when I talk about a 'good climb' I am in fact talking about enjoying the climb (or, perhaps, <em>completing</em> the climb) and am not really thinking about the downhill bit (or perhaps there's a bit of dread.)</p> <p>It's probably a bit of an exaggeration, and I'm very aware that's far from universal - but it does surprise people. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232#post-294651 Wed, 31 Oct 2018 12:56:27 +0000 I were right about that saddle 294651@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>and don't have enough pockets in their special clothes to store more clothes</em></p> <p>Unvarnished. Pleasing. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232#post-294650 Wed, 31 Oct 2018 12:54:04 +0000 Cyclingmollie 294650@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>What we need is a Kerbal Space programme for bikes. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232#post-294649 Wed, 31 Oct 2018 12:43:22 +0000 cb 294649@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I am suddenly reminded about the great <a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3398">Esplanade to Leith freewheel</a> which I don't think ever happened sadly.</p> <p>Also mentioned (and the idea born) <a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1719">here</a>. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232#post-294648 Wed, 31 Oct 2018 12:33:48 +0000 Cyclingmollie 294648@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've climbed the Cairnwell from sea-level - I think you're half way up at Braemar. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232#post-294647 Wed, 31 Oct 2018 12:33:30 +0000 wingpig 294647@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote><em>"There's a lot of things about 'sport' cycling that are hard to explain to non-cycley people but, for me, I think this concept is one of the hardest!"</em></blockquote></p> <p>Is this that non-'sports cyclist' people would assume that a 'sports cyclist' person would like the opportunity to cash back in their gravitational potential, and/or not getting that even 'sports cyclist' people get frightened about going downhill too fast, or that 'sports cyclist' people might not like going downhill as they're not exerting themselves into the appropriate cardiovascular zone when freewheeling, or that they're more likely to get cold rushing downhill and don't have enough pockets in their special clothes to store more clothes?</p> <p>(Assuming you mean the branch of sports cycling concerned with having really light bicycles, not those who have really heavy bicycles with lots of suspension built specifically for going down hills, albeit not particularly on smooth roads?) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232#post-294640 Wed, 31 Oct 2018 11:36:52 +0000 gembo 294640@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Nice descents could be a thread - Did one from Above Burntisland down to Burntisland. Clear site lines, one car overtook. Descent of Red Stone Rig is fave as straight, no roads bisecting, little in way of raj tractor drivers. Leyden Road from A70 down to Kirknewton, not bad buyt some farmers and dog walkers.</p> <p>Also the one that is the famous climb in West Lothain, name eluding me at moment, near linlithgow goes up to Ochiltree falso summit etc, is actually good descent. </p> <p>West Binny Hill descent out that way also good (contains one golf club though) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232#post-294639 Wed, 31 Oct 2018 11:26:20 +0000 jonty 294639@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"I'd be tempted to do more of these long climbs, but don't really like the descents."</p> <p>There's a lot of things about 'sport' cycling that are hard to explain to non-cycley people but, for me, I think this concept is one of the hardest! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232#post-294585 Tue, 30 Oct 2018 18:18:35 +0000 amir 294585@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>According to Veloviewer, I have done one HC (in Tuscany), no cat 1 climbs, quite a few cat 2s, and loads of cat 3s and below. The Scottish cat 2s include:<br /> Glenshee<br /> Cairn O' Mount<br /> Mennock Pass</p> <p>But I've never done the Bealach na Ba on a bike.</p> <p>There's loads on nice Cat 3s locally.</p> <p>I enjoyed the HC (though underestimated the temperature drop). Of recent climbs, I am most proud of the Snow Roads sequence of climbs in high temps and also a cat 3 which I used to show my OH how good it would be if she got an e bike.</p> <p>I'd be tempted to do more of these long climbs, but don't really like the descents. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232#post-294584 Tue, 30 Oct 2018 17:58:40 +0000 fimm 294584@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The Bealach na Ba has surely good claim to be the longest climb, given that you start from sea level? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232#post-294581 Tue, 30 Oct 2018 17:54:13 +0000 DaveC 294581@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think the wiki link above is only public roads. The Wanlochhead road is a private road, access to the mast.</p> <p>I have ridden the Cairnwell a few times, didn't know it was the highest public road. Funny as a Sportive Company which organises rides claims their ride over Bealach na Bà is the highest (public) road.</p> <p>I rode over to Germany in September and reached Losheimergraben at 680 and then later the same day Signal de Bontrange at very near 700m. Not the heighest in Europe by any stretch but my heighest point cycled to. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232#post-294509 Mon, 29 Oct 2018 19:40:40 +0000 gembo 294509@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@cb, he made his wee boy learn that wee cooper of Fife torture. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232#post-294499 Mon, 29 Oct 2018 17:57:43 +0000 cb 294499@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoEAdLFt5yI" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoEAdLFt5yI</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232#post-294461 Mon, 29 Oct 2018 12:34:59 +0000 gembo 294461@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@crowriver, maybe but Roseanne Cash (Johnny's daughter) has visited The Kingdom several times. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232#post-294460 Mon, 29 Oct 2018 12:12:05 +0000 crowriver 294460@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"The Kingdom Johnny Cash's ancestors used to own"</p> <p>Bill Cash's ancestors more likely? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232#post-294433 Mon, 29 Oct 2018 09:13:34 +0000 I were right about that saddle 294433@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Quite well paved in places by General Wade.</em></p> <p>The 'stone paving' is actually the foundations. All the gravel be gone. Still a public road it seems, even if not maintained. We all have the right to drive a flock of geese over it or something. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232#post-294426 Mon, 29 Oct 2018 08:14:54 +0000 gembo 294426@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Corrieyairack Pass 770metres. Quite well paved in places by General Wade.</p> <p>How high does the track go on Ben Nevis?</p> <p>When does a track become a path? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232#post-294425 Mon, 29 Oct 2018 00:17:09 +0000 I were right about that saddle 294425@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The highest public road in the land is of course the Màm Choire Ghearraig. No tar macadam to be seen, but no bicyclist should miss it. Punishing for man and machine alike. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232#post-294424 Sun, 28 Oct 2018 23:10:23 +0000 gembo 294424@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@snowy, correct you have to go back down same way you went up.</p> <p>I retract all asphalt allegations (we have a lovely Irish man cycles with us who takes exception to Tarmac as it is a British proprietary brand). Two of the highest paved public roads are dead ends, 28 are passes. Green Lowther is Maybe not a public road? Summit is 732 metres. Golf ball not on summit. Golf ball is maybe highest golf ball. The ski club on green lowther have a website looking at green lowther and nine other golf balls you can ski or snowboard near. Man this is complex. Durisdeer where the mad marble mausoleum at back of modest kirk also gets a mention as one of the unpassable passes goes from there to wanlockhead.</p> <p>The pub though in wanlockhead is the highest, it did close so you had to go to the British legion for highest drawn pint of beer. Also for a while sold fruit juices as was some sort of retreat but think back now as a hotel.</p> <p>These things are all quite relative. I once cycled to the highest market town in England, which is in Cumbria. Strangely I cycled downhill to it from Northumberland. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232#post-294423 Sun, 28 Oct 2018 23:05:15 +0000 paddyirish 294423@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_highest_roads_in_Scotland">Wiki</a> suggests that the Cairnwell is as high as it goes in Scotland.</p> <p>I had the feeling the highest tarmac in the UK is somewhere in the Pennines- up a one way road somewhere like Cross Fell.</p> <p>And indeed, <a href="https://roadcyclinguk.com/rides-travel/sportive/13-highest-roads-ride-uk/">this site</a> suggests that Wiki hasn't got it right... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232#post-294422 Sun, 28 Oct 2018 22:52:20 +0000 Snowy 294422@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yep, the climb to the radar golf ball on Lowther Hill is a good one. Not a through road, though, so should we count it? If you hang around at the top, your coffee stays hot for ages. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232#post-294420 Sun, 28 Oct 2018 21:40:14 +0000 gembo 294420@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Wanlockhead has highest pub in UK and the asphalt that goes out of there up to the radar station or whatever it is on Green Lowther hill is the highest paved road in UK. I was only wondering about The Kingdom of Fife today. The Kingdom Johnny Cash's ancestors used to own (see the street in Strathmiglo called Cash Feus) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232#post-294418 Sun, 28 Oct 2018 21:16:29 +0000 dessert rat 294418@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Did a Sportif thing a few years back that took us through Wanlockhead, which may or may not the highest village in Scotland - Ordnance Surveys ongoing to settle the dispute. </p> <p>Suspect there will be higher tarmac somewhere, that was high enough. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19232#post-294411 Sun, 28 Oct 2018 16:57:16 +0000 gembo 294411@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@cyclingmollie thanks for photo, that little lochan featured prettily then there was a voodoo chole slight return moment when we went past stenhouse trout fishery and I wondered if we had doubled back but I think similar not the same?</p> <p>@paddyirish, yes we could see Lomond hill som was thinking probably a car park that way.</p> <p>I will fail to mention pirrin den to the fietsclub</p> <p>Possibly the mad feckin drivers of Fife did not take the extra hour in bed but got up early as 9 a.m. Through Inverkeithing should not have been that busy.</p> <p>Did get quite disorientated up in them that hills as when we did finally come back towards the forth we had a view which I was expecting to be west but was in fact The bass rock. </p>