http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Aqueduct etiquette en Mon, 18 May 2026 22:32:07 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=9#post-380832 Wed, 27 Aug 2025 09:31:29 +0000 gembo 380832@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Big John has disappeared and returned before - more comebacks than Sinatra. But this time??<br /> Various copycat wide handlebarred radio playing cyclists too. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=9#post-380831 Wed, 27 Aug 2025 08:56:01 +0000 jdanielp 380831@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I spotted her sporadically since COVID, but not on the aqueduct, fortunately... Formerly Lilac Helmet Lady is still around, but I only see her once in a blue moon. Whatever happened to Big John? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=9#post-380825 Tue, 26 Aug 2025 21:38:53 +0000 gembo 380825@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I was heading east onto the acqueduct this afternoon when who should be coming off but Katharina. I was in my Scottish Borders Randonneurs tangerine jersey with black and white chequered stripe and matching cap. Katharina asked me - Who are you to be trying to cycle onto the. Aqueduct ? A Polis? I said yes. Katharina muttered Jesus Christ. We parted on good terms. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=9#post-369823 Sat, 19 Aug 2023 07:34:02 +0000 gembo 369823@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The other day Katharina waa pushing her bike over the cobbles under the bridge exiting Harrison Gdns towards Wester hailes. She seemed very concerned to warn us that the police were just round the corner but on getting through it was perhaps unsurprising to find no one there. Better though than the usual rows she used to issue but still not keen to meet her on the aqueduct itself </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=9#post-324826 Mon, 16 Mar 2020 21:44:41 +0000 gembo 324826@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Lorra lorra tandems </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=9#post-324759 Mon, 16 Mar 2020 14:35:12 +0000 neddie 324759@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Went out to Ratho with the kids yesterday. Was about 3/4 of the way walking across the aqueduct when a tandem piled on causing us to stop. "Oh nice", I thought, "another tandem."</p> <p>And then about 10 more tandems and about 30 people all piled on, hugging the railing, i.e. the entire tandem club.</p> <p>It made it really awkward for us to pass about 30 odd people. My 9 year old (with his own bike) amazingly wasn't fazed by passing canal-side with about 10 inches of towpath! Well done him. And thanks to the lady behind who shouted "you need to make more room!"</p> <p>After passing the first tandem, I soon lost my jolliness and went into "deep scowl" mode.</p> <p>It wasn't really their fault, but for us it was absolutely the worst possible moment for them all to come piling on. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=9#post-307351 Thu, 23 May 2019 19:52:42 +0000 gembo 307351@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Had Mexican stand off tonight. He wasn't showing an sign of stopping so neither did I, until last second and he whizzed past me. Childish but enjoyable </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=9#post-307345 Thu, 23 May 2019 15:47:20 +0000 Greenroofer 307345@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yesterday evening at rush hour there were two jolly women with bikes and an Adventure Syndicate air about them causing chaos on the aqueduct as they were bringing a trailer along it with a greyhound in it.</p> <p>As we've remarked before, it's a sad indictment of facilities for people who ride bikes with trailers that there's no practical alternative way to take a trailer along the towpath. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=9#post-287485 Mon, 23 Jul 2018 18:44:54 +0000 jdanielp 287485@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It was the busiest evening that I can remember on Slateford Aqueduct so far this year; slow going, but I'm pleased to say that everyone was well behaved. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=9#post-287361 Sat, 21 Jul 2018 10:47:59 +0000 Trixie 287361@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>They gave the impression of riding there regularly. Did not have the flustered look of someone negotiating it for the first time. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=9#post-287359 Sat, 21 Jul 2018 10:15:11 +0000 I were right about that saddle 287359@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Trixie</p> <p>Them's the rules. One would have to be <em>very</em> confident to cycle across with a child in tow. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=9#post-287358 Sat, 21 Jul 2018 09:41:47 +0000 Trixie 287358@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>As I have mentioned, I am scared of heights and not great with water, so the Slateford Aqueduct requires much concentration on the ground in front of me to cross. I was 2/3 of the way across it the other week when 2 other cyclists came towards me pedalling. Not really a problem til I realised the front bike had a child trailer attached with a small child in it. I tucked myself in as tight to the railings as possible to let them past, but no, they tried to demand that I go out and round. That will be a negative, Captain, you are a very wide load so NO. There was much tutting and sighing as they passed me. </p> <p>People, if you're reading here, the sensible thing to have done would have been to wait until the clearly visible obstacle (me!) was off the aqueduct before crossing. I was very nearly there. It also might have been sensible to send the non-trailer bike ahead to then keep the path clear for you. Myself, I'd have taken the child out too and walked the bike-trailer combo over, just in case, but that's your own call. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=9#post-284074 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 23:48:26 +0000 jdanielp 284074@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@gembo that is particularly poor aqueduct etiquette. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=9#post-284072 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 22:34:39 +0000 gembo 284072@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Poor etiquette this morning by young competent cyclist behind me . I had stopped at a parapet about one third of the way in, to let a convoy coming west pass by me. This convoy was consisting of two tourists pushing and regular Heriot watt bound type cycling behind. The tourist convoy was taking a while and I looked behind me to see the Young competent cyclist powering on and then overtaking me. Thanks they said. I replied - I wasn't stopping for you. Competent cyclist then ploughed into the convoy, overtaking on the canal side centimetres from the water's edge.</p> <p>The folly of youth, manners. Raised eyebrows etc. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=9#post-278961 Thu, 29 Mar 2018 10:17:35 +0000 jdanielp 278961@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Excellent etiquette by the cyclist ahead of me who struck up conversation, remarking on the loveliness of the morning, on the Slateford Aqueduct which we kept up until their turn-off around WHEC. This followed from their asking if I wanted to pass just prior to the aqueduct as I abruptly caught up with them as they slowed behind another cyclist. I politely declined, explaining that I was impressed by their ease of speed if unobstructed. It was their first cycle commute of the year as it turned out. We discussed towpath issues, workplaces, wildlife spots and the frustration of false-summits when climbing hills. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=9#post-274034 Wed, 31 Jan 2018 13:16:55 +0000 gembo 274034@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Bill, the cobbles on the aqueduct this a.m. were for some reason less slippy than the towpath proper, who'd a thunked it? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=8#post-274025 Wed, 31 Jan 2018 11:12:54 +0000 bill 274025@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@jdanielp true, the pusher-inner was not featured in the show. Before Christmas I used to see the pusher-inner quite often, once even I saw that person on my way back at 6.30pm and then again the following morning at 6.30am (the person heading east in both cases). On another occasion the person was saying a prayer aloud.</p> <p>@gembo Thanks for the update. I will update MrBill. Recently I have been dismounting a lot more often as well (usually when it's gusty and/or slippy). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=8#post-273980 Tue, 30 Jan 2018 13:12:03 +0000 gembo 273980@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>in the snowy conditions I have been dismounting and pushing, @Bill, feel free to update Mr Bill </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=8#post-273975 Tue, 30 Jan 2018 11:21:04 +0000 jdanielp 273975@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@bill presumably they didn't encounter the canal pusher-inner? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=8#post-273970 Tue, 30 Jan 2018 10:42:01 +0000 bill 273970@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Last night we watched <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08tbg4x/episodes/guide">Air a' Chanàl/Scotland's Canals</a> episode on BBC Alba about the Union Canal. The presenters cycled from Edinburgh to Ratho. To Mrbill's huge disapproval they didn't dismount on the Slateford aqueduct and cycled across*. </p> <p>* not that he uses it very often, in fact I am aware of just two times he walked across </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=8#post-268358 Thu, 30 Nov 2017 21:34:34 +0000 gembo 268358@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@luath, I have been blinded by the socks but will report back next time I see him. He has also burned me on the road. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=8#post-268263 Thu, 30 Nov 2017 10:21:53 +0000 Luath 268263@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@gembo also sporting a hi-vis waistcoat? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=8#post-268247 Thu, 30 Nov 2017 08:11:07 +0000 gembo 268247@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>New person on the towpath is a chap I wish to christen as Gentleman's Half Hose. He is a tall spindly fellow and he birls along on a tall spindly bike at a great rate of knots. He favours shorts and then very long blue socks. Seems to work well for him. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=8#post-238229 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 17:35:20 +0000 Rosie 238229@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Depends on the size of the deer:-</p> <p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Monarch_of_the_Glen_(painting)#/media/File:Monarch_of_the_Glen,_Edwin_Landseer,_1851.jpg" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Monarch_of_the_Glen_(painting)#/media/File:Monarch_of_the_Glen,_Edwin_Landseer,_1851.jpg</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=8#post-238228 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 17:29:32 +0000 I were right about that saddle 238228@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>If I encounter a deer crossing the aqueduct, do I give way?</em></p> <p>Depends. If you want to muscle in on its harem then lower your head and charge, otherwise normal rules. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=8#post-238205 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 14:28:41 +0000 DaveC 238205@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>If she is an Old Dear. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=8#post-238201 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 14:12:05 +0000 jdanielp 238201@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>If I encounter a deer crossing the aqueduct, do I give way? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=8#post-238123 Sun, 04 Dec 2016 20:20:07 +0000 I were right about that saddle 238123@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@gembo</p> <p>So NO SYMPATHY for the pensioner's teeth? Ha! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=8#post-238122 Sun, 04 Dec 2016 20:16:53 +0000 gembo 238122@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@iwrats, just what were those irresponsible canal boat people doing letting their little kitten loose on the bicycle autobahn that is the regent's canal? Also what on earth did that pregnant person think she was doing going anywhere near the regent's canal bicycle autobahn, has she no brains? Putting her unborn child at risk? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3913&page=8#post-238120 Sun, 04 Dec 2016 20:00:35 +0000 I were right about that saddle 238120@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@gembo </p> <p>Surely kittens are sacrosanct, even in London? </p>