http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Pentlands Loop - good headwind on the A70 en Sun, 19 Apr 2026 15:21:22 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6323#post-120625 Sun, 04 Aug 2013 21:29:11 +0000 gembo 120625@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The law wheelers had wee david in their midst early on but he peeled off with Big Ring Jim. I don't know Jim but I ventured to ask - does he keep it in the big ring. He used to was the answer. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6323#post-120600 Sun, 04 Aug 2013 17:47:27 +0000 gembo 120600@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>£1.40 for the big americain, 80p a cake. The law wheelers go there quite a lot. My fave as said before is £1.20 for an. Expresso yes, faster than an espresso </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6323#post-120598 Sun, 04 Aug 2013 16:15:43 +0000 PS 120598@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Aye, it was all rather pleasant. Thanks gembo and kaputnik.</p> <p>Astonishingly cheap prices at Carnwath. It was like being in an early 90s time warp. </p> <p>Tremendous bakewell slice. No generous American for me though. Had to make do with an americano instead. :( </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6323#post-120593 Sun, 04 Aug 2013 15:30:52 +0000 kaputnik 120593@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>With a few exceptions (Fairmilehead to Penicuik, West Linton Road to Blyth Bridge), lovely roads to ride. The bit from Blyth Bridge, through Dolphinton and Dunsyre up to Newbigging a definite favourite.</p> <p>Apple Pie Shop was being hogged by Law Wheelers when we got there, but fortunately they had left a few pies for us. Had a small rhubarb in shortcrust and an apple one too and also a rather delicious Bakewell slice. Thought the girl had short-changed herself when those 3 plus a generous American came to only £3.80 (good luck getting just the coffee in Edinburgh during the Fringe!) but thems Carnwath Prices for you.</p> <p>Great tailwind down the Lang Wang.</p> <p>Managed to sneak past a speed camera in the 40 zone at 41mph but was still below the threshold and didn't get a victory snap. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6323#post-120591 Sun, 04 Aug 2013 13:55:54 +0000 gembo 120591@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks kaputnik and PS for waiting for me</p> <p>Good route</p> <p>Glad wind behind at end as that was the only way I could get home </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6323#post-120575 Sun, 04 Aug 2013 08:26:13 +0000 gembo 120575@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Am heading for parish church at start of frogs ton road for 930 hoping wind drops </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6323#post-120561 Sat, 03 Aug 2013 22:17:43 +0000 kaputnik 120561@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>930 at Fairmilehead for those who are interested. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6323#post-120555 Sat, 03 Aug 2013 19:48:29 +0000 LaidBack 120555@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I would have been up for that again but have a paid tour to do. Sure I can do again sometime. Have a good loop! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6323#post-120546 Sat, 03 Aug 2013 18:22:55 +0000 gembo 120546@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ah, ok,I do not like that road but early Sunday morning tip top, where shall we meet up and at what time, I note no one else appears interested. We go through dunsyre past the poetry garden which is nice </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6323#post-120524 Sat, 03 Aug 2013 13:33:15 +0000 kaputnik 120524@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I would say out via moor and West Linton then Dolphinton is the best bet for a free-ride home from Carnwath. (Either A70, or down onto the lesser roads via Woolfords)</p> <p><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/259404955" rel="nofollow">http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/259404955</a></p> <p>Something like this. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6323#post-120509 Sat, 03 Aug 2013 09:03:15 +0000 gembo 120509@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Good likelihood from west which is best for return. The loop has a basic 35 miles can be extended to 40, 45 or 50. First one falls short of the coffee shop, which does now open Sundays.. We don't need to decide distance until beyond Woolfords and depends on how bored of the headwind we get? Forecast looks better earlier in day, but that could change.</p> <p>Distances quoted from Balerno so if anyone coming out, it is 8-9 miles from city centre.</p> <p>The apple pie bakery open 9 til 3 on a Sunday. They have expanded somewhat, with tearoom and bakery in Biggar which is close to the Carnwath centre of operations and kirkmuirhill which is the other side of Lanark. Nice website. When I phoned the call was answered with the words "apple pie" which I liked. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6323#post-120499 Fri, 02 Aug 2013 22:52:30 +0000 kaputnik 120499@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Sunday is probable day. will leave the direction of rotation up to the vagaries of the winds </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6323#post-120494 Fri, 02 Aug 2013 21:36:40 +0000 gembo 120494@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hoping to do it Sunday am, as wind not forecast to be so strong? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6323#post-120485 Fri, 02 Aug 2013 19:10:00 +0000 kaputnik 120485@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Might do this tomorrow or Sunday I reckon. It's about time I went back for another apple pie. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6323#post-68243 Tue, 01 May 2012 19:10:01 +0000 gembo 68243@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The main joy of the Lang Whang is being blown back from Carnwath to Balerno in 30-40 mins. At the moment with the wind the wrong way round it is quite testy as Dave points out. Not so good during commuting time in the morning but fine after that for sure as Dave also says. You'll be visiting wee Davie with his home made mudguards just out side of Carluke next. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6323#post-68089 Tue, 01 May 2012 10:45:34 +0000 Dave 68089@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Not long back from brutalising myself with an extended commute via Carnwath (this time, clockwise as David did). </p> <p>A70 really quite OK to cycle in on, especially just after morning peak I suspect - the headwind was stupendous today though. Grinding it out at about 10mph!</p> <p>Also riding in clouds did not make for good photos, and I'm going to have to take another shower to get rid of the rest of the grime at lunchtime. Urgh. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6323#post-68030 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:59:28 +0000 gembo 68030@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Good to see the south siders finally getting round to the joys of the Lang whang. Following intro from Druidh, apple pie bakery of carnwath now a firm favourite. Next you will be trying the col du climpy and marvelling at the French fancies available from the pie shops of fauldhouse </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6323#post-67846 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:27:00 +0000 Dave 67846@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Excellent, I'll need to arrange a new challenge for you in a week or two ;-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6323#post-67665 Sun, 29 Apr 2012 19:17:35 +0000 Uberuce 67665@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Good to see you on MMW, David. I'd have tagged along, but instead I went home and slept. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6323#post-67659 Sun, 29 Apr 2012 18:36:55 +0000 LaidBack 67659@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://mccraw.co.uk/pentlands-circumnavigation/">McCraw's route round the hills</a></p> <p>After reading Dave's ride round the Pentlands I thought I would have a go in the clockwise direction..</p> <p>Got down to Carnwath inside 2 hours... used the A702 though which goes through West Linton. </p> <p>Then turned right onto A721 and discovered some places in South Lanarkshire I hadn't come across before. </p> <p><strong>Elsrickle</strong> does appear on google map - unless you enlarge map too far whereupon it disappears. Entrance sign has the legend 'Thriving on safe driving'</p> <p>Then into Carnwath and turn sharp right onto A70.<br /> At this point i realised that the wind direction would be ideal for recumbent riding and set the Fuego even lower to make myself as invisible as possible.<br /> The road out of Carnwath has a couple of uphills before getting higher up onto the moor. At this point I realised that even dodging the headwind it was going to be big push home. </p> <p>Had a nice chat with someone doing road repairs and was led by mini tractor in a convoy..</p> <p>During the loop I saw five road bikes. Two were going with the wind. One acknowledged my wave (If it isn't in Cycling Plus it isn't a bike?). </p> <p>One ERC kitted guy came round in same direction while I was adjusting bike near Harperigg and remarked I was cheating. Made mistake of going ahead of him after he had stopped for a minute and he caught me before entering Balerno - anyway I was on autopilot by then having eaten last of my cereal bars! i did reckon he must have taken a pounding on his arms on teh road surface so pretty sure I was ahead on comfort (but no prizes for out comforting him)<br /> Even more depressing when you realise that many of the hard core riders were on the Tour 'o The Borders today! </p> <p>I knew I was tired when I intentionally looped through Harrision Gardens to get onto canal path just to avoid the hill past the diggers (!)... </p> <p>All in all a good training route and happy to try again. Judging by number of wind farms todays weather was pretty standard. Cold though with snow showing on hills to the north and roads still slightly frosty.<br /> <em><br /> "The ‘lang whang’ climbs around 650 feet from the bypass, up to around 1100 feet – but this is over 14 miles, so the gradient is slight and nothing to worry about.<br /> Do note that there is little shelter from the weather on top, so the foolhardy and the ill-prepared may still be punished."</em> </p>