http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Pentlands CX Descent Video en Wed, 20 May 2026 19:42:45 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6971#post-73570 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 10:45:30 +0000 AKen 73570@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>In the 70s, my brother and I used to regularly go up to the rifle ranges to see what we could find - usually came back with spent cartridges, bits of machine-gun belts and the charging-soldier target that seems to have been standard issue in the army for many years. If you dug around in the berms behind the target bunkers you could find loads of fired bullets.</p> <p>I remember playing on the tank chassis - although I never realised was a Sherman Tank (too full of holes by then probably).</p> <p>The ranges seemed to have been erased from the face of the earth now, with no traces that I can see. I was trying to find some photos online of them recently to remind me what they looked like but couldn't locate any. Presumably, once the by-pass was built it wasn't such a great spot for a rifle-range any more. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6971#post-73521 Thu, 07 Jun 2012 19:14:19 +0000 Zenfrozt 73521@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Loving the music in the background...what was it and was it actually in dutch or are my ears deceiving me? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6971#post-73511 Thu, 07 Jun 2012 16:08:09 +0000 Rabid Hamster 73511@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>ps some of you might remember the old Sherman tank chassis that sat at the back of the Dreghorn grenade range in the '70s, and had sadly been used as a target over many years. Was eventually removed (a lot of steel in that for scrap value)! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6971#post-73510 Thu, 07 Jun 2012 16:05:22 +0000 Rabid Hamster 73510@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Army still uses the track to post the range flags and during exercises. The Army built the track originally! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6971#post-73506 Thu, 07 Jun 2012 14:12:44 +0000 splitshift 73506@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>did that both ways a few years back ,whoops swearing and pure fun !My mum lives near colinton , so we had good reason to return for soup , n buns. My friend managed to ruin a wheel, but we didnt care !<br /> I reckon Smudge would be best to answer military secret type questions relating to the ranges ! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6971#post-73461 Thu, 07 Jun 2012 09:34:37 +0000 AKen 73461@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think that the track up from Dreghorn has deteriorated over the years as water run-off has stripped away the smaller material and left a lot of rutted gulleys. I remember cycling down it in the 80s without too much bother. Not sure I would be quite so happy nowadays - and glad to hear that I am not the one who can't manage to cycle up it.</p> <p>Do the army still go up this track? It used to be smack in the middle of the training area but I'm not sure if they use it since they removed the Dreghorn rifle ranges. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6971#post-73439 Thu, 07 Jun 2012 00:23:01 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 73439@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Steep it was!</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackpuddinonnabike/7156379683/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7072/7156379683_7962c4d7d8.jpg"></a><br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackpuddinonnabike/7156379683/">Steep!</a> by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/blackpuddinonnabike/">blackpuddinonnabike</a>, on Flickr</p> <p>Can highly recommend descending the way you climbed - only 4 minutes or so, but pure fun. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6971#post-73423 Wed, 06 Jun 2012 22:34:54 +0000 dmmilne 73423@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Brilliant stuff.</p> <p>I did the same route in the opposite direction on Sunday. I enjoyed it and was looking forward to the descent to Dreghorn. When I got there it was just too steep / gravelly.</p> <p>I'll be back soon doing it the "proper" way! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6971#post-73413 Wed, 06 Jun 2012 21:06:05 +0000 kaputnik 73413@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Could be wrong but looks like coming down from the saddle between Allermuir and Capelaw down the east side of Castle Law in direction of Castlelaw Farm (car park at the end) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6971#post-73411 Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:40:08 +0000 steveo 73411@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Just got round to watching the vid. I wonder if a mtb would've been any quicker, seems like you were fair shifting. I've never ridden a crosser off road, would the bigger mtb tyres help or hinder... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6971#post-73322 Wed, 06 Jun 2012 11:58:18 +0000 scotti 73322@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Looked like fun. It's almost as bumpy as the A90 path </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6971#post-73319 Wed, 06 Jun 2012 11:46:55 +0000 ARobComp 73319@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks! Looks great! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6971#post-73317 Wed, 06 Jun 2012 11:34:25 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 73317@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Tis the opposite side of the climb from Dreghorn - it's like that all the way up and down (though the climb from Dreghorn is more gravelly and definitely a push). Comes out at a farm the junction for which is a little further north than Flotterstone.</p> <p>Will try to map up the exact route tonight. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6971#post-73315 Wed, 06 Jun 2012 11:29:00 +0000 ARobComp 73315@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Where is that? Cna you highlight it on a map - I've been CXing in pentlands all winter and don't think I've found that bit! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6971#post-73313 Wed, 06 Jun 2012 11:25:33 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 73313@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Fastest was only really about 27mph-ish, but with drainage ditches and rocky gravel it's somewhat exhilirating! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6971#post-73310 Wed, 06 Jun 2012 11:22:15 +0000 earthowned 73310@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That looks fun! I was up that way a couple of weeks ago but it was too busy to go faster than a slow jogging speed. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6971#post-73306 Wed, 06 Jun 2012 11:09:19 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 73306@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Health and Safety Notice</p> <p>The activity depicted in this video was carried out by a trained eejit. Please do not attempt to replicate the activity at home, as it is unlikely you will have a giant hill in your back garden. Note, all blind corners and rises were taken slower than would have been the case in order to avoid conflict with walkers (there were none the whole way down) while a clear view lead to gay abandon, a few whoops, occasional swearing, and an endorphin overload...</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-LXsYjU3KA&amp;feature=youtube_gdata_player" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-LXsYjU3KA&amp;feature=youtube_gdata_player</a> </p>