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I'm trying to persuade my significant other to ride in to work one day this week. She's contenmplated before, but a back problem scuppered that.
Portobello to Victoria Quay. Obviously it's the new path up to Leith Links - but what's the best way to get to VQ from there? I've never really tried a route and there's no time to scope one.
She's not a confident rider and off-road/traffic-free would be best.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Looks like a classic 'missing link'.
You can't talk about her like that!
From the Seafield Path go west along the top of Leith Links then {CYCLE PATH ENDS} follow Links Garden/Links Place to Queen Charlotte St. then
If dia_tyres_mm >= 28 then
turn right into Water St, right onto The Shore, straight across the junction then dismount, walk across the transporter bridge then select either the left or right pedestrian route to VC. (Quieter, but more dismounty)
Else
turn right down Constitution St, go straight across to the lumpier bit of Constitution St/Ocean Way then left at the roundabout to Ocean Drive. (Simpler, but involves Ocean Drive, though numpties are relatively rare.)
End If
It's quieter still to go down Salamander Place, Salamander Court, Elbe St, Cadiz St, Mitchell St to get to Constitution St (or Assembly St to get to the corner of Baltic St where there's no pedestrian crossing (though one was promised as part of the Leith Walk Improvement Plan)) but cobbles might not work with back issues.
If you can make a time to ride it with her (maybe on a weekend) first, that might help. I'm not a particularly nervous cyclist but I find having to navigate AND cope with traffic much more stressful, which puts me off cycling on routes I don't know well. It would give her an idea of how long it would take / how sweaty or out of breath she might get as well, which might be putting her off. Pick a nice day, take it slowly, have fun and she might even decide to do it more than once a week!
I'll risk sounding cheeky but does she want to ride and need persuaded that it's doable (given her previous back pain and concerns about safety) or do you want her to ride and need to persuade her that she should?
She's been wanting to do it for a while but needs that final push. I thought this week would be a good one. She bought the gear recently too.
However, it sounds like there's a kid's end of term play to attend now, so we may have to delay things.
as sally said, a reconnoitre on an evening, or quite weekend morning, might be helpful. or perhaps arrange to cycle in with someone?
In the worst case scenario you could always get off and walk for the final 1km. That would only really lose you about 6 or 7 minutes.
That could maybe adapt over time to only walking the worst bits. It would also give you a bit of flexibility with regards to all the one way streets down there.
Sorry - I forgot to say that I was planning to ride in with her the first time!
But yes - I take the point about walking.
Coxy get Mrs Coxy to fill in the barriers to cycling questionnaire?
Controversial maybe but I wouldn't rule out using the pavements if they're quiet. My partner started off riding on the pavements around here (a wee village with a wide pavement on the main road that almost everyone cycles on) when she wasn't confident but now that she's happy about herself and the bike she's on the road.
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