CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".
IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 15years old!
Well done to ALL posters
It soon became useful and entertaining. There are regular posters, people who add useful info occasionally and plenty more who drop by to watch. That's fine. If you want to add news/comments it's easy to register and become a member.
RULES No personal insults. No swearing.
I opted for a pre-7am start and the most wind-sheltered route in, so wasn't unduly troubled by crosswinds blowing me into any vehicle's path, for the simple reason that there weren't any vehicles on the north/south roads at the time I used them.
The bulk of my ride was directly into the wind, so I did indeed take the Croix and spent essentially the whole time tucked down in the drops, with my face telling me I was going 40mph and the GPS saying 10.
In the 2010 storm, the copper sheet roof opposite us peeled right back like a pull-ring lid on a tin of soup.
It is now snowing...
I came West - East on the canalpath from Wester Hailes towards Lochrin Basin and there are two trees down on the canal, one at the West end of the aqueduct and one at the West end of Harrison Gardens just next to the bridge. I had to squeeze under the first tree and lift the bike over the second - both were way too big to shift.
I didn't get to the Basin as all the hoardings at the building site just before the final bridge were lying flat and contractors were fixing them, so the path was blocked. The canal was nearly deserted, no more than two bikes going West (!!) and two walkers being blown East. In town at Palmerston Place, I nearly got blown over by a huge side-wind, fortunately towards the pavement rather that into the oncoming traffic.
All in all, it certainly was a hairy ride.
If it's quieter this afternoon and you plan taking the canal, remember to watch out for those 3 problems.
Took a cycle to the supermarket there.. the snow is on, blustery gales, and still yer average joe and joe-ette are doing over 50mph in a built up 30mph zone. With waterlogging on each side of the road.
There is no hope.
And swirling.
In 2010, we lost a couple of roof tiles and also the spinning bird guard on the old chimney. Found it the next morning right outside the front door. Thankfully nobody was under it when it fell.
Meanwhile, in my girlfriend's part of the world, the Christmas market in Belfast was closed for a while. Could be worse!
there are two trees down on the canal, one at the West end of the aqueduct and one at the West end of Harrison Gardens just next to the bridge. I had to squeeze under the first tree and lift the bike over the second - both were way too big to shift.
Cripes, I rode in this morning and it was clear, so both must have fallen after I passed (around 8am)... lucky breaks!
Snowing now at Edinnurgh Zoo.
Yes, Dave, I passed the aqueduct at about 08:20 and Harrison Park at about 08:30 with a heck of a wind behind me - I felt I was riding a motorbike! Just wait till I have to go back tonight!!!
Check out the BBC news channel - video of someone cycling across the Forth Road Bridge when it was closed to all traffic!
The temperature has dropped somewhat - now 2 deg at KB
"Portobello Prom now closed off to pedestrians and cyclists #edinburgh @edintravel"
https://twitter.com/talkporty/status/408620165710897152
*think* I've just worked out who @SRD is.
I remember watching the copper sheet roof getting pulled off in those storms from my old flat.
No sign of any snow at the Gyle, work bike rack which usually has over a dozen bikes in winter is down to 3 today.
video of someone cycling across the Forth Road Bridge when it was closed to all traffic!
video of that is on this page
Portobello Prom now closed off to pedestrians and cyclists
I was just about to head that way now the wind has abated somewhat. Presume they are worried about flooding?
Whoah. In between refreshes the temperatures for forthcoming hourly slots on the BBC weather app all dropped three degrees and went all sparkly. It must have been silently assuming me to have been somewhere else...
"Portobello Prom now looks to be OPEN again for all you cycling commuter peeps (as always: watch your speed!) #edinburgh @edintravel"
https://twitter.com/talkporty/status/408639894257287168
No trains from Livingston North until 7pm :-( I am getting a lift back to Edinburgh but the bike will have to stay here (under my desk).
I do have an alternative way of getting in, I just prefer my bike!
Yeah, Prom was just closed as a precaution.
Have to admit I was having second thoughts about commuting in to my new fangled temp job this morning. A mere 4 miles in town (Saughton Park>Roseburn>Haymarket>Ainslie place) with 'only' 30-40mph gusts. Wasn't as bad standing outside prepping the bike as it was sitting inside thinking about it and hearing the rain. So off I went, thinking how long it's been since I've ridden in strong winds, apart from getting blown diagonally across the Pentlands a few weeks ago on the mtb. So here's what I re-learned about winter winds:
-It's nice and mild until the heavy, stinging, battering rain starts
-It's great fun to watch puddles to try to predict incoming gusts
-It's very, very easy to get carted up to 20mph by a tailwind, then hit a microclimate of a reverse wind, which is only slightly less of a change in feeling than riding straight into a brick wall.
-There is no other riding experience anywhere quite like creeping along at walking pace with the bike tilted at a severe angle which in any other situation would result in an instant falling over, but in this case is absolutely needed to ironically keep you upright and going straight in a crosswind.
Prom was only closed on one section when I went down there about an hour ago. Easy enough to skip round on the road behind the site where they are laying foundations for new flats.
Tide looked pretty high and waves were sloshing over the sea wall at a couple of points.
Can also report that Restalrig path is sheltered and quiet, save for the usual handful of dog walkers. No fallen trees between Albion Road and Seafield Street, not even much debris, a few small branches, lots of twigs and leaves.
My poor chain squeaked like a mischief of mice all the way home tonight, I assume because my bike got utterly drenched @ 7:15am.
Thought I'd finally register today and share my thoughts on the most mental 45 mins I've ever had on the bike this morning! 8 miles from Leith to work (the orange logistics folks out at the airport)crawling into the block headwind with the occasional massive wobble. Had to get off and walk at Maybury junction as literally had no control to cross the 3 lanes to turn right. Turnhouse Rd was just hilarious: massive cross winds, leaning at ridiculous angles and felt like I had a burst lip from being battered by the horizontal rain.
Anyone else think its a bit crazy that the police were telling folk not to use the roads when all the trains were off. Public transport has to get better at coping with the weather (like we used to)or the whole country will grind to a halt.
I chickened out of taking the bike and ended up wishing I had as I walked up Broughton Street. It wasn't nearly as windy as I thought it would be given the winds this morning.
Anyone cycled along the innocent railway track today? Any obstructions or problems?
Anyone else think its a bit crazy that the police were telling folk not to use the roads when all the trains were off. Public transport has to get better at coping with the weather (like we used to)or the whole country will grind to a halt.
Not at all. Sometimes it's just a lot safer if people stay home. It's only a day (or more likely a couple of hours).
doug5_10
Thought I'd finally register today and share my thoughts on the most mental 45 mins I've ever had on the bike this morning! 8 miles from Leith to work (the orange logistics folks out at the airport)
Welcome to the forum! That's a heroic journey for a first post. Decent commute too!
Well the trains better be normal in the morning! It'll be too icy I reckon for the motorised bicycle so I'll be travelling in style on the Brommie :-)
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