CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Resources

(Cycling) from Fife

(94 posts)

No tags yet.


1234

  1. acsimpson
    Member

    "Getting to the bridge didn't take that much longer than simply getting home, home in my case being Dunfermline and the bridge being the Clackmannanshire bridge (the newer/nicer one of the two there).

    From there it's just a few minutes to the quiet, utterly flat and straight cyclepath that starts near Alloa and goes all the way back to Dunfermline. Nice leisurely pedalling as a "warm-down", so to speak."

    @userfriendly, do you take the route through Clakmannan shown on OSM or is there a better option?

    I'm heading from Dunfermline to Falkirk tonight for dinner and fancy trying something different to my normal route of Crossford, Cairnyhill, Culross and Kincardine (the forks).

    Posted 10 years ago #

  2. DaveC
    Member

    @acsimpson, this (above ) is the route I've used in the past. Its more comfortable than coming off at the A977 and cycling through Tullyallen and Kincarden.

    The Aloa cycle path ends, and you double back down the off ramp to the old road. Turn right at the T south towards Clackmannam and up the road into the high street. Then at the monument/cross turn left following the blue signs. Go down hill and come out at the flat mudflats which takes you eventually to a fly over (the A977). As you go up the flyover take the path off to the right towards the new Kincardine bridge. From there I'd take the 75 cycle path along the west side of the dual carrageway. Cross over the dual carrageway at the bridge following the dual carageway. Continue on for a hundred yards and turn left away from the dual carrageway into the countryside towards Grangemouth still following the 75. Its a pleasent ride and brings you out at the River Carron as you arrive at Grangemouth. Follow the Carron inland under the M9 to the Canal where you can cycle into the centre of Falkirk.

    Dave C

    Posted 10 years ago #

  3. acsimpson
    Member

    Thanks DaveC. Sounds like a good route with plenty of options for getting around the Falkirk area once there.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  4. amir
    Member

    Muchos kudos to all the cycle commuters to/from Fife

    Posted 10 years ago #

  5. userfriendly
    Member

    @acsimpson - yes, that is the exact route I took. It was rather pleasant, much unlike the first part of my journey using the B9080 to get from Embra to Linlithgow.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  6. LaidBack
    Member

    West Fife Cycleway is pretty good. We cheated and got train out to Dunfermline and then cycled up through the lovely Pittencrieff park before joining.

    Route is very quiet. Some horse riders out and a few walkers. Cycled back down to Culross and over bridge just to remind us how it is for those energetic riders that commute. Irene could not believe how many zig zag turns there were to get from bridge into Dalmeny.


    West Fife Cycleway by LaidBackBikes, on Flickr


    West Fife Cycleway by LaidBackBikes, on Flickr

    Posted 10 years ago #

  7. acsimpson
    Member

    Well what a joy last nights ride was (despite the drenching). With 16km of almost uninterrupted tarmac Going from A to D without diverting to B and C, I was almost getting bored by the time I arrived at the A end. However it was quickly alleviated when I arrived at the end to discover the unusually clearly painted cycle lane was (of course) full of parked cars.

    This route appears to be a pleasant example of two councils building cycling infrastructure with no purpose other than to leave their council area. The Different councils obviously have different priorities with better quality tarmac in Clackamanshire but better maintained edges in Fife.

    From Clackmanan to Kincardine it was nice to see big signs advertising a cycle friendly route and asking traffic to slow down for oncoming cyclists.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  8. Beano
    Member

    WOW! Excellent thread and very topical for me at the moment!

    Looking to go from a complete beginner to 5-day commuting the 32 mile round-trip from fife (Dunfermline Duloch area) to Chambers St., Edinburgh. I realise this isn't something that is going to be easy but threads like this are great for giving tips and back-down-to-earth advice for a newbie like me.

    So if any of you regular fife commuters see a wobbly newbie on a C2W bike (think i'm set on the Genesis CDF) over the next month or two...bear with me....i'll get the hang of it pretty quick i'm sure.

    also...if i'm doing something wrong then feel free to give me advice...i'm all for it!! :-)

    Posted 10 years ago #

  9. panyagua
    Member

    @beano

    I (and I'm sure others too) would be more than willing to 'chum you' to start with, and point out things about the various routes that will help - especially given that part of the 'direct route' is closed while the path is upgraded. Post again if you're interested - I'm usually hitting the bridge at about 7.45am, if that's any use.

    Genesis CdF would be a good choice I think - a quality machine, not the lightest, but good for a decent turn of speed with the ability to mix it up a bit - e.g. taking the rougher Dalmeny Estate diversions.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  10. userfriendly
    Member

    Go for it. :) In the first few weeks you should plan in some recovery days for your screaming legs (I went for taking the train or getting a lift on Tuesdays and Thursdays at first, then switched to Wednesdays only, now usually cycling all five days), but you'll be able to cut down on them probably sooner than you would expect. Not because it gets easier, but because you'll gradually become more badass. Also see Rule #10: It never gets easier, you just go faster ... ;)

    Posted 10 years ago #

  11. Beano
    Member

    @panyagua
    Thanks for the offer; will post when ready to go; got a holiday and some kit to sort out first. Going to try a few leisurely rides with friends first to get over the initial wobbles (been 15 years since being on a bike).

    7:45am is about the time i'd want to be hitting the bridge so yeh, might give you a shout. My employer has an underground secure park just past the Grassmarket so aim to park there.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  12. SRD
    Moderator

    "also...if i'm doing something wrong then feel free to give me advice...i'm all for it!! :-)"

    as long as you get panniers and mudguards, you should be fine.

    (there's another thread somewhere along those lines...)

    Posted 10 years ago #

  13. userfriendly
    Member

    Obviously mudguards, but yeah, just as importantly panniers - definitely seconding the panniers. Made such a difference going from backpack to pannier bag. Can very much recommend the Ortlieb ones: waterproof and very durable. Went for the front versions (they fit to the rear as well, but aren't quite as big and pricey as the normal "rear" ones from them).

    Posted 10 years ago #

  14. DaveC
    Member

    @Beano, I'd recomend a few longer (~45 mins) cycles in the run up to starting. Prepare to eat much more and also get to bed earlier.

    I also take the bus when not cycling as it allows me to travel, in the ~same time and the 12 journey ticket is worth it as you save ~half the price over a daily rtn and its valid for a month.

    Also consider what some do, travel in (if you have) a car to a happy middle ground and ride in and out from there until you build up. Parking places are: Ferry Toll, Scotstun Ave (S Queensferry), Barnton Ave West (at the start - as the top fills up with parents at school time). These should offer a range of distances.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  15. JohnS
    Member

    Good advice from DaveC. Most of the reasons are well covered already; I fall into the return to cyling/ fitness/ enjoyment reasons. It's pretty iconic start to your day to cross the FRB and see the rail bridge on a summer morning. I know colleagues in London who would love a cycle like that. Other stuff - it's a great distance in and out; be selective with the weather (bad weather wears out components - expensive); good fun passing the 'regulars' going the other direction; the occasional whiff of JetA1 (kerosene) in gasoline alley (Cramond Brig). Sometimes the wind plays tricks, going out it looks like a SW and when you get the bridge its a NE'er. Finally, I wouldn't be on this forum without meeting DaveC on my travels!

    Posted 10 years ago #

  16. Baldcyclist
    Member

    Why cycle from Fife? Just because...

    Posted 10 years ago #

  17. acsimpson
    Member

    While the bus was crossing the bridge yesterday morning Transport Scotland were distributing questionnaires. Amongst other questions was the rather ambiguous "How many vehicles do your household have access to for personal use?"

    Sticking within the transportation sense of "vehicle" and taking personal use to mean I don't have to arrange access with another party I reported 6; although I've since realised that trailers are also vehicles so it should have been 8.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  18. Beano
    Member

    What's going on with that 'humped' bit of road under the railway bridge at the Ferrytoll P&R??

    There is always a queue in the morning to join FRB and they have made the new humped road so narrow that there is not enough room for a car and a bike. this surely can't be a permanent fixture!???

    I find myself taking to the pavement on the approach to the new bit of road but have to cross a junction too.

    Just seems a bit of a mess at the moment and a bit dangerous for the cyclist.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  19. DaveC
    Member

    The pavement is a shared use path so don't worry about it. The bump is the new level of the entrance to the PnR, which is being brought back an arch as the new roundabout under the new A90 junction will be closer to the current PnR entrance. I hop on the path at the Left turn to the Pine centre and hop on the road coming home at the roundabout. There is a path from Balast Bank to The Pine centre and I do wish they would purchase the railway spur to Rosyth and turn it into a cycle path so we could avoid the whole Inverkeithing centre.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  20. Beano
    Member

    purchasing that bit of railway sounds like a good idea...pity good ideas and cycling rarely go hand in hand with many councils.

    so are we stuck with the current arrangement until the new bridge opens? I haven't seen the plans so not sure what the cyclist faces coming from inverkeithing to the bridge when all the roadworks stop.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  21. paddyirish
    Member

    This (great) thread was active before I joined and my approach was similar to most (bike/train, slowly decreasing the number of stops on the train), until I went the whole way. 2nd time was the worst - into a headwind- took me 14 minutes to cross the bridge, but haven't looked back since.

    Worked my way uip to my current 5-7 single journeys a week (80-100 miles) and take the bike in the train (usually the hogwarts) the rest.

    Also have young kids (you'll often see me with a child seat on the back) and also want to get back to help with "hemlock hour" (like it!), so have found that if I have a 15 min lunch at my desk, I can fit it in and be away from the house for ~ 10 hours.

    Definitely the best part of my day and one reason why I stay in my current role

    Posted 10 years ago #

  22. paddyirish
    Member

    One thing I really like is the number of different routes you can try. I've enjoyed all of the following routes to the Gyle after crossing the bridge

    Standard - B800 - Kirkliston - railway line to Newbridge- A8
    Hillier/shorter - A90 route to Cramond then Cammo -Maybury
    Scenic - Join the old railway line Dalmeny-Newbridge - A8
    Very Scenic - Dalmeny Estate Coastal Path (Brilliant in winter!)
    Quiet - Dalmeny Estate Roads
    Diversion - Hopetoun House - Blackness - Canal (Philipstoun)
    Training - Hopetoun House - Blackness - Linlithgow-Cairnpapple - long descent to Broxburn - A8.

    Also, on the Fife side, I have the following "bolt-ons" to give me more hill-climbing
    St Davids - Top of Cocklunie Hill and back,
    Up to highest point in Inverkeithing
    North Queensferry loop

    Haven't tried Cycling in via Kincardine as part of my commute - it is on my to do list, but as I won't cycle on the A985 and hug the coast instead, it will takle quite a while - probably a 5am start...

    Posted 10 years ago #

  23. DaveC
    Member

    I'm campaiging for a floating pontoon from Newhaven to Dalgety Bay, with obvious antislip surface, and a prohibition on shipping up the Forth. I don't hold out much hope.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  24. paddyirish
    Member

    @DaveC

    You'll have to learn lessons from the ferry project from Burntisland to Leith which was allegedly abandoned because of the frightening cross-breeding potential

    Posted 10 years ago #

  25. chdot
    Admin

    You'll need to take that idea to the Fifers' cycling networking meeting

    http://www.citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13922

    Posted 10 years ago #

  26. acsimpson
    Member

    If anyone Cycling to/from Dalmeny into town has lost a fluorescent backpack cover it's on the southern verge between the last houses and the speed limit sign to the east of the village.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  27. deckard112
    Member

    Aye sounds like mine! I came flying off the bike on the a90 path at Burnshot landing on my back after a loooong skid on black ice Monday night. No harm done but arrived home with no cover. Didn't realise I'd only lost it at Dalmeny though! Won't be cycling in until next week now so reckon that's it gone (unless anyone picks it up on here!!)

    Posted 9 years ago #

  28. acsimpson
    Member

    I didn't see it this morning but then the road was flooded at that point so I had other things on my mind. I'll try and remember to take a look for it tonight.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  29. TractorFactory
    Member

    deckard, I think I was behind you when you did that slide. T'was very impressive. I just couldn't get back on after I'd stopped to check you were okay.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  30. acsimpson
    Member

    I had a look on the verge in the dark last night but couldn't see any trace of it. I'll not be past in the daylight now for a couple of weeks I'm afraid.

    Posted 9 years ago #

RSS feed for this topic

1234

Reply »

You must log in to post.


Video embedded using Easy Video Embed plugin