been looking at the sustrans route (seems a faff) and this http://edinburgh.cyclestreets.net/journey/221656/
any on the ground experience? I'm going with luggage.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh
Best route to Stirling?
(16 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
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That's how I would go (and have gone). Although we went out the A90 to Kirkliston rather than all that monkeying around in town. From there it's straightforward and more or less flat, all the way to Stirling.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"more or less flat, all the way to Stirling"
It's ages since I've cycled it, the flatness was slightly surprising - essentially Forth flood plain.
Apart from route through city, big question is whether or not/how much you want to use the canal towpath (flat too).
Worst bit I remember was village with very narrow road narrowings - with big lorry right behind.
These may have been modified.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I've done it twice, both times last summer.
I'm on the south side and was starting early (before 6am) so I used the canal to get as far as Ratho.
Surface and potential busyness aside I defy anyone to find a better route west out of Edinburgh (starting on the southside). With the extra tarmac out to Heriot Watt this route will be even better.After Ratho I headed to Newbridge then backroads to Winchburgh. From there I headed west on B and A roads to Falkirk where I turned north on to the A9. At Torwood I turned off the main road to take the back roads to the big roundabout at the services near Bannockburn. From there it's downhill into Stirling.
This route is a wee bit hilly at the end but I failed to find a shorter option.
One the way back on one occasion I took the NCN route along the north side of the Forth. I followed this religously which became an exercise in pedantry through Alloa. Also very muddy in places around the bonded warehouses to the west of Alloa. To the east of Alloa there is a wonderful 18-odd km off tarmac old railway line taking you all the way to Dunfermline.
Going by the north shore of the Forth is probably about 20-25% further.
Posted 13 years ago # -
The problem with the canal is that it has a 4mph (or is it 6mph?) speed limit. So it would still be quicker to go out by the A90 (or A8), even if it was four times further...
Posted 13 years ago # -
i thought that sign was for boats.. *oops*
Thanks guys I think ill stay with the canal for a while then head cross country, and ignore the faffy sustrans route.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"The problem with the canal is that it has a 4mph (or is it 6mph?) speed limit"
Which appears to be neither signposted nor enforced and is justifiably then ignored by all except for older walkers!
Posted 13 years ago # -
"i thought that sign was for boats.. *oops*"
Easy 'mistake'. Not at all clear if it has any legality, and obviously unenforceable - can lead to increased conflict with pedestrians (NOT helpful).
Crucial thing on all shared paths is caution, consideration, courtesy and care.
Spokes has a campaign for that - http://www.politecycling.info/code.html
Posted 13 years ago # -
What irritates me is that when I'm jogging along the canal, I have to keep overtaking cyclists stuck at the speed limit and, without the ability to mount a bike bell on my body this can lead to quite a lot of aggravation! ;-)
Posted 13 years ago # -
"without the ability to mount a bike bell on my body"
Velcro?
Or Bellcro?
Posted 13 years ago # -
Of course my bike computer having mysteriously stopped working as soon as I enter the canal towpath I have to estimate my speed to stay under 6mph, middle ring smallest rear cog should about do it I'd say... ;-))
Posted 13 years ago # -
I find it hard to believe that some cyclists are doing 6mph because they think they have to keep to a speed limit. Are you sure they're not just cycling slowly and you are running quite fast?
At 6am I was happy to do 20mph on the open stretches.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"At 6am I was happy to do 20mph on the open stretches."
Watch out for sleeping swans...
Posted 13 years ago # -
yeah I would pretty much ignore the 6 signs once outside of the city
oh there are none
ah ha ha ha... tell anyone who asks that you joined the canal after Wester Hells
I would follow the canal as much as possible along this quietest routePosted 13 years ago # -
Being taken too literally - I don't expect any cyclists are riding at 6mph (I'm not sure I could actually ride the lowracer at that speed).
However the point still remains that the speed limit for cyclists is less than even a casual jogger can manage. 6mph is a 10 minute mile pace, I can run a 6 minute mile (10mph) no problem, and I took up running this summer and do about an hour a week!
Posted 13 years ago # -
The 6mph "limit" is only a request by the local British Waterways people, it is not legally enforceable. British Waterways do not have any national speed limit for cycling.
Posted 13 years ago #
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