A lovely if windy morning for a hilly but beautiful commute. Down through Newbattle to Newtongrange, then up through the top of Gorebridge, over to Edgehead turn right by Fuffet Wood to Crossgatehall then down to Musselburgh and into Edinburgh.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
The "I had a lovely ride today, thankyou" thread
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Posted 11 years ago #
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Over to visit my daughter in Dundee on Saturday, took bike up on train and we went for a spin round some of the roads she uses for training. Never been round there, out Forfar direction back by some of the back roads. Very enjoyable, rolling countryside, nice views. I'll be back!
Slight downside was her slow puncture as we hit Monifieth, so several stops to keep it topped up (didn't seem worth the hassle of changing tyre as we were so close to her flat).
After great gig that evening - We Were Promised Jetpacks are my new favourite band ;-) - headed over to Leuchars via Tayport on Sunday to clear the head and catch the train. Very windy and when I saw the black clouds rolling in decided not to venture further...
Posted 11 years ago # -
Another extended commute this morning - this time a little more mundane - up to Port Seton and back. On the way back I overtook someone on a mountain bike who impressively kept up with me even though I felt obliged to "cruise" at 20mph. He actually overtook me again the otherside of Musselburgh, though he was on the pavement while I waited in queue.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I am starting to get leg buzz again - that feeling when you have been doing a lot of cycling - not tired but a stretch helps.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Lovely morning for a long commute - crisp and chilly, but nice sunshine and just grand to be out.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Nothing too much - but the first evening ride I've done to the Kingdom and back for a long, long time - absolutely gorgeous in the evening sunset (even if there was an easterly wind).
And a tip of the lid to the driver of the enormous Merc on Whitehouse Road who saw me coming out of Brae Park Road, and gave way to me so that I could keep my momentum going onto Barnton Avenue.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I had a good ride not spoilt to much by being followed by furniture.
I reckon the Fuego and the Carry Freedom make a great hauling combo.
Rear view mirror is handy just check if anything has dropped off back!* Nice low centre of gravity for the endless breezes we seem to have.
*As I was using one of Uberuce's web straps I shouldn't have worried.
Ikea desk on the move by LaidBackBikes, on FlickrPosted 11 years ago # -
Another lovely long commute in. Lots of good, courteous, patient driving around at the minute, I feel, not just today.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Oooh I forgot! Passed two, yes TWO cyclists going up the Lanark Road at 7am!! One of them was a woman on a road bike, too :-)
Posted 11 years ago # -
Yesterday. Cycled down the A68 and the A696 to visit my parents. Was a lot of fun (though the crosswinds gave me a few issues, and there were one or two dodgy passes, as you might expect given the road). The Carter Bar climb is actually really nice as it isn't all that steep so you can just pedal up it nice and steadily.
(Came back by a different route today and that was hard)
Posted 11 years ago # -
yesterday - 44 scenic if blowy miles on almost completely empty roads to celebrate turning 44 (several weeks ago, but it was snowing then!). Lunch at the Green Tea House in Moniaive where I leafletted a tandem (the stoker turned out to be a friend of my cousin) then home for more coffee, cake and flapjacks. I think this will be the start of a beautiful tradition...
Posted 11 years ago # -
Enjoyable longer cycle into work today due to A90 path upgrade, been pootling along on cycle paths for most of the last year. Had forgotten what it was like to cruise along at 20mph + on flat fast roads, loved it.
Must do the longer route more often even when the path works are complete, it's just not practical (or safe) to cycle at anything more than 15mph on the path network, miss it.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Lovely ride up to white adder reservoir this afternoon after work in the morning. Even Tranent looked picturesque in the sun. The London to Edinburgh rat race was coming the other way, we could not work out what was going on as it was so spread out, first sightings probably between Musselburgh and Tranent. Last ones up at the reservoir before we took the road back down to Garvald. Think we saw all participants. One on recumbent, two on tandem, two or three on mountain bikes and three hundred on road bikes, a couple with camelbaks which make me sweat more thus negating their purpose
Then went to tyneinghame as my companion's sister in law has a very good coffee machine indeed. Return to Edinburgh into traditional south westerly was toughie, compelling us to stop at Luca's for ice cream. Queue was quite long.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Totted up total of a wee bit over 45 miles today made up of ride to Waverley; ride from Leuchars to Errol; walk past the reedbeds; ride to Perth; ride home from Waverley.
Followed Sustrans route 77 all the way (save for the reedbed walk) and it was really rather pleasant. Leuchars to the Tay Bridge does take a loop adding about 4 miles to the distance, but is probably preferable to the main road (although 23 tyres didn't like about 2 miles on very rough stuff indeed - the hard packed fire road had been fine, but the quality descended).
West from Dundee the signage is occasionally confusing, but works out fine, and is pretty direct up to coming across the A90 at Glencarse, simply following the shore of the Tay (more or less). At Glencarse there's not really any other option (unless you want to ride on the A90) than to double back a bit and head upwards (20%!), but at that point you're only 4 miles from Perth.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Yesterday's 57 miles was a loop through Midlothian/Borders/East Lothian via Eskbank, Carrington, out to Middleton then up into the Moorfoots on the Innerleithen road. Turn left to go via Heriot to the A7, then onto the minor road over to Soutra Mains. Cross the A68, then Humbie, Cousland, Carberry and home via Musselburgh.
Quite a few riders coming up from the Innerleithen side as I was heading down, looked organised(?), but after that I was pretty much on my own. Some roads I'd not been on before, some lovely locations.
Ventured out in shorts and short-sleeved top - got the beginnings of my cyclist's tan again!
Posted 11 years ago # -
Short sleeved T-shirt today, that is all that needs to be said. :)
Oh, and I took 5 minutes off my quickest time into work on the long mute this morning. double :)
Posted 11 years ago # -
Took advantage of the tail-wind on Saturday to ride out to Oldhamstocks via Haddington, Pitcox and the Brunt. A lunch-stop in Cockburnspath would have been the smart move. Instead I decided to get something in Gifford. An hour of headwinds later and Gifford was no longer on the route as I struggled to find respite from the wind through the East Lothian shelterbelts. Eventually I pitched up in Pencaitland where, though I was only 30 minutes from home, I had a banana, half a packet each of oatcakes and toffee-waffles, a packet of mixed nuts and a bottle of ginger beer. I saw the signs for the Rat Race on the way back but no participants. There was a vintage car rally at Papple though - Minis, Morris Minors, Rover P7s, that sort of thing. I ached all day yesterday.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Yes, I saw the Rat Race signs and stuff when I was coming over the Lammermuirs on Sunday. Motorcycle officials out and about - checking it was all OK I assume, given they came through on Monday (have I got that right, gembo?)
Posted 11 years ago # -
I also had a fab ride in today. It was very calm and so warm in the sun! I wore my short sleeved cycle top and after Cramond Brig I pulled off my arm warmers!
Roll on the summer!!
Posted 11 years ago # -
Yes fimm they came through Monday, looks like paolobr also spotted them. Nice guy at work met his pretend auntie who was doing it and she felt climb up from Duns to top of lammermuirs above garvald was 1000 feet too much.
Posted 11 years ago # -
fimm saw the Rat Race signs and stuff when I was coming over the Lammermuirs on Sunday.
Glad to say that one LB customer had a good ride in on that event. Well done to him. Lammermuirs are quite a climb (but rewarding as the other side has great views as Edinburgh and the Forth comes into sight).
Might go across them again one day;-)
Posted 11 years ago # -
First Tuesday evening CTC run tonight and it couldn't have been more perfect. Warm to begin with, then it seemed to cool towards Portobello, to the point where I was about to don the second layer. Just as we came onto the promenade it was like stepping off a plane somewhere exotic. Blasts of warm, lush summery air, from the ocean I assume.
Climb up through prestonpans was a bit of a strain but worth it for the view of the sunset. Coming back through the Jewel/Innocent in early summer twilight is really something special.
I wound onto the meadows and then the canal. Back in the depths of winter (ie everything up to late April) I'd come back in the pitch black and bitter cold on the hack bike. Always dreamed of those summer evenings where it's almost too warm even hours after sunset wearing just shorts and a t shirt. So nice to be finally cruising that same stretch on my definite non-hack bike in the last glimmers of the day.
Posted 11 years ago # -
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EdinburghSketcher (@edinsketcher)
10/05/2013 10:13
What a gorgeous morning. Thanks to the speedy racer I had chance to doodle before work. #cycletowork @CyclingEdinhttp://pic.twitter.com/cnhHSzpnD3
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Posted 11 years ago # -
Not the best wind conditions for going to Livingston, but the conjunction of a day off and a parcel at risk of UKMail meant I had to go. The A89-side paths are all quite nicely-surfaced and very useful when heading into the wind. The return journey, at twice the speed, was on the road.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Gorgeous day. Did Roseburn-Broomhouse Path then joined Union Canal and then turned off at bridge after Almondell Aquaduct. Then through Almondell Country Park to pick up NCN75. Going along very happily when was stopped at Kirknewton station. An impregnable barrier, which blocks the B7031, is there until 2 June. So had to divert to the A71 - busy, but there's a reasonable shoulder until I could turn back towards Balerno and picked up the NCN75. The Colinton Path wasn't muddy, unlike the canal path beyond Ratho. Looks like it has been gravelled recently. There were a lot of pedestrians but everyone was in a good mood because of the sun so we greeted each other cheerfully.
Posted 11 years ago # -
@rosie
There is another alternate when the railway is blocked at Kirknewton. If heading down to east Calder then on left there is a road Leyden Rd, goes under the railway then snakes up to the A70 aka The Lang Whang. Not as busy as the A71 but cars can be fast. Leyden road is actually a belter of a descent. If you have climbed up it, take left at the top then you are heading back towards Edinburgh.
Now on the right hand side there are two farm roads that can be investigated for pootlng purposes, one goes up to Buteland where it stops but steps can be retraced on to Cockburn hill road which if left t the junction goes to Balerno quite quickly or if right then up to the reservoirs on the Rig Road.
the other right turn off the A70 is nearer Balerno and takes you through the hamlet of glenburn
Posted 11 years ago # -
Lovely run up to Balerno and the reservoirs this morning - not very fit
Posted 11 years ago # -
Posted 11 years ago #
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Useful, more or less, parallel options there.
I usually come back past Clubiedean and Torduff and then follow the Braid Burn.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Lovely 80km fast spin around the north east (down for brothers wedding)
Saw lots of solo riders but very few RC riders. Mostly lycra types (like me ;) ) on roadies.
There is a really good old railway network that spans most of the NE between newcastle and durham/other places so imagine people who were on more day to day bikes were on those paths which are offroad but a touch gravelly.
Posted 11 years ago #
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