I connected bike trailer up to new e-bike today and collected small boy from preschool and took him to the Botanics. Uphill all the way home seemed quite flat with ebike. I had a big smile on my face all the way. That's what matters, isn't it? :-)
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
The "I had a lovely ride today, thankyou" thread
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Posted 6 years ago #
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“That's what matters, isn't it? :-)”
Yes, and the fact you don’t have to look for a (car) parking space.
Posted 6 years ago # -
"I had a big smile on my face all the way. That's what matters, isn't it?"
Yes! And sailing uphill never gets old. I've been known to cackle when there's no one around.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@chdot the circus outside the West Gate of the Botanics seems more crazy every time I visit. I hope they get a move on with improving the site and making it people friendly!
Posted 6 years ago # -
Confessions of two happy cyclists - we cycled to Whitmuir on Sunday. Mr fimm went and got coffee and cake while I messed about with the position of my new saddle. We sat outside and consumed it. I took the empty mugs and plates back in because I am helpful like that.
When we got home Mr fimm said, "How much did you pay for the coffee?
"You paid for it," said I.
"No, I didn't. Didn't you pay when you took the plates in?"Ooops. Mr fimm rang them up and paid.
Posted 6 years ago # -
“Mr fimm rang them up and paid”
That’s good, otherwise all cyclists would have been banned for ever.
(They’re all the same you know.)
Posted 6 years ago # -
wrong thread. Please delete
Posted 6 years ago # -
This morning's commute ....fewer cars than normal, sun shining, crisp and dry, no altercations, no drivers on phones, no close passes . :-)
Posted 6 years ago # -
“fewer cars than normal”
Any theories?
Posted 6 years ago # -
Possibly perception rather than reality... Ravelston was quiet...there was a long Q from the Modern art galleries up to Morrison St but i sailed up the outside with little coming the other way. Meadows west to east was quiet and no cars in the bike/bus lane at the east end.
Could be wester coates works means fewer people coming in from the west?
otherwise no theories ...
Posted 6 years ago # -
Any theories?
As far as I can tell there was a Rubbish Drivers Convention on Niddrie Mains Road.
Lorry driver pulled out in front of me (stopped when I shouted, thankfully). Someone else drove at me on my side of the road, as they couldn't be bothered to wait behind a stopped bus. Several drivers on their phones, including one in a Fire Service car. Later, the driver in front of me pulled out into the roundabout on Lady Road, whilst there was someone coming from their right; both slammed on their brakes.
Posted 6 years ago # -
My half-day didn't get binned so I replaced my rear brake blocks and trundled out to IKEA for a few 11l SAMLA boxes, then went home via Straiton Sainsbury (which currently seems to have no bike stands whatsoever, not even rubbish ones, but at least it has nice wide bike-accommodating aisles) then all along the extended Straiton Pond path to Shawfair. It's very nice and wide and smooth.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Cycled from Edinburgh to Dundee yesterday via St Andrews (following NCR 1). Great weather, although slightly windy at times.
St Andrews to Tayport is an interesting leg of the journey. Quite a bit of nature reserve there, with gravel and stone cycling for a few miles.
Traffic was mostly well behaved. However, the constant noise of traffic along the A91 can get a bit tedious.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@lazycyclist - that's a reasonable ride, thanks for sharing. Some bits sound certainly worth doing. Wondered about also going into East Neuk but would be train assisted if Mrs LB was co-piloting.
Did you train back from Dundee?Posted 6 years ago # -
Did the Way of the Roses (Morecombe to Bridlington)
Day 1: Astonishingly hilly.
Day 2: Less hilly.
Day 3: Tolerably hilly.Remarkably beautiful part of the World. Some amazing picture postcard villages i was totally unaware of. I shall definitely return with family in tow. Settle seemed lovely as we whizzed through. I'm thinking train via Carlisle in the spring for a weekend.
Then tried to take NCR#1 back to Edinburgh - failed miserably. The section from Bridlington to where I abandoned some 60k later contained some of the worst dedicated cycle infrastructure I've ever used. Bone jarring, pannier bothering tarmac, cinder paths, gravel track, farm tracks, single track etc... was unable to even maintain a 14kph average. We managed +22kph on WotRoses and I needed to be above 20 to get to my accommodation each night.
Got to Middlesborough and the train home. Maybe NCR#1 is better elsewhere, but the section I was on, was essentially unusable for any touring purposes. Pretty pathetic really.
Still, Way of the Roses highly recommended.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Any time traveling involved? As seems this did not happen today but a little while back? Or maybe I dreamt you jacked it in on the nutty slack of north Yorks?
Posted 6 years ago # -
last week. Didn't post earlier as couldnt find the thread and didn't have the mental strength to fruitlessly search for it.
Also, that area south / southeast of Middlesborough is one of the grimmest places I've ever been.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I had a lovely ride on Saturday with a velomobile friend who was staying in Edinburgh for a long weekend. Bookended by convivialities at Laid Back we cycled to Cramond (Prom), then via Trinity tunnel and the Heriothill Tunnel and the Shore round to Portobello (per spotted thread) for lunch at the Beachhouse Cafe place (whose name I keep mixing up with the Boardwalk Cafe place at Silverknowes and will now have to check via OSM...ah, I wasn't misremembering after all), then over the railway at Joppa and Brunstane, and taking the Innocent back to the Meadows and LB. Only about 24 miles*, mostly on the level, plus 8 miles each way for me.
* A trifling distance for Friend of Arellcat, who clocked 186 miles in a 6-hour race a while back.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@iainmcr, just last week? In my dream I hav already discussed the south of Middlesbrough. But maybe it is just comments on Internet discussion of the section which is really hate. What is it called again.? In my dream @hankchief has also done it whilst pulling a tank
Posted 6 years ago # -
then over the railway at Joppa and Brunstane
Over the steps in a velomobile? Respect.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I had a great adventure on Arran with @cyclingmollie on Saturday. After the previous week, it was a relief to see the clouds clearing as we arrived on the 9.45 ferry, despite the coolness of the air.
I was shocked to see how busy this ferry is for cyclists and foot passengers (Bute and Dunoon ferries not as busy that way).
The great majority of cyclists went anti-clockwise towards Lochranza. We hung back a little and enjoyed the flat section to Sannox (manufacturers of toilet paper?), taking multiple photos. In fact that was a theme of our circumnavigation - many photo stops - the place is unbelievably beautiful.When riding, it was difficult to choose between looking at the fantastic seascape or the mountainscape - or in indeed the interesting shoreline. That is until Sannox when we headed inland. And a pretty abrupt mountain pass with great views of the mountainous interior. After the lovely Lochranza, we found the other flat bit of road (something to tell my OH who is hill allergic). After lunch and Machrie Moor (didn't see any standing stones) with views to Kintyre, we headed around the south of the island, which is quite hilly! Great views of Aisla Craig, Sanda, Norn Irn, Pladda. Very good coffee at the Velo Cafe in Lagg (bottom of a very steep hill though!). Round the other side again, with Holy island, the mainland, Bute etc.
On arriving in Brodick, just in time for the ferry, we decided instead to conquer the String. Wow - that's quite a tough one (with a stiffish headwind still). But views were fantastic. And we saw red deer for the first time that day (also a roadkill red squirrel earlier). The return to Brodick took much less time, so we were able to partake of some lovely crispy chips from the chippy in the harbour.
It's taken me 20 years of living in Scotland to find my way to that part of the world - definitely recommend Arran for a cycle.Posted 6 years ago # -
Taking the ferry from Claonaig to Lochranza for the first time is weird until you realise why you recognise the view.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@amir - great write -up and great photos on your strava feed.
If it has given you a taste, I recommend a figure of 8 where you take on the String from both sides and the Ross.
The other one is the 5 Ferries- you'd need to start at Wemyss Bay - the ride down to Ardrossan is best done first thing (not a great road), but it is a fantastic day out.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@paddyirish thanks!
The ferry we caught in the morning didn't give enough time for the figure of 8, unfortunately.
I have been thinking about the 5 ferries - I drove back that way, the road does look a bit ropey. Perhaps there are back road options. Might just go for a big loop from Dunoon instead. Would be nice to visit Kilmartin.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Pleasant start to the morning with a great sunrise just after I left the house. Then heading west after crossing the Bridge, saw a pair of herons and hundreds of geese. Then through Hopetoun with lots of deer to Abercorn, up to join the canal between Philipstoun and Winchburgh and followed it all the way to GSR.
Only downside was chain snapping just outside Abercorn. Couldn't get spare quick link fully engaged, so had to soft pedal a bit from there.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@amir, the Ross climb on Arran is well worth going back for
Lochranza is my favourite, the sheep out on the pier is good.
I also like Blackwaterfoot and Lagg.
When the sun shines on Arran it is tres Jolie.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@IWRATS, we've ridden our velomobiles together before, but this time we were both riding our conventional recumbent bikes. Friend of Arellcat has a (very fast) velomobile with less than half the ground clearance that mine has, and hoiking a 30kg machine up the steps over the railway would've been next to impossible, not to mention the right-angled turns at the top!
Posted 6 years ago # -
@gembo I really liked Kildonan
Posted 6 years ago # -
@amir yes lovely. Might have been near there wher we spotted the swing park in the middle of nowhere with two swings
Posted 6 years ago # -
I remember that. Just tucked in.
Posted 6 years ago #
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