@bax are you firing on all cylinders now?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
The "I had a lovely ride today, thankyou" thread
(2697 posts)-
Posted 4 years ago #
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aye cocoshep, it took me about eight weeks to be back putting in personal bests on the road
partner did not fare so well, bad autoimmune responses to the rona, she's only recently back to eating solid food, breathing and swallowing issues, but much improved now, after six months, and we can do six mile walks now.
and yourself?
Posted 4 years ago # -
So sorry to hear that about your partner Bax. Must have been a very long 6 months for you both but very positive to hear that she is improving and fingers crossed that continues. Now I appreciate even more your restraint on the High Street in Dunfermline.
I seemed to 'recover' quickly initially but had bad relapse in June and have had ongoing heart issues since - the odd random tachycardia, higher than normal heart rate during activity (can only put out about half of my previous power on the bike for the same heart rate) and if I don't do a lengthy warm down then my heart rate stays elevated at ~90 bpm for the rest of the day rather than returning to normal at say 60-70. Also got some immune overreaction going on - my asthma is back after a 25 year absence and I get tired & sore lungs if I overdo it. Chest pains galore. Exasperated at the state of the NHS at the moment as you commented on months ago.
HOWEVER I count myself lucky in that things weren't as serious for me as you and others have experienced. Building up slowly towards normal. Was doing up to 70 km a day to and from work before but now restricted to the odd slow 20 km ride. Which makes those slow 20 km all the more enjoyable.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@cocoshep will reply in covid thread
Posted 4 years ago # -
Minipaddy was kayaking on Union Canal near Falkirk on Saturday, so headed out on quiet roads W of Denny, then crossed F&C canal at Allandale and headed back East south of the canal.
On Sunday did a short ride out of Bridge of Earn between the Tay and the Earn. Glorious frosty morning and quiet roads.
Lots of new roads and perfect weather for cycling. Just wish both rides could have been longer.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I had a nice ride out on the mountainbike yesterday evening - just up the WoL and then up to Blinkbonny and then up Poets Glen (no I cannot cycle all the way up Poets Glen) and then round to Cubbiedean where I decided it was too dark to do the singletrack so I whizzed down the track/road to Bonaly. Decided I'd better get my lights on and then went down the WoL again and found that my "be seen round town" front light was adequate for the task of lighting my way down in the half-dark, and cycling down like that was fun!
I've always thought that front light was a bit on the offensively bright side... I normally run it on its lowest setting. I want to get a better front light, possibly to put on my helmet - Mr fimm has his MTB light on his helmet and likes it there.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I've often heard tell of "Poets Glen" but never knew where it was till now (with a bit of rummaging around on OSM). I might try going via Maiden's Cleugh to give it a whirl.
I used to use the WoL path a lot in the dark, back when the Colinton tunnel didn't have graffiti or lighting, and the mills were derelict. My homebrew lighting setup was overvolted to hell, but the amount of light was absolutely amazing. We only had green LED front lights back then, so I never bothered, I just used to put my hand over the light if someone was coming the other way.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@Arellcat enjoy... (do you follow me on Strava? I follow you... that will show you where I went yesterday.)
I've never dared to descend Poets Glen, I'm not a very good descender. It is possible, though, I'm sure Mr fimm does it (possibly apart from the bridge).I felt a bit guilty yesterday - there was a young man on a mountain bike coming down who I saw in good time and was able to warn of my presence and pull over for. Given the shout of alarm from behind me, the pedestrian walking up had more of a fright. I knew she was there and I really should have told the young man that. (Yes, I know one should descend as though there might be a pedestrian around every corner. No harm in letting someone know to be extra careful.)
Posted 4 years ago # -
One issue i have with the Poet’s Glen is that down at the former Glenburn Hotel the path up tot he Poet’s Glen is basically big rocks.
It was stinking the other week, the actual glen - stagnant but recent rain will have washed it a bit. As part of I think the self catering at the farm the wee gates all have little brass numerals on them. They all say the same number despite opening in all directions. I remember it as 23 but Mrs Garto says 32
Posted 4 years ago # -
path up to the Poet’s Glen is basically big rocks.
Correct. This is why I cannot cycle up it. Mr fimm and his mate can, I think. Or more than I can, anyway.Posted 4 years ago # -
I understand from my contacts in that world that riding down Poet's Glen is a rite of passage.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Went out to circus farm at Harperrig this am (it is beyond Murder Farm currently for sale) and stopped in patch of sun beyond the cattle grid on the gun club’s so called private road and watched a sleek deer watching me. When it had had enough of that it decided to bolt and as it did so it turned into three deer (I had not seen the other two),
When I came through from glasgow where we were washed by the Gulf Stream and a sort of continuous drizzle I was amazed at these cold still sunny Embra mornings. Indeed I still am
Posted 4 years ago # -
Stunning, still and chilly morning.
Headed south from Livi and stopped off at Harperrig to watch the ducks swimming in the mirror flat water.
Was just pushing over the cattle grid when a wiry geezer cruised on over. Had a nice chat with him on the 70 until I turned off on the Leyden Rd.
Now it turns out to be @gembo. Nice to meet you sir.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Wiry geezer it is.
Posted 4 years ago # -
That was my sixth cattle grid of the morning. They were icy
I had a strange feeling I had maybe joined the 8000 mile commute for the morning :-)
Posted 4 years ago # -
After reading your reports on lovely rides in the north I looked at the map and sketched myself a route between Pitlochry and Rannoch Station.
I had Friday off and the weather forecast looked fantastic, so I decided to head over. I was being lazy and drove to Garry Bridge. The weather was really fantastic: the sun was shining, it was warm and there was just a gentle breeze. Quite a lot of cyclists around Loch Rannoch. Trees in autumn colours looked amazing in all that sunshine.
I came back along the southern shore of Loch Rannoch. I bumped into a bikepacker who asked me if I knew the way to Glen Coe. "Follow the road until you run out of it. I also saw a public path to Fort William, which could be an option" I told him. He said that he tried asking people along the way but nobody knew. He said it looked like he would have to go over a moorland. I don't think he had much of a plan. I am sure IWARTS would be able to advise much better than me.
I really enjoyed that little cycle. Stunning views, weather and smooth road.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Lovely day for it Bill. Your walker just had to cross Rannoch Moor. Dawdle.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@bill
That's great riding up there. Some of the best.
There is a track from Rannoch Station to the King's House Hotel. I have not ridden it but I have heard that it sometimes just sinks into the bog. It may be that the British government insist on building a road on slits here to connect with the Kincraig-Braemar road on stilts to complete the Aberdeen to Oban Freeway.
Posted 4 years ago # -
We covered those roads during the 2009 sabotaged etape as i have mentioned a few times. I did not like riding with 3000 others and being passed narrowly on each bride at speed on descents.
We returned another time and did it again without the 3000 or paying for it. Much nicer though starting at dunked did make it longer and little bit hillier as we went via blairgowrie and pitlochry before hitting the loch rannoch route. All quiet roads with fair surfaces
Posted 4 years ago # -
@gembo he was on a bike.
@IWARTS good to know. It doesn't look far on the map.I imagine he would have to push the bike for a bit. Wouldn't be too much fun yesterday.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I did not like riding with 3000 others
Snob.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Took the protege to see the llamas down South Lanarkshire this afternoon. She was worried she wouldn’t be able to spot them, fortunately the herd maybe numbers 40 now.
Was such a nice afternoon when we emerged from t(e Carstairs Esker instead of returning via Carnwath we went round to carstairs junction then right at the church with the wrought iron pergola. This takes you to the closed road down by the Clyde and from there short schlep to the memorials to Robert Burns and Donald Cargill Covenanter at Covington then round to thankerton and a Covid birthday party at the swings (first time ever spotted anyone in this park).
Along to Tinto Tearoom. Yellow l8nes now on the road to stop the Covid Parkers. Reached Tinto tearoom in two hours but despite alleging it was open til 4pm was closed back of two. Though was easy to get back to Apple Pie and stock up. I went for key lime pie in honour of the Mighty Bill. All good except wind had increased so the Whang was a mean mofo.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Took the protege to see....She was worried
Protégée then.
Corrections, Clarifications, Errata.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@IWRATS thanks for this precision. Is good.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I went for key lime pie in honour of the Mighty Bill.
@gembo haha! Very fine choice!
Last time I went to the Apple Pie on a Friday arvo they didn't have anything that took me fancy, so I left empty-handed.Posted 4 years ago # -
@bill, yes we were worried as was near closing time but despite there being no wee rhubarb pies and no paradise slice there was a good range of stuff
Late Friday pm might be bad time as they will be baking fresh for the weekend I Imagine.
I am always in need of sustenance at the apple pie so would have to be a rum selection of shrapnel before I declined anything.
Posted 4 years ago # -
A friend expressed an interest in learning to ride further afield than the tarmac. So I took her for a dander up her local back lane and through the Hermitage. We practiced soft knees, soft elbows. We investigated traction and gyroscopic stability. We moved our weight forward and a little bit backwards. We looked at the exit of bends and we let the bikes run.
From being nervous of bumping over a kerb we completed a swoosh down the Liberton High School MTB track. On slick tyres too.
Very satisfying.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Normally I would say - find your own protege but as this was off road I say - Nice
Posted 4 years ago # -
I'm not inclined to protecting people. I leave that to those psychologically better suited, which is almost everyone.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I did quite a lot of not tarmac today (and yesterday evening too). My bike is acceptably muddy now.
Only 13 miles, but went to look at my old primary school, then I played on the paths around Mortonhall before going home.
Posted 4 years ago #
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