CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting

The "I had a lovely ride today, thankyou" thread

(2695 posts)

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  1. fimm
    Member

    @PS, we cycled up that hill on the way to the top of the Kingscavil hill. I think I would go faster down the one you link to, because Kingscavil is too steep for me - my highest speed for Sunday's ride was actually after we'd turned right onto the slightly-less-minor road heading for Linlithgow. Mr fimm claims to have done 60mph (100km/h) down some alpine descent. He probably has to wait longer for me at the bottom of hills than at the top...

    On topic, I did my long commute to work today (Edinburgh - Livingston) and it was lovely, just a little bit chilly. Lots of cyclists out, including 4! on the out of town leg between Balerno and Kirknewton. I'm looking forward to the cycle home.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  2. DaveC
    Member

    Steveo, tonights evening ride is out to Balerno. In the summer a few ex collegues and friends ride out to the reservoirs from Haymarket. I think I'm going to extend my ride to Haymarket and go via Broughton, North cycle path, craigleith down to Russell Road and then into Haymarket yards heading east. Long detour but I'll be warmed up by then.

    I'm thinking of getting the train home to Fife after that as I don't want to tire myself out before Saturday's Nippie Sweetie.

    I may have to fit new brake pads for the Snow Roads if there are long fast decents.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  3. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I got 53.5 on the road between Redstane Rigg and Whitadder, before (very gingerley) applying some brake and standing up for maximum drag effect when approaching the cattle grid.

    I'm trying to figure out a nice route to take a long commute home tonight. Might go out Long Dalmahoy, Kirknewton, Lang Whang then onto the back roads southwest of Balerno.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  4. DaveC
    Member

    I had a lovely ride home yesterday. My evening ride was cancelled due to a small number of limp wooses who thought it was a tad cold and snow flurries would spoil an otherwise really enjoyable ride. So instead as I had a late pass from daddy duties I tore along the Warriston path to 5 ways and continued straight on to Granton. From there I continued to Cramond along the seaside prom with a north easterly wind I was flying. When I got to Cramond I scoped out the crossing as the tide was low but sadly there is no where to cross into Dalmeny. So I cyced up to the bridge and Cramond Brig (warning there are one or two steps to climb) and zipped back down into the estate on the coastal track (75) and up the road to Dalmeny village. From there I popped through S Queensferry and over the bridge to ‘The Kingdom’ where I followed the coastal path as far as the bit which glows (radioactive) in the dark. Suitably warmed up (by the ride not the radioactivity) I climbed the wee hill to the place I call home.

    Not as long a rise as I would have liked but the options narrow as you approach the FRB and I wasn’t in the mood for a freexing headwind from Kinkardine bridge so soon after Saturday. But the balance has been returned sadly as my fantastic ride last night was balanced by the rubbish ride in (or lack of it) this morning when my chain broke on the Forth Road Bridge in the way to Edinburgh.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  5. LivM
    Member

    Day off work (essay to write) and just picked up my old bike with its new Reba forks yesterday from Leith Cycle Co., so I took advantage of the lovely weather and pottered along by the Water of Leith to the Botanics to enjoy the spring flowers. I'm not a mountain biker or a roadie, so this level of effort (low), skill (low) and destination pleased me. Lovely smooth air-sprung suspension and a much lighter bike made it a lovely ride, thank you.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  6. crowriver
    Member

    Had a nice time pootling around on the Ute this afternppn. Surprisingly warm and pleasant weather for trundling to allotment, supermarket, etc. I regretted that we had called off out family trip out to South Queensferry, but it was much colder earlier in the morning: would not have been fair on the kids. They went to the museum instead, while I cruised on the cargo bike running errands. Sweet.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  7. Uberuce
    Member

    Lovely wee 20 miler through Montreatmont Forest up in rural Tayside. Riding through a couple of miles of forest on a deserted road is ace and spiffy.

    Met a grand old boy out for a jaunt to Forfar's bike shop, although given how little concern he had for it being open today, I think that may just have been an excuse to test out the newest of his seven bikes.

    Tomorrow I'm hoping to go from Perth back to Forfar, with a detour to pretty places to bump up the distance.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  8. DaveC
    Member

    I organised a wee ride with mates this morning from our home town in the Kingdom. We met at 7am (ys there are two 7 o'clocks in the same day!) at the rail station and headed up through Crossgates, Hill of Beath, Kelty, Kinross, Milnathorpe, Bridge of Earn to arrive at Tesco's cafe at 9am on the dot! After a fine breakfast (30 mins) we returned the same way but this time up Wicks O'Baiglie from Dron [groan] which is very steep and quite long. We arrived back at Spagety Bay rail station at 11.40 having taken only 10 mins longer having had a wee detour from Kinross west towards Cleich on the number 1 route and back towards the B996 and our normal route south.

    Thats another hundred (in 4hr10) in the bag.

    Oh and as I can't do the Snow roads we are doing Moss Trooper from Morperth instead the weekend before and Gavin was trying to convince me to do a 400km ride in August - Schihallion Sunrise which startes at 9pm! eek!!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  9. Uberuce
    Member

    Well, that's my 40 mile barrier busted. Perth, Balbeggie, Newtyle, Meigle, Kirriemuir to Forfar, going via the prettier roads. Not the brightest of days, but almost completely dry, and a slight tailwind the whole way.

    I planned to go via Coupar Angus, but when I saw how shiny the Balbeggie-Newtyle road looked, I went for it instead. I'd budgeted for 40-45 miles, and knew the Coupar route was five short, so I reckoned I had ten miles getting lost room.

    I can't quite decide whether the Balbeggie-Newtyle or Newtyle-Meigle stretches were best. The former is in a gorgeous wee valley on an absurdly smooth road, the latter is an uninterrupted view of the Strathmore Valley. I think the former wins, because it was west of the map I had(Me? Go on a ride with proper mapping? TRAITOR!) and I had that lovely feeling of being lost but not minding.

    Rolled into Forfar with 37.5 miles on the clock, and a 16.7mph average, but since I wanted 40, I whimmed up the local small hill: Bummie, or Balmashanner as those silly maps call it, whose dirt paths turned out to defeat my wee legs on my singlespeed and non-knobbly tyres, so my average went down to 15.8. Grr. Spun like a macho idiot on the roads home to finish at 43 miles and 16.1.

    Note to self: when you feel your cycling shorts catch on the saddle, get off the bike and make sure they've not been displaced. The inner crescent of your left beauttock will thank you for it.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  10. crowriver
    Member

    Hm, that sounds like an alternative route to hiking over the hills from Dundee for the 'Potter for Tea'. Longer, but less of a climb?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  11. Uberuce
    Member

    Looks like about 250 feet less climbing than the Balanced route from Dundee-Kirrie, but twice the distance. I'd say the scenery on the Perth-Kirrie run beats the Dundee-Kirrie route hands down, though.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  12. crowriver
    Member

    Only an extra 7 miles to do Perth-Kirriemuir, according to Cyclestreets. Sounds very doable. I had assumed Perth much further away.

    Might be hopping on the Perth train instead of the Dundee one...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  13. Uberuce
    Member

    Odd. I was on 30 miles just into Kirrie, but I...oh.

    Yes, I see what I did there. I had the Dundee-Forfar distance in my head, and not even the route you'd cycle.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  14. amir
    Member

    Nice morning for a commute - relatively quiet, not raining (yet). I extended mine a wee bit to Drummohr.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  15. Tom
    Member

    I passed Amir near Gifford on my way to Longformacus. Unfortunately the road from Longformacus to Cranshaws is closed. I didn't like the idea of returning the way I'd come so I took the 18 mile detour via Duns. That and the rising headwind back by Whiteadder and Garvald meant it was a bit tougher than I'd intended. I got within twelve miles of England - oh so close.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  16. DaveC
    Member

    So with summer here we headed off to Balerno on our weekly Weds night rides. I have a great ride out to Balerno from Laidback bikes after saying hello to Dave, anth and Arlecat (sp??). We got to the bridge over the top reservour well before sunset, and the wind was sheilded by trees. We saw and heard a Woodpecker 2 swallows and some other summer only birds, as pointed out by someone who knows about these things, I know I haven't normally got a clue...

    Anyway - I left the group before we hit the stoney path towards the lowest reservour and headed home via Heriot Watt, Hermiston, Ratho Newbridge and South Queensferry. Great great ride, and missed the rain too!

    http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/fullscreen/84885571/

    Dave C

    Posted 12 years ago #

  17. spytfyre
    Member

    Stopped on WoL bridge to let jogger go past. She seemed so happy she was stunned. When I explained it is a footpath not a cyclepath hence I give way she said "You are a very unusual cyclist"
    Sums me up nicely I think

    Posted 12 years ago #

  18. amir
    Member

    Ignoring the car driver telling me off for adopting primary position on a junction (while he was driving), I had a lovely ride in this morning. It's so nice cycling in the dry and sun for a change that it was almost worth all the rain over the last week. Mind you it was quite nippy first thing (1 deg) so I start with winter gloves, changed to longer fingered gloves and ended up with mitts. Commute extended to 15.5 miles to take advantage.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  19. cc
    Member

    It's absolutely gorgeous weather today, lucky you. I had to choose today to take the c*r in for work so missed out on cycling, boo.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  20. DaveC
    Member

    I too missed cycling in today. I have cought a horrid chesty cold which has left me with flem in my throat which grumbles when I breath. yuck!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  21. amir
    Member

    I'll be giving you a wide berth tomorrow then!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  22. wingpig
    Member

    Seeing the spare bike is now wired for distance and speed measurement and it didn't look like it would be too sunny, I thought I'd take the boy out for a quick pop to Fife and back yesterday afternoon. I'd been intending to go the normal way and was pleased at having not taken the wrong branch off the Blackhall path as I usually do but the bloke fixing a puncture just before the field with the microhorses in on Braepark Ave to whom I lent a knife, pliers and pump mentioned the Dalmney Estate roads and their general fieldy pleasantness, so I thought I might give them a try. Unfortunately, whilst he appeared to be a harmless fiftysomething bearded man, he was in fact a minifestation of the puncture faerie. I went straight on rather than left at the first T-junction in the estate in case I ended up going up someone's drive somewhere by accident, whereas straight ahead was helpfully labelled as NCN76 and must therefore definitely end up somewhere near the right place. Fortunately, being on the sparebike, the frequent potholes, gravelly surfaces on slopes and deep mud were less of a problem than they might otherwise have been with two extra stone over the back wheel. Unfortunately, being on the sparebike, the back tyre isn't an Armadillo, resulting in some suspicious rim-impacts and rear sponginess going past the campsitey bit. Fortunately I turned out to be near a bit with some benches and the view of the bridge, but unfortunately there was lots the boy wanted to scuttle off to look at when he'd finished all his food, which somewhat lengthened the wheel-replacing process, worsened by not having a decent tracknut-tightening spanner and resulting in a slightly wonky and brake-rubbing wheel which was a bit of a pain to push along, exacerbated by the boy neither accepting to have his nappy changed nor to go back in the seat and having to be carried most of the way along to the wee boat-centre when he stopped walking the right way and tried to head into the woods or back along the road. With the wee boats to distract him I straightened the wheel, resumed cycling but took a chance on the road curving back up the hill just past the rail bridge rather than going all the way through Queen's Southferry to find the end of the bike path. Fortunately it went the right way, but there was a bit more carrying/pushing between the end of the Chancelot Path and the end of the WoL path after he started crying until a final snack-pacified push for home. A pleasant day, but today I shall be ordering a set of either Marathons Plus or Armadilloes and not bothering with the Dalmeny Estate roads for a while.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  23. PS
    Member

    Not sure which roads you were on in the Dalmney Estate, wingpig, but I wouldn't dismiss it on the back of the one experiece. There's a real variety of roads in there, many of which are certainly good enough (in fact, very good) on a thin-tyred road bike.

    If you take the first right into the estate (just beyond the Cramond Brig) you get a direct road which is great fun on a road bike (in dry conditions). It becomes tarmac'ed at the end of the straight then, after a long S-bend, there's a left straight up an exponentially steepening hill. I've not seen what happens if you don't take the left, as I think it gets rough - was this where you went straight on?

    At the top of that hill the road joins the main tarmac'ed road that comes in from the main estate entrance near the bridge ver the A90. That road is the option to take if you want to avoid the initial rough bit and/or the steep hill. Follow that estate road to the right and it takes you down to Dalmeny House (ignore the farmstead that's straight ahead at one point - follow the road round to the right there.

    Two road-friendly options at the House:
    1) turn left in front of it and you have a long climb up out the estate that deposits you at the B924 opposite the end of Main Street (the road to Dalmeny).
    2) follow the road round to the right. It takes you through the woods down near the shore. Take the first left to stay on tarmac (I've done the straight ahead option on the road bike, but it's really a CX option). The road to the left has some sharp rises, rewarded by a good view back to Edinburgh, followed by one of the best views of the Forth Bridge. You go past an estate cottage with some magnificent topiary heads and join the B924 for a downhill run in to SQ.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  24. wingpig
    Member

    "I've not seen what happens if you don't take the left, as I think it gets rough - was this where you went straight on?"

    I took the first right into the estate (just beyond the Cramond Brig) but then went straight on and followed NCN76 all the way round. I'll pop back and give exponentially steepening (but tarmac) roads a go when I'm unencumbered and puncture-proof. Every time I stopped and tried to look at a map the boy started wailing so I just went for the follow-the-signs option. It appears to be the B924 that I went up, which was fun. The wee private road labelled "The Forts" looked like it might have linked up with the old train path but it's another option best investigated alone.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  25. DaveC
    Member

    Woow!! Fabby ride in today. I rode into Inverkeithing not liking the head wind (westerly). When I got to Ferry Toll I was a rider further up (~150m) and as I always do decided to catch him. Now I set my bar by the speed of other riders and if I can catch them easily I decide they are too slow and pass them heading for the next rider to catch. Well it took 2 miles to catch this guy who was flying. Finally along side him at the S Queensferry Shell garage to say hello, I caught him and we had a freindly chat between flying down the A90 etc... At the top of the hill Bagshot Road junction I decided to let him go on his way as he was faster than I was, but he waited for me as we rode down to Cramond brig and after enquiring my route in, told me he was riding along the Cramond prom to Leith so I decided as we had a tail wind I would join him and head up the Newhaven/Broughton path. Nice chap though very fast! Tuerns out a cyclist at work knows him too - Hi Trevor if you read this. Nice Trek 470 old skool Cromeolly (sp??) in Red with Gold detail.

    It appears I enjoy my mini races where I'm hanging out of my A*se trying to keep up with faster riders. (appologies for my bad language :o(

    Specs, 28km, 1:03:37s ave 27.3kph. Woow!!!
    Its on Strava too if you want to see it.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  26. Instography
    Member

    @Dave. Just got a report from Strava on your progress. Two personal bests yesterday and a significant jump up the placings on Broughton St and the B924 descent.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  27. DaveC
    Member

    @PS and windpig,

    I know Dalmeny quite well now having explored most of it on the CX bike. Its not that complex and I would be happy to give a guided tour cris crossing the paths if you wanted. I can even offer to bring my youngest and for lunch we can all sit on the beaches while the wee ones paddle and throw stones into the water.

    Dave C

    Posted 12 years ago #

  28. DaveC
    Member

    @Instography, Yep I'm begining to like Strava now. I wasn't sure if I had to stop and sart the app for sections but it appears to do it automatically.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  29. JohnS
    Member

    Also a great ride in today, the Bridge was 'fresh' but not too cold - first run in without gloves! Usual regulars going the other way but some new 'spring' riders appearing who do not know the direct route off the Bridge and through the houses to Dalmeny, following the marked route instead. They must be baffled to see the guy behind them half a mile ahead going out of Dalmeny! Question - why is there always a head wind on the Bridge, no matter which side you are crossing from?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  30. DaveC
    Member

    Hi JohnS, I guess I have met you before now and said hello?

    Posted 12 years ago #

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