This may or may not be a good idea.
There are threads on buses, tram, Leith Walk etc.
Doesn't mean everything about canals has to appear here.
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Falkirk Tunnel project to throw new light on Burke and Hare
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CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh
Canal thread
(11 posts)-
Posted 8 years ago #
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This may or may not be a good idea.
I've always admired your fence-related skills, @chdot.
And on-topic: what's the surface like on the towpath from Ratho to Falkirk nowadays? A few years ago I really wished I was riding a mountain bike. Juddery hell. I lost a banana. Is it better now?
Posted 7 years ago # -
I really miss commuting on the canal, though I did if often enough that I can actually ride the whole thing in my head now.
I tried to get a squadrone volante together to ride the Canal de Bourgogne this summer but failed I think. My mercurial brother-out-law lives on the canal and I quite fancied turning up mid-summer with IWRATS' irregulars in tow.
Posted 7 years ago # -
I approve of thread drift, as a rule, but fancy Burgundian canals (with ridiculously long tunnels?) are doing nothing to help my Saturday planning decisions. I need focus.
Posted 7 years ago # -
There are just enough sections which were better than they were to be able to stick with the canal all the way to Falkirk, but whilst it has improved there are still enough hellish sections that you'd probably escape onto the road at Linlithgow on the way back rather than subject yourself to it again.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"Juddery hell. I lost a banana." "still enough hellish sections that you'd probably escape onto the road at Linlithgow on the way back rather than subject yourself to it again."
I lost a wheel and had to divert to the train to get home
Posted 7 years ago # -
It is so much better than when I first rode on it and very rideable on a hybrid or MTB.
The main bad sections W of Ratho are 2 aqueducts, the Falkirk Tunnel and a few cobbled 10m sections where streams flow into the canal. All of them you can get off and walk if worried about the bike. If you walk all of them, it will cost you less than 10 minutes in total.
Also, why cycle back? For the same distance you can continue along the the Forth and Clyde Canal to Glasgow and get a train back - it is a better surface- was being tarmacked when I rode it a couple of years back. Or even better get the train to Glasgow and cycle home, taking advantage of the prevailing tailwind. Would make a really good trip- almost coast to coast...
Posted 7 years ago # -
Easterlies this weekend and @hankchief is offering a lift. Saturday forecast least good. I am off to Ayr on Sunday as softish easterly and dry. Unless forecast changes
Posted 7 years ago # -
Forced to admit that Saturday looks unpleasantly damp & cold, whereas Sunday appears to be un-windy and sunny. I may weaken entirely and just get the train, save myself for a wee Sabbath jaunt over the Forth instead.
Posted 7 years ago # -
On the back of the tandem you'll be in my rainshadow and remain dry throughout...
Posted 7 years ago # -
You're not wide enough to have a proper rainshadow!
Posted 7 years ago #
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