I'd imagine the speedbump st the bottom of the steep bit doesn't help either.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh
12 steepest ridable streets in central edinburgh?
(160 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
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try Abercorn Road, just off Willowbrae Road, i used to use it to gauge my fitness, i used to attempt it once a month when i worked down that way, its a beast!!! i stopped using it once i managed it without stopping, not tried iit for a year or so now, will have to pop along
Posted 13 years ago # -
This is the 12 from the spreadsheet marked out on an OSM;
To my mind the obvious way to do it is start out at Blackford, head for the 2 at Colinton, then the 2 at Corstorphine then head into town to tackle the remaining 7 in short succession. Make Ramsay Lane the last one and then have a wee cycle up the Esplanade to pay Historic Scotland a visit :) Then have a well deserved drink or brew.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I've mapped a draft route. The exact bits inbetween the hill clusters all up for debate. I've generally tried to avoid busy roads more because it's hard to cycle in a group on them, so there's some bits on Canal and Water of Leith etc.
I'm quite pleased with the bit in the centre of town, except I don't think it's going to be possible to avoid Piccardy Place to come at Calton Hill at the right direction...
Posted 13 years ago # -
Can't think I'd manage this. Out of interest what is the least steep unridable street in Einburgh?
Posted 13 years ago # -
On the water of leith at Dean Village you have to go under the footbridge, turn left cycle up very steep bank between two sets of railings, I always have to get off and push
was doing my old commute this morning taking wreck to the bike chain for salvaging. I really had to think to remember the route whereas if I didn't think at all I am sure the bike would just have taken me there
the improvements to the path at Juniper Green have made it grey mud instead of brown- when dry this grey mud is ridable but when wet I understand it is like treacle
Posted 13 years ago # -
@K, Seems like a good route, although if it's to be a Sunday morning there aren't really that many busy roads in Edinburgh - I'd just go Costorphine Road then along Ravelston Dykes rather than the WoL. That's a nice flat 20mph+ stretch to get the blood flowing through climbing legs ;-) .
Posted 13 years ago # -
@kaputnik
Wh not include Katesmill Road? It's not the steepest but it's on the way (more or less).@gembo
I think the grey goo on the WoLW must be some kind of mistake. The stuff they used before went hard-packed in the wet after it had been rolled. The new stuff (there's another patch below the Colinton tunnel) acts like a sand-trap. On second thoughts, maybe it's a deliberate speed limiter?Posted 13 years ago # -
@PS - agree. Routes between any of the hill groups are probably best decided on the day. Personally I usually avoid cycle routes as It don't feel right bombing down them at 25mph, but I'll go with the flow.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Did Carlton Hill today, not that bad, will sample a few more this week :)
Posted 13 years ago # -
It seems physically possible to nip sideways onto Calton Hill from Calton Road so we could go ...Dublin St > St Andrew > Waverley Bridge > Market Street > Cranston Street > Canongate > New Street > Calton Road > Calton Hill to avoid Picardy Place...
Posted 13 years ago # -
to avoid Picardy Place
Any route that allows such avoidance is good.
There's nothing saying you also can't go down a hill from the top just to turn about and go back up it too.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Path at Juniper Green -
"
this has been raised with the Countryside Rangers who are taking a look. The intention was to renew the whindust layer but it seems to have turned in to mud when wet."
Posted 13 years ago # -
Seeing as we'd be in the area we could pop down Regent Road and Abbeymount after Calton Hill (unless everyone's desperate to test their brakes on steep downhill cobbles) then up the Canongate (possibly via down Old Tollbooth Wynd and then back up New Street) then get back to the posted route via St Mary's Street.
Posted 13 years ago # -
it seems to have turned in to mud when wet
If it's anything like the bit up at Auchendinny, then they've dumped a 2-inch thick layer of whindust on the existing surface, tamped it down a bit and hoped it would do the job. Add water and traffic over it and it shouldn't be a surprise then it turns to mud.
Whindust serves a purpose of packing in around larger graded gravel, holding it in place and providing a smoother surface to ride on. If you don't do both bits then your dust turns to mud in the wet or blows away in the wind when dry.*
* I must have learned something on my charity tow-path resurfacing day 3 years ago :)
Posted 13 years ago # -
Has anyone mentioned Bell's Brae yet?
Drove this on the weekend while exploring after swimming 2.5k (I had a deadline and couldn't cycle there) scary hill, worse than Glouscester street as much much longer and narrowerPosted 13 years ago # -
Bell's Brae yet?
It's on the list.
Posted 13 years ago # -
If you head alongside WoL towards Hawthornbank Lane then you have nice steep cobbled downhill. Still a street in my view though you have to have a very narrow vehicle. eg Bike or trike.
Follow this with a sharp left under new housing and you can climb up to Bedford Road. Pretty steep but surface is good.
Steeper than Bell's Brae but a preferred route on a recliner.Posted 13 years ago # -
@Laidback - did I High Five you last Wednesday along the Meadows way?
Posted 13 years ago # -
About these alternative access routes to the bottom of Calton Hill, the main part of the fun of Calton Hill is hitting the bottom of the cobble section at a decent lick, thereby causing passing pedestrians to be struck by your awesomepower.
Not sure how easy that would be to achieve from Calton Road, especially as it requires the crossing of the carriageway.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"part of the fun of Calton Hill is hitting the bottom of the cobble section at a decent lick"
Mmm, thought hill climbs involved standing starts.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Ah, perhaps in the winter but we're now into the season of the cobbled classics, when awesomepower engaged at the approach to the cobbled climb is positively encouraged. :D
Posted 13 years ago # -
I stand informed!
Posted 13 years ago # -
Calton Hill is confirmed legally accessible from Calton Road. Hitting it at a 'decent lick' would just mean having to do a combination brake/turn/climb, on cobbles, en masse. Much more fun to add the extra right-hand turn-climb from Calton Road to the existing left-hand turn-climb then just heave up it, willing the handlebar to not suddenly decide to break.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Went up Calton Hill tonight on the way home. Never done it before, or even noticed it was there (I've only been up to the observatory from t'other side). Didn't quite use awesomepower (I don't really have any), just meandered up it, out of the saddle. What a nice little cobbled climb it is; I was just a little bit disappointed that it's so short. Will return tomorrow and try it seated. Later, nearer to home, I frolicked up and down the Joppa alps. My right knee hurts now.
I would definitely be up for this, if that's alright, when you all get round to doing it. Although I might need to do some training.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Sptfr @Laidback - did I High Five you last Wednesday along the Meadows way?
Semi-low fived...Posted 13 years ago # -
if that's alright
it's more than alright! the more the better. All bicycles types welcome, and extra points awarded for getting recumbents / fixies / singlespeeds / Pashleys up hills.
Points mean prizes. Or less than prizes.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Excellent, I'm in then. (I like the inclusivity of this site btw). I did remember reading you saying that Calton Hill would be impossible on a fixed/singlespeed as I was cycling up it last night, and I thought to myself, "yup." It would be a nightmare in the rain.
Did Dublin Street on the way in this morning, as I work about 4 doors away from the top of it. Harder than Calton Hill methinks.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I'll have a go once a date is sorted. Cake is needed somewhere though. I'd probably bring the bike with a triple (or even dust off the mtb!)
Posted 13 years ago # -
I'm keen to have a go once a date is sorted.
Ditto.
Am at shows 2/3 + 16/17 April.
Posted 13 years ago #
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