As it's 1 minute to 10 and I've just been told I've got to go and pick up a kitten looks like I'm out.......I'll go for a ride this afternoon.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh
12 steepest ridable streets in central edinburgh?
(160 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
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Damn I have only just found this thread and missed the ride...
Posted 13 years ago # -
Inaugural run completed. Some work needing done on the route to ensure we don't have to go up and down so many of the hills (e.g. Bells Brae 3 times!)
Photos and notes to follow and hopefully a GPS trace from Arrelcat.
Will definitely be doing again for those that missed out. Maybe even on a warmer and sunnier day!
Posted 13 years ago # -
I'll be up for it next time.
Picked up a very cute kitten then cycled out to south queensferry and back with a couple o mates.Posted 13 years ago # -
Likewise, though I had to pick up a horse and a ladybird.
Posted 13 years ago # -
What a ridiculous and fun day out! Here's a trace of our slightly roundabout route:
and the elevation profile, with some labels:
From the start at Peter's Yard to the finish at the Castle, I recorded 1999 feet of climbing. I also took some photographs of kaputnik and Laid Back, but I'll add them later.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Here's how I rated top 5 in order of steepness / technical.
1. Calton Hill (the cut off past Cube)
2. Ramsay Lane
3. Gloucester Street
4. Hawthornbank Lane + Bells Brae
5. Blackford Hill by zig zag approachBiggest effort was Kaimes Road - seemed to take a long time to get up it. Westmill and Colinton ones were fairly energetic too.
Cranston Street was shorter and could be rushed.Posted 13 years ago # -
I've had a few pops out and up Kaimes to practice and to eat my lunch since I heard of it on this thread. Think it was the only one I couldn't remember having been up at some point if only because it didn't lead anywhere I happened to be going or needed to be.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I've added my photos to this set rather than add yet more photos in the thread! I've put them in order, with comments etc.
Kaimes Road is long and straight and rather boring. I think Spylaw Bank Road was my favourite as it snakes up with tall vegetation on each side. Good surface too, was fun to charge up it. I think 2,000 feet is a good effort and we never even left the city limits.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I took many mediocre photographs, but these ones came out quite well:
Laid Back takes on Gloucester Lane:
Kaputnik storming up Cranston Street:
I cycled up Blackford Hill Rise thinking "This is only the first one, we have another 11 to do!" but actually enjoyed the whole day. Kaimes Road for me was the killer because it's so long and unyieldingly steep, and both Calton Hill and Ramsay Lane are wee toughies but surprisingly short when you tackle them.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Calton Hill or Ramsay Lane are plenty steep, but not so long that your legs or lungs get a chance to start really burning. Kaimes on the other hand - the only way is up!
Posted 13 years ago # -
Given that it's mid-May, it's only a month until Bike Week. Perhaps the 12 Steepest could be an event registered for BW? Imagine a critical mass of beginners trying to ride up Kaimes!
Posted 13 years ago # -
Any listed event gets free publicity via website/searchable database and free public liability insurance.
Doesn't have to be in precise week either!
Posted 13 years ago # -
Great report and photos. I didn't know where half those streets were.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I found a new route home for me - up Orchardhead Road
http://m.google.co.uk/u/m/R7guux .It's a delightful road even in the dark. The main reason is that I have to get up the Liberton hill anyway and this road is beautifully smooth and quiet.
Any road up, this reminded me of this thread. Isn't it about time this challenge was repeated?
Posted 13 years ago # -
Purple faced ERC riders will be battling for their Club Hill Climb Championship on Sunday morning up the hill from Crookston Farm to Fa'side Castle from 11;00 - spectators very welcome!
Cheers
ColinPosted 13 years ago # -
I'd be up for a run at this sometime before the end of the year. Anyone else fancy this?
Posted 12 years ago # -
only for idiots
Or did you mean the other 12? Those are far easier :) So long as it's not icy. Or dark. Kind of restricts it to a weekend.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I've got a hankering to give some of these hills a go (especially the cobbled ones) on the morning of Sunday 1st April (ie, Tour of Flanders day)... Anyone fancy it?
[With a caveat that I may be very jet lagged that day, but the idea of exercise after a long flight seems a good one.]
Posted 12 years ago # -
Hmmmm. I'd be ferry-lagged (day after we get back from Lewis).
Posted 12 years ago # -
I'd best pull my finger out and start detouring up Kaimes on the morning commute, like I said I would weeks ago and 100% didn't, but yep, I'll have a crack at that.
Posted 12 years ago # -
That's the day after Nippy Sweetie. Will have to see how the pins feel in the morning!
Posted 12 years ago # -
I'd also like to do this, but I am also doing the Nippie Sweetie. Relations with my wife and body may be at straining point.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I know it means it's not Tour of Flanders Day, but how about the weekend after?
Posted 12 years ago # -
ditto Nippie Sweetie... Might be harmful to my relationship with SWMBO if I cycle twice in a weekend. Could we delay a week or something?
Posted 12 years ago # -
I'm keen to have a bash at this - I regreted missing the last one.
I'm also down for the Sweetie on Saturday 31/03 so following day is out!
Following weekend is Easter weekend if that makes any difference (it doesnt to me).Posted 12 years ago # -
The following weekend is Paris-Roubaix, so we could throw in a few of Edinburgh's more "interesting" horizontal cobbled streets too. That might well work better for all concerned.
Either way, after the ride I'll be applying the traditional, tried and tested cobbled classics recovery method of drinking lots of Leffe and watching the pros hurting themselves.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Brilliant! Sign me up!
(by the way, I think I saw your other half this morning - but wasn't sure enough to say hi and then for it not to be her and it to look like I was applying some random chat-up line. Gold shoes, yellow jacket. Pulled alongside briefly at an ASL, but I turned up to Queen Street)
Posted 12 years ago # -
@anth Yellow jacket and gold shoes is not an unheard of combo, so that is a possible spot. You'll need to describe the bike and exact location (Abercromby Pl?) to be more certain...
Posted 12 years ago #
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