CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure

HSBC city ride

(82 posts)
  • Started 7 years ago by splitshift
  • Latest reply from EdinburghCycleCam

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  1. algo
    Member

    I was cycling next to someone carrying a ~3 year old on a hamax whose cardigan got caught in their rear disc brake caliper and fell. This was at the end of Lonsdale Terrace. I managed to get them upright and free the cardigan. Their passenger was remarkably brave - I left in the belief that there were only scrapes and tears, as I had to continuing shepherding. If you were on here - I hope you are both ok, and thank you for your friendly conversation with my daughter - an exchange which I have to say epitomised the event and atmosphere.

    We all lined up on Melville Drive to watch the cyclists come past. The speed and proximity of the cars and motorcyclists following was terrifying. One motorbike - no doubt ridden by a very skilled rider - came past us in the cycle lane within inches at I would guess around 50mph. I was not prepared for this at all.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  2. splitshift
    Member

    Well, I enjoyed it! Mrs splitshift had been volunteered by her job, the dreaded Hsbc! Me and splitshift junior were volunteered as lead/ sweep cyclists. We arrived and there was a bit of confusion/ indifference as to what where Whe we should do what? Eventually sorted, had many nice laps, helped a few slipped chains, one puncture on a trailer, and basically got in everyone's way !! Closed roads were strange, kept looking to see where the cars were! Good noises of small and bit so small people enjoying themselves. Nice way to spend a few hours, AND ! for some reason my free jacket doesn't have the word volunteer on it !! I looked for cx forum names on tankards but hey ho, it was about enjoying ourself ! I was on the old heavy truck bike, panniers, old bloke with sweat !!

    Posted 7 years ago #

  3. jules878
    Member

    Popped down to Halfords today to buy an item reduced to half price of their website (as it was "price matched"). It was on display "full price" in store, but I mentioned web price to person serving me, and they reduced price accordingly.

    He also "price matched" the Topeak mini tool I'd picked up which was good of him. I hadn't spotted that was reduced on website.

    And then I used by 10% #cityride voucher too. #feelingverychuffed!

    Excellent service. My previous experiences have all been poor, but very good today.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  4. Morningsider
    Member

    Myself, mini and micro Morningsider made a spur of the moment decision to go along to the Lets Ride event today. All very enjoyable - extra proud of micro-Morningsider, who made it round without really stopping on her single-speed bike - even on the atrocious Lawnmarket cobbles.

    A very different experience on the way to and from the ride. We only live a couple of miles from the Meadows, but even with some pavement cycling and a convoluted back street route it was a nerve shredding experience (for me at least). The worst bit being the parking free-for-all outside the Edinburgh Bike Co-op - mainly people parking huge 4X4s with shiny bikes on the roof, presumably taking part in the event.

    This city has a long, long way to go before cycling is an attractive choice for family trips.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  5. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    This city has a long, long way to go before cycling is an attractive choice for family trips.

    It's hostile to fit, experienced, assertive men.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  6. gembo
    Member

    Was driving in to pick up eldest daughter to bring her home.

    Was a bad combo of cyclists and drivers. Should have just banned all motors

    Posted 5 years ago #

  7. CycleAlex
    Member

    Anyone manage to try out the electric burger bikes they apparently had there?

    Posted 5 years ago #

  8. ARobComp
    Member

    I attended with mini ARobComp and she had a blast dancing to the music and walking about inside the inflatable course for balance bikes shouting "I'M IN A CASTLE DADDY"

    One thing about the balance bike bit was that they didn't have anything small enough for her which was a bit of a shame. It was a bit of a missed opportunity potentially as she was very keen to have a go but was too short for the balance bikes they had to borrow. It struck me that those are the very bikes they probably should have had a few of as most of the older kids actually seemed to have their own balance bikes/other bikes.

    However we had fun for a short rainy 1/2 an hour right at the end.

    We did the loop too, it was alright and nice to be able to cycle along. I wasn't allowed to do the Chris Hoy Sprint challenge as I was not wearing a lid.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  9. chdot
    Admin

    “I was not wearing a lid”

    Most people seem to have been.

    Or is that just the official photos?

    https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Community/letsrideuk/photos/

    Disappointing for low speed riding on closed roads.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  10. Rob
    Member

    Awww, I didn't realise this was happening. Enjoyed it last year.

    Plenty of people wearing their pedestrian helmets in those photos too.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  11. fimm
    Member

    Mr fimm decided to go along. You were allowed to go on the course with any choice of headwear, you just needed a plastic hat for the sprint bit, which was on one half of the dual carriageway with non-sprint bit on the other half.

    I had Stuff To Do (and was going to the Fancy Women Bike Ride later) so I didn't go along. He seems to have enjoyed it.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  12. EdinburghCycleCam
    Member

    Went along and did 3 laps. All quite enjoyable, except for being honked at and tailgated for not being in the Gilmerton Road cycle lane on my way there. While I was about 2m from the car in front to stop the driver behind trying to overtake me.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  13. splitshift
    Member

    Didn’t manage along this year as I was gainfully employed paying bills! Mrs splitshift is gainfully employed by the erstwhile banking group . She AGAIN against all stereotypes volunteered in the rain all day, she is actually now contemplating and e bike

    Posted 5 years ago #

  14. splitshift
    Member

    However !! Lots of very rude people , I suspect not from here, she and colleagues weren’t paid nor forced to go and volunteer !! Strange how a 5 foot female gets abuse and poor attitude yet when I do it everyone is pleasant..... 6 foot and male hmmmm.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  15. acsimpson
    Member

    @ARobComp, My Daughter made use of her own bike in the "Castle". We have one of the Scoot bikes the were using and have found similarly that they are too large for a child when they are first showing interest in riding it. When we compared it to other balance bikes it appears to be the seat post clamp which keeps the seat further form the frame than on other models.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  16. davecykl
    Member

    Oh. This thread has just appeared in the "latest discussions" section, so I read it out of curiosity...

    From the content, was this the "cycle event" that road closure signs appeared near the Meadows for a few days ago? I had assumed that the signs were for a cycle race of some sort.

    I have to say: I was completely unaware of this event having happened previously or even this time! Where/how do they publicise it? I heard nothing about this from any usual channels. It rather seems like a bit of a missed opportunity.

    (Even the road closure signs don't help: as I said, it really sounded like a road closure for a race, for people "to observe", rather than something for people to actually take part in. I realise that road closure signs have to be functional rather than promotional, but if they had even said "cycling fun day" or something similarly less vague, that would have persuaded me to search the interwebs to try to find out what was happening.)

    Posted 5 years ago #

  17. ARobComp
    Member

    @AcSimpson - that makes sense. The bike looked about right but yes the seat wouldn't drop far enough down.

    @davecykl - yes I only heard about it from an email from a non-cycling friend. Completely oblivious to it's presence otherwise.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  18. Trixie
    Member

    I originally heard about it 2 years ago on Facebook. Must have been via either the Evening Chip-wrapper or Spokes.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  19. acsimpson
    Member

    I don't recall where I first heard about it, either here/facebook/British Cycling or similar a couple of years ago.

    There was a briefly a thread about it at the end of August but other than that I'm not sure I saw much about it this year. If I wasn't on the mailing list from previous years I might have missed it.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  20. chdot
    Admin

    Posted 5 years ago #

  21. condor2378
    Member

    I did the Sir Chris Hoy Sprint challenge, sans lid, however I was wearing a Rapha cycling cap which was a present from my sister. Maybe this swayed them?

    Posted 5 years ago #

  22. EdinburghCycleCam
    Member

    I saw some noise about it on Twitter, from the council's twitter account, but I was made aware of it because I signed up last year so they sent me a reminder about this year.

    Posted 5 years ago #

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