CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Events, rides etc.

TransPentland Manoeuvres In The Dark?

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12…4

  1. unhurt
    Member

    Thinking about a post-daylight Flotterstone-Balerno outing this winter. Maybe late January/early February? (Would be sooner but argh. Busy.) Bonus: finishing at The Grey Horse. Mostly tarmac then mostly gravel/stoney paths. Wee bit muddy in places and a couple of streams to cross. Not road bike friendly but hybridable no worries. Decent lights probably the most vital thing unless some sort of full moon clear night perfection happens to happen. Opinions? Could possibly be a week-night outing. Would any other (slow) (or patient) people who would like to get cold and muddy and then refuel in a warm pub be interested?

    NB: The much less fun part is getting to Flotterstone if you don't have someone willing to drop you & the bike off. I work in Newington so I'd just ride up once work releases me. But how much do I want to ride through the Easter Bush Campus and Bush Estate on my own in the dark? Not very much. Probably better than riding facing traffic on that tiny skelf of pavement on the west side of the A702 all the way from Hillend though. Anyone know any not-horrible routes there (that somehow avoid Kirk Brae!)?

    Posted 6 years ago #

  2. steveo
    Member

    easiest least road dangerous route would be over the army road from Dreghorn to Castle Law you can either pop out on to the pavement for a few hundred metres round to flotterstone or down a fairly steep path and double back on yourself on the tarmac at glencorse.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  3. gembo
    Member

    Will join you at pub.

    You can get to Penicuick on path from Dalkeith. You can get to Dalkeith on path too from Edinburgh. Somewhat circuitous of course. The path from Dalkeith to Penicuick gets hugely muddy at Roslin but then railway after that. From p cook you go up and over at mauricewood. Not too bad and then down to flotterstone on pavement. Tis a nice off roadies way to go round the pentlands and ends at the lovely beech avenue descent from bavelaw castle down to Balerno. I would do this in daylight.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  4. Frenchy
    Member

    Anyone know any not-horrible routes there (that somehow avoid Kirk Brae!)?

    One option is to take the Gilmerton-Roslin path (you can go up Gilmerton Road rather than Kirk Brae, I suppose), then past the landfill to Auchendinny, down the brae, turn right onto Graham's Road and follow that to the A702. You then unfortunately have a half mile trip on the A702, but it is at least downhill.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  5. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    There's a mostly off-road way from Och, Min Dinnae to a junction on the A702 300m south of Flotterstone, but I'd get lost in the dark for sure.

    Thochtie; out and back from the Grey Horse with mid-way pint at the Flotterstone?

    @steveo's army road surely cannot be rideable for mortals? It's where they take raw recruits to break them.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  6. steveo
    Member

    Army road is steep in places but no rougher than most landrover tracks in the hills. I'm sure being made to tab up and down in full combat kit would break most normal people, however a low gear and light kit should pose only a little challenge for an Edinbrugh cyclist.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  7. unhurt
    Member

    Hmmmmm. Starting to lean towards the Grey Horse to Flotterstone to Grey Horse option... Oh, and I suppose this also offers the option of out in daylight and back in the dark - the best of both worlds.

    I will keep those other to-Flotterstone routes in mind for daylight approaches.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  8. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Out and back almost impossible to get lost on too. Almost. Great risk of people developing Fireplace Lassitude at Flotterstone though.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  9. Ed1
    Member

    When I went to flotterstone I went up the Kirkgate road from currie and over the pentlands but that route is more suited to a mountain bike I noticed no other road type bikes

    Posted 6 years ago #

  10. ARobComp
    Member

    Would be delighted to join this jaunt. Recommend Out and back from Balerno specifically doing a loop that takes in the various reservoirs and then along to harlaw and up exponential to head down to flotterstone. Those of us with bikes able to make it could hop back over maidens and those with hybrids would be able to pop up back around the way we came. A very enjoyable time would be had. +1 for beers at flotterstone. How has this not occured as a plan before.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  11. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Those of us with bikes able to make it

    Legs. Legs able to make it.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  12. steveo
    Member

    Maidens from the Glencourse side wouldn't be too bad, the decent is a good path going up would be fairly technical but doable on a rigid bike. (but it is steep)

    Posted 6 years ago #

  13. unhurt
    Member

    Just remember my plan is to do the second leg post pint and in the dark...

    Slowly. (Though that's the case for all directions, always.)

    Posted 6 years ago #

  14. steveo
    Member

    Kirkgate road from currie and over the pentlands

    thats Maidens Cluegh, yeah the decent from that side is little hairy for a non mtb.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  15. steveo
    Member

    For my selfish pov Balerno would be ideal, I can get to the WOL from the Gyle relatively easily with only a couple of ropey bits.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  16. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    The south side of Maiden's Cleugh is loose and rough but perfectly rideable on an ordinary bicycle.

    That said, as @unhurt notes, the absence of light and the addition of beer would always see me taking Green Cleugh.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  17. steveo
    Member

    Its a shame the path bog round Hare Hill is so wet it would add a bit of variation but you're likley to be up to your hubs in mud especially in the dark.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  18. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @steveo

    I have sat on the slope of The Pinnacle of an evening watching people on shiny mountain bikes trying to start up that path from Green Cleugh. No one has ever made it. Quite a few pose for photos and turn tail.

    Lovely running territory though.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  19. unhurt
    Member

    So. Late January perhaps? Saturday or Sunday preferred?

    Posted 6 years ago #

  20. neddie
    Member

    Sounds good. Count me in

    Posted 6 years ago #

  21. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Is this a qualifying round/feeder ride for this?

    Posted 6 years ago #

  22. unhurt
    Member

    Are you feeling proselytistic?

    Posted 6 years ago #

  23. redmist
    Member

    IWRATS - which path out of Green Cleuch is that ?

    Posted 6 years ago #

  24. steveo
    Member

    The rocky path on the right if you're heading south that runs to the bottom of Hare Hill. Its a little steep.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  25. redmist
    Member

    Ok, I think I know the one you mean. Been down it plenty of times but never tried going up it. Thought you might mean the path up to the right as you're heading north.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  26. unhurt
    Member

    So, January dates...

    Saturday 20th? Saturday 27th? Sunday 28th? Don't make me make yet another poll.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  27. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Full moon is on the 31st. Feels like a Sunday outing? 28th?

    Posted 6 years ago #

  28. wingpig
    Member

    "No one has ever made it."

    Because of the gradient, or a absence of sufficient grip, or both?

    Posted 6 years ago #

  29. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Because of the gradient, or a absence of sufficient grip, or both?

    Because they were weak.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  30. unhurt
    Member

    Ok, Sunday 28th January: exact time & point of assembly to be determined (but if the reservoir coffee van is open...)

    Posted 6 years ago #

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