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I'm invited to a do in Leith tomorrow evening, near the south end of Shore Place/Tolbooth Wynd. I'm at a loss as to where to park my bike. In fact, I fear I must certainly leave the torpedo at home despite it being the preferable machine for the 14 or so miles home again.
Any recommendations? I'm really not minded to take the bus.
There's a few racks and things on the Shore itself on the corner opposite Mimi's. Cyclestreets suggests there's some further north outside the pubs. There are a few beside the cut-through Carpet Lane beside the Bernard Street Sainsbury, which are well-lit and overlooked.
There's also a Just Eat dock on Commercial Quay beside the Scottish Government building.
There are some railings outside the police station on the corner of Queen Charlotte Street/Constitution St, a few racks on Constitution St outside the pubs/cafés on the section between Queen Charlotte and Bernard.
There are railings and fences and trees and stuff around the park opposite the tapas restaurant on the corner, but I wouldn't leave a bike there unless it was in view through a window.
Half tempted to ride Matilda the bike-made-from-solid-lead tomorrow, amble up Leith Walk after and then get the train out of Waverley to Shawfair. At least then I only have about six miles on the mostly level.
Has 'DP1' fallen out of favour recently? Depending on the venue/host you have the option to take it inside and use the cloakroom, and then ride it as little as you consider appropriate.
This gives you ample options for the sociable option of accepting a ride part of the way back (clearly heading to Leith is one of the nicer trips by bike - downhill (almost) all the way! (YMMV))
Note that with just 1 x 80" gear 'Topsy' (the Brompton that jus' growed) paced a Number 7 bus between Bridges and Burdiehouse cross-roads and obviously kept that 15 minutes out in front of the 37 to Loanhead
Has 'DP1' fallen out of favour recently?
Very much so, but mainly because the Elephant Bike is so much more comfortable (for modest absolute values of comfortable, given its stablemates). One day I would quite like to revisit the notion of eight-speed hubbery, or a Pendix conversion. While I don't really see the point of using Henrietta Brompton, who lives in the corner, and then paying a bus fare anyway, I could be tempted. The joys perils of living in the country. At least Suzanne has a mostly level ride out; I spend all my time climbing hills! Though to be fair, it's really just Liberton Brae I dislike.
to be fair, it's really just Liberton Brae I dislike
Steady on Arellcat. Hills have feelings too.
Sorry Liberton, I meant I lack the enthusiasm to meet your challenge of gradient on a regular basis.
Took the Brompton in the end. What an uncomfortable machine. I had to carry all the clobber that not working in one's usual office entails, but which happily stows in the torpedo under the seat. The suspension block was squeaking like a mad thing all the way too.
Took the Brompton in the end. What an uncomfortable machine.
Steady on there - Brommies have feelings too!
I suspect what you meant was that the Brompton, whilst brilliant in many ways, no longer meets the standard of comfort with which you have become accustomed.
<grin>
Robert
That's always been my nemesis heading out in your direction. When I was doing some survey work for Sustrans, and bike bus stuff in Loanhead the cycling time matched that for catching the bus, so if there was no 37 or 62 in sight on Newington Road (to race to the next stop & jump aboard) then it took no longer to ride all the way (& walk up Liberton Brae)
I really think there is a campaign here to fill the generally 'empty' buses running later in the day (10-20 passengers on 80 passenger buses) and align with common formal or informal practice on several routes similar to Edinburgh-Penicuik with bikes allowed on board. Especially popular for example are late buses Hamilton-Strathaven where hill, headwind & unlit B road are strong disincentives to cycling.
I wonder if ScotGov commitment to Active Travel would stretch to delivering a trial of this on some bus services radiating from Edinburgh - West Coast Motors (ue Borders Buses) already does this officially on routes in Argyll & the West. 62 & 95 as the key routes, and perhaps ex-Perryman routes Edinburgh-Berwick (253) and Berwick-Melrose (67) with the old Munros Edinburgh-Jedburgh (51) as a further option
Perhaps just start with the 62 and possibly just part/parts of the route Edinburgh-Penicuik / Peebles-Galashiels Thoughts?
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