CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Events, rides etc.

Harrison Park Group Ride

(37 posts)
  • Started 12 years ago by spytfyre
  • Latest reply from spytfyre
  • poll: Pick a day or more that suit you best
    5th May : (1 votes)
    10 %
    6th May : (1 votes)
    10 %
    12th May : (0 votes)
    13th May : (0 votes)
    19th May : (0 votes)
    20th May : (0 votes)
    26th May : (2 votes)
    20 %
    27th May : (3 votes)
    30 %
    June : (3 votes)
    30 %

    4 votes

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12

  1. spytfyre
    Member

    Thought this might be a nice idea to keep the band together

    Date: TBC (weather permitting)
    Time: TBC
    Destination: optional,

    • Canal to Ratho? (no roads involved at all)
    • Roseburn Path to Ocean Terminal then a movie and food? (my favourite as I just thought of it and it gives wee legs a rest)
    • Cramond or South Queensferry via the Roseburn path (gets narrow and crosses more roads than OT)

    Thinking of putting the word around Craiglockhart Primary as there were loads of folks there with kids from the same class as Tigermoth[1]. I suggested to some parents a ride somewhere off road and then maybe a follow up one on road

    Posted 12 years ago #

  2. SRD
    Moderator

    Craigie's farm also a good destination. very little on road riding, but a hill at the end. good airplane viewing to boot.

    Botanics also a nice destination.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  3. spytfyre
    Member

    Is the Suntrap Garden closed now?
    Is it too far to expect wee legs to ride out to the Jupiter Art place?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  4. SRD
    Moderator

    One piece of advice - you don't want the group to be too big, especially with kids of different ages, where it may be difficult to keep together.

    One or two families together would be easier than a big group, especially if you have a big person topping and tailing.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  5. recombodna
    Member

    Puttng the band back together?..... You'll never get Mr Fabulous he's the top maitre d' at the Belle Cuisine Restaurant.......

    Posted 12 years ago #

  6. spytfyre
    Member

    Again it could string out naturally into smaller groups as the feeder ride did, as long as we got together again at the destination eg food court in OT before movie

    Posted 12 years ago #

  7. Arellcat
    Moderator

    Notwithstanding the fact that I don't live near HP, this sounds like an excellent idea.

    It's very similar to the extremely popular group rides that TryCycling in Edinburgh used to do (chdot, Laid Back, and Maggie Wynn were the driving force as I recall for TCIE, with various helpers enlisted for the rides when the numbers approached 50!).

    Posted 12 years ago #

  8. lionfish
    Member

    Sounds fun! minimoth and I would be up for it! Unfortunately away between 12th-20th...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  9. DaveC
    Member

    From the Canal you can get to the Water of Leith (with or without steps) and it takes you all the way out to Balerno on a safe non road route, where we could picnic by the reservoirs.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  10. chdot
    Admin

    Short 'tryout' route could be to Spylaw Park - grass, benches, playpark, water.

    Picnic then return or go on to Balerno - all off road and only short section of canal.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  11. Uberuce
    Member

    Away on the 5th/6th but I'm game any of the other days.

    I reckon you'll need someone to scoot ahead at the bridges to shepherd us through - well, really more to signal a stop so oncoming peds or cyclists get past. I'll do that since I'll not be ditching any weans as I go ahead.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  12. spytfyre
    Member

    thought about river to Balerno but path even narrower than the canal and there's sections path I think and steps, lots of steps I seem to recall from my last walk - anyone been the whole way?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  13. steveo
    Member

    If you follow the Canal to where it meets the WOL at Lanark Road then there are no steps. If you join the path at the Tickled Trout the path is very narrow and has lots of steps and other fun obstacles.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  14. chdot
    Admin

    I was meaning along the canal to the Balerno Railway Path.

    Pretty wide and the muddy bit below the tunnel loooked like it had been sorted (again) recently, so not too muddy

    Mostly wide to Balerno.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  15. DaveC
    Member

    I've also ridden out to Balerno. Yes from the Tickled Trout there are narrow points and steps and steep hills, but was meaning to come off there Lanark Road levels out next to the canal as the path is flat with no steps. The only down side is the aquaduct which may scare younger riders and those with vertigo.

    I wonder if I can find an alternative from harrison Gardens to the water of leith which doesn't include many steps or huge drops and heights...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  16. chdot
    Admin

    "The only down side is the aquaduct which may scare younger riders and those with vertigo"

    It's OK as long as they push and look at the canal rather than through the fence.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  17. chdot
    Admin

    "I wonder if I can find an alternative from harrison Gardens to the water of leith which doesn't include many steps or huge drops and heights..."

    The 'simplest' alternative to the aqueduct would be coming off at Meggetland and then along Slateford and Lanark Roads - not pleasant.

    If you come off canal at Allan Park following the green route would be OK -

    http://edinburgh.cyclestreets.net/journey/2058091

    Though crossing Craiglockhart Avenue can be a bit stressful due to width and sightlines.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  18. cb
    Member

    "Though crossing Craiglockhart Avenue can be a bit stressful due to width and sightlines. "

    Am I right in thinking that the next junction up the hill (Craiglockhard Road North) now has an extra wide island in the middle of the road making it a bit safer/easier for cyclists to get across.

    Or am I thinking of somewhere else...?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  19. DaveC
    Member

    There is a narrow island there, and from experience, traffic does back up there so theoretically cyclists only have to cross through fast moving traffic coming down the hill.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  20. cb
    Member

    DaveC - when were you last there?
    I'm sure this has recently been made wider (similar to the new island outside KB).

    Posted 12 years ago #

  21. DaveC
    Member

    Sorry I just looked at Street view, though on our next ride out that way I will ride past and take a snap.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  22. cb
    Member

    Not sure if this link will work...

    https://www.tendersdirect.co.uk/Search/Tenders/Expired.aspx?ID=%20000000003468886&sect=L050&cat=37&Source=Categories

    "Craiglockhart Avenue Refuge Island and Buildout: This project involves the installation of pedestrian refuge island and buildout on Craiglockhart Avenue"

    Also mentions improvements for:
    - Grange Loan/Whitehouse Loan junction (did that
    happen?)
    - Braid Hills Road Refuge Island and Buildout (furry boots? Did this happen?)

    Posted 12 years ago #

  23. MeepMeep
    Member

    I've voted 27th May as expect to be back on my bike for gentle cycles long before then and, in reality, this is the first weekend day I can accommodate in the next month.

    I've only got my racing bike after selling my mountainbike at the weekend so would be voting for a relatively sedate surface but that's most certainly not a priority since my presence is no requirement!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  24. gembo
    Member

    If you look at the map chdot posted you can avoid the aqueduct by coming off at Allan park as suggested and heading down to Slateford road. There is a pedestrian crossing if the roads are busy that can be used to get to the north side of the street - bikes can be pushed to water of leith visitor centre, does nice cup of tea. Then on to inglis green road past the derelict b and q then another pedestrian crossing to red hall drive from where you can enter side road and cycle up to red hall park and from there the small tunnel under the railway takes you back to canal at point where you join the WoL path. I use this route in reverse coming on canal from wester hailes but without the pushing on occasion to avoid the aqueduct? Balerno farmers' market morning of sat 12th may

    Posted 12 years ago #

  25. chdot
    Admin

    Gembo's route is doable - but slow.

    I've taken lots of groups of all ages across the aqueduct - up to 100 people.

    Only 'problem' I've had was with an adult who used to be a climber but can no longer handle heights well!

    He just pushed and looked at the ground.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  26. gembo
    Member

    Meant to say respect to recombodna for the blues bros. quote

    Posted 12 years ago #

  27. recombodna
    Member

    why thank you...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  28. spytfyre
    Member

    I liked that quote too - kind of why I used the "back together" line

    I reckon the Roseburn path to Ocean Terminal would be better than using the WoL and the narrow path with steps, aquaduct? vertigo? a jedi craves not these things...
    or the Canal all the way out to Ratho. EICA isn't much further along - wee yins could get a go on climbing walls and soft play etc while the grown ups grab a coffee and a blether?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  29. SRD
    Moderator

    we'd be up for a ratho/climbing ride.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  30. spytfyre
    Member

    ok I'll fling up another poll for route/destination once we get a feel for the "when" - also need to create event on Facebook and pass round those I know around the park on fb and then get them to shout anyone not on fb etc etc

    Posted 12 years ago #

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