OK, the real burning question is, where does Chris Hoy find jeans he can ride a bike in?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Events, rides etc.
Sky Ride Edinburgh Route announced!
(86 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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I once saw a photo of Claudio Chiapucci in jeans. Because he was walking with other people I could see that he was actually teeny weeny so the jeans were just normal sized. I expect our man has to buy great big jeans and then wears a belt!
Gembo - I don't think the 7000 have to cross all at once. ;-) I didn't recognise Edith Bowman. Lovely bike though it will be tough to get it up those hills!
Posted 12 years ago # -
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saltiresfan (@saltiresfan)
08/09/2012 11:07
Sky ride - the sight of lots of people walking their bikes up Arthur's Seat..."
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Theo (@earthowned)
08/09/2012 11:43
The #edinburgh #skyride looked fun! A pity a lot of the cyclists felt they had to push their bikes on the pavement to get there."
Posted 12 years ago # -
Back in my day I wore 38" loose fit jeans and buckled them well in, and I was nothing like as svelte round the waist as Sir Chris.
This morning I found myself in Bruntsfield needing to fill 45 minutes before returning SRD's Dahon, so I took a trundle over to see it. The Pollock roundabout climb beat a lot of people; the first aiders were pretty busy tidying up after spills on the steep part of the Dunsapie/St. Margaret descent; Queen's Drive had I'd guess a third of folk using the 24" gear.
I'm a sucker for the sight of kids and novice cyclists getting on roads that are, in their opinion, normally off limits to them, so I won't grumble overmuch about the SKYness of it all.
It was a pleasant novelty for me to reverse my Hilly Tuesday stomping ground, and I was highly impressed by the Dahon's climbing ability. I have a sneaking fondness for the embarrassed hushing sounds parents feel the need to make when their kids point out eg a man on a bike with oddly small wheels.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I popped by after my training ride this morning. It was good craic and nice to see everyone out and about. Lots of children veering wildly around the road and many more people just stopped at random points. Myself and my compatriot decided to give it what for and overtook about 100 people on our one loop. It was all rather stressful and yellow. People seemed to be enjoying it though!
Didn't see Chris. Shame I wanted to try and race him.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"the first aiders were pretty busy tidying up after spills on the steep part of the Dunsapie/St. Margaret descent"
Ouchy, really? I must admit my next thought after whether all those beginners and kiddies were going to get up there was on what would happen when they tried to get down.. Hopefully nothing too serious/off putting and glad people seem to be having a good time.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Feedback I've seen on twitter is quite evenly split between 'fun' and 'loads of people walking and missed opportunity'. Hadn't realised the full loop out to Duddingston wasn't even closed road for the whole event, so it really did just become a backwards loop round Arthur's Seat. Lots walking apparently (and unsurprisingly). One chap replied to me that his 13 yo son enjoyed the 'challenge' which I think sums up nicely where I think they actually went wrong! (if indeed the event IS about promoting cycling to newbies and novices and not a Sky ad campaign)
Posted 12 years ago # -
About half way through, the paramedics had had little work to do on that downhill stretch. Grazes, one over-the-handlebar roll (no injury) and one guy that came off and hurt his shoulder, although it sounded like he had that before he came off...
Yes, I took time to chat to them at the top - both of whom were on bikes (one motorised). They'd clearly placed themselves carefully for a rapid response to anywhere in the park - it was all downhill from there!
Lots of pushing was observed on the way up, and there were "ride-makers" cheering folk on with signs like "you can do it" and "nearly there"!
There were plans for <16 racing beside the Palace, but I didn't see that running - they didn't get enough entrants in the morning, and any I asked had already been round, so didn't have the energy left for a race!
Robert
Posted 12 years ago # -
No.1 son and I finally made it along for the last half hour: I was ferrying him around to classes and a party beforehand so it was the earliest we could do. Luckily the party was at Meadowbank stadium (football training activities) so we went straight into the park afterwards on the tandem. He wanted to know if Bradley Wiggins would be there (as far as we could see, no, but I did mention Sir Chris had been around earlier): that shows the level of identification with the Sky brand and cycling I suppose.
It definitely felt like the event was winding down, so we didn't hang about at the start, just picked up our bibs and started off: I was worried there might be motor vehicles bearing down upon us shortly!
Getting up the hill was fairly hard work on the tandem, but not too bad: the gearing is quite low at the bottom end. We passed lots of folk pushing their bikes, we were in a minority of cyclists actually pedalling to the top. Anytime I felt we were struggling I'd just call back to the stoker to "give me a push". It was actually great to have folk in 'King of the Mountains' tops egging us on from the sidelines. My son thought it was fun, he's been up steepish hills before on the tandem so he took it in his stride.
We stopped for a breather at the rest stop by Dunsapie Loch, but again things were starting to close down, so a quick rehydrate and a couple of jelly babies each, and we pushed on. Stopped again for a quick photo shoot by the shore of the loch. A retired couple who were strolling along offered to take a snap of the two of us, which was nice.
Then the descent: it pays to have decent brakes on that hill, and I'm glad it was dry. The two Bullitt cargo bikes from Bike Station were following close behind us, as we forged our way past assorted family groups.
Before we knew it, we were back at the finish. About 20 minutes, including breather and pause for snaps. No.1 son quipped "Is that us at the finish already? Right, can I have an ice cream now?" So a well deserved cone each rounded the ride off.
Quite a lot of youngsters doing the 'maze race' thing, still going strong when we finished. All the stalls except the food takeaways were closing but that didn't bother us much. Good to see Bike Station and EBC still fixing bikes right up to the last minute though.
Overall, I'd say I was glad we made it along. Very impressed by the numbers of families with children there. I wasn't as bothered by the corporate branding as I thought I would be. Frankly it was pretty restrained compared to most family oriented events these days.
Also it was a great excuse to ride around Arthur's Seat. No.1 son asked at the end if we could do it again. I said we could do it again tomorrow as the roads would be closed, but we might have to dodge dog walkers. "Okay then!" came the reply.
I can't imagine he's the only child who enjoyed pushing limits a bit and wants to do more as a result. If that's what Sky rides are for, that's not a bad thing at all I'd say.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Oh aye, this lady also cheered us on near the top of the climb. She was astride a trike with lots of balloons tied on. We were suitably encouraged!
Posted 12 years ago # -
Anyone recognise the model of Pinarello bike Sir Chris was riding? Just curious.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Anyone use the Innocent section or have any idea of how many people took part?
Posted 12 years ago # -
According to this (second billing on Beeb Scot news site):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-19529926 **
Organisers said about 10,000 people took to traffic-free streets to explore the capital, with many more coming out to watch.
We were far too late for the Innocent: maybe Roibeard was there?
** - spot the two cycle coppers further back in the crowd of cyclists. Sir Chris's bodyguard detail?
Posted 12 years ago # -
said about 10,000 people took to traffic-free streets to explore the capital,
These were not streets in any real sense. Event was held in a park which should be like that all of the time. I know that's not a view shared universally even on forum as it would increase driving times to many throughout the city.
HS and Sky will be happy it ticks the boxes.
HS though is still not promoting cycling to its venues and looks at cars as the main 'delivery mode'. Try cycling to the castle.The Innocent Path was pretty tricky as Ben from the shop found trying to get to work. Many people going in one direction!
Posted 12 years ago # -
@LaidBack, you are absolutely right, of course.
It was still fun. Just shows what it would be like if it was closed as a park should be, and not used as a rat run...
Posted 12 years ago # -
We (son & I on tandem) went along this morning and spent some time in the Holyrood park set up as well as doing the the Duddingston loop (& round the hill).
Yes, it was quite corporate, with branding all over the place but on the plus side it was very well marshalled and they had made it into a fairly big event.
While we recovered from our ride in, we spent an enjoyable hour just pottering round the stands, being handed freebies, getting my son's face painted and watching the bmx display.
We then set off for the lap. There was a few kids getting upset with the challenge of getting up the long drag to the roundabout, but most just battling on with it with the occaisonal (or not so occaisonal) push by a parent.
When we got to the roundabout, they had the cones such that you had to turn right and start the Duddingston loop. Cue people getting confused and trying to break through the cones.
We went on to the innocent railway and it was fairly quiet. On Duddinston Road West, they had blocked off 1 lane with the other being controlled by the stop/go lollipops and bored looking council staff.
Tough work coming back up to the roundabout into the wind and then turning up on Queens' drive. It was good to see the signs and king of the mountain 'cheerleaders' enthusing us on.
Once we made the top, it was a fairly quick ride round the top and soon we were heading down. Lots of warning signs and marshalls warning us about the steep hill and then back to the main event in time for a Councillor and Chris Hoy to come on stage.
The Councillor, said something about what a great venue we have here in Edinburgh for you to cycle round safely on these closed roads.
Did make me wonder about my safety on my ride too & from the event... I think he was a councillor from the 'Events' side of the council rather than the Transport/cycling, so that maybe just his bias.
Chris Hoy got a good welcome and was 'interviewed' by Edith Bowman - nothing too taxing or revealing.
We left at 12.30 and by then they had switched the cones up at the roundabout so you could only go up the hill, so I had to explain I was heading home to 4 different sets of marshalls to be allowed onto the start of the Duddingston loop.
All in all, I would say it was a good day out for us.
Posted 12 years ago # -
It was a good day out overall, myself and wife took our 2yo + 4yo along from 10-3pm, and lo, there was much gawping at shiny expensive bikes. By the kids, obviously. Ahem. We adults did solo hill loops but not Innocent/Duddingston. And that's probably the downside of that location - no way could younger kids get up that hill (or indeed quite a lot of adults, apparently), so it wasn't really as motivational or inspiring as it could be for kids / new riders. My 4yo in particular was hoping for more riding, he has developed a knack of doing about 10miles in one go and so if you couldnt do the hill (he has stamina but nae strength yet) this was not so much about riding as just hanging out. However, he was very star struck by Sir Chris, and the stunt biking team too. Rain stayed away, we met loads of folk, and overall I'd do it again happily. Note to self - really must come along to a PY so I can put CCE faces to 'names' :-)
Posted 12 years ago # -
I did it and found the hill challenging but was behind a kid who was relishing the challenge and lapping up the encouragement provided on course.
It was well organised and the availability of folk from EBC, Evans and the Bike Station to fix bikes was good. Saw Chris Hoy interviewed, had a go on the 500m time trial with somewhat wobbly legs afterwards. All in all a good day and gave me an insight to cycling as a community activity, something I think that needs to be encouraged a lot more to get folk on their bikes.
More of the same please :-).
Posted 12 years ago # -
But perhaps not this year -
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This year we’re bringing our big traffic-free rides to: Plymouth, Bolton, Stockton-on-Tees, Leeds, Bournemouth, NewcastleGateshead, Southampton, Manchester, Bradford, Hull, Torbay, Leicester, Milton Keynes, Birmingham and York.
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http://www.goskyride.com/News/ShowArticle/Sky-Ride-bigger-than-ever-in-2013
Wonder why...
Posted 11 years ago # -
Because they've not got themselves organised in time for the launch?
I've been emailed as a punter and as a ride leader, but no sign of any Edinburgh (or Glasgow?) rides as yet.
Pity, since I expect the punter email has gone out to everyone, and the keen Scottish folk will go online and find nothing north of the border...
Robert
Posted 11 years ago # -
Ah, you probably meant the big traffic free ride, which isn't listed in Edinburgh (or London) this year, but although Edinburgh is mentioned as having the SkyRide Local rides, there aren't any in the system yet...
Robert
Posted 11 years ago # -
Maybe there will be one -
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/download/meetings/id/39252/item_7_9-sky_ride_cycling_event_2013
Posted 11 years ago # -
Grrr as a north-east expat I really, really hate the term 'NewcastleGateshead'. It's ugly and a term made up by the tourism board, not one used by locals.
Oh and I object to the fact that the council appears to think spending money on the SkyRide counts as spending 5% on cycling provision... :(
Posted 11 years ago # -
"
The meeting concluded with approval for a second Sky Ride, the mass city centre cycling event, at the Meadows which Councilor Lewis described as “good news all round” for the city’s cycling aspirations and economic investment."
http://www.theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2013/05/culture-and-sport-committee-approve-second-sky-rideMelville Drive??
Posted 11 years ago # -
@SRD - no, restricted to the Park, with the start at the Palace, and I seem to remember that the proposal mentioned the Park again this year.
It would be good if this closed-road, family friendly event was routed somewhere other than the city's mountain...
Of course, that probably means it would have to be a Sunday!
Robert
Posted 11 years ago # -
The Sky Ride in September will be in Holyrood Park again this year. As they can close the roads as they do every Sunday (although this is getting looser all the time).
Posted 11 years ago # -
It's Saturday again.
But has anyone actually seen any publicity?
Posted 11 years ago # -
Poor timing to put this on the day before Pedal for Scotland.
Still, it will make a good warm up ride for myself and No.1 son on the tandem...
Posted 11 years ago # -
I'd glad it's back on.
Might have been nice to have chosen a different route this year. But I suppose Edinburgh is only going to go so far when it comes to road closures - this isn't London, after all.
(Maybe just as well we didn't get the Tour, poor guys would have just been going round and round the park like hamsters on a wheel.)
Posted 11 years ago #
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