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Grassmarket to be uphill race track for one night
Edinburgh’s historic Grassmarket is to be transformed into an uphill race track for one night.
BMX bikers, mountain bikers, road racers and fixed-gear cyclists will compete in a 170-metre sprint across the Grassmarket’s cobbled streets and up the challenging incline of Victoria Street.
Shame PS is injured I'm sure he'd manage this!
Cooooool!
Here are the links to the event:
http://eventsedinburgh.org.uk/Red-Bull-Hill-Chasers-Coming-to-Edinburgh.html
http://eventsedinburgh.org.uk/visitors_event_listing.html&event_id=1303
http://www.redbull.co.uk/hillchasers
Highly tempted to sign up even though my cycling at this time of year is very much short journeys before I gear up for sportive season. I'll be very lucky to get out of qualifying, but the turbo trainer is beckoning to build up the legs!
It's not entirely clear if tandems are allowed...
I keep reading this as Red Hill Bull Chasers. Victoria Street filled with assertive cattle.
Entered - not sure why Danny Macaskill being involved is that exciting I'm not sure exactly how rapid he will be!
Be more excited to race against a Voigt or a Cavendish!
I generally use "shut up legs" as a goto phrase while riding.
I'd sooner they staged another crit
I don't think it's a choice of one or the other - the Grassmarket is now a 'venue' that folk can hire, so it's really down to whoever applies for things. Red Bull didn't host the crit, so not really down to them to keep that going!
I'd love to see someone host an urban cyclocross race there. It's perfect with the little alleys and steps.
Considering entering the hill chasers just for the hell of it.
I'd love to see someone host an urban cyclocross race there.
An event for the Festival of Cycling?
Was that not done a few years ago - the Rat Race?
If we're talking urban cyclo cross, I don't think you could get much better than the course they use in Holyrood Park for the international cross country athletics.
Surely the morning commute in Edinburgh already covers Urban Cyclocross
I've got my entry in...
I think an Arthur's Seat CX would be great, but it's more in keeping with the traditional CX races - I was thinking more of the cobbles and alleys and steps which just gives a different dimension.
@blueth - I think that the ra race was more of a running/orienteering thing?
Rat Race hold a variety of events which involve elements of cycling, orienteering and obsactle courses This year they are running a London to Edinburgh sportive for instance.
Just for fun, I took a single run at Victoria Street, 5.3 miles into a ride yesterday and managed it in 41 seconds. I wasn't going all-out by any means so it was a poor time. I did get a bit of wheelspin even on the dry setts (we don't have cobbles in Edinburgh). If I decide to take it seriously, I'll need to shave a whole lot off that time.
I'd have done a few more runs but the standard of motorists and pedestrians left a lot to be desired (although Victoria St itself was clear) and put me off looping round again.
As for Danny McAskill, he's a name in Scottish cycling and that's what it's all about - being pitted against a random opponent. So what if it's Danny, David Millar or Jimmy McLeod from a local branch of Greggs?
I think the sprint route goes from outside the Dance Base (at least, the info says it's a 170 yard route, and I think Victoria Street itself is shorter than that) - that wee rise shouldn't be understimated before the main steep climb, it sucks a lot of energy out.
But then I'm merely aiming/hoping/praying to be in the top 250 - then come back in the evening to see the real fast people do it.
Cobbles? Setts? Meh.
"Cobbles? Setts? Meh."
Just included that for a bit of fun as the majority of people probably don't know that ;-)
I certainly wasn't treating my little exercise as the whole route, and you're certainly right - that first section shouldn't be ignored - but I just wanted to do a trial run on the one section which is harder to replicate elsewhere in the city.
I'd certainly like to qualify, and wouldn't then mind being tanked by someone better than me. It would be my first taste of competitive cycling.
I'd love to see the Nocturne come back to Edinburgh. It was a good night's entertainment, and I was able to chat to David Millar and Cam Meyer after the event. Sadly, the only UK-based event these days is in London.
Don't worry, wasn't anticipating a sett to... *b'dum tish*
Qualifying is waaaaaaaaay beyond me. Top 30 is a remarkably small pool to get into, and I know I'm generally slow (though reckon I can do < one minute full-on at least, so it really then just comes down to speed). Just be fun to be involved.
And yeah, Danny Macaskill 'might' be slow (I reckon he might surprise some people) but he's a draw, and if he's there I'd imagine there will be a little show at some point.
The Nocturne was fab, the second one I think was criminally under-publicised, and the crowd numbers were definitely down.
As an aside, I wonder if the Scotsman online article comments section could actually manage to be free of cyclist-bashing for once (other than the childish "get a motorbike one)? Not holding my breath...
The "flat bit" in the Grassmarket will be a nice test to see if folk can pace themselves - you'll need to get the big ring turning over, but just below the flat out sprint pace which will be required on Victoria Street itself.
Picking your line up the worst of Vic St will be essential and makes me think that once they get onto the head-to-head rounds whoever is ahead on the "flat bit" will be hard to beat...
@steveo You flatter me. :)
"Picking your line up the worst of Vic St will be essential"
Good point. I may go that route home tonight since I need to spin by the Festival Theatre and have a first look...
"@steveo You flatter me. :)"
We've all seen you ride uphill like it was the flat...
Flat, compared to me he might as well be going down hill!! :D
Speaking of hills... I'm thinking my ankle may just about be fit enough to:
a) get on my bike again; and
b) have a go at Arthur's Seat.
Certainly very tempted if this break in the weather holds.
I've signed up for the fixed gear class... purely for sh*ts and Giggles and for the fact that Jimmy McLeod from a local branch of Greggs is gonna be there.... I've always wanted to meet him. I read his book " It's not about the pie"
"blueth - I think that the ra race was more of a running/orienteering thing? "
Yes, my use of the question mark was intended to show doubt about the title but there was video on the web of the bike event which, amongst other routes, came down the steps from the castle. If anyone can find it that would be good. The funny thing is that there seemed to be no pre-event publicity (at least, committed cyclists were able to escape the publicity so not there on the day).
Danny Macaskill? Chris Akrigg won the Cobble Wobble on a singlespeed trials bike so don't rule anything out.
This doesn't seem to make sense (my bold) -
"
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
For your chance to settle the debate and race against the top cyclists in the UK to become Hill Chasers Champion, please complete the application form. Only 30 local bike enthusiasts will be able to take part so get your application in asap.
Once we've received all of the applications we will be in touch to let you know if your application has been successful and also provide some more details on the event. Entry closes on the 22nd March.
"
Surely the "30" will be fastest on the night??
If it's not 'first sign-ups' (up to 500) what are section criteria?
Selection criteria is obviously based on coolness. Dyed in the wool fuddy duddy traditional cyclists need not apply.
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