There are quite a few sets of stairs in edinburgh that I love, the set at the blackford hills/royal observatory are fun and the sets at Arthurs seat are also superb.
Ever since I started biking I have always been into riding stairs and other urban features. Does anyone else have any cheeky urban terrain they like to ride. If so where about and do you have any photo?
Also are there any in and around Edinburgh, I should be looking to ride?
the escalators at moorgate tube station
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There's a good set of stairs down from Spylaw on the water of leith, round the back of the main path when it goes through the tunnel. Cheeky wee bend to them that can give you pause for thought.
There's a few sets round my way. Can't help myself. There's a nice big big set that drop down to the canal with a beer garden on the other side. Always good to come flying down on a hot summer's day. 😀
The stairs down to Milngavie Train station from the pedestrian bit of the town centre. Feel like Steve Peat blasting down them but probably look more like a clumsy, mincing oaf.
I've commuted to the shop a few times by heading along the Water of Leith, then the canal to Tollcross. By this point, I'm usually pretty mud-splattered. Then the actual, proper, cycle route goes through the Scottish Widows building, Conference Square and across the Western Approach Road ending in Rutland Square. The planners have thoughtfully included some ramps on the route, but it's more fun launching down the steps - usually to the amusement/chagrin of the pedestrians
The stairs at the water of leith are cool, some are spaced out so a bit more tricky.
Stoner, the escalator photo rocks! very nice!!!
Is it ther escalator going down or up?
I ocasionally commute along the South Bank....Which is nice.
If I could get a bike in here, I'd give this a go 🙂
Steps from the canal to the WOL where the viaduct goes over the visitor centre.
Also a big set of steps in Stockbridge down the Colonies and the public baths, starting about here:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=324692&Y=674881&A=Y&Z=110
Do they still run that urban mtb race in edinburgh? Some of the stairs on that looked 😯 and I'm sure there are pics of someone going over the bars on them
Kit - Member
Also a big set of steps in Stockbridge down the Colonies and the public baths,
"The Snakey". That's what we called it when I lived there (45 years ago....)
BB - that was just a one-off.
The stairs are still there though.....
The escalator was going up K. We reckoned it would be safer than have it contributing to my speed picking up going down 🙂
You cant brake a lot and thee leading edge of those metal stairs is quite sharp.
This set at Westferry Circus. Actually easier to ride them fast, which looks more impressive to any bystanders.
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Pic doesn't make them look all that impressive though.
These ones on the north side of the Millenium Bridge are good too, but you need someone at the bottom to warn anyone who might want to walk up.
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Oh, and all steps should be ridden on a hardtail. Full suss is cheating...
I may be on my own here, but I think riding down stairs is rubbish.
Obviously there may be exceptions like really steep and uneven stairs, but mainly it's brrrrrrpppp and done innit. (Apart from going back for your dropped water bottle) (or teeth)
psychle - loving that!
not really urban though
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Dez; it looks impressive to bystanders, in town. Stairs are harder than a soft earthy trail, and the steepness means you can pick up a lot of speed. A big long set can be quite exhilarating.
The penalty for failure can be much pain, loss of teef, and far, far worser; public humiliation.
There's a risk of Babylonian Interference, too. It's ok if it's just Chocolate Teapots, you can just laugh and ride off, but if it's Full Fat Feds, you can be in trouble. I once had to hide in the Barbican when some C of L 5-0 spotted me doing something naughty on my bicycle. 😳
theres a set that goes from the castle in newcastle down to the quayside, steep, twisty and slippy. only cleared them once dab free...
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Then of course there's dog leap stairs in newcastle, balls of steel needed, high, and slippy:
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the big steps in Park Circus in the west end of Glasgow will rattle your fillings loose
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I'm not very adventurous when it comes to stairs, but there are a few cheeky little jumps to be had at [url= http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=St.+Vincent+Place,+Edinburgh&aq=&sll=55.958555,-3.203126&sspn=0.001054,0.002406&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=St+Vincent+Pl,+Edinburgh+EH3+5BQ,+United+Kingdom&z=16 ]St Vincent Place[/url] in Edinburgh.
There are a few easy sets around the Parliament / Dynamic Earth area too.
[i]A big long set can be quite exhilarating.[/i]
That's where I disagree.
See there's this set I used to ride on my old rigid - they go down to a subway, so there's stairs-width of a path-wall. So it was brrrrrrppp! Brake! Quite fun. I look at them now and think Why?
Then, before I moved, there was a set by Hilsea ramparts, long, uneven, really rough old concrete slabs - never rode them, until the last time I was there before I moved away. Psyched myself up... went for it, brrrpppp. Done. Oh.
Look at Junkyard's pic. Now, which would be better, the stairs? or the grass bank on the right?
Not quite urban and not far from Junkyard's offering
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And no its not me with the lovely pink bell (standard on a Diva I think), I'm on the other side of the camera.
Now, which would be better, the stairs? or the grass bank on the right?
Stairs. Looks more rad and gnarly.
back when i only had a rigid kona the steps from the square at aber university were a challenge
The set on the brunstane burn in Edinburgh - cos unlike the others on this thrad you can ride up them - on the tandem it is right on the limit of what we can do with teh hairpins
On my drive to work I pass loads of pedestrian walkways over the road. Some of them are proper steps (and a separate ramp) that look good to practice riding down - especially the ones with 90/180 degree turns.
Others have the long/shallow type of step & look like they'd be good to practice riding up.
Never ridden any of them though.
In Spain with Ciclo Montana last year we did a 2 day tour to Granada that involved a certain amount of urban riding in the evening. It was excellent fun, riding round the city centre in the evening in approximately 35 deg. heat.
How to ride steps properly.
😉
There's a set in my work that I would absolutely love to ride. Problem is they're in a building, we're not allowed bikes inside and they end right by the security desk.
I also keep thinking about trying the set in my flat. It's only about 10 steps then a tight turn, 10 more, another tight turn and so on. Get the feeling they're that steep it would be straight into the wall but if it worked....
we got a big 30/30 double set to jump down, land on 2nd set and go under subway and use the next 15/15 set as a step up 🙂
the steps at the University of leeds are pretty good. Obviously I don't do them the same justice as danny macaskill (12 seconds in)
Cool, psychle that was awsome! get one of your mates to fake a fit and sneak on with your bike 😉
Junkyard, those steps look very cool, I think I would rather do the steps than the grass verge 😯
As for all the other photo, cheers!
Has anyone done the steps up the top of Arthurs seat? I've walked down them a few times but I've never had a go at them.
Waterstone's Close to Cockburn street for the mini gap set at the top, then the big fly off on the first of the three big sets, then just hold on for teh alst two sets.
Running parallel to Waterstone's is Advocate's close, lots of irregular sets ending abruptly in a 90deg bend.
There's a great gap at dynamic earth, in amongst the big 'colosseum' steps. Greasy curved run in then a gap over a 4 foot set and running out into the bus turning circle. Do it quick before the security comes out!
A nice wee gap behind the george square library, but you need a spotter else you land it and shoot out onto the road. Also the steps off Princes St into the Waverley train station have a potential three gaps, only one of which (the easy middle one) I did myself, but I saw the top one being done, and know of the third one being done also.
Spent lots of time at uni dinging rims and bending pedal axles 😀
Royal mile, is always good! 😀
Nice set of steps from Dunsapie Loch to Duddingston Loch. First rode them on a fully rigid '90s bike when I first moved up to Edinburgh. Can go a lot faster and jump a few on my full sus, nice little drop off near the house near the bottom, turn left and go to the Sheeps Heid for a pint.
Another set by Pollock halls, take the path on the left from Queens Drive just as the road starts going down hill, a set of steps takes you down to one area of grass then another set of steps down the bank to the next level of grass.
Also some interesting looking steps at Asda at the Jewel.
We've got a lovely wooden floored velodrome in our town......
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I've designed a serious set of stairs shortly to be built in Port Talbot. It's at the pedestrian access to the Tata steelworks at the bridge over the railway. Will be 5 flights of 13 steps, dropping 8m with only a 35 degree dogleg part way down. It's the most current regulations will allow.
I'll be "testing" it before the bridge opens, and have made sure the Tata steelworks security turnstile is after the stairs, therefore putting the stairs on the public side 😀
Greenwich or the Woolwich foot tunnels are quite good to.
dunsapie - Member
Nice set of steps from Dunsapie Loch to Duddingston Loch. First rode them on a fully rigid '90s bike when I first moved up to Edinburgh. Can go a lot faster and jump a few on my full sus, nice little drop off near the house near the bottom, turn left and go to the Sheeps Heid for a pint.
Another set by Pollock halls, take the path on the left from Queens Drive just as the road starts going down hill, a set of steps takes you down to one area of grass then another set of steps down the bank to the next level of grass.
Also some interesting looking steps at Asda at the Jewel.
I did those steps at Arthurs seat on tuesday, I'm having another shot in about an hour and I do the ones at asda every few days when I leave the car and take my bike 😀 Still the steps up the top of Arthurs seat someone must have had a go at those?
The stairs in Queens Park. Never thought about giving these ago before
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Junkyard, surely you want to be attempting the grassy steep bit to the right? 🙂
I've ridden all the steps on Arthur's Seat.
for more fun sets of steps have a look around the castle/gardens/top of R mile/kingstable rd and down from Calton hill/rd.
Dont know if you call these obstacles, but they are part of a normal commute from Clifton in Bristol to the city centre:
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Makes me smile on the way to work!
ps - re Canary Wharf and South Bank - now I know why I've actually seen people in body armour when I've been there on meetings, only in London.... Must be a LBS owners dream come true.
If you get it wrong on a set of concrete or granite steps, you can seriously get mash-up an ting*. And considering the homicidal nature of some drivers here, body armour's not such a bad idea.
Come and have a go, if you think you're hard enough... 😉
*For the knob who posted the 'Elfin= Jafaican' tag.
There's loads of good stairs in Newcastle, theere's some that go from behind the Bridge Hotel down to the Quayside are good. Dog Leap ones aren't to bad if you catch them on a dry day.
Oh and there's the Wooden Escalator in the Tyne Tunnel 🙂
No, body armour is never required for urban riding. It looks stupid and isnt cool.
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QED
TBH I never see anyone round here dressed like that (I live near CW). The odd full-facer, but never all that armour.
Like I said, CAHAGIYTYHE! I'm sure I can find a few lads who can show you some proper 'gnarly' stuff in town!
That set of steps by the side of the bridge in Nukeastle look a challenge....
I do this on my commute home sometimes.
I'm afraid this is about as gnarly as I get.
Nearly forgot about these bad boys 🙂
[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4719136530_c254788d0a.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/gingerfox/4719136530/ ]April 28th 2010[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/gingerfox/ ]Ginger F0x[/url], on Flickr
Kaesae, I have always wanted to do the ones on arthurs seat, presume you are meaning from the top, walked up so many times and always nattered away to my dad about how good it would be, and what sort of line I would through various sections. Was never sure if it was a good idea or not though 😀 Might have to have a go now then 😛
As mentioned there are some good ones on the WOL - especially in Colinton Dell. I've gone down most of them with a grin on my face - but there's one in particular that I'm determined to climb - the one nearest the 'monks hut / beehive thingy'. I can get about 3/4 ways up. Get a teeny bit better each time.
The ones down from Crookes in Sheffield - there are a few, but heading from Crookes Valley Road down side of the old church were always a giggle... 🙂
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Anyone ever been to East Portlemouth? The steps down to the bottom road from the car park are a laugh to ride down. Over 100 steps, and it's a bridleway 😀
Sheffield, now I think about it, is full of steps n steeps:
You can also drop into the station in no-brakee stylee, just check for trams down this hill from Park Hill
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Edit: City centre has some sport to be had:
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And Rivelin has some fun hidden all over:
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Do you brake at all, or just let the bike roll and hang on?
Great post - I love a bit of stair riding. I genuinely think it prepares you for rocky/steep riding on proper mountain trails (alas little of which there are in city centres!)
Also thanks AJF for the leeds uni post - recognise most of the locations in that video.
Oh yeaha and this is when Danny MAc was riding with us at the uni of Leeds.
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Or was it my mate Jules? 🙂
Also found a FANTASTIC multiple slight of steps round gable hill / bramley last night. Check (some of) it on streetmap:
probably 3x what you can see there in total. Very steep pitches. My first time riding them so I was taking it easy, but you could launch off a lot of them 🙂 🙂 🙂
ace!
There are a set of steps in my house, but SWMBO has put a stop to it after I muddied the carpet and dented the radiator at the bottom...
Although I also remember a set in one of mrs davenports rentals near the tal y bont hotel. I rode those whilst a little giddy having had a few sherberts at the tal y bont. Not much damage at all considering how tight the turn is on each landing 🙂
We really need some helmet cam footage with laughter and pedestrians diving for cover 😀
sambob - Member
Anyone ever been to East Portlemouth? The steps down to the bottom road from the car park are a laugh to ride down. Over 100 steps, and it's a bridleway
Hell yes.....!
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Theatre Royal fire escape, Hobart.
stevemtb - glad i'm not the only one who wonders about stairs in work... one day...
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Good downhill from these
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Straght out of the hotel doors
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Great set of steps in Salisbury from bishops down on to balmoral road used to do them on my Raleigh burner and rattle my teeth out!
@kit I've done those stairs a few times, you simply have to be 100% commited when you go for it.
That said haven't done them in a while, have you tried the ones at the royal observatory?
kaesae I have a mate who regularly rides from the summit of Arthurs Seat. You might bump into a guy on an Evil Sovereign - he's a hooligan.
TJ - probably as strange as taking a tandem over those steps I took a fully (and I mean really, fully) laden trailer with all the camping gear over them. Trailer was new and I wanted to see what it was like to ride with it ahead of a camping trip so I tested it (and me) with a ride around Arthurs Seat and got a bit carried away off down to Porty. Trailer's not good on steps.
Only steps I ever ride are the ones cutting through the parliament - they are very easy.
The stairs down from the Scotsman to near waverley were pretty good in a round and round making a hell of a noise in a confined space sort of way..... The stench of p*ss on each level was grim. There closed for a referb, hope they dont ruin them....
I don't like riding down stairs, it's like going down rock gardens but a bit more consistent! Hate the feeling that you're gonna get chucked over the bars each time your front wheel goes down one.
For urban spots, it looks hard to beat Dusseldorf University. Not my pic but you get the idea!
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/44046307@N06/5463170012/ ]Rebound tuning[/url]
I like a nice flight of steps to check I'm not running too much rebound damping...
I like to up the stoke factor in several dimensions
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[i]Not quite urban and not far from Junkyard's offering[/i]
Hmm, not seen them before, where are they?
I walked down those in Newcastle once, I thought they'd be a good challenge, they get a bit tight in the middle, the slimyness of the worn steps looked entertaining
There are a fair few all over durham
From the park behind the station (littered with them) you can drop through the station and down to the river on fairly testing steps. Great fun
Another nice Edinburgh one for getting a crowd is the Waverley centre roof-to-flower-bed gap. You need to clamber up onto one of the flat roofs and get enough speed to clear the pavement and the edge of the raised flowerbed, before landing in the geraniums.
Got any pics captainflashheart?
Well I've been out on my bike a few times now, spent a day at the water of leith, loads of good sets of stairs including some mentioned earlier in this thread.
Out again today, however I'm going over to my local bing to practice cornering, next time I get a chance I'll get some photo's and footage of some of my favourite steps and other stuff.
😀