Who's up for it?
what time?
Where?
I will almost certainly be riding on sunday - depending on mood pentlands or not 🙂
heading off out shortly as well.
Edit - I am happy to meet up with others. I will be riding out from leith so passing colington way middayish probably
Where do you want to go? I was thinking either the pentlands or water of leith...suggestions welcome. I am an amateur so nothing crazy.
I just really want to ride on Sunday. 😀
Time flexible too.
Tandem, I am based in Leith too, shall we arrange a time, I will follow your lead.
I'm Roseburn so can easily meet Water of Leith somewhere if that suits.
Normally ride alone but would be good to meet some local STWers.
Cool, then how about Leithers meet at 12pm somewhere, say pilrig park?
Ok - 10.30 in leith which would be 11.15-30 on the aqueduct on the canal where it crosses the WOL?
Gentle pentlands ride ( apart from I like to climb puke hill :twisted:)
fink out option to cut down from currie to the canal if legs and or weather bad?
Edit - crossed posts.
Your call sab - you started the thread.
ok 10:30 then, from Pilrig Park?
11.15-30 at the aqueduct is good.
TJ, which one's Puke Hill?
Puke hill, is the one where i get off and push my bike.
Thats the one Sab - 1:3 times I can ride it. Gecko - puke hill is the climb up from bonally tower - only joking about that - I normally go up it as it gives quickest access to the hills but I am open to suggestions.
Sab - YGM
And the record is sub-two minute gate to gate! 😕
13thfloormonk - Member
And the record is sub-two minute gate to gate!
Car Park gate to end of trees gate?
Must try that. Not fun on a singlespeed.
2 minute gate to gate? Not in my wildest dreams. Its all I can do to not have to get off and walk. Must look for that 20 tooth granny ring
coming to join us al? We will allow you to ride your SS29er and wear lycra
Thats the one al.
Think one (or more) of the Edinburgh Uni crowd managed it, probably Dougal_s.
I've been avoiding it by trying the wee rooty climb off to the right hand side, only cleaned it for the first time a few weeks ago...
al, if you wear lycra so will I.
Under 2 minutes?? Is that down-hill? 🙂
Sorry, are you guys heading into the Pents then? Can't quite tell from above - if so might come along to say hello + tag along for a bit. Do you usually go right or left at the top reservoir gate? Lefty myself, more climbing then down the back of... wish I had the map on me!
Rob -Pentlands is the plan - Routes to be decided on the day. I like the left turn at the top of puke hill but right is good as well. We could even take a different climb / less steep climb:-)
I dont mind which route, as long as we aren't having a race - I'll be left behind you see.... 😀
(Or I could be totally bluffing and you would all be mondo stoked!*)
*I don't actually talk like this, so you know.
Racy types can do all the climbs twice 😈
quite fancy seeing if i can do the 2mins to the gate. not been up puke hill for ages. on that subject, i've heard castlelaw has been santised. what's the best way round to do it - i used to like going up puke hill, turning left and climbing castlelaw that way rather than glencorse end. which bits have had work done on it?
Castlelaw has been sanitised at the Glencorse end. Its not so bad, removes the only interesting bit of the climb and makes for less fun descending it (less rocks sticking out of the ground...)
Here you go - the sanitised Castelaw bit...
[img] 
[/img]
nnnnnoooooooooooooooooo *covers eyes.
what else have i missed when i was away being a roadie??! that looks awful - i used to like the wee rocky bit 🙁
Sacrilege eh? It's like that right past the last flagpole. Mind you, I suspect some of it has washed away since that photo was taken. The top layer was very soft and walkers were leaving footprints in it.
I might be up for a spin on Sunday too. An idea of routes would be nice though - so I can decide whether or not to put suspension forks on the "commuter". Meet at the Bonaly car park about 12?
I might be up for this too, if my man/swine flu has gone by then. Bonaly at 12 if I'm coming, but don't wait for me.
I was up the Pentlands today, discovered another mile of forest singletrack near my house. Trails are very dry at the moment, including Black Hill.
I'll wear a surgical mask...
another mile of track??
is the grassy track that was on the r hand side still there (it was at the same bit as the loose/rocky/steeper section higher up) why can't they leave the good bits alone and do some work things like putting in a bridge over the bog on harehill??
i'm riding with chrisl on sunday, not sure where yet - weather for here is rain and i'm trying to enjoy riding again so we might do some man made stuff.
I tend to do a different descent at castlelaw - runs from the bealach at teh top of the dreghorn climb down the side of the hill past an old quarry and joins up with doubletrack that goes down to Glencourse.
druidh - just before the bridge on the Rigg descent, there's a left turn with a stream crossing that leads to a path that loops all the way back up to the start of the Rigg. I need to go back again with some secateurs or a wood saw to clear it fully
Ah- I think I know where you are. I'll pack my wee trail saw next time I'm up that way (I've been known to walk up in the evenings).
Sub 2 minutes is quite easy gate to gate. Anything more challenging??
Only if you are some sort of racing whippet. There is a climb if you go left at teh top of puke hill that is impossible - we tried to do it on the tandem and blew the hub under the load ( there is a zig zag but there also is a grassy slope that cuts the corners) Not seen anyone get up it
Possibly up for a pootle around the pentlands on Sunday... looks like rain though, might not be a great place to be. Don't wait for me, but I may be along... the company would be nice.
Tandem, is that the climb that leads to Allermuir via a traverse across Capelaw? I think i've climbed it, but it took many attempts, a very low gear and one big old fat sticky rear tyre (a 2.2" rubber queen)
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=55.884218,-3.255161&daddr=&hl=en&geocode=&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=17&sll=55.88435,-3.254453&sspn=0.002852,0.006802&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=55.88435,-3.254453&spn=0.002852,0.006802&output=embed
<small>View Larger Map</small>
Raddogair, i have a nice little selection of steep and tech climbs in the pentlands that might keep you busy for oohh.. five minutes? If i ever manage them all i'll be a happy man, some absolute stinkers 8)
I think thats the one 13th. We tried on the tandem (which climbs better than a solo as the front won't lift)- 22/34 granny gear and both standing on the pedals and we stalled out - as it stalled the freehub gave up under the pressure. there is a zig zag that you can ride up or a grassy slope straight up cutting the zigzags out. Its the grassy slope thats really hard. Maybe over 30 degree slope?
My Pal Mark can get up that climb Tandem... makes it look easy too, but he is super human (I think... never seen him fly though)
I usually come down that one.
Yep, i definitely managed it, and am definitely NOT superhuman, just got a lucky line on a dry day with a big tyre i think (same tyre that i cleared allermuir with, they might be heavy but those rubber queens grip!)
Am beginning to view these climbs like little individual bouldering problems, all of them have one 'crux' move and aren't necessarily part of a bigger route.
next up is the side of whitehill (crux: one final 5 metre section which is ridiculously steep) and the southern slope of allermuir (crux: finding a line, any line...)
I have a nice climb for yu on costorphine hill then - I have been using it in the same way - not seen anyone get up it. Series of rock steps with sharp turns. Nearly made it but not quite.
I dunno how you got up that slope. I have tried it on a solo as well and in 22/34 granny with my full weight on the pedal it just stalled
Hmm, i've never been very good at steps in climbs, i twiddle low gears at a high cadence and it doesn't always give me enough momentum to bump up and over stuff.
Will need to go and explore corstorphine again, haven't been in years. Where's the climb?
Anyone cleared the one from the gate / cattle-grid on the west side of Allermuir to the top? Can manage about 3/4 up & no more, lousy steep, bumpy terrain!
I've managed it once and almost managed again last week but was going too slowly when my front wheel hit a small step. I'd like to think i could manage it without a monstrous, sticky freeride tyre, but i think thats what made the difference, allows you to be a little more clumsy on the pedals in the heat of the moment.
12th - hard to explain. On the way down from the top to the north near the flooded quarry
OK, I remember the flooded quarry at least! maybe go have a look around tonight...
Having completely wandered OT, is this ride tomorrow still on?
sounds poopy.
As far as I know it is still on. I got caught in the rain today however, going to be rainy again tomorrow though...
markd - Membersounds poopy.
It will be if you're not going
well thats that then, it will be poopy.
Yeah, I am not too keen on cycling in the pishing rain. I was out at the Pentlands this morning with steven, and it was glorious for the first half, then it rained. Tomorrow is forcasted to be worse.
All these challenges sound interesting (not necessarily in a possible way) but I'm wimping out to climb at Ratho tomorrow in the dry. If there's any (dry) summer's evenings in the Pentlands on the cards, however...
Still on as far as I am concerned 10.30 at fiveways - 11.30 at the viaduct, 12 at bonaly carpark
I'm up for it, draggy rear Juicy 5 notwithstanding.
Wot route do you take up to Bonaly from the WoL?
Dunno how to describe it. Basically straight up the hill on the road past the scout camp. Not thru the centre of colinton but past is it West Mills?
Come off before the bypass. West Mill road, cross Woodhall, up Bonaly Road, least that's what I do.
Jimmy - YGM
Sounds like it Gecko
Good old A to Z.
Mark - you need to turn up!
TJ, I regret that I might give tomorrow a miss, especially with it forecasted to pish it down. I got really wet on todays ride and I have had my fill (my trainers will still be soaked by tomorrow and well, rain is meh). We can try arranging another one soon hopefully. Might try and get to a climbing wall instead...
Fink out! Yer not made of Sugar are you ? Will you dissolve?
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]Fair enough - youshould see the face my other half is pulling at the thought of going out in the rain. I'll still be going past fiveways at 10.30 if you change your mind
TJ, Your otherhalf MTB's too?
I won't dissolve, and fishing out mud from in my ersecrack in the shower-post MTB ride-can be fun, but I just don't fancy it tomorrow. 😛
I will be up early tomorrow anyways, if anything changes, I'll come along.
why do i need to turn up?
got a present for me?
Yup Kissy kissy
Sab - who do you think sits on the tandem with me?
omg.
I should still be on for tomorrow assuming I get up early enough to replace a shock bushing.
the pentlands was really quiet today, hardly saw anyone else. we did canal - bonaly - clubbiedean - maidens - green cleugh - blackhill - white cleugh - green cleugh - glencorse - castlelaw (rip) - puke hill - quad track - scaletrix - bonaly - canal. pretty much bone dry trails and sunshine as well all the way round 😀 cracking four hours of riding.
Oh aye - be anti-social then.
What did you think of Castlelaw?
did you go out then? we wanted an early start so left at 10am.
castlelaw is pretty rubbish now 🙁 i used to like it coming from puke hill and using the rocky bit as a descent. did it as a climb and its really boring and easier now. took the wee grassy line at one point, only to discover that i couldn't get back onto the main path 😡 very glad i got back before the rain though! thinking riding with company will get me back on track and i'll be clocking up the miles again before i know it! was this not the weekend of your sportive?
* cough *
sportive?
* cough*
Nah - I was out of sorts at the start of the week (migraine) and that ruled it out for me. Was out with TJ, Julie, Genks and a couple of other STW-forumites. Good run. The tracks [s]are[/s]were all nice and dry. Glad I got back before the thunderstorm though.
Missed this one. If anyone fancies a ride this week then let me know.
i'm looking to ride Weds or Thurs evening, Pents or GT maybe.
Gutted not to have ridden today. Stupid weather forecasts.
Nah - you were best to stay at home. It was too hot.... 😉
Finally back to the house - Knackered I am. Not been out for ages and that made it hard work. ( getting my excuses in first.)
Nice to get out and meet some folks I ain't met before. I showed them all the nasty climbs - then they left me in a puffing sweating heap at the side of the climbs.
Pics in a few mins
it were fun.
think we had the best of the weather for sure.