Would you ride this event? Edinburgh - Stirling - Edinburgh cobble-spotting

Only if they move it 400 miles south

I did a 100 mile sportive that started and ended at Cairngorm Mountain. Can't be much worse than that. As long as folk know what's coming they can leave a bit in reserve...

Hahaha!

Only if they move it 400 miles south

Is there a reference there I'm missing or do you just not like Scotland? 😎

Just wondering how stupid it might be to promote a route that BY DESIGN finishes with lots of city centre streets. Would obviously require heavy emphasis on it not being a race and sharing public streets etc.

Rapha does it with its Manchester to London ride, finishing through north London into Stratford after 220 miles of riding.

I've done a Paris-Roubaix tribute ride that finished in Manchester on some cobbled streets as well, same sort of deal.

Is there a reference there I’m missing or do you just not like Scotland? 😎

I think it was merely an honest answer to your question. He lives miles away so wouldn't travel up to ride it.

I could be wrong, it could be that his latest suspension setup would be overcome by the technical cobbled streets and ....

It depends how big you think the event will be. I certainly wouldn’t have thought it would be a great idea to have a large number of people arriving by bike at the same time on the streets you suggest. Too much traffic, too many junctions. I would ride it solo, but not in the company of others. The very early editions of Pedal for Scotland finished in Meadowbank, but the finish gradually moved further west as time went on.

I think it was merely an honest answer to your question. He lives miles away so wouldn’t travel up to ride it.

Exactly that, it's far far away and if I'm going 400 miles on RVV weekend, it's to Belgium to ride the RVV sportive

I think it was merely an honest answer to your question. He lives miles away so wouldn’t travel up to ride it.

Ah fair enough, I thought there was an in-joke there I wasn't getting.

Rapha does it with

It's the Rapha 'Day in Hell' type events that I'm basically copying the idea of, I was just always a bit underwhelmed with the routes they proposed in Scotland.

It depends how big you think the event will be

Between my laziness, ineptness and reluctance as an events promoter - not big. I guessed I was less concerned about big numbers but more about knackered individuals possibly trying to navigate unfamiliar cobbled streets just by Garmin or otherwise. I suppose it's up to them to decide if they fancy it or not, I'd be emphasising the city streets aspect in the route description anyway.

I would ride it solo, but not in the company of others.

Agree with this. Edinburgh council would have a breakdown even thinking about bikes racing towards the castle.

Edinburgh council would have a breakdown even thinking about bikes racing towards the castle.

They let Red Bull start an Urban DH on the esplanade remember! 😂

Nice route. There’s 100 yards or so of cobbles in Dunfermline if you divert a bit!

There's a long stretch of cobbles (a km or so) at the back of the Stirling Uni Campus.

Would be a minor detour, popping you out at Logie Kirk.

Historic Scotland are also removing some of the bollards on the old bridge for you (just leaving a couple to be annoying).

Looks good,I would have a go at that.
lots of roads I have never cycled on 👍

There’s a long stretch of cobbles (a km or so) at the back of the Stirling Uni Campus.

Reeeeeally? Where? I can't see them on Google Maps...

That's a decent weekend ride from my house to be honest, can go exploring 😎

Here:

It's a core path. Cobbles and mud.
Built by the Ajrthrey Estate in the 19th Century so the estate wouldn't see common people walking to church.
Definitely try it before launching a 1000 roadies down it

https://maps.app.goo.gl/umvNWskLWFgqLSyb6

They let Red Bull start an Urban DH on the esplanade remember! 😂

Very true 😂 but I wonder how much money Red Bull threw their way!

Cobbles and mud

I like it already!

a 1000 roadies down it

I'd be happy if 10 showed up 😎

wonder how much money Red Bull threw their way!

When I visited Edinburgh Castle last time I was just imagining how amazing it would be to finish a race right at the top, it would be like a cross between Mur de Geraardsbergen and the finish of the Strade Bianche. Wonder how much £££ it would take, we already know how craven ECC are 🙄

I rather race to Holyrood! Imagine the speed 😳😈

I'd definitely consider it, cool idea. Some sort of post-finish meeting point would be good, just a designated pub (obviously warn them) or whatever.

I'd be up for this, thought about it last year when you posted about it.
Nascent ride to the sun kind of vibes.

There's a tourist minibus at the Wally Money.

Put a bike rack on that and you've got a DH uplift sorted

OK thanks all, sufficient moral support and no major drawbacks other than basic geography 😉

I'll need to bite the bullet and decide how to promote it's, just a wee blog page or FB page I guess and a pdf flyer? Will maybe pester the RttS boys for some tips

April 2nd 2023, finish time TBC at Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, apres pints TBC 😎

Three Sisters would be big enough to accommodate (haters gonna hate tho)

Three Sisters would be big enough to accommodate (haters gonna hate tho)

Well let's not get too hasty! Lots of threatening looking rugby types in there 😬

Am actually thinking security for bikes etc. needs to be somewhere that everyone can leave a lock beforehand or close enough to station etc. Tour of Flanders on the telly would just be the icing on the cake 😎

As the organiser of a night time fell race that became a niche cult I offer you the following advice ‘build it and they will come’. 👊

@13thfloormonk - Fraser from www.ridetothesun.co.uk. We've thought about doing something similar as Gary is obsessed with Paris Roubaix - I've done it once he's done it about 5 times.
Happy to meet for a coffee or pint to discuss - either to offer advice, or to see if we could do it as a joint thing.
I enjoyed the Rapha Day In Hell event...but it feels nothing like Paris Roubaix!
All the best
Fraser

Thanks Fraser! That would be great, if only to focus my brain on next steps that don't involve just posting about it on STW and playing with routes on Strava 😂

Is it yourself or Gary that works for the engineering consultancy in SQ? We have a mutual acquaintance in one of your associates Mr R.N. I actually work next to your office on Rose St if that's convenient...

Nice route. There’s 100 yards or so of cobbles in Dunfermline if you divert a bit!

Sorry, missed this. I've checked out the Dunfermline Cobbles, potential to be a great wee addition if that lane past/through the Abbey is open. Wouldn't rule it out unless it added too much distance, another play on the route planner required!

Och,it started off so well,then you dropped an April 2nd date in 😔
looks like I will be trying it as a lone wolf 😃

Och,it started off so well,then you dropped an April 2nd date in

It's not set in stone, April Fool's day could be equally appropriate 😂

Just wondering if school holidays could help or hinder attendance...

See you just made it worse, that's my wedding anniversary 😆 🤣
Stick to your dates,as someone that has organised a fair few weekenders and events,flexibility is seen as a weakness 😉
You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time. 😆

@13thfloormonk
Yes, it's me at the engineering company, and moved from SQ to George Street in February.
Ron? Lovely fella.
Sounds as if The Abbotsford would be a good place for a pint and a chat! Not this week as crazy busy but in the week or two after?

That's speaking my language!

Will PM my email address and warn my wife I'll need a lift from the train that day 😂

I'd certainly consider it!
Depending on how chubby I am at the time 🙃

Apres pints suggestion, Bellfield Brewery. Includes a few more cobbles large outside/inside drinking area and close to finish.

I could be interested. A couple of wee suggestions though. Sunday April 2nd is (I think) the day of the Tour of Flanders which a lot of folk who like the classics (which I guess would be quite a lot of the folk reading this) might want to watch. Would the day before not maybe be better?

Also looking at the Strava route, it looks great but if I may suggest one wee tweak, at the very end, rather than going up the Royal Mile for the last few hundred yards, drop down the Mound and come up Mound Place. It would give you a brutal cobbled finish at something around 20% on the last bend.

Good points both, thanks Kennyp

We walked up Mound Place/Ramsay Lane at the weekend, it is spectacular! I just figured it might be too much of a good thing after Old Tollbooth Wynd/Fishmarket Close!

I thought a lot of these amateur events were the same day as the equivalent televised event (e.g. RvV) and as a 'highlights show' only sort of guy that seemed a good way to do it. Are the Rapha events day before?

Will check although selfishly, if I spent Saturday riding bikes then there is no chance the family will allow me to spend Sunday watching bikes as well! 😉

Ramsay Lane (taken by my 5yr old hence perspective)

Fishmarket Close

Old Tollbooth Wynd

Tiny bit of cobbles on linlithgow high Street, the better ones go up to the palace but don't really go anywhere else after that.

The new cycle circuit in Linlithgow will be finished by then, it also has a tiny bit of cobbles in it. Shame it's not at the finish as it would have made a nice Roubaix tribute having a final lap around it.

https://trust-linlithgow.org.uk/projects/west-lothian-cycling-circuit/