Official P&b Cycling Thread

[dorlomin]

Just now, Gnash said:

Yeah, that's the one.  Crazy road is a good description as well.  Here it is:

Chapeau!

[Gnash]

3 minutes ago, dorlomin said:

Chapeau!

Cheers, it's very close to the road you were on too, just a few miles over the hills.

[Busta Nut]

Some c**t stole ma bike

[Bold Rover]

28 minutes ago, Busta Nut said:

Some c**t stole ma bike

Sickener, Busta. I'm just back from the Netherlands to where I delivered the Boldette at University. She was already anxious about relearning cycling, but got herself a nice second hand Dutch street bike, learned to ride it, and had it nicked within two days. Monetary value close to zero but the seethe and sense of indignation is overwhelming.

[Busta Nut]

aye man, insurance hopefully sort me

[lionel hutz]

Great Dun Fell is the only climb in the British Isles to rival Bealach-na-Ba, in terms of which is the hardest in the UK. Both are Cat 1 on Strava.

Edited September 1, 2016 by Marr1

[Gnash]

55 minutes ago, Marr1 said:

Great Dun Fell is the only climb in the British Isles to rival Bealach-na-Ba, in terms of which is the hardest in the UK. Both are Cat 1 on Strava.

Having climbed both, I'd say Great Dun Fell is marginally tougher, as the steep sections start much lower down the climb.  Bealach Na Ba is a piece of piss for the first half.  On the other hand, the excellent road surface and almost total lack of traffic on Great Dun Fell make it a little easier, or least more pleasant to ride.

[Bold Rover]

1 hour ago, Busta Nut said:

aye man, insurance hopefully sort me

Hope so, but that feeling of violation will last a bit longer.

[The Master]

I've just unearthed on YouTube highlights of the 1989 Tour of Britain including the time trial prologue in Dundee.

Holy shit the route designers were masochists - the course went up the Hilltown to the top of The Law.

 

 

[lionel hutz]

2 hours ago, The Master said:

I've just unearthed on YouTube highlights of the 1989 Tour of Britain including the time trial prologue in Dundee.

Holy shit the route designers were masochists - the course went up the Hilltown to the top of The Law.

 

 

I did that course a couple of weeks ago. Got up did it at 5-45 in the morning, I did it in 9:18, Malcolm Elliot did it from the City Square in 5:47. Talk about feeling inadequate. Still, I got to see the sunrise over Dundee at 6am which was pretty special

 

ETA - The Course Organiser that year was Phil Ligget

Edited September 2, 2016 by Marr1

[dorlomin]

On 01/09/2016 at 17:19, Marr1 said:

Great Dun Fell is the only climb in the British Isles to rival Bealach-na-Ba, in terms of which is the hardest in the UK. Both are Cat 1 on Strava.

Rosedale Chimney and Hardknott Pass have much shorter climbs but significantly greater peak gradient (33%). Its a question of taste in what you prefer in a climb. 

 

If anyone is interested I have turned the data from "Britains 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs" into a .csv file. Copy the data below into Notepad or Notepad++ etc then save it as something like "climb.csv", you can then open it in Excel or your spreadsheet of choice and rearrange the list into things like ordered by steepest climb or most metres gained.(Its very deficient on good Scottish climbs though) Edited to add, I hear the author, Simon Warren has a book "100 Greatest Cycling Climbs of Scotland" coming out next year)

1,Cheddar Gorge,Somerset,150m,5%,3.5 km,16%
2,Weston Hill,Bath,165m,9%,1.8 km,18%
3,Crowcombe Combe,Somerset,188m,15%,1.2 km,25%
4,Porlock,Somerset,372m,12%,4.9 km,25%
5,Dunkery Beacon,Somerset,326m,10%,3.2 km,17%
6,Exmoor Forest,Devon,406m,4%,11 km,12%
7,Challacombe,Devon,166m,11%,1.5 km,25%
8,Dartmeet,Devon,125m,11%,1.1 km,18%
9,Haytor Vale,Devon,335m,6%,5.4 km,12%
10,Widecombe,Devon,163m,12%,1.4 km,16%
11,Rundelstone,Devon,346m,4%,9.0 km,15%
12,Salcombe Hill,Devon,159m,13%,1.2 km,20%
13,Dovers Hill,Glouc,145m,10%,1.7 km,14%
14,Box Hill,Surrey,130m,5%,2.5 km,6%
15,York’s Hill,Kent,92m,14%,0.6 km,20%
16,White Lane,Surrey,79m,13%,0.7 km, 22%
17,Leith Hill,Dorking,145m,7%,2.1 km,16%
18,White Downs,Dorking,112m,6%,1.9 km,20%
19,The Wall,E.Sussex,125m,9%,1.4 km, 17%
20,Toys Hill,Kent,170m,6%,2.7 km,18%
21,Steyning Bostal,Sussex,123m,8%,1.6 km,17%
22,Ditchling Beacon,Sussex,142m,10%,1.4 km, 17%
23,Whiteleaf,Chilterns,127m,9%,1.4 km,16%
24,Streatley Hill,Berkshire,120m,11%,1.0 km,18%
25,Combe Gibbet,Hungerford,83m,10%,0.8 km,18%
26,Mott Street,Essex,78m,5%,1.4 km,12%
27,Swains Lane,London,71m,8%,0.9 km,20%
28,Michaelgate,Lincoln,31m,12%,0.3 km,17%
29,Terrace Hill,Leicest,76m,8%,0.9 km,15%
30,Monsal Head,Bakewell,57m,12%,0.5 km,17%
31,Bank Road,Matlock,115m,10%,1.1 km,20%
32,Riber,Matlock,162m,9%,1.8 km,25%
33,Winnats Pass,Derbys,198m,12%,1.7 km,20%
34,Rowsley Bar,Derbys,140m,13%,1.1 km,25%
35,Curbar Edge,Derbys,175m,10%,1.8 km,16%
36,Mow Cop,Staffords,170m,11%,1.5 km,25%
37,Peaslows,Derbys,172m,11%,1.6 km,12%
38,Jiggers Bank,Shrops,125m,5%,2.6 km,10%
39,The Burway,Shrops,290m,10%,3.0 km,20%
40,Shibden Wall,Halifax,133m,15%,0.9 km,25%
41,Pea Royd Lane,S.Yorks,145m,12%,1.1 km,20%
42,Jackson Bridge,Holmfirth,161m,10%,1.5 km,20%
43,Holme Moss,Kirklees,204m,9%,2.2 km,12%
44,Halifax Lane,Calderdale,185m,11%,1.6 km,20%
45,Park Rash,Kettlewell,238m,10%,2.1 km,25%
46,Oxnop Scar,Muker,243m,6%,3.8 km,25%
47,Malham Cove,N.Yorks,199m,6%,3.4 km,20%
48,Langcliffe Scar,Settle,170m,10%,2.3 km,20%
49,Buttertubs,N.Yorks,223m,9%,3.6 km,25%
50,Fleet Moss,N.Yorks,323m,6%,5.3 km,20%
51,Tan Hill,N.Yorks,206m,2%,9.9 km,12%
52,Greenhow Hill,Pateley Br,282m,10%,4.0 km,18%
53,Norwood Edge,W.Yorks,169m,11%,1.9 km,18%
54,Boltby Bank,N. Yorks,162m,13%,1.3 km,20%
55,Rosedale Chimney,N.Yorks,179m,14%,1.4 km,33%
56,White Horse Bank,Kilburn,175m,10%,1.6 km,25%
57,The Stang,N.Yorks,241m,7%,3.8 km,17%
58,Carlton Bank,N. Yorks,202m,10%,2.0 km,30%
59,Crawleyside,Durham,274m,4%,6.2 km,20%
60,Peth Bank,Durham,141m,8%,1.8 km,20%
61,Winter’s Gibbet,N. East,153m,4%,3.7 km,10%
62,Chapel Fell,Durham,323m,8%,4.1 km,16%
63,,Mennock Pass,Dumfries,318m,3%,9.9 km,10%
64,Cairn O’ Mount,Aberdeen,313m,10%,3.3 km,14%
65,The Cairnwell,Perth,323m,4%,8.5 km,12%
66,The Lecht,Aberdeen,245m,8%,3.0 km,20%
67,Cairn Gorm,Aviemore,300m,5%,5.4 km,10%
68,Rest + be Thankful,Cairndow,253m,6%,4.4 km,16%
69,Bealach-Na-Ba,Highlands,623m,7%,8.9 km,20%
70,Cat and Fiddle,Cheshire,381m,3%,11.2 km,5%
71,Swiss Hill,Cheshire,69m,13%,0.5 km,17%
72,The Rake,Lancs,101m,12%,0.95 km,23%
73,Garsdale Head,Cumbria,222m,6%,3.6 km,20%
74,Nick O’ Pendle,Lancass,145m,11%,1.3 km,14%
75,Trough of Bowland,Lancs,144m,6%,2.2 km,16%
76,Jubilee Tower,Lancs,230m,6%,4.1 km,16%
77,Hartside Fell,Cumbria,396m,5%,7.6 km, 7%
78,Lamps Moss,Cumbria,302m,8%,4.0 km, 17%
79,Cross of Greet,Slaidburn,182m,6%,2.9 km, 13%
80,Honister Pass,L. District,239m,7%,3.7 km,25%
81,Newlands House,L. District,205m,11%,1.9 km,25%
82,Whinlatter Pass,L. District,231m,7%,3.3 km,15%
83,Kirkstone Pass,L. District,292m, 6%,5.3 km,16%
84,Hardknott Pass,Eskdale,298m,13%,2.2 km,33%
85,Wrynose Pass,Langdale,278m,11%,2.5 km,25%
86,The Shelf,N. Wales,262m,5%,5.1 km, 12%
87,Moel Arthur,N.Wales,220m,10%,2.2 km,20%
88,Penbarras,N. Wales,258m,11%,2.3 km,25%
89,The Road to Hell,N.Wales,353m,3%,11 km,20%
90,Horseshoe Pass,N.Wales,317m,7%,6.1 km,20%
91,Bwlch Y Groes,Gynedd,385m,11%,3.5 km,25%
92,Ffordd Penllech,C. Wales,61m,20%,0.3 km,40%
93,Devil’s Staircase,Powys,151m,12%,1.3 km,25%
94,LLangynidr Mt,Powys,397m,7%,5.6 km, 14%
95,Black Mountain,S.Wales,378m,5%,7.1 km, 8%
96,Bryn Du,S.Wales,270m,5%,5.5 km, 22%
97,The Tumble,S.Wales,399m,8%,5.1 km, 16%
98,Rhigos,S.Wales,268m,4%,6.2 km, 7%
99,The Bwlch (S),Bridgend,340m,6%,5.8 km, 22%
100,Constitution Hill,Swansea,59m,20%,0.3 km, 22%

Edited September 3, 2016 by dorlomin

[lionel hutz]

If he's writing 100 Great Scottish Climbs, all the Braes of the Carse of Gowrie must be included!

[statts1976uk]

On 21 August 2016 at 12:48, paisleysaints said:

Level one was throughly enjoyable alot more track time than expected. Basically learning basics of fixed wheel riding before letting you go up onto the track. Once on you can go as fast as you please. First couple of corners on the bank is a bit dodgy but nerves soon disappeared and was hitting them with good speed. Definitely following up with other levels

Had my level one today and I really enjoyed it, as you said lots of track time. We were all at the hire stall when a four person crash happened right above us, luckily no bad injuries.

Can't wait for lesson two.

Edited September 3, 2016 by statts1976uk

[paisleysaints]

Had my level one today and I really enjoyed it, as you said lots of track time. We were all at the hire stall when a four person crash happened right above us, luckily no bad injuries.

Can't wait for lesson two.

Excellent I'm guessing the guy didn't give the chat about no crashes then. That would've been the level 2 on before you. How did you feel on the first time on the banking.

[statts1976uk]

3 hours ago, paisleysaints said:

Excellent I'm guessing the guy didn't give the chat about no crashes then. That would've been the level 2 on before you. How did you feel on the first time on the banking.

Bit nervous but after a few times it seemed to click, I just need to stop trying to stay upright rather than perpendicular. My biggest challenge initially was trying to get used to riding a fixie having never ridden one before.

[The Master]

My PFS pack arrived today.

They've refined the half-hour "wave" start even further - there's now letters in front of the numbers which give you an extremely precise start time. I need to be "loaded" into a pen by 7.07 to start at 7.37. Both are ungodly for a Sunday - I vaguely remember choosing an early start time back in February when there was the prospect of needing to fly overseas in the evening; that didn't transpire so now I'm regretting it  

It'll be interesting to see how it works in practice. The waves seemed to break down last year with the marshals at the start not really caring who went when and sending people into the start pen on a turn-up-and-go basis.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a route from Ingleston to Haymarket? I'd like to avoid the Glasgow Road if possible; I've read there's a path alongside - is it in decent nick?

[printer]

My PFS pack arrived today.

They've refined the half-hour "wave" start even further - there's now letters in front of the numbers which give you an extremely precise start time. I need to be "loaded" into a pen by 7.07 to start at 7.37. Both are ungodly for a Sunday - I vaguely remember choosing an early start time back in February when there was the prospect of needing to fly overseas in the evening; that didn't transpire so now I'm regretting it  

It'll be interesting to see how it works in practice. The waves seemed to break down last year with the marshals at the start not really caring who went when and sending people into the start pen on a turn-up-and-go basis.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a route from Ingleston to Haymarket? I'd like to avoid the Glasgow Road if possible; I've read there's a path alongside - is it in decent nick?

The path/pavement is OK. Probably better on the other side of the road; you can cross under the road at the roundabout.

It's signed as a cycle path from Gogarburn (if not before) and goes through Edinburgh Park up to EP station and then into town.

Enjoy PFS!

[printer]

Meant to put my North Coast 500 stats on earlier in the week, but here they are now.

535 miles over 8 days (we went off the route briefly a couple of times)
Av. speed 11.9 mph
9,900m climbing with 2 days > 2,000m

Loved every minute of it and would thoroughly recomend it.

[statts1976uk]

8 hours ago, The Master said:

My PFS pack arrived today.

They've refined the half-hour "wave" start even further - there's now letters in front of the numbers which give you an extremely precise start time. I need to be "loaded" into a pen by 7.07 to start at 7.37. Both are ungodly for a Sunday - I vaguely remember choosing an early start time back in February when there was the prospect of needing to fly overseas in the evening; that didn't transpire so now I'm regretting it  

It'll be interesting to see how it works in practice. The waves seemed to break down last year with the marshals at the start not really caring who went when and sending people into the start pen on a turn-up-and-go basis.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a route from Ingleston to Haymarket? I'd like to avoid the Glasgow Road if possible; I've read there's a path alongside - is it in decent nick?

I booked my place on Friday so hopefully my pack will arrive in time. I've booked transport from Edinburgh but as I don't know my start time or have my numbers then I hope they will still let me on the bus. I called their office and they said that the last packs will be sent out tomorrow so fingers crossed.

Edited September 4, 2016 by statts1976uk

[Bold Rover]

20 minutes ago, statts1976uk said:

I booked my place on Friday so hopefully my pack will arrive in time. I've booked transport from Edinburgh but as I don't know my start time or have my numbers then I hope they will still let me on the bus. I called their office and they said that the last packs will be sent out tomorrow so fingers crossed.

The transport back to Glasgow at the end (I realise that you're talking about transport for the start) is done on a trust basis. I always buy the ticket but have never been asked to produce it. I hope no-one abuses that situation, but I mention it to reassure you.