Commuting Forth Road Bridge

bossman13

Hi folks

My first ever commute in today so big up myself and now officially a member of the club

Not all smiles though...Was a bit apprehensive about the distance (14m) being a total beginner but that was actually ok and i feel great now! I followed the route that someone had listed on here called 'my big commute' which runs over the bridge and down to the gyle in edinburgh. Looked ok on paper, but turned out that a lot of the cycle paths were in very poor (and wet/muddy) condidtion and not at all what i expected/hoped. Made it very hard going and got absolutely plastered in mud!

Will need to find an alternative road route because i just couldnt face that every day - The ride took about 1:10 just because i was crawling along in places.

Anyone on here commute a similar route themselves and could help me with a new route??


Many thanks

MrGrumpy

bossman13 wrote:

Hi folks

My first ever commute in today so big up myself and now officially a member of the club

Not all smiles though...Was a bit apprehensive about the distance (14m) being a total beginner but that was actually ok and i feel great now! I followed the route that someone had listed on here called 'my big commute' which runs over the bridge and down to the gyle in edinburgh. Looked ok on paper, but turned out that a lot of the cycle paths were in very poor (and wet/muddy) condidtion and not at all what i expected/hoped. Made it very hard going and got absolutely plastered in mud!

Will need to find an alternative road route because i just couldnt face that every day - The ride took about 1:10 just because i was crawling along in places.

Anyone on here commute a similar route themselves and could help me with a new route??


Many thanks

Ive started back on the bike again after a long lay off, I live in the Bay so what i do is cycle through Inverkeithing and over the Forth Road Bridge, at the other side I go up and over to the left, past where the old Hotel used to be. Basicly cut through South Queensferry past the train station and follow directions to Dalmeny. There are two ways to get there the other one is going up past where Agilent are, its signed posted as a cycle path. Once in Dalmeny I head out east towards Edinburgh, you come to a main road. Turn right and head down towards dual carraige way. Jump onto cycle path and cycle up and over to Cramond brigg and then Barnton. From there i head up the main road towards Maybury junction and then to Gyle. Unfortunetly thats the worst bit for traffic. The only other way to avoid traffic is I suspect the old cycle path which heads out towards Kirkliston and then along A8000.

bossman13

Thanks...couple of questions if you dont mind..

Once you hit the dual carriageway, do/can you follow a cycle path all the way down untill you hit the big junction (where turning right takes you up towards the marriot/casino)? if so, whats the best way to negotiate this junction.

Is there also a cycle path next to this dual carriageway that you have turned right onto, which will lead you up to the marriot?

Thanks

MrGrumpy

When you come down towards the dual carriageway the path immediatly on your left is the cycle path, get on that and follow it up ( it follows the main road ) and over towards Crammond brigg Hotel, now you have two choices you can keep going up and round to the traffic lights and go in the right hand filter which takes you upto towards the casino or you can turn right just as the road dog legs left just after the first set of pedestrian lights. That road there is a quiet country road which takes you upto towards the roundabout up from the casino. All it does is cuts out the traffic light junction at barnton if your not to happy with it. I`ve not had many issues on that stretch of road anyway but if your new and not used it play it safe.

giles kempsell

I have been doing a similar route for the last 3 months, but carrying on towards Leith where you can go right towards the casino etc.

The cycle path beside the dual carrigeway (A90?) is OK but very narrow, with just about enough room for 2 bikes. The road from the Crammond Brig Hotel is fine in my experience and haven't had any problems with cars doing silly things and the bus drivers haven't been a problem either. At the moment the traffic is flowing in the morning, but once the schools are back I suspect it will snarl up again and you're biggest concern is llikely to be filtering through queues of stopped traffic, but again I find if you get on the right hand side and overtake (i.e. not between the 2 lanes of cars) people are generally aware of you.

So I would say abandon the cycle path, take to the road and claim your space (just hold on as you come out of Dalmeny and experience one of the worst road surfaces ever) it took 10 minutes of my commute compared to the cycle lanes

bossman13

thanks guys - will try out the route on my way home tonight and report back

for info - the cycle path i referred to this morning was the one that runs from s-qferry to kirkliston and then towards ratho, until i hit the main road to the airport. it was a NIGHTMARE!

MrGrumpy

yer thats the other one its longer for one and from memory its pretty rough as well, and as I ride a GIANT road bike its not the best option. The route i described is the one I use and I work at sighthill, might see ya some morning but as I work shifts the roads are quiet for me.

bossman13

rode the above route home last night and in again this morning. commute time is down to an hour (hopefully less when the slicks for my MTB arrive!) and no more muddly legs !

a few leg sapping hills on route gives for a good workout. return journey seems slightly faster than the way in, but might just be that i am more eager to get home than to get to work !


thanks all.

toontra

bossman13 wrote:

rode the above route home last night and in again this morning. commute time is down to an hour (hopefully less when the slicks for my MTB arrive!) and no more muddly legs !

a few leg sapping hills on route gives for a good workout. return journey seems slightly faster than the way in, but might just be that i am more eager to get home than to get to work !


thanks all.

bossman13,

Would it be possible for you to make a visual map of your route using one of the online mapping systems (e.g. google maps)? I go up here each year on my way to Scotland and always get lost and confused getting from Edinburgh to the bridge, and being a stranger I don't know any of the local landmarks (offices, parks, buildings, roundabouts, etc) referred to above.

Would be much appreciated!

MrGrumpy

bossman13 wrote:

rode the above route home last night and in again this morning. commute time is down to an hour (hopefully less when the slicks for my MTB arrive!) and no more muddly legs !

a few leg sapping hills on route gives for a good workout. return journey seems slightly faster than the way in, but might just be that i am more eager to get home than to get to work !


thanks all.

I find it quicker coming home, although alot of cyclists on the path this morning, had to pull over let them past. Might see you as I`m on night shift heading home after 7am.

bossman13

MrGrumpy wrote:

bossman13 wrote:

rode the above route home last night and in again this morning. commute time is down to an hour (hopefully less when the slicks for my MTB arrive!) and no more muddly legs !

a few leg sapping hills on route gives for a good workout. return journey seems slightly faster than the way in, but might just be that i am more eager to get home than to get to work !


thanks all.

I find it quicker coming home, although alot of cyclists on the path this morning, had to pull over let them past. Might see you as I`m on night shift heading home after 7am.

yep, that was me you whizzed past on the hill into dalmeny!

thanks for your help with the route by the way... its a good run and relatively road bilke friendly (for when i get that upgrade from MTB!)

how long does it normally take you on the GIANT?

MrGrumpy

LOL you the one in the black ?? Yer don`t worry I`m not so fast going back up that hill From Dalgety Bay to Sighthill I`m looking at about 50mins ridetime approx. Same coming back.

bossman13

MrGrumpy wrote:

LOL you the one in the black ?? Yer don`t worry I`m not so fast going back up that hill From Dalgety Bay to Sighthill I`m looking at about 50mins ridetime approx. Same coming back.

aye that was me. I live in the Bay too so might see you out and about.

50 mins is good going. i'm on 1hr to gogarburn

MrGrumpy

I used to use a MTB and its definately slower but once I stuck some slicks on it was nearly as quick. However if your on roads all the time, get a road bike, that route is no problem on a road bike.

toontra

To answer my own question from earlier in the thread, I've just found this route at Bikely.com:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/haakon-s-ride-edinburgh-to-south-queensferry

Does this look like the route you are using, MrGrumpy and bossman13?

MrGrumpy

its same till crammond then I head up maybury road, towards casino/gyle.

bossman13

i did try and do a route map but no idea how to upload to here!

if you're considering visiting dalgety bay on your travels let me know and i'll try and send it you!

MrGrumpy

Well was ready to jump on the bike at 9pm tonight to go into work and what do I see!! one flat tyre Very weird as its only been sitting in the garage since this morning ?? Inner tube had a big hole in it?? So no bike tonight and car home, could do with a rest mind.

alecstilleyedye

once past the cramond brig there is a road to the right (cammo something) which leads to a road that takes you out past the airport perimeter to the lights at the maybury. a bit up and down but imo better than cycling down the maybury road, and barnton junction is a bitch!

sorry if it's a bit vague, but i know this route as inlaws live on it.

bossman13

alecstilleyedye wrote:

once past the cramond brig there is a road to the right (cammo something) which leads to a road that takes you out past the airport perimeter to the lights at the maybury. a bit up and down but imo better than cycling down the maybury road, and barnton junction is a *****!

sorry if it's a bit vague, but i know this route as inlaws live on it.

yeah, thats the one mentioned further up the thread.

i like using it actually. as you say cuts out a busy junction and its a nice smooth surface. just have to take it easy round corners or you could be head on with a car!

alecstilleyedye

bossman13 wrote:

alecstilleyedye wrote:

once past the cramond brig there is a road to the right (cammo something) which leads to a road that takes you out past the airport perimeter to the lights at the maybury. a bit up and down but imo better than cycling down the maybury road, and barnton junction is a *****!

sorry if it's a bit vague, but i know this route as inlaws live on it.

yeah, thats the one mentioned further up the thread.

i like using it actually. as you say cuts out a busy junction and its a nice smooth surface. just have to take it easy round corners or you could be head on with a car!

just to clarify, there are two options. one takes you onto the roundabout on the maybury road, the other one brings you out at the lights at the maybury.

MrGrumpy

so i take it you go right as you go down cammo where the road is Y shaped ? I went that way last night except I headed up towards the roundabout ? Watch out coming back down that way in the morning as it would seem its still being used as a rat run.

bossman13

alecstilleyedye wrote:

bossman13 wrote:

alecstilleyedye wrote:

once past the cramond brig there is a road to the right (cammo something) which leads to a road that takes you out past the airport perimeter to the lights at the maybury. a bit up and down but imo better than cycling down the maybury road, and barnton junction is a *****!

sorry if it's a bit vague, but i know this route as inlaws live on it.

yeah, thats the one mentioned further up the thread.

i like using it actually. as you say cuts out a busy junction and its a nice smooth surface. just have to take it easy round corners or you could be head on with a car!

just to clarify, there are two options. one takes you onto the roundabout on the maybury road, the other one brings you out at the lights at the maybury.

cant see that ont he map without going back on yourself...

bossman13

Apologies for those not based in this area (although you shouldnt have read the thread in the first place ) but quick question for folks that are:

Up nice and early this morning and fully kitted out for my first commute for 5 weeks (various reasons). Just about to leave the house around 7am and heard on radio that bridge restrictions are on due to wind. Not encountered this before while commuting so thought i had better check internet to make sure cycling was still ok. low and behold as well as trucks/trailers/motorbikes etc, cyclists were also not allowed to cross.

has anyone encountered this before. i was very tempted to set off anyway as i dont have a clue how they actually manage to regulate this. Has anyone tried this before? Did you get stopped?

I was really p1ssed off as i walked to the train station this morning - even more so as i realised gale force wind was at my back :evil:

thanks

gavster

I saw plenty of guys cross the FR bridge on bikes this am. I was getting a lift in the car. It was bl**dy windy tho'

giles kempsell

I was stopped crossing this morning by the same person turning the lorries etc around this morning. Back to the park and ride put the bike back on the ca, drive oveer the bridge and then park at Tescos!

Mind you the wind wasn't that strong at 6:30, but the motorbikes going back down the cycle path were a bit worrying :shock:

gingerscott

I have heard that a FRB van will shuttle cyclist over the bridge on days like today, don't know how true it is though!

I was already to commute over it myself this morning when I heard of the restrictions, so went in the car instead. There were barriers up at the walkways when I got to the bridge, but one bloke had chosen to ignore them and was halfway across at roughly 7:30.

It would be nice if the FRB authority actually publicised what the options were for cyclists when the restrictions are on the bridge.

tardington

What is the riding set up on the bridge then?

I always assumed bikes went on a lane on the pedestrian bit? But it sounds like I was wrong...

I live in central edinburgh, and generally be moving uphill to morningside and beyond, but I would like one weekend to make a long fife loop... Is Falkland a reasonable destination to cycle back from? I'm reasonabley fit (I like to think).

MrGrumpy

bossman13 wrote:

Apologies for those not based in this area (although you shouldnt have read the thread in the first place ) but quick question for folks that are:

Up nice and early this morning and fully kitted out for my first commute for 5 weeks (various reasons). Just about to leave the house around 7am and heard on radio that bridge restrictions are on due to wind. Not encountered this before while commuting so thought i had better check internet to make sure cycling was still ok. low and behold as well as trucks/trailers/motorbikes etc, cyclists were also not allowed to cross.

has anyone encountered this before. i was very tempted to set off anyway as i dont have a clue how they actually manage to regulate this. Has anyone tried this before? Did you get stopped?

I was really p1ssed off as i walked to the train station this morning - even more so as i realised gale force wind was at my back :evil:

thanks

Well i managed 7 days on the bike last week, whilsts on earlies, chickening out tonight as I`m on nights this week and aint pretty outside Was going to go for it got overshoes etc, but don`t fancy it now. Will do tomorrow night and wednesday night, so might see ya in the morning, i`ll be the one on the fixed wheel, busting a gut

MrGrumpy

gingerscott wrote:

I have heard that a FRB van will shuttle cyclist over the bridge on days like today, don't know how true it is though!

I was already to commute over it myself this morning when I heard of the restrictions, so went in the car instead. There were barriers up at the walkways when I got to the bridge, but one bloke had chosen to ignore them and was halfway across at roughly 7:30.

It would be nice if the FRB authority actually publicised what the options were for cyclists when the restrictions are on the bridge.

Funnily enough not been caught out yet with the bridge being shut due to high wind whilst cycling. I think I might need to start using the train for going into work during adverse weather, don`t mind the journey home !!

bossman13

anyone planning to head back over tonight?

Bridge supposedly closed to bikes etc. had to leave the bike at work last night for same reason and dont want to leave again! Might risk it - anyone know what checks they have going back (towards fife)?