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[Closed] Edinburgh riders - Tour of Flanders homage, what have I missed?

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I always like fiddling about trying to come up with the perfect 'cobbled' route in the city.

They never work out perfect as there's always a bit of looping required and of course there's no avoiding traffic/junctions/lights etc. In my defence though even the Ronde does a bit of looping at the end!

https://www.strava.com/routes/2752132177372363312

This is the best I've come up with, it looks a mess because it is but it takes in all the best and nastiest cobbled sections I can think of. There's a mini-loop possible to take in Calton Hill too just because it's one of the steepest sections in the city I think.

Any I've missed?

Half considering it for a quiet Sunday morning before the streets get too busy...


 
Posted : 16/10/2020 11:55 am
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There are some cobbled sections inside the Dalmeny estate - along the NCR. Not a lot tbf - but some is pretty rough.


 
Posted : 16/10/2020 12:34 pm
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I must admit nothing else jumps out at me.

We ran a cobbled alley cat in glasgow to celebrate it one year. I think we had ever 5m stretch in glasgow included. Weeks of spotting tiny lanes and stuff.


 
Posted : 16/10/2020 12:36 pm
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in the streets between leith walk and Easter road there are a lot of cobbles. You have also missed the shore and the bit parallel to commercial street between the posh restaurants and the scottish office building


 
Posted : 16/10/2020 12:38 pm
 hels
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That is not the Scottish Office building TJ - unless you live in 1996.... The Scottish Office ceased to exist in 1999 after devolution and the powers transferred to the Scottish Executive (now the Scottish Government). What is left of the Scottish Office is now the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland and is the representative of the UK Government in Scotland. I don't know which cupboard they inhabit.

I do love a bit of pedantry on a Friday!


 
Posted : 16/10/2020 12:45 pm
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There are some cobbled sections inside the Dalmeny estate

Great shout, I know them as well and forgot to include!

in the streets between leith walk and Easter road there are a lot of cobbles. You have also missed the shore and the bit parallel to commercial street between the posh restaurants and the scottish office building

Another good shout, also takes you past the Tourmalet on Iona St. Seems a suitable place to pay some 'homage'.

Need to start culling, it's all getting a bit kid in a candy shop right now...


 
Posted : 16/10/2020 1:45 pm
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Ah well, so much for culling!

https://www.strava.com/routes/2752174628150865084

Quite pleased with it though, could be good fun on a warm balmy summer's night as well, minus the drunks and festival go-ers right enough...


 
Posted : 16/10/2020 2:21 pm
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I mean the streets running north / south between easter road and leith walk - sorry not clear. Not the east / west ones you have used


 
Posted : 16/10/2020 2:41 pm
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I don't know the cobbles of Edinburgh, but I have watched the Tour of Flanders a few times and I think what you've missed out is about 150km of boring dual carriage way before the real action starts. 😉


 
Posted : 16/10/2020 2:43 pm
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Dropped pin

Near 29 Rosemount Buildings, Edinburgh EH3 8DB

https://maps.app.goo.gl/qGmN5qgX27bswr6w5


 
Posted : 16/10/2020 2:48 pm
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TJ - which streets roughly? Dickson St appeared all tarmac...

tthew - the summer/post-Covid edition will feature 65km of tarmac around the Forth to begin with, with a token nod to the Muur van Geraardsbergen at Culross 😎


 
Posted : 16/10/2020 2:49 pm
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Thanks Scotroutes, that's my old hood, have managed to incorporate a loop around the Rosemount Buildings which happily also takes the route over the Lochrin Basin cobbles 😀

TJ, I found Halmyre Place, thanks, a good long section, slightly uphill too, bonus!


 
Posted : 16/10/2020 3:14 pm
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Halmyre St


 
Posted : 16/10/2020 3:17 pm
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Halmyre St, apologies.

Have also found Dean Mews, with a handy bike shop/coffee stop in the form of Gamma Transport Division near the top.


 
Posted : 16/10/2020 3:24 pm
 kcal
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IIRC there are cobbles in around Comely Bank cut through to Dean Park Street.
Would think Danube Street, Ann Street and around that way too - but then you end up round and round as you say. I like the loop of Moray Place 🙂


 
Posted : 16/10/2020 3:38 pm
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Halymre St goes onto Dickson St, so you were in the right place 🙂


 
Posted : 16/10/2020 3:45 pm
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Comely Bank cut through to Dean Park Street

Indeed there are, with some very Flanders-esque 90 right angled bends as well. Couldn't fit them in neatly until I realised they made for a convenient detour to Gamma for a coffee.

Ann Street and Danube Street added in too, makes for a very confusing loop-de-loop in that area.

I had actually taken the extra loop of Moray Place out as it seemed silly, but in the general context why not!

Wonder if I'll ever be fit enough to actually ride this...

https://www.strava.com/routes/2752174628150865084


 
Posted : 16/10/2020 3:47 pm
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Randolph Crescent Gardens > Great Stuart St > Ainslie Place > St Colme St

That section in the wet is quite good fun in a RWD car.


 
Posted : 16/10/2020 3:53 pm
 kcal
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When I was fit (and unemployed) I set out from our house with about 50 Christmas cards to deliver in mid December, took me all daylight hours. Bit like your route planner, I tried to fit all deliveries in an efficient and relaxed route. I think it extended out Eskbank and back in and across to Cramond.


 
Posted : 16/10/2020 3:57 pm
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Randolph Crescent Gardens > Great Stuart St > Ainslie Place > St Colme St

Nice, can use Glenfinnan Street to link back up to Charlotte Square and on to George St/Hill St/Thistle St.


 
Posted : 16/10/2020 3:59 pm
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There's a wee one which runs from Leith Street to the foot of Calton Hill that's a great wee cobbled climb. However it's one way and you're going against the traffic so best saved for early on a Sunday morning.

Some ones in there I didn't know about.

We do a club homage to the Spring Classics every year in March or April. Try to throw in as many of the elements as possible such as cobbled climbs, short, sharp climbs on country lanes with high hedgerows, a convoluted route, street furniture, farm tracks, dodgy road surfaces, poor weather and a level crossing (ideally ducking under just as the barriers start to go down......although actually we've never done that, before anyone moans). The ride always ends at my house where large quantities of chips and mayo are consumed, washed down my copious amounts of Belgian beer. All great fun.

The only thing we're missing is the fanatical fans, but going up the steep cobbles towards the castle we've been applauded by tourists so that's close enough for us.


 
Posted : 16/10/2020 4:21 pm
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When biking around town I tend to go out of my way to avoid the setts! Many a mudguard has been a victim of the shakes.

The corner of Howe Street into South East Circus Place has to be one of the sketchiest descents when greasy. A bit better now that it's been rebuilt, but still sketchy. Good for sliding in cars..

Drummond Place is rough AF too, so might be worth a lap while you are there. Heriot Row on the other hand is ace and smooth - good for skimming along.

Although rebuilt relatively recently, Thirlestane Road is also pretty rough. There's significant gaps between the stones, plus speed bumps.


 
Posted : 16/10/2020 4:52 pm
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There’s a wee one which runs from Leith Street to the foot of Calton Hill that’s a great wee cobbled climb. However it’s one way and you’re going against the traffic so best saved for early on a Sunday morning.

Calton Hill is a favourite of mine, annoyingly the Strava KOM is obviously a GPS error (6 seconds!). Not even sure it's one way, you just can't enter the bottom but once on the street it's two way.

Will check out Howe St and Thirlestane


 
Posted : 16/10/2020 5:11 pm

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