Some advice sought for Capital Trail type route

[MussEd]

Got a wee all day/overnight biking window this Friday into Saturday morning...and to maximise the riding thought I'd stay local. There's no way I'd be able to fly around the entire length of the Capital Trail Route in the time I have so thinking of (sort of) cutting it half.

So if it were you, would you do the first 'half' from Edinburgh down through the Lammermuirs at a relaxed pace, camp somewhere then head to Tweedbank/Gala for a train home on the Saturday morning?

OR catch an early train to Gala/Tweedbank then ride the second 'half' back to Edinburgh from there with an overnight stop somewhere in there? Aware that the official group start thing is on the Saturday morning but prior commitments mean I have to be back in civilisation at lunchtime that day...

[Blair512]

Leave lunch time from Edinburgh, relaxed pace down there, spend a night at Bunnys bothy and train home the next day

[Ray Young]

I much prefer the second half. I find the ride to the Lamermuirs a bit tedious. The Lamermuirs themselves are mostly estate track and the Southern Upland Way goes through farmland after that.
The second half has what I'd call proper mountain biking. I'd also ditch Glentress and add in Innerleithan xc circuit.
Enjoy whatever you choose.

[MussEd]

Ok think I'm leaning towards the second leg as mentioned by Ray - but will put both options to my buddy and he can cast the deciding vote...

One other thing is what is the best(by best I mean easiest) method of editing an existing GPX track? I don't think I can face creating whichever option we go for as a click by click/point by point track again on sites like Gpsies, I have been trying to just chop the route in 2 on Garmin Basecamp but I've hit a wall and lost the will to live a bit! Any suggestions?

[Justchris]

Do the second half. If your pushed for time bin glentress. Once your in the pentlands figure out where the best exit is. Don't really see the point in the end stuff in Edinburgh.

The first half ok once you eventually leave Edinburgh. But second half is way better.

[pushbikemike]

Another vote for second half. Also another vote for not doing the new end section around edinburgh. Pentlands down to Edinburgh along canal path is easy finish.

[rudedog]

Definately the 2nd half - Start in Gala but I'd also probably ditch the climb back out of Inners/Traquair and just head to GT/Peebles on cyclepath from Inners.

When you get to the Pentlands, once you've done the Red road section (cracking descent) don't go left towards Balerno - instead follow the road round and through the gate to get to the trail which leads through green cleugh and then up black hill to do the cracking black hill descent. Its can get pretty boggy when its wet but the Pentlands are the driest they've been in ages and this section is great fun just now.

[MussEd]

Thanks for that - was just trying to work out best way to leave the Pentlands so this may sway things...

[MussEd]

Actually looking at that I remember I've done that descent before - it was a boggy mess but remember thinking this would ace when dry!

[Ray Young]

Definately the 2nd half - Start in Gala but I'd also probably ditch the climb back out of Inners/Traquair and just head to GT/Peebles on cyclepath from Inners.

When you get to the Pentlands, once you've done the Red road section (cracking descent) don't go left towards Balerno - instead follow the road round and through the gate to get to the trail which leads through green cleugh and then up black hill to do the cracking black hill descent. Its can get pretty boggy when its wet but the Pentlands are the driest they've been in ages and this section is great fun just now.

Blackhill is definitely worth doing and I wouldn't miss Gypsy Glen descent into Peebles, well worth the climb in my opinion.

[jamiep]

After doing CT on Saturday, I would happily never, ever, ever do that push/climb/hike up to Gypsy Glen again if that meant I couldn't ever do the Gypsy Glen descent again. It just isn't worth the pain

[AlasdairMc]

Has the route changed on the approach up to Gypsy Glen? Ride up to the cottage, turn right and head straight up?

[jamiep]

Has the route changed on the approach up to Gypsy Glen? Ride up to the cottage, turn right and head straight up?

The route hasn't changed - immediately after the suggested bivvy spot (next to the white house and the ruined house), turn right and push up hill through heather for seemingly ages. Then bear to the right and push a bit, ride a bit, push a bit, etc to the top. On the map it says 'Birkscairn Hill'. A complete pain in the arse
https://www.strava.com/activities/10208 ... 5069326752