Sunday dawned a cracker of a day with blue skies and little to no wind, i was late getting out on the bike and it was near midday as i rode inland for a 3-4 hour ride on the Surly ECR 29+.
Last few posts we have been on the coast, through the heart of East Lothians rich Agricultural countryside,
Now to ride from the coast through the heart of the county and up onto the hills and the roof of East Lothian..
My route took me from Athelstaneford via the old historic Ridge Road, down to Haddington via Aimsfield woods, Lennoxlove Estate, 1/4 mile of road to Bolton Village and the 2 mile trail to Gifford, where via Yester Estate trails i rode the short road up the its end to ride to Lammerlaw...
Garleton Ridge Road...
Lammerlaw looks a long way away, it is indeed off road on trails and tracks at around 14 miles, but there is a bit climbing to get there to the 1732ft summit from home at 40ft above sea level...
The longest descent down to Gifford, will be avoided on the return cycling the old 2 mile Right of Way to Bolton i cycled a few days ago,
From Gifford village it was through Yester Estate and from Yester Dairy it was a mile or so to the tarmac ends...
And the old road ascends Lammer Law. This old track has been documented as linked to Prehistoric times and traced back to later medieval when it has since been an important drove road between the old Border district of Lauderdale and Haddingtonshire (now East Lothian)...
Near the Border gate and the ECR gear was not low enough, it was on derailleur gears when i cleaned the climb riding the Capital Trail last June, a minute to catch my breath today allowed me to ride the climb to the gate...
Hopes reservoir...
The Border gate...
Up to the summit cairn...
I used to come up here a lot easier way-by motorcycle!, here is a film from a while back...
dualsport ttr,sunset trailride from coastkid71 on Vimeo.
Back to today...
Looking back home...
Cockenzie minus it`s chimneys...
UK`s second largest wind farm is here on the Lammermuirs...
Largest diameter production wheels on the Lammermuirs too today... :)
Time to descend to the track....
Freewheeling to Yester Estate and down to Gifford village...
And onto the old 2 Mile Right of Way to Bolton...
And down to Haddington, great harvest views...
Here at Aimsfield during WW2... Polish Tanks...
Leaving Haddington and ascending to the Ridge Road...
And were back to the old Fortified House...
Where we began, 30ish miles later...
Time to head home...
More soon...
Hi
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading that and the pictures were very good.
Is that a Shimano internal gear hub that you are using? If so, do you find it ok?
Regards
Hi, yep it is an Alfine 8 speed hub, love it for this bikes concept and use, ideal in long grass etc...
ReplyDeleteThe 20t hub sprocket/32t chainring did not give a low enough 1st gear for the steep climb but i had already guessed that,
I will fit a 22t hub sprocket soon to get low enough gearing for climbing steep stuff.