Our first Extra of 2025 this coming Saturday

 

We've got the first of this year's Extra rides coming up on Saturday (24th), when we'll be heading to East Calder and Almondell Country Park.

As you will know by now, our Extra rides are longer than our usual 20-mile outings. We go at a somewhat faster pace and we take fewer stops. Please keep that in mind when deciding if this ride will be a good choice for your fitness level.

Almondell Country Park, with its setting in the deep wooded valley of the River Almond, is a delightful place to visit. It is often crowded, but the visitor centre has a secluded garden where we can enjoy a quiet picnic lunch.

The route

The ride will start from our alternative meeting point at the Craigleith path junction (see here if you are not sure where that is.) We'll head out on a mixture of bike paths and mainly quiet roads as far as Niddry Castle, then pick up the canal towpath for about four miles before joining the road into the park. The return leg will be on quiet roads via Kirknewton and Long Dalmahoy.

The total distance will be about 34 miles. We can expect a few steep climbs, especially in the afternoon, but no other serious hills or other difficulties.

Lunch arrangements

Note that there is no café or pub in the park, so be sure to bring food for a picnic lunch. The visitor centre has vending machines for hot and cold drinks, but unfortunately it is closed between 12:30 and 13:00.

There are toilets in the park. We will also have a toilet stop on the outward leg, about half way through the morning.

Meeting time

You should plan to arrive at the meeting point (see above) in time for a 10:30 departure. The ride will end in the Bruntsfield / Leamington area mid- to late-afternoon.

As always, the above details should be regarded as provisional. The meeting time and place are fixed, but we occasionally need to vary the route and destination according to conditions on the day.

Please check that your bike is in good mechanical order before you set out. And don't forget to bring a spare inner tube as well as any tools that might be needed to remove your wheel in the event of a puncture.

Looking ahead

We'll again aim to have two rides in June. For our standard "second Saturday" run on the 14th, we've got in mind an interesting new destination - more details nearer the time . And we will have our second Extra of the season on  the 28th.