Today's ride saw us head out to the Lost Shore Surf Resort near Ratho. The month of March lived up to its reputation by giving us four seasons in one day - hailstones, wind and a brief spell of warm sunshine. The forecast suggested it would stay dry until late afternoon, but that wasn't to be. It was bright and sunny but cool as an impressive turnout of twenty riders gathered at the start. There was even a new rider and a returnee we hadn't seen for quite a while.
Our leader for the day, Alan gave his usual in-depth briefing prior to us heading off towards Murrayfield via Bruntsfield Links, the Leamington Bridge and Roseburn Park. Through Saughtonhall, along the cycle path behind Silvan House, along Meadowhouse Road, and we then stopped beside the dovecot that gives Dovecot Road its name. Perhaps it was a little early in the ride for a refuelling stop [given some of the climbing that lay ahead], but Iain and the writer went amongst the group offering cakes. With the cake-stop over, we pressed on through Broomhall to South Gyle station where we dismounted and pushed our bikes along the walkway that is there whilst the bridge is being worked on. After remounting, we made our way through the Gyle Shopping Centre car park, through Edinburgh Park, took the subway under the Edinburgh City Bypass, along Gogarbank, Gogarmuir Road and Ransfield Road, before turning right to take the downhill followed by a stiff little climb up into Ratho village. We then climbed up through the village and out to join the B7030 for our final downhill run to the Lost Shore Surf Resort. A combination of dangerously impatient drivers and being blasted in the face with heavy rain made this the most unpleasant part of the whole ride. It was a relief to turn off onto the quiet road that took us to our lunch stop. Some riders headed to the dry and warmth of the café, whilst others decided to tough it out in the rain on the picnic tables. A few minutes later we were sitting beneath blue skies and basking in warmish sunshine.
The sun was still shining as we headed up the path back towards Ratho village. But before we had left the village we were being hit by hailstones. Several riders stopped to don waterproofs whilst others gritted their teeth and pressed on. We regrouped just before Roddinglaw by which time it was dry. Usually, we would have turned left onto the unsurfaced track past Kellerstain, but on the outward journey we had seen a sign telling us that Gogar Station Road was closed. Instead we stayed on Roddinglaw Road and joined Gogarbank to retrace our outward route from the morning to Edinburgh Park. From there we took the cycle path alongside Bankhead Drive, Broomhouse Drive and Stenhouse Drive before joining the path beside the tram tracks that took us back to Jenners Depository. Our route back to The Meadows was almost the same as our outbound route, the only difference being that we went via the King's Theatre rather than Bruntsfield Links.
It had been a enjoyable ride despite the changeable weather. Thanks to Alan for leading and thanks to Saquib for back marking.
Leader: Alan
Report: Glenn
Photos: Glenn
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