Extra May ride to Blackness

As the weather warms up and the days get longer, we add in a few extra, longer rides to take advantage of the opportunity. This month, Logan led 24 cyclists on a very pleasant ride out to the West. We left from Craigleith, headed out on Route 1 to Dalmeny, cut down under the Forth Road Bridge and went West along the sea front towards Hopetoun House, pausing for a couple of scenic views and jelly babies en route.

We cut through the estate, following Route 76 (I'd not been along the new bit through the woods to Blackness before, but it works very well although not ideal for skinny tyres - better with something a bit chunkier). After a troublesome puncture in this area, we decided that we didn't have time to detour to see Blackness Castle, and instead turned inland and headed up the only real hill of the day (small really, but it was getting windy and cloudy and a bit colder at this point) and after a very short stretch on a main road we descended on the Rouken Glen Garden Centre for lunch - who coped with us admirably and had lots of delicious home made cakes as well as other food.

View 30milers to Blackness May-13 in a larger map
After lunch we headed south to Philipstoun where we wiggled through a housing estate's garage lot and found the canal access, from where we had a few miles of flat cycling with the wind behind us. A short break for another puncture, in the middle of acres of wild garlic, and we left the canal at Winchburgh and had a super whoosh down with tailwind into Kirkliston. A short stretch on the old railway line (slightly uphill but still wind-assisted) and then onto the road past Craigie Farm and to rejoin Route 1 near Cramond. From there we made it back to Craigleith in good order and many people celebrated (and warmed up) in Costa coffee before heading their separate ways. Thanks to Logan for a very good route.