EDINBURGH 20-MILERS

20th Anniversary Year

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Thursday 19 February 2015

Our next cycling weekend: Peebles in May


By Glenn Brearley

The 2015 20-Milers cycling weekend will be to Peebles on 16th - 17th May.

We'll leave Edinburgh on the Saturday morning and head to Peebles via Gladhouse Reservoir, Eddleston, the Meldons and Lyne Station. We'll  stay overnight (all meet up for dinner) in Peebles and return to Edinburgh on the Sunday via Innerleithen and Middleton.

The pace will be similar to a usual 20-Milers rides. The distance each day will be about 40 miles.

You will need to book your own accommodation. It's very likely that we'll end up in several different hotels / guest houses / bed &  breakfasts. A quick on-line search suggests that you should expect to pay about £50.00 each for accommodation. You may be able to find  somewhere cheaper or more expensive. Some may want to have a single room, whilst others will be happy to share.

I'm after an idea of how many might be interested in joining this ride. Please let me know if you are interested. This does not commit you to going. But I do need to know if there is sufficient interest in order for the trip to go ahead.

Please reply to me,  Glenn Brearley, at Glenn.BrearleyATTforestry.gsi.gov.uk. (Replace ATT by the usual at-sign.).

Saturday 14 February 2015

Valentine's Day ride through the mist


The February 20 Milers began in murky and misty conditions. The weather forecast suggested that it would have cleared somewhat by lunchtime. This was not the case and peering through the gloom with lights on was the order of the day. There would have been some fine views, but they remained hidden in the mist. It was a pleasant change not having to worry about ice. Although it was milder than of late, the damp and misty weather made it feel colder than expected.

It was good to see a few new faces along with a recumbent rider that had not ridden with the group for several months. We set off with 26 riders split into two groups. Arriving at the canal, it was one of those rare occasions when the Leamington Bridge was raised. Most carried their bikes up the steps, whilst a few (including the recumbent rider) opted to ride down to the canal basin and up the other side.

We pressed on alongside the canal through Wester Hailes. On leaving the canal towpath to make towards the Royal Bank of Scotland HQ; the second group had a pleasant surprise. The first group had left them some heart-shaped chocolates on the barrier beside the path. Having polished off these surprise treats; one of the riders passed round some delicious homemade heart-shaped biscuits she had brought along. On past the Royal Bank of Scotland HQ, over the bridge and down the lovely sweeping path that brought us out beside the A8 and on beyond Gogar Roundabout. Along Turnhouse Road and onwards to whizz down Cammo Walk. We carried on making our way eventually to the steep climb up the road to Craigie Farm for a well-deserved lunch stop. During the course of the morning, the five minute gap between the two groups had increased considerably. As a result, a few minutes after the second group arrived, the first group headed off. On the run back into town, both groups suffered more punctures in addition to having to take a diversion through the Dalmeny Estate whilst NCN1 is closed for widening and resurfacing. Once the diversion had been navigated, it was back onto familiar territory and the run back to the start via Cramond Bridge, Barnton, Roseburn Path, Dalry, the Telfer subway and the canal.

Leader: Alan Orr
Report: Glenn
Photos: Michael
Trace: Jim