September Extra this coming Saturday

We've just got time to squeeze one more Extra into our summer programme. It will take place this coming Saturday (15th), when we head out to Almondell Country Park.

As you know, our Extra rides are longer than our usual monthly runs. We start a little earlier, finish a little later, and aim for a slightly higher average speed. But we still try to keep the rides sociable and unpressured. Most of our riders find the pace comfortable, but if you are at all concerned about your fitness level, you might prefer to stick to our "second Saturday" outings instead.

This week's ride

For Saturday's run, Peter will be leading us into West Lothian, heading for Almondell Country Park via Kirkliston (comfort break), Niddry Castle and Broxburn. There will be a few moderate hills, none of them particularly onerous. Some of the paths might be rough in places, so given a choice, a hybrid would be more suitable than a road bike. The total distance will be about 35 miles.

Food and drink

There is no café or pub in the country park, so be sure to bring your own food and drink for a picnic lunch. The visitor centre sells a few confectionery items and they also have a vending machine for hot drinks. But the range is very limited, so it would be wise not to rely on it.

If the weather is bad, we will eat our picnic inside the visitor centre. If the weather is really bad, we will change the route to include a café.

Time and place

We'll set out at 10:15 from our alternative meeting point at the Craigleith path junction (see here if you need directions). I can't say for sure what time the ride will finish, but it's likely to be around 16:00, give or take.

Remember, we don't have a booking system for our rides. Just turn up on the day if you feel like it.