EDINBURGH 20-MILERS

20th Anniversary Year

You are welcome to join our easy-paced bike rides. Click here for all the information you need.

Pages

Saturday 14 September 2024

Variations on a bike ride

When planning our rides, we try to avoid too much repetition: heading many times to the same old places by exactly the same routes. But often, by introducing a few subtle changes to a route, we can refresh an otherwise over-familiar journey. Today's outing was a case in point. Our goal was South Queensferry, a place we have visited dozens of times before, including as recently as last May. But this time, our leader, Yaz, made the outing that much more interesting by adding a few variations to the route, including to places where some of the group had never ridden before.

Nineteen riders mustered at the meeting point. The day was somewhat overcast but warmer than of late, with only a moderate breeze. In her briefing, the leader welcomed several newcomers and then gave us an overview of the route. On setting off, we almost immediately came to Variation No. 1. Instead of heading down Middle Meadow Walk and across Bruntsfield Links in the time-honoured way, we turned into the Quartermile. We passed the splendid new Futures Institute, which many in the group were seeing for the first time after the removal of the builders' hoardings around the site.

We exited the Quartermile into Lauriston Place, and then continued via Lady Lawson Street, Festival Square and Rutland Square to Shandwick Place and the West End. Unfortunately, the lovely new segregated bike path in Melville Street was blocked off by road works and we were forced into the road, where contra-flow traffic lights were operating. When completed, these works should result in a greatly-improved street layout around  the junction of Walker Street, especially for cyclists. For now, they were a nuisance, albeit a minor one.

Another first

The next part of the route was another first for many in our group: the CCWEL. This segregated bike path, which runs through the city centre, was opened just six months ago. It took us quickly to Wester Coates, where we joined the well-worn Roseburn Path. The next eight miles were in familiar territory: Craigleith, Barnton, Cramond Brig, Chapel Gate and the village of Dalmeny. Then came Variation No. 2. Instead of our usual route by the sports centre and Roseberry Avenue, we dropped down to the bike path that runs alongside the railway line. This took us onto the delightful Ferry Glen Path, a well-surfaced high-level path that offers a fine view of the Forth Bridge and the Firth of Forth. 

Leaving the path at the Co-op, we headed down The Loan and into the old part of Queensferry for our lunch stop. One or two of our riders made for the Little Bakery café. The rest of us made ourselves comfortable at our usual picnic spot on the steps overlooking the firth.

 

As picnic sites go, this is one of the better ones, with take-away hot drinks available from a nearby shop and public toilets just across the street. Two of our riders – both newcomers to the group – mentioned that this was not only their first visit to South Queensferry but also the first time they had seen the Forth Bridge close up. It's always satisfying when we can introduce people to places they had not been to before.

We had made good time through the morning, and by 1 pm we were on our way again. And so came Variation No. 3. Often on our Queensferry runs, we would head east at this point, along the cobbled main street and into the Dalmeny Estate. But to avoid the very rough – and possibly muddy – paths in the estate, this time we headed west, passing the harbour and then tackling the climb up Hopetoun Road. Where the road passes under the Forth Road Bridge, we turned back along Stewart Terrace and through the Hewlett-Packard Estate (that's not its official name, by the way, but it's what many people call it). Once again in Dalmeny village, we retraced our outward route via  Cramond Brig and Barnton. As is often the case, several members of the group peeled off at Craigleith. The rest of us continued on the Roseburn Path and the CCWEL. The only difficulty of returning by this route is that Lady Lawson Street is one-way, with no exception for cyclists, forcing us to dismount and push our bikes. Fortunately, this is only for a short distance. Almost immediately after mounting up again, we were back in the Quartermile. At that point, our leader declared the ride over – fortuitously, right next to the Caffe Nero, which is one of the usual coffee stops after our rides.

So many thanks to Yaz for leading us on such an enjoyable ride, and especially for finding those clever variations that added so much interest to what is already a very pleasant route.

Leader: Yaz

Report and photos: Mike

Wednesday 11 September 2024

20-Milers: 20 Years



The very first 20-Milers bike ride took place on 11 September 2004 - twenty years ago today. So let's look back over some of the highlights of the last two decades.

By Mike Lewis

A grand total of three riders turned up for our first ride: Chris Pearson, myself and one other. It was a dreary day. We got as far as Musselburgh, but by then the rain had set in, so we took refuge in the Brunton Theatre café. By the time we had finished our coffee, the rain had got worse so we abandoned the ride and went home.

After that, things rapidly improved.

2005. By now we are attracting more riders – well into double figures for most of our runs. Darren Mirfield comes up with the name "20-Milers".

2008. We are now on a more organised basis, with a dedicated email address (how did we manage without it?), a blog and a Facebook page (all this is thanks to Livia Marchant). In May, we see a record turnout of 27 riders.


2009. Several members of our group take part in Pedal for Scotland, an annual charity ride from Glasgow to Edinburgh which at its height attracted over a thousand cyclists.

2010. In July, we have the first of our Extra rides. These longer runs quickly become an established part of our programme.

2011. Our first half-day Christmas ride, now very much an annual tradition. Seven riders turn up on that first Christmas morning; the turnout increases rapidly in subsequent years.

2012. To mark the summer solstice in June, we have our first evening ride. This too becomes an annual event for a while. Our August ride attracts a record turnout of 34 cyclists.

2013. That record is broken in June, when 38 riders turn up for a ride to Dalkeith Country Park. Such large numbers are welcome but not easy to manage, so we decide that from now on at least two potential leaders should recce every route. That way, we can split the ride into two groups when necessary. This happens several times over the next few years.


2014. Our busiest year ever. In May, around 30 of us cycle to Blackness as part of a national event to celebrate the opening of the John Muir Way. In June, twelve of us take part in the annual Lepra charity ride to St. Andrews. July sees our first weekend away: a circuit of the Forth, with an overnight stop in Stirling. And on 20 September, the highlight of the year: a ride and lunch to celebrate our tenth anniversary. As part of that celebration, we launch our distinctive red T-shirts and sweatshirts (organised by Ken Roxburgh, with a logo designed by Glenn Brearley).

2015 to 2020. Many more Extras, weekends away, summer solstice rides and Christmas morning rides.

April 2020 to August 2021. Covid-19. Along with all other local cycling groups, we are off the road for the sixteen months of lockdown.

2021 to present. In August 2021, we resume our full programme of rides following the lifting of lockdown. And in September 2024, another milestone: a ride and lunch to celebrate our twentieth anniversary.

During the twenty years since our first ride, I reckon we have organised more than 300 rides of one sort or another. I can't begin to estimate how many cyclists have taken part, but it is clearly a very large number. Many friendships have been formed within the group, including at least two marriages. Some of our members regularly get together for cycling weekends or longer holidays, and we've enjoyed many social events over the years.

Many people have contributed to the success of our group in many different ways: planning and leading rides, backmarking, taking photographs and writing reports for our blog, providing mechanical support, and much more. If, thanks to their efforts,  we have introduced just a few people to the pleasures of cycling and encouraged them into a more active lifestyle, it will all have been worthwhile.


Do you have any special memories of riding with our group? Feel free to post a comment (below) to share them with the world.

Monday 9 September 2024

South Queensferry this coming Saturday

For our ride this coming Saturday (14th), Yaz will be leading us to South Queensferry. This is a familiar destination for most of us, but this time Yaz has cleverly managed to find a couple of interesting variations to the route, which should make for variety.

The total distance will be just under 20 miles. The route will be mainly (but not entirely) away from traffic and mainly (but non entirely) on well-surfaced paths and roads. I can't promise that it will be flat, but at least the hills will all be reasonably gentle.

Lunch

With the closure of two of the cafes in South Queensferry last year, the choice of lunch venue isn't as good as it once was. The Little Bakery and the Ferry Tap both serve light meals, but they tend to be busy at times and therefore the service is often slow. Many of us prefer to bring a packed lunch, and there is a nice picnic spot where we can eat it, overlooking the Forth. Another option would be to pick up a sandwich at the co-op, which is fairly close to our stopping point. There is also a shop nearby that does take-away tea and coffee.

Logistics

As always, we'll gather at the top of Middle Meadow Walk in time for a 10:30 departure. We'll aim to get back to the Meadows around the middle of the afternoon.

Saturday 7 September 2024

A 20-Milers Milestone

Around two dozen of us - including many old friends from our early years - got together for a ride and lunch today, to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of our cycling group.

All photos by Neil Miller

Gathering at Middle Meadow Walk for the start of the ride

Alison gives the customary briefing



Not the sunniest of days


On arrival at the Butterflies Cafe, Yaz says a word of welcome


Speeches, presentations and a quiz

Here's to the next twenty years