First Extra of the season this coming Saturday

We've got the first of this year's Extra rides coming up on Saturday (30th), when we'll be heading to East Calder and Almondell Country Park.

Just to remind you - our Extra rides are longer and faster than our usual 20-mile outings. We aim for the same sociable atmosphere, but the pace is somewhat speedier and we take fewer stops. Please keep that in mind when deciding if this ride will be a good choice for your fitness level.

Of all the places that we regularly visit on our rides, Almondell Country Park is one of my personal favourites. It is set in the delightful River Almond valley, and parts of it feel very secluded. Although the area near the visitor centre is often busy, there is a quiet walled garden there that most visitors seem not to know about, and this is where we will take our picnic lunch.

Our route

The ride will start from our alternative meeting point at the Craigleith path junction (see here if you are not sure where that is.) We'll head out on mainly quiet roads as far as Niddry Castle, then pick up the canal towpath for about three miles before joining the road into the park. The return leg will be on quiet roads via Kirknewton and Long Dalmahoy.

The total distance will be about 34 miles. We should be away from traffic for most of the time, apart from just over a mile on the main road through Kirkliston. We can expect a few steep climbs, especially in the afternoon, but no other serious hills.

Our lunch stop

Be sure to bring your own food for a picnic lunch, as there is no useful catering of any kind in or near the park. The visitor centre has vending machines for hot and cold drinks and also sells a very limited range of confectionery, but unfortunately it is closed between 12:30 and 13:00, which is likely to exactly coincide with when we are there.

There are toilets in the park. We will also have toilet stops on the outward and return legs.

Meeting time

Please plan to arrive at the meeting point (see above) in good time for a punctual 10:30 departure. The ride will end late afternoon in the Bruntsfield / Leamington area.

As always, the above details should be regarded as provisional. The meeting time and place are fixed, but we occasionally need to vary the route and destination according to conditions on the day.

Before setting out ...

If you haven't been on your bike much during the winter, this would be a good time to give it a quick once over.  Check that the chain is clean and well lubricated and that the brakes don't rub on the wheel (replace the brake pads if they are worn). Check too that the tyres are properly inflated and free from embedded stones or other fragments that could cause a puncture. Most modern bikes have quick-release wheels, but if yours doesn't, be sure to bring an appropriate spanner or whatever other tools are needed to remove a wheel in the event of a puncture. And of course don't forget that spare inner tube.

Looking ahead, we'll have our standard June ride on the 13th, and our second Extra later that month. I'll post the usual details here for both rides nearer the time.