July's ride to Balerno

It's important to challenge assumptions. 20milers rides are not intended to be long, fast or competitive in any way. The aim is to explore the city, discover routes that our riders might not know about and find ways that don't involve busy roads or tiring hills (mostly). However Edinburgh is a small city, and there is a limit to how far outside the city one can go and still get back within 20 miles. There are a number of "nice" cycle routes - the Innocent Railway to get to Musselburgh, Route 1 to get to South Queensferry, the Union Canal to go West, and the Water of Leith to get out to the South West.

Photo by Logan Strang

So today's ride was interesting because we managed to get all the way to Balerno and back without setting wheel on the Water of Leith, at all. 32 people turned up for today's ride (including our first ever fixie, and quite a few new people too) The morning's route took us through Morningside (where a small piece of glass caused our first puncture in several rides), Craiglockhart (a useful illustration of how not thinking like a car user ("main road - good, side road - bad") transformed what could have been a slog up Colinton Road with busy traffic into a pleasant ascent on a quiet back road - Craiglockhart Road North. I had a lovely chat with a fellow cyclist all the way up - something that wouldn't have been safe or comfortable on a main road. We then had to spend a few minutes on a busy road before we got to Colinton village and passed under the bypass and onto quiet country lanes and paths. Some of the tracks had suffered considerable damage in the recent heavy rain (right down to bare rock in places) but we pushed our bikes over the worst bits, and ended up in Balerno just in time to catch the farmer's market before it closed at 1pm. The Grey Horse pub kindly accommodated the majority of riders (some found other fare or had brought their own packed lunches) with simple sandwiches and soup - just right.

After lunch (and some time fixing another puncture) we followed NCR 75 down to Long Dalmahoy Road, then turned right and came down to the canal through Heriot Watt campus at Riccarton. From there we used the canal all the way back into town, to Harrison Park. By this point many people had peeled off to make their own way home, but a hard core of about 10 followed Andrew on a novel route that got us back to the starting point via Church Hill.


View 20milers July12 Balerno in a larger map

28miles to Ratho

View 20-ish-milers to Ratho in a larger map

With just about our largest group ever (30+) we were led by Alan on a longer than normal ride to Ratho, via Balerno and back via Currie (see the map above). We had gorgeous summer weather - warm and sunny, without much wind, and even the power cut at the Bridge Inn (which meant that we diverted to the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena for lunch about half a mile away - apart from those with picnics who just went there for a cake) didn't cause any upsets. We had a couple of punctures but when one can stand around and chat and look at the view over the Forth Valley while it's being fixed, they weren't much of a hardship. Even with the longer route we still made it back into town before the shops shut (4pm), although some people took a shorter option and went home direct along the canal after lunch. When I was pedalling slowly up the long hill into Currie I half-wished that I'd taken that option too! We had some lovely long downhill stretches to balance the ups though - my top speed was 32.7mph at one point - luckily there were no speed cameras nearby.

July 2009 to EICA, Ratho

July's ride

Today's route will explore some interesting bike paths in the Balerno, Ratho and Riccarton areas, with lunch at the Bridge Inn, Ratho, or a canal-side picnic spot. At 24 miles, this will be slightly longer than normal, but will be taken at the usual gentle pace.
Meet: 10.30, at the north end of Middle Meadow Walk (junction of Lauriston Place).
Cost and booking: Free; just turn up.
Further information: Mike Lewis (0131 343 2520) or Livia Dyckhoff (0131 554 0577), or email (See side panel)

31 20-milers on July's ride

What a superb turn out! Today we had our biggest turn-out of the year (or possibly ever) as we headed out of Edinburgh towards South Queensferry. We started out on the normal "bike rat-run" out of town: head through the Meadows then down to Fountainbridge and then onto the Roseburn Path to join NCR 1 out to Cramond Brig. We went along side the A90 for a while then crossed over on the route towards Kirkliston, and then Mike led us up a lovely shady, windy track (out of the rain which had started to become rather dampening) that eventually brought us out in Dalmeny. It was nice to head Downhill from there into South Queensferry for lunch - most people used the Picnic cafe - they ran out of soup, but still managed to serve everyone in time for us to head off 40 minutes later.

July ride to South Queensferry

There was a large cruise liner in the Forth, and their landing boats were zipping to and fro from the Maid of the Forth landing point, and disgorging the passengers onto buses. We passed by them and under the Forth Bridge - thankfully NOT heading up the offensive hill towards the station, but going along at sea level into the Dalmeny estate. I personally have never been into this estate, and it is definitely worth a trip. The paths were generally sound (some tarmac, mostly gravelly, only some short stretches of earth/grass single-track) and mostly car-free. We had glimpses of the beach all along the track, and ended up at Dalmeny House with a great view of the Forth. Nice place for a puncture!

Finally we headed back up along the Almond and returned to our original route at the Cramond Brig. Andrew's stick won the impromptu game of Pooh Sticks!


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July's Ride

We've had a string of superb rides during the last few months. We've been lucky with the weather, and we've managed to find some interesting and unusual places to visit. There's every reason to expect the trend to continue for this month's run.

This month's route and destination

My aim this time is to introduce you to some particularly attractive bike paths in the Queensferry / Dalmeny area. I can promise you a scenic ride in a delightful rural settings, with excellent views, a long way from any traffic (at least for part of the route). In fact, I hope to surprise you with some places that you might never have known existed. Come along and find out more.

The total distance will be 22 miles. I can't claim that it will be completely level, but there definitely won't be any killer hills to worry about.

However, be warned that some short stretches of the route might be rough, narrow and overgrown. If necessary, we will dismount and push. If the weather is particularly bad, we will take an alternative route that avoids the difficult stretches (but without the nice views).

Food and drink

We will stop for a cafe or pub lunch (your choice) in South Queensferry. For those who prefer a picnic, the harbour will be a good spot. You can either bring your own food or pick up a sandwich from the Picnic Shop nearby.

Time and place

I hope you all know the meeting place by now. Middle Meadow Walk, by the Lauriston Place traffic lights. Meet in time for a 10.30 start. The ride should end at approximately 16.00.

Mike Lewis

0131 343 2520