Next 20miler ride is Saturday 9th June, 10.30am in the usual place.
I'll be leading the ride, and heading out to Ratho Climbing Centre (which has a cafe and picnic area). Exact route still to be plotted but there will probably be some short stretches on rough-ish tracks, and some short stretches on busy-ish roads - but both only short!
There will also be a 20-miler evening ride, on Wednesday 27th June. Starts 7pm, on Middle Meadow Walk as usual. See http://www.cycling-edinburgh.org.uk/ for more information nearer the time.
Sunday, 13 May 2012
Saturday, 12 May 2012
May ride to Dalkeith Country Park
Despite the copious amounts of rain over the last couple of days, today we were lucky with a day of sunshine although there was a bit of wind.
Twenty-one people turned out for this ride, led by Ken, to Dalkeith Country Park. We started by heading East, via Holyrood Park, Fishwives' Causeway, Portobello and a pause at the Bandstand in Joppa, then on through Musselburgh (I noticed for the first time that there is a useful underpass under the main road beside the river in the centre of Musselburgh - must use that next time rather than trying to cross the road!) and up the Esk to Whitecraigs, where we entered the Dalkeith Country Park by a back gate.
We had a very sunny lunch in the courtyard - many people had brought packed lunches (especial thanks to Iain for sharing his home made soup!) and the rest bought sandwiches etc. at the cafe. They even got free top-ups of tea and coffee, which is a rare and wonderful thing. We admired the sow and her pile of multicoloured piglets, and the chickens scratched and bathed in the dust.
After lunch we left the park by a different route - a rougher surface (with lots of puddles after the week's rain) but still easily rideable, and out by the back gate near the A1. From there we had a straightforward ride back along Route 1 (Innocent Railway etc.) and were at Middle Meadow Walk around 3pm.
Photos on Facebook which might work but I'm not sure about permissions!
View 20milers to Dalkeith CP May12 in a larger map
Saturday, 5 May 2012
30miler ride to Blackness Castle
Map from last Saturday's longer ride out to Blackness Castle via the Hopetoun Estate.
Report to follow...
View 2012-05-05 Blackness 30-miler in a larger map
View 2012-05-05 Blackness 30-miler in a larger map
Monday, 16 April 2012
April's ride to Lauriston Castle & Cammo
This month 23 people turned out, on a bright (although chilly) day - although there was some brief snow and rain later but I didn't feel the need for waterproofs - luckily, as I had been optimistic and left them at home!
We started off by a complicated route through the West End, trying to avoid the tram works (it looks as though Edinburgh has decided to ditch trams in favour of a new canal, on Shandwick Place) and then onto the A8 briefly (which was quiet, but had a short stretch that had glass strewn liberally over the full width of the carriageway, so most people carried their bikes over this bit) before getting onto the Roseburn Path in Roseburn and heading north west. We detoured into Lauriston Castle estate and had a pleasant trip through the rose garden (no roses at the moment), onto the estate boundary walk and then a few minutes in the Japanese garden before heading back out.
From there we went to Davidson's Mains, and then through the woods parallel to Queensferry Road - there is a large (estate, not Council) sign saying "No Cycling" but Mike our rights-of-way expert assures us that it has no legal weight as long as we are not damaging or intruding - which we weren't. The woods are an excellent alternative to the busy A90. At Barnton we became pedestrians for a few minutes to get across the junction from North to South, and then into the Cammo estate for a brief pause to admire the remains of the old house.
Heading back out the way we had come, and crossing Barnton junction again from West to East, we then turned off the Maybury road into the Bughtlin estate where again, there is a great alternative to the main road, on a quiet footpath that climbs gently up to Craigmount High School. We descended to the A8, crossed as pedestrians again, and then past the David Lloyd gym and into Corstorphine (I've been asked to point out that we were pedestrians yet again as we passed Tesco - The good thing about a bicycle is that you can dismount and take a different route to busy traffic, if you're not confident about a junction or the road conditions. Especially with a large group, there are times when 20+ cyclists would struggle to be safe in that sort of traffic, so prudence is advised). Most (apart for some picnicers) had lunch at the Corstorphine Inn, where we had reserved a table. The food came quickly and efficiently (we all ordered at the bar - easier than getting everything on a tab and working out who owes what) and it was civilised despite the football match playing on the TV screens!
View 14/04/2012 10:29 AM 20-milers Cammo in a larger map
After lunch we headed West again, this time going through the Gyle shopping centre, Edinburgh Park, under the railway line and over the tram line, into Hermiston Gait shopping centre and finally we headed back into town along the canal.
Total distance ended up about 22 miles.
Next month: Ken is leading the normal 20 mile-ish ride to Dalkeith (I think) on Saturday 12th, and Logan is leading an extra ride to Blackness Castle on Saturday 5th (start time 10am, meeting on the Roseburn path near Blackhall).
We started off by a complicated route through the West End, trying to avoid the tram works (it looks as though Edinburgh has decided to ditch trams in favour of a new canal, on Shandwick Place) and then onto the A8 briefly (which was quiet, but had a short stretch that had glass strewn liberally over the full width of the carriageway, so most people carried their bikes over this bit) before getting onto the Roseburn Path in Roseburn and heading north west. We detoured into Lauriston Castle estate and had a pleasant trip through the rose garden (no roses at the moment), onto the estate boundary walk and then a few minutes in the Japanese garden before heading back out.
From there we went to Davidson's Mains, and then through the woods parallel to Queensferry Road - there is a large (estate, not Council) sign saying "No Cycling" but Mike our rights-of-way expert assures us that it has no legal weight as long as we are not damaging or intruding - which we weren't. The woods are an excellent alternative to the busy A90. At Barnton we became pedestrians for a few minutes to get across the junction from North to South, and then into the Cammo estate for a brief pause to admire the remains of the old house.
Heading back out the way we had come, and crossing Barnton junction again from West to East, we then turned off the Maybury road into the Bughtlin estate where again, there is a great alternative to the main road, on a quiet footpath that climbs gently up to Craigmount High School. We descended to the A8, crossed as pedestrians again, and then past the David Lloyd gym and into Corstorphine (I've been asked to point out that we were pedestrians yet again as we passed Tesco - The good thing about a bicycle is that you can dismount and take a different route to busy traffic, if you're not confident about a junction or the road conditions. Especially with a large group, there are times when 20+ cyclists would struggle to be safe in that sort of traffic, so prudence is advised). Most (apart for some picnicers) had lunch at the Corstorphine Inn, where we had reserved a table. The food came quickly and efficiently (we all ordered at the bar - easier than getting everything on a tab and working out who owes what) and it was civilised despite the football match playing on the TV screens!
View 14/04/2012 10:29 AM 20-milers Cammo in a larger map
After lunch we headed West again, this time going through the Gyle shopping centre, Edinburgh Park, under the railway line and over the tram line, into Hermiston Gait shopping centre and finally we headed back into town along the canal.
Total distance ended up about 22 miles.
Next month: Ken is leading the normal 20 mile-ish ride to Dalkeith (I think) on Saturday 12th, and Logan is leading an extra ride to Blackness Castle on Saturday 5th (start time 10am, meeting on the Roseburn path near Blackhall).
Monday, 26 March 2012
Upcoming rides including 30-miler
April's ride is on Saturday 14th, to Lauriston Castle & the Cammo Estate.
In May, we have an extra ride on Saturday 5th May - Logan will be leading a 30-ish mile ride to South Queensferry, Hopetoun House and Blackness. Meet: 10.00, at the Sustrans marker on the Roseburn path, by the three-way junction with the Blackhall and Telford paths (this is near the Sainsbury's petrol station in S. Groathill Ave.) - note non-standard start time and meeting place (see map).
View May 30milers in a larger map
The normal May ride on Saturday 12th will be led by Ken - details nearer the time.
In May, we have an extra ride on Saturday 5th May - Logan will be leading a 30-ish mile ride to South Queensferry, Hopetoun House and Blackness. Meet: 10.00, at the Sustrans marker on the Roseburn path, by the three-way junction with the Blackhall and Telford paths (this is near the Sainsbury's petrol station in S. Groathill Ave.) - note non-standard start time and meeting place (see map).
View May 30milers in a larger map
The normal May ride on Saturday 12th will be led by Ken - details nearer the time.
Saturday, 10 March 2012
March's ride to Mortonhall
Chris led 32 of us out on an interesting route today. We had plenty of new people, which is always good to see, and today's route was a little shorter than 20 miles but had a good amount of climb to balance that out. I certainly felt I'd earned my lunch when it came!
We worked our way through Marchmont/Sciennes and up to the Kings' Buildings, then up the Hermitage of Braid - lots of people walking dogs but because we were cycling uphill I don't think we freaked them out much (going slower). Then we carried on along the Braid Burn, until we came out at what used to be the Naafi but is now a hole in the ground. From there, we cycled parallel to the city bypass through housing estates - occasionally taking a wrong turn but it all worked out in the end and we did a short loop around Morton House (a very beautiful Georgian mansion with lovely views out East) and then up onto the hill behind Mortonhall before (gingerly) descending to the Stables Bar for lunch. Some people ate picnics outside but most ate in the bar, where there was a log fire burning, or in a side room where they had laid out a long table for us.
After lunch we climbed back up a short hill and had some fantastic views of Edinburgh before a swift descent down Liberton Brae and back to the centre by a similar route to the morning.
View 20Milers Mar12 Mortonhall in a larger map
Next month's ride is on Saturday 14th April and (I think) Jim will be leading the ride.
We worked our way through Marchmont/Sciennes and up to the Kings' Buildings, then up the Hermitage of Braid - lots of people walking dogs but because we were cycling uphill I don't think we freaked them out much (going slower). Then we carried on along the Braid Burn, until we came out at what used to be the Naafi but is now a hole in the ground. From there, we cycled parallel to the city bypass through housing estates - occasionally taking a wrong turn but it all worked out in the end and we did a short loop around Morton House (a very beautiful Georgian mansion with lovely views out East) and then up onto the hill behind Mortonhall before (gingerly) descending to the Stables Bar for lunch. Some people ate picnics outside but most ate in the bar, where there was a log fire burning, or in a side room where they had laid out a long table for us.
After lunch we climbed back up a short hill and had some fantastic views of Edinburgh before a swift descent down Liberton Brae and back to the centre by a similar route to the morning.
View 20Milers Mar12 Mortonhall in a larger map
Next month's ride is on Saturday 14th April and (I think) Jim will be leading the ride.
Sunday, 12 February 2012
February's ride to Musselburgh
Despite all the snow in England over recent days, Edinburgh has been remarkably snow-free this winter, and February's ride dawned brighter and warmer than recent days. We had a good turn-out yesterday (21 or so) and Mike led the ride East to Musselburgh. We started by descending into Holyrood Park, then climbing the hill up to Willowbrae (holding up a couple of coaches slightly, but they didn't seem too stressed by this) and then down through Mountcastle to Figgate Park; often this is a park that people have never realised was there before, so it's nice to show people something new! From there we went towards Portobello via the golf course, across the bridge over the Harry Lauder Road and then we turned east through the back streets up the hill from the High Street - a nice quiet route with some good views.
We spotted a lot of roadies (going in the opposite direction, thankfully) - the Edinburgh Road Club groups out for their weekly ride; very much faster than us! They seemed friendly though. We arrived in Musselburgh via the Promenade. When we crossed the Esk we were interested to notice that the Electric Bridge (built in the 60s by the power company to allow transportation of turbines to Cockenzie without going through the centre of the town) was open (as it is on Race Days). Apparently the power company offered it to the town council for a nominal fee, which was turned down, so the gates are normally closed to traffic.
As the route so far had been quite short (and direct - look at the map!) Mike took us on a short loop around Musselburgh race course on a slightly muddy track. I hadn't realised before that the local golf course lies within the race course - an efficient use of space I think. We arrived in the town centre for lunch around 12.20 and split into groups to avoid overburdening the cafes. After lunch we headed back into town via Route 1 (with a short but interesting detour at the beginning after a lapse in concentration!) and had our only puncture of the day in the Bingham area) Frustratingly, the bike shop had sold the rider the wrong size of inner tube (26" tube for a 28" tyre - goes to show that even the "experts" need to pay attention a bit more some times!) - anyway the holey tube was patched and we got back on our way and made it to the city centre around 3.15pm.
View 20Milers Feb12 Musselburgh in a larger map
We spotted a lot of roadies (going in the opposite direction, thankfully) - the Edinburgh Road Club groups out for their weekly ride; very much faster than us! They seemed friendly though. We arrived in Musselburgh via the Promenade. When we crossed the Esk we were interested to notice that the Electric Bridge (built in the 60s by the power company to allow transportation of turbines to Cockenzie without going through the centre of the town) was open (as it is on Race Days). Apparently the power company offered it to the town council for a nominal fee, which was turned down, so the gates are normally closed to traffic.
As the route so far had been quite short (and direct - look at the map!) Mike took us on a short loop around Musselburgh race course on a slightly muddy track. I hadn't realised before that the local golf course lies within the race course - an efficient use of space I think. We arrived in the town centre for lunch around 12.20 and split into groups to avoid overburdening the cafes. After lunch we headed back into town via Route 1 (with a short but interesting detour at the beginning after a lapse in concentration!) and had our only puncture of the day in the Bingham area) Frustratingly, the bike shop had sold the rider the wrong size of inner tube (26" tube for a 28" tyre - goes to show that even the "experts" need to pay attention a bit more some times!) - anyway the holey tube was patched and we got back on our way and made it to the city centre around 3.15pm.
View 20Milers Feb12 Musselburgh in a larger map
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