Hope those of you who turned up on Sunday enjoyed the trip to Silversands Bay at Aberdour. 24 people turned up. Summer weather on the first ride of British Summer Time 2005. It was very nice to see you all.

A beautiful day, nice and dry We left the Usher Hall at 10:15, went along to Fountainbridge, then down Dalry Road, along Murieston Crescent to  Russell Rd and on to the cycle path to join National Route 1 at Roseburn. We had one puncture just before the turn off to Somerfield (used to be Safeway) at Barnton. So Mike we weren’t ignoring you, just after you left, someone had a puncture. Some of us carried on to Somerfield to wait and, as it was such a lovely day, some of us bought a picnic. Up the cycle path from Cramond Brig, we turned off route 1 at New Burnshot. One person left here to make their own way to South Queensferry, and said her goodbye. The rest of us followed a minor road to access StandingStane Rd, turned on to Railway Path at Dalmeny. This path is now tarmac’d along its entire length to South Queensferry Scotmid supermarket. From there we went along Morrison Gdns to access Forth Road Bridge. We said goodbye to another person at the bridge.

We followed the signs for National Cycle Route 1 for the Coastal Path, this took us through Inverkeithing, past the old Inverkeithing harbour, past the quarry to Dalgety Bay, where 10 year old Aimee managed to climb a hill that her dad had to get off and push!!! We joined Lumsdaine Drive and went along Moray Way South to join Beech Avenue. Unfortunately we had just missed the main flowering of the daffodils here. Beech Avenue took us from Dalgety Bay to Aberdour. We went along the High Street, Main Street and Hawkcraig Road, arriving at Silversands Bay just after 1pm.

At Silversands, it was nice and warm, and we had a picnic on the beach. Those people who did not bring a lunch, or buy one at Somerfield, made use of the café facilities. Unfortunately, the café service was not very efficient. Had we all required lunch, I don’t think the café could have coped with the numbers. Fortunately, all I only ordered a Lucozade Sport, others were not as lucky!!!!

Left for home sometime after 2 o’clock. Two people got the train back to Edinburgh from Aberdour. The cloud had shielded the sun, and a westerly breeze had increased. Took National Cycle Network Route 1 back to St. Bridget’s Church, where most people took advantage to look around it. Then we followed the coastal path and National Cycle Network Route 1 back to Inverkeithing. We did not visit Donibristle Chapel on the way back as it was getting late. At Inverkeithing, two people decided to get the train the rest of the way.

The rest of us pressed on taking the reverse route from the Bridge through S. Queensferry back to Roseburn following National Cycle Route 1.

I hope you all enjoyed the ride, even though the headwind from Beech Avenue to Inverkeithing did stretch out the line of cyclists somewhat. I hope you weren’t too tired to go to work.

Ride Stats

Distance:             70km (43.75 miles)
Average Speed:        17.1 km/h (10.62 mph) quite slow
Total climbing:      668m (2192 feet) and you lot thought it was flat!!!!
Max Temperature:      17 deg C (62.6 deg F) starting from about 13deg C at the Usher Hall, and cooling off after lunch to about 14 deg C
Time cycling:          4 hours 12 mins