Next Spokes Ride

Sunday 3rd July 2022. Meet at 10:00 outside the Usher Hall, Lothian Rd.

Destination to be decided on Wednesday. Distance will be around 70km (42 miles). Lunch in a café.
 
Please check your bike before the ride, i.e. tyre pressure, chain and brakes. Bring some money for emergencies and café stops and/or post ride refreshments. Don't forget snacks to keep your energy levels up and a drink to consume en-route.
 
Don't forget to bring a small toolkit to fit your bike and a spare inner tube in case you get a puncture. It is much easier to replace the tube than to repair a tube, especially if you have a slow puncture.
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Weather

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Cycling Knights

"Svmer is icumen in
Lhude sing cuccu!
Groweþ sed and bloweþ med
and springþ þe wde nu.
Sing cuccu!" ~
Sumer is icumen in, Anonymous, written in 1250

Cycling is cheap and fun and, I think, enjoyed best with companions. A cool day saw 15 people go to East Lothian, and return back through Midlothian. The morning didn't start too well, a bit drizzly, which probably put most people off. Fortunately this was the only rain we experienced.

Trotting Off

The breeze wasn't too full on as we headed east beneath Samson's Ribs. Bicycle knights on a Sunday bicycle crusade out of Edinburgh. Although fast-ish, we're not in a race, just a steady pace. Some fun at Duddingston, taking a detour around the barriers. Olde Duddingston was still sleepy, as we crossed over Willowbrae Rd, then up Mountcastle DrS.

I wanted to make the most of today, the ride would be 45 miles. The morning would also be easy, despite cycling in to the wind. The side roads were deserted, even Milton road was quiet. Before long we arrived at Musselburgh Harbour. The wind making the ropes playing their ting-ting tune on masts of yachts.

High light clouds kept the light flat, but not too dark. Occasionally the sun would break through, warming and lightening. The first hill came coming out of Musselburgh. It split the group. At Walleyford roundabout I waited as the two groups took the high road to Prestonpans. We stopped at the monument to the 1745 Battle of Prestonpans at the entrance to Meadowmill Sports Centre.

From Meadowmill, we took the the cycle path to Tranent. Well you know cycle paths and punctures in this country tend to go hand in hand. Neil was the poor unfortunate. Neil proceeded to give a lecture on how to fix a puncture at Tranent. Several keen students gathered around to quickly scoop up any loose knowledge. The rest appeared bored and were getting cold. As this seem to be taking some time, I sent some of the riders ahead. I wasn't sure of how close we were to our lunchtime stop at the Hopetoun House Hotel in Ormiston.

I needn't have worried. We arrived there all too quickly. The wind seemed to propel us, even when we were heading east. While waiting for the bar to open, some people went to the Great Yew of Ormiston, near Ormiston Hall, where John Knox apparently preached and first gave Communion. The rest of us were content to wait and generally chat. The hotel did us proud, excellent food at a resonable price, well worth a return visit.

The B side is often better than the A side

"Awe bleteþ after lomb,
lhouþ after calue cu,
Bulluc sterteþ, bucke uerteþ.
Murie sing cuccu!" ~
Sumer is icumen in

After lunch we headed west to Pathhead. A wonderfully quiet B road, flat and slightly winding crossing from East Lothian to Midlothian. The clouds were clearing, the sun becoming less hazy, colours more defined. It's difficult to go fast when you have to carry two first aid kits, one for bikes and the other for humans. The afternoon was warming quite nicely, and we're now in Midlothian.

At Pathhead, we crossed the busy A68 to follow another B road, Crichton road. Although bumpy at first, the views across the wooded landscape were simply stunning. At Crichton, we waited as one or two people divested themselves of extra layers on the way up the hill. This was not a difficult hill, just warm.

After giving a lecture about the forthcoming hill, we set off up, then down down down. Not too fast, as the road was tree lined, so seeing round the bends was difficult, but it was still exhilarating to descend 60m altitude through a long green tunnel. Big smiles abounded. Across the small bridge over Tyne water, then up the other side, regaining the height we just lost without much effort. To our right Gallow Hill, to our left curious cattle. We carried on up, gaining a little more height, then a flat bit. Then a 90m descent in altitude took us through Gorebridge, over Gore Water, to the A7.

Then on to the B6372, nominated by Top Gear Magazine as one of the best roads B road to drive. I think it's better being cycled. We pass Arniston House, and the old colleries of Arniston Engine. Here it is all green. then suddenly the views close up, by trees and hills to the south and a high wall and trees to the south. The road narrows, and is slightly downhill. At Temple we cross the South Esk, then a small climb, fir trees on either side of the road as it snaked upward, a gentle alpine climb. The trees cleared momentarily to reveal a lovely view of Old Temple Kirk, open to the public for the Gardens Scheme.

Militia Templi

I didn't think The Templar bit of the Knights Templar was to do with Temple, but I must admit to being wrong. They were 'Militia Templi', Soldiers of the Temple, King Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. The Grand Master was referred as 'Magister Militum Templi', Master of the Knights of the Temple. They did followed a 'monastic' lifestyle, based on St. Bernard's Cistercian Order, so were in effect monks that fought. Temple village derives its name from the Knights Templar, being the headquarters between the 12th and 14th centuries. Knights Templar were abolished in the Ad providam Papal Bull in 1312. Knights Templar property was handed over to the Knights Hospitaller. At that time Robert the Bruce was under a Roman Catholic Church Interdict, and had been excommunicated, so the abolition did not apply north of the Firth of Forth, Temple village lay in England at that time. The remains of the Temple Preceptory is the only surviving example of a Knights Templar property in Scotland. Roslynn Chapel was built after the Knights Templar were abolished. http://www.philipcoppens.com/rosslyn_excursions.html

After the climb, the road straightens like a Roman road. Bends and twists have been replaced with ups and downs. A succession of hidden dips and blind summits instead of twists and turns. Views a restricted to a few hundred metres either side occasionally open up to offer a fleeting view showing we were slowly gaining altitude. Then a sudden drop presented a left and then back up as the road turns right. Over the top, the road rolls down once more, a sharp right hand corner. Then suddenly we're in open countryside again, riding free.

This was quite a long downhill, the a short sharp uphill to take us over the last 'col' of the ride and we're near the top of Mount Lothian. The views open up as wide as they can get. To the north across to Fife. The whole length of the Pentlands could be seen. From here to Auchendinny, one long descent to cross the North Esk at Auchendinny, then the last major hill. Only a couple of climbs left now, but nothing that would worry any one unduly. The last bit of the ride seemed to fly by. The route through Bush, hampered slightly by road works, through Damhead, to Fairmilehead and the end of the ride was over so quickly.

Thanks to everyone who turned up. I hope you enjoyed the ride as much as I did.

Warm Regards,
Explore, Dream, Discover

Ride Statistics

Distance:       71.1km (44.1 miles)
Average Speed:  19.4km (12 mph) Max 51.5 km/h
Total Climbing: 986m (2549ft) Max 289m
Time:           3 hours 38 minutes
Max. Temp.:     17 deg C (63 deg F)

Route Description

Start:  Usher Hall
Out:    Tollcross, the Meadows, Holyrood Park, Duddingston, Mountcastle, Brunstane, Joppa, Fisherrow, Musselburgh, Wallyford, Prestonpans, Meadowmill, Tranent, North Elphinstone, Buxley, Ormiston
Return: Ormiston, Pathhead, Crichton, Mossend, Gorebridge, Temple, Mount Lothian, Loanstone, Auchendinny, Bush, Fairmilehead
End:    Fairmilehead

Interactive Route Map

The map below shows the route that we took on the June 2009 Spokes Ride.

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