Double the fun

"You only live twice,
Or so it seems.
One life for yourself,
And one for your dreams." ~ You Only Live Twice (Song from the James Bond Film)

A bit of a double life this month as I went to Montgenevre in France for a well deserved break. I'm back now, so I'd better finish the Spokes Rides report. Fourteen people turned up for the February ride. The February ride is one of my favourites. The weather is generally kind and company jolly. A ride to blow cobwebs away if you missed the mince pies from January and get you out of hibernation.

Cycle with your eyes wide open

There was a happy mood on this month's ride. An easterly wind aided our escape from the city and in to the countryside between Cramond and Dalmeny. It wasn't fast, just nice and easy when we weren't cycing in to the wind.

Cool but not cold, the grey sky flattened colours. These dark days can seem gloomy, but February always looks clean, empty, waiting for the Spring growth to start. Desite the light being flat, the world can be wide open. It is nice to get out and explore before the tree canopy reappears. Empty trees allow the sky to flood in, even if it is grey. The only colour is green is provided by slow, growing grass, holly and ivy. Carpets of snowdrops whiten the otherwise brown woodland floor. Last years discarded growth shrinking back in to the earth.

Lunch was at the Aberdour Hotel, which is when the rain appeared.

Live Life

On the way back, blown to the Forth Bridge by the wind, 1 person took a train from Inverkeithing. I think the flat light gives an impression of being frozen in time. It is only when it gets near sun set that you get any impression that the day is ending as he light disappears quite quickly. Otherwise, it could still be morning. I am glad I am on my bike. Otherwise the day would not only flatten colours, but also flatten time. Much better to spend time in the company of people, than to wonder where the weekend went.

I'm sure that at the end, we all felt quite refreshed, despite the wind. A jolly good bike ride. Satisfaction not only to live one life for yourself, but to also live a life of your dreams. Life is there, even in February.

Stuck Inside

It might be snowing or blowing outside, you want to go out on your bike, but a warm fire, cup of coffee and all that chocolate left over from Christmas tempting you to stay in then you might like something to read as well. Nell Nelson, The Woman Who Ate Scotland, has a new book full of recipes to put you in a good mood and good health. Excellent at this time of year, especially when grey clouds crowd in. Must try the Whisky Mac Cheesecake recipe.

Eat Well with Nell, by Nell Nelson, costs £12.99, available from all good bookshops and online.

Warm Regards,

Explore, Dream, Discover

Ride Statistics

Distance:       69.1km (42.9 miles)
Average Speed:  17.4km (10.8 mph) Max 41 km/h
Total Climbing: 559m (1833ft) Max 79m, max climb 9%
Time:           3 hours 58 minutes
Max. Temp.:     4 deg C (39 deg F)

Route Description

Start:  Usher Hall
Out:    Roseburn, Sileverknowes, Barnton, Cramond, S. Queensferry, Forth Road Bridge, Inverkeithing, Dalgety Bay, Aberdour
Return: Aberdour, Dalgety Bay, Inverkeithing, S. Queensferry, Cramond, Barnton, Silverknowes, Roseburn
End:    Dalry Road

Interactive Route Map

The map belows shows the route that we took on the February 2009 Spokes Ride.