A ride between seasons

"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer." ~ Albert Camus (1913 - 1960)

Thank you to everyone who turned up for this ride. Depending on when, or where, you counted, and due to the recurrence of punctures, there were 14, 19 or 17 people on the March Spokes Ride to Linlithgow. A brisk westerly slowed the pace down as well, but in these circumstances, you have to slow down the pace again. Winter is no time to stop and get cold. We do wait, only in winter we move at the same time as well. However, the punturee and companion decided to explore Cramond.

The Canal can be interesting, sometimes too interesting.

I can't believe that it is March. Early March is a strange time. We always think of daffodils and Spring, yet it can still snow and it's not really Spring. A landscape trying to reinvent itself keeps on getting smothered by a white blanket. But it hasn't gone. Colours are beginning to appear. Green shoots appear, crocus flowers, purple and yellow, add their display to snowdrops. On south facing rocks yellow gorse flowers have appeared. What a difference two weeks of warm weather have made.

I was hesitant to use the canal path as in the winter the mud can be perilously slippy. The wind in our face made cycling a tad more energetic than most people were willing to accept, so we used the canal path. Leafless trees allow more light through, although the light is still winter white, so you can see more. Unfortunately, apart from first shoots appearing, all that was apparent were dead leaves, ploughed fields and occasional green.

On the canal path, the back wheel seems to have a life of its own. Next to a body of water there's always this certain air of fear of falling in to increase adrenalin and a bit of nervous excitement. This is heightened by the cobbles under the bridges, and the additional fear of meeting a cyclist coming full pelt in the opposite direction. In my case it was a stone that lauched the front wheel skyward, and towards the canal. Only using the wheelie to steer away from the canal instead of in to it.

Unfortunately for one person, the canal path brought another puncture. Fortunately it had warmed, so we waited for a while by the canal basin. A quick phone call to the delayed party, and we were off to the pub for a lovely lunch.

I enjoy a lively chat over lunch, I like hearing people views on films, cycling and life in general. Of course, I sometimes have the tendency to belive I am right about something, even though I am totally wrong.

Social Bike Rides

After lunch, we headed out in to the rain. Of course rain and punctures go together, and we had only travelled about 400m, when the first, and thankfully, only puncture of the afternoon occurred. Fairly quickly fixed, we headed up towards Beescraig Country Park. Once at the very top, the rain had stopped, but it was a wee bit cooler. So it can only go down, and then back up again, but with the wind behind us, it feels exhilarating.

Unfortunately tractors are working in the fields and the recent rain meant we had to cycle through large muddy puddles. So much for making sure the bike was clean for the ride. But this was fun, cycling downhill, with the wind behind us, whizzing through West Lothian lanes. The last hills of the day took through to Ratho, back on to the Canal.

Of course, there is one other reason why I am not keen on using canals paths, apart from the fact they're flat ;-), is that cycling is pretty silent, unless you're shouting at someone else behind / in front of you. It is easier on the tarmac paths to travel side by side, but other cyclists, walkers and dogs mean you have to be extra vigilent. Spokes Rides are pretty social events.

Even so, the ride must come to an end sometime, and at Craiglockhart, I said goodbye. Thanks to everyone who turned up and making this a grand day out. As I cycled home, the sun shining, you could almost imagine that summer had returned. Although the trees have yet to display summer green, summer lay within me.

Warm Regards,

Explore, Dream, Discover

Ride Statistics

Distance:       69.1km (42.9 miles)
Average Speed:  18.7km (10.8 mph) Max 47 km/h
Total Climbing: 460m (1833ft) Max 79m
Time:           3 hours 42 minutes
Max. Temp.:     9 deg C (48 deg F)

Route Description

Start:  Usher Hall
Out:    Fountainbridge, Roseburn, Silverknowes, Cramond Brig, Burnshot, Kirkliston, Niddry, Canal, Linlithgow
Return: Linlithgow, Bridgend Farm, Faucheldean, Winchburgh, Niddry, Newbridge, Ratho, Canal, Craiglockhart
End:    Criaglockhart

Interactive Route Map

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