Adventurous Learning

"When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,
pray that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge" ~ Road to Ithaca, Constantine Peter Cavafy, 1911

The April ride was very busy, 28 people turned up, and we went to Aberlady in East Lothian. Obviously the gorgeous sunny spring day, cool in the shade, warm in the sun, resulted in "Hey it's Spring, better get rid of these cobwebs.". It was very nice to see you all. Thank you for making the ride a pleasant one to lead.

Here's To You Spokes Riders

Of course getting 28 people on bikes out the city centre is always very challenging. I am sure the lights have been deliberately set to slow down as many cyclists as possible. The best way is to take a route of least resistance, so we headed to Holyrood Park and the Innocent Railway Path.Cycling down the Innocent railway, I was surprised to see how many saplings that were set close to the wall were already in full leaf. However, it has been very warm in the week leading up to the Spokes Ride. It is nice, a couple of weeks later, to see greenery on trees, even at altitude ;-).

Our route out was circuitous because of the half marathon, so the morning route had to avoid the coast. That meant following NCN route 1 to the River Esk, then through Wallyford and up to Tranent. The hill was not as onerous as it can be, a breeze was behind us, then through Tranent, and on to the old A1. A wonderful road to cycle due to the wide cycle lanes, even though the road was not at its usual quiet Sunday morning.

Then we turned on to a minor road, with a slight hill. Here again the wind pushed us up past Bangly Hill. The Hopetoun Monument standing proud over trees ready to burst in to leaf indicating that we were nearly there. Downhill to Aberlady was fun, as it should be, with the occasional pedal turn as we headed slight in to the wind. Then a burst of speed as the road turned away from the wind, or trees and bushes gave shelter.

On the way down a motorist complained about cyclists riding two abreast. According to The Highway Code, cyclists should "never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file where the road narrows or on the approach to a bend". The CTC's advice for group riders is similar but more detailed - to quote from their website: "Group riding pattern is normally in pairs. This is sociable and keeps the group together. Single file is courteous and safer on some roads."

The Highway Code specifically allows cyclists to ride two abreast. It's usually the leader's decision when to move to single file because of traffic or when passing walkers or horses. Most groups have a standard method of moving from double to single file that everyone uses to make the manoeuvre smooth and safe.

In this instance, it was a quiet road with hardly any bends. We all arrived in Aberlady as a happy straggling group. Lunch was at the Kilspindie Hotel, who very kindly provided soup and sandwiches at a very reasonable cost.

"And the fat drummer hit the beat with all his heart."

After lunch, we followed the coastal road home. The wind had increased, so cycling was a tad more exhausting than the morning. A long line of cyclists snaking along the road. The easiest way of dealing with this is to get in to a pedalling rhythm. Left follows right follows left follows right. The wind did not make the ride or the scenery any less interesting.

The sea, not quite wild with white horses, had that oil painting look, slightly frothing. The sea was framed by a foreround of yellow and green, Longniddry Bents, and encircled in the background by a dark blue green scenery. Fife, the Forth Bidges, Leith, Arthur's Seat, Musselburgh and Cockenzie power station, the latter a dark silhoutte.

At Port Seton, people peeled off for tea at Lucas. The rest of us carried on. We enjoyed the peace and quite of the Ash Lagoons, following the new NCN route in to Musselburgh.

On the very edge of Edinburgh, those people living in Leith and Trinity headed off through Portobello, while the rest of us headed along Milton Road East, then back on to the cycle path to Holyrood park. The wind grew less fierce as we travelled homeward. Along the way, the early Spring countryside, life re-emerging from a long winter slumber, was bright green

By the time I had had my shower, the wind had dropped. Here's to the next ride.

Warm Regards,
Explore, Dream, Discover

Ride Statistics

Distance:       57.6km (35.8 miles)
Average Speed:  18.3km (11.4 mph) Max 45.5 km/h
Total Climbing: 336m (1102ft) Max 138m
Time:           3 hours 8 minutes
Max. Temp.:     8 deg C (46 deg F)

Route Description

Start:  Usher Hall
Out:    Tollcross, The Meadows, Innocent Railway, Bingham, Brunstane, Newcraighall, Stoneybank, River Esk, Inveresk, Walleyford, Tranent, Macmerry, Gladsmuir, Huntingford, Bangly Hill, Ballencrieff, Aberlady
Return: Aberlady, Port Seton, Cockenzie, Prestonpans, Coastal Path to Musselburgh, Fisherrow, Joppa, Brunstane, Bingham, Innocent Railway Tunnel
End:    Holyrood

Interactive Route Map

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