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Category: Bike Rides 2006
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Cool Damp Start, Warm Happy Resolution

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." ~ Albert Camus

A damp start to Sunday obviously put some people off this month. 17 people did turn up for the annual jaunt to Linlithgow. Lots of new faces, welcome to you. Despite the cool morning, it was quite a nice ride, quite fast in the Afternoon, as most of it was downhill :-). This post is late as I had to answer qustions about my MSc dissertation.

Warming up nicely

On the way out, we met up with some cyclists out for the morning from Linlithgow, out for a morning bike ride, and also looking considerably drier than we were. Fortunately, the rain at stopped by that point, the sky was looking considerably brighter and the Ochil's quite spectacular. By the time we got to Dave's, it was even beginning to feel quite warm.

Cycling back, once we had climbed the hill, was a whiz, we reached Ratho at about 3:30. Plenty of time to enjoy the ambiance of the Canal, and watching people dressed up for the Sunday Meal on the canal narrow boat trying to cope with the breeze.

Don't forget if you're free this Sunday why not try the shortened CTC easy ride. It leaves just after 10am from the Commonwealth Pool. Anne Carter leads these rides. They are same speed as Spokes rides, so go along and enjoy a different ride.

Finally, a social evening is being planned for end October / beginning November. I have had a couple of suggestions for a venue. Any others?

Next month is the last ride of British Summer Time (Already?????). October can be quite nice, and given we had rain in August and September, we are due some good weather. Be Prepared? Come along and enjoy the second Spring. I hope to see you.

Warm Regards,

Explore, Dream, Discover

"The bicycle is the noblest invention of mankind. I love the bicycle. I always have. I can think of no sincere, decent human being, male or female, young or old, saint or sinner, who can resist the bicycle." ~ William Saroyan

Ride Statistics

Distance:       70.2km (43.62 miles)
Average Speed:  19.5 km/h (12.1 mph)
Total Climbing: 691m (2267ft.)
Time:           4 hours 2 minutes
Max. Temp.:     12 deg C (54 deg F) in the morning climbing to 18 deg C (64 deg F) at the Ratho Inn.

Route Description

We headed down to Fountain Bridge, down Dalry Road, along Murieston Crescent to Russell Rd and on to the cycle path to join National Route 1 at Roseburn. No punctures this month, At New Burnshot, up the cycle path from Cramond Brig, we turned off route 1 to follow a minor road to access the Railway Path to Kirkliston. From Kirkliston, we went past the new Estate built on the grounds of the old Drambuie factory, turning left just after the motorway bridge to take the minor road to Niddry.

As the Railway Path had been pretty mucky, we decided to stay on the road, along through Niddry, turning right on to the B8020, then left just as we entered Winchburgh. We followed this road through Faucheldean to the end. Here we turned right on to the B8046, and almost immediately right on to another minor road. At Wester Ochiltree farm, we turn right on to another minor road down to the B9080 at Kingscavil, where we turned left. We reached Linlithgow at about 1pm.

After lunch, some people opted to take the canal back to Edinburgh, The rest of us left just after two we headed up (and down and up and down and up, up, up!!) the newly surfaced Manse Road to Ochiltree. From there we followed the minor roads we had used in the morning back to Winchburgh. Here we turned right on to Niddry Road, then left at Niddry. Instead of heading back to Kirkliston, we turned right just after crossing over the railway and headed down to Dave's favourite cycle path between Broxburn and Newbridge. We headed for Newbridge.

We went though Newbridge, where you could wave to airplanes as they land at Edinburgh Airport, along Old Liston Road, right on to Cliftonhall road, the left on to Harvest Rd and Baird Road. This route took us to Ratho. As we got here very early, we went to the Ratho Inn, especially as it was quite warm. After this short stop, a quick blast back in to Edinburgh along the canal path.