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

This weather forecast is generated by the Met Office Weather Widget

 

"Daffy-down-dilly came up in the cold, through the brown mould although the March breeze blew keen on her face, although the white snow lay in many a place." ~ Anna B. Warner ("Amy Lothrop")

The Easter Ride went to Aberdour in Fife, 13 people turned up on Easter Sunday. Hard to believe that a few days before, I had been unable to ride my bike because of snow. It had nearly all melted, and the Easter ride was mostly quiet and compact. At least the weather was comfortable and quiet.

From the Winter Lands, Spring is an assult of colour

Not much of a breeze as we headed out through Fountainbridge, Dalry to the cycle path and NCR 1, A grey day, but the weather forecast promised morning showers and a bright afternoon. It felt like a March breeze, but it is April. On the cycle path, families were out for their Easter Sunday bike rides. Beside the path Wild Garlic was just peaking through the earth, tree buds were showing a hint of green, nature was trying to shake its brown winter coat off.

There were very few cars out on the road to Dalmeny, and in South Queensferry. It was only when we got to the Forth Road Bridge, was there traffic. People rushing with an unnecessary haste. As through winter was about to bear down from the Ochils, which still bore their white winter hats, and cover us all with another layer of white. At the north end of the bridge, we removed ourselves from this mechanical chaos to Inverkeithing, making a huge U Turn to head down to the Coastal path.

Although the day was grey, you could see clearly across to Edinburgh and the hills beyond. Where the path was close to the beach, detritus from the weeks storms still littered the path. Here there was none of the destruction that had hit Edinburgh's north shoreline, the path here was intact.

As we entered Beech Ave, the daffodils stood like people nodding as people, dogs and cyclists paraded. It was a little lighter, perhaps the afternoon would see brighter skies. As we rounded the final bend the climate changed considerably. Spring had been found in Aberdour. A warm Spring. Here, while the trees are still waking, flowers welcome cyclists travelling from the winter land.

Spring is Coming, you can see and feel it.

After lunch, we headed home. The brighter skies had been replaced by light showers. We took the coastal path from St. Bridget's chapel. Although we had to carry bikes, it is sheltered, and we did not feel the full force of the shower, nor the wind. the light shower had stopped by the time we go to the path to Inverkeithing, although the skies were still showing angry grey.

As we crossed the Forth Road Bridge, showers seems to be on every side. Our ride was now dry, and if we had gone on sight alone, you would have thought we would have got a soaking. As we cycled along the S. Queensferry cycle path, no rain. As we reached the top of Standingstane Rd, with lovely views of the Pentlands streaked with white, the showers were still around us, but not on us.

This continued for the rest of the ride. We came across paths that had recently seen rain, but we missed it. A few yards on the path was bone dry.

After the ride, cake, biscuits and the occasional piece of chocolate were served with tea and coffee. Many thanks to Veronica for providing not only a place for after ride Easter Treats, but tea, coffee and edibles.

Warm Regards,

Explore, Dream, Discover

"There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society where none intrudes,
By the deep Sea, and music in its roar:
I love not Man the less, but Nature more,
From these our interviews, in which I steal
From all I may be, or have been before,
To mingle with the Universe, and feel
What I can ne’er express, yet cannot all conceal." ~
Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, Canto iv. Stanza 178., Lord Byron 1818

Ride Statistics

Distance:       72.8km (45.2 miles)
Average Speed:  19.7km (11.9 mph) Max 56.6 km/h
Total Climbing: 774m (ft) Max 75m
Time:           3 hours 49 minutes
Max. Temp.:     8 deg C (46 deg F)

Route Description

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

Interactive Route Map

The map belows shows the route that we took on the April, Easter Egg, 2010 Spokes Ride.

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