Summertime?

I helped at the Spokes' stall at Fringe Sunday on the 12th August!! Quite good fun. The Spokes Ride was a bit damp, but was still a success. We are pretty lucky with the weather. Not many rides are cancelled due to the weather, and the lunchtime stops are always sociable.

"Feel the rain on your skin, No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in, No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips, Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open, Today is where your book begins" - Unwritten Natasha Bedingfield

Not a very nice day, but 13 people went to Aberlady on the normal Spokes Ride on the 5th August to try and avoid rain, but got persistent drizzle instead. I had a few apologies from people who were hungover or helping on the parade, so I presume more people may have turned out. We cycled in to the easterly wind, which was a bit damp. Mudguards were extremely useful. It was a shame that original destinations, and a last minute possible destination were changed by the weather, but we had a short ride and good company at lunch.

Sue, who came on her first Spokes Ride in July and found it a struggle, came along on this month ride and found herself practically sailing along (in as much that we were sailing in to the wind with gritted teeth. What a difference a bike service makes to your bike ride, especially on your way home with a big smile on your face. Sue used Bicycle Works, the favoured shop for bicycle repairs in the Scotsman Recommends pull out, but most cycle shops can service your bike, with making you feel like cycling again.

On the way out there were the normal conversations. Only when we got to the other side of Musselburgh, when the rain hit, did conversation slow. Cycling in the rain was quite quiet. The only sounds heard were vehicles speeding past us and the bicycle tyres hissing at the wet road surface. Fortunately, no one get a puncture in the wet, and we made good time to Aberlady, although some people decided to return home without the midday stop. Hopefully, everyone on the Spokes Ride found the ride home easy, as the wind had turned to a south-easterly, most of us were home at about 4pm. It also felt quite a bit drier too.

"Exaggeration is truth that has lost its temper" - Kahlil Gibran

I suppose we shouldn't really complain about the weather, we have been lucky on Spokes Rides, very few are rained or snowed off. It is the nature of the beast that we are out in all weathers.

The next Summer Spokes Ride is on the 19th August, initial forecast says it may be a little windy, but dry and warm(ish). This is likely to be quite a long ride, through the Meldons, Peebles and Innerleithen. Bring snacks, a picnic lunch, and plenty to drink.

These rides are longer than normal Spokes Rides, and this one may be quite long, but still enjoyable. We meet at 9:30 am at the Usher Hall, please bring lunch. Please ensure your bike is in good working order, and that you have a spare inner tube of the right type.

The next Spokes ride will be on the 2nd September, and may be different from normal Spokes Rides. More info will be sent out later this month. This ride will require you to bring a picnic lunch. Tea and coffee will be provided at the lunch stop.

Finally... :-)
"Let's have a moment of silence for all those who are stuck in traffic on their way to the gym to ride the stationary bicycle." - Earl Blumenauer (Congressman for Oregon)

Warm Regards

Ride Stats:

Distance:         62.75 km (39 miles)
Average Speed:    19.2 km/h (11.9 mph) (Max 40 km/h)
Height Climbed:   290m (951 feet) (Gradient when climbing: Max climb 11%, Avg Climb 2%)
Temperature:      14 deg C (61 deg F)

Route Description

As in previous rides, we headed east. We headed up Lothian Road to Melville Drive, from there we turned left on to the Meadows cycle path, heading east to Buccleugh St. Here we turned right, heading south to Causewayside, where we turned left in to West Preston St., crossing Clerk St. to head along Eat Preston St. At Old Dalkeith Rd, we turned right, then left on to Holyrood Park Road. We joined turned left on to East Parkside, then did a 180 to access National Cycle Route 1, heading down the Innocent Railway.

We followed the cycle path out of town, then continued along the path through Bingham, we carried along the cycle path crossing Duddingston Pk S at the cycle / pedestrian crossing, and carrying along to Woolworths at Brunstane. We headed up to Milton Rd E., where we turned right. At Joppa, we headed for Musselburgh along the A199, Edinburgh Road.

From there we headed in to Musselburgh, turning left on to New St, accessing the coastal footpath at Musselburgh Harbour. We followed the path along to the River Esk, where we headed a little inland to cross the River Esk at New St using the footbridge. We then headed back up to the coast along Goose Green Cres., following the road right to turn on to Balcarres Rd with the Musselburgh Racecourse on our left.

At the end, we turned left on to Millhill, then left on to Linkfield Rd, A199. We stayed on the A199 though Levenhall, passing Dolphinstone Farm, over the A1. We took the first left after the A1, Johnnie Cope's Rd down to Prestonpans Station. We turned right her to following Station Rd, B1361, over the Meadowmill roundabout on to the A198, Seaton Chapel on our left, to Longniddry.

At Longniddry, we turned on to the B1377 passing Longniddry Station on our right, through Spittal to the roundabout at Ballencrieff. Here we turned left on to the A6137, which we followed in to Aberlady to the lunch stop.

After lunch we headed west along the coastal A198 / B1348, through Longniddry, Seton Sands, Cockenzie and Port Seton, Prestonpans to the Levenhall roundabout in Musselburgh. Here we turned right on to the A199, Linkfield Rd, right on to Millhill. On to Easkside East at Shorthope St., passing under the bridge on Bridge St. At car park just past the Roman Bridge, we turned right to follow Mall Ave to the lights to take a left up Eskview Terr.

We then turned right in to Stoneybank Terr / Whitehill Farm Rd, over the railway at Musselburgh Station. We followed NCN route 1 from here, using the shared path passing the new Queen Margaret University, turning left under the A1 and on to Whitehill Road. Following Whitehill Road brought us to The Fort / Craig / Kinnard Park. We followed Niddrie Mains Road to Duddingston Park South to rejoin the cycle path at Bingham. We then followed the cycle path through the Innocent Railway Tunnel back to East Parkside, where we said goodbye.