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

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Afraid of the cold?

"The sun that brief December day
rose cheerless over hills of grey,
And, darkly circled, gave at noon
a sadder light than waning moon." ~
John Greenleaf Whittier

Apologies for delay is ending this out as my mother passed away in November, so with funerals, birthdays and Christmas, it has been a very busy time indeed. Thanks to the Fourteen people turned up for the last Spokes Ride of 2008. Hope you all enjoyed the ride.

Nature's Slate wiped clean

Some folk have such a fear of the cold that should they experience it, the experience will be miserable. They sit by the fire sipping warm drinks, watching films, or clamber in to a box on wheels to wander, in false climate, around the local shopping mall (no one says shopping centre any more, that's too reminiscent of 70's brick and concrete monstrosities).

We are not afraid of the cold. It can make cycling together warm, in a friendly, glowing way, that pushes the cold away, and shields us from the biting wind. We are also travelling in a real way, as opposed to the pictorial travel that you experience when in a car. The sun appears briefly as a cold white object lighting the way, but offers no heat.

People are amazed that even in winter, senses can be assaulted. Although the fields are ploughed and trees bare of leaves, the colours are here. The views are of the Pentlands with snow on them in the distance, the orange bings, then the land, brown, silvery ice and dull green. Cycling enables us not only to experience the muted winter colours, but also smell the earthy delights of a damp December day.

On the way back, the happy jolly glowing mood increases as the wind is behind us. We only have a couple of hills to climb, then it is mostly all down hill. The light changes again, becoming lighter, before the sun starts to set, and by 3:30, lights are needed. The wind and the incline are with us, and the cycling is fast, free and joyous.

In no time at all, we are at Cramond Brig. The night is here. The year is nearly at an end. The slate is being wiped in preparation for the new year.

Targets and resolutions

Late in the year, I realised that I could, with a little extra effort, cycle 5000 km. As I write this I am 56km away from this target (Adrian has done over 10000 km this year, but I don't have relative who live in Fife, and have done no Sportives). This target has been achieved not thorough extraordinary effort, but show what you can do by just cycling to work and the occasional weekend. So why not try it for yourself in 2009? Set a target.

Warm Regards,

Explore, Dream, Discover

Ride Statistics

Distance:       64.6km (40.1 miles)
Average Speed:  18.1km (11.2 mph) Max 39.5 km/h
Total Climbing: 640m (2099ft) Max 170m
Time:           3 hours 34 minutes
Max. Temp.:     4 deg C (39 deg F)

Route Description

Start:  Usher Hall
Out:    Fountainbridge, Roseburn, Silverknowes, Cramond Brig, Burnshot, Kirkliston, Niddry, Winchburgh, Threemiletown, Bridgend, Linlithgow
Return: Linlithgow, Dark Entry, Bridgend Farm, Faucheldean, Winchburgh, Niddry, Kirkliston, Burnshot, Cramond Brig, Roseburn
End:    Dalry Rd

Interactive Route Map

The map belows shows the route that we took on the December 2008 Spokes Ride.

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Sat May 11 @10:30 - 05:00PM
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