anyone in edinburgh/lothians?

counterculture

im currently in the process of purchasing my first road bike, ive been cycling for years, mainly mountain biking and the work commute, decided im getting a cube attempt, just waiting on delivery then im good to go.

ive never had a decent run out on a road bike so im looking for (slower) 20-30 mile routes in and around edinburgh so i can use to get myself used to the whole new style of cycling but on quieter roads.

anyone got any ideas? also at what point do i have to start shaving my legs? and do cycling clubs round these parts allow complete novices to tag-a-long with them?

mellisr1

I'm not but maybe these guys

http://www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/index.html
but they may meet up and ride out a little way away from you if your central edinburgh

they should suit you perfect though if your just starting out - i'm in northcheshireclarion and have heard nothing but good things about them

cheers
Matt

daviesee

Check out as many clubs as you can.
20 years ago i joined in with the Musselburgh club for a run and found out to my expense that they were too race orientated. This put me off clubs for a long, long time.
Note:- The Musselburgh club may have changed since, or maybe it was race training night. I don't know.
I am now at the Dunfermline club (I have moved) that is not so race oriented, very happy and wish I'd found them years ago.

If the first one you try isn't right, try another. It will improve your cycling and enjoyment no end.

I have been road cycling for 40 years and have yet to shave my legs 8)

sws

I live in the east and love the flat coast roads, normally kick off in Musselburgh and head down the coast to Dunbar. Plenty of scope for tailoring your ride by returning at Aberlady, Gullane, North Berwick or Dunbar. Often take a trip up via Haddington to get the odd hill in. Traffic is never too bad and always get plenty of respect from passing drivers. Not looked into joining a local club yet, like you I mountain bike and commute, bit worried that I'm not fit enough to keep up with club riders.

Brian B

Another vote for the http://www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/index.html. They are based in west lothian but have members who do their own run in midlothian. They cater for all cyclist no matter what you fitness. Was a member myself for a few years but due to family/work I was not getting out with them and just ride solo or with my mate.

Real friendly bunch of lads though.

LittleB0b

Quite new - and a fan of quiet roads so heres some rides that i like (i live reasonably central but on the west of town)

use google maps to work out exact route

*Through holyrood park to duddingston - then down to musselburgh - then out to Aberlady

*Use the cyclepath to get out to crammond brig, carry on a bit along the cycle way - but then turn off for kirkliston - carry on through it to winchburgh - turn off right to uphall - head for east calder - then kirknewton - head though past the airfield onto the A68 - then downhill all the way home. (the road by uphall station has been shut making this more awkward - but think should be open soon)

*Theres lots of wee lanes behind balerno that are worth exploring - pretty but not in the best condition - they connect up quite well

*Recently been exploring around roslin and rosewll but those roundabouts over the bypass still spook me a bit - once out there it's lovely though

neeb

Quite new - and a fan of quiet roads so heres some rides that i like (i live reasonably central but on the west of town)

*Theres lots of wee lanes behind balerno that are worth exploring - pretty but not in the best condition - they connect up quite well

I used to live in west Edinburgh (now in Finland) and my standard ride was along the lang whang (A70) past Balerno to Carnwath and back. Sometimes it can be a bit brutal because it's quite rolling, the surfaces aren't the best, it's completely exposed and there is nearly always a vicious wind (and/or other major weather) coming straight at you on the way out, but that just means you get a tail wind on the way back of course. Amazing countryside, very desolate and a big contrast to the more frequented East Lothian coastal roads.

AidanR

Try this - http://www.cycling-edinburgh.org.uk/escape.htm

The ride out to the bridges is lovely, but beware the canal routes it lists - they aren't really road bike worthy beyond the ring road.

mercurykev

East Lothian is great but the Coast Road bores me to death. I like to head inland towards Gifford and then head up Redstone Rigg on the Road to Duns. Some lovely countryside and some nice climbs and decents.

andyrr

Redstane Rigg - nice climb :shock:
Not so sure, really steep and approached from the West via Danskine whcih is another (shorter) sharp one then the road to Redstane is a draggy affair which saps the energy.
Thing about the coast road is if you use that for 1 leg of your ride, the inland roads off it are more interesting so you could head East on that then when you hit North Berwick you go in towards Spott etc

Steve_F

mellisr1 wrote:

I'm not but maybe these guys

http://www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/index.html
but they may meet up and ride out a little way away from you if your central edinburgh

they should suit you perfect though if your just starting out - i'm in northcheshireclarion and have heard nothing but good things about them

cheers
Matt

You would be more than welcome on a WLC run. I ride with the group who meet at West Calder leisure centre @ 8.30 on Saturday mornings. Always welcoming to new members and always ride at the slowest person's pace. May be a split on climbs but we always regroup at the top.

Come along and join us if you fancy it (this weekend looks like very limited numbers due to Gala days and other events but after that we should be back to our usual numbers, around 6-10).

Let me know if you want more details......

chrism_scotland

Great thread, this just picked up my first road bike last weekend and also looking for some easyish routes around Edinburgh, out toward Dunbar sounds good to get started and I'm not that far away from Musselburgh being in Leith.

I hadn't thought about the Lang Whang as a good cycle route! I've been wondering how best to cycle back to my parents who are down that way near Biggar and I was thinking about the A702 or A701 but the Lang Whang sounds a much better idea!

andyrr

Always found the Lang Whang a real slog on certain bits : rough road surface and headwind towards Carnwath. Turn left at Carnwath junction and it was a nicer ride homewards.
Bit of a pain to get to from Leith tho' - I'd be tempted to head East from there most of the time or take a jaunt across the Forth or head through Holyrood - Craigmillar - Bonnyrigg - Leadburn direction to start taking you toward Biggar.

neeb

I hadn't thought about the Lang Whang as a good cycle route! I've been wondering how best to cycle back to my parents who are down that way near Biggar and I was thinking about the A702 or A701 but the Lang Whang sounds a much better idea!

Always found the Lang Whang a real slog on certain bits : rough road surface and headwind towards Carnwath. Turn left at Carnwath junction and it was a nicer ride homewards.
Bit of a pain to get to from Leith tho' - I'd be tempted to head East from there most of the time or take a jaunt across the Forth or head through Holyrood - Craigmillar - Bonnyrigg - Leadburn direction to start taking you toward Biggar.

There's always the water of leith walkway, which is just about OK for skinny tyres if you don't mind warming up with 12 miles at a gentle pace - takes you straight to Balerno. The roads to the south of the Pentlands would definitely be a quicker route from Leith to Biggar, but they are much busier with motorized traffic and more blind corners.

Agree about the lang whang being a slog - the worst bit is passing that farm not long after Balerno, where the road goes down into a big dip where the tarmac has been churned up by cows crossing over many years, and then proceeds straight up a steep hill where the wind is always against you... Once you are over the crest of the hill and heading down towards Harperrig reservoir it gets a lot better though.

chrism_scotland

Yeah the A702 is very busy and I can't imagine its an ideal cycling route, the A701 via Leadburn is a quieter road and might be more suited to cycling along.

LittleB0b

A701 is fine - especially after leadburn. the bit from there to moffat makes you smile.

(although by there you would be pushing anyones 20-30 mile ride criteria to breaking point)

Pigeons in flight

I wouldn't worry about not being fit enough to ride with a club. My old club Edinburgh Road Club (ERC) are excellent. I'm now a lapsed member due to family commitments, etc. They have a beginners ride every saturday that leaves from outside the commy pool in Edinburgh and heads out into East Lothian. Having been on the ride a few times, I can safely say that it is a very gentle pace with the emphasis more on chatting and enjoying the countryside, than trying to get there and back asap. Of course, the club offers fast paced chain gangs which you can build up to if you wish.

I must admit I love the coast road which winds it's way through Aberlady, etc. But the others are right - you're spoilt for choice really. There are some good roads out past Garvald in the Lammermuirs which take you over moorland and down past the Whiteadder reservoir. There are hardly any cars - but there are some tasty climbs out there!

Cheers
Graeme

SCR Pedro

Steve_F wrote:

You would be more than welcome on a WLC run. I ride with the group who meet at West Calder leisure centre @ 8.30 on Saturday mornings. Always welcoming to new members and always ride at the slowest person's pace. May be a split on climbs but we always regroup at the top.

Come along and join us if you fancy it (this weekend looks like very limited numbers due to Gala days and other events but after that we should be back to our usual numbers, around 6-10).

Let me know if you want more details......

I've thought about joining this group before, but the early start puts me off. Is this the only ride they do, or do you know if anyone meets up at any other time?

Cheers
Pedro

Philip S

I was in the same boat as you when I was starting out a couple of years ago - looking for rides up to 30 miles to get the hang of things.

It depends where your starting point is, but I found that starting in the centre of town and heading down South Clerk Street, Minto Street, up through Gilmerton then into the countryside beyond Lasswade, through Carrington and Temple towards Gladsmuir reservoir and back was around about 30 miles. You can make a loop of the out of town stuff along the B6372 ad the A6094.

It's not flat, so I found it built up my fitness reasonably quickly and after a few months I was on to 40-50 milers into the Bathagte Alps (longer and steeper hills) and East Lothian (not quite as hilly, until you hit Redstane Rigg and get into the Lammermuirs - a great ride, by the way, lots of long climbs - you can do either a 70 mile loop from town up to Longformarcus and back, or an epic 90-odd miler to Duns and back), or further south into the Borders over the B7007, which is another really good ride.

The coastal stuff towards North Berwick is pretty good for a flat nash, but watch out for the westerly wind - it lulls you into thinking you're going really well on the way out, then drains your energy when you turn back into it to head home.

Lots of options for you once you get going - Enjoy!

counterculture

i can manage 30 miles off road at the minute, the main reason im looking for similar distances on-road is just to get used the bike without just cycling round the block, once i get the bike (had another delay due to cubes main warehouse), i reckon 40/50 miles should be within my reach soon enough.

alot of the routes mentioned im kinda familiar with,but its good to get knowledge from folk who do the rides regularly.

i never thought id ever want a road bike, but i cant wait to get it now, im just hoping its here before the weather leaves us.

fuzzynavel

Pigeons in flight wrote:

I wouldn't worry about not being fit enough to ride with a club. My old club Edinburgh Road Club (ERC) are excellent. I'm now a lapsed member due to family commitments, etc. They have a beginners ride every saturday that leaves from outside the commy pool in Edinburgh and heads out into East Lothian. Having been on the ride a few times, I can safely say that it is a very gentle pace with the emphasis more on chatting and enjoying the countryside, than trying to get there and back asap. Of course, the club offers fast paced chain gangs which you can build up to if you wish.

I must admit I love the coast road which winds it's way through Aberlady, etc. But the others are right - you're spoilt for choice really. There are some good roads out past Garvald in the Lammermuirs which take you over moorland and down past the Whiteadder reservoir. There are hardly any cars - but there are some tasty climbs out there!

Cheers
Graeme

+1 for the saturday erc club run. www.edinburghrc.co.uk i think