After moving to Backhall from Leith just over a year ago, due to the arrival of a couple of babies, I decided to cancel my gym membership and cycle to work as often as I could. I invested in a Giant Seek 3 on the 'bike to work' scheme and using the cycle paths to work down in Leith was so easy, almost door to door.
It wasn't long before the road bike came along and I was addicted.
Because of the young children, it's difficult to get out in the evenings and at the weekends so the commute to and from work was to be my sportive. As I got fitter and stronger, I would take longer routes to and from work to improve, down through Barton and along the waterfront and home via the Arthur's Seat climb, along the Meadows and down Ravi Dykes. But there was one route I would never use, the most direct commute, Telford Road on to Ferry Road. I had heard of a cyclist getting knocked down at the Crewtoll roundabout, the shear volume of traffic and with the likes of rosscbrown's story of his accident with the bus was enough to discourage me. So this morning, I thought 'this is nuts, it's the quickest way to work, man up and get on your bike' - so I did. The ride was uneventful and pretty boring, the summer holidays made sure the traffic wasn't too bad and as for time, it was average with stopping at every light. I don't think I'll do the route again as the longer more interesting commutes are much more enjoyable.
I just want to say, I love cycling, I'm hooked. Every time I get on the bike theres a burst of adrenaline and a sprinkling of fear that I can't get enough of and I plan on cycling for the rest of life. I hope everyone else here feels the same way too.
posts
