CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Events, rides etc.

Weekly evening rides out of Edinburgh

(17 posts)

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  1. DaveC
    Member

    A loose group of ex collegues and their friends, have ben cycling out of Edinburgh in the summer evenings once a week for the past two years. I was very kindly invited along a month ago. :-)

    Last night we cycled along the river from Haymarket to Currie, then north past Heriot Watt and along to Ratho, for a pint. I had to leave them to cycle back along the Canal where I hearded north over the bright home.

    I'm really enjoying these rides out. They make a real change from the commute in, and Sunday blast with a couple of friends round Fife, where i struggle to keep up.

    Does anyone else do these sorts of evening rides out? They are a good way to explore, socialise and ride my bike.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  2. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I often take long detours on my way home if the weather is fare. A relaxed pace and generally just ambling along, looking for something interesting to discover.

    I found my UFP brick on one such ride.

    It's a great way to discover new places if you're not in a hurry, or to re-visit favourite places. Puts the fun back in the commute on a nice evening down on the promenade when you think "you can't do this in your car".

    Posted 13 years ago #

  3. DaveC
    Member

    We did the Prom a few weeks ago. We called at the Stagg Pub in Fisherrow. Its bike freindly, where you can enter the rear bear garden and park your bikes up. Also they allow you to take your own food as they dn't sell food themselves. Also some good beers.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  4. kaputnik
    Moderator

    A bear garden :O

    Posted 13 years ago #

  5. DaveC
    Member

    See my Bike Friendly Pub Guide...

    Here...

    Posted 13 years ago #

  6. wingpig
    Member

    There's an actual Bear Garden in Berlin.

    I used to do extended-return-commutes to various places for extra exercise and to see new things but now generally go straightish home and then pop out again later on for extended trundles (often combined with shopping) to places I might not otherwise see. Direction depends on what I need to get or which way the wind's going, though if my gears are feeling well-adjusted and non-skippy-under-load then going up through Gracemount to the Lasswade exit and back is a nice out-up-back-down hours' useful exercise.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  7. druidh
    Member

    I think we might have seen some of your friends in the Bridge Inn last night. 10 of us turned up, squeezed into the limited space and eventually bagged a couple of tables as the evening wore on. Can I just say that we were initially daunted by the fresh decor but were made more than welcome by the new owner.

    We were thinking of organising some summer evening road rides from The Bike Chain, but there is a very limited number of suitable cafes etc for stopping off at. Broughton was one suggestion, North Berwick another,

    Posted 13 years ago #

  8. DaveC
    Member

    Sorry I missed you (though I don't know what you look like). Yes we were the small group in the middle who you crowded round when you came in.

    We're planning a North Berwick ride as apparently there is a train which can take 8 cycles back from there to Edinburgh. We should arrange to go on different days so we don't miss the train.

    I'll advertise these rides from now on. We usually end up at Cloisters Bar for Beers afterwards.

    Has anyone throught of having produced and selling a CCE cycling shirt to help fund this forum? We can then spot each other whilst riding round.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  9. chdot
    Admin

    "Has anyone throught of having produced and selling a CCE cycling shirt"

    There have been suggestions of using the QR code.

    In these days of 'instant products to order' perhaps something could be added here -

    http://citycycling.co.uk/Store.html

    Posted 13 years ago #

  10. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Anth and I may or may not have been having discussions about using a supplier of instant order cycling-themed t-shirts. Couldn't possibly comment.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  11. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Indeed. I'm a little behind on those discussions that may or may not have been happening, but closer today than I may or may not have been yesterday on those possible results...

    Posted 13 years ago #

  12. druidh
    Member

    We're planning a North Berwick ride as apparently there is a train which can take 8 cycles back from there to Edinburgh. We should arrange to go on different days so we don't miss the train.
    LOL - we weren't thinking of using public transport :-)

    Posted 13 years ago #

  13. ruggtomcat
    Member

    yeah N Berwick and back is a nice cruise, and practically flat!

    Posted 13 years ago #

  14. crowriver
    Member

    Hmm. I think I may detect the usual roadsters vs pootlers divide in cycling. No shame in a nice ride to NB then back on the train. It's not a race, after all.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  15. ruggtomcat
    Member

    you may well be right, but I like doing the whole thing by bike, even if that means going somewhere closer. and single train fares are a joke cos you might as well have gotten the return..

    Posted 13 years ago #

  16. gembo
    Member

    @druidh - I had a very nice meal in the Bridge Inn Ratho last Friday - 12 of us but no other diners, not cheap but good. The previous times under different management I have been as a vegetarian the food was poor but the price was still dear. The meat eaters went for steak pie which was their signature dish and good.

    As I think I said - is a boutique now (or will be when finally finished) but actually I like it. They should try to make it a destination for cyclists. Set of Sheffield Stands, bit of signage, beer garden etc In days of yore I am told locals played the game of leaping the canal using a big punting stick. Wouldn't mind watching that as the sun goes down

    Posted 13 years ago #

  17. chdot
    Admin

    "They should try to make it a destination for cyclists."

    You mean 'even more of one' or is this no longer there??

    I look forward to checking out 'under new management'.

    Previous owner was a massive self/business publicist - and did a lot to promote canal use, but it was easy to get the impression that they didn't really like customers.

    Bit like a stately home reluctantly letting in punters.

    Sun/beer/garden were/are great but sitting inside never felt comfortable and the food often failed to meet modest expectations.

    I think the canal jumping was just one of many promotional tools - like the Santa Cruises.

    UPDATE

    Apparently I took that photo last year and wrote "Was at Bridge Inn on Saturday afternoon - at least 30 bikes."

    http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=678#post-7338

    Posted 13 years ago #

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