Temple

The ride will start promptly at 10am from The Robin’s Nest, 393 Gilmerton Road. The lunch stop will be at Temple Village Hall.  The afternoon ride should include a tea stop in Tranent and a return to the start point after 48 miles.     This is the first Weds. ride of the winter season so a reminder that you’ll need to pay 50p as a contribution for the use of this hall, or £7 for all the season’s halls.

We will leave Edinburgh via a meandering route, pass the ERI and up a new path to Danderhall and onward to Newton Church to reach the start of the cycle path to Loanhead where we break for a WC stop.  We then continue along the cycle path to Roslin and then descend down and partly up the Glen to join the Dalkeith to Penicuik Cycle Path. This path is followed to its end at Penicuik where we will continue on the B6372 for 7 miles, first SE, then NE.  The first mile of this B road is steep, quite busy and narrow so special care please.  A right turn is eventually taken to steeply descend directly to Temple old church before climbing up to the village hall for lunch (20 miles).

After lunch, we will travel on mostly quite rural roads and pass through North Middleton, Borthwick, Dewartown, Pathhead and Ormiston before arriving at Tranent for our coffee stop. We then go via Faside Hill and the A6094 to reach Whitecraig and NCR1 which is followed passed Musselburgh, Newcraighall and Brunstane stations. At Bingham we leave the NCR and pass though Craigmillar and then onto more cycle paths to pass the castle and round the ERI (again) to reach the start and end point at the Robins Nest  (48 miles).

Click on the following www link to see and download the probable route.

https://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4966344.html

Most of this ride is surfaced. The main exceptions are less than a mile of the Dalkeith to Penicuik Cycle Path which is rough and after lunch, about 0.75 mile through the Ormiston Hall estate on a rough vehicle track. Both of these short sections should be passable with care on a road bike. Riders who wish to stay on tarmac will be given instructions on alternative road routes which will not be led.

Bring suitable clothing for the predicted weather, 2 spare inner tubes, pump and basic repair kit, snacks and drinks to keep you going and a picnic lunch. Please do not forget to check before you start out that your bike is roadworthy especially the brakes. Always ride safely and in line with the Highway Code. In addition please be aware and ride in accordance with the group safe riding guidelines at

http://www.ctclothiansandborders.uk/riding-guidelines/

The group will always do their best to help anyone in mechanical difficulty. However, you are ultimately responsible for looking after yourself and getting yourself home. Please carry emergency contact details both on your person (card in wallet/purse, ICE on mobile) and in your bike bag. I will also compile an attendance sheet.

Hope to see as many of you as possible.

This ride is for members of UK Cycling. If you are not a member you are welcome on this ride although you will be expected to join after being on 3 UK Cycling rides. You should also be at the start by 9:50am.

Finally, apologies for riders who were on the Sunday ride of 18th Aug., lead in my absence by Peter, You may experience feelings of deja vous.  The explanation is that some start and end route sections are similar on this ride! 

Bob Fowler