Spokes Ride, View Pentland Hills from East Lothian

A very cold day for the first Spokes Ride of 2018. -5degC at the start. 9 of us left to head eat. The East Lothian coats option seems the best option for a relatively ice free ride at the start. However, once we start riding, hands and feet become cold quite quickly. Nice to see the cyclepaths had been gritted  overnight, soon we are at Brunstane and heading down to the coat.

As expected, the coastal paths and roads are relatively ice free away from the edge of the road. At Prestonpans, the relief stop, most people make use of the hand dryers to warm hands and feet. The temperature is -2degC. We wait in the sunshine while one person fixes a puncture.

Once done, we head inland and up hill. The exertion warms us up. From Tranent, we head to New Winton. It feels quite a lot warmer, in fact its just above 0. We're in the sunshine as well. Turning westward over Whiteloch Bridge and on to the Buxley road, the road is mostly ice and frost. A careful line is required, but it is cycleable. A right and left turn, the next road is ice free, but very rough. It takes us to North Elphinstone, and we're climbing again. We're all feeling so much warmer. Its not a fast ride, so climbing gives warmth.

Once final climb before lunch takes us through Elphinstone, then down to Crossgatehall.On the descent, I stop to get a photo of the Pentlands. There is a little snow on the peaks. From Crossgatehall, its down through Carberry  to the Craighouse Hotel for lunch. Everyone has a great lunch (I booked a table in the bar as people prefer paying for their own lunch. The restaurant only allows one bill per table.)

All nicely warmed up, after lunch we head to Cowputs and the Inveresk River path to the footbridge, where we follow the cycle route to Monktonhall and Musselburgh railway station, past the new Queen Margaret University and under the A1 to Whitehill Road.

Instead of taking the normal route back in to Edinburgh, and because the ride ends at my house, I decide to take the newly constructed Shawfair cycle path. As the minor route is likely to be pretty ice covered, we have to take the busy minor road to join a busy Millerhill Road south to Newton Village. The area to the west is being developed for housing, Shawfair. There is a nice cycle path that takes us to the new Shawfair cycle path

The Shawfair cycle path is mostly complete, and has been open over the festive period. See extra to see the riders at the start of the path. The path heads west from here to join up with the path that goes from Lasswade Road to Loanhead and Roslin. We will be taking the new section as far as Lasswade Rd.

There are still some groundworks to be completed, but there are some obvious omissions around access to the cycle path. There's no direct access to Danderhall, A fence has been broken and people are walking acorss a field to access the path so that they avoid the busy A7 where there is an access point. There is also no access from the Gilmerton Rd, A772. No idea why, as it would be ideal.

The path climbs slowly over 3 1/2 km of new tarmac. At tasswade Rd, we head north to Captain's Rd, then west along Captain's Rd, Frogston Rd E, up Frogston Brae to Frogson Rd W, a false flat of a road after the brae to Fairmilehead. From there, its to my house, where my partner and I provide post ride mince pies, other edibles and tea / coffee to ride participants who do not have to rush off home. A cold day, so hot mince pies and coffee hit the spot.

A great ride, 49.2km, 30.5 miles. Here's to winter.