Spokes Ride to Linlithgow

Not many have said they were coming on the Spokes Ride to Linlithgow today, but I go down to the start. The forecast isn't good, but I am hoping the rain doesn't last for long. There is also the possibility of ice on the road. Three people turn up. 

We head out of Edinburgh through Silverknowes and Barnton. There is a little rain at the start of the ride, but not as bad as forecast. The cycle path is clear of ice. However at Barnton, there is still some lying snow on the road. This continues as we carry on west to Cramond Brig, where the road is covered by hard packed snow. Once on the slip road heading up to the Carlowrie Rd which takes us to Kirkliston.

We have a wee break here. We follow the B9080 out of Kirkliston for to Winchburgh. Normally we take a back road passing Niddry Castle, but as this is a minor, I'm not sure it will be clear of ice. From Winchburgh, we take B8020, and then on to a a wee road through Faucheldean. this road is clear. At the top of this road, we regroup again.there is someice across the road here, but it is melting quickly, even though the temperature is just above 0. The main blip, of Binny Craig, shows that there wasn't much snow here yesterday. From here, it's a quick cycle through Ochiltree and Riccarton to Dark Entry and in to Linlithgow.We have lunch at the Four Mary's.

After lunch, we head east along the B9080 for a short distance. Only until we reach the turn off for Philpstoun. Once under the motorway, we cross the A road and on to the cycle path for 1km, turning left on to Abercorn Rd, down to Abercorn and accessing Deer Park Rd on the Hopetoun Estate at the Blue Gate.

The estate road is mainly tarmac, until the road heads north and we have to take a muddy track to the east gate. We're back on tarmac. Where the estate road rejoins the public highway, I stop to take the Extra of the three bridges that span the Firth of Forth. On the ride in to South Queensferry, there are a couple of ice speed bumps to negotiate. 

We cycle up to the Forth Bridge, then head east along National Cycle Route 1, which follows the A90 for a while, but not directly beside it. We head down to Cramond Brig. The roads are no longer covered in ice. The ride back in to Edinburgh is easy.

The whole route can be seen at Relive here.

As usual, the whole weekend is far too short. If only I could have another day.