Ride 03/06/2022

So it’s the Jubilee bank holiday and I decided I would cycle around the Pentland Hills, which I haven’t done in years, at least not since I lived in Falkirk. It would be a 85 mile bike ride over nearly 5000 feet of climbing, which I did not know until I got home and looked at the stats :-0. The day started off a bit chilly and overcast, the weather forecast for an overcast morning with some wind but would warm up in the afternoon when the sun came out. So to start with I had cross winds until I hit the A70 at which point I would have some glorious tail wind, unfortunately no one told me about the mist up there I didn’t have my lights on as I wasn’t expecting it, but there it was, thankfully it cleared by the point I hit my first stop. It’s not especially windy but enough to make my life difficult when I would turn east and head into it for Edinburgh, for now I was heading for Carnwath and my first stop of the day. In Carnwath I stopped for coffee and croissant and then headed for Edinburgh into the expected headwind. As much as I was expecting the wind it still caused me to use a lot of energy and by the time I hit Penicuik, my next stop, I was starting to feel the effects of that in my now very tired legs I stopped in Penicuik for some gels and energy bars and then continued on for Edinburgh. I was glad to get into Edinburgh, for most of the ride I was out in the country side, which is nice to ride in but cycling on my own I’m always a bit nervous in doing so if I have a break down in the middle of no where, at least when I’m with the club members I have company and some assistance in such an eventuality. Anyway Edinburgh is a busy as always so I was also glad to get back out again Now back on familiar roads and heading home, I again had my crosswinds but at least the sun was finally starting to make an appearance. The last 5 miles back up to Crossgates was a bit of a slog in my now very tired legs, I had been riding reasonable quick for the day, and I was glad to get back home and have a shower and rest. So 85 miles clocked up at an avg speed of 16 mph over nearly 5000 feet of climbing.