Today I managed to get away from the desk and take in the East Lothian coastal route to North Berwick. The GWC Cycling Project was only a few weeks away and we needed to put the kids and their machines through their paces. It was also an opportunity for them to get an idea about what 'proper' day on the road bike would be like... for 10 days on the trot!
We assembled at the Commonwealth Pool around 9am and made a final check of the kids' bikes. The rain had stayed away but it was rather chilly and overcast; not a bad day for cycling actually. Lewis lead the way into Hollyrood Park and onto the cycle path towards Duddingston. We must have looked like some kind of caterpillar, as we snaked our way through the park. We continued on to Musselburgh; following the Niddrie Burn and Brunstane Burn before joining the A199. Soon, we turned off the main road and followed the coast through Prestonpans and passed Cockenzie Power Station (not the prettiest of views!). We paused for a breather at Aberlady to regroup and have a brief chat. The kids were doing great and were hardly spread out at all. Much to our relief, all of their bikes were also holding up nicely. I set off at the from this time and was told to try and set a decent pace to see how the kids coped. I was rather nervous at this prospect because I knew that the two boys that had been right at the front were rather keen cyclists so there was a bit of pressure to set the pace! As soon as I set off, Cammy and David just tucked neatly in behind my back wheel and got some nice shelter from the wind, and I did all the work... typical!
We soon arrived in North Berwick and were having coffee and cake in the North Berwick Seabird Centre cafe. The kids were in high spirits but some of the sharper ones realised that we had been given the assistance of the wind on our backs and we were about to head straight into it on the return journey...
Initially, it wasn't too bad but we certainly hit a bit of a wall returning past Cockenzie. The kids did great but the way back into Edinburgh was a long and tiring slog for all of us. However, the weather could have been a lot worse and wind must always be expected when cycling in Scotland! A very worthwhile day that will see us in good stead when we hit the highlands in a few weeks - super psyched!
We soon arrived in North Berwick and were having coffee and cake in the North Berwick Seabird Centre cafe. The kids were in high spirits but some of the sharper ones realised that we had been given the assistance of the wind on our backs and we were about to head straight into it on the return journey...
Initially, it wasn't too bad but we certainly hit a bit of a wall returning past Cockenzie. The kids did great but the way back into Edinburgh was a long and tiring slog for all of us. However, the weather could have been a lot worse and wind must always be expected when cycling in Scotland! A very worthwhile day that will see us in good stead when we hit the highlands in a few weeks - super psyched!
