Summer is the season that cycling in Edinburgh really comes into its element. Yes, hardcore bike enthusiasts will tell you excitedly how they love to cycle all year round, but no season can be quite as nice as this one when you can ride through the streets with a warm summer breeze in your hair.
Cycling is great for your health, your mind and the environment. So what are you waiting for? Join the thousands of people in Edinburgh who are bike-crazy. Here’s our guide to get you started…
Bargain Bikes
If you need a bike in your life but don’t want to shell out loads of money, why not take a trip to The Bike Station – a great Edinburgh charity that recycles bikes and actively promotes cycling throughout the city. They take bikes that have been donated or abandoned, and sell them after they have been fully reconditioned by expert mechanics. They have weekly bike sales on Fridays and Saturday, and prices start at just £45. See their website for more information.
Cycling in the City
Bikes seem to be popping up everywhere on the streets of Edinburgh these days, but although cyclists are becoming ubiquitous it still pays to take care on Edinburgh’s busy roads. It’s not advisable to cycle on main roads with children, but there are plenty of great routes that start within the city centre where you can enjoy some family bike-time. The innocent railway to Musselburgh, the Union Canal to Falkirk and the Water of Leith heading out to the Pentlands are three of the most enjoyable trails around, and all take you from the heart of the city out into the countryside where you can cycle in safety.
Best Routes outside of Edinburgh
The Midlothian Country Circular is a nice, relaxed route that begins in the tiny village of Rosewell, passing through rural Midlothian and the towns of Penicuik and West Linton, before returning to the starting point. If a scenic cycle is what you’re after then you can’t get views more spectacular than those from the Forth Road Bridge – so make the most of its bike tracks on either side. And those with a daredevil nature should try Glentress Forest near Peebles; with its utterly terrifying* downhill mountain bike routes to suit all abilities (*apart from mine, clearly).
Staying Safe (While Looking Stylish)
Just because you’re on a bike doesn’t mean you have to wear a cagoule, a backpack and an ugly helmet. But equally, you don’t want to compromise your safety for the sake of looking stylish. So, what to do? This has been the dilemma of women (and probably some men) for years, but luckily cycling has become quite hip, and as a result a huge range of attractive helmets have become available. The Bern and Sawako Furuno collections are some of the best out there, and their websites are a great place to start your hunt for the perfect helmet to suit you. Also try Bobbin Bicycles for sweet, old-fashioned bicyle paraphernalia.
