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As part of our birthday celebration weekend we would love you to join Sim for a Queens of Pain Cycling Sconnoisseur ride, which will take us on an a longer-than-usual jaunt out to Craigies Farm in South Queensferry.
Route Information
We’ll meet at the Edward VII statue in the suitably grand surroundings of Victoria Park, wiggle our wheels along the cycle paths out to Cramond and continue along the National Cycle Route 1, from where we’ll detour through the beautiful grounds of Dalmeny Estate. Please note that we’ll ride around 2k of gravel in the estate, though nothing that should trouble road tyres. We’ll ride through the woods, filling our lungs with fresh sea air as we bumble alongside the sandy beaches, to the majestic Forth Rail Bridge and onwards along the cobbles of South Queensferry.
From there we’ll join the old railway path through Dalmeny Village and onwards to the farm… if we’re lucky we may catch sight of the newly-born Highland cows 🐮.
Our hosts have reserved us a space - which if the elements are kind - will be in the gardens, and have promised to bake extra scones especially for our visit 😋.
After filling our tummies and ‘oohing’ and ‘aahing’ at the farm’s new folk we’ll return for a shorter route back via Cramond, Silverknowes promenade and Granton, to rejoin the cycle paths for the grand finale circumnavigation of our very own Champs Elysees (aka Victoria Park 🙂) to congratulate ourselves on a job well done.
Here's the route (please excuse the Komoot wiggles!)
Riding Information
Please note that this is a 25 mile / 40k route, where we’ll ride to our usual Queens no drop/party pace policy, though there will be a short cut point, as well as the option to return home by train from Dalmeny station.
Please bring a lock; there are bike lock facilities at the farm, though we may also need to use the fences/lock bikes together given this will be a larger than usual gathering.
This is a strictly no-drop ride and we will wait at key points to keep the group together. I’ll also point out the short cut at the entrance to the Dalmeny Estate, where you’ll have the option to head straight to the farm or to ride straight down to South Queensferry by road.
Whilst the scones at Craigies are amazing, please note that we'll ride for 18 miles / 25k before we get there, and so we encourage you to have breakfast and bring all the snacks and liquids you think you might need before this.
Safety
These group rides are more about claiming some precious and potholed tarmac space, rather than chasing QOMs. We encourage you to wear a helmet and ask that everyone please has a good check over your bike a few days beforehand to make sure it is in full working order. Fully charged lights are a must. A spare tube to fix a flat tyre is a must and some tools would be grand but there will always be someone with tools to help out if you need to borrow anything (if disaster strikes, you will get help).
Our rides are completely self-supported which mean we will be there for you as best we can but by signing up for this ride, you agree that Queens of Pain and the ride leaders are not responsible for your safety - you are ultimately responsible for your own safety and wellbeing.
Can’t wait to see you there!
Sim x
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Hey Queens, looking forward to our first Sconnoisseur micro adventure of 2024. Just a nudge for those who’ve signed up to pop your order in the comments here and to take your name off if you can’t make it as I know their are folks waiting in the wings for a spot 😁. I’m putting the order in with the cafe today.
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Don’t see you on the sign up list @LouiseM… think you might have got your weeks mixed up 😂
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We would love you to join Sim for the first Queens of Pain Cycling Sconnoisseurs ride of 2024, which will finish at the fab new La Cime Deli in Trinity.
We’ll meet at the north east entrance gate to Victoria Park, wiggle our wheels along the cycle paths out to Cramond, rising for coastal views before descending to join the promenade at Granton for a coastal spin via the Newhaven lighthouses. Our grand finale will be a circumnavigation of our very own Champs Elysees (aka Victoria Park 🙂), before retiring for amazing scones (or vegan cake) and beautifully-baristaed drinks to warm our cockles.
Please only sign up if you’re definitely able to make this as the cafe is small and the lovely Anne and Will been kind enough to set aside tables especially for us in their super-popular space. When bagging your spot on, please also leave a comment below on whether you would like a savoury scone, sweet scone or a vegan cake so they can have our freshly-baked treats ready. That said they have other goodies available, so you’re more than welcome to take pot luck and choose something on the day if you’d prefer, but please let us know either way.
Please bring a lock; whilst there is no lock-up facility at the cafe there are railings close by, or you can lock bikes together outside, or you may wish to use the proper bike racks at the nearby Milk Cafe which is a 3 minute walk from La Cime.
This is a strictly no-drop ride and we will wait at key points to keep the group together. These group rides are more about claiming some precious and potholed tarmac space, rather than chasing QOMs. We encourage you to wear a helmet and ask that everyone checks their brakes beforehand as we want to keep you all safe. A spare tube to fix a flat tyre is a must and some tools would be grand but there will always be someone with tools to help out if you need to borrow anything (if disaster strikes, you will get help).
Our rides are completely self-supported which mean we will be there for you as best we can but by signing up for this ride, you agree that Queens of Pain and the ride leaders are not responsible for your safety - you are ultimately responsible for your own safety and wellbeing.
Can’t wait to see you there! Sim x
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Party pace for me please gals :-) x
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Party for me please 😁
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Party pace for me please 🙂
Hey Queen Sconnoisseurs!
Looking forward to seeing you all for the first of our birthday celebrations. Following this week’s biblical weather I did a final recce today - all looking good, though there are HUGE puddles we’ll need to carefully navigate.
Whilst the forecast is looking much better for our ride, this may change so please ensure you have enough layers, waterproofs etc to keep yourself as toasty and dry as possible. The high winds are forecasted to arrive around 13:00, so I’ll be keeping an on time and progress along the way.
A reminder that our cafe stop is 18 miles / 25k in, so we encourage you to have breakfast and bring all the snacks and liquids you think you might need before this.
Lastly, please take your name off the list if you’re no longer able to attend. We appreciate that plans can change, and there may be another Queen to happily snaffle your spot. We also need to ensure we know who’s coming so we can check we have everyone ahead of our Grand Depart.
See you at 08:30!
Sim x