White Hill and Black Mount, Pentland Hills.

The 'Summer' Spokes Ride went around the Pentland Hills. It is a bit breezy, but doesn't feel too bad. I am hoping we don't have much rain. We head out along the canal to Craiglockhart, then off to Colinton and then the A70 to Balerno and Glenbrook where we rejoin the A70.

The next bit was a bit tough, the climb up to Auchinoon is pretty tough straight in to the wind that gets stronger as we climb. One at the top, the downhlll is fairly nice until the climb up to Crosswoodhill, where it starts to rain. We don coats and anything else water proof as a squally shower moves in. Not very pleasant at all until lower down we head through a conifer plantation and the rain goes off. We regroup on Stanemuir Rd.

The wind is a crosswind here as we cycle down to Kaimend, and a tailwind from now on. We turn off the A721 at Newbigging to Dunsyre. At Weston I stop to take a shot looking up the South Medwin valley. I also took the Extra showing interest in a 'native' with the two participants. There are bits of blue sky, so I am hoping the rest of the day isn't so wild.We head past Little Sparta and through Dunsyre and stop for lunch near Garvald in a tree sheltered area. We would head up to Garvald, but it is still windy, and there are lots of small showers.

After lunch we head to Dolphinton, down the A702 for a wee bit before heading east to Blyth Bridge and the A72. We turn off at Tarth Bridge on the B7059 to Romannobridge. As we head north dark clouds can be seen heading east. We turn right on to the A701 to Whitmuir. To avoid the heavy rain, we head to the café there for afternoon coffee and cake, just in time.

After coffee and cake, the rain has cleared. Blue sky and sun the rest of the way. Heading back to Edinburgh is along the A701 to Leadburn and Howgate, then the A6094 and B7026 to Auchendinny. The coffee and cake is good fuel to get us up Auchendinny Brae to the A701. the last bitis through Bush to the the Seafield Moor Rd and Hillend.

Not a perfect day, and not the ride I had planned, but we all made it.

The whole ride can be seen at Relive here.