For many people, a favourite ride is a weekend cycle to and through places of great natural beauty or historic interest. But our entries showed that it can also be your daily commute, taking your mind off work; or a school bike bus with its amazing enthusiasm and hope for the future. Our lovely entrants showed just how much cycling can mean to people in so many different ways.
We were also delighted to get a good range of entries from the Lothians, with West and East Lothian entries winning 3rd and 4th positions.
PRIZEWINNERS & RUNNERS-UP
See the full set of prize-winner and runner-up entries in this 8.8MB pdf [or this 16.5MB pdf for higher-resolution]
THEMES
- Most entries were recreational rides, some circular, some A to B, extolling the pleasures encountered – nature, cafe stops, historic buildings, stages of urban development, and much more. For example, 5th prizewinner John Forbes, Cramond, Wardie Botanics circular
- Several entries were utility rides, mainly commuting, and one school bike-bus (2nd prizewinner, Elaine Appleby, with Parson’s Green bike bus). Whilst these journeys often referred to natural or built features en route, they were usually favourites because of the pure pleasure of undertaking them by bike rather than by car, or to help cope with stressful times at work (e.g. 6th prizewinner Mike Armstrong, One and a Half Times round the World)
- Some rides could be used as recreational or utility – for example 1st prizewinner Gregor Steele, Quietly to the City, or 4th prizewinner Jane Waters, Aberlady to Bruntsfield
- It was great to have high-scoring entries from all 3 Lothian Council areas – 3rd prize Donald Tainsh of Livingston, Fave Livi Rides: Rail & River Ramble; 4th prize Jane Waters of Aberlady, Aberlady to Bruntsfield; 9th prize Pete Roche of Carlops, Penicuik to Portobello
- There were also some stunning photos, notably from 1st prizewinner Gregor Steele (Quietly to the City) and 8th prizewinner Jarlath Flynn’s Pentlands Nature and Dark Sky
- OK, finally, we can’t resist mentioning the Clubbiedean Big Puddle, which featured in 2 entries (10th and 12th positions, Charlie Wood and Martin Gemmell) was also well known by one of our judges, and now will doubtless achieve even greater fame!
TOP ENTRIES
[click pictures for full size]
First prize – Gregor Steele, Carluke – Quietly to the City
This is a simple ride, along the Water of Leith path from Balerno to the Canal Basin, but full of meaning. It’s functional, avoids the A70, and is also “a sensory treat” all the way. Gregor’s “absolute highlight” is the incredible Colinton tunnel, where he recommends dismounting to discover how the painting of the tunnel is inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s poem, From a Railway Carriage.
Second prize – Elaine Appleby – Parson’s Green Bike Bus
Elaine says, “What could be better than a bike bus ride first thing in the morning? It supports a new generation of cyclists to learn skills in a real-life context, has beautiful views and avoids busy roads … the children embark on their school day refreshed and energised by the ride and the camaraderie. Cycling into the future!“
“Anyone supporting their local bike bus (there are a fair few around) will enjoy their best ride of the week!“
Third prize – Donald Tainsh – Fave Livi Rides: Rail & River Ramble
A 20km ride, largely offroad. Donald says it’s “a delightful greenspace ride that takes in the history of Livingston as a post-war new town, and its place in the heritage of West Lothian.” There are multiple points of interest, from fish bypasses to a skatepark, from rivers to historic buildings, from viaducts to shale history – and cafes of course!
The picture shows Donald receiving his prize from Kirsteen Sullivan, MP for Bathgate & Linlithgow
Fourth prize – Jane Waters – Aberlady to Bruntsfield
A very impressive 18-mile commute from East Lothian to the city by Tern cargobike, carrying a bassoon to teach music lessons in various schools twice a week. Jane arrives “energised for the day ahead.” This also cuts Jane’s car use substantially as well as bringing a big sense of achievement. Whilst most entries highlighted nature and history, Jane also enjoyed watching the people she passed – friends, joggers, schoolkids, students – and dogs.
We also liked Jane’s personalised form of entry!
THANK YOU – OUR SPONSORS
Top prizewinner gets first choice of prizes, and so on till all prizes allocated. Runner-up entries which don’t win a prize will get to choose a free Spokes map or buff
- Museum of Scottish Railways (Bo’Ness) Family annual pass to the extensive museum
- Bo’Ness & Kinneil Steam Railway Family ticket for one return trip
- Ember Bus [takes 2 bikes] £50 bus tickets credit
- Edinburgh Bicycle £50 Edinburgh Bicycle voucher
- Camera Obscura Family ticket
- Cameo Picturehouse Tickets for 2
- Laidback Bikes Recumbent tour or cargobike hire
- Harts Cyclery One-week ebike hire
- Edinburgh Festival of Cycling Urban Arrow Cargo-bike day hire
- Lanterne Rouge bike cafe, Gifford £20 voucher
- Lanterne Rouge bike cafe, Gifford Blue/white no-plastic Africap from Sierra Leone
- Rosebean cafe or Dower House cafe £10 voucher
- Spokes £1000 voucher* towards cargo-bike purchase
- Spokes £200 voucher* towards e-bike purchase
- Spokes Set of all 4 Spokes maps
- RUNNERS-UP Spokes map or Edinburgh map-buff
* This voucher may only be used for the purpose stated above. It may only be used by the winner and is not transferable. It must be used at an Edinburgh or Lothians independent bike shop which is not one of the major national chains.
THANK YOU !!
Many thanks to you if you entered, even if you didn’t win this time.
Thanks also to the organisers from Spokes Resources Group
Thank you, the judges – Kate, Emma, and Dave from Spokes Resources Group and our two external judges, Mike Lewis who runs the Cycling-Edinburgh bike rides website, and Ewen Maclean of Blackford Safe Routes.
WHAT’S NEXT & WHAT CAN YOU DO??
- Look through our full set of entries carefully (links at top of this article) – do any inspire you to try the same? Are there any you could recommend to friends and colleagues?
- See the results of our many previous exciting, amusing and/or interesting competitions here.
- If you’ve a great idea for a future competition, let us know! A topic that is useful to other people and which most people are able to enter is what we need (so, for example, school travel would not be suitable)
- Please repost our bluesky post about this article.