Cycling Edinburgh

Organised bike rides in and around Edinburgh


Welcome. On this page, you'll find details of all organised bike rides in or near the Scottish capital. These rides are run by local cycling clubs, groups and individuals, and are mostly free and open to all. If you like the idea of cycling in congenial company with a knowledgeable leader, you're sure to find a run here that's right for your experience and level of fitness.

On this page:

Forthcoming rides

Regular weekly rides

Other bike-related events

NEWS: Duddingston Low Road in Holyrood Park is completely closed, including to pedestrians and cyclists, until further notice. This is because of renewed risks of rock falls. The Innocent path and tunnel are unaffected.

 

Monday
13°
5 mph
Tuesday
14°
8 mph
Wednesday
12°
12 mph

Sunset today: 20:32

Edinburgh weather provided by WeatherAPI.com

 


Updated today

Forthcoming rides

Sunday 27th April 2025 : EasyCycle Short Ride
A short informal ride of 12 - 15 miles, which will be taken at a gentle pace with plenty of stops. These rides are especially suitable for less experienced riders and those who haven't cycled for a while. The route will mainly be on bike paths and quiet roads, and will try to avoid steep hills. There will be a pub or café stop at lunchtime, or bring a picnic if you prefer. Meet: 10:30, in front of Caffè Nero, Lister Square (in the Quartermile). Cost and booking: Free. No need to book; just turn up. Further information: Jim Cameron (07760 455 819, ), or see the EasyCycle website.

Tuesday 29th April : CTC Evening Ride
The first of this summer's CTC Tuesday evening runs. These are moderately-paced sociable rides of 20 to 25 miles, often including an optional pub stop on the way home. Tonight's ride will finish after dark, so be sure to bring lights. These rides will take place every Tuesday evening until 26 August. Meet: Royal Commonwealth Pool, Dalkeith Road, in time for an 18:30 departure. Cost and booking: The ride is free and open to all, with no need to book in advance. Further information: Contact Charles Wallis (), or see the CTC Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders website. 

Monday 5th May to Wednesday 7th May : Mellow Velo Glen Lyon ride
Three days of cycling in and around Glen Lyon. Travel to Pitlochry by train on the first day (trains leave Edinburgh at 08:38 and 09:39) then cycle to Boreland Farm (25 miles). The second day will be an out-and-back ride along Glen Lyon (44 miles). The group will cycle back to Pitlochry on the third day for the return train to Edinburgh (16:20 or 17:35). Accommodation: Ben Lawers Lodge at Boreland Farm (overlooking Loch Tay). Further information and booking:  See also the Mellow Velo website.

Saturday 10th May : Edinburgh 20-Milers
An easy-to-moderate ride, suitable both for occasional cyclists and those with a little more experience. These runs are a good choice for riders who are comfortable pedalling 15 – 20 miles in a day, but might not feel ready for a long strenuous day in the saddle. (If you haven't cycled for a while, or are unsure of your abilities, consider starting with EasyCycle instead; their runs are listed elsewhere on this page.) Most rides are around 20 miles, and are taken at a "sociable" pace (8 – 9 mph over the day, which is not so fast that you can't keep up a conversation). The routes favour bike paths and quiet roads where possible. There is usually a lunch stop at a café or pub, or bring a picnic if you prefer. Most rides end mid afternoon. Route and destination: Details of today's route and destination will be posted here nearer the time. Meet: 10:30, at the north end of Middle Meadow Walk (junction of Lauriston Place). Cost and booking: All 20-Milers rides are free with no advance booking. Further information: Email See also the 20-Milers Blog.

Wednesday 14th May : VIE Velo tandem ride for the visually impaired
An easy-paced ride for visually impaired riders using tandems with sighted pilots. These are sociable rides, typically 25 - 35 miles, favouring quiet roads and cycle paths, and including a café stop for lunch. Bikes and helmets are provided, and training is available for those new to tandem riding. The rides usually take place on the first Saturday and third Sunday of the month, throughout the year. Time and place: 09:30, Saughton Park. Most rides end at about 15:30. Cost and booking: The rides are free. Riders are asked to sign up in advance so that the organisers can make the tandem pairings. Further information: See the group's web page or Facebook page, or email The organisers would especially like to hear from visually impaired riders who are keen to get into cycling.

Sunday 25th May : EasyCycle Short Ride
A short informal ride of 12 - 15 miles, which will be taken at a gentle pace with plenty of stops. These rides are especially suitable for less experienced riders and those who haven't cycled for a while. The route will mainly be on bike paths and quiet roads, and will try to avoid steep hills. There will be a pub or café stop at lunchtime, or bring a picnic if you prefer. Meet: 10:30, in front of Caffè Nero, Lister Square (in the Quartermile). Cost and booking: Free. No need to book; just turn up. Further information: Jim Cameron (07760 455 819, ), or see the EasyCycle website.

Wednesday 28th May : VIE Velo tandem ride for the visually impaired
An easy-paced ride for visually impaired riders using tandems with sighted pilots. These are sociable rides, typically 25 - 35 miles, favouring quiet roads and cycle paths, and including a café stop for lunch. Bikes and helmets are provided, and training is available for those new to tandem riding. The rides usually take place on the first Saturday and third Sunday of the month, throughout the year. Time and place: 09:30, Saughton Park. Most rides end at about 15:30. Cost and booking: The rides are free. Riders are asked to sign up in advance so that the organisers can make the tandem pairings. Further information: See the group's web page or Facebook page, or email The organisers would especially like to hear from visually impaired riders who are keen to get into cycling.

Wednesday 4th June : Mellow Velo day ride around Perth
A day of cycling in the Perth area, partly following NCN 77. More details will be posted here when availabvle, or contact See also the Mellow Velo website.

Tuesday 10th June to Thursday 12th June : Mellow Velo Penrith to Newcastle
A three-day ride across the north of England, mainly following NCN 7. Travel by  train to Penrith on the Tuesday, returning from Newcastle on the Thursday. The route will involve 23 miles on the first day,  27 to 30 miles on the second, and 25 miles on the third, with lots of hills, especially on the second day. Accommodation: YHA hostels at Alston and Edmundbyers. Places at these hostels are limited, so advance booking is essential. Further information and booking: See also the Mellow Velo website.

Saturday 28th June to Sunday 29th June : Mellow Velo Borders weekend
A two-day ride from Tweedbank (trains approximately every half hour from Waverley) to Newcastleton and back, with an overnight stop at the Newcastleton Bunkhouse (£25 per head).  Further information and booking: eibhlin@mellowvelo.org.uk. See also the Mellow Velo website.

Friday 11th July to Sunday 13th July : Mellow Velo Aberfoyle weekend
A weekend of cycling in the Trossachs. The group will cycle from Balloch to Aberfoyle via Drymen and Gartmore on the Friday (20 miles). Saturday's ride will take in Loch Katrine or Gravelfoyle. On the Sunday, the group will head to Dunblane via Duke’s Pass, Callander and Doune. Overnight accommodation will be in Aberfoyle on both nights. Travel: Train to Balloch on the Firday morning (leaving Waverley at 09:00 or 09:30, change at Glasgow Queen Street), returning on the Sunday evening from Dunblane (hourly service). No advance booking needed for these trains. Further information and booking: See also the Mellow Velo website.

Friday 15th August : Tim McKenna memorial ride
A three-week LEJOG ride in memory of Tim McKenna will be passing near Edinburgh on this day, and the organisers invite local cyclists to join them for all or part of the route. Tim McKenna was well known on social media for his cycling; he took his own life in January after losing his battle with mental health. The event is in aid of Mind, Sustrans and Flight Free UK. Today's leg is from Thankerton to Kinross via South Queensferry and the Forth Road Bridge (53 miles). Further information: Ride for Tim website; organisers' email: ; fundraising page.

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Regular weekly rides

CTC Tuesday evening rides
CTC Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders (part of Cycling UK) have a ride every Tuesday evening during the summer. These are moderately-paced sociable rides of 20 to 25 miles, running every Tuesday from 29 April to 26 August, starting from the Commonwealth Pool at 18:30. Rides often include an optional pub stop on the way home. The rides usually finish after dark, so be sure to bring lights. No need to book: just turn up. Contact: Charles Wallis ().

CTC Wednesday rides
CTC Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders (part of Cycling UK) have a ride every Wednesday throughout the year. These are moderate-to-fast rides of 40 to 70 miles (40 to 50 miles in winter), aimed at reasonably fit cyclists. The rides include a lunch break either in a village hall (in winter) or in the open air (in summer); in both cases riders should bring a packed lunch. There is usually a café stop in the afternoon. All rides start at 10:00, but the meeting points vary, so please check the current rides list on the group's web site. Riders are asked to book a place by text once the details have been posted on the groups.io email group. If you wish to be added to this group, please email with a few words about yourself.

CTC Sunday rides
CTC Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders (part of Cycling UK) also have a ride every Sunday throughout the year. These are usually 30 to 45 miles, but might occasionally be longer. All rides start at 10:00, but the meeting points vary, so please check the current rides list on the the group's web site. Most rides include a café stop for lunch. Advance booking is required, with numbers usually limited to about 15. Riders should book their place by text once the details have been posted on the groups.io email group. If you wish to be added to this group, please email with a few words about yourself.

Edinburgh RC
This group has rides every Saturday and Sunday. These are fast rides, aimed at serious cyclists who are interested in cycling at speed in a group and those training to race. Further information: Edinburgh RC (email: ).

Note: The above groups welcome non-members on their rides, but those who cycle with them regularly will be asked to join.

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Other bike-related events

Monday 3rd March 2025 to Monday 19th May 2025 : Ageing Well cycling course
An 11-week course aimed at older people who have not cycled for some years and who now want to regain the confidence to start riding again. The course is not intended for complete beginners, but will be a refresher course on such topics as riding and stopping safely, indicating correctly and the correct use of gears. Bikes and helmets can be supplied if required, but participants are welcome to bring their own. The training will take place in a traffic-free environment. It is run by Ageing Well, a  project which aims to promote healthy lifestyles for the over-50s. Time and place: The course takes place every Monday, at the Saughton Sports Centre, Stevenson Drive. Cost: £33 (£3 per session). Further information and booking: Phone 0131 458 2260  or email Follow-up course: An 8-week follow-up course is planned, in which participants will cycle on Edinburgh's bike path network.

Wednesday 30th April : Spokes Public Meeting-Meet the Transport Convener
Spokes' first public meeting of 2025 will be addressed by Cllr Stephen Jenkinson, who recently took over as Edinburgh's transport convener. He will speak on the place of cycling within the city's overall transport policies, and what we can expect to see happening in the coming year. Also speaking will be Deborah Paton, Head of Transport, Strategy and Partnership at the Council. Cost: The meeting is free and open to all. Time: Doors open 18:45 for coffee, stalls and informal chat (including a stall where you can join Spokes or renew your membership). The meeting starts at 19:30 and ends at 21:30. Place: Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge. Further information: Email ,  phone 07982 278936 or see this page on the Spokes website.

Saturday 10th May : Wee Spoke Hub Training Workshop
A training session aimed at new bike users, covering basic bike maintenance, safety issues and "being a responsible bike owner". Time and place: 11:00 to 13:00, at the Wee Spoke Hub, 13 Guthrie Street. Cost and booking: £15 per person. Places are limited, so book in advance here. More information (including details of their frequent DIY maintenance sessions): see the Wee Spoke Hub website.

Monday 9th June to Sunday 15th June : National Bike Week 2025
The dates of this year's Bike Week have been announced, but no other information has yet been published. Details of any local events will be posted here as and when they become available.

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