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.
| Thursday | ||
 |
10° |  11 mph |
| Friday | ||
|
11° | 11 mph |
| Saturday | ||
|
12° |  5 mph |
Sunset today: 21:17
Edinburgh weather provided by WeatherAPI.com
Last updated: 12th May
Friday 15th May 2026 to Monday 18th May 2026 : Mellow Velo Cromarty weekend
A weekend of cycling around the Black Isle. The group will meet in Inverness on the Friday afternoon, then cycle 25 miles to Cromarty for overnight accommodation. Two rides of 35 - 40 miles are planned for the Saturday and Sunday, to Portmahomack and Tain with stops at various Pictish sites; and to the Tarbat Discovery Centre. Accommodation: The Old Brewhouse in Cromarty, in single and twin rooms (not bunks), at a cost of £150 per person for three nights. Times and trains: Meet at 14:20 on the Friday at Inverness station (timed to meet the 10:32 from Edinburgh; earlier trains are available). Return to Inverness on the Monday in time for the 14:50 train to Edinburgh. Travel is also available via Ember and Citylink buses. Further information and booking: phone 07810 364-206, or see the Mellow Velo website.
Wednesday 27th 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.
Saturday 30th May : Edinburgh 20-Milers Extra
The first of the group's Extra rides for this year. At 35 - 40 miles, these are longer than the usual 20-Milers runs, and go at a faster pace, but with the same sociable and unpressured atmosphere. Details of today's route, including the meeting time and place and the lunch arrangements, will be posted here nearer the time. Cost and booking: All 20-Milers rides are free with no advance booking. Further information: Email See also the 20-Milers Blog.
Sunday 31st 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.
Saturday 6th June to Tuesday 9th June : Mellow Velo Northumberland ride
Four days of cycling along the Northumbrian coast, including Lindisfarne and several places of interest along the way. The group will meet at 10:00 on the Saturday at Berwick-upon-Tweed staion. (The 09:08 from Waverley will arrive in time; earlier trains are also available.) Overnight stops wiil be at Belford, Amble and Whitley Bay. The ride will end on the Tuesday afternoon at Newcastle upon Tyne station (frequent trains to Edinburgh). Further information and booking: Email or see the Mellow Velo website.
Thursday 11th June : Mellow Velo Perth to Pitlochry day ride
A 30-mile ride from Perth to Pitlochry via Dunkeld with a cafe lunch at the Birnam Arts Centre or a picnic in the adjacent Beatrix Potter Garden. Travel from and to Edinburgh by train. Further information and booking: Email or see the Mellow Velo website.
Saturday 13th June : 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. 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.
Saturday 20th June : 'Ride to the Sun' - Carlisle to Cramond
An informal overnight ride to coincide with the summer solstice. Riders will leave from Bitts Park in Carlisle between 19:00 and 20:30; they will cycle at their own pace, aiming to reach Cramond in time to see the sun rise at 04:30. The route is just over 100 miles, mainly on quiet roads, and includes a 7-mile climb from Moffat up the Devil’s Beef Tub. There will be refreshment stops at a chip shop in Moffat and the Crook Inn in Tweedsmuir, and a chance to buy breakfast at Cramond. Important: The ride is completely unsupported, with no sweeper vehicle, mechanical support or first-aid. Riders are entirely responsible for their own safety and the road-worthiness of their bikes, and for getting themselves home in the event of breakdown or accident. Cost and booking: The ride is free with no formal registration required. However, the organisers ask that you let them know you are coming so that they can plan the catering arrangements. More information: Contact Fraser Maxwell or Gary Cameron () or see the event's website.
Saturday 20th June : Mellow Velo East Lothian day ride
A 25-mile ride from North Berwick to Longniddry via East Linton and Haddington, with rail connections at both ends. Further information and booking: Email or see the Mellow Velo website.
Sunday 21st June : 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 28th June : 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 22nd July to Friday 24th July : Mellow Velo Borders ride
A three-day ride from Tweedbank to Reston or Dunbar. Train to Tweedbank on the Wednesday, then 41 miles of cycling to Melrose via Jedburgh. Kelso to Berwick-upon-Tweed (35 miles) on the Thursday, with the option of a return to Edinburgh by train that day. Berwick to Reston (18 miles) or to Dunbar (34 miles) on the Friday, then train home. Overnight stops in B&Bs or hotels. Further information and booking: Email or see the Mellow Velo website.
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 28 April to 25 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 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 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.
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.
Saturday 16th May 2026 : Cargo Bike Open Day
A chance to try a cargo bike or a folding e-bike and to learn about Banzai Edinburgh's free cargo bike "library". Volunteers will be on hand to assist first-time users. This is a family-friendly event with kids' art activities and tea and cakes. Time and place: 14:00 to 17:00 at Bruntsfield Links (at Bruntsfield Place). Further information: Banzai Edinburgh.
Thursday 21st May : Jack Thurston's Lost Lanes Scotland
A talk by the author Jack Thurston on researching and riding the routes for his latest book, Lost Lanes Scotland, and the "particular pleasure of travelling slowly". He describes "lost lanes" as "routes designed to keep riders on quiet lanes and forgotten byways, away from traffic and away from the metrics — the speeds and distances, the Strava segments, the relentless quantification that dominates so much of modern cycling culture". Time and place: 19:00, at Room 1.21, Paterson’s Land, Holyrood Road. Cost: Free. Further information: Edinburgh Festival of Cycling.
Saturday 30th May : Pedal on Parliament 2026
A mass bike ride in which thousands of cyclists demonstrate to politicians the need for safer roads and better facilities for cycling. This is a light-hearted family-friendly event, not a confrontational-style demo. Walkers and scooter-riders are also welcome. The ride will be followed by a rally with speeches. Starting point: The ride will start at 11:30 from Middle Meadow Walk. Route: The total distance will be about one and half miles, with most or all of the roads closed to motor vehicles for the event. The ride will end in front of the Parliament at Holyrood. Feeder rides: Rides of various lengths will converge on the start point from a number of points within Edinburgh and beyond. Further details will be posted here when available. Further information: Visit the Pedal on Parliament website, which has practical information for the day, including details of feeder rides, as well as the organisers' 'manifesto'.
Thursday 11th June to Tuesday 16th June : 'Italian Icons' exhibition
An exhibition on the "history and identity of Italian cycling", featuring "significant" bicycles, including historic models from the Madonna del Ghisallo Cycling Museum "that have shaped the history of cycling". Location: The Italian Institute, 20-22 East London Street. Admission: Free. Further information: Email: or see this web page.
Holyrood Park
Photo: ML
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Bicycles are almost as good as guitars for meeting girls.”
Bob Weir (Grateful Dead)
Browse all articles on this site
Bike Station
A community project that accepts donated bikes from members of the public and recycles them for use by priority groups such as the long term unemployed and the homeless.
CTC Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders
The local branch of Cycling UK. They organise several rides each week and support cycle campaigning activities.
Spokes
A non-party political campaigning group, pressing for better conditions for cyclists, especially in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
NCN 75 near Caldercruix
Photo: Michael Law
Cycling Edinburgh. Website owned and maintained by Mike Lewis.
Contact me
Please contact me with your feedback, suggestions or details of events you would like me to include on this page. You can email me at:
Site policies. To be eligible for listing on this site, an event must (i) be open to cyclists regardless of their nationality, religion, ethnic group, sex or sexual orientation; (ii) not require the use of a car.
From 1st July 2019, this site has been advertising-free. This is entirely thanks to the support of its visitors over the previous 14 years. Read more ...
© Copyright Mike Lewis and contributors.