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.
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Sunset today: 20:21
Edinburgh weather provided by WeatherAPI.com
Last updated: 13th April
Wednesday 22nd April 2026 : 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 25th April : Mellow Velo Borders day ride
A 35-mile circular ride along the Galawater Valley to Heriot and through the Moorfoots to Innerleithen, then via Clovenfords and the Tweed. Time and place: Meet at Stow station at 10:00 (this is timed to meet the 09:11 train from Waverley and the 09:53 from Galashiels). Further information and booking: See also the Mellow Velo website.
Sunday 26th April : 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 2nd 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 9th 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. 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.
Friday 15th May to Monday 18th May : 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.
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.
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 25th April 2026 : Bike marking and security
A chance to have your bike security-marked by Police Scotland, who will also be offering advice on what you can do to keep your bike safe and secure. The event, which is free and open to all, is organised by the Ronde cycling club and Gamma Transport Division. Time and place: 12:00 to 14:00, at 15-24 Comely Bank Row.
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'.
The Forth Bridge
Photo: ML
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“The expert rider can thereupon take a complete novice - his sister, his cousin or even in an emergency a lady who is not a relation.”
1897 advert for tandem tricycle
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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.
Fisherrow Harbour
Photo: Michael Law
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