Favourite Bike Rides (edn 3) – here!!

Spokes has published a new booklet of Favourite Rides. The rides are based on entries from our 2025 Favourite Rides competition. They feature not just the wonderful rides themselves, but also brief bios and explanations from the contributors, adding greatly to the appeal of the booklet.

This is the 3rd edition, expanded to 16 pages, whilst the 12-page 2nd edition, based on a previous competition, and with a completely different set of routes, remains available. The new booklet also includes a page each about school bike buses and about bike commuting – these everyday journeys can become real favourites, a fantastic way to start your day and prepare your body and mind for work or school.

Each ride description includes an overall map, basic route instructions, a photo, information about the prizewinner, and why the ride is a favourite. The booklet is designed to accompany Spokes maps, which can be used to check the fine detail of each ride, and how it fits into the area’s local cycle network. Each ride has symbols telling you which Spokes map(s) it relates to, how long the ride might take you, and whether there are any nearby rail stations.

The rides vary from under an hour (at a gentle pace) within the city to Lothians rides of up to three hours.

As a taster, here is Gregor Steele’s ride – he was our top prizewinner!

Getting your copy

• All Spokes members will be sent a free copy, as a thank-you for being a member. This will be sent out in mid or late April with our annual paper-based mailing. If you’re not a member, join Spokes by the end of March and you will be included!
• The Edinburgh Bike Coop and the Water of Leith Visitor Centre sell edition 2 and are being approached about edition 3.
• Order direct from Spokes, post free. Email office@spokes.org.uk. We will send you details to make a BACS payment. Prices..
  • Edition 2 (12 pages) – £2
  • Edition 3 (16 pages) – £3
  • Edition 2 and Edition 3 – £4
  • If you also order one Spokes map, ask for either booklet free
  • If you also order two or more maps, ask for both booklets free
• Important – if you are a Spokes member, you will still receive a free copy of edition 3 in April even if you buy one now. With around 1000 members it would be too complex for us to do otherwise … your second copy could be a lovely present for a friend, relation or colleague!

Pass it on!

If you like the booklet…

• Repost our bluesky post
• Like our facebook entry
• Send us your feedback on the booklet

Thank you!

Many thanks to Mike Lewis of Cycling Edinburgh and David Gardiner of Laidback Bikes who did all the hard work of assembling the content (Mike) and designing the booklet (David)

Also to members of our Resources Group who did the initial groundwork for the booklet and organised our 2025 competition which provided the inspiration to produce it. And, of course, everyone who entered the competition!