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It's actually Meadowbank Velodrome in Edinburgh. It's been getting a lot of publicity recently as it's scheduled for demolition. See http://www.savemeadowbank.org/ for further info.

Can't claim the credit for the photo though - although I wish I could...

That's my photo, part of a documentary project I did entitled "Regulation" on Scottish sporting venues. Have a look at http://cargocollective.com/albieclark#6809 or download a lo-res version of the book here: http://albieclark.com/regulation/Regulation_Albie_Clark.pdf (7.8mb).

Bit of a weird place to have a stage start, but what do I know? Maybe some of them wanted to get married in Gretna or something.

Photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/albie_clark/sets/72157622242153551/

To put an end to all the geographic speculation, I am Scottish, in Edinburgh and jonlubi, your five pounds (Clydesdale Bank mind, printed this morning, fresh off the Epson) shall be stapled to the aforementioned traffic lights.

ASM: As for dismounting and swearing, I'm pretty sure I could only handle one of those at a time.

Nefarious: are you riding like Francis Begbie might? Did you get a new jacket the first day of the Festival off some yank?

Coming down Queen Street on my usual commute through Festival madness, I'm riding on the outside of cars in the right hand lane as I am wont to do, whistling a fine tune. Pinch point at the lights on Broughton St so I pull over past a BMW waiting at the lights. Bomb it down Leith Walk then hit the usual red at McDonald Rd, so I do my usual onto the pavement (nae peds) then back into traffic a wee bit down the road. I see a rozzer tootling along behind me, then he pulls alongside as I am spinning down Broughton Rd, two mins from home and some fine tea. "Pull over at the bus-stop pal" says PC Ginger Nut so I do. He gives me the usual, "So why d'you think I stopped you?" chat. I'm trying hard not to say any of the myriad responses fizzing around my brain (suggestions welcome), so he says, "A guy behind you said you ran the red light back there. Why would I go half a mile out of my way to stop you just for a chat?" I consider giving him the "Oh no occifer, I never RLJ, no, not me" but am just honest with him and told him he was wrong. Ah. "Your word against mine, isn't it pal? Now, you look like a competent cyclist, and I'm just letting you know it's a slap on the wrist next time, eh?' I say, "Where are you when I'm two inches from death at least three times a day?" All ends amicably but then I see the Beamer dude drive past, smiling. Cop is still keeping his eye on me as I ride off, so I can't ride up to BMWank and knock his
mirror off.

FFS. I'm pretty sure the Beamer guy wasn't 8, nor did I hear him going "Ner ner ner ner ner" but I've never been stopped by the rozzers due to information given by a car driver. Wank.

Sniffy, yeah, and I work down the Royal Mile too. Junction at St Mary's Street is particularly hairy at the mo. Just saw an Italian stride out in front of a bus with the red man on. Totally oblivious to the Lothian Buses driver giving her evils. Oh, and she was pushing a baby buggy.

46:16 on the cobbled streets of Auld Reekie. Fun times with all the fucking tourists at this time of year.

Been a few times and it's just magic. Avoid Market St on weekend evenings, pretty sketchy on a board as all the suits fuck off and randoms take over. As for fuel, Taqueria Cancun on Mission (they've got a few across the city) does huge, hunger-destroying fuck-off burritos with nice salsa cheap cheap, and there's a free campsite if you get across the Golden Gate Bridge in the Marin Headlands (maybe http://www.nps.gov/goga/marin-headlands.htm but haven't checked if it's still there), nae toilets but plenty raccoons to fuck with your food if you don't keep it in the tent. What's more, you can wake up to the sound of ships in the bay, and see the Golden Gate looming out of the fog.

Like a few others said, Sausalito is accessible and above all quite rad. Ditto DLX, where you might meet Frankie Gerwer if you're lucky.

You'd kick yourself for not bringing either board or bike, although you could get a cheap set-up at DLX or Skates on Haight if you can bear to enter tie-dye nostalgia land.