Time was tight to reach the 12:00 rain from Waverley by tandem. However, the distance was quite short: straight up Broughton Street, past John Lewis, and down Calton Road into the back entrance of the station. Provided that everyone pedalled properly, we would make it.

It soon became obvious that a 5-person bicycle was too much to manage, and with diversions through (a) the fire station, where the fire-fighters were washing the engines, and (b) a seminar on the oil crisis, at which I made a brief contribution on the 1970s fuel shortage, I would surely miss my train.