I'll be bike! Arnold Schwarzenegger to take to two wheels in Edinburgh

He is the bodybuilding legend and Hollywood hard man famous for facing countless dangers on the big screen.
Arnold Schwarzenegger cycles with Boris Johnson in London in 2011. Picture: GettyArnold Schwarzenegger cycles with Boris Johnson in London in 2011. Picture: Getty
Arnold Schwarzenegger cycles with Boris Johnson in London in 2011. Picture: Getty

But now Arnold Schwarzenegger looks set to reprise his role as an action hero as he braves the perils of the Capital’s streets on a bicycle.

The Terminator star is thought to be planning to ride around the city ahead of a £1500-a-head black-tie dinner at the EICC tonight.

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The A-lister, who is often spotted cycling back home in California, shocked London commuters last year when he jumped on a Boris bike to enjoy a leisurely sightseeing tour.

And cycling groups across Edinburgh have been quick to recommend routes for the best possible views of city landmarks, though they also warned him of some of the pitfalls.

Ian Maxwell, chairman of Spokes, suggested that the seven-times Mr Olympia and Predator star might like to swap Hollywood for Holyrood on his two-wheeled adventure.

He said: “A pleasant cycle route would be on the Innocent Railway cycle path from near the Commonwealth Pool.

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“He would be able to go through the [Holyrood] Park, appreciate Arthur’s Seat and go towards Portobello where he could stop off for some beach volleyball.”

It was also suggested that Arnie might enjoy a jaunt along the Union Canal from Edinburgh to Glasgow, stopping off at Falkirk to see The Kelpies in “peace and quiet”.

But Ian also had a warning for the former Mr Universe about running the gauntlet through the city centre, 
adding: “He has to be aware that cyclists have to fight it out with the rest of the traffic.

“Arnie must also know from his experience of other cities that there is plenty of potential to improve the facilities.”

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One source even suggested it could be “Hasta la vista, baby” for the action hero if he was unlucky enough to collide with a tram or fall foul of the tracks.

But the actor, who hit the big time playing the almost indestructible Terminator, once joked that it would be cars which would need repairing, not him, if an accident happened.

And referencing the film 
following a near miss at Piccadilly Circus, he quipped on Twitter: “Don’t worry, I would have been fine – living tissue over a metal skeleton.”

Security remained tight-lipped about where Arnie would be visiting during his stay and whether he had any specific tourist destinations in mind.

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A spokesman for Edinburgh Airport said: “We can confirm that Arnold Schwarzenegger will be arriving at and will be then departing – and hopefully saying ‘Hasta la vista, wee man’ – from Edinburgh Airport over the coming days.”

Arnie fans have paid up to £1500 for the privilege of his company tonight, when the Total Recall star, worth an estimated £200 million, will discuss his meteoric rise to fame.

Radio and television presenter Jenni Falconer will interview the superstar following a charity auction in which the only signed replica of the sword used in Conan the Barbarian will be among the film memorabilia going under the hammer.

The exclusive black-tie dinner is being organised by Olexy Productions, which hosted a similar sell-out audience with Schwarzenegger in Leeds in 2014.