The London Ride 12th September

Well, that was quite a day out.  More than thirty of us left North Cheam this morning, taking a complicated route to Greenwich, home via the City and St James' Park.  Only 39.9 miles from North Cheam to Morden Hall, at a stately moving average of 7.7 mph.  

We started off along the London Road, but soon left it for Lloyd Park, then taking back-roads and paths along the Wandle Trail to Croydon.  Crossing under the dual carriageway it was more quiet roads to Crystal Palace Park, where we ascended the day's hill in fine fashion.  Along the top of Sydenham Hill and then a short run downhill to the Horniman Museum, for coffee, cake and views.

Busier roads, briefly, until we turned up to Blythe Hill.  Here we had an amusing incident where we lost a few riders, who had missed the corner marker, and flew on, pursued by the back marker.  Minutes later, they reappeared going the other way, and missed the turn again ...  The rest of us waited at the top of the hill taking in the views over Canary Wharf while they caught up and then it was down again to Ladywell Park and the interesting spiral bridge over the railway.  Some rode, some walked.

Serpentine but easy riding from here to Greenwich, and soon we began to see cranes along the river and then, suddenly, the Thames itself.  We gathered under the bowsprit of the Cutty Sark before heading to Wetherspoons for lunch.

Fed and watered we returned to the Cutty Sark for the next stage.  One or two had left - Pete B had a broken spoke, for example - but the rest of us crossed the Thames by the Foot Tunnel, some in the new lifts and some by the stairs.  Ten or twelve bikes per lift, which is impressive of itself, and I'd guess that a couple of dozen of us passed through the tunnel.

Through Millwall  (which is much prettier than it was) to Canary Wharf, where we did a short tour of the Banking Quarter and rode part of the route of the Canary Wharf road race held earlier in the year.  Then Limehouse and the C3 Superhighway that took us easily into the City.  On this part of the ride we began to get some of the problems that we have had in the past, as there are bicycle traffic lights on the Superhighway that change too quickly to get the whole group through.  The only solution we have so far found is to wait, which is fine, but it does slow things down rather.

A couple more left as we entered the City, but we were still a large group.  No problems along Eastcheap, and Cannon Street was closed to cars by emergency road works, giving an easy run to the wily cyclists.  Past St Pauls and then Fleet Street, where we got a completely different London experience.  It was really busy and we struggled to thread our way to the Royal Courts of Justice.  Here we nipped into Bell Yard, immediately traffic free, and at the corner some were delighted to note that we were, quite literally, in Carey Street.

Lincolns Inn Fields, Bow Street and then Covent Garden for acrobats and loos.  Here we had a brief council o' war.  It was getting on - about four o'clock - and we clearly weren't going  to get to Morden Hall by four thirty. The upshot was that some, individually and severally, began their rides home, and some agreed to take their tea in London.

So it was round Trafalgar Square and under Admiralty Arch to St James Park for tea, then homewards down Horse Guards.  (We had to miss out the Mall as it it still being cleared up after the Olympics and Paralympics). 

At Vauxhall Cross our back marker disappeared in heavy traffic.  We were unable to find him and eventually concluded that he had fallen prey to shadowy agencies, so there was no option but to press on.  CS7 Superhighway took us efficiently to Colliers Wood - the same traffic lights problem, but less so now as the group was much smaller, and finally the Wandle Trail to Morden Hall where we arrived at about five thirty.  

Farewells from the happy band of heroes and heroines, then the last few miles home - quite a few, still, for some.

Special thanks to Terry and Jeff for acting as back markers, and to Peter and Colin for being excellent greyhounds, marking corners as we went along.  Thanks too to the Wayfarers, for being such good company and for their skilful riding in a fascinating, but very busy, city.

Mark