London Ride 23 March 2016

Well that was a great ride – 20 enthusiastic riders, including newcomer Sean, on a tour of old London docklands.

Weather was cool, but crucially dry, and not windy.

Prompt starting from N Cheam we were soon following a “scenic” route through Wimbledon before descending to the quietish streets of Wandsworth and Battersea to Clapham Common. We crossed the Thames at Chelsea Bridge, chosen because of the opportunity to use the cycle path, but today the path was closed by road works. Next CS8 for a fast and easy route to Westminster before diverting past St Johns Smith Sq. to avoid Parliament Sq. currently obstructed by Cycle Superhighway works. Immaculate timing brought us to Horseguards Parade fleetingly to witness the changing of the guard, before reaching Trafalgar Sq. for 11’s in St Martins in the Field crypt, or Pret a Manger for those less impressed by its historic ambience.

On the road again at 11.30 we had a lively ride dodging the traffic down the Strand and Fleet Street, before we all executed a skilful right turn opposite the Bank. Eventually we reached quainter City streets, Crutched Friars, French Ordinary Court, and south beside Tower Bridge to St Katherine Docks. This was the beginning of a meander through old docklands, much now converted into waterside dwellings reminiscent of Bruges, but with a surprising number of open spaces.

We arrived at Wetherspoon's Ledger Building near Canary Wharf for lunch around 12.30, beating the office crowds.

After lunch we continued a slow meander down the Thames path towards Greenwich, passing the launch site of Brunel’s Great Eastern on the way. Luckily the foot tunnel lifts were working, so we were soon admiring the restored Cutty Sark, before turning ourselves to the route back on the south bank. Briefly we were delayed by a swing bridge which opens at high tide for ships to pass; in future ride leaders must check tide tables as well as everything else.

The route took us on LCN4 through Greenland Dock and Russia Dock Woodland where it was easy to forget you were in the middle of a big city; historic Rotherhithe, departure point of the Mayflower, and the ruins of one of Henry III’s manor houses. We paused briefly at the Design Museum, home of the Cycle Revolution exhibition, before making our way through increasingly busy back streets. We left the river by HMS Belfast before heading to Waterloo Station, where surprisingly (to me) nobody elected to take the train home.
Much of the Thames-side route was adapted from Bill Carnaby's London Sightseer Audax, which runs this year on 29th June and 4th Sept, and well worth doing.

We concluded rather more rapidly along LCN3 to Clapham Common, arriving around 4pm, where about half of us elected for tea, while others headed directly home.

35 miles in 7 hours at a stately rolling 8.5mph, surely a Wayfarers record low.

Biggest thanks go to Tony Hooker for patiently back marking while my route twisted and turned. Also thanks to Brain, Mark and Simon, and all the turn markers for helping to keep us all together.
Thankfully we had no mishaps, punctures or mechanicals. For me everyone’s enthusiastic participation made the ride a pleasure to lead.

For next year, with the all-new Superhighways in place, even more ambitious rides may be possible.