Ace Café Ride

Frank Cubis introduced us to the historic Ace Café on the North Circular as a destination in 2011, wit a second ride a couple of years later. I led a group using much of Frank’s route (especially the ingenious bits) in 2016.

It seemed timely to revisit the route, especially as us T4 folk are not encouraged to venture too far from home, and I needed to take advantage of that rare opportunity, a day without rain.

It’s a remarkably straightforward route from Richmond Park, crossing the river at Kew, where there are some much needed improvements for the cyclist. The most ingenious bit, which I owe to Frank is the cycle path under Western Avenue at Park Royal, then under the North Circular. I had intended to visit Wembley Stadium, which was on the original route, but the concourse with the superb views over London and the Bobby Moore statue is closed off, and the whole area a massive building site.

The Ace Café was as welcoming as I remember it, just without any people; only one other customer and one staff member organising takeaways, including Full English Breakfast. They had obviously spent a lot of effort on the Christmas decorations before they were told to stay closed, which is a great pity. Still I enjoyed a coffee and snack sitting on a wall in the car park, and by now the sun was out.

 

Return was another almost straight line with a little dodging around the railway lines at Old Oak Common. The original route used Hammersmith Bridge, now apparently so frail that it can’t even bear the weight of a single cyclist. My alternative was to take the scenic river path to Putney Bridge. Only 35 miles door to door, but a relaxed way to spend a few hours on almost the shortest day.

 

If anyone would like to use the route, please let me know - d..vine207@btinternet.com

In any event I wish everyone a Happy Christmas, and a healthy and more settled New Year.