The 3 Dave's London ride, A group, March 23rd

 Well, what a difference a week makes !!!

Last week we were slogging through cold persistent rain, and yet just one week on we enjoyed a glorious warm, sunny day for our annual ride up to London.

First away was the group led by Dave Vine.

When I arrived at Sury Basin for the start there was a lively buzz and everyone seemed enthused by the good weather. Especially good to see Geoff Gregory returning to A Group riding. DaveB had crafted an excellent route taking in sights across the capital, which took in the posh suburbs, royalty, parks, government, church, the City, as well as some of the grittier parts of town. 

I am struck by the sight of so many people living and working so close together with huge contrasts in their lives. While riding through the affluent end of Notting Hill yesterday I noticed that the shell of Grenfell Tower is visible in the background. And shortly after leaving the City we passed the inspiring spire of Christ Church Spitalfields, built in the 18^th century in a government initiative to bring civilisation to the growing slum dwellers nearby. The slums may have gone, but the contrast in visible wealth remains. 

We met up with the other two groups at the Pommelers where lunch was served quickly, which is just what you need on a London ride. 

On the return we suffered the cobbles of Southwark, while enjoying the food aromas of Borough Market, dodging the tourists everywhere. Briefly we mingled with DaveW’s group, before suddenly they were gone, and we paused for a photo by the Buddhist temple in Battersea Park.

Finally we tackled the thankfully dry off road country section to tea at Wimbledon Windmill tearooms.

Thanks to Dave Bartholomew for the inspiring route. And thanks also to my group of Sue, David Jackson, Patrick, Richard, and Mike Barrett for being such supportive fun, and especially to Mike for back marking and photos.

Next away was the group led by Dave Ward.

Many thanks are due to Dave B for orchestrating an excellent ride today!    The weather was excellent, the Bike Exchange proved to be a very good place to start a ride, the route was a delight, and Wetherspoons did not disappoint!   I can't even find fault with my group!   I'm sure the tea stop was good too, but I had to rush off so I can't really comment!    Although there were so many sights to see the overall impression the ride left me with was of a city coming back to life, in more ways than one, with blossom brightening even the dullest street, and crowds of people everywhere enjoying the outdoors, perhaps for the first time in a long while.   The changing of the guard was an unexpected bonus, and our group also made a worthwhile detour to view the mural depicting the 'Battle of Cable Street' in 1936.   I am very grateful to Steve D for back-marking all day, not the easiest of jobs, I reckon, and to Neil C for giving me navigational prompts at those moments when I was enjoying the occasional nap!

My group was last away. I was accompanied by Brian, Keith, Nigel, Neil W and Ged, who back-marked for the ride.

London rides are never the fastest, but we made good time through Hammersmith, Holland Park, Notting Hill, and then through Hyde Park, where we met up with Dave W's group, who had stopped for a bit of sight-seeing at Wellington Arch at the bottom of Park Lane.

We were just in time to see the new guard coming down The Mall, and we were held back by police while they marched through to Buckingham Palace.

Things are very much back to business-as-usual judging by the size of the queues of people getting lunch at various outlets as we rode down Fleet Street, past St Pauls Cathedral and through the City.

All 3 groups arrived for lunch within about 15 minutes, and as always Wetherspoons dealt with us swiftly and efficiently, and we were all soon on our way back, via Borough Market, Tate Modern, Waterloo and Westminster, and then Battersea Park, Chelsea Harbour and Putney Bridge, before a well earned ice cream in the sun on Wimbledon Common.

Many thanks for all who came out for the sun (and the ride!!), and particularly to Ged for back-marking my group, and of course The Daves.....Dave V and Dave W plus an honourable mention to Dave J, who had also volunteered to lead a group and was on the subs bench just in case !!!