All Day Ride to Greenwich, 8 July

 by Paul

Last year we had a big attendance, we sweltered under a baking sun, saw mirages and found an oasis at Brixton Windmill.  This year many old friends turned out to be doing other things but there were plenty of newcomers and guests wanting to try the new route until the weatherman on Friday evening issued dire warnings.  It all sounded so exciting; thunder, lightning, flash floods, hailstones the size of pebbles and seventeen adventurous souls turned out on an ominously humid Summer's morning for the meteorological thrill of a lifetime.  But where we had been promised Wagner we got Peter, Paul and Mary.  Everyone was gently sprinkled in a cooling spray, no-one was swept away in a raging torrent.

This year's official start was from MED in Merton Abbey Mills, to where Helen led those who had gathered at Nonsuch Park, Paul led the Beddington Park group and the others made their ways directly, jointly or severally.  For their first rides with the club we welcomed Liz, Ellie and Cam, Scott and Piers.  Late arrivals (no names, no pack drill) occasioned a rejigging of the order of departure and Alan led out the first group, Madeleine the second and I took up the rear.

Alan's group

Madeleine's group

Paul's group

My group (pic above; Roger, Helen, Maggie, Liz, me, Anna and Sharon) made pleasant, uneventful progress through the paths and suburban streets.  In Brockwell Park came the first drops of rain; was that the Valkyrie we could glimpse riding the dark clouds over Dulwich Village?  Elevenses at Lulu's Cafe and we'd seen the first two groups off before the first downpour came.  We let the worst pass before we set out for the Herne Hill Velodrome to watch a group of serious young people riding the laps at a measured pace.  Persistent rain set in at Ladywell Fields and we donned rainproofs, only for most of us to decide it was far too warm and to discard them after the double helix bridge and discover that nature was providing us with a perfectly judged coolant, never heavy enough to soak us.

Lulu's before the rain came

By the time we got to General Wolfe (why does the statue call him Victor of Quebec?  His name was James), the Cutty Sark and Peter the Great, the tummies were rumbling too much and the drizzle strengthening for us to take in the sights.  The second downpour of the day found us under shelter at the Dog and Bell.

Some are instantly lunched, some waiting and poor Sharon is imagining a lasagne in a bag of crisps

Sadly, and for the first time in many visits, the D&B let us down; they were not particularly busy and could not produce the food without a considerable delay; poor Sharon never got her lasagne and her face revealed that she did not think a pork pie and crisps much of a substitute.  If we run this ride again we will have to reassess the place carefully during the planning.

           Orange and blue for the Clapham Swing

Afternoon was a new route which saw us emerging on Clapham Common to be greeted at the Bandstand by a Swing Jazz Orchestra in full flow to accompany our tea.  Home past Wandsworth Prison and down the Wandle Trail.  Good company, a leisurely pace and a nice day out.  Thank you, fellow leaders, and Helen for back marking and everyone else for the banter.

Here is Madeleine's report.

My short report is that our small group got off to a slowed start when a passing tree grabbed and then hid Scott's helmet-mounted front light. It took 3 of us a good few minutes before we found the wretched thing, but we were glad we persuaded Scott to stay and look and not come back at the end of his 42 mile journey.

The sights, views and particularly the parks were much enjoyed by all. Piers was general information officer and gave some good commentary on the passing scenery and locations, and pointed some industrial highlights along the way. He also provided a number of useful cycling and bike tips, which will help Scott and I as we update our bikes.

All enjoyed the company, and loved the frequent and welcome stops, food and drinks. Two of our number hardly ever cycle and didn't even have their own bikes. Luckily, they were extremely game about their borrowed ones. Even more so once they found out how the gears worked! Those two, Ellie and Cam, both in their early 20s, had youth on their side, and fairly rampaged up every hill, ending up with energy to spare.

A lovely treat at the end was spotting a hedgehog in daylight on the Wandle Trail. We watched it for several minutes as it ambled along, and then pushed our bikes carefully past it, so as not to cause a fright. It was the first wild hedgehog Ellie and Cam had seen, which is a sad comment on the state of our indigenous wildlife.

Another new member, on the Wandle Trail

Here is Alan's report

On a warm, but humid (and sometimes wet) day, the Beginners All-Day Ride to Greenwich took place between Merton Abbey Mills and Greenwich, returning to Morden Halls Park via Clapham.

I led the first group to leave Merton Abbey Mills following a new route via Colliers Wood, Tooting Bec Common, Brockwell Park, Dulwich, Peckham Rye, Honor Oak, Ladywell and Blackheath; then on to the viewpoint at the Greenwich Royal Observatory for a view (and a photo) across Greenwich Park and the River Thames.

The route followed a relaxed, almost traffic-free, route along quiet side roads, cycle lanes and through tranquil London parks and Commons, with some interesting and well-known landmarks to view along the way. These included: Brixton Windmill, Herne Hill Velodrome, the Royal Observatory, and the Cutty Sark.

Lunch was at the Dog and Bell pub in Deptford, a popular pub, which offered fresh food and a good choice of drinks plus a chance to sit outside (under large umbrellas) to avoid the rain and a heavy lunch time shower.

After a substantial lunch and a break in the weather, we set off on the afternoon ride following a route through Bermondsey (passing Millwall Football Club), Camberwell, Brixton, Clapham Common and Wandsworth Common to Earlsfield. Chris left the group for home at Clapham Common leaving the remainder of the group to ride along the Wandle Trail from Earlsfield to Merton Abbey Mills and then to Merton Hall Park to complete the ride.

After a well-deserved cup of tea and cake at Morden Hall Park, the group split and went our separate ways home.

Many thanks to Paul for planning a beautifully quiet route through busy parts of London, and to Alice, Karl, Chris and Mick for a really enjoyable day in good company. Thanks also to Mick for back marking (and navigation support when needed) and to Chris for providing interesting information and history about the local areas along the route. A great day out.

 

A shared dampness on the Meridian