Meet: 09:40 Broomill Park map, 10:00 Cutty Sark Gardens map

Distance: 50 miles

Phone: Ian - 07896 872 205

An all day ride heading off north through the Isle of Dogs and joining the Grand Union Canal. We ride the canal tow path to West London and then head south back to the River Thames. From here it's roads all the way back to Lewisham. There are many suitable jumping off points with train and tube stations for anyone that doesn't want to do the whole ride.

A flat ride with long sections of tow path which are unsuitable for racey road bikes. Also the tow path going west isn't as smooth as the River Lee path; expect a muddy section of 2 or 3 miles.

Although I've never been asked for one, British Waterways require you to have a permit to cycle on their tow paths. You can down load one here:

Download a tow path cycling permit

Please bring lights for a finish that is expected to be around 18:00

Ride Report

There were seven of us on Saturday’s ride, Ian, Judith, Robert, Ray, Roy, Chris and Laurence who met us in Island Gardens after the tedious climb from the foot tunnel forced on us by the non operational north side lift – again.

An easy paced ride and we ambled along the canal through Mile End speculating about whether the Canadian Geese ever fly back to Canada. What do you think Ray? ‘Life is good here’. On past Victoria Park and then off the canal at Islington as the canal disappears underground through a long tunnel. The tunnel goes east to west in a straight line for about half a mile but the journey on the surface is not quite as straight forward as there is no direct east west road above the tunnel. Across busy Upper Street, twist around a couple turns, through a housing estate, emerge onto Rodney Street, look right and left, it’s not immediately obvious but its up the road to our right and we ride down the ramp and back onto the north side tow path.

On through Kings Cross and we hit Camden Market. It’s impossible to get by here without stopping for coffee. There are some mutterings about there being some interesting things on the market but fortunately our stop doesn’t develop into a shopping expedition. After half an hour we were on our way again, continuing through Camden across the north side of Regents Park, under Blow Up Bridge and back onto the road for a ride by the canal at Little Venice. Through Paddington and back onto the canal, on through Kensal Town past Wormwood Scrubs and we stop for lunch at The Grand Junction on Abbey Road at Park Royal Junction. This quiet pub is recommended. The friendly staff unlocks a gate and let us park our bikes on the balcony overlooking the canal. There’s even a Rotweiller to look after them – he’s too friendly though to be any kind of threat to thief. They don’t know that though and we leave our bikes unlocked. Also if you do decide to stop here take your bottles in with you because the dog likes to lick them – What have you got in there Ray that the dog likes so much?

A pleasant hour spent in the pub and on we go. As we cross the aqueduct over the North Circular, Wembley Stadium is being completed, its new stands and arch prominent on our right. As we pass through Alperton we loose the nice smooth, paved path and also encounter a series of annoying barriers that we carry our bikes around precariously hanging over the canal and holding onto the barrier. It really is easier that way.

As we pass through Perivale, Greenford and Southall the path is bumpy and narrow but fortunately dry thanks to the arid (so far) winter. I had expected some mud here. There should probably be some improvements made to the surface here like they’ve done in Haringey on the Lee. This is obviously a great east west route to the Olympics.

The canal has a T junction just past Southall. Turn right and you can go up through Watford and Milton Keynes to Birmingham (watch this space). Turn left and you have a five mile ride down to Brentford and the Thames. The path here is smoother with only a small mile long section of rough tow path. We pick up speed as the canal drops down through a series of locks, where did we gain the height? It’s a mystery. At Brentford the path disappears into a big shed where you don’t want to be in the dark as you’ll have to feel your way around the walls to find your way out. You have to be there to know what I mean.

We now trace our way around the north bank of the Thames. Through Brentford, Chiswick, Hammersmith, Fulham and Battersea all on quiet roads and riverside paths. The ride splits at Albert Bridge leaving four of us to go for a coffee at the café in Battersea Park. The ride splits again at Vauxhall and we have a puncture. At Lambeth we split again and Roy and I take a back roads route through Kennington, Camberwell and Burgess Park before joining the big road in Peckham.

Roy and I part company in Deptford and a good ride is over. As usual, thanks to everyone for a good day out.

Start 10:10. Finish 17:15.

53 miles.

Photographs will be on the web site mid week - probably Wednesday.

Ian Pendleton