A slow easy ride to The Serpentine in Hyde Park taking in some of the green spaces of South London including Dulwich Park, Brockwell Park, Clapham Common and Battersea Park.

Once at the Serpentine we'll take a look at Indian Highway exhibition at The Serpentine Gallery and take a little time to explore the park.

Direct roads route back to Greenwich.

Dinner probably in a park cafe either in Battersea Park or Hyde Park.

Suitable for all bikes. Bring lights and locks.

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photos

A great turn out today with 10 at Cutty Sark Gardens, 5 at Ladywell Fields and 2 at Brockwell Park. Even though the temperature rose  to a heady eight degrees today my mental synapses and pathways clearly haven't thawed and I can't remember everyone's name so the riders will remain anonymous in these notes. 

After witnessing the carpet of glass on the riverside cycle rout to CSG and on CSG itself I was astonished to hear that Greenwich Council had put this down to combat the snow and ice.  This composition of grit and glass clearly is a hazard to cyclists, any one falling over and to the paws of our four legged friends. As I sat waiting for riders to arrive I pulled out 5 pieces of glass from my tyres. Beware, this will take a long time to disappear even if an attempt is made to clean it up. We walked off CSG to Welland St to minimise the puncture threat.

Happily on our way from Ladywell Fields the easy pace allowed the group to stay successfully together.  Arriving at Brockwell Park we were 20 minutes early for a rendezvous with Claire who had phoned me to arrange a meet, so we did a circuit of the perimeter before arriving at the lido. Ibrahim needed to pump up his tyre here. A slow puncture, maybe he was a victim of Greenwich grit.

 Lunch was at the Gondola in Battersea Park. Because of the large number of riders I thought we might be here a couple of hours, but the buffet style delivery of the food saw our group all served and happily noshing in about 15 minutes.

Bill took over the lead of the ride to get us from Battersea Park to Hyde Park with a nice little route which took us over Albert Bridge and through the back streets of Kensington and Fulham. Thanks for that Bill.

At the  Indian Highway the exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery several of our group decided to give this excellent exhibition a miss and go on a ride around the park. Later, reports informed us that as well as exercising their legs, they also exercised their democratic rights to free speech and debate at Speakers Corner.

Our route home afforded us one of London's Sunday cycling treats, the ride down the traffic free Constitution Hill and Mall. Brilliant!
Left over Westminster Bridge and then direct roads back to Greenwich.

Rides coming up .. .
Tue 17th February -  Romanian Afterworker
Sat 21st February - Pluckley Circular
Sun 22nd February - Polymath and Bacon  - Gorhambury Revisited

Ian Pendleton.