Judith, Roy, Kepa and Paul met at Cutty Sark Gardens on a cold crisp morning for a ride that promised some stiff climbing and great views of Kent and London . Fog clung to the river but was rising as we left.

From Greenwich we passed through Deptford and over the halfpenny hatch where we caught sight of a heron scanning the waters for, one presumes, fish, though it's always hard to believe there's much in the Deptford Creek mud other than shopping trolleys.

Through the Crossfield Estate where I understand from Ian that local combo Dire Straits once played a gig. The Albany was our second meeting point but as expected no one was there so we headed off through New Cross Gate, that notorious barrier for cyclists. A swift walk over a pelican got us on to the westbound side of New Cross Road , then left up Pepys Road for the first climb of the morning. The rather stylish coffee truck in Telegraph Hill's recently restored lower park was just opening up but it was a bit cold and early to stop so we pressed on over a seriously frozen-looking lake to the upper park.

There are some wonderful views from here, as there surely had been over the preceding week of crisp clear winter days, but the fog was refusing to budge so we saw nothing.

Over the railway at Brockley, then we climbed to Hilly Fields, which offers wonderful views of London , Canary Wharf , the City, and Kent . But not today.

Through Ladywell Fields, we headed up to Blythe Hill Fields, chosen for Lewisham Cyclists annual picnic for its clear views. But today you couldn't even see Canary Wharf – hard to believe.

To give the fog time to rise we stopped for coffee at the rather hidden but well frequented and rather nice cafe at Brockley Rise. Then up Honor Oak High Street. Pity the old TV shop sign has recently gone – a real blast from the 50s – but mustn't grumble; the street's going up in the world, encouraged no doubt by the long-promised several-times-delayed East London Line extension. We took a walk up One Tree Hill, apparently the venue for Elizabeth I's picnic, and definitely the scene of riots just over a century ago to prevent it being closed to the public. This offers one of London 's great secret views – far better than that from Parliament Hill I reckon – but today it was staying resolutely secret.

We headed off for three circuits of the hills behind Forest Hill's Horniman Museum but the fog was sticking so we just enjoyed the climbs. After a tour of a few more Forest Hill climbs we headed up towards Crystal Palace . After a quick pause to look at Lammas Green, a Grade II listed piece of social housing with a neat mixture of low-rise tenements and cottages around a “village green”, we headed to the Dulwich Wood House for a quick bite and drink.

After lunch it was down past Dulwich Woods (with the adjoining Sydenham Hill Woods a great walk but not for bikes) we passed through the Dulwich College Toll Gate (bikes free) then went through the Kingswood Estate which encloses Kingswood House, a grade II building apparently once the home of “Mr Bovril”. It's now used as a library and social centre by Southwark Council.

We climbed up Fountain's Drive, past the removed traffic islands highlighted by Barry's press photo opportunity earlier in the week, and then dipped and climbed across Crystal Palace .

At the top of Sydenham Hill we eventually caught sight, just, of the outline of the gherkin through the mist.

Since none of us actually needed to get back to Greenwich , we split for the day here so we all got back before dark.

Pity about the fog, which gave us clear blue skies but insisted on wrapping the horizon.

Look out for a re-run in better visibility, perhaps as an evening ride in the early summer. Thanks to everyone who came – despite the cold I think they had a good time. And we all made it up the hills without getting off. Roll on summer.

Paul.