A change from some of my longer rides, a casual amble up the River Lee to ease you back into the New Year after Christmas excesses - no particular distance fixed - depends on how we all feel on the day.

We'll stop for lunch at pub or cafe, returning back down the Lee, or maybe through town depending on how we are fixed for remaining light.

Suitable for any bike as the path is essentially all surfaced, although a
few bits of bumpy paving under bridges may deter full-on racers.

Bring lights of course.

Report

Well it was billed as a ride to be made up on the day with the route and distance decided by whoever turned up and that’s exactly how it turned out.

Forecast was for rain all day and after half a night’s sleep (nothing too interesting) part of me was looking forward to zero turnout and a quick ride back home when Bill turned up.

We decided to take a look at the Bow Ecology Park – it’s been flagged on several of Barry Mason’s rides and over Christmas I’d eventually figured out how to get into it. It’s at a very early stage of development but well worth checking out.

As we looked around, John Hearns phoned and arrangements were made to meet at Springfield Marina.

Then up the Lee Valley, democratically decided to pass on John’s suggestion that we go to IKEA (for the meatballs) and instead turned off to head towards Walthamstow. Lunch outside a rather neat little cafe in Highams Park, then back to the Lee before cutting through Hackney and London Fields and back over Tower Bridge. Despite the forecast the weather was fine all day. Total distance maybe about 30 miles.

Paul