An easy paced ride along the tow paths of the Limehouse Cut onto the River Lee. Then it's around Hackney Marshes, along the Greenway, over the Thames on the Woolwich Ferry and back to Greenwich on the Thames Path.

As is usual on this ride we'll get a chance to see what progress has been made on the Olympic Park. Prescott Lock is still not finished and it's completion date has now been put back until March.

Dinner location to be decided  - but there will be one.

A ride suitable for all bikes, all ages and all fitness levels.

Report

There were 5 of us at a frozen Ladywell Fields, Ian, Ian, Richard, Peter  and Andrew. Andrew was taking no chances with the weather  and his bike was equipped  with new metal studded ice tyres. A quick spin on these showed them to be slow rolling and noisy. There was no ice around to test their raison d'être

At Cutty Sark Gardens we met up with, Steve, Sarah, David, Richard, Gig, Katie, Sue and Ibrahim. It was no weather for hanging around and we were soon off down the Thames Path to Woolwich.  Reports that the DLR would be opening the Woolwich extension next week had us looking around for the new station which we found next to Woolwich Arsenal rail station on New Road.

Down at the waterfront we're too early for the ferry so decide to take the foot tunnel to the north bank. Both lifts are working but our numbers coupled with the small (much smaller than Greenwich) lifts mean we have to make it up and down in 3 groups. The Greenway is a mile north of the ferry up a litter strewn Docks Road. Anil joins the ride here. He's hunted us down after missing us at the Greenwich start. A mile or two later he disappears as mysteriously as he arrived.

Beckton Alp is disappointingly free of snow even on the summit. I promise on a future ride we'll make it up to the top. On a clear day who knows how far you can see. One day we'll find out.

The sub zero temperatures mean it's a day to keep moving and even the 2012 Olympic superstructure that is starting to emerge and take shape out of the mounds of earth at Stratford cannot delay the  dash for dinner.

Dinner was at The Crown over the road from lake in Victoria Park. It was quite expensive here £10:50 for my bangers and mash although there was a chips in a bowl option.  There are some big comfy chairs here and a lot of books to browse. it has a fairly unique relaxed interior and is well worth a visit if you're in this neck of the woods.

After dinner we did a lap of Victoria Park before heading back to Greenwich by the side of the frozen Regent's Canal with the coots and ducks entertaining us by sliding around on the ice.
It was an ice ambling ride. Thanks everyone for coming.
Ian Pendleton