Summer picnic
Saturday 12 August 2023
By Harry Clark
We thanked our lucky stars for a dry morning as we set off from Danson Park at 10am for the 2023 summer picnic and cycling games event in Greenwich Park. Riders from Bexley headed to East Greenwich Pleasaunce before starting a nice, scenic loop around North Greenwich and the O2. As the clock struck midday, we reached Greenwich Park and the games began, joined by riders from Lewisham, Southwark and even Waltham Forest. Turnout was strong, with about 55 on bikes and others coming via public transport, competing for prizes kindly donated by our coordinator, Neil Robertson. We all had a good laugh trying our hand at the games and the event was tremendous fun, making new friends and catching up with old ones. Metropolitan Police officers also attended to carry out bike-marking on 32 bikes. Keep an eye on our Twitter feed for future bike-marking events. The next summer picnic will take place on Saturday 10 August.
Images: Sandra Bauer
Mayor’s ride
Saturday 20 August 2022
We will be leading a flat easy bike ride for riders including families and children on Saturday 20 August. The ride will be started by the Mayor of Greenwich at Woolwich Works, heading out into Thamesmead before returning via the Thames Path to the start point. It will comprise a flat, 10-mile route with marshals to keep riders safe and should be suitable for most riders.
Archive
Climate Ride
Saturday 16 April 2022
By Chris King
We had a fantastic day on Saturday as 90 riders joined together from Greenwich Cyclists, Lewisham Cyclists and Southwark Cyclists to ride through the three boroughs calling for Climate Safe Streets. We met at a windy and rather grey Cutty Sark bright and early, but the clouds parted and we were treated to beautiful sunny skies for much of the route. Taking in Cycleway 10 (formerly Quietway 1), the protected Cycleway 4 near Bermondsey and then along Trafalgar Road, as well as gorgeous riverside paths, it was brilliant to see riders of all ages and backgrounds coming together to demand action on climate and cycling. Everyone had a smile on their face and we hope to hold many more events like this in the future. I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank our amazing marshals, who did a brilliant job of directing everyone, stopping motorists (who were for the most part very patient) and keeping us on track. Chapeau!
Design Museum ride
A solid 10 at Cutty Sark Gardens on what felt like the first weekend of spring. We rode westwards along the river passing loads of joggers. We arrived at the Design Museum just before 11am. Two decided against going in to view the Cycle Revolution exhibition so were in charge of bike watching. Those who saw the exhibition thought it interesting and enjoyable and could maybe have spent longer going through it. We left Shad Thames just after 12.00 noon arriving at a very busy café at Surrey Docks Farm. Four left us at this point to make their own way home. Everyone finally got what they’d ordered to eat before we had a chat with Gary the farm manager and erstwhile Southwark Cyclist. The remaining six returned to Cutty Sark Gardens which was very busy by 2pm. Thanks to all who joined us and hope you enjoyed your day out.
New Year’s Day 2016 ride
A healthy eight left Cutty Sark Gardens promptly at 10.30am after one extra had decided he was too unwell to make the ride. We met one further rider at Ballast Quay and struck east.
The path was not too busy at the beginning of the ride but got busier throughout the day with walkers and other cyclists all trying to shift a few Christmas ounces and New Year hangovers. Four joined at Woolwich Arsenal Riverside where one left. One of the joiners soon got a puncture but was able to fix it with the equipment he was carrying so only a short delay.
Arrived at Erith at about 12.40pm where two left as they lived nearby. We had lunch at greasy spoon Starburger which was very hospitable and made space for us. We started our return journey at 1.40pm as the weather was beginning to cloud over a bit. Some left us at Woolwich and others at various points along the path.
We met the cycling group from St John’s Church, Blackheath at the Barrier. Four arrived back at Cutty Sark Gardens just as the rain started. We all felt virtuous, uplifted and refreshed. Thank you all for joining in and hope you all had a good day.
Joydens Wood and the Faesten Dic
Saturday 1 November 2014
Four of us started from Greenwich Park in a light drizzle to follow the path alongside the A2. By the time we got to Eltham it had stopped, and remained dry the rest of the day. Catherine joined us there, having caught the train out from central London. Beyond Falconwood it was on road out to just beyond Sidcup and then on to Old London Road, now a byway. The surface was dry, although deeply rutted in places and we had to walk the steeper sections. But at least it was away from the traffic on the main road.
Another section of bridleway led us across a golf course and into Joydens Wood. Responsible cycling is permitted in this Woodland Trust site but the main tracks in the wood were rather muddy due to use by horses, so we parked up and went on foot in search of the Faesten Dic. Eventually we found an identifiable stretch of this Anglo-Saxon “strong ditch” marking the boundary between the Kingdoms of Kent and Wessex; indeed the present boundary between Kent and Greater London still runs through the woods. None of us had been there before, and at this time of year with autumn colours on the trees, sunny periods and unseasonably warm weather, it was delightful.
Hunger eventually drove us out of the woods in search of lunch. The pub marked on the map nearby turned out to have closed, but Nigel’s find-a-pub app directed us to a Harvester on the outskirts of Dartford where we all had a good value meal.
The shortest route home would have been straight along the old A2 through Crayford, Bexleyheath and Shooters Hill but instead we found a quieter on-road route through East Wickham, Plumstead Common and Charlton.
26 miles, and no punctures despite the holly-strewn byway.
Thamesmead Tor ride
Sunday 19 October 2014
By Sarah Ellis
A solid nine at Cutty Sark Gardens with five I’ve never met before but that probably has more to do with me not having been any rides lately than them being new riders. We set off eastwards but unfortunately lost two of our number quite early on due to a puncture but no puncture repair kit. Another puncture just past the Woolwich Ferry was repaired by committee and we continued on our way. We reached the Tor and enjoyed the clear view on a late October day. At about 12.00 we reached the Cornerstone Café in Woolwich Arsenal where barriers have been erected outside so there’s now somewhere to lock bikes but I’m not sure that’s their original purpose. We continued back westwards to Cutty Sark Gardens losing one at the Barrier who wanted to get home to watch the football.
So six got back to base by about 1.45. Thank you all for coming and bringing the good weather with you and to John who had the honour and privilege of back marking.
In search of the Woolwich Tumps
Monday 25 August 2014
By Ian Blore
Just two of the more mature members of Greenwich Cyclists braved the weather forecasts and set off on a damp Bank Holiday morning to locate these ‘tumps’ in Woolwich. Like a well-trained pair of special forces soldiers they adjusted their battle plan at the Arsenal, struck out first for the High Tor of Thamesmead (which is now devilishly disguised as Gallions Hill) so as to conduct an aerial survey of tumpland. Both our boys were met at the summit by a local group practising a religious ceremony. The locals were very friendly even in the growing rain and did not detect our undercover purpose. The duo spotted the “Twin Tumps” near to the end of the Harrow Canal by Morrisons. The more camouflaged Tump 53 however avoided our eagle-eyed survey.
The rain becoming ever more tropical, it was decided to infiltrate a local eatery, Cornerstone Café, in an attempt to gather more intelligence from the locals there. This wholly failed. Not even an ex-local elder had heard of these borderland WMD facilities, the Woolwich Tumps. The intrepid lads dried off during the monsoonal part of the morning’s rain and decided to return to base to report on their (limited) findings. The ride leader was brilliantly backmarked on the whole expedition by an expert undercover agent, Dr Senior.
I promise another search for the Tumps, hopefully when the weather is more clement, especially Tump 53 which has been remodelled into a nature reserve. I’d also like any information about their recent history, especially that of the Twin Tumps.
The reconnaissance appeared to show that the Twin Tumps had once had an entrance off Waterside Close. If so, why has the whole area now been fenced off? Is it because of the proposed (and hopefully never-to-be-built) Gallions Reach bridge? Is it perhaps to deter defensive occupation of this reserved space by the public to prevent its desecration? There are so many spaces within the Borough that truly belong to the public but are threatened; it’s surprising that direct action by occupation has not yet been used in their defence.
Greenwich Green Spaces
Saturday 26 July 2014
By Gareth Scarlett
Six of us set off from Cutty Sark (later joined by a seventh in Greenwich Park) on a beautiful summer morning, very warm and bright but with a slight moderating breeze. We started off via Greenwich Park, exiting by the Vanbrugh Gate and heading along St Johns Park.
Then we went down through the underpass beneath the Sun in the Sands roundabout and south along the old Rochester Way, to the quiet shaded paths that run alongside the A2 at Kidbrooke. Shortly afterwards we stopped at Well Hall Pleasaunce to take in the blaze of colour from the flowers and see the Tudor Barn with its moat. From there we continued up the hill towards Eltham Park South where the council has recently resurfaced the path and installed prominent signs saying ‘Pedestrian priority. Considerate cycling permitted’.
Then we doubled back along the Rochester Way near Falconwood – here again a recently-resurfaced path – and veered off into the ancient Jack Wood, passing Oxleas Meadows on our right. In the middle of the woods, as in Hansel and Gretel, we came across a charming terrace and ornamental garden which are all that remain of the former mansion Jackwood House, demolished in the early 20th century. Then we stopped for brunch at the hilltop Oxleas Cafe which affords far-reaching views south towards Kent.
Next we crossed Shooters Hill and descended the precipitous Eglinton Hill, seeing amazing views of London and the river to our left and in front. Next stop was Plumstead Common and the Slade Pond, a remote haven for wildlife at the foot of a deep ravine, which has been restored by a local community group over recent years. Then we continued north through some residential streets and west for a short stretch along Plumstead High Street (this was truly the only part of the ride where there was any significant amount of traffic).
At Plumstead station we crossed the main road and cycled down the descending spiral path near the bus garage, emerging near the Royal Arsenal development. Every time I go this way a new block of flats seems to have sprung up, but none that spoils the overall picture or scale as yet (this may change when the riverside skyscrapers start to emerge). Then past Firepower Cafe and the wooden mannequin statues which I often mistake for real people and slam on the brakes. Then down the newly-installed ramp and past the Woolwich Ferry (where we stopped for an ice cream) and along the river for a while. Next we diverted inland via Frances Street to visit Maryon Park.
Finally we rejoined the river and headed back via East Greenwich, arriving back at our starting point (Cutty Sark) around 3pm. The glinting wavelets on the river made it feel like we were by the seaside. All seven riders stayed till the end including one who is currently having cycle training with Greenwich Cyclists. The distance – 18.5 miles in total.
All in all a memorable day with very enjoyable company – thanks to all who came along. It never ceases to amaze me how far, and in how many directions, it is possible to travel by bike in our local area and encounter next to no traffic and see wonderful views into the bargain. Moreover the (sub)urban environment offers a variety and frequent change of scene which you do not always get in the countryside proper. The Oxleas Cafe is an excellent brunch stop for a ride – it has cycle parking plus railings, a good range of food, and even on such a sunny day it was not overwhelmingly busy.
Greenwich Cyclists 