Central London CTC blog

Usually, if you get off the District line at Mile End you can sneak onto a Central line train for the one stop you’re not allowed to take a bike through. But not last Sunday. For the first time ever, I was spotted. Anyone else ever been chucked off?

But it didn’t end there. After riding eyes-out to Leyton to get back on the tube, I discovered a signal failure that stopped trains as far as Woodford. Fortunately, I also found Dr Bob, so had someone to ride with (remarkably, without getting lost) to Woodford where, at last, there was a train for us. more »

‘A 13.1km meander after work when the sun is guaranteed to shine‘ according to the Rapha site. Well, we got the meander. No fear of striking due south along the direct route, we twisted and turned through Southwark and Lambeth, the leaders and tailenders occasionally crossing. As last month, some forty riders had gathered at Smithfield (nine from CLCTC), all but four were male, maybe one third were riding fixed. The ride itself was short and sharp, the pervading mystery of South London the main topic of talk. With grey clouds looming, Herne Hill itself was somewhat bleak, as the dernys pulled their trains. There’s a grim determination needed to keep the pace lap upon lap, a strong discipline to follow the wheel, each lap the leader climbing up the banking to drop to the back. And when all were through one derny let rip, flying round the track at full pelt, legs spinning & body leaning wildly. To the pub, beer and chat, and that Rapha ride essential - a wet journey home.

… all day, but you never have to go up them”,  was the pitch for this ride, which described a squashed ovoid shape lying in a south-westerly anti-clockwise loop from Princes Risborough with a diversion at the end to take in a section of the Pheonix Trail. It is a very flat route with no serious hills to speak of for the whole day. The lack of gradient however was somewhat neutralised by the headwind in the morning which was brutal and unrelenting. This was a shame because the first part of the ride features two stretches of long straight B-road which are fun to put your head down and belt along in the manner of migrating wildebeest. We were more like pack ponies struggling across the tundra. more »

Much has happened in the last few weeks since I last wrote a ride report. May, for instance, when all rides were in Essex and only the wet Spring Bank Holiday ride featured a train trip. Since then I led a 22-strong 2 star ride that was almost hijacked by a few of the faster riders but that did allow me to learn a new trick. If you ever find that people want to ride too fast when you are leading, simply ride at the back of the group and eventually they will get the message and slow down then you can, probably, control the pace of the ride from the front again. more »

It stayed dry for our one-star picnic ride last Sunday, but the temperature varied throughout the day, we always seemed to be taking long sleeve tops off and then putting them on again.  Quis? Four adults plus one seven year old on Islabike trailer.  Quo vadis? We set off on the Alban Way, heading west to Sopwell and through St Julians to Watling Street (Roman Road).  Through Park Street (village) and on a bit, we reached the cool green depths of Bricket Wood Common.  Bridleway through the Munden estate, across the Colne and up into the grounds of Wall Hall to Aldenham, where we admired the old church and the village green.  Through Letchmore Heath, with its duck pond and red rumble strips (altogether now ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah) and up the hill to Aldenham Country Park, where we had our picnic. more »

On shallow slates the pigeons shift together, backing against a thin rain from the west.

(Philip Larkin)

We gathered, huddled, under the cover of Smithfield Market, just chill, just damp. The pattern in the puddles constant. First a mere half dozen riders, then a in ones and twos our number grew. A good spread of ages, though almost entirely male, mainly roadies, a sprinkling of foolhardy fixies, a handful of hybrids, even a faired ‘bent. A short time to admire the machinery, as Rapha staffers casually modeled the latest Rapha kit to the hapless masses. A few minutes grace for latecomers, then just after 7.40 Linus lead us out - a string of 40-odd riders, including 9 Central London ‘marshalls’.

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A very successful party was held on Saturday with some 45 new and long-established members enjoying themselves and the virtually continuous supply of wine. Old friends were warmly greeted, new friendships made and absent friends remembered.  Old photographs were discussed and the array of old club t-shirts and jerseys admired.

Pat Strauss as our founder cut the cake. Fuzz Edwards made the journey by bus from Fulham with the welcome news that Mary is recovering well from her recent accident. Our youngest member, Fay, aged 6 months, was bright-eyed watching everyone imbibe themselves.

This was followed on Sunday by the anniversary rides, with one, two and three star riders converging on Blackmore at lunchtime. Altogether 49 riders (and a few who travelled by other means) gathered in the sunshine to continue the previous night’s reminisinces.

Though bereft of any founder members — Roger Cline is celebrating his own anniversary on LEJoG — a large group spilled out of Witham station blinking in unaccustomed sunlight. The 16 comprised regulars, a few unreliables, even a couple of new faces. A brief pause whilst some splashed cream on lily-white skin, whilst others prepared their lungs. Due to some late-day alterations, we had a lead committee. It was John Snuggs’ ride, but I myself had prepared the route to lunch. Now my navigation has somewhat of a reputation, though I say so myself. An element of surprise, the joy of discovery. I got us lost again. Thankfully, Richard Philpott, whilst watching the tail, would correct our course with a barely perceptible sigh of resignation. more »

The London Festival of Architecture runs from June 20th till July 20th, and includes a number of rides (and some walks) which may be of interest - including a ride to Herne Hill Velodrome. Full details are at www.lfa2008.org/, but I’ve listed the main rides below (which are led by Southwark Cyclists):

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