Healthy Ride Report, Oct 27th
Report by Michael Hayes, Ride Leader.
Eight riders, including one newbie, braved the chilling wind of Peckham Square, the starting point for our round robin cycle trip taking in the delights of Goose Green (the one in Dulwich not the Falklands), the Herne Hill Velodrome, Dulwich Park and Peckham Rye Common before returning back to Peckham Square. All this in 2hours.
As we got to Goose Green one of our group pointed out that we had lost one of the riders : OMG I thought Bruce our Healthy Ride guru will never let me lead a ride again as I would be the first ride leader to lose someone. However I needn’t have concerned myself because the rider we had lost was Bruce himself , we just figured that he thought that the group knew what they were doing and had just left us and gone home. So onward we went to our first destination The Herne Hill Velodrome where we walked around the track and looked in awe at the group of riders, riding high around the steep banking. Then from nowhere Bruce appeared slightly out of breath because he had stopped on route to take and make a few phone calls and thought he would easily catch the group up but we made it harder for him than he thought possible. That will teach him to under estimate how fit his group have become.
Onward we went on quiet roads to Dulwich Park, where we were amazed how well the park was being used by runners, joggers, dog walkers and all kind of pedal cycles along with people playing football and making good use of the playground and gym equipment. We did one circuit of the park and headed out of the east gate towards Peckham Rye common where after a short comfort break we rode around the south end of the park before heading north back towards Peckham Square.
Another successful ride for Southwark Cyclists: where people socialised as they rode, getting more fit at the same time. What more could you want?
Eight riders, including one newbie, braved the chilling wind of Peckham Square, the starting point for our round robin cycle trip taking in the delights of Goose Green (the one in Dulwich not the Falklands), the Herne Hill Velodrome, Dulwich Park and Peckham Rye Common before returning back to Peckham Square. All this in 2hours.
As we got to Goose Green one of our group pointed out that we had lost one of the riders : OMG I thought Bruce our Healthy Ride guru will never let me lead a ride again as I would be the first ride leader to lose someone. However I needn’t have concerned myself because the rider we had lost was Bruce himself , we just figured that he thought that the group knew what they were doing and had just left us and gone home. So onward we went to our first destination The Herne Hill Velodrome where we walked around the track and looked in awe at the group of riders, riding high around the steep banking. Then from nowhere Bruce appeared slightly out of breath because he had stopped on route to take and make a few phone calls and thought he would easily catch the group up but we made it harder for him than he thought possible. That will teach him to under estimate how fit his group have become.
Onward we went on quiet roads to Dulwich Park, where we were amazed how well the park was being used by runners, joggers, dog walkers and all kind of pedal cycles along with people playing football and making good use of the playground and gym equipment. We did one circuit of the park and headed out of the east gate towards Peckham Rye common where after a short comfort break we rode around the south end of the park before heading north back towards Peckham Square.
Another successful ride for Southwark Cyclists: where people socialised as they rode, getting more fit at the same time. What more could you want?
Healthy Ride Report, Oct 13th 2012
On Healthy Ride today, 7 riders including one new face (plus child passenger in bike seat!). So maybe that should be 8 cyclists. Highly non-scenic loop to see the Connect 2 non-bridge, then look at crossings of Surrey Canal Road and the work being done around Bridgehouse Meadows. Excitement on seeing a train running on the new East London Line Extension - due to start taking passengers
later this year. Then down the newly re-opened and re-surfaced path north from Surrey Canal Road to Oldfield Gardens. Brief stop to discuss plans for Bush Road and Lower Road crossings. Just time for a scenic loop past Greenland Dock and through Russia Woodland before finishing at Canada Water at 12.00 sharp.
later this year. Then down the newly re-opened and re-surfaced path north from Surrey Canal Road to Oldfield Gardens. Brief stop to discuss plans for Bush Road and Lower Road crossings. Just time for a scenic loop past Greenland Dock and through Russia Woodland before finishing at Canada Water at 12.00 sharp.
Healthy Ride, Sept 15th
Back in Burgess Park
11 riders (including 4 new riders) plus Corinne from Cycle Instructors. It would have been 12 riders, but one intending rider got lost in New Cross and missed the start – they met up with us at the finish, however! The 4 new riders had all heard about the rides at the Southwark Cyclists stall at the Elephant and Nun Festival on Sept 2nd. One was on a Barclays Hire Bike - a first for the Healthy Rides.
We set out in beautiful sunshine east across Burgess Park, then south down the Canal Path to Peckham. Continued south down Rye Lane, across Peckham Rye Park and up the long drag to Dulwich Park. All the parks were full of people enjoying the great weather. Returned via the Greenway and Camberwell Grove.
We set out in beautiful sunshine east across Burgess Park, then south down the Canal Path to Peckham. Continued south down Rye Lane, across Peckham Rye Park and up the long drag to Dulwich Park. All the parks were full of people enjoying the great weather. Returned via the Greenway and Camberwell Grove.
Healthy Ride Report Sept 8th 2012
Large interactive sculpture at Cutty Sark Gardens
Canada Water start in warm sunshine. 7 riders including one new rider. Leisurely ride along the river to Greenwich (Cutty Sark Gardens). Interesting bright pink interactive sculpture. HMS Ocean still protecting us. Then back via cycle paths through Deptford.
Healthy Ride Report Sept 1st
Peckham Square, 10-12, Leader Bruce
“The best healthy ride yet”, according to one of the regular riders. 10 riders set out including 4 new faces. Tried to visit as many of the Elephant and Nun Festival locations as possible. First the multi-story car park in Peckham Rye (evening light show) then to Dr Harold Moody Park where a sand pit was being constructed in readiness for the Festival on the Beach. On to Nunhead Green where a large marquee was being erected for The Nunhead Experience, a bike-powered event. Up the hill and through Nunhead Cemetery to the Aquarius golf course. This golf-course on a reservoir was being readied for the Aquarius Festival (music of various sorts). David told us a bit about the reservoir (largest underground water storage in Britain etc) but confessed he did not know how the water arrived. Helpfully a passing chap heard this and gave us an explanation – the water is pumped from Kempton Park in Surrey! Next an enthusiastic member of the festival organising team at the Golf Club presented us with a full run-down on the bands playing that evening.
We eventually re-mounted our bikes and headed back to Peckham Rye Park. The Peckham Fete and Dog Show were ready to start. But more importantly we met up with our missing cycle trainer who had gone to Peckham Rye Park for 10am thinking we were starting there. He was still at the Park an hour later looking for us! Our slightly enlarged group headed off to Bellenden Old School car park, but never found it. Then to Camberwell Green. The Council had an information tent there, and we were given a full account of the activities planned for the E+N, including the Everyday Games for Sunday 2nd (where Southwark Cyclists were represented).
We had not cycled all that far, but time was up, so back to Peckham Square for about 12.05.
“The best healthy ride yet”, according to one of the regular riders. 10 riders set out including 4 new faces. Tried to visit as many of the Elephant and Nun Festival locations as possible. First the multi-story car park in Peckham Rye (evening light show) then to Dr Harold Moody Park where a sand pit was being constructed in readiness for the Festival on the Beach. On to Nunhead Green where a large marquee was being erected for The Nunhead Experience, a bike-powered event. Up the hill and through Nunhead Cemetery to the Aquarius golf course. This golf-course on a reservoir was being readied for the Aquarius Festival (music of various sorts). David told us a bit about the reservoir (largest underground water storage in Britain etc) but confessed he did not know how the water arrived. Helpfully a passing chap heard this and gave us an explanation – the water is pumped from Kempton Park in Surrey! Next an enthusiastic member of the festival organising team at the Golf Club presented us with a full run-down on the bands playing that evening.
We eventually re-mounted our bikes and headed back to Peckham Rye Park. The Peckham Fete and Dog Show were ready to start. But more importantly we met up with our missing cycle trainer who had gone to Peckham Rye Park for 10am thinking we were starting there. He was still at the Park an hour later looking for us! Our slightly enlarged group headed off to Bellenden Old School car park, but never found it. Then to Camberwell Green. The Council had an information tent there, and we were given a full account of the activities planned for the E+N, including the Everyday Games for Sunday 2nd (where Southwark Cyclists were represented).
We had not cycled all that far, but time was up, so back to Peckham Square for about 12.05.