Every cyclist has a ride that's difficult to explain. In this case it was a tour of East London pumping stations. As we departed someone warned that the ride was going to be full of shit. Leaving South-East London (where we had diverted to see an ancient mulberry tree and a church associated with Christopher Marlow) we crossed the Thames and headed north into one of the capital's most fascinating engineered landscapes. Canals, reservoirs, flood-relief channels and pumping sta

On Saturday 11.7.26 the London Clarion Cycle Club rode to the Cowshed Café in Biggleswade, a cyclist-owned café in Bedfordshire that is set up to provide a perfect destination or pit-stop for a group ride. After a satisfying lunch there we rode on to Bedford for drinks and took a train back to London. The day started well with everyone arriving before the 7am start time. This was especially commendable from Pratheep who had only gone to bed in the early hours! The early start