Cycling the London Marathon

Clarion Cycling Club Ride Report:

Date: Saturday 25 April 2026

Route (To and From): Greenwich to Buckingham Palace

Start / Finish Time: 09:00 – 13:00

Distance: 26 miles

Riders:

Ride Leaders: Alex

Riders: Alan, Marc, Tomo, Don, Jamie, Steven, Joe, Tracey, Karen, Tamara, Shaun and Fiona

Surface: 100% Tarmac

Weather: A slightly cool start with some fog but soon turning brighter and sunny, perfect cycling conditions

Ride Report:

We kicked things off with a pre-ride caffeine fix at the Pavilion ACafe in Greenwich Park. Setting off shortly after 9am, we managed to beat the rush, getting ahead of several other cycling groups, including Soutwark Cyclists who are part of the London Cycling Campaign.

The Route:

The legs felt good as we navigated through Rotherhithe and into the heart of the city. We made excellent time reaching Canary Wharf for a mid ride coffee. While following the official London Marathon route required some brief walking sections to navigate pedestrian zones, the momentum stayed high.

The Finish

The group maintained a steady 10mph, sticking together well thanks to Fiona and Shaun who did a great job back marking the ride. We pulled up at Buckingham Palace right on schedule at 1pm. We celebrated another excellent ride with a quick pint at a pub in South London.

Safety

No incidents. Good group discipline throughout, particularly in managing busy roads.

Report prepared by

Alan