Recent London Clarion Cycle Club Rides
Here are a selection of the rides we've held as a cycling club over the last 2 years. Club rides are open to all London Clarion CC members. To learn more about the benefits of becoming a London Clarion CC member visit this page
Sunday 18th October 2020 Bermondsey to the Isle of Grain
This 90 mile ride started in Bermondsey, we cycled to Greenwich then to Dartford and on to Gravesend, with an excellent view of the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge along the way. In Gravesend we will briefly rejoin the Thames before following the former Thames & Medway Canal in to the desolate marshes, past the Victorian Fortresses at Cliffe and on to St James' Church Cooling with its "little stone lozenges each about a foot and a half long" where Dickens set the opening scene for Great Expectations. On across the peninsular, through the enormous BP refineries to the Isle of Grain Battery which stands defiant in the estuary. Then back past Southend, viewed from the south side, through All Hallows and back through the marshes to Greenhithe where we will cycle along the Thames and underneath the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge.
This 90 mile ride started in Bermondsey, we cycled to Greenwich then to Dartford and on to Gravesend, with an excellent view of the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge along the way. In Gravesend we will briefly rejoin the Thames before following the former Thames & Medway Canal in to the desolate marshes, past the Victorian Fortresses at Cliffe and on to St James' Church Cooling with its "little stone lozenges each about a foot and a half long" where Dickens set the opening scene for Great Expectations. On across the peninsular, through the enormous BP refineries to the Isle of Grain Battery which stands defiant in the estuary. Then back past Southend, viewed from the south side, through All Hallows and back through the marshes to Greenhithe where we will cycle along the Thames and underneath the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge.
Then to the site of the Joyce Green Isolation Hospital and along its former tramway. After a quick stint along an inevitable dual carriageway, we will then follow the Thames all the way back to Deptford via Erith, Thamesmead, Woolwich, Greenwich, the O2 etc.
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Monday 31st August 2020
The Monopoly Board Game ride 15 Joined this 31 mile cycle ride which started outside the Blind Begger pub in Whitechapel and which ended at the Dog and Bell pub in Deptford. The almost entirely flat route included 33 places from the monopoly board including Vine Street, Fleet Street and many others. |
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Saturday 15th August 2020
The Dambusters Ride
This ride visited a number of London sites connected with the culmination of the famous Dambusters Raid on May 16th 1943. Starting in New Cross, we began by visiting the childhood home of Barnes Wallis who was the inventor of the bouncing bomb which successfully breached the Mohne and Eder Dams. After stopping at Monmouth Coffee in Bermondsey we then visited the statue of Arthur 'Bomber' Harris, who was instrumental in backing the raid, which is outside the RAF Church - St Clement Danes in the Strand. Next we visited the former Air Ministry, now the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall. Then the superb Bomber Command Memorial at Hyde Park Corner. In St Johns Wood we visited the home of the raid's leader Wing Commander Guy Gibson where he stayed when home on leave during the war. Finally, after a leisurely tour along the Regents Canal and an excellent route through West London (a lot of which was off road) we visited the deer in Bushy Park which is also still home to the National Physics Laboratory where the bouncing bombs were developed. Our cycle back included the spectacular Teddington Weirs, Richmond Park, Wandsworth, Battersea Park and finally Westminster. We stopped for lunch at the extremely bike friendly London Apprentice pub in Isleworth. In total 52 miles Elevation Gain: 1037ft
The Dambusters Ride
This ride visited a number of London sites connected with the culmination of the famous Dambusters Raid on May 16th 1943. Starting in New Cross, we began by visiting the childhood home of Barnes Wallis who was the inventor of the bouncing bomb which successfully breached the Mohne and Eder Dams. After stopping at Monmouth Coffee in Bermondsey we then visited the statue of Arthur 'Bomber' Harris, who was instrumental in backing the raid, which is outside the RAF Church - St Clement Danes in the Strand. Next we visited the former Air Ministry, now the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall. Then the superb Bomber Command Memorial at Hyde Park Corner. In St Johns Wood we visited the home of the raid's leader Wing Commander Guy Gibson where he stayed when home on leave during the war. Finally, after a leisurely tour along the Regents Canal and an excellent route through West London (a lot of which was off road) we visited the deer in Bushy Park which is also still home to the National Physics Laboratory where the bouncing bombs were developed. Our cycle back included the spectacular Teddington Weirs, Richmond Park, Wandsworth, Battersea Park and finally Westminster. We stopped for lunch at the extremely bike friendly London Apprentice pub in Isleworth. In total 52 miles Elevation Gain: 1037ft
Sunday 2nd August 2020
Brick Lane to the Oldest Wooden Church in the World
In 1837 as a result of a public outcry against their harsh sentence of transportation to Australia, the famous Dorset farmers known as the Tolpuddle Martyrs were returned to England were they were given tenancies in Greensted and High Lever.
The oldest grave, lying adjacent to the church is that of a twelfth century crusader, thought to be a bowman.
Brick Lane to the Oldest Wooden Church in the World
In 1837 as a result of a public outcry against their harsh sentence of transportation to Australia, the famous Dorset farmers known as the Tolpuddle Martyrs were returned to England were they were given tenancies in Greensted and High Lever.
The oldest grave, lying adjacent to the church is that of a twelfth century crusader, thought to be a bowman.
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Sunday 12th July 2020
Heathrow Here We Come! 40 Miles Details: A circular club ride including many quiet roads around Heathrow Airport and back to Central London. We will be stopping off to visit Stanwell Place and the home of Freddie Mercury when he first moved to London. Date: 12th July 2020 Start Location: Emmeline Pankhurst Statue, Victoria Tower Gardens, Millbank, Westminster, London SW1P 3JU Start Time: 08:30 Distance: 40 miles Elevation Gain: 483ft (Flat as a pancake) Route: Will be emailed to members. |
