A ride less ordinary
Adventure Biking & the art of Going Slow & Getting lost
Category: Cycling in London
All about the bike
‘It’s all about the bike’ ……. an often-quoted phrase in the cycling world, which I happen to think is an over simplification. This blog post, however, is unashamedly all about the bike because I have just bought a new one. It’s been a long time coming.
Chasing the sun; a winter cycle tour
I promised myself that every couple of months I would get out of London and go somewhere different. It didn’t really matter where, Timbuktu or Bognor Regis, just a change of scene. I didn’t make it as far as Bognor Regis, but decided on… Continue Reading “Chasing the sun; a winter cycle tour”
Freewheeling
Sometimes not having a plan can lead you into trouble, and other times it can lead to a pleasant surprise. Yesterday my unplanned and rare shopping trip yielded a pleasant surprise. On returning from my trip, my shopping bag consisted of a Throw from… Continue Reading “Freewheeling”
Tandem Adventures
The house is strangely quiet, the skies are leaden; perfect conditions for a quick blog post (it’s that or clean my chain!). I’ve just said good-bye to my brother Stephen, and Sister-in-law Kate, after a weekend visit with their 30 year old tandem called… Continue Reading “Tandem Adventures”
An Adventure Bike tour of South London
A friend of mine recently returned from an epic adventure, cycling alone from Amritsar, via the Hill Stations of North India, to Kathmandu, and having returned home to no job, I invited her on a mid-week adventure road-bike ride. I wrongly assumed she would… Continue Reading “An Adventure Bike tour of South London”
Not quite the Pilgrims’ Way!
My recent trip to Whitstable along the Pilgrims’ Way re-ignited my plan to complete the entire ‘track-way’ in a series of day trips. In retrospect I could have benefited from knowing where it started and finished. I decided to complete the section from Rochester… Continue Reading “Not quite the Pilgrims’ Way!”
Cycling from Whitstable to Ramsgate
I woke early in a static caravan on the outskirts of Whitstable. It was another perfect summer’s day. The kind of day that as a kid, you would remember as the best day of the holidays; sunburn, ice-cream, getting sand in your knickers &… Continue Reading “Cycling from Whitstable to Ramsgate”
A Pilgrims Tale
This is the story of the Bella Velo Cycling Clubs summer trip to the sea. It was a road ride full of unforeseen adventures that pushed us all to various limits. We conquered extreme heat, punctures, thigh-burning hills, came close to mutiny and possibly… Continue Reading “A Pilgrims Tale”
Up the Ravensbourne
….and down the Darent. That was the plan. As part of my scheme to ride to the source of all the rivers entering the Thames along its passage through London, I thought I would start at Deptford and finish at Dartford; going up one… Continue Reading “Up the Ravensbourne”
Hoo Dunnit!
It was time to forge further east along the Thames and pick up a Thames-side route from Dartford to Rochester, and with the days getting longer and the weather forecast set fair, I seized the day. My mission was to stick close to the… Continue Reading “Hoo Dunnit!”
Maps, maps and more maps ….
This is what happens when a bicycling Geologist is ‘put out to grass’, and the days are short, cold and uninviting to all but the hardiest of cyclists. The Geological cross-section is based on the first half of the Milk Churn Loop from… Continue Reading “Maps, maps and more maps ….”
The Milk Churn Loop
This blog post records a winter ride with the Bella Velo cycle club. Links to topics in this post include: The Rocks and Rivers. Maps of the ride showing what lies beneath the fields and tarmac (or what a ‘resting Geologist’ gets up to… Continue Reading “The Milk Churn Loop”
Dartford – my nemesis
Inspired by my last Southeast London ride, which ended in Dartford, I decided to put together a ‘loop’ ride which incorporated the suburbs of Southeast London, followed by a trip down the Darent valley to Dartford, returning back along the already reccied Thames path.… Continue Reading “Dartford – my nemesis”
To Dartford (and not beyond)
After the surprise delight of my first trip ‘up east’, I decided to extend my route beyond Woolwich, with the original plan of getting to East Tilbury, via the Tilbury Ferry from Gravesend. I was becoming increasingly aware of the disappearing summer, with every… Continue Reading “To Dartford (and not beyond)”
Going ‘Up East’
I think I’m at the start of a love affair. I decided to ride to a friend’s house in Wanstead a few weeks ago and planned a route that was as traffic-free as possible. It took me through parts of London that I had… Continue Reading “Going ‘Up East’”
A ride less ordinary 