Tag: bike

  • A Bike Ride to Windsor

    A Bike Ride to Windsor

    The Windsor Ride Photo by Chris Bissell

    Brent Cyclists and David had organised another bike ride out of London and I join again. And this time Ann joined us as well 🙂 She only started cycling after she moved to London so it was great that she was now up for trying something longer.
    The weather looked decent (typical London weather – it wasn’t really sunny or really cloudy but somewhere in between that made it really comfortable for a bike ride).

    Ann, Chris and I took the tube to North Harrow were we met the other cyclists. We were a group of 12 in total as we headed off into the suburban sprawl of north west London.

    We mostly drove on quiet streets and through a couple of green areas with more or less clever ways of making us get of the bikes and duck, crawl or lift our bikes over obstacles.

    Another creative gate - but why make them like this?
    Robert being helpful at the gate

    We also went along the canal and through the lovely Langley Park.

    Ann along the path
    IMG_0986

    We were getting hungry as we got Windsor on the horizon. With the goal in sight we made a last stride to our designated pub in Windsor for a well deserved meal and a pint. Ann was reaching her limits but for a first bike excursion 32 km is very impressive.

    Windsor on the horizon

    After the refueling the rest of us continued back more or less in the direction we came. With a stop for tea (and ice cream) in Langley Park. Before making it back to Uxbridge were most of jumped on the tube to take us home.

    Blue sky, white clouds, green plain - perfect cycling

    Another nice ride with the people from Brent and Harrow.

    Head over and read Ann’s account of the trip.

    See the route on AllTrails

  • First bike ride out of London

    First bike ride out of London

    When I moved to London I looked up local cycling organisations and signed up for the mailing list of Brent Cyclists. After living in London for almost 1.5 years it wasn’t until yesterday that I actually got around to join them for a bike ride. And for the first time I biked outside of Greater London.

    It was a perfect day for a bike ride. Clear skies and 18-20C and a light breeze. We were 4 cyclists from the Gladstone area and 5 from Kingsbury making it a good size group and with very interesting stories and chats as we went along the route.

    After a steep climb in Kingsbury we made it up some of the local legendary architect Trobridge unusual houses.

    Trobridge's Highfort Court, Kingsbury

    Ernest George Trobridge designed some of the more unusual houses in Kingsbury, North West London. His buildings are striking and are either thatched elm wood cottage style or ornate houses with twisted chimneys or turrets and battlements. There has recently been an exhibit about Tronbridge at the local library. Unfortunately most of his amazing houses are in rather poor condition.

    After Kingsbury we started to make our way out to the “green belt” with gates and bridges to cross in various parks.

    Another obstacle

    We made it to an aerodrome to see a couple of small planes take of and someone getting lessons in flying a helicopter.

    Beware of aircraft

    As our bellies were starting to growl we headed for The Battle Axes to quench our thirst, stretch our legs and fill our stomachs.

    Lunch at a pub

    Before heading homewards we made a slight detour to see Grim’s Dyke Hotel where David could enlighten us in the story of how W. S. Gilbert lived and died here (trying to save a lady from drowning). There was the most beautiful cherry tree in the garden of the hotel.

    Cherry Tree in Bloom

    We went to see the grand view of London from a viewpoint called “The City” end then made the trip back to London. On the way passing by an enclosure with deers that seemed even more curious about the bunch of us, than we of them.

    Cyclists in all colours

    David Arditti had done a wonderful job of planning the trip and could tell stories of the places we passed on the way – a few of them mentioned here. Apart from David the other lads also knew a lot about the places we passed and I thoroughly enjoyed the day in the saddle. Hopefully I’ll be able to join for more of the rides this season.

    David's map holder (and finger)

    The trip for the Gladstoners (heh) was 49.43 km – the route is up on EveryTrail, GPSies and Google Maps.

    UPDATE: David wrote a great report of the ride and more of the stories connected with the places we went.