- Southwark Flood Risk Cycle Ride
- Burgess Park to Wandsworth
Southwark Flood Risk Cycle Ride
Report from ride leader Simon S.
The weather was much better than the awful forecast (for the north east), but it was still chilly and windy as five of us set off from Peckham Square. Riders had taken advice and ‘layered up’ appropriately. Stompie the Soviet-era tank at the end of Mandela Way was a surprise to most – this had been used in the 1996 version of Richard III, filmed in the 
then derelict Battersea Power Station. How times change! Stopped for a photo opportunity at City Hall, then over London Bridge and via Blackfriars Bridge CS6 to Elephant and Castle. Next Newington Butts and into the Walworth LTN (Low Traffic Neighbourhood), which is now delightful to ride through. Past Iliffe Yard artisan workshops and into Pasley Park near Walworth Garden. This is where the Royal Surrey Zoological Gardens were in the mid-1800s – another surprise! Along Vassall Road and through Eythorne Park to the lovely Myatt’s Field Park, where we stopped for a delicious (and warming) coffee. Weaved through back streets south of Peckham Road to the start point – taking in fences made of WW2 stretchers and a yellow Reliant Robin in memory of Peckham’s own Del Boy. Peckham road follows closely the projected 2030 flood line. All enjoyed a fascinating ride that showed lots of items of interest. (11 miles, 2h 15min).
Burgess Park to Wandsworth
Report from Bruce who was ride leader.
Dire weather forecast had reduced the number of riders from the 13 registered earlier in the week to just six. In fact the weather was OK. Cold, bit it occasional light rain, but none of the high winds and sleet forecast. There is always an up side. The weather forecast had also reduced pedestrian traffic on the riverside paths and this made it easier when cycling the narrower sections.
Outward route took us past the Oval and on to the Thames path at Vauxhall Bridge. Cycled though the new stuff at Battersea Power Station where a security man told us, from a distance, that there was no cycling. News to us. Plenty of space for everyone. These unnecessary rules are annoying and may well be putting some people off cycling. Next Battersea Park looking autumnal then the long stretch of riverside path through Battersea and Wandsworth (see statue 
photo). This ends at the rubbish terminal where the barges get loaded up for their trip down river. Over the Wandle and onto the nice new bit of path. This suddenly stopped at hoardings where building is still going on, so a quick diversion inland and into Wandsworth Park were we headed for the Café and hot drinks.
Return route took us inland along the first mile or so of the Wandle trail. This starts through the Wandsworth one-way system (using safe crossings) and along Garratt Lane past the 1970s shopping Centre. Used the pedestrian crossing to get into King George’s Park. Again paths not very busy but plenty Saturday morning football training in progress. At south end of the park left the Wandle trail and onto streets through to Earlsfield. Up Magdalen Road where the lack of lower gears caused one rider to walk a stretch. Note – always worth getting gears fixed when malfunctioning! Past Wandsworth Prison and across Wandsworth Common, then another short road stretch to Clapham Common. North east across the Common eventually crossing into the narrow Bromell Rd, now badged as Quietway 5. Short back street stretch to the busy Clapham North junction where we used the pedestrian crossings to get to Landor Road. Picked up the pace a tad on the boring roads through Stockwell and eventually reached Myatts Fields. Today’s short ride had been here having a coffee earlier in the morning but were long gone. From Myatts a quick last stretch back to the start in Burgess Park.
Always nice to beat the weather and have a decent ride. Gets some miles into those legs and definitely helps to keep you healthy! Route at https://goo.gl/94U3Ve
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