• Ride 1. The Ridgeway Ride   
• Ride 2. Lambeth Small Spaces 

The Ridgeway Ride   

A new ride that broke all the rules – it was hilly, there was a lot of busy main road and there were no views or significant points of iterest. Instead it was inspired by the topography of SE London. Planning rides to the south east we often found it difficult to avoid a steep hill. After many yeas it dawned on me that this was because all the hills joined up to form a ridge running 4km NE to SW from Forest Hill to Norwood. So why not embrace these hills and ride the ridge?

Just 4 people joined Bruce for the ride (must have stressed rather too much the fearsome nature of the terrain!), meeting in Dulwich Park. Steady climb up to the Horniman Museum then up the steepest climb – Sydenham Hill. Not a long climb but 17% grade in one section. Riders coped well with this climb so already clear we were going to make quick progress. Followed Sydenham Hill to Crystal Paace Parade. We stopped briefly to divert to the viewpoint looking south east. A view familiar to those of us who have ridden through Crystal Palace Park. So there was one view on the ride.

From Crystal Palace continued along Chruch Rad for a further 1½ miles to the top of Beulagh Hill. A level ride at just over 100 m elevation, roads on both sides falling away, but continously built up or with spaces full of trees, meaning no views in either direction. At Beulah hill dropped off the ridge and down Grange Road to Grangewood Park. Stopped at the remains (just foundations) of the mansion then ro

de on down to the bottom of the park and so off the ridge completely. This was our far point, just up the road from Thornton Heath. We than rode back up through the park on small paths, very steep in places, past the tennis courts and out on to Grange Road. Further short uphill, not auite as steep as Sydenham Hill, and we were on the ridge and ready for a coffee. This we obtained from a friendly little cafe in the parade of shops at the top of South Norwood Hill (Cafe de Niro).

Headed down a spur towards West Norwood. First Beulah Hill, then left along Crown Lane and at Streatham Common, right to Leigham Court Road. Back streets for rest of way to Dulwich Park. Time – 12.30; estmated time 13.30! We had eaten those hills and finished an hour quicker than estimated. Thanks to Mike for back marking. Route at https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1P3S1ZC2C7jOVILN16J7r6CuidCVHM-s&usp=sharing

Lambeth Small Spaces 

Report from Ride Leader Simon S.:

A group of 15 riders left Waterloo Millennium Green (off Baylis Road) in gloomy weather. Started out along Lower Marsh and a right turn into Leake Street, aka The Graffiti Tunnel, now a popular tourist attraction. The route wiggled through lots of green spaces in an amazingly small radius. First up: Archbishop’s Park – we saw dozens of police vehicles parked along Lambeth Walk, preparing for more riots perhaps. 

Then Old Paradise Gardens, Pedlars Park, Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, Vauxhall Park, Larkhall Park and Landsdowne Gardens. Photo op outside Stockwell Bus Garage (1952 – it was Europe’s largest unsupported roof span, and could house 200 buses) and across the Clapham Road to Slade Gadens. Across Brixton Road to Max Roach Gardens and on to Wyck Gardens (nr. Loughborough Jn), home of the Ebony Horse Club, a Community Riding Centre. 

We stopped at the lovely independent cafe in Myatt’s Field Park, before heading back past “the submarine” (district heating system, https://www.layersoflondon.org/map/records/camberwell-submarine), Eythorne Park (inc. Mrs. Daleys Tangerine Tree and associated artwork, https://www.drostle.com/myatts-field-artwork/), Dan Leno Gardens, Kennington Park, Cleaver Square, Lambeth Walk Open Space, Roots & Shoots, the Cinema Museum, and a water tower that was on Grand Designs – now a dwelling. Briefly into Southwark for West Square Gardens and Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park (IWM) and finally back to Waterloo Millenium Green.

That’s a total of 20 green spaces, all within a radius of about a mile and a half. Lots of the hidden gems were new to many of the riders. 

Some very slow red lights and a persistent slow puncture that needed pumping up slowed us down a bit. But the weather warmed up and the sun came out and everyone enjoyed the ride. 

We like this ride so much have included more details, list of spaces and route map at https://southwarkcyclists.org.uk/healthy-rides/simons-parks-and-ride-ride/

Back to Ride Report 2024 Index

Back to Healthy Rides Home page