bikes and things

On Sunday I wanted to get a ride in but without the faff of mountain biking. My road bike is out of action as it’s being re-sprayed and all I have at the moment is the fixed (and the Brompton). I also had my tax return hanging over me so wanted to get a good bit of exercise without spending too much time out of the house. I thought about having another go at my favourite trail from the design museum east which I’ve done a few times before. I managed to talk Jonty in to meeting me and coming along for the day. The weather looked like it would hold til at least 2pm so we met at 9am for coffee on Bermondsey Street and then headed out East.

I’ve done the ride loads of times before with various options. Once I got the Woolwich ferry and rode back along the North side. Other times I’ve got the clipper back from Greenwich as well as various permutations of. It’s always a good ride though, nothing too fast or challenging but nice to see some sights as well as the changing context. Riding by the river is great too.

I ended up sounded a bit like a tour guide explaining things I’d seen before or pointing interesting items out. We kept going and going, past Greenwich and on to the Thames Barrier. The idea was to see that and if it was working and come back.

So we had a poke around the Thames Barrier and thought we’d push on. We ended up at the Woolwich ferry which is the furthest I’d been along the path. The bit after was more like a larger towpath and was nice riding. Again nothing too fast or crazy but just nice pushing the pedals and admiring the view.

I was also riding with a pannier for the first time which is surprisingly good. Whilst it doesn’t win any awards for looking cool it is amazing to ride without a rucksack. I’ve been using the same this week for commuting and love it. Apparently it really comes into its own in the summer though to avoid that awful sweaty back look which is so unpleasant.

Anyway by this point we’d gone a fair way east and spotted a big concrete housing scheme to go and have a look at. We looped round than had to decide what to do. The Garmin said we’d got to 35k so thought it best to head back and we knew that at some point the weather was going to turn. We got a little more sun on the way back and the stinky Tate and Lyle factory was looking pretty good in the winter sunshine.

We also came across this odd little pavilion which has fallen into disrepair. Not sure what it was but it was set in a formal pair of pools. No idea what it was or what it was used for it was intriguing. I’ll ask the book of knowledge old Matthew Wickens and see if he knows.

And then there was lots of this kind of stuff. Heavy industry, derelict factories, ship yard, docks, gravel pits etc. But then lots of it is all changing and being replaced by housing. The old electronic factory has started to be demolished too. The whole area keeps changing each time I cycle this way.

After a quick stop for a burger in Greenwich we were back to SE1 and another coffee to finish off (at the same place). Not a bad run out and managed to nudge the Garmin over the 70k mark which I was pretty pleased with, especially being fixed. It just started to rain as I was doing the last few kilometres. A great day out and so nice to ride directly from the front door. Maybe push it out a little further next time.

And here’s the route map which kind of looks a bit funny.