We have easy cycle rides using trains from London to explore unusual places you never knew were there, rather than cycling in chain gangs or rushing through as much tarmac as possible.
Together we explore lost railways, cycle ferries, old forts, castles, marshes, canals, ancient churches, winding rivers and wide skies, ancient woods, village greens, old pubs, martello towers, windmills, follies, sea marks, sailing barges, light ships, gun emplacements and more.
We regularly use trains to get out of London for our day rides. There is no need to book your bike on these trains on day rides (and indeed it is not normally possible).
As a general rule bike booking is for longer distance trains rather than commuter trains but you can get definitive information by checking the rail company websites.
Some mainline trains have a designated bike area but it is not normally necessary to always use it. There may be too many bikes in it already or it may be that you are joining the train at an intermediate stop and it isn't clear where to stand in order to get to the bike area in time when the train times.
Do use it if you can as it will make your journey more comfortable.
The main restriction for mainline trains is that you cannot take your bike (unless folded) on trains arriving in London in the morning weekday peak period or leaving London in the evening peak period. NB the start and end of the peak period is defined slightly differently for mainline trains compared with Overground, DLR, tube and Elizabeth line.
For the Overground, DLR, tube and Elizabeth line the peak period applies to trains in any direction. Outside peak times bicycles are allowed on the Overground, DLR, Elizabeth Line, the surface parts of the tube and the "cut and cover" underground lines but not in the underground sections of the other tube lines. Consult the relevant website if you are not sure as the tube is quite strict about this.
Free bike parking with security cameras
The City of London car parks provide secure parking free for bicycles (and motorcycles)
Baynard House near Blackfriars EC4V 4BQ: Free for bikes, 24h security, humans on site - extra bike racks outside glass fronted security office, accessible toilet (according to the Facebook group London Cycling)
Another recommended one is near the Barbican on London Wall EC2V 5DY which is an underground car park.
Other City of London car parks which provide free secure parking for bicycle are:
Minories E1 8LP
Smithfield EC1A 9DS
Tower Hill EC3R 6DT
For more information: https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/parking/motorcycles-and-bicycles
Paid for secure bike parking
This has been recommended on another websites: https://www.spokesafe.com
Some locations include lockers, repair stations, pumps and charging points for ebikes
What is currently planned and more provisional events are likely to be added to the list as we get closer to the end of lockdown so keep coming back to check!
Cycle Rides
- Beginners half day cycle ride: Shenfield to Harold Wood. Lovely quiet Essex woods and lanes and a country park with a huge herd of wild deer. This ride is aimed at people interested in doing easy day rides (see below) but not sure about mileage or keeping up with a group.
- Easy day ride: Shenfield to Harlow Mill Quet Essex woods and lanes, wide skies and old churches
- Easy day ride: Sawbridge to Ware: Quiet Herts lanes and rivers
- Easy day ride: Ingatestone to Harold wood: Lovely quiet Essex woods and lanes and a country park with a huge herd of wild deer
- Chesham to Albury Cycle Ride
- Cold Christmas on Easter Sunday Cycle Ride
Walks
Taste of Freedom series
- Friday 2nd April, Woolwich to Falconwood 7.3 miles
- Saturday 3rd April Grove Park to Crystal Palace 8.1 miles
- Sunday 4th April Highgate to Hackney Wick 9.6 miles.
Kentish Variations series
Each month there will be a walk in the footsteps of medieval knights - or to be more honest, a 21st century attempt to roughly walk where knights riding out from Tonbridge Castle in the Middle Ages had more sense and rode horses to avoid the mud. These walks will all be centred on the area around Tonbridge which is easy to get to by train. The rough plan for these is as follows:Each month there will also be a walk a bit further afield in Kent (or Sussex). The rough plan for those is as follows:
- April. Penshurst and Chiddingstone. 9-10 miles linear from Penshurst to Leigh
- May. The Darling Buds of May. 12-13 miles figure-of-8 from Paddock Wood
- June. Shipbourne and Fairhill. 14-15 miles circular from Tonbridge.
- July. Plaxtol and Fairlawne. 13-14 miles circular from Tonbridge
- August. Somerhill and Tudeley. 11-12 miles circular from Tonbridge
- September. Leigh and Bidborough. 11-12 miles figure-of-8 from Leigh
- October. Hildenborough and the history of pillboxes. 10-11 miles circular from Tonbridge
- April. Great Expectations (North Kent Marshes). 11 miles circular from Higham
- May. The Darling Buds of May. 13-14 miles from Pluckley
- June. Rewilding Rewind. 11 miles circular from Wadhurst
- July. The Hoo Peninsula. 11 miles circular from Strood. Subject to tides
- August. Broadwater Warren and the Sandstone Rocks of the Weald. 10 miles circular from Tunbridge Wells
- September. Isle of Harty. 10 miles from Leysdown-on-Sea. Subject to bus travel becoming easier
- October. Canterbury Bridges. 6 miles circular from Canterbury
When social distancing has eased, it is hoped that there will be a Great Plague day walk and a couple of evening walks in London.
