Ride Reports 2026
By Paul and others. Photos on this page are copyright © by ECC club members unless otherwise specified. Please send reports and photos to webmaster@edmontoncycleclub.org.
We welcome reports from anyone who takes part in a ride. Multiple points of view are encouraged.
February March April May Merit points/Frequent Flyers
Sunday 1st February: Olympic Park
Our quartet left Edmonton Leisure Centre in dull, slightly drizzly weather, towards Meridian way path, southwards via Walthamstow Wetlands as rain eased off! We decided to carry on past the cafe there and do the full ride. Riding east round Hackney Marshes, then south in the park to the Greenway Box Café 11.10. A light lunch before checking the Orbit slide prices. Ride back to Edmonton by 1.30.
Leader: Paul; Riders: Bridget, Richard, Stephen.
Sunday 8th February: The City and Greenwich
On Tower Bridge
Photo: Bharat
On the bus (1)
Photo: Cathy
On the bus (2)
Photo: Cathy
Eleven riders assembled at Edmonton Leisure Centre hoping for a dry day. We followed the rather twisting C1 cycleway through Tottenham, Stamford Hill, Stoke Newington and Hoxton to the fringe of the City. From here on the traffic, which had been quite light, became more of an obstacle. Several times the group was split by traffic lights as we forged our way past the Bank of England and the Tower of London to reach London’s most iconic bridge, Tower Bridge. A brief stop for photos on the bridge before we hit the south bank and followed a relatively new segregated cycle path all the way to Greenwich. At Greenwich we stopped for lunch, and several of us discovered the the street food delights on sale at Greenwich Market. Fortified, we continued around the back streets of Greenwich Peninsula until we rather suddenly came upon the southern terminus of the Silvertown Tunnel Cycle Shuttle Bus. This will carry up to eight riders plus bikes through the tunnel to Royal Victoria. As there were eleven of us we had to split into two groups on successive buses before we regrouped at the northern end. From here we rode through the Olympic Park and Walthamstow Wetlands (where we sheltered for about 15 minutes from a short but heavy shower) to reach Edmonton about 3:00 pm.
Leader: Peter; Riders Bridget, Cassiano, Cathy, Deirdre, Geoff, Pat, Paul, Richard, Stephen; Backstop Bharat.
Sunday 1st March: Broxbourne Old Mill
We set off in dull weather from Edmonton Leisure Centre east to Lee Valley from Meridian Way. Towards Lee Valley Parks Farms trail up Clayton Hill with a misty sky and drizzle. Decending to go on road towards the café by the railway 11:45. We sat inside for lunch. Returning on paths to Cheshunt, A10 cycle path to Enfield as we split up.
Leader: Paul; Riders: Bridget, Peter, Pat, Stephen, Imran, Sarah; Backstop: Bharat; Part ride: Richard.
Sunday 8th March: Museum of the Home
Outside the Museum. THe buildings were originally almshouses.
Photo: Bridget
A cloudy ride from Edmonton Leisure Centre eastwards to Walthamstow Wetlands, Hackney Marshes, Olympic Park, Victoria Park onto the Museum in Kingsland Road. Many had lunch from Fabrique bakers. Then to see the period displays of home interiors. Return ride on backroads and CS1 to Edmonton arriving 2.25.
Leader: Bridget; Riders: Paul, Cathy, Richard, Maria, Peter, Stephen, Karen, Andrew, Sue, Pat, Colin, Jeff, Ben part; Backstop Bharat.
Sunday 15h March: The Magical Mystery History Tour
A ride with a difference, possible a first for the club: a ride around north London visiting blue plaques. Setting off from Coffee Break, our route took us via the one blue plaque in Palmers Green (Stevie Smith) to Hampstead, then onto Primrose Hill, Camden and home vie Stroud Green. En route we visited the plaques of Stevie Smith, Henrietta Barnett, D.H. Lawrence, John Constable, Jim Henson, Richard Burton, Henry Moore, Piet Mondrian, W.B. Yeats, Dylan Thomas, George Orwell and Laurie Cunningham.
Leader: Tim; Riders: Paul L, Peter, Geoff, Richard, Colin, Bridget, Bridget's daughter, Pat, Deirdre; Backstop:Bharat.
A summary of the lives commemorated can be found here.
Sunday 22nd March: Queenswood Café:
The Garden at Queenswood Café
Photo: Angie
Ready to leave the café
Photo: Angie
This short ride took place on the first really sunny and warm spring Sunday morning of the year, departing from the (still closed!) Enfield Town Park Café. Eleven cyclists were joined by two more at Winchmore Hill station. The riders warmed up, ascending Old Park Ave towards Winchmore Hill, admiring the houses on Broad Walk, and, staying mostly on quiet residential roads, the group moved on towards Palmers Green and down the familiar routes of Palmerston and Western Road, before cycling through more residential streets, reaching Hornsey. However, this time, Wood Vale and Queen's Wood were swapped for Wolseley Road and Shepherds Hill, which felt less challenging at first, but the last bit, the footpath from Highgate Tube Station to Wood Lane, turned out to be steep and needed effort. The group very much enjoyed their cakes in the picturesque and tranquil kitchen gardens of Queen's Wood Café, which we had to ourselves. The way home led down Muswell Hill, past Cranley Gardens, Alexandra Palace, Nightingale Gardens, Palmerston Road and Firs Lane, where the ride ended.
Leader: Angie; Riders: Bharat, Bridget, Cassiano, Dave, Debbie, Geoff, Peter, Richard, Sarah, Sue; Backstop Jeff
Sunday 29th March: de Havilland Museum
This is a ride that the club has not done for many a year. Our destination was the De Havilland Museum in London Colney. Seven of us set off from Oakwood Park café, going out via Potters Bar, Water End, Colney Heath, looping round to the museum. After a hot drink (no hot snacks today unfortunately ☹️) and a quick look at some of the planes there, we headed back via Ridge and High Barnet. There were quite a few hills, but everyone coped well.
Leader: Tim; Riders: Pat, Geoff, Cathy, Bharat, Richard; Backstop: Peter M
Sunday 5th April: Hatfield House
Nine of us assembled at Oakwood Park during an unexpected downpour. With the forecast assuring us that this wouldn't last we set off anyway and the rain immediately stopped as we made our way out of the park We headed towards Potters Bar, Welham Green and then on to Hatfield House. Here we met with an officious steward who told us we weren't allowed to bring our bikes into the stable yard. We told him that we have done this on numerous occasions in the past and locked them up safely where they are not causing any obstruction to others. However he was insistent that we move our bikes to the bike shed in the car park so we did as we were told, even though the shed didn't look like the securest of places to leave expensive bikes. After a leisurely lunch in the café we were relieved to find our bikes still in the shed and we set off for home. After retracing our steps to Welham Green we headed towards Brookmans Park, circled around Potters Bar and then on to Hadley Wood. We arrived back at Cockfosters where we said our goodbyes and went our separate ways.
Leader: Geoff; Riders: Angie, Imran, Pat (part ride), Peter M, Richard N, Stephen, Tim; Backstop Cathy
Sunday 19th April: Bluebells in Wanstead Park
Today's ride was to see the bluebells in Wanstead Park. A large group rode from Edmonton, along cycle paths and quiet roads through Walthamstow, Leytonstone and Wanstead to Chalet Wood in Wanstead Park, where we saw loads of bluebells in all their glory. We were fortunate to have lovely sunny weather for our coffee stop at the tea hut in the park, before returning via Leytonstone, Leyton and Walthamstow back to our starting point in Edmonton.
Leader: Tim; Riders: Geoff, Cathy, Peter M, Paul S, Bridget, Sarah, Morna, Maz, Stephen, Richard, Andrew D, Jeff, Andrew, Tom O; Backstop Bharat.
Sunday 26th April: Local Parks and Paths
This was a ride the leader had wanted to try since the New River Path opened almost a year ago. Twelve of us set off from Bullsmore Lane and cycled on a beautiful bright day though Cedars Park and the Lee Valley Park followed by Gunpowder Park! Lots of greenery and a stop for some "percy" and we had a convivial ride ending up in Krispy Kremes in Enfield and we had a gorgeous doughnut and a coffee!! Then we cycled through Enfield Park and the last stretch of the New river path. Big shout out to Cathy and Geoff who trialled this tour several times with Rosie and endured many a visit to Krispy Kremes! I thank you so much, Rosie
Leader: Rosie; Riders Bharat, Caroline, Geoff, Karen, Orsi, Peter, Richard, Stephen, Tim, Tom; Backstop: Cathy
Sunday 3rd May: St Albans
Rest stop at Nast Hyde Halt, at the Hatfield end of the Alban Way
Photo: Tim
In the garden at Abigails Tea Room
Photo: Richard
A large peleton gathered at Trent Park for the ride. The route was virtually the same as before, through Shenley and London Colney. Although the clouds looked threatening at times the sun kept trying (and sometimes succeeding) to break through and the forecast afternoon rain never arrived. As we reached St Albans we were greeted by the tolling of the cathederal bells. There we tried a new lunch spot, Abigails Tea Rooms, which is delightfully situated away from the busy high street and very near the cathederal. Although we had arrived early due to the leader misjudging the arrival time they made us very wecome and put out some extra tables on the patio. The lunch concluded with the smallest birthday cake ever seen, topped by one(!) candle. You know who you are. The return ride was again a familiar route involving the Alban Way, Colney Heath and Potters Bar, We reached Barnet mid afternoon where we split for our various homeward destinations.
Leader: Peter; Riders: Angie, Bridget, Cass, Cathy, Deirdre, Geoff, Jeff, Pat, Paul S, Richard, Sue, Tim, Tom, Virginia; Backstop: Bharat
Sunday 10th May: Elstree Aerodrome
Following the scorching sunshine of the previous day, some of us arrived at Oakwood Park slightly underdressed for what was quite a chilly morning. With one rider having suffered a puncture on the way to the start we arranged to meet him enroute and set off towards Oakwood Underground before making our way along Cockfosters Road to Beech Hill. After a short stop for water at the top of Camlet Way we continued into Barnet and then down Galley Lane to the Horse Bridge. From here we made our way through Ridge and followed the country lanes to Shenley. After passing the Orchard Cafe we continued downhill to Radlett and then up Loom Lane and onwards past Aldenham School and to the Aerodrome. The cold weather had encouraged us to ride at a faster pace than is usual for us and we arrived a bit earlier than planned. The cafe was fairly busy but we found tables with a view of the runway and enjoyed our various lunch choices. Coming outside again the temperature seemed to have dropped even lower and, although there had been one or two murmurings about the number of hills on the way there, on the way back I think most of us were grateful of a few inclines to keep us warm. The return journey saw us pass through Elstree, down Mays Lane, on to East Barnet, through Oakhill Park, up Osidge Lane and back to Oakwood Park.
Leader Geoff; Riders Dave P, Mike, Richard N, Tom, Virginia; Backstop Peter M
Club Points Table for 2026.
| Position | Name | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peter | 113 |
| 2 | Geoff | 91 |
| 3 | Tim | 82 |
| 4 | Cathy | 77 |
| 5 | Paul | 75 |
| 6 | Bridget | 66 |
| 7 | Bharat | 65 |
| 8 | Richard | 55 |
| 9 | Pat | 52 |
| 10 | Stephen | 35 |
Points are awarded according to the following scheme
| Leading a ride for the first time | 20 |
| Leading a ride | 15 |
| Acting as backstop for a significant part of the ride | 8 |
| Participating in a club ride | 5 |
| Participating in part of a ride | 1-2 |
| Attending a planning meeting | 4 |
| Attending a social meeting | 4 |
| Bike aid/first aid on a ride | 2 |
NB: Points are awarded for prearranged club events,
which generally means those announced in the diary.
Ad hoc rides organised by club members,
even if arranged through the club WhatsApp group,
do not qualify.