Hills, Palaces, Parks & Panoramas of North London
7 people attending
5 places left
Join us on this Any One Any Bike urban exploration ride of North London, covering some of the city's best known parks and hills to give great views of the ever changing city skyline, along with a range of architectural styles that give the numerous 'villages' in the area their distinctive styles.
We'll be taking trails and quiet urban roads where possible so this event is open to all abilities, though north London is quite hilly and we'll be climbing over 350m during this event so be prepared to pedal a bit harder compared to previous Any One Any Bike rides. Climbs will be restricted to trails and quiet streets for safety however and we will wait for everyone to catch up at their own pace at the top of each climb.
It should be noted that the trail surface in Hampstead Heath and the Parkline Walk is unpaved and quite bumpy (see event pictures) and will be muddy in the damp. This event is therefore not suitable for bikes with slick or narrow tyres. Road hybrids or road bikes with cyclocross tyres should be fine.
Itinerary
Highbury & Isliington Station, Highbury Fields, Arsenal, Finsbury Park, Parkland Walk South, Highgate, Alexandra Palace, Parkland Walk North, Kenwood House, Hampstead Garden Village, Hampstead Heath, Swiss Cottage, Primrose Hill, Regents Canal, Granary Square.
Route available in Garmin Connect here
What to bring
Bike: any bike you like though the Parkland Walk is bumpy earth which can get muddy when wet and so not suitable for slick tyres.
Helmet: OutdoorLads requires you to wear one
Clothing: lightweight and layered, shorts are great even in rain as they allow free movement of your legs. Avoid jeans, which are uncomfortable when wet, and baggy tracksuit bottoms, which can snag in the chain. Colourful and/or reflective clothing will make you more visible to other road users
Footwear: grippy soles if your bike has standard pedals
Gloves: cycle gloves help avoid blisters, and are good in the cold
Punctures: spare inner tube, bike tyre pump and tyre levers
Tools: any special tools that your bike needs
Small snacks: such as chocolate or energy bars
Plenty of water: in bottle/s on your bike or in a daysack/bladder
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Eye protection: avoid getting grit or insects in your eyes, sunglasses are OK if they are not made of glass and not too shaded
Sun cream: take care, even on overcast days
Bike lights: be seen and safe
Storage: small day-sack or a bag on your bike
Food & drink
There will be some shops along the route, though it would be preferable to bring packed lunches to give us flexibility as to when we eat. Due to the terrain and range of rider fitness expected, this may be a long day so please ensure you bring plenty of snacks and water.
We'll stop at a bar near Angel for some drinks before returning to Highbury and Islington station