Palaces, Parks, Peaks & Panoramas of North London
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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, cycleways and quiet urban roads where possible so this event is open to all abilities, though north London has some hills but with great views in return. 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.
The route will finish at the OutdoorLads Picnic & Social at Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens so, although we won't have a lunch break during the ride, there will be plenty of time for refreshments with ODL members from the other events running on the day.
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 Fields, Arsenal, Finsbury Park, Parkland Walk South, Highgate, Alexandra Palace, Parkland Walk North, Kenwood House, Hampstead Heath, Swiss Cottage, Primrose Hill, Regents Canal, Granary Square, Blackfriars, Embankment, Westminster, Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens.
Keep In Touch
If you'd like to hear about future cycling events when we publish them then join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/OutdoorLadsCycling/
For the more competitive riders we also have our Outdoor Lads Strava group 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
We'll be ending the ride at the OutdoorLads Picnic & Social at Vauxhall Pleasure Garden around 2pm so we won't have a lunch stop during this ride, though we will have rest stops as needed. Due to the terrain, bring plenty of snacks and water with you for the ride itself .
Note that picnic food & drink can be purchased from Sainsburys in Vauxhall at the end of the ride and so don't need to be carried with you, though you may wish to bring utensils etc with you.