Big Day Out

This is a long ride. Although we are keen to support people in extending the length of their rides, participants need to be confident they can complete the distance. In some places, bale out opportunities are limited. We aim to maintain a pace of 8-10mph. Without any incidents, we are looking at 7-8 hours in the saddle. Extra time will be needed for breaks. The ride is not suitable for road bikes with skinny tyres.

The route takes us from Rickmansworth station to Aldgate Station, both on the Metropolitan Line. It stitches together a number of cycle routes consisting of paths, tracks, protected cycle lanes, quiet roads and towpaths. Only a few short stretches involve riding with traffic.

We start with the Ebury Way from Rickmansworth to Watford. This is a former railway line with an unpaved but well compacted surface.

Next is the Abbey Way from Watford to St Albans. This is a series of quiet roads and paths with good surfaces apart from School Lane, which is picturesque but a pothole fest.

From St Albans to Hatfield we follow the fully paved Alban Way.

We use cycle paths and quiet roads to reach Cole Green Way. This off-road route has a surface with a 50/50 split between tarmac and well compacted unbound materials.

At Hertford, we pass through the Castle Grounds and quiet roads to join the River Lea and the Lea Navigation. We head towards Ware on a well surfaced towpath. From there, we use National Cycle Route 1 to continue along the River Lee (note the change in spelling!) to Limehouse Basin. We occasionally leave the towpath. The surface is hugely variable – tarmac, gravel compacted to different degrees, sections with raised tree roots, etc. In one location, it seems that a local history society has recreated the battlefield of the Somme!

The section from Hertford to Limehouse is basically a gentle, sometimes imperceptible, 30 mile downhill, give or take an occasional bridge or other man-made feature. It passes through the Lee Valley and Olympic Parks. The towpath can be busy with walkers and this may impact on the speed we can achieve.

From Limehouse, we use the protected Cycleway 3 to get to Aldgate Station. Note that there is no step-free access. Ambitious participants might want to add a few km to gain a metric century.

There are lots of places to stop for rest and refreshments. We will play this by ear but will look to complete the ride with two main stops. Riders should also bring snacks and plenty to drink.

Please check your bike before the ride and bring a spare innertube and tools to fix a puncture.

The time for the ride is a best estimate by the Ride Leader. Sometimes this can be affected by factors such as the weather, mechanical issues, the queue at the cafe, etc. We have a policy of leaving no rider behind so, if anyone is struggling, we will adjust the speed and take rest stops if necessary.