Crystal Palace Park loop ride and picnic with food market

Sunday 11th August. Picnic in Crystal Palace Park

After 140 minutes of cycling would it be nice to sit in a lovely big park and picnic on newly bought snacks or street food from a food market in the park? Yes!

There are tree-shaded grassy lawns on either side of the Sunday market avenue in Crystal Palace Park, close to the cafe and well maintained toilet block and bike parking. We will sit there and enjoy a picnic for an hour or so then ride back to Queens Gardens. First we ride through parks, more parks and quiet streets for about 140 minutes. Then picnic. The return ride will first weave past the lake and dinosaurs then downhill back to Croydon in 3/4 of an hour. On the ride we pass through Beckenham Place Park and South Norwood Country Park and Sydenham Wells Park among other parks.

If it rains we will cycle the same route but lunch sooner, in Leo Vegan & Vegetarian Cafe in Sydenham, just after halfway along the route. Eat indoors in this large space which welcomes bikes inside. I'm hoping it doesn't rain because I prefer a picnic with street food from the market!

Start at Queens Gardens CR0 1GY at 10am. Sunday 11th August.

The total time for the ride will be about 4 1/2 hours. Start at 10, back by 2:30.

There are some hills on this trip. There is a bit of gravel riding in South Norwood Country Park and Beckenham Place Park, so tyres 28mm or bigger.

Please bring a water bottle. You will need to stay hydrated. Also an inner tube. If the valve on your tires is Schrader (short and thick, same as a car tire) you will need a pump too.

https://www.komoot.com/tour/1668645343?share_token=a6iwAIB1Gm5k9m0HOl33xdFoAmYX3QiUXTlllfWyKdVuTRktuO&ref=wtd

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