Newham's Gold Medal Loop

This ride is a leisurely circuit of Newham and neighbouring Tower Hamlets, using almost entirely traffic free off-road paths including towpaths and Thames riverside shared use walking / cycling routes. Starting in the Greenway at the View Tube Cafe (toilets and bike hire available) we enjoy spectacular views of the Olympic Park from the site seeing platform from which you will see the 2012 Games Stadium, the ArcelorMittal Orbit Tower, the London Aquatics Centre and in the distance the Stratford Velopark with its iconic Velodrome. Leaving the Greenway we take the Lee Valley Navigation System via the famous floating towpaths to Bow Locks. These floating concrete blocks provide a unique solution to the previous interruption to the canal system whereby cyclists and walkers had to leave the towpath to cross the busy Bow roundabout. The Limehouse Cut is a perfectly Navigated direct towpath route to Limehouse Basin, with beautiful maritime tradition and an excellent photo opportunity. On leaving the basin you can cross the road and enjoy your first glimpse of the River Thames and Europe's tallest building, The Shard. Continuing on National Cycle Route 13 to the Thames Path riverside, and Canary Wharf there are many more photo opportunities. The return on the ride is via the Excel Centre, Newham Dockside, where aviation enthusiasts can admire London City Airport with direct views of the runway. The final leg of the return is via the Greenway to the View Tube Cafe. Please note that any type of bike can be used for this ride but we recommend using a mountain bike of hybrid with wide tyres. If you’re fairly confident on your bike and ready to broaden your cycling horizons, our Steady rides are ideal. At a comfortable pace, and possibly with some modest hills along the way, rides take place on mainly quiet roads with plenty of sights along the way. Rides are between 6 and 20 miles long, at a moderate pace of between 7 and 10 miles an hour.