Month: July 2019

We got the train from Stratford International and did this circular tour in Kent in two legs:

• Canterbury → Whitstable → Margate → Ramsgate
• Ramsgate → Sandwich → Canterbury

The first ride on Sunday 7th July took us out from Canterbury up the hill to the university, and then some very fashionable gravel riding on the Crab and Winkle Way to Whitstable. From Whitstable we followed the Kentish coast clockwise past Reculver and the Herne Bay Sailing club to the West Bay Cafe for lunch. A brief stop at the Sunken Gardens and we carried on around the coast to Ramsgate and our train home.

More photos here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmEX2YGU

A fortnight later on Sunday 21st July we took the high speed train out to Ramsgate and continued the loop—around the coast past the Pfizer pharmaceutical site and its accompanying “Hands & Molecule” celebratory statue to Sandwich. From there we headed inland through the Weald of Kent on some fairly quiet country roads to our lunch stop at the Independant Pedaler [sic]. Some short and sharp hills, and then a long fast descent into Canterbury to take a look at the cathedral. We just missed a fast train back, so took the opportunity to have a drink at the Millers Arms by the Stour.

More photos here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmFnkWLe 

14 July was the new summer date for our traditional 25 mile ,off road (mostly) saunter to Rainham Marshes and Upminister. The weather was no better than on our previous September/October rides – but we escaped any rain (but suffered one puncture)..

The route was as interesting as ever.

• We saw some frantic working on the northern section of the Greeway in preparation for its opeing the following day after being closed for more than a decade.
• There are signs of the massive development of Barking Riverside.
• We had a short stop in Rainhm Hall – the subject of an interesting blog by Diamond Geezer on 18 July.

The following Saturday we did some bike fixing at the AAA Fun Day. The all-ability bikes are particularly vulnerable to malfunction and present a challenge to repair. Nevertheless we ensured that a couple more would be available.

Other news:

• Our next AAA ride is this Saturday 27 July leaving 10.30 from the Arc – see rides.
• We have submitted strong support for the 5 pilot School Streets. These are all relatively easy to implement. We have suggested extending the scope in some cases and commented that they should be a stepping stone to proper Liveable Neighbourhood schemes.
• There is an important current consultation on the “Greater Carpenters Neighbourhood Plan” – an area important for cycling and walking connections to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The plans look – typically for the LLDC – deficient.
• There is a current consultation on closing the bridge at Browning Rd to through traffic to lessen rat running in Manor Park.
• We looked with TfL and Newham Council at the the Romford Rd corridor.
• The consultants for the developers of the MSG Square have contacted us after our objection to their seriously deficiant plans after our objection had been lodged. However they have not yet been able to indicate that they would contemplate changing them (and they are likely to be supported by the LLDC Planning team); nor have they shown any interest in a site visit to look again at the cycling angle.
• We understand and hope that Newham Council are looking again at their original (poor) proposals for the Greengate St/Barking Rd junction.
• Our next meeting is 29 July – an short evening ride followed by a chance for some informal discussion – see events.
• LCC are holding a social at at 6:00PM in Look Mum No Hands (49 Old St, London EC1V 9HX).  All are welcome.
• Steve has devised an exciting new route for our feeder to the Freecycle on 3 August. More marshals would be greatly approciated for this event which is both fun and important in promoting cycling.
• I will be leading a feeder ride to a cycle fun event in Greenwich Park on 17 August – see rides.

Arnold

10 of us set off on a very sunny Saturday to ride around some east and north east London’s Breweries –as well as old favourites we found a no. of new brew sites! Crossing river Lee we passed old favourites inc Crate & Howling hops to cross Victoria park (& a family marathon in park!) to Old street brewery in Bethnal green –new to us last year. Passing Boxcar –soon to reopen, we stopped for first sample at new Mechanic Brewery also in Bethnal green.

Travelling north now the day started to really heat up passing more Hackney breweries we headed for Lee navigation canal where we rode up to Hale brewery near Markfield park –they actually brew in a shipping container –very micro! Back up canal past Beavertown who were holding a ticketed beer festival we had our lunch stop at Pressure drop brewery –however promised food was not there! after some negotiation some procured food from tasty Beavertown stalls.

Then past new brewery Ora and onto new site for One mile end brewery & Redemption –both in Tottenham. –back across canal and Tottenham marshes to new site of Wild card –next to a retro scooter shop in north Walthamstow. Past alcohol free brewery Nirvana, four more in Leyton before a stop at another new brewery Gravity well for more sampling. We spoke to keen staff at Solvay Society tap room in E11 –brewers of Belgian style beers! We passed Pretty Decent brewery in E7 to our final stop at Woodgrange market where Forest Gayte festival was in full flight and to sample Pretty Decent brew!

Prize for best dressed bike must go to Anita -8 made it back to E7 after a very hot day of riding 23 miles and 28 breweries! -see list below

Bill

	brewery	location	tap room/notes	web
1	Trumans	E3 2NT	no	https://www.trumansbeer.co.uk/
2	Crate	E9 5EW	y	https://cratebrewery.com/
3	Howling hops	E9 5EN	y	https://www.howlinghops.co.uk/
4	Laine	E9 7BT	ceased?	https://www.peoplesparktavern.pub/brewery
6	old st	Arch 11 Gales Gardens, London E2 0EJ	y	https://oldstreet.beer/
7	boxcar	Unit 1 Birkbeck St, London E2 6JY	tap not yet open	https://www.boxcarbrewery.co.uk/
8	mechanic	Railway Arches, 22A Cudworth St, London E1 5QU	stop	https://www.mechanicbrewery.co.uk/
9	Three sods	E2 6NB	ceased?	https://www.threesodsbrewery.com/about-us
10	Forest rd	8 Netil Ln, London E8 3RL	y	https://www.forestroad.co.uk/
11	London fields	365-366 Warburton St, London E8 3RR	tap not yet open	https://www.londonfieldsbrewery.co.uk/agegate
12	church	E8 1JE	y	https://www.hackneychurchbrew.co/
13	Deviant & Dandy	Arch 184 Nursery Rd, London E9 6PB	y	http://deviantanddandy.com/
14	Hale at five miles	39b Markfield Road, London, N15 4QA	y	https://twitter.com/halebrewing?lang=en
15	Beavertown	N17 9QP	y	https://www.beavertownbrewery.co.uk/home/
16	Pressure drop	Unit 6, Lockwood Industrial Park, Mill Mead Rd, London N17 9QP	lunch stop	https://pressuredropbrewing.co.uk/tottenham-taproom
17	Ora	Unit 16a, Rosebery Industrial Park, London N17 9SR	y	http://www.orabeer.com/en/
18	Redemption Brewing Company	16, Compass West Estate, West Rd, Tottenham, London N17 0XL	n	http://www.redemptionbrewing.co.uk/
19	One Mile End	2, Compass West Estate, 32 West Rd, Tottenham, London N17 0XL	n	http://onemileend.co/
20	Wild card	2 Lockwood Way, Walthamstow, London E17 5RB	y	https://www.wildcardbrewery.co.uk/about
21	Nirvana	Unit T6, Leyton Industrial Village, Argall Avenue, Walthamstow, London E10 7QP	n	https://www.nirvanabrewery.com/
22	Neckstamper	Unit 3, Cromwell Industrial Estate, Staffa Rd, Walthamstow, London E10 7QZ	y	https://www.neckstamper.com/
23	Magic spells	24 Rigg Approach, Leyton, London, E10 7QN	y	http://www.magicspellsbrewery.co.uk/ourbeers.html
24	ELB	E10 7QB	n	https://www.eastlondonbrewing.com/
25	Signature brew	E10 7BT	y	https://www.signaturebrew.co.uk/
26	Gravity Well	Arch 142 Tilbury Rd, Leyton, London E10 6RE	y	https://www.gravitywellbrewing.co.uk/beers
27	Solvay Society Taproom	223 Dyers Hall Railway Arches, London E11 4AF	y	http://www.solvaysociety.com/taproom/
28	Pretty Decent	338 Sheridan Rd, London E7 9EF	y	https://www.prettydecentbeer.co/
	Woodgrange market	E7	stop