Tower Hamlets Wheelers
NEWS RELEASE 3 February 2003
For immediate release
Ref THW01rides030203
Local cycle group provides fun weekend bike rides for cyclists of all
abilities
The Tower Hamlets Wheelers (1) are providing cycle rides at least once a
month to encourage more people to get on their bikes.
A range of rides is available over the next few months; some rides are
really easy and not very far (25 miles or less); others are a bit more
challenging (e.g. this Saturday's ride to Cambridge, 60 miles).
The easier rides, such as Saturday 22nd March's ride to the Tower of London,
are in response to demand for rides suitable for a wider range of cycling
ability than the Wheelers have previously catered for.
Rides organiser Gary Cummins says: "These 'Easy Rider' trips are designed
for the less experienced cyclist who wants to go at a reasonably easy pace
and not go far enough to get totally worn out."
Free cycle maps produced by the London Cycling Campaign and Transport for
London will be given out on every ride, and a specially created map will be
given out on the 22 March Tower of London ride.
(Information relating to all the rides is featured after the ride listings)
Sat 8 February
Fenland, Fitzwilliam and Footlights
60 miles to Cambridge, with plenty of drop-out points after 40 miles where
you could either take the train back to London, or on to Cambridge to meet
some of the rest of the cycling group for a night on the town. Some of us
are booking accommodation at Cambridge Youth Hostel (£12.50 for YHA
members), so if you join us, the option on Sunday is to ride or take the
train back to London. Please contact Gary ASAP about staying over in
Cambridge. Meet 8:45am for a prompt 9am start from the top of the Green
Bridge (the yellow bridge spanning Mile End Road at its junction with
Burdett Road, E3 - near Mile End tube station).
Sat 8 March
If you go down to the woods today...
Hybrid/mountain bike easy ride on muddy trails to Epping Forest. 35 mile
round-trip but on the way back you can opt for taking your bike on the
train/tube, cutting riding distance to under 20 miles. Meet 9:30am on top of
the Green Bridge.
Sat 22 March
Bikes, Beefeaters and Battlements
Easy family-friendly slow ride through Tower Hamlets' back streets and cycle
routes to the Tower of London. Take advantage of the current special offer
entry price of only £1 if you have a Tower Hamlets library card, leisure
pass or Idea Store card (usual price: £11.50; offer ends 31st March). Bring
proof of your residential address in Tower Hamlets, e.g. gas bill or
possibly even LCC membership card! Contact ride leader Alix if you have any
queries. Hopefully Rick Sure's Rickshaws and Newham LCC's trailer sound
system will join in. You are especially welcome if you have an unusual bike!
Take a look at http://www.hrp.org.uk and http://www.tower-of-london.com to
get you in the mood for a bit of royal history. Meet 11am on top of the
Green Bridge. Back by 4pm.
Sat 12 April
Easter Treasure Hunt on Wheels
Join in Gary's fun hunt around Tower Hamlets following clues for the hidden
treasure, donated by the wonderful Bicycle Magic boys in Whitechapel. Each
stage rewards participants with chocolate egg goodies. Play in teams of
four, with each player donating £2 entry fee to the Wheelers; either arrange
with your clever mates into a team, or turn up and we'll allocate you to a
team. Ends between 4pm and 5pm in a family-friendly pub in Tower Hamlets.
Meet 10am on top of the Green Bridge.
INFORMATION FOR ALL THE RIDES
All rides stated here start from the top of the Green Bridge, in Mile End
Park, near Mile End tube station (it's the yellow bridge spanning Mile End
Road where it meets with Burdett Road). You do not have to be a member of
the Tower Hamlets Wheelers or the London Cycling Campaign to join in. None
of the rides are a race and indeed several rides over the coming months are
easy, family-friendly and not too far. Unless stated, they cost nothing to
join, and you don't need to book with the ride leader unless stated; do just
turn up on the day. All rides are covered by the London Cycling Campaign's
insurance, but we urge all participants to ensure their bikes are in full
working order, and that you are confident about and capable of riding on the
road. We usually stop at a cafe or pub for lunch but you can bring your own
food. In any case do bring snacks to 're-fuel', and plenty of fluids. It
helps if you bring a spare inner tube in case of puncture but don't worry -
others are bound to bring repair kits and expertise! If the ride involves a
train journey, don't forget your railcard...
Gary Cummins is our rides organiser, so please contact him if booking on the
ride is needed (only if stated) or if you have any queries.
gary@towerhamletswheelers.org.uk 020 7265 9095
N.B. Contact Alix Stredwick if you have queries about the 22 March ride -
020 8880 6873 alix@towerhamletswheelers.org.uk
ENDS
Notes
(1) The Tower Hamlets Wheelers is the local cycle action group in the east
London Borough of Tower Hamlets, campaigning for better cycling facilities
and encouraging more people to cycle - for health, the environment and for
London. The Wheelers are affiliated to the London Cycling Campaign, the
largest urban cycling campaign in the world.
Tower Hamlets Wheelers
wheelers@towerhamletswheelers.org.uk
www.towerhamletswheelers.org.uk
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