After postponing the ride two weeks before, I left home with some trepidation. I'd advertised this as the last afterworker to the Ace Cafe and although the weather was warm and sunny there was rain forecast for later. Thinking that no one was going to turn up I was pleasantly surprised to find five on the Bridge and one had called earlier to meet at City Basin.

The reason for not organising an Ace afterworker anymore is down to the sheer congestion on the Regents canal, which is also being used by a minority of cyclists as a racetrack with no consideration for other users of the towpath, making it now difficult to make sufficient progress to complete the ride before nightfall. Furthermore, British Waterways have installed speed bumps and kiss barriers along the route to slow cyclists down. After a short briefing to remind all as to the congestion and conduct of some cyclists we set off a little later than planned. Due to towpath works we made a detour via London Fields and De Beauvoir Town to rejoin the canal where we were met
by Nick. Surprisingly the canal was not as congested as I thought so we made good progress to Camden Locks. After walking through the market section we made our way to Regents Park where once again I was surprised by the lack of activity on the towpath.

Crossing Lisson Grove we made our way adjacent to the canal at Little Venice and then joined the Grand Union at Paddington. We had the towpath to ourselves and made our way to Sainsburys at Kensal Green for a toilet break for those who needed it. By this time is was just gone 8pm and the sun was setting on the canal so we had to up the pace a little so that we would make it off the towpath before darkness set in. As we set off a barge opposite had a live band playing who were quite good with many guests onboard, would have loved to stayed and listen. The canal exit for the Ace is not marked or has no recognisable landmarks but Royal Mail have just opened a depot on the canal so for future reference the exit is the first passed the depot.

Coming off the canal we used the cycle path over the North Circular and arrived at the Cafe as it got dark. We locked up and then proceeded through the car park and into the cafe. It was Harley Davidson night and the car park was full of very expensive bits of highly polished metal and chrome owned by old men with pot bellies, grey beards and in leathers, I fitted right in except I was in cycling gear.

After refreshment and good cafe food it was time to decide how to get home. Alex, Nick and Geoff decided to ride back via the Harrow Road and myself, Alix, Chris and Vivian decided to take the North London Line back in the direction of Stratford. After taking the train from Stonebridge Park to Willesden Green there's a long walk and up a floor to the Overground platform. By now it was about 10 pm and when the train pulled into the platform I was surprised to see how full it was, there is now plenty of people using it now that it connects with the East London line. Next year it becomes London's outer circle line when the system is connected via Surrey Quays and Clapham Junction.
I left the others at Highbury & Islington and made my way over to the ELL platform, again I was surprised to see how many people were using it, every seat on the train had been taken. Remember, this is a service with a five minute interval, if this many people are using the service it's hopefully taking cars off the road. An easy journey to Whitechapel and then home with the promised rain coming down.

Thanks to those who came on the ride for such a pleasant evening.