On a sunny Sunday morning a throng assembled outside Costa Coffee in Hayes, ready for the Knatts Valley challenge. In accordance with Wheelers policy, ride leader Caroline had completed a risk analysis, and having identified the risk of dehydration, decided we’d better go in.

An hour later, we were ready for the off. The plan was to head up to Downe, then follow the Darenth Valley to Eynsford via the Lullingworth Castle tearoom. Hayes is a good starting point for a country ride from London, as you’re onto Hayes Common within a couple of minutes, and it’s countryside all the way from there. It’s a ten mile ride from Tower Hamlets to Hayes, and so many had taken the train, although a harder core had cycled, and the hardest of the hard had cycled all the way from Wood Green.

It’s about 15 miles to Lullingworth, and quite hilly, but excellent scenery all the way. A minor incident occurred when rider Fergus managed to drop his ipod headphones and got them wrapped around the cassette. I think this was the first time we’ve encountered this particular problem on a Wheelers ride, and things were surprisingly well-wedged. Top electrician Steve Collins applied his skills to the recalcitrant cable (by pulling hard until it broke). Fergus likes to liven up a Wheelers ride by throwing in an interesting breakdown or two, but he hasn’t defeated us yet. Congratulations, incidentally to his sister Millie, who is just 12 but managed the distance very well. She’s training up for a London to Paris attempt next year, which I’m sure she’ll achieve.

Leaving Lullingworth

At Lullingworth it was warm and sunny enough to lunch outside, before continuing to Eynsford, where we had plenty of takers for the Ford, which was up to bottom bracket depth.  Then, on to the feature climb of the day – the Knatts Valley. It’s not that steep, but long, with some great views, particularly on the way down. The road up is pretty much parallel to the road down, so you could say it’s a six-mile detour to go nowhere, but it’s worth it for the scenery, and if you don’t look at the map you probably don’t realise you’re going round in circles.

A fine ford

Freewheeling down for 2 miles

From there, we pedalled on to Dartford, which is not exactly scenic, but a good place to get a train home. However, a mini-throng wanted more, so went for a brisk-paced ride all the way back to Woolwich, from where a sunset cruise across the Thames was taken, courtesy of the Woolwich Free Ferry. The ride finally ended at the Grapes in Limehouse, except for Gerald who still hadn’t had enough, so he completed his loop back to Wood Green, for a total day’s distance of 80 miles. The rest of us varied from 30 to 50 miles, depending on options, so really a ride for all. 

Thanks to Caroline for leading an excellent ride, and thanks to the throng (19 in total I think) for a thoroughly enjoyable day out!