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Useful Places Tour aka Tour de Tower Hamlets, Stage 1
16 August 2003
I had a dreadful feeling that no-one would turn up for Saturday's Useful
Places Tour (aka Tour de Tower Hamlets). I'd actually prepared quite well
this time, embellishing the Bike Week trip into three separate circuits of
our good borough: firstly markets, shops and restaurants; secondly art,
learning, community facilities and entertainment; thirdly green spaces,
sport & leisure and city farms; with hand-drawn maps for each and info about
the best places gleaned from the internet of course. So I was hoping that a
no-show would not occur - although part of my would have shrugged and said
"oh well, go back for a lovely lie-in then!".
However my fears were unfounded and as I trundled up to the top of the Green
Bridge (the top! the top! not underneath! it's dreadful down there but
glorious on top) a whole gathering was standing around making conversation.
Lots of new faces, very heart-warming. Total of ten people. Thanks to LCC
groups Hackney, Southwark and Greenwich for advertising our rides to their
members. Hopefully we are adequately returning the favour! After intros we
freewheeled southwards with good old Trevor providing Sweeper services.
I'll outline the route here, but do see the maps for the actual facilities
featured (I'm sure the maps will appear on the web promptly ;o). Firstly
down the Sustrans route one we went, along through Mile End Park and the
Regents Canal to Salmon Lane where a fly decided to make a kamakaze dive for
my eye. The first casualty of the ride, I stopped and Pauline and Sebastian
inspected the damage. Soon sorted, we continued down beside Canary Riverside
(which has recently bizarrely imposed a no-cycle-parking restriction) and to
the Canary Wharf/Cabot Square complex.
A bit of zig-zagging and dog-legging through the Isle of Dogs was the result
of my fleeting dyslexia when it comes to that part of the borough, aided and
abetted by Keith who assured me he knew the best way to Eastferry Road.
Through more 'quaint' shopping arcades and to Westferry Road, and we
discovered that there were some folks missing! Our good sweeper and
companion had strayed! - the second casualties of the ride. I phoned Steve
C, and shamefully woke the poor lad up, to get Trevor's mobile number, made
contact and established that the bane of urban cycling (traffic lights) had
caused the splitting from the bunch. Eventually they caught up and we
continued to Hubbub at the Space for well-earned coffee, toast and
badly-cooked omelette (poor Pauline didn't have much luck with food that
day!).
Suitably refreshed, all but Sebastian (who was heading home) headed north
and then west to Wapping where we pottered round the fascinating old
hydraulic power station (now restaurant and art exhibition space). Over the
cobbles of Wapping, up through Whitechapel and past the fab Bicycle Magic to
the 'Market Zone' in the NW pocket: Brick Lane, Petticoat Lane (well, now
Wentworth Street due to the superficially prudish Victorians), Spitalfields,
Columbia Road, Bethnal Green Road and Roman Road (the last two plus Cycle
Surgery unfortunately just described rather than visited due to the
relentless marching of time).
After some changes of plan we headed to the Approach for pint and grub. Over
bizarre doorstop 'chips', spinach tortellini and swordfish (not all in the
same dish) we discussed the interesting relationship between cyclists and
Hoegarden beer, cycling and philanthropy, and the coming cycling revolution:
"Come, comrades, follow me: the revolution is this way! I mean this way! Or
is it that way? Well the pub's this way! etc...." (Er, you had to be
there...). Yes topics other than cycling did crop up, honest.
By 3pm we'd decided to call it a day (it was nearing the time of Pauline's
afternoon nap ;o), so I made sure they everyone had a pack of Bike Buddy
postcards to take away with them to put through neighbours' doors - rewarded
pre-task by the round of hot beverages at Hubbub, courtesy of Wheelers
"volunteers' expenses" (yes this is legit!).
We visited nearly every section of the borough, some more than once. At our
leisurely pace and unforseen circumstances we barely got through one planned
circuit, so the second and third themes will be addressed on future Useful
Tour de TH rides, although some elements of each neglected circuit made
their way into the first in an impromptu manner.
A friendly and varied bunch, there were but two females and all attendees
were 'white', but a good age range and clearly from different backgrounds
and nationalities - and even hemispheres. Out of 10 riders, I think only one
was an LCC member in TH (me!), the others hailing from different boroughs,
or TH but not members of the LCC, but some soon to join up.
The collective promotional efforts of individual Wheelers is paying off with
the sprinkling of different ways that ride attendees find out about the
rides. Sebastian acquired information after contacting me as a result of
recent coverage in the papers; David (1) and Lawrence hailed from sarf of
the river so heard from Greenwich and Southwark email groups, Pauline and
Jeremy were Hackneyites who have found out about our activities via the web
and Hackney email group, David (2) came all the way from Havering after
receiving a leaflet from Steve C when he was in the pub; Greg came to a
Wheelers meeting following a websearch and is on our email group.
Some written comments gratefully received (no slipped fivers involved at
all):
"Great way to get to know the area, helped my flat hunting!!" David,
Havering
"Thanks a lot for the enjoyable ride. I've discovered quite a few places I
didn't know existed. Perfect Saturday ride." Greg, Limehouse
"One sore bum and nine nice friends." Keith, Limehouse
"Very useful! I discovered Isle of Dogs and Wapping. Alix, you are my hero
for introducing me to the power station - I'm going back tonight." Pauline,
Hackney (many thanks to Steve C for introducing me to the Wapping power
station in a previous ride!)
"Nice, relaxed ride, discovered some new places in my 'back yard'." Jeremy,
Hackney
"I felt at ease with the other cyclists, seen parts of East London I've
never seen before." Lawrence, Greenwich.
cheers all for now,
Alix
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