New to the area or looking for a new challenge? Here are some ideas for cycle rides you can use to increase your ability on the bike, and explore the area.

Parks and Waterways

Ravenscourt Park – Cycling is permitted on most major paths, though with children the best section is towards the viaduct carrying the District and Piccadilly lines through the middle where the distance between railings is wide.

Shepherd’s Bush Green – The recently revamped green has cycling permitted on all major paths. Combined with a playground and picnic tables this is an excellent location for local parents to help train their children on the quieter paths.

Wormwood Scrubs – Though hard to reach given the configuration of local roads (though we know a way) this park has a wide paint segregated cycle track all the way along the southern edge.

Thames Path – Most of the Thames Path is possible to follow by bike, and where this isn’t the case there are reasonable diversions. The section from Hammersmith Bridge through the mall towards Barnes Bridge provides a varied selection of roads near to the river along with some footpath. The south side provides a route alongside the bank of the Thames almost continuously to Richmond with only slightly muddy conditions.

Grand Union Canal – To the north of the borough, beyond Wormwood Scrubs it is possible to access the Grand Union Canal and towpath via Scrubs Lane. Once on the towpath you can reach all the way into Paddington whilst avoiding roads, or head West.

Richmond Park – Whilst on the other side of Hammersmith Bridge and so with a not entirely quiet route to reach it, Richmond Park itself has a good quality dual network of roads and paths which permit cycling.

Ride with Other Groups

We are not the only organisers of cycle rides in West London, nor are we the most prolific. Here are some other groups to be aware of. We’ve listed these in order of difficulty to reach/ability needed to ride with. Start at the top, and work your way down!

Ealing Cycling Campaign (run regular gentle, leisurely and speedy rides)

London SkyRides (organised led or buddied rides in London)

iBikeLondon Rides (a regular programme of social rides)

Ealing Friday Riders (socially biased rides, Every Friday from Cafe Nero, Ealing Broadway)

Barnes Cycling Club (for the racer and enthusiast)

Central London CTC Rides List (a handy list of varied difficulty indicated by * ratings)

Uxbridge Loiterers CTC (social bi-weekly cycle rides starting from Uxbridge tube)

Kingston Wheelers Club Runs List (some great routes into Surrey for the adventurous)

Dunwich Dynamo (an annual through the night ‘200km’ ride from Hackney to the Suffolk coast, here’s an LCC ride report), in 2013 two of our members, Alex and Natasha made the ride. Just.