Rough Stuff rides for LFGSS folk, join regular rides that avoid tarmac

Yeah I saw this. I could be tempted.

Realised this was a semi-organised go at the Thames Path, which I've done enough times to care not to repeat.

Did anyone go? Good ride?

I went, was fun, just got home, super interesting (shit) post industrial hinterland vibes, real friendly bunch too, 105km route, included a ferry crossing which was cool I think!

Nice! Does sound good. Just been burnt before by a group ride of it taking 4 hours to do 25 miles in January.

I love riding under the QE2 bridge. Always fun.

I’m wondering if there’s any scope for setting up a group/group chat for people based in the south east part of London who like riding in the rough stuff spirit? Focussing on finding fun ways out the city (I live in Bermondsey these days), and heading out till we get to the lovely small parks, tiny woods, golf courses, and scraps off ‘rough stuff’ that lays out of the SE city boundary?

Does such a thing already exist? Am I just very uncool and out the loop?

I know these ‘alternative’ cycling groups are springing up everywhere, im a fan of them and regularly go to group rides they put on in other parts of the country where the terrain is far more fit for purpose. Surely there’s gotta be some heads on here who find some kinda joy in scavenging what little bits of off-road fun can be found in the gaps between the concrete past Croydon?

If you find one, please do let us know :)

or alternatively, if you make one, I'm in!

Surely there’s gotta be some heads on here who find some kinda joy in scavenging what little bits of off-road fun can be found in the gaps between the concrete past Croydon?

I have limited time available to do group rides, but can definitely help in sharing knowledge of off-road routes out of south east London. Based in Beckenham.

If that group starts, count me in. Based in Catford.

This exciting stuff! Im in the process of putting an instagram page together just cos it reaches a little further than our niche internet bike nerd forum, but then yeah, make a little group chat or something from there, and arrange some rides!

@Tenners
Here’s a link to the instagram page if that’s your kinda thing - I know it’s not for a lot of people.

Tentatively organising a group ride for Saturday 11th March.

@andyp I’ll message you and see what good knowledge you’ve got to help me put the route together if that’s cool!

Of course!

Following with interest and tentatively 'in' for inaugural ride on 11th March :)

Followed :) Hopefully can make it out for the ride but I’m never great at planning far in advance..

Tentatively organising a group ride for Saturday 11th March

In

Can't make the first ride but here's a few ideas

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39145394

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32827708

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39334007

Interested in something similar but north east, if anyone knows of a group.

@giofox is your dude

SE25 here and this is my favourite kind of local riding and have been exploring the rough stuff south of Croydon since I was a kid.
Sadly I'll be away on the 11th March but there is a pretty regular Thursday Off Road Club evening ride from Croydon Arena which normally runs from May - September

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@AlexB is SW rather than SE but has some excellent knowledge of stuff south of London but not terribly far. Did one with him a while back that was lots of fun, arranged on this thread.

love the parks around biggin hill too, such pleasant riding

I hope the gate was open?

In 2020 it was! Got lucky that day.

Yes nice! I reckon meeting in Forest Hill may be a somewhat decent place to start from, at a civilised time of 9am? Let me know what you all think.

Cheers for all the route suggestion too, will get out for some post work rides to dial it in before sending a gpx out.

@leggy_blonde ah nice! Didn’t know about the Croydon gravel thing, sounds cool, sadly I’m mostly doing super sick skidz and stuff with the fixed beers lot on Thursday evenings but maybe I’ll get to one somewhen. And yeah, shame you’re away! There will be more - I hope - seems like a good amount of people are interested between here and instagram.

and maybe check out lc_cycleworx on instagram and pop in in person, pretty sure the owner is involved in informal regular gravel rides for NE folks or will know who to talk to

Thanks for the "heads up". I do quite a few rides with LDN_GRVL. It's a pretty civilised group, but they are focussed on riding more than exploring and they sometimes shy away from the rougher trails.
On that note, I'm trying to fill a "gap" and wondered if the hive mind here can help?
I want to get from Kingdom Cafe near Tonbridge, back to New Addington, with as much off-road riding as possible.
https://cycle.travel/map/journey/397929
This is my current route. Can anyone take a stab st joining up some of the trails?