Lee Valley : From Source to Thames

we decided that as we had all been to the thames before we wouldn't bother
our body - saddle interface areas also said no to the extra miles
after the last pub stop just north of lea bridge road whatok noticed we were all riding in a standing position / out of the saddle

Seriously, this looks amazing, how much was on 'dodgy' ground, ie private property?

Did you actually reach the Thames?

Well we decided it wasn't worth the hassle as technically we'd left the Lea once we joined the navigation. I made it to Regents though, and could have gone an extra mile or so down to the Thames, but I was shattered. 60 miles gravel + beer + chips is quite exhausting.

Seriously, this looks amazing, how much was on 'dodgy' ground, ie private property?

None of it as far as I'm aware of. Lots of cyclepaths & public right of ways

i think everything we did was legal, one section through a farm and along rough tractor rutted mud roads didn't have a public right of way sign, but i have a feeling the farmer may have removed it to decrease foot traffic, we did see a farm worker who passed us and he didn't say a thing, and the map shows a public right of way

the first time i did it with a friend we tried to stay as close to the river as possible, ended up crossing golf course fairways and clambering over a lot of hedges, through woodland and getting very lost in swampy marshland areas

again mostly legal

And how much gravel compared to paved path?

Majority is off-road. 25mm tyers OK though, no specific equipment needed. Dicki and I were single speeding it on fairly large gears.

Good bib shorts / saddle recommended - made the mistake of wearing my turbo shorts and am regretting it today.

Did you actually reach the Thames?

Whatok's strava suggests not! The problem with getting to Trinity Buoy Wharf off the top of my head is that you can't follow the lower end of Bow Creek, partly due to the path that follows Bow Creek by Canning town, which was built at the same time, never having been opened due to petty local authority disputes.

I'd really like to see this sorted out one day, the path under the A118 has improved access down this part of the Lea and it would be great to open it all up.

couldn't be assed! (+no lights and sore ass)

Nah fair enough, 60 miles off road is a long way, especially on a road bike!

I think you would have had real problems on the Bow Creek bit anyway. There aren't any obvious alternatives to following the tidal river which you can't do all the way.

It seems there are plans for a bike/pedestrian bridge round there and opening up more of the creekside path, if that did happen and Cody Dock got sorted out it would be great.

The Gasworks Dock Partnership (http://www.gasworksdock.org.uk/) have been trying to raise money for ages to build a small bridge across Cody Dock which is key to linking everthing up.

They got really close last year thanks to an anonymous £30k donation, but they didn't quite raise enough to secure the match funding someone offered them for the bridge. It's a shame as they were really close.

More info here:
http://www.gasworksdock.org.uk/index.php?page=spacehive-bridge-fund

Kris and I are off next week if you wanted to repeat next Wed->Fri?

I might be up for that J ... work etc permitting ... would be on hardtail w gears. If Wednesday.

I'd also be up for that if it were the wednesday. Some mental notes on the route to improve it and take in some nice sights/pubs have been made.

in

Next Wednesday:

1. dicki
   
2. MA3K
   
3. KRZ
   
4. Skully
   
5. whatok
   

I think you would have had real problems on the Bow Creek bit anyway. There aren't any obvious alternatives to following the tidal river which you can't do all the way.

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You're dead right - Bow Creek has no obvious options to follow. But Limehouse cut goes to the Thames, and does have the Lea's water flowing down it too

1. dicki
   
2. MA3K
   
3. KRZ
   
4. Skully
   
5. whatok
   
6. mattioats
   
   

If this is weds I'm keen. And +1 for limehouse finish.

weathers looking great for weds, sun all day long

I hope these rides will be a regular summer feature. Be nice to join one when I'm in the area.

So typical.....I've been off for 12 days, 3 of which were spent in brighton. That's when the first ride happened. Then I'm back on duty for 96 hours from Monday night....bugger.
I'm going to try to get the time off though, as this looks like a nice trot down the oggin!

a bump for weds

what time and where, did you have in mind john ?

This was so awful last time I need to do it again

1. dicki
   
2. MA3K
   
3. KRZ
   
4. Skully
   
5. whatok
   
6. mattioats
   
7. Howard
   

what time?

Still good for this...

I'd really like it to be morning not noon when we set off from start... is that OK for people? 8pm finish might not go down well domestically. On a weekday just before the bankholiday weekend.

^Ya this. Early start pls.

yaya

anyone wanna go cambridge in about an hours time?