social cycle ride Sat Jan 19th -- longer and higher :)

[Sally Eva]

Go on, you can do it. I'm not sure I could but you can.

This ride starts at 9.30am from Peckham Square and turns at Severndroog Castle (pic attached) on top of Shooters Hill. It ends back in Peckham at 1pm. That's an earlier start and a later finish than usual and Severndroog Castle is 20m higher than the top of Sydenham Hill which was the previous summit. A new altitude record, who could resist.

Peckham Square is between Peckham Library,and Peckham Pulse Leisure Centre at the north end of Rye Lane (SE15 5JR). The outward route will use the bus lanes on busy A202 and A2 to Deptford Bridge and then come off road and use quiet roads to Eltham Well Hall via Lewisham and Kidbrooke Village.

There will be a coffee stop at Tudor Barn in Well Hall Pleasaunce https://www.tudorbarneltham.com. The website gives the impression it will be open but it looks a bit posh.

Next comes a short ride to the southwest corner of Jack Wood and the steep (but short) path up to Severndroog Castle. There will be plenty of time to just walk up - the really steep section is only 300m long (!).

After all that up there will be a fast return route all downhill, initially using Shooters Hill Road, then the underpass at the Sun in the Sands roundabout and quiet streets to Greenwich Park. More whizzing down the hill in the park and more quiet streets to Quietway 1 at the Halfpenny Bridge. Finally Quietway 1 to Surrey Canal Rd, Bridgehouse Meadows and back streets to Peckham Square.

There will be several short stops at places of interest plus the one longer coffee stop. First-timers and old hands welcome! Be sure to wrap up warm, the forecast for Saturday is a high of 5 degrees and a low of nought. The route is here

These rides are organised by Bruce Lynn and friends on behalf of Southwark Cyclists. We are the borough branch of the London Cycling Campaign which works for safer, more fun cycling in London. Our website is here: https://southwarkcyclists.org.uk and you can contact us by PMing me here or on [email protected]. Everything we do is free and everyone is welcome.