Shadwell Station, River Lea, Regents Canal loop
A ride out of and back to Shadwell Station on the Overground. It is nearly all on cycle paths, towpaths and parks with very little road and it is flat all the way. After the Cable Street C3 cycleway to Tower Hill we go to St Katherines Dock and ride alongside ornamental canals, Shadwell Basin and small parks to rejoin the C3 to Bow Creek. Then a short stretch of road takes us to Cody Dock on the River Lea, restored as a creative hub. We will take a short coffee break in the picnic garden with its cafe. Continuing alongside the Lea we pass Three Mills to the Greenway and the Olympic Park, then the wooded Hackney Marshes trail back to the Lea towpath and Here East for our lunch break inside or out – its optional. After lunch we ride through Hackney Wick and Victoria Park to the Regents Canal towpath alongside Mile End Park to Limehouse Basin and return to Shadwell Station.
It is 18 miles of cycling, probably taking 140 minutes on saddle. With refreshment stops the ride should take around 4 hours back to Shadwell station, starting at 10:40, ending at 2:40. Return trains are every 15 minutes.
Meet at West Croydon station platform 1 at 9:50 to take the 10:01 Overground to Shadwell (the Highbury and Islington train). Tickets cost £2 contactless. Use the ramp from the car park and touch in on the platform.
You can join the ride at Shadwell Station. The train arrives at 10:36.
Suitable for a road bike. Bring a water bottle and please bring a spare inner tube and a lock.
Safe towpath riding takes the ability to ride accurately on a narrow path with walkers. We will ride as slowly as safety dictates. Come with us if you are able to cycle this kind of stretch. Check your brakes before setting out.
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NOTE
If you miss the 10:01 at West Croydon you can take the 10:16 instead and catch us up easily as we loop around to Wapping Woods, taking us 15 minutes. Same if you get to Shadwell station a little late and we are gone. If you ride directly from Shadwell station to Wapping Woods between 10:46 and 10:56 you can meet us there.
Dellow Street is opposite the station on the other side of Cable Street and it continues on an alley. Ride that to the end – straight line – and cross the main road called The Highway at the lights. Continue on the same straight line across the lights along the broad pavement perpendicular to The Highway. At the entrance of Wapping Woods take the left fork path and that goes to the Shadwell Basin exit. Wapping Woods is a rectangle and its three paths converge on that exit. Meet us there. It will take you four minutes.
If you also miss the 10:16 it will not be practical to catch us up.
