SW London loop. Many parks and off-roading including Hogsmill nature reserve

On Sunday the 28th July a loop to the West, out and back from Croydon, the great majority off road. And what great off-roading it is! From the Wandle Trail to Carshalton Ponds then Nonesuch Park and the wonderful Hogsmill river nature reserves and brook-side parkland trails it is miles of beguiling parkland cycling. Then we continue partly off road and partly using side streets through New Malden and Raynes Park to the Wandle Trail at Merton Abbey Mills. After Morden Hall Park we take to the streets to reach Mitcham Common and more parkland trail, then even more in Beddington Farmlands and Park and back off road again to Croydon. If you like cycling this will make you love it and if you love it already, here is a gift.

This a long ride for our group at 27 miles. We will have rest and toilet stops at Nonesuch Park and Morden Hall Park. Our lunch stop is at the 16 mile point.

The surfaces include packed gravel and some short stretches of earth paths. There is uneven ground. The narrowest tyres to ride this route are 28mm and those will need enough pressure to avoid pinch punctures. Air up before riding. 32mm and wider is better. Hybrid and mountain bikes are best on this route. Drop handlebars will need skill to ride some of the park trail.

Please bring a water bottle. You will need to keep hydrated. Also an inner tube. If the valve on your tires is Schrader (short and thick, same as a car tire) you will need a pump too.

Meet at Queens Gardens CR0 1GY at 10am. The cycling time will probably approach 4 hours so this is an all day ride. Back approximately 4 to 4:30pm.

To chat about these rides, find out more info and see who else is coming, join our WhatsApp group https://chat.whatsapp.com/HFVOnWScHzi0Ss1w1leYrE