7 hours in the saddle. Leaving Alexandra Palace shortly after 01:15 this morning it was hard to know what to expect. As a small pack of us wound our way down the tight hill the ride began, and we were shortly met with a steep incline somewhere around Muswell Hill. Warm up complete, and we wove our way through a distinctly sleepy Hampstead, passing through Belsize Park and descending into a very lively Chalk Farm and the chaos of Camden. Weaving our way through Central London provided a rather surreal and sometimes rather scary experience - as we were setting off on perhaps the longest cycle ride most of us had undertaken, for many the evening was well underway and they were livin' it large out on the town. Traffic lights plagued us around Baker Street and we were knocked off course for a short detour via Great Portland Street, before deciding against continuing Eastbound down the Marylebone Road. Spirits were good, which was a bonus around Oxford Circus and Piccadilly where we encountered some less than friendly pedestrians for whose passage the pavements were insufficient. In the midst of Mayfair madness I came the closest I've ever been to a pair of red-soled Laboutins. Rather too close to their inhabitant, perhaps.
The first short break at the Imperial War Museum was not a moment too soon. A loo stop was well overdue and I was grateful to be welcomed by some hospitable portakabins which interested me far more than the egg or bacon rolls others were demolishing. Having divest myself of some fluid, and taken on some more, after negotiating Kennington, Vauxhall and Westminster - circling Big Ben before touring Trafalgar Square we finally picked up speed in the relative solitude at South Kensington where we whizzed past the Albert Hall and the Museums before almost missing the turn down Beauchamp Place to begin our southerly progression through very familiar territory in Chelsea and Clapham before heading to our half way point at Crystal Palace via Tulse Hill and West Norwood. A sharpish climb ensured our appetite for the sandwiches provided in Crystal Palace Park from which we could survey the London landscape as the sun had introduced itself as a most welcome addition to our morning.
I must confess to feeling somewhat disheartened to see riders coming across their finish line as we anticipated anticipated a minimum of 45k to go. It was not yet 6 o'clock but it felt as though we'd been touring forever. There were some pleasant undulations around Sydenham and Hither Green before we descended down through Lee towards Blackheath which looked beautiful in the morning sunlight. We continued through Greenwich, Deptford and Southwark before our third pitstop where we stretched and refuelled in the shadow of Tower Bridge. We crossed the River for a final time before exploring the Square Mile, and continuing through Bethnal and Stepney Greens to Canary Wharf for one of my favourite stretches of the trek, empty except for security personnel who greeted us as we continued along our route up to Blackwall and Poplar. Whilst energy levels were on the wane, we were on the home straight and a final stop in the Milennium Park at Mile End.
And straight it was. Through Victoria Park and then up Mare Street. We were heading North and it felt good. All that remained was to turn left and head West through Dalston and Canonbury. I was thrilled to reach N1. Highbury Fields, Finsbury Park, Haringay and Hornsey represented the final leg of our brilliant outing which finished where we had begun. Back at Ally Pally resplendent in the morning sunlight. The hideous hill was not going to defeat me, and I dug in and made it up without getting out of my saddle, let alone off my bike. I passed the Finish Line at 08:15am.
The number seven is strangely fitting. The escapade was inspired by and in honour of my best friend, who underwent Chemo #7 on Friday. It was brilliant to stand alongside her cheering Sam on at the London Nocturne yesterday. Bicycles have dominated the weekend. I wouldn't have it any other way. I look forward to clocking up many more miles in the saddle, especially those out and about with Charlotte.
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