West London Greenfest
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Glorious spin via Richmond Lock to the West London Greenfest in Parsons Green

Our traditional trip to the West London Greenfest choose another superb day for cycling. Over 20 people turned up, a nice mixture of old and fresh faces encouraged by Doctor Bike and sustained leafleting the day before.

We trotted off down to the canal but were thwarted by Lamas Park gates still be shut at 10.30 in the morning, a short detour and some nifty navigation got us back on track and on the canal. The new tow path surface is a real joy. Some friendly drivers helped the large group across a number of junctions before we made it through Syon Park and through Brentford before breaking out on to the Thames and on to Richmond Locks. Some people decided to loop around further to avoid carrying bikes whilst the bulk continued the trip on the south side of the Thames heading east along the not so well laid Thames Path.

A huge amount of boating people were out and about as well as an encouraging large number of other cyclists. A pleasant stop at a pub to recharge our batteries was made just after Barnes Bridge before we continued the final stage to the festival itself.

The West London festival is a smaller version of the event in Camden, but more community based and far less commercial. We spent a civilised time listening to an amazing opera singing and taking in the air of the festival; bigger than the last year and better attended.

A few people stayed longer, whilst the bulk of us left taking a more direct route home north of the river through the quieter roads of Hammersmith & Fulham. People peeled off in smaller groups as we neared home and the brave few made it back to Ealing Central.

As I said a nice number of new faces all keen to attend the Richmond Ride Wednesday. No stings, no cuts nor grazes, just one slow puncture cured by Robin’s pump.

Finished up in Lamas Park handing out Bike Week leaflets to families on bikes while Laura played on the monkey bars – youth is wasted on the young!

Thanks to Martin for leading and Denise for safe plant tranportation.

25 miles all in all.