Croydon

Date: Saturday 8 June 2024

Time:  Gather from 11:00, Assemble to ride at 12:45 for 13:00 departure

Location: 233 Shirley Church Road, CR0 5AB 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1296482027978780/

Croydon Start Group

Start point

233 Shirley Church Road, CR0 5AB

The location is a gated, private residence, so you will be able to relax and prepare for the ride in privacy. Although supporters and friends are welcome to enjoy the 2 acres of clothing optional gardens, our policy is to deny access to photographers and gawkers.

Croydon Start Garden

Genuine press photographers may be permitted by prior agreement with the Ride Leader. This will include no photograph being taken without the subject’s permission and pictures can only be published if a signed model release is obtained. Anyone taking photographs without permission or acting in an intrusive manner will be made to delete their pictures and leave the premises.

There is space for clothing optional camping at the start, but please message host (David) via Facebook page if you wish to stay. Riders wishing to attend the Brighton ride can camp overnight catch a train there from East Croydon on Sunday.

Use this link to find us on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/PVWQcs4eYQQngAdf8. Just using the postcode will usually lead you to a golf club about quarter of a mile away. The precise location can be found using agrees.lowest.hips on what3words ( download free app from https://what3words.com/products/ ). Look out for the gate across the centre of the road for emergency vehicle access and see the Facebook event page for further details.
 

Nearest railway stations, both 10-20 minutes away are:

  • East Croydon served by Thameslink (St Pancras, etc) and Southern (Victoria, Clapham Junction, etc)
  • West Wickham served by Southeastern (East Waterloo, Charing Cross, etc).

Route

Croydon narrowly beats Kew Bridge on distance, but has a gentle pace of about 9mph (when moving, overall average will be closer to 6mph). Following a tour of a few  town centres we will be joining the other groups in Central London after 2¾ hours.

Although no great fitness is required please ensure your bike is in good working order and you are used to riding it for several miles.

This year we will not be organising a full return ride as several people were getting too tired last time. There will be a return ride to Clapham Junction from where you could get a train back to Croydon. Assembly details for the return ride will be given before we set off from Croydon.

Timings

  • 11:00 Arrive, relax, eat your sandwiches, socialise and get painted – don’t worry if you’re early, just come in.
  • 12:45 Muster for ride
  • 13:00 Ride
  • 15:45 Converge with other groups near Westminster Bridge
  • 17:30 Central London ride finishes
  • 18:00 Optional return ride

Body painting

There will be paints, sponges, brushes available to paint yourselves and a painter from 11:30 to 12:30 to paint slogans (please think about what you want in advance). If you have a willing painter and need extra time for an extensive design just message the host (David) what time you want to arrive.

Toilets

Toilets and other amenities are available at the meeting point.