Our annual reliability ride quickly heads out of town to Epping on the Epping New Road before heading into the country lanes and small climbs around Toot Hill. Then off toward Blackmore with some great cafes at the Blackmore Tea Rooms (47km) or the Bakehouse (53km). We link up with some for the Ride London Essex route through Great Dunmow and two more options at the Blue Egg (83km closed on Sunday) and Finchingfield (95km) before hitting the quieter Cambridgeshire rolling hills coming back to Great Dunmow (140km). https://islington.cc/route-book/escape

the last of our mid-week evening rides, Thursday evening’s spin heads straight out of town on the A1000, before turning off onto the quieter roads at Whetstone. Named after David Shannon’s insistence that you can do the ride on a Fixie (yes, he can), there are a number of climbs but nothing as lumpy as Wednesday’s NLH. https://islington.cc/route-book/fixie

Our Tuesday evening route. https://islington.cc/route-book/radlett

Our Wednesday evening route. https://islington.cc/route-book/nlh

This ride heads north as usual on the A1000 and then heading down Essendon before skirting around Hertford on the country roads through to the wonderful Spoke Café at 50km in. https://islington.cc/route-book/spoke

The first ride for almost all new members to the club. https://islington.cc/route-book/intro

One of our core rides, this ride is named after Christian Spencer Davies and a firm favourite for Sunday morning heading north into Hertfordshire. It’s ideal if you have a few hours and / or are new to club riding after the group skills. The route climbs out from the fields to Highgate and heads out into Whetstone and Totteridge for the first three climbs of the day. As we escape the city, you’ll get into the country lanes around Radlett and Shenley with options to stop for a break at the Shenley Country Park (34km) or the Brookmans (42km). On the return leg, see if the llamas are in residence at the veterinary college and after Potters Bar, there’s a chance to practice a chain gang / pace line heading back into Chipping Barnet and returning back into town. https://islington.cc/route-book/llama

Heading away from the A1000, it’s time to go east out of the park. As you ride out take a look at the Hedge Art cats at 1km while you’re on the run out to the country roads around Epping Forest. As you ride, watch out for the traffic at Sewardstone (20km) just before the Mott Street climb, one of the 100 climbs in the UK with three ramps hitting 15% and also on the Epping New Road (26-30km). Even though they are wide roads, the drivers are Essex drivers, please be extra careful. Post Epping, you’ll be on quieter roads heading west back into Hertfordshire with just one section at 39km that’s best ridden single file. You’ll come back into London on some of the same roads from the North routes – Brookmans pub is a good stop at 65km. https://islington.cc/route-book/broxbourne

If you’ve done the rides above, you’ll be familiar with the routes in and out. The reward further north as you skirt around Harlow is a stop at 65km at the Mayfield Bakery or Churchill Farm Sausage shop. Highly recommended for their chorizo burger. https://islington.cc/route-book/mayfield

This ride loops north west heading out into the countryside around Rickmansworth. Coffee stops are at Little Chalfont (55km) before heading back via the country roads around Flaunden and back via Shenley (85km). And, just like every other ride posted – this ride is great reversed. https://islington.cc/route-book/italian

A Thursday evening mid-week ride from Highbury Fields. You’ll head out of town and back on the road but spend 20km on the tracks through Epping Forest. Passable on 32-35mm tyres except when it’s been very wet, please do watch out for walkers as you ride by. A few options to stop on the route: the Original Tea Hut (19km), Mandy’s Tea Hut and pubs at High Beach (20km) being some in the Forest, or the Princess of Wales (40km) on the River Lee Navigation as you head back in. https://islington.cc/route-book/gritty

Just the loop if you’re in the mood for some climbing, Gino’s found a way to cover most (or it that all) of the short climbs around us. Fortunately, more than enough places to stop. https://islington.cc/route-book/innernlh

A classic ride out and train back route, this route heads south out of London for the first 20km before the first set of hills at Charshalton, Church Hill, Cooper’s Hill and Turners Hill. Levelling off again until the Ditching Beacon (10% at 86km), for the final push and descend into Brighton. We can recommend the Fish and Chips at Oh-so-social, or if busy at the Lounge Bar. Final tip – the train fare home is cheaper on a group ticket. https://islington.cc/route-book/brighton

We head out of London via Wood Green before going off road for some variety and crossing many of the roads to the North, heading up to Hertford for the Hertford Coffee Lab (52km) before looping up, down and around as you head back into town. https://islington.cc/route-book/nlgravel

A carry over from the original Surrey Ride London route, you head out via the Embankment through Richmond Park, Bushy Park and to Esher. Great stop at the Giro café (34km / 88km) before climbing up Crocknorth and Box Hill. The return route takes you back through Richmond Park with a café / toilets at Roehampton Gate (20km and 100km) and back the same way. https://islington.cc/route-book/surrey

And off to the Kent hills, out through Elephant and Castle and Dulwich Village (lots of stop options) before your first climb at Crystal Palace, before looping around Biggin Hill, Bayley’s Hill and back. Make sure to take a break at The Tulip Tree Chiddington (50km). https://islington.cc/route-book/chiddington

A really flat out and back route to Windsor for a cinnamon bun (63km). Ideal if you’re training for longer rides and usually stays ice free during winter. Optional extensions are out to Dorney Lake; head further south to Richmond Hill or cut short with a train back from Richmond station on the return. https://islington.cc/route-book/windsor

This full day ride, heads out of London through Chigwell Village, tracing out in reverse several of the roads on your way to the coast at Maldon. Many opportunities to stop: the Hanningfield Reservoir Café (56km); the pubs at Maldon (76km); and, Blackmore Tea Rooms (114km). While it’s always tempting to get the Fish and Chips and a pint at the pub, it’s a long way to ride back. https://islington.cc/route-book/maldon