Sunday 3rd March. With London Cycling Campaign’s second Women’s Freedom Ride coinciding with our planned leisurely ride, we decided to run a feeder ride to lend our borough’s support in the run up to International Women’s Day. In addition to pick-up points from Kingston (market place) and New Malden (station), we arranged a third meet-up point in Wimbledon (Garfield Recreation Ground) to help our counterparts from Merton Cycling Campaign join the main ride too.

This unusual departure from our normal weekend rides was supported by the weather Gods, with sunshine warming up the chilly day. Our first group – with over 20 cyclists – was led by Bai as it left the market place via Fairfield and Norbiton to join our second group (led by Roger) in New Malden. Here we picked up a further 11 cyclists and stayed as one group down the Beeline Way to Raynes park, wending our way via the back streets of Wimbledon Chase and South Wimbledon to meet our Merton counterparts of 10 cyclists. From here we took the Wandle trail via Earlsfield and Wandsworth Common where we split into 2 groups again for the final journey to the main ride in Lincoln’s Inn Field, riding via Clapham Common, Stockwell, the Oval, Lambeth, Waterloo and Blackfriars Bridge.

The Women’s Freedom protest event itself attracted over 800 people, with women and allies from all across London gathering to call on the Mayor to remove barriers to women cycling in London. After a few short speeches, and the presentation of a 5000+ signature petition to Will Norman (London’s Walking & Cycling Commissioner) demanding action to make the capital’s streets safer for women and girls, we set off.

Despite a slow start leaving London’s largest public square, due to the incredible turn-out of supporters, the high-energy ride soon took in some of London’s best-known landmarks, with music bikes dotted throughout to keep the good vibes flowing. From Oxford Street and Regent Street through Piccadilly Circus, down Pall Mall, around St James’s Park, along Whitehall to Trafalgar Square and back to the starting point via The Strand and Covent Garden, riders waved their flags and placards as they passed Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and 10 Downing Street.

Despite our best intentions, the unpredictable nature of protest rides made the departure time of the return ride a little tricky to pin down. With some of the marshals who had opted out of the freedom ride to refuel at the nearby Penderel’s Oak (Wetherspoons) anxious to return to Kingston, the group left the agreed meeting point in Lincoln’s Inn Field and headed for the Strand in the hope of intercepting some of our group. Whilst some of the pub party continued home on their own return journey, a stalwart few waited for the rest of the Kingston crew, including one marshal kindly returning to the original meeting point to round-up the final riders.

Once reunited, a group of 15 set off from the Strand via St James, Green Park, Hyde Park, South Kensington, Brompton Cemetery, Fulham, Parsons Green, Putney Bridge, Putney, Barnes Common, Roehampton Gate, Richmond Park, White lodge and Kingston Gate before finishing back in Kingston Market Place – 38 miles, including the Women’s Freedom Ride. And just one slipped chain to report between everyone.

It was also great to see a few unfamiliar faces join the day’s ride, including a couple who were inspired to support the Women’s Freedom Ride having joined in some of our recent family-friendly events. You can get a sense of how fun the event was from start to finish in this video montage, pulled together by Suzanne.

Thanks to everyone who helped make the day such a great success – Bai for leading group 1, Steph for leading the forward group on the return, Toni & John E for back marking each group, all the other Marshals for keeping the group(s) together, and Jon W & Mike L for acting as ‘Sweeper’/ Mechanic for each group.

Our feeder route on http://www.plotaroute.com/route/2480632 and the Women’s Freedom Ride route on https://www.komoot.com/tour/1420381227.