March Rides & Events in Waltham Forest

Sunday 1 March – 10am, Leytonstone @ McDonald’s
The E11 Ride to Yi-Ban restaurant in the London Regatta Centre, Royal Docks (advanced)
Join us for the (almost) annual trip for a very special treat, the excellent Yi-Ban Restaurant! Meet outside McDonald’s in Leytonstone High Street E11 for 10am departure. If you have questions, call Dwight on 07973 131429.

Sunday 1 March – 11am, The Mill, Coppermill Lane, E17
The Sunday Cycle (intermediate)
This is Katja’s goodbye, so come and say hello! The ride will continue, but most likely with Nic permanently at the helm. Massive thanks to Katja for years for excellent rides.
Meet outside The Mill in Coppermill Lane at 11am for a gentle ride of c. 20km / 13 miles. Return c. 4pm. If you have questions, contact Katja at katjarosenberg@hotmail.com or 07799 411 587.

Sunday 8 March – 1pm, Orford Rd / Church Lane by the Ancient House E17
Walthamstow Family Bike Club’s Open Spaces Ride (intermediate)
A relaxed and enjoyable afternoon travelling by bicycle and exploring the nooks and crannies in and around our borough. Frisbees sometimes materialise when we hit a suitable open space.
We aim to stop off at a café at about half-time, but we recommend you bring a snack and some water.

Sunday 15 March – 10:30am, Walthamstow Town Square
Take the Peaceful Route with Nic (advanced)
Meet from about 10:30 for an 11 o’clock start outside Walthamstow Library / Farmers’ Market.
Join Nic for the peaceful ride over mixed surfaces (be ready for a bit of mud!). The destination and direction of the ride will be discussed at the start and will account for wind speed and direction and may be train-assisted – so take your Oyster or contactless debit card with you.

Sunday 15 March – 1:15–3:30pm, Leyton Jubilee Park, Seymour Rd E10 7LX
WFBC’s & JoyRiders’ Newcomers Ride (beginners)
Please note the new time and location of this popular ride, now co-hosted by JoyRiders!
The perfect ride for those new to cycling, including families with young children, and will especially appeal to those who don’t have the stamina or confidence for our longer ‘Open Spaces’ excursions on the 2nd Sunday each month.
No bike? No problem! Book a bike here!

Sunday 22 March – 10:30am, Walthamstow Town Square
WFCycling Social Ride (intermediate)
Our monthly gentle-paced social ride, never more than 30 miles in the summer and 15 miles November to February. Bring drinks, but we will stop for lunch along the way. Please bring your Oyster card or contactless debit card for use on public transport.
Meet at 10:15 outside Walthamstow Library, for a departure by 10:30. We are usually back by 3-4pm – bring lights!

Sunday 22 March – 9:30–16:30, Leytonstone Underground Station (Café)
Newham Cyclists’ Ride to Much Hadham (advanced)
Ride through Essex lanes (with some hills) to the (no longer) Secret Nuclear Bunker. Travel to Epping by tube so bring your Oyster or contactless card.

Every Saturday – 8:30am, Leytonstone @ McDonald’s
North Star Velo Road Rides (advanced)
North Star Velo also run frequent midweek short road rides, evening and sometimes morning so do check their website!

Dr Bike
Cycle Confident training sessions
All Ability Cycling Club
Maintenance Sessions
Head over to the Enjoy Waltham Forest website for dates and locations!

Ride guide:
Beginner rides, 3-5 miles, off road or quiet roads only, flat, not next to water (e.g. canal) slow pace (e.g. 5-7 mph).
Intermediate rides, 5-15 miles, off road and quiet or moderate roads, may have some hills, steady pace (e.g. 8-10 mph).
Advanced rides, 15 miles+, hilly in parts or faster pace – see ride description.

If you have any questions or would like your ride listed here just get in touch. 

Want to try family bikes and trikes? Rent one for the ride directly from Waltham Forest Council.

Meeting: Tuesday 25th February

Our monthly meeting is on Tuesday and all cyclists are welcome – 8pm to 9:30pm in the Hornbeam Centre, 458 Hoe Street, E17 9AH

The major topics for this month are:

1. Climate Campaign briefing
2. Planning events for the summer
3. Space for Cycling in Waltham Forest
4. Finishing on time – I’ve added timings!

Agenda

8:05 – Introductions

• Appointment of minute taker – Caroline has volunteered. Apologies: Paul, Dan, Sarah.
• Successes and Achievements – Share your news!
• Any comments on the previous meeting minutes?

8:10 – Campaigning, Outreach and LCC

• LCC’s climate campaign for the 2020 mayoral election
  • Campaign briefing event 25th March – any volunteers?
• Safeguarding reminder
• Treasurer role – is anyone interested?

8:30 – Working Groups

• Motherload update: Sarah/Caroline
• Any other updates from working groups?

8:40 – Events

• ? June ?, Cyclist Tea – David – Stall, Dr. Bike?
• Saturday, 6th June – Motherload – Sarah and Caroline – Stall?
• Sunday, 28th June – Family Cycling Fun Day – Sarah – Stall
• Sunday, early July – Tour de Waltham Forest – WF (need to contact) – Stall
• Late August (when?) – Summer Social in Leyton? – Fred – Stall? Dr. Bike?
• Sunday Late September – Car Free Day – WF/Mayor – Stall? Ride?

8:55 – Rides

• Emergency/contact cards are here!
• Ride leader report back
• Ride leader training feedback and next steps: Caroline

9:10 – Council Liaison

This is where we talk about Space for Cycling and high quality safe infrastructure suitable for all abilities. Briefing to include:

• WFCC was not kept in the loop over the Grove Green Road two way track running from Cathall Rd to Lanthorne Rd which has been consulted on via traffic order and is about to be constructed. 2.5m wide, no car parking buffer zone. Carriageway width brought down to absolute minimum so it doesn’t seem there is anything further that can be done to improve the design until one side of car parking removed.
• Markhouse series 4 filters and place-making going ahead, thanks to the smart campaign headed up by Gen of door knocking yielding comfortable majorities in favour of the scheme for every road.
• Henry Maynard school street to go live in 23 Mar. 4 other school streets being developed.
• Q2 signage removal, and replacement with Cycleway27 signage & routing via Black Path once this section complete – WFCC have formally agreed to this, and proposed routing via Markhouse Avenue (once South Grove tracks & roundabout zebras complete & bus gate and associated Coppermill LN works are complete). Only other issues to be tackled would be the narrow blind bend section under the rail bridge (South Grove/Selborne Road) and the right turn from Markhouse Road into Markhouse Avenue.
• Lea Bridge Road:
  • Mark Bland (Waltham Forest Highways Officer) is chasing developers over Essex Wharf wall louvres to improve side road sight-lines for eastbound cycles (just after they pass over canal bridge).
  • East-bound at Argall Way development. S106 planning gain – track alongside bus stop will not be widened as per advice WFCC received 3-4 years ago.
  • Poplars Road junction design (to stop footway parking) is complete (and will be sent to Paul).
  • Footway from Hospital Rd to Whipps X interchange will be returned to shared use (after PG provided evidence it used to be before works started). Current zebras at junction will be signalised shortly. 

Feedback & any other Waltham Forest issues?

9:20 – Any other business?

9:25 – Summary of action points by minute taker

9:30 – Annual meeting – 24th March, please bring your membership card if you have one!

Any additional items for the agenda please comment below, or email contact@wfcycling.org.uk

WFCC is part of the London Cycling Campaign, the world’s largest urban cycling organisation. You don’t need to be an LCC member to attend our meetings, but if you like what we do please consider joining LCC to help support our work. Members also receive discounts in many bike shops, insurance and other benefits.

February Rides & Events in Waltham Forest

Sunday 2 February – 10am, Leytonstone @ McDonald’s
The E11 Ride to the Columbia Road Flower Market (advanced)
Meet outside McDonald’s in Leytonstone High Street E11 for 10am departure. If you have questions, call Dwight on 07973 131429.

Sunday 2 February – 11am, The Mill, Coppermill Lane, E17
The Sunday Cycle (intermediate)
Meet outside The Mill in Coppermill Lane at 11am for a gentle ride of c. 20km / 13 miles. Return c. 4pm. If you have questions, contact Katja at katjarosenberg@hotmail.com or 07799 411 587.

Sunday 9 February – 9am-12pm, Leytonstone @ McDonald’s
North Star Velo Beginners’ Road Ride to the North Weald RAF Airfield
Want to get into road cycling but aren’t sure where to begin? This beginners’ road ride is for you: the pace will be suited to all comers and you don’t even need a road bike or clip-in shoes and pedals; a hybrid with flat pedals will do. And any comfortable clothes will do, lycra optional! Coffee stop at one of the airfield cafés.

Sunday 9 February – CANCELLED:
Walthamstow Family Bike Club’s Open Spaces Ride (intermediate)
Tomorrow’s Open Spaces ride (Sunday 9th Feb) has been cancelled due to the forecast of heavy rain and wind gusts of over 50mph.  This is the first time in its 15 year history that a ride has been cancelled.
However if there is interest we will reschedule the ride for 1pm next Sunday 16th February. So if you’d like us to run the ride drop us a line at  walthamstowfamilybike@gmail.com

Sunday 16 February – 10:30am, CANCELLED due to weather
Take the Peaceful Route with Nic (advanced)

Sunday 16 February – CANCELLED due to weather
WFBC’s & JoyRiders’ Newcomers Ride (beginners)
We’re very sorry to have to cancel the first ride starting from Leyton Jubilee Park, but it’s not good weather to run a cycle ride in, especially one for beginners and less confident cyclists. We hope to see you all next month instead – put March 15th in your diary!

Sunday 23 February – 10:30am, Walthamstow Town Square
WFCycling Social Ride (intermediate)
Our monthly gentle-paced social ride, never more than 30 miles in the summer and 15 miles November to February. Bring drinks, but we will stop for lunch along the way. Please bring your Oyster card or contactless debit card for use on public transport.
Meet at 10:15 outside Walthamstow Library, for a departure by 10:30. We are usually back by 3-4pm – bring lights!

Sunday 23 February – 9:30am, Leytonstone Underground Station (Café)
Newham Cyclists’ Ride to the Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker
Ride through Essex lanes (with some hills) to the (no longer) Secret Nuclear Bunker. Travel to Epping by tube so bring your Oyster or contactless card.

Every Saturday – 8:30am, Leytonstone @ McDonald’s
North Star Velo Road Rides (advanced)
North Star Velo also run frequent midweek short road rides, evening and sometimes morning so do check their website!

Dr Bike
Cycle Confident training sessions
All Ability Cycling Club
Maintenance Sessions
Head over to the Enjoy Waltham Forest website for dates and locations!

Ride guide:

• Beginner rides, 3-5 miles, off road or quiet roads only, flat, not next to water (e.g. canal) slow pace (e.g. 5-7 mph).
• Intermediate rides, 5-15 miles, off road and quiet or moderate roads, may have some hills, steady pace (e.g. 8-10 mph).
• Advanced rides, 15 miles+, hilly in parts or faster pace – see ride description.

If you have any questions or would like your ride listed here just get in touch. 

Want to try family bikes and trikes? Rent one for the ride directly from Waltham Forest Council.

Next Meeting: Tuesday 28th

Our monthly meeting is on Tuesday and all cyclists are welcome – 8pm to 9:30pm in the Hornbeam Centre, 458 Hoe Street, E17 9AH

Highlights:

• Working with colleges, healthcare providers and community groups to promote cycling in 2020.
• Movie screening of Motherload
• Cycle parking and security

Agenda

Introductions

Appointment of minute taker – Caroline has volunteered

Successes and Achievements

Share your news!

Previous meeting minutes

Please read the previous meeting minutes in advance if you want to comment on them.

• Paul to discuss fixed location for Dr. Bikes with council
• Any comments/corrections?

Coordinator and LCC

• Local group forum feedback – Mariam
• Draft Local Plan meetings – three local attendees booked each of the three meetings for local community groups. North meeting is going on now, Central next week, South the week after.
• Local group survey – fill it in *
• Finances (internet banking, deputy treasurer)
• Annual Meeting 24th March – lets talk about roles
• Putting the 2020 plan in to action – Fred

Outreach Working Group

Ideas for other groups it would be good to make contact with

Barts Health / Whipps Cross

Taking forward the cycling rehab project, see email

All ability Cycling Update

Events

• Motherload – update from Sarah
• Stall for events – volunteers to organise and run it? Tony
  • Publicity materials
  • Easel
  • Shall we order LCC T-shirts? £9.50 – individual contributions? (need to talk to Robert)

WFCC Rides

• Ride leader report back – December social ride!
• Emergency contact card (updated)
• Ride leader training – Caroline
• Newcomers Ride – Mariam (and FS updating info)

Council Liaison & Infrastructure

• Consultations
• Cycle Parking
• Infrastructure news
• Tours given
• Snagging

Feedback & any other Waltham Forest issues?

• Suggestion from Nov: We discussed how it’s important that new development cycle parking is done well and is useable. It was suggested a visit to South Grove could be useful to see what the cycle parking looks like in practice. Anyone to pick-up this action?
• From Nov: What is being done to look at the cumulative effect of all the development in the borough and how it can be mitigated? (construction traffic & logistics, closed pavements, closed cycle lanes). Could we link them up with Michael Barratt MBE somehow*
• Cyclehoop break-ins

Any other business

Summary of action points by minute taker

Next meeting – February 25th, same time same place

​Informal networking

Any additional items for the agenda please comment below, or email contact@wfcycling.org.uk

WFCC is part of the London Cycling Campaign, the world’s largest urban cycling organisation. You don’t need to be an LCC member to attend our meetings, but if you like what we do please consider joining LCC to help support our work. Members also receive discounts in many bike shops, insurance and other benefits.